A Weekend To Remember

I had the most amazing weekend with the Heartland Stitch Counters Society! I spent Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with this accomplished and talented needlework group as the guest teacher at their 18th (yes, 18th!) Annual Stitch-In. What a blessing it was to be asked to teach at this event - it was such an enjoyable weekend. This year was the first time they had a Halloween theme and I had the pleasure of designing a special Halloween piece and needlework smalls especially for them...what a treat!

I arrived on Friday afternoon, met the hard-working committee that puts everything together, and got right to work. The retreat was held at the Elms Resort and Spa in Excelsior Springs, MO...this unique historic hotel was a great venue and very fun to explore. The class was held in the spacious Grand Ballroom - which was a good thing, because there were 70 of us! And thanks to Old Mill Stitchery in Liberty, MO, there was a phenomenal needlework shop set-up downstairs, filled with all sorts stitching treasures....seriously, who could ask for more? It was a dream weekend. I brought along lots of models...and they had their last 17 projects on display....plus a Halloween show and tell....and a contest (where every piece was so amazing, everyone should have won a prize! - REALLY!)....and there were TONS of door prizes. Friday evening was social time with a meet and greet...and lots of stitching going on...I had a lot of fun circulating through tables and meeting each attendee. Saturday morning we all got together for breakfast and then it was time for class (and of course shopping). We had a tasty lunch and then more class in the afternoon. After a dinner break, we all returned to the ballroom for the contest and show and tell....followed by late night stitching (I managed to stay until about 12:30 AM, before heading up to my room for a few hours of much needed sleep). Sunday morning we enjoyed the breakfast buffet at the resort and had class until noon...and I managed to take a teaching break long enough to do a little shopping myself (special thanks to the students who let me cut in line in the shop). We managed to get though all my class materials and most everyone had a good start on their project. Sunday afternoon it was time to say goodbye to my new stitching family and pack up for the drive home.

I would like to thank all the committee members, Old Mill Stitchery, and all the attendees - you made this a weekend to remember! It was delight meeting each and every one of you....and you are now part of my extended stitching family. Thank you for your patience with my "red nose", scratchy voice, and occasional cough...and for not putting photos of me on Facebook (you know who you are)...I will definitely be working on my "turtle" for future photo opportunities. :-)

Here are some photos from the weekend - the chandelier yellow lighting was not the best for photography...

Here is a photo of me with the contest winners: (Left to Right) Robin - 2nd place and the People's Choice Award, me (looking who knows where), Cheryl - 1st place, Pam - 3rd place. Aren't the ribbons awesome??! - I know Kathleen stitched the Halloween centers and another attendee (please forgive me for not knowing your name) made the ribbons.

Some of my models on display...with extra "spooky" decoration by the committee members...

Some Halloween "show and tell"....

Finished projects from all seventeen previous retreats....each one was incredible...

Students hard at work...enjoying the weekend...stitching, laughing, and sharing....