The mountains were beautiful. As was the weather. Perfection.
Here's my new BFF, Tara, in the most incredible yarn shop in the world. Tara is an Innkeeper at the B & B and a wonderful Jill of all trades. She does everything! Such an amazing woman. And SWEET! And generous! Oh, my goodness. We met when she picked me up from the airport on Thursday and I feel like I've know her for years. LOVE that.
I did some sewing, of course....(photo courtsey of Liz)
...on a borrowed Singer Featherweight. Thanks Julie!
It was SO fun to experience sewing on one.
This is Alexis. She's such a charming and sweet girl. She is another innkeeper. The staff at the Inn were wonderful, as were the owners. I enjoyed my stay so very much.
It all happened at this B & B. I'd highly recommend a visit. I hope to go back some day with my husband for a getaway.
I bought some fabric. Of course. :)
This photo needs to become a quilt. This is more of the incredible yarn shop. It's called My Sister Knits. (in Fort Collins) I was almost overcome with excitement in this place...I was on the verge of overload. It was so great. SO GREAT!!!
This was my only purchase at the yarn shop. It was hard to not go crazy.
Gotta love a rustic VW van parked on the side of the road. :)
The quilters were GREAT!!!
SO GREAT!!! (I missed a few people in these shots...I didn't take nearly enough photos.)
It was great fun to meet Mama Urchin in real life after blogging with her for the past 2 1/2 years.
I ate at Chick-fil-a for the first time. I really love their cups. hee hee.
The company was fantastic. It was fun to talk to fellow quilters about quilting, and it was also so fun to talk to fellow bloggers about blogging. That was a treat in and of itself.
I would be remiss if I failed to mention that I came home to a very clean house. My husband is wonderful. :)
The whole weekend....well, it. was. INCREDIBLE.
Would I go back again? ABSOLUTELY!!!!
And we ate, and ate, and ate some more. The food was fantastic. Caramel whipped cream is wrong but so good.
The company was fantastic. It was fun to talk to fellow quilters about quilting, and it was also so fun to talk to fellow bloggers about blogging. That was a treat in and of itself.
I would be remiss if I failed to mention that I came home to a very clean house. My husband is wonderful. :)
The whole weekend....well, it. was. INCREDIBLE.
Would I go back again? ABSOLUTELY!!!!
We are already starting to plan for next year. Yipee!
80 comments:
How fun! I love the yarn shop photos. What beautiful colors. I envy your sewing on a featherweight! Awesome! Thanks for sharing.
Have a great day!
I'm so glad to hear of your adventures! I just knew it would be wonderful.
On a different note, I made a doll sized ticker tape quilt. Would you like to see?
Okay, I'm saving for next year now!
So glad that it all went well.
glad you're back safe..AND you had fun. But, we ALL knew you would. Did you miss the kiddos too much?
clean house? yes, my husband does that for me too when I do my yearly get away. amazing, huh?
all that sounds and looks so funny! glad you had a beautiful time there!!
Yay! So glad you had such a good time! Can't wait to hear more!
Are you in any of the photos? I want to see you!
So when are you coming to Melbourne? The weather is sunny and the quilters are keen.
Glad you had a nice time. Sounds like a lot of fun!
So glad you had a great weekend and so jealous that I wasn't there!:)
I did a fun thing....went to see Star Wars in Concert totally geeked out in costume! I guess I need to blog about it too!!:)
That is one fantastic stack of fabric...what are you going to make with that yarn?:)
The new fabric looks yummy as does the yarn. There is NOTHING like coming home to a house that is as clean is not cleaner than you left it :)
So made me smile to see that you had posted! I didn't suck in enough! Miss you already and have so many things and ideas to e-mail you about! We'll be fighting them off with sticks next year!
It looks and sounds like so much fun. I know I would love something like that. What a nice way to come home too.
I'm so glad you had a wonderful time! It looks like a weekend of Heaven. Especially if that means you'll be doing it again - hopefully I can attend!
And hip hip horry for the great hubby behind the scenes!
love the VW bus on the side of the road.
Anxious to hear all about it. Sounds like heaven . . .
Sounds like a great weekend!
Please give my vote of awesomeness to your lovely husband...
DUDE! You rock!
So glad your retreat was awesome. Sounds like it couldn't get any better. What fun. You know it's great when you are already planning the next one.
I love your idea about the yarn shop photo being made into a quilt. Cute VW van. Great husband to clean while you are away. Can't beat that.
But I have to ask....NEVER eaten at a Chick fil A before? Really? It's my daughter's favorite drive thru when you are on the run type of place.
Thanks for telling us all about the retreat.
I'm so happy to hear that it was a good time. It would have really stunk if you were miserable. Like if there were mousetraps going off. LOL
And a new BFF? Where does that leave me? Didn't you just say I was irreplaceable? LOLOLOLOL (Twin, you know I'm kidding.)
