You're all probably dying to know how the (Sampler) Weekend Away (retreat) here in Fargo went. I know some of you have already heard from friends of yours who attended -- we had a BLAST!
My guests started arriving on Wednesday, and over the course of the next two days, stitchers arrived in Fargo. Everyone loved the C'mon Inn (even with its corny name): the high lodge-style ceilings, the hot tubs, the cozy rooms with couches or stuffed chairs and ottomans in front of a big window, and the Library, where we stitched for the weekend. The Library is a lot like a large living room, with couches, stuffed chairs, padded chairs and tables, coffee tables, a sink, a fireplace, and plenty of breathing room, as well as a wall full of windows. Attendees commented that it was like visiting someone's home, rather than a hotel.
Shortly before the weekend festivities were to begin, I made a run to the airport. Some of the stitchers had already set up and started stitching in the Library, and a very angry woman showed up to chew them out. She was running a family reunion that was meeting at the hotel, and she, too, had the Library on reserve. When they explained they were just participants in the weekend, she took it up with management, and they helped her find other space in the hotel's conference room and workout room. This woman approached me later to see if we'd give up some of our stuffed chairs for their reunion (and tried to get in a "match" about who had made reservations earlier, who had stayed in closer contact with the hotel.) I asked the hotel to help her find more stuffed chairs, and that was that. But, for the weekend, the Miller Reunion entertained us with their shuffleboard playing, song singing and group hugs. I felt really bad about the mix-up (which was a communication problem between the hotel and the Millers.) Luckily, the Millers go somewhere different every year -- we discussed following them to Minnesota in 2001!
Everyone met at 2 to receive their wrapped package of projects. The participants had selected lists of possible projects to work on, but didn't know which ones they'd receive. Everyone received $80 worth of supplies (enough for two to four projects, usually). After all of the oohing and aahing, everyone plunked down and commenced stitching. That evening, we had chicken kabobs with orzo, tomato green beans, potatoes and garlic bread. Then a big heavy dark chocolate brownie for dessert, and back to stitching.
Since I had shop set up, everyone had fun accumulating piles of new stash. I cut fabric and answered questions about charts. One of the gals was teased mercilessly all weekend (she laughed and giggled the whole time) about how much fabric she was accumulating. Her total for the trip was over 40 pieces by the time she left Fargo, and I heard this morning there were new acquisitions on the way back home. We were so busy stitching, that we didn't even fit in our movie Friday night (although I have to admit, I hit the hot tub with a few other stitchers before they closed the pool area at 11.) I think a good deal of us were up until around 1 a.m. on Saturday.
Saturday morning we had a really fun gift exchange. Everyone brought a needlework present. We picked numbers, received our presents, and opened them one at a time. It was so neat to see what everyone received -- scissor fobs, charts, fibers, a Nordic Needle t-shirt, homemade/stitched gifts... One of our group members made scissor fobs for EVERYONE, and two sisters from Tennessee brought Kit Kats they had wrapped with homemade labels from their computers (with sayings about Fargo and being stitchers.) I also received a wonderful pillow from a woman from Massachusetts with Fargo 2000 on the back and two stitching ladies on the front. And a group that came up from the Twin Cities area brought me chocolate bars from Starbucks.
Then we all dispersed for a while. Some went to the Nordic Needle, some stayed and stitched, some went shopping, and some of us went up to the Scandinavian Festival. It looked as though the flooding had messed up some of the plans at the park, but I jumped up and participated in the May Pole dance. We talked to an official folk artist who did Scandinavian carvings that were incredible, and we ate authentic food like meatballs, flat bread, puddings, and lefse (like potato tortillas.) The weather was fabulous, and it felt good to get out in the sunshine and stretch our legs. We hit Carol Widman's Chocolate Shop on the way back. She makes her own caramels and chocolates and carries a sweet line of tins and trays. For the group, I took back a pound of assorted chocolates and a half pound of chocolate covered potato chips (they sound weird, but they are so good.)
When we all were back in place in the Library, we had a brief show and tell for any purchases made that day. One who came up to Trollwood bought a lunch box (carved out of wood and SO beautiful) from the folk artist. Some also bought rosemalling ornaments and jewelry. The gals from Minnesota found a great purse sale. One stitcher showed us the two bags of soil she collected for her husband, who's interested in that sort of thing! We stitched until dinner came -- a wonderful tomato pasta toss with veggies. Luigis also brought wonderful salads with homemade dressings (including a great raspberry vinaigrette) and crusty bread with real butter. While people finished their dinners, I awarded the door prizes (there were enough for everyone to have a prize.) Some received kits, there were fibers, a bag from the Gentle Art,, and many charts. We had pie for dessert (French Silk, key lime and fresh strawberry). More stitching (and cutting fabric for me). Then everyone wanted totals for their piles of supplies. There was an unofficial contest to see who spent the most money (I won't tell you who it was), and a lot more laughing.
I put my seat on a couch for a little bit, then did a needlework stretching demonstration (I finished the Trilogy piece Grateful Hearts just in time for the weekend.) Everyone by Saturday night was just beat. A group of us managed to shimmy into our swimsuits and hit the hot tub again before it closed for the night. I stitched until 1:30 when my eyes started crossing!
Sunday morning everyone started leaving (which was very sad.) Each person received a goodie bag with charts, fabric, fibers and buttons from my distributors. On our way up to the airport Sunday morning, I suddenly realized something about one of the women in my car. I asked, "Did you go ANYwhere this weekend?!" She said, "Nope. I never get uninterrupted time at home with my children. I came here and wanted to stitch all weekend, and that's what I did." Word is that she stitched all of the way back home as well. A group of us headed over to Bennigans for lunch at noon for their baked potato soup (with cheese, bacon and green onions on top), then we said our good byes. I went back to the hotel to clean up (I'm sure the hotel cleaning person wondered what on earth we were doing with all of that string (that ended up on the floor.) )
The weekend was a huge success. Everyone who came wants to come back next year (and some are already planning on bringing friends.) A few said it was the best stitching weekend they had attended, and we all went away from the experience with a wider circle of friends. Honestly, we had so much fun, and a big part of it was that everyone was so nice and FUNNY. It's been suggested to me that I run a Drawn Thread weekend next summer (Cynthia at the Drawn Thread was tickled pink to hear that). I also have tentative plans to have a teacher come in for one of the weekends. I may also do a third weekend in 2001 in the fall, with enough interest.
I have another group coming in July for a Shepherd's Bush retreat, and hopefully I'll be rested by then, and ready for another round. If you are one of the lucky ones coming, brace yourself. What fun is in store for you, too.
© 2007 Theresa Venette. Articles on this site may be reproduced in needlework group newsletters or other handouts with permission of author and proper attribution. Send questions, comments and suggestions to: xspeddler@yahoo.com