Shepherd's Bush Retreat - Thurs. con't

After the Project Reveal . . . we had dinner at Red Rock Brewery at Park City Junction . . . not too far from The Canyons.  There's an "open-air mall" there.  (I may have my days mixed up at this point, but regardless we did all these things . . . just maybe not on these particular days).

That evening we met back at The Canyons for the Great Cookie Swap in the Ballroom.  We each picked a cookie tin (there were several different designs)  and then proceeded to different stations to make our "cookies".  (One cookie was an actual cookie . . . not in this picture because I ate it of course . . . yum!)

We got our stitch chart that will be inserted into the project that we will do tomorrow night with Cece Stricklin of the Thread Gatherer . . . when we finish stitching it.  At one station we made the "Pinwheel Cookie" which is the little rolled green piece.  We cut out and stitched the green holly leaves and added a button, rolled it up (there's a tape measure inside) and pinned it together.  The next station was "Sprinkles".  There, we glued beads on straight pins to use as counters.  Next was the "Sandwich Cookie".  Two large buttons with circular felt pieces threaded together with silk ribbon and a charm.  And last, was "Truffles".  A felt ball that we glued rick-rack around and added beads on straight pins, glued a flower shape on top and added the silk ribbon.  Cute little trinkets . . . and we had our friends sign the bottom of the can . . . a fun time was had by all!

Exhausted from lack of sleep, altitude, and excitement . . . we went back to our suite, stitched a bit and crashed for the night . . . at least that was the plan.  Sleep?  Seriously?  Too excited!  The classes begin tomorrow!!! 
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Let The Retreat Begin!

On Thursday, September 27th Shepherd's Bush opened their shop-away-from-shop at The Canyons.  They save certain things for the hotel shop that they don't display in Ogden.  They always have a scissor fob for the retreat and they're snatched up quickly . . . luckily they put more out each day.  There are definitely people that hoard these exclusive items.  Are they buying for friends at home?  I don't know . . . but it sometimes means that those who have paid to come to the retreat, don't get the opportunity to purchase some of these exclusive items . . . just isn't fair.  Anyway, I managed to get one of the scissor fobs . . . as you can see, I haven't taken it out of the package yet.  It's a complete kit (without the scissors) . . . "nice" on one side "naughty" on the other . . . so cute!

 The shop was packed . . . the lines were as long as they were in Ogden!  Registration for the retreat begins at 1:00 p.m. so we have plenty of time to shop in Park City and have lunch.

Park City is built on a hillside so it is a workout to do the entire main street . . .  you really feel the altitude huffing and puffing up the hill!   We stop for a photo op with "Loosey Moose" to catch our breath.

We have a few favorite shops we must visit and I bought the cutest bracelet in one of them.  Don't you just love it?!

It's handcrafted by Christy Fisher from Jerome, Arizona from recycled materials.  I'm channeling my inner hippy here.

We had a yummy lunch sitting outside enjoying the warmth of the sunshine before heading back to The Canyons to register.  At registration we received our schedule and a welcome project.  It's a tote bag that has a panel to stitch with more designs than will fit . . . how will we ever chose which ones we want to stitch?  You either got a red or green ticking bag.  Here's mine . . . nearly finished.  I bought some braid yesterday to "frame" the edges (they're a little angled and this will straighten them out and give a nice finish to the piece I think.)

They had finished ones at a table in a meeting room to give us some ideas.  We stitched on our Welcome Project waiting for the "Project Reveal" at 4:00 p.m.

Also at registration if we wanted to participate in an ornament exchange, (we were to bring a cross-stitched ornament and $5.00) our ornaments were tagged and they gave us a number to claim the ornament we were to receive (there were some really cute ones).  I stitched my biscornu ornament like this one and added some beads to it as well.  You can get the free chart on this blog by going to the December 20, 2011 post.

Shepherd's Bush matched our donations and with all the proceeds will purchase 9 sheep from the Heifer Project!  This organization provides animals to families in impoverished countries.   