My sister used to live in Fort Collins. I loved going there to visit. Also, isn't quilting on a Featherweight awesome? My mother has one and I can imagine the slightly oily smell of the case right now. Glad that you had a wonderful time. Can't wait to see your creations.
So glad you had a blast!! That's so great!! So where's your picture - hee hee :)
That is awesome, good for you! I bought some of the same dots that you have there in your stack! Oh I'd love to attend next year. How many quilters were there? My husband does that too, almost makes me feel guilty...
I hope that was a big (HUGE) B & B where you stayed because I think we'll all want to join you next year! Wouldn't that be fun??? So glad you had a wonderful time!
It was absolutely fantastic. And I'm cozy under a quilt right now.
The weekend sounds amazing, love the pics as well. Glad you had a great time, it's what we quilters do best!
I'm so jealous! That looks like such fun. Hmm, I need to find me some good quilting retreat buddies. So, what did you make?
I'm so glad you had a good time! Sounds like so much fun. I'm sure the attendees left extremely inspired - I know you have that effect on people!! :)
Hooray! It was SUCH a blast, wasn't it? I'm so glad I got to meet you and all of the other awesome people at the retreat. What a great group it was. Can't wait 'til next year! :-)
-Liz
It sounds idyllic, what a lovely Dh you have. I'm still trying to talk my group into twice a year but it's hard geting everyone with a free weekend.
Wow! I'm so glad you had a fantastic time! What's not to love -- yarn, fabric, friends, mountains, .... Sounds just perfect! And your first time at Chic-fil-a? Sadly, I'm an addict LOL!
Good for you! I should also mention that caramel whipped cream is NOT wrong unless, of course, it's made with all fake stuff. But the real thing is NOT wrong. ;-)
looks like a lot of fun, would love to see that yarn shop!
Caramel whipped cream does sound good. I can't believe you've never had Chik-fil-A! Love their lemonade and milkshakes and the chicken. Yum.
Yay! So glad you had such a great time! That yarn shop has me drooling.
Seems like you talked more about yarn than quilting in this post. What does that say?
Glad to hear that it was great.
I'm glad you had such a great time! Maybe some of the folks at the retreat got some more pictures that they'd be willing to share?!!
And what did you all sew? When you get a moment to catch your breath, you have to give us details!
By the way, what did you think about sewing on that Featherweight? Would you get one for yourself?
It sounds wonderful, it makes me wish I was there! And coming home to a clean house is the perfect end to a great trip, what a guy you have there.
i love it when weekends turn out so perfectly wonderful! lucky you..and the other gals who joined in on the fun.
I'm so glad you had a great time - and looking forward to you sharing more with us - the yarn is fantastic - when I was introduced back into knitting / crochet earlier this year I too was astounded by the changes in yarns over the years - the colours, the textures, the handpainted yarns, well everything - and since then I've even started dyeing my own roving and now have a wheel and spin my own yarns too (which I SWORE I wouldn't do) - it's such an great new craft release
Oh, put me on the list for next year. If it doesn't conflict with International Quilt Festival in Houston, I'd love to go. And Ft Collins is only around the corner and down the block from me. Yarn shop looks amazing. Isn't it wonderful that we quilters are also knitters and crocheters and....
I'm glad you had such a good time!
ciao ciao
I'm glad you had such a good time!
ciao ciao
It looks like such a wonderful time!!
so glad you had such a great time at the retreat. Thanks for sharing!
Ahh nothing like home!!! I grew up about 30 minutes away from Fort Collins! I wish I could have gone!!! But I didn't know about that knit shop! I will definately have to stop in when I go home for a visit!!
I am glad you had a fun time! Although I was hoping that we would get a photo shot of you!! :D
What a fun retreat! I love Fort Collins. It looks like you had nice weather and a wonderful time.
How incredibly fun! I am so glad it was good.
I do hope there's another one...I might just have the guts to attend :-) It sounds like a wonderful experience, really.
Welcome home! I think you've got us all convinced to start saving and planning to join you next year. Glad you had such a wonderful time and thanks for sharing all those tempting photos from your incredible weekend.
Super great pictures. Loved the yarn shop and the stack of your newly purchased fabric. and the VW. I have three Featherweights and they are just the best little machines ever. You'll give us more details about the weekend, right?
Oh, I am so, so happy to read this recap of the weekend. It sounds like it was just wonderful, and I'm so glad to hear that you'll do it again.
That is awesome Amanda!! I wish I could have attended too!
Sounds like you had a great time! So glad to hear it. And I agree, that gorgeous yarn shop photo needs to become a quilt. Can't wait to see what it becomes! :)
Looks wonderful, wish I could have attended too; maybe when the kids area lot older! Love the top 3 new fabrics you got! Any chance of some photos of the stack of quilts you took for examples? The sneak peak is making me very curious! =)
I am so glad that the retreat went so well for you. Everyone has been blogging about what a great time they had. Wish I could have been there.
