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Sewing Retreat/Camp?

By / Carriage Corner, Sewing / 6 Comments

I thought I’d share a little about my desire to host sewing retreats at Carriage Corner.  Before moving to the heart of Amish Farmlands, we lived in Seattle and I belonged to the Great Seattle Chapter of the American Sewing Guild.  I am still a member of ASG, belonging to the Philadelphia Chapter now.

It's a wall of fabric in my family room (sew camp headquarters)

It’s a wall of fabric in my family room (sew camp headquarters)

Anyway – twice a year, the Seattle Chapter would host a sewing retreat or Sew Camp as many people referred to it.  In Seattle it’s held at a church camp property or an old convent.  There is no educational component of Sew Camp, it’s simply a chance to get away from the distractions of home and spend 2 1/2 days with like-minded people working on projects of your choosing.  For me, sew camp appealed for many reasons:
1. I wasn’t at home and couldn’t procrastinate working on my projects. There was no housework to do or dogs to walk. If I procrastinated, it was because I was chatting with another ‘camper,’ looking at their projects, catching up with their lives, etc.
2. No cooking.  All meals were prepared for me – I just had to stand up from my machine and walk into the dining room.  I could spend as much time there as I chose.
I promise - this will be a beautiful clean space to trace or cut during sew camp

I promise – this will be a beautiful clean space to trace or cut during sew camp

3. 2 1/2 glorious days to sew my little heart out.  Are you a morning person?  Want to get up at 5 and start sewing?  Everything is set up, coffee is on so go right ahead, you won’t bother anyone.  Maybe you are a night owl and you get on a roll and you want to keep sewing until 2 or 3 in the morning.  Probably there will be at least one other person there with you.  But if you are the last woman sewing, just make sure the irons are off, flip a couple switches and off you go to bed.

4. Social – sewing can be a very solitary hobby.  Yes, there are blogs and various social events.  Many of them right here on the East Coast – for example:  Workroom Social, Cashmerette and Gertie, to name a few.  It’s so nice to spend several days working on projects and have numerous ‘experts’ there to ask questions of or get fitting help.  Because we all know it’s hard to fit your own back!

5. I was sewing on MY machines so there was no learning curve to get started.
My desire is to host sewing camps along those lines.  I have 5 rooms in the B&B with queen sized beds.  Ideally, you would register with a friend that you don’t mind sharing a bed with 😉  Because at this type of sew camp – it really is the more the merrier.
I will prepare and serve a typical B&B breakfast to the sewing retreat attendees on Saturday and Sunday mornings.  I also plan to have cookies, chips, and fruit available all day, along with a coffee pot and kettle set up in the sewing area – so you don’t have to leave the sewing area if you don’t want.  Lunch and Dinner will be catered with requests taken so that we can meet any dietary concerns that the attendees have.
Standing at the back wall looking at my machines

Standing at the back wall looking at my machines

One additional “treat” to the Carriage Corner Sew Camp attendees is a trip to Fabric Mart. We will meet at the B&B on Friday morning. We’ve rented a van so that all of the attendees can travel to Fabric Mart together. The Fabric Mart staff will be waiting to assist us with purchases and will ship your goodies home if you don’t want to carry them.  After the shopping spree, we will have lunch at a nearby restaurant (which, other than your fabric, is the only meal not included in the entire weekend). When we get back to the B&B, you can settle in and then join us for a Wine & Cheese reception at the local yarn store which is in walkable distance from the B&B.

Now while I don’t yet have spare sewing machines to offer, the upside of bringing your own is that you know it and have the supplies for it. If it’s inconvenient for you to bring your own, I am willing to loan out either one of my personal sewing machines.  They are regularly serviced and kept in good working order.
I realize that I’m offering another sewing opportunity but I loved the friendships made while attending the Seattle ASG Sew Camps.  The inspiration.  The guidance.  I believe that you will find all of that while attending a Carriage Corner Sew Camp and more.  I hope you’re willing to join us for one this year.
BTW, there’s only 1 double room still available for the March 24th Sew Camp.  I also have 1 room available for part of the retreat weekend. There are still a few daily walk-ins available so if you live locally and only want to come to sew, please contact me so that you can join in. Once these last two rooms are booked, there are a few other B&Bs in the area, if you’re from out-of-state, and want to participate.  Please contact me for additional information.
I can’t wait to see and sew with everyone at Carriage Corner Sew Camp!