At 4:00 p.m. the highly anticipated project reveal had finally arrived!  The designers were introduced and they showed their class projects!  My only complaint about these retreats is that we can't take EVERY class.  It's so hard to choose which track you want to be in . . .  we agonize over it!

First up was R&R.  Here's Pat with their project:  "Home For The Holidays".  

Sorry the project looks so washed out . . . think I need a new camera.  It really is a beautiful project.  They mounted it in a box (not included) which is a great idea.  The phrase is:  "Backwards, look backwards oh time in your flight, make me a child again just for tonight" . . . LOVE IT!  (We're in their class!) Also included was this thread holder from Liberty Hill:

Next up was Jeannette Douglas.  This picture speaks volumes to her personality . . . she's so enthusiastic:

Her project is titled:  "Be Merry and Bright".  It's stitched in wool and she always includes a variety of stitches.  (We're in her class!)  I was just saying earlier in the day that I wanted to work in wool . . . LOVE IT!    Here's a better look at the project:

Next came Linda Lautenschager of Chessie & Me with her darling project:  "Shepherd's Christmas"  (we're in her class too!).  She uses some satin stitches in the grassy areas that make it look like the trails the sheep make while they graze . . . LOVE IT!

Now for the projects we aren't doing . . . boo hoo.

Shepherd's Bush (how can you not LOVE Tina and Terri) . . . can't go wrong with them . . . always a cute project . . . mats and frame by Jill Renzel:

Charland Garvin of Charland Designs . . . such a delight . . . she says this will be her last teaching retreat . . . say it isn't so!   Her project was too cute! (Again a poor picture . . . sorry)

And Paulette Stewart of Plum Street Samplers (oh I LOVE this!)

Oh the excitement now that we know what we'll be working on!!!!

I'm going to have to break up this day so as not to keep you too long.  We're off to dinner on our own and regroup tonight for the "Great Cookie Swap" . . . till tomorrow . . .

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Shepherd's Bush Open House (Pre-Retreat)

So . . . how did you sleep?  I was too excited!  Maybe got 5 or 6 hours.

Today (Wednesday, 9/26) the festivities began with an Open House at Shepherd's Bush in Ogden.  After our breakfast at the Hampton Inn chatting with other familiar and new faces of folks attending the retreat, we just had to go back to the shop . . . in case we missed something yesterday . . . and to get the "retreat pin".  Each retreat, if you go to the Open House and make a purchase, you get a cute little pin tied to your bag with a ribbon (Just one of the many little touches that make this retreat so special!).

Here is the name badge I designed and stitched for my two other "retreat cohorts" several years ago (only one other cohort made it to this retreat with me).  The little "retreat pins" are stuck all around it . . . this year's is the purple one with the sheep on it.  We also purchase a charm each retreat and stitch it to the bottom . . . I've lost one, but we're running out of room . . . what are we going to do?

We were dubbed "the fun girls" by Ann Robbins of  R&R at the first Shepherd's Bush Retreat we attended in 2006.  We had met Ann and Pat (Pat Ryan is the other half of R&R) the night before and had a great time talking with them.  We told them we were scheduled for their track and didn't show up in the first class they taught (we were scheduled for their afternoon track).  She asked Pat where the "fun girls" were . . . it has stuck.

After lunch in Ogden and a long chat with some sweet, sweet retreat buddies, we headed up to The Canyons Resort in Park City.  The Canyons is a beautiful resort and we spoil ourselves by booking a suite each time!  That way we have a kitchen for breakfast and snacks, a living room to sit and stitch and two bathrooms to get ready each morning.

 

 Here's the lobby:

 We unpacked and headed off to Whole Foods to get our provisions for the next few days.  After getting settled in, we went in search of dinner.  The only resort restaurant we found that was open was The Farm.

The food was very good . . . and "pretty". . . you know . . . great presentation . . . small portions.  This was a little . . . and I mean little . . . starter salad?

Pickled peaches and cucumbers . . . quite tasty . . . that one bite I had.

They had very good Cosmopolitans though!  We're on a quest for the best Cosmo . . . two thumbs up here!

