Ultimate Handmade Getaway
This year will probably be marked as the Year of the Retreat. I haven’t counted how many retreats, getaways, and workshops I have attended in 2018, but I would be surprised if the number isn’t much larger than most years. Getting together with quilty friends is amazing, so I was excited to hear about the book release of Handmade Getaway by Jacqueline Sava Clarke and Karyn Valino. I had preordered a copy from Amazon and then checked out their Kickstarter when they switched publishers. I was part of the lucky group that pledged their Ultimate Handmade Getaway taking place at Makers Luck Retreat.
Finally, the week of the retreat had arrived!! I lost track of how many times I stalked the social media accounts of Jacqueline, Karyn, and Margaret in anticipation. I knew from emails (and stalking) that we were in for four days, five nights of creating with the authors at an amazing spot in Dripping Springs, TX that had a gorgeous house, well equipped studio, and meals included.
Why, thank you!
I call “dibs” on this bed.
The reality was so much more than I could ever imagined! The accommodations were luxurious (in a warm, welcoming way), and we were completely spoiled by Margaret, her assistant Tara, Jacqueline, and Karyn. At first it was overwhelming deciding what to do first: go swimming in the pool, walk around the grounds, create in the studio, hang out inside?????
Margaret preparing another yummy breakfast.
A different custom beverage each day
Even the take out was delicious!
The productivity of everyone just amazed me, but maybe it shouldn’t considering we had nothing to worry about other than what we were creating. I can’t remember the last time (uh….never) I received a text while sewing stating lunch/dinner was served. I took some great pictures of beautiful quilts and garments being made by the others, but it’s not my place to share them here.
We had a cool front one day and rolled up all the doors in the studio.
I love this sitting area for chatting while hand stitching.
Last week I showed the Washi dress I made during this retreat. It was wonderful to have not only the expertise of garment making friends, but also the serger and other tools that come in handy when sewing clothes. In addition to the Washi dress made, I cut out and serged the pieces for another Washi dress and a Top A from Atelier to Nani Iro.
Hard to see the fabric for this Washi dress but don’t you love that it matches my pincushion and scissors?!
I signed up for the first round of Amy Friend’s Tell Me A Story block swap and needed to make all 20 of my blocks before heading home. It was fun to work on these with friends and come up with the stories for each block. I took pictures of each block and posted on Instagram with their respective story but will only show here the picture of all 20 in a group. You can search #tellmeastoryblockswap on Instagram if you want to see some amazing blocks.
My blocks for the Tell Me A Story swap
Pretty piles of Carolyn Friedlander fabric cut for various projects.
One morning I ventured into Dripping Springs to check out the yarn shop because I heard they had cool enamel pins. I did purchase one enamel pin and a cone of silk wrapped stainless steel “thread”. A side trip to the LQS Vali & Kim may also have happened.
Love this knitted heart in the window of The Sated Sheep
Silk wrapped stainless steel thread/yarn
The Handmade Getaway book has plenty of tips on planning your getaway with friends, be it for a day, a weekend, a week, or longer. Included are instructions for various projects and group activities. We spent a fun afternoon with cyanotype printing.
How fun are these colored horseshoes?!
Handmade Getaway authors and awesome peeps Jacqueline and Karyn
Taking pictures of the results of my cyanotype printing
A few friends stopped by to sew with us…..
Kimberly Kight sewing little girl dresses.
MaryAnne Williams (my very first swap partner) stopped by as well.
When it was time to say good-bye, we joked that Margaret would have to kick us out. No one was ready to leave and return to reality. Looking forward to a future handmade getaway!
Do we have to go home?
Here are a few more pictures from the retreat:
Cute wine bottle label found in town
Being silly during group photo shoot
Stephanie and I did a side swap - these are the blocks she made for me.
We had plenty of snacks in the studio.
Another Washi dress picture
If you’ve made it this far, congrats! Thanks for stopping by. Happy stitching,
