Sewing Retreat in Rogers

When you look up the word "retreat" in the dictionary, you will find the following: Period of group withdrawal for prayer, meditation, study, instruction under a director resulting in relaxation and renewed energy.

I have never been on a "retreat", but Bob and I recently attended one and let me tell you we came home exhausted from the schedule of the retreat. It was awesome and I would go again in a heartbeat, but when I see the word retreat, I will know better.



Sewing With Nancy. You know, that show on PBS that you see when flipping thru the TV channels to watch something "good"? Bob and I recently attended a Sewing Retreat in Rogers, Arkansas. Nancy was the special guest. OK, I know it is a bit weird to even think of Bob and I sewing, but we are having so much fun with it.

Let me give you a bit of history regarding our foray into sewing.

We have a wonderful friend, DJ, who makes the most incredibly beautiful embroidered clothes in the world. I was always begging, pleading and generally making a pest of myself to get her to sew me something, anything. Bob was watching her sew one day and saw the machine and became interested. He asked me if I would like to learn and we were on the way. We bought a 6 head Baby Lock machine about 1 year ago. Bob has taken the lead, learning and making all sorts of things. I have been his assistant, but have recently begun sewing on my own. Yes, we have sewn stuff together, upside down and are the proud owners of a green reindeer, but we have enjoyed each and every moment. When Brodie was here in November, the machine was running full steam, making animal shirts for him.

Now on to Rogers. Bob asked me if I would like to go to Branson for a sewing retreat. I love Branson and jumped at the chance. Bob signed us up and then came home and told me he had misread the location and we were going to Rogers. Oh well, it is a trip, so what the heck?!

We left on Wednesday and drove to Rogers. Ate dinner at a Steak Resturant and checked into Embassy Suites, where the retreat was being held. That is the last time we ate a meal outside of the hotel until we checked out on Sunday.

I was signed up for one track while Bob was signed up for the full schedule. He had a class at 8 a.m. on Thursday morning, so we got up early for Breakfast, registration and his class. His first class was making a pin cushion and ran until lunch time. By lunch time, we had figured out that my track was nothing at all and we signed me up for the whole thing as well.

After lunch we went to a software class. I was promptly lost, but Bob and the man putting the class on talked the same language and Bob learned a lot.

Thursday evening we had a lecture series with Nancy, the star of Sewing with Nancy. She is so funny. She had a suitcase full of items to show various techniques. She was asked if she made all of her own clothes and her reply was "No, even Julie Child gets to eat out". We were so tired, we went back to our room, had room service and crashed.

Friday morning, we were up at 6:30 for breakfast. Another session with Nancy followed by lunch and then a class on Embellishing. I know what you are thinking when you read the work embellish...Wrong! You can take a piece of white material, "punch" colored pieces of material or pieces of thread into it and basically make your own material and then create a purse, shirt, whatever.

This purse began as a white piece of material. All of the leaves, flowers, designs were done on the embellishment machine. I enjoyed it so much. I can hardly wait to make something! Bob and I both made small accessory bags. We only had time to complete one, but the other is on the dining room table to finish.

We finished up Friday with a quick dinner in the hotel and then went back for a lecture session with a women who had all sorts of wonderful designs and ideas.

Saturday, we got up at 6:30, had breakfast and then went to our last class. This one was making a child's Apron.

Here is the story board showing the steps to make the apron. While the material is not what I would have chosen, it was so much fun. I hope Brodie will like his apron!
This is what a typical classroom setting looked like. Rows of tables with sewing machines set up. Each sewing machine had a person at it. The retreat was a complete sell out.

We hung out at the hotel Saturday night. Sunday morning, we left Rogers and spent the day in Branson before heading home.

This whole trip was a blast! I learned a heck of a lot, enjoyed time with my wonderful husband and did relax (just not rest).

Hey Bob, where are we going next???