It all sounds like so much fun!! Glad you had such a lovely weekend...and that picture of the yarn? Well coincidentally I posted today about someone's work and they've made a quilt with those colors. It looks like a pretty good match. Nice to have you 'back' :)
I had such a wonderful time at the retreat. It was great to meet you & to learn so much from everyone. I can't wait for next year!
Your weekend looked magical! I wanted so bad to be in communicado with you this weekend, but no cell service where I was. I was thinking of you, and thinking of the quilters who were at your retreat in arms length of your goodness. At our retreat at show n tell - a gal had a quilt she made from your pattern (zig zag). I squealed... for a second it was like you were there.
I want to explode too... and the hardest thing about retreats is leaving. The sisterhood... there's nothing like it. And jumping in thoughts to your follow-up post... I'm not surprised you found your calling. Or that your calling found you. My heart swells to know you have found it. Oh happy joy! xom
Fun for you. The weekend here was good too, weather wise. And last evening before quilt club I basted my quilt.
What a great retreat! Such a blessing to be in company of such wonderful crafters!
You sound like me....I always get those "why don't you post picture of yourself?" comments. :) I really don't mean NOT too, I just don't. :) Your retreat looks fabulous, what a beautiful location with fun company!
Why no comments on your 'finally figured it out post'?
Based on all I have learned from reading your blog, I can only imagine what a fabulous teacher you must be in person.
Quite frankly I am a little surprised to learn you have not been teach for years!
what lucky lucky ladies and what a lovely trip!
I live way too far away in sydney australia to attend your classes but at least I have your blog to keep inspired with !
how wonderful that you got some clarity while you were away! yay for you!!!!
Corrie;)
No comments next post??? It's 'cause you don't want all of us telling you how beautiful you are! SO fun to see you and SOOOO happy you've figured it out! Congratulations and Good For You!!!
i hope this doesn't sound condescending, but i'm so proud of you! such a big step and sounds like it was a rousing success. You must be on cloud nine!
I'm not allowed to go to that yarn shop anymore. I spent way too much last time. I commend your self-control!
I could soooooo use a quilting retreat right now!!! I'm glad you had so much fun!
I am an avid follower of your blog (and admirer of your creations!) and I just wanted to let you know how thrilled I am you have found your passion within your passion of quilting!! Yay! (I know this isn't the right post, but that one won't let me comment, and I figured this one was sort of related!!)
I can take a guess of the lovely time you spent there.You also collected nice fabric and yarn I bet.
Having your husband behind you all the way is such a blessing. So many women who are in the "craft" business for lack of a better word aren't fully supported.
Teaching what you know is what you do to those of us who blog and visit you on a regular basis. yes, you will do well with this.
I can see that it was a great weekend, and coming home to a clean house just completes it all!
lol! i just saw the picture of you!
YOU ARE SO CUTE!!!!! ;)
i would love for you to speak at a retreat...only thing is it would just be me and you! ;) i think that would be paying you to be my friend!!!
one of these days i kind of hope to run into you...one of these days...
Good grief I can't believe someone turned down a book proposal from you.
Good luck with your teaching endeavor -- I'm sure you'll will excel at this.
Amanda,
I'm the quilter who contacted you from the Madison Quilt Show, wondering if you were going to be attending. I grabbed what I could about the event (which offers many teaching opportunities for you)and I would love to send them on. You would be a terrific addition to their teaching line-up. If you can share your address privately, I will put the materials in the mail to you. Congrats on figuring out your passion!
Fun, fun, fun! LOVE the yarn shop, can't imagine how much fun your whole weekend was! Congrats on finding out how much you enjoy teaching. I'm a yoga instructor and find I too love teaching...adults :) I recently started working for our local quilt shop and am hoping someday as we expand our class offering I might find myself in the roll of beginning quilter teacher too. What a way to combine loves!
Speaking of our quilt shop, would you ever be interested in coming to central Iowa to do a weekend class? I think it could be fun...you can check out info about our shop at our website, www.grinnellfiberworks.com and from there link to our blog.
As someone who has read your blog for a while now, it's so fun to see you taking things in a new and exciting direction. So happy for you!
I am so glad you had so much fun! It sounds like a dream!
Hi Amanda
I love your post and the photos, so great. Thanks for the great weekend. I sure would like to see you in Portugal giving a quilting workshop.
Love
Cristina
Looks like you had a fabulous time!
Congratulations on finding your vocational niche and best of luck with future workshops!
Ate at Chick-fil-A for the first time? Wow. That's amazing. I hope you had sweet tea in that cup! I have to have a CFA sweet tea every morning to get me through.
Love your blog!
Wow! I just came over for inspiration, and noticed that you closed your blog. Will miss you. Also, I literally missed you in FC. I grew up there! I'll have to visit that quilt store, b/c I think it's fairly new. I haven't lived there since 1990, but visit every year. Blessings on your journey.
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