Spring Fling Sewing Retreat

By / Food, Sewing / 3 Comments
Gazebo at night

Gazebo at night

I am so thrilled to announce the first sewing retreat at Carriage Corner!  I’ve been thinking about this since before we purchased the Bed & Breakfast, to have quarterly retreats ~ specifically sewing retreats and possibly knitting retreats, also.   So the first ever “Carriage Corner Sewing Retreat” is happening Friday, March 24 – Sunday, March 26, 2017!  This first one will be a general sew in.  Come bring your projects and sew.  A highlight of this retreat is that Carolyn of Diary of a Sewing Fanatic will be on hand to work with you on your sewing challenges, developing a TNT, how to take a pattern and to see design changes.  Carolyn and I will also take time to take a full set of measurements if you need them.  Other than that there will be no set sewing agenda. If you just want a weekend away, to sew and spend time with fellow sewists, this is the time and place for that to happen.

The Particulars:
1. If you want to stay at Carriage Corner the cost for the weekend? is $350 per person, double occupancy; $425 single occupancy.
2. There are 5 guest rooms at Carriage Corner with queen beds in every room.  If you are requesting double occupancy,  please give the name of the person you will be rooming with when you register.  Every room has a private bath. 
3. If you live locally or want to participant on a daily “day tripper” basis ~ the daily rate is $125 per person.
4. When registering please state whether you are registering for double or single occupancy.
5. This retreat is open to 15 people ONLY. 
6. Registrations are taken on a first come basis.
A typical Carriage Corner Breakfast

A typical Carriage Corner Breakfast

Your registration includes the following:
Friday, March 24th:
~ Arrive at Carriage Corner by 10:00 am.
~ Fabric Shopping at Fabric Mart.  The van will leave at 11:00 am.
~ After getting your fabric fix, lunch will be at a charming little cafe called Crave.
~ Friday evening around 5:00 pm, we’ll have a happy hour at Lancaster Yarn Shop.  Wendy, the owner of the yarn shop, will co-host the happy hour with me.  The yarn shop will be open for your shopping pleasure.
~ Dinner will be on your own Friday evening.
~ The sewing area will be available to set up after the reception and you can sew to your hearts content.  (There are 2 machines available for use, on a first come basis)
~ The sewing space will be open through the night for the late night stitchers.
Saturday, March 25th:
~ Carriage Corner breakfast will be served promptly at 8:30 am to get your sewing day started off right.
~ After breakfast, head into the ‘sewing space’ and work on whatever project you want.
~ Carolyn will be available all day to help with sewing questions.
Log Cabin after it's facelift

Log Cabin after it’s facelift

Lunch:
There will be a make your own sandwich bar available for lunch
Dinner:
We’ll order pizza in from the local pizzeria for dinner.
The sewing space will be open through the night for the late night stitchers.
Sunday, March 26th:
~ Carriage Corner breakfast will be served promptly at 8:30 am to get your sewing day started off right.
~ Everyone who is staying at Carriage Corner will need to check out of their room by 11 am.
~ After breakfast, head into the ‘sewing space’ and work on whatever project you want.
~ Carolyn will be available all day to help with sewing questions.
Lunch:
Sunday lunch will be on your own.
All weekend there will be coffee, tea, water and sodas available along with treats.
How to Register:
Please send an email to [email protected]com, with “Carriage Corner Sewing Retreat” in the subject line to confirm that you will be attending.  I will send a reply email confirming your attendance with additional details.  Now I understand that not everyone can come for the entire weekend.  As stated above, there will be day-tripper options available for Friday, Saturday and/or Sunday.  Come one, two or all three days. (If you come as a day-tripper for all three days, a discount on the day-tripper rate will be available)  In the event that Carriage Corner is completely booked for the event, and you want to stay over, I can recommend some lovely B&B’s close by.  The day tripper rate will be available, again on a first come basis.
If you would like to arrive on Thursday night or stay over on Sunday, we are offering a discount on the rooms on Thursday and Sunday nights if you want to extend your visit.
I hope you will come out and sew with us in March!