We started the tradition a few years ago at The Quilt Company of closing for one week each summer for a shop vacation. The first time we did it was out of need. My manager and I were going to be in Europe at the same time and most of our staff had scheduled events that were very important and they were unavailable. We decided that if we closed for a week, the world would not end, and it is a very European thing to do.
The next year we took the time off and my husband/landlord and I used it to do some messy work inside the shop. Now it is a tradition. This year we had the roof replaced, other than noise it did not disturb the customers. With the entire week scheduled off we decided to run an in-store retreat with a “Locked in the Quilt Shop” theme.
Our nine guests arrived Friday at 1:00. They moved into our classroom space and spread out. The doors are locked to outside customers, but the lucky 9 are free to shop, sew, eat, talk, laugh, sew, press, relax, talk and sew to their hearts content. Debby and I are providing meals, snacks and expert opinions – although they are doing very well on their own!
Debby and I are actually “working”. We are packing and shipping mail orders, taking phone orders and squeezing in a little sewing too. I managed to finish all of the blocks for our new sample of Can You Spare a Dime. Debby had made her daughter a skirt, her son a table topper and is working on a quilt for another member of the family.
The next year we took the time off and my husband/landlord and I used it to do some messy work inside the shop. Now it is a tradition. This year we had the roof replaced, other than noise it did not disturb the customers. With the entire week scheduled off we decided to run an in-store retreat with a “Locked in the Quilt Shop” theme.Our nine guests arrived Friday at 1:00. They moved into our classroom space and spread out. The doors are locked to outside customers, but the lucky 9 are free to shop, sew, eat, talk, laugh, sew, press, relax, talk and sew to their hearts content. Debby and I are providing meals, snacks and expert opinions – although they are doing very well on their own!
Debby and I are actually “working”. We are packing and shipping mail orders, taking phone orders and squeezing in a little sewing too. I managed to finish all of the blocks for our new sample of Can You Spare a Dime. Debby had made her daughter a skirt, her son a table topper and is working on a quilt for another member of the family.
Our guests are getting Lots of things accomplished! This is Rose laying out her French Kiss project from our BlockWatchers Club.
Ruth has been diligently working on the last several blocks of an applique project and keeping us entertained at the same time.
We have a second Rose and believe it or not, this is her first quilt!
Alice is doing her best to duck out of this photo, she has already finished one quilt top and is now working on our French Braid project. The quilt on the design wall behind her is a 3-6-9. It belongs to Mary Ann, who arrived with it all cut out and is already sewing the rows together!
This is Jean and her turquoise and white double wedding ring project! That pile of fabric beside her represents over 200 curved segments that will be included in a wedding gift for her niece.Not too bad for one full day of sewing! We still have a great dinner to look forward to that is being catered by the Hartwood Restaurant, several more hours of sewing tonight and all day tomorrow!
It has been the best vacation you can have - without sand, water and sunshine!
Karen
2 comments:
What? No picture of Meeeee??? hmmmm...THANK GOODNESS!!!! The retreat was excellent to say the least. I believe a good time was had by all. I worked on paper pieced stars for a quilt I want to make for places I've been. The company was great and everyone got along really well. It was fun to see what everyone was working on and what they accomplished. The food from the Hartwood couldn't have been better. I plan on having dinner there sometime soon with my hubby.
Karen and Debbie were the hostesses with the mostesses. Looking forward to next year if you plan to do it again.
Thanks for a wonderful weekend.
Debby H.
I've been telling all my Rochester friends they must come if you run this again! It was great fun!Thanks!
By the way, did I leave my wooden tray table there? Call me 724-925-2308.
Jean
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