Get a good night's sleep.  The fun really begins tomorrow!!!!!
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Pre-Shepherd's Bush Retreat 2012

I just recently returned from Utah and the Shepherd's Bush Retreat.  For a cross-stitcher, it just doesn't get any better than this that I'm aware of!  This was my 4th retreat of their's and I've never been disappointed.  The theme this year was Christmas and I felt like a kid waiting for Christmas before I got there and like a kid at Christmas the whole time I was there.

Getting there could have been better however.  After boarding our DC-9 at Tri-Cities Airport in Johnson City, TN to Atlanta for my connection to Salt Lake City, the captain announced that there was a puddle of hydrolic fluid under the plane and they were looking into where that might have come from.  A few minutes later, he announced that they would be flying in a part AND a mechanic to fix a brake problem and we should deplane.  He estimated that it would be at least a 3 hour wait . . . say what!?  

I told the Delta agent that I had arranged my flight so that I would arrive only an hour after my BFF Jen at noon.  The rental car was in my name as was the hotel in Ogden where we would spend the night.  I told her that we had a 3:00 p.m. function to attend in Ogden.  (Ogden is where Shepherd's Bush has their shop and they were holding their birthday party/open house there at 3:00 p.m.)  NOOOO!  This can't be happening!!!!

The Delta agent said they could drive me an hour to Asheville, NC . . . hmmm . . . with a connection that would get in to Salt Lake around 6:00 p.m. . . . UNACCEPTABLE!  I'd miss the whole thing . . . and what about Jen!  They could drive me two hours to Knoxville, TN to catch a flight to Memphis and get me to Salt Lake about 4:00 p.m.  It was the best they could do.  Jen was able to rent a shuttle to Ogden.  They wouldn't let her check-in at the hotel, but they did keep her luggage for her.  My driver said that this is the 4th repair made to the DC-9 since they purchased it!

I landed in Salt Lake City 14 hours after I had woken up that morning . . . could have driven a little over halfway there by that time.  I landed and grabbed the rental car and drove like a MANIAC to Ogden!  FINALLY MADE IT!

Their shop is a stitcher's dream!!!!

They had these adorable stitched and stuffed sheep made out of newspaper in the window . . . how cute is that!?!

It would take at least a full month to sift through everything they have in that shop.  With each walk-through, I would see something different.  It's overwhelming!

Ogden is a cute town with some interesting shops and good restaurants.  We had dinner at our favorite:  Roosters.  They could improve on their Cosmopolitans however . . . not the best.

We also have to visit Jill Renzel's frame shop while we're there.  She has an open house before the retreat as well each time.  Her painted and cut-out mats are amazing!  I took a stitched piece for her to frame and am giving her full creative license to do whatever she wants . . . I won't be disappointed.

Here is a petit point piece I did that she framed two years ago . . . how cute is this:

 I've also ordered her mats for two Shepherd's Bush pieces I stitched:

 This is Happy Haunting

And this one is Sail Away
















Too cute . . . Jill is AMAZING!

I will keep you in the same suspense we were in for the Retreat . . . you will be spending the night in Ogden and tomorrow I will continue . . . gotta drag this out . . . there's too much to tell!!!!
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Life At The Lake

When we moved here, I thought this would be a good walking neighborhood.  Not everyone here at the lake is a full time resident so traffic is light during the week.  The problems are: the streets are VERY narrow with no shoulder; it's somewhat hilly and curvy; and the residents that are used to the hilly, curvy roads drive WAY too fast!  So, I only walk down to the point and back . . . which takes about 10 minutes . . . I walk it several times.  We live on a "peninsula" at the lake (which is really a river that the TVA floods in the summer, creating Boone Lake) so there is no outlet at the point.  It's usually quite peaceful with water views the whole way . . . it feels like you're on vacation!

The deer are frequently grazing at the back of our property in the morning as I get ready for my walk.

I leave our house and think I really should get my exercise by spreading those bags of mulch that are laying on the front walk . . . I'll get to it when I get back.

 I take a right on our private road to Lake Point Drive . . .

then a left . . . the water is visible on my right the whole way to the point.

The properties on the left run all the way to the water on the other side of the peninsula  . . . these are larger houses with names