Stitching Retreat!

Just returned from a wonderful long weekend at the Pacific Ocean!

It was sunny and warm the whole time---that is a miracle!

Every year at this retreat it is usually cold, windy and raining sideways!

This year was the opposite.  I was able to walk along the ocean and admire the natural efficiency of seagulls in eating the stranded crabs and clams when the tide goes out.

Sand dollars galore and I haven't even talked about the stitching :)

 

There were 8 of us sharing this modest house (5 bedrooms).  This was taken in the early morning hours (6:30 am).  You can see a peek of the ocean behind.

Here is the view from our patio doors leading to the back yard.  The sound of the waves coming in was surprisingly loud. There were wild strawberries growing in the grass.

Here is a look at our stitching room. Unfortunately no windows looking out to the ocean so I took regular breaks to enjoy the unusually fine weather.

We were joined by 2 sisters from California and one really long distance stitcher from South Carolina.

I am proud of myself for adding very little to my stash.  Above is my little tray commemorating this weekend.  And below are the only other purchases I made.

Finish #1 for the weekend.  It is a quilt block for the Crabapple Hill Gardener's Alphabet quilt.

Finish #2.  It is the first free quilt block from the 2013 Girls Own Stitching Club by Australian designer Red Brolly.

Finish #3 is the Hornbook Needlebook by Her Own Work

Start #1- Snowed In ornament by Stacy Nash

WIP Blackbird Designs Flowers for Sarah Needlecase

 

We held an auction for a local hospice charity.  We had a sales table.  And, most importantly, we had show and tell!

For your viewing pleasure, here are some of the items shared--

What a talented bunch of stitchers.

But I am so glad to be home!

(I already paid my deposit for next years retreat :)