Address:

Phone:

E-mail:

Special dietary/medical needs:

Emergency Phone Number/Contact:

______ $245 TOTAL per attendee ($50 deposit due with registration). Hotel rates are $99.00 per single (king sized bed) or double (two queen-sized beds), plus applicable taxes/fees, and payable to the hotel upon check-out. CIRCLE June 6-8 OR October 10-12

Credit card number (may also pay by check or money order):

Room/Roommate Information:

_____ My roommate is: ________________/I have no roommate (circle one)

I will make your room reservations, so please indicate here which nights you will require. If you need additional nights, I can get that arranged for you.__________________________________________________________

I cannot accept responsibility for any loss, theft, injury or illness. Travelling to and participation in this event is voluntary and at your own risk. Please sign here to acknowledge that you accept responsibility for yourself and your possessions.

Signature _________________________ Date: ________________

Send this form and payment to: Shakespeare's Peddler, 6102 US Hwy. 98 #6, Hattiesburg, MS 39402. E-mail: xspeddler@yahoo.com. Space is the retreat is limited, and will be based on a first-come/first served basis.

General Information:

I hope you will think about coming to join me for my eighth year of retreats. Since the year 2000, women from all around the country (and Canada!) have spent weekends getting to know each other, stitching, eating and LAUGHING. Please read the following information carefully. There's a lot that goes on, and a lot to learn about these retreats.

• I have a limit of 24 spots, based on the size of the room we'll be using for stitching.
• We're at a new Courtyard Marriott. All meals from dinner Friday through brunch on Sunday will be provided.
• The price of the retreat is what it is, because those attending will be responsible for their own hotel expenses, as well as your travel. I will make your COMPLETE reservation for you with the hotel, including extra days you may need. Make sure to include those on your registration form, and let me know who will be staying in the room which days. Rooms of three can be accommodated by way of a roll-away, saving everyone a little cash for stash. If you're willing to bunk a few to a bed, you can squeeze in four.
• Each attendee will receive a $75 gift certificate to Shakespeare's Peddler. Now, you may spend that at the retreat or later, or you may send me a list of things you'd like to have ready when you arrive.
• You have options for flights. The closest is into Hattiesburg/Laurel (aka PIB). You can also fly into Jackson, Mississippi, which is just a little over an hour north of here (and pretty much a straight shot.) You may find it's cheaper to fly into Jackson. Instructions on how to get to the hotel from the airport (or interstate) will be sent two weeks prior to the retreat.)

For those of you who haven't attended before, Friday is usually spent getting to know each other and stitching (and shopping).

Saturday's fun starts with a needlework gift exchange in the morning (bring a needlework-related gift valued at $10-$15 -- we'll draw numbers for the gifts, and open them with everyone). Door prizes are handed out Saturday night.

Sunday is when goodie bags will be handed out for everyone (even those staying the extra day). Goodie Bags are donations from my distributors/suppliers, and often include things like buttons, charts, fabric, magazines, and the like. Sunday breakfast is included in your retreat fee, but lunch is on your own -- we can keep the stitching room all day on Sunday, though, so you can hang out and stitch if you like.

Rates:

$245/person. A $50 deposit is due at time of registration, the remainder is due by May 1, 2008. You may pay by check, money order, or credit card (VISA or Master Card). Please, no cash.

With those rates you get: $75 gift certificate to Shakespeare's Peddler, breakfast Saturday and Sunday, lunch on Saturday, dinner on Friday and Saturday, a constant supply of snacks (healthy and not-so-healthy) and beverages, a directory of attendees, door prizes and goodies from my suppliers and other extras.

You are responsible for your own transportation to Hattiesburg, your hotel room fees for all nights, and meals not included in the fees. Oh, and extra money for stash!

Please know that these weekends are very casual, and meant to be fun for everyone. If you ever want to duck out to go run around town, feel free. If you need a nap, go ahead. This is to be a weekend for stitchers of all abilities -- encourage your fellow attendees. We stitch for the love of it, don't we?

What to bring:

_____ Comfortable clothes. You can spend the weekend how you like, sitting and stitching, or out and about. Also make sure to bring comfortable shoes. The hotel has an outdoor pool area and hot tub.
_____ Camera
_____ Basic sewing supplies (scissors, needles, illumination or magnification if needed). Lighting may need to be augmented -- I'll have extra plug-ins for portable lights, and bring lights that I can.
_____ Needlework gift worth $10-$15 for gift exchange (Saturday morning -- this is optional.)
_____ Needlework projects to work on.
_____ Items for "Show and Tell" on Saturday afternoon (can be finished projects, photos, or works in progress).

Things we've learned:

• You can read about previous retreats in the Archives.
• Each year, some attendees bring goodies (candy or small gifts) for everyone who attends. This is NOT expected, but always very appreciated for those who like to do that kind of thing, so remember that there will be about 25 attending.
• Some attendees MADE their gift exchange gifts. This also is NOT expected (but, the appropriate amount of drooling and oohing and ahhing takes place in such an instance); a $10-$15 gift is what is recommended. Homemade gifts are, of course, always welcome. Please do wrap your gift, or at least put it in a little bag.
• Come with empty space in your suitcase. You'll be going back with more than you came with.
• Retreat-ers have made some great friends at my retreats, and some have come back every year. Bring an open mind and a sense of fun (we can get pretty silly. Group water ballet on the carpet at 3 a.m.? Yes!) Some stitchers have used the weekend as a mother/daughter get-together, meeting place for old classmates, and vacation for friends.

Cancellation Policy:

There will be no refund for a cancellation, except in the case of an emergency like the death of a loved one, a serious personal illness, and the like. If you cancel for one of those reasons, at my discretion, I will refund all but $50 of your retreat fee. Anyone canceling with no refund will receive the $75 gift certificate and any other freebees from the weekend. This policy protects me from "squatters" who sign up just in case they might be able to come. Once a retreat is full, I close it, and to have people cancel messes things up -- it's hard for me to fill spots the later the date gets. Occasionally I will over-book, but I don't like to do that, since usually EVERYONE comes.

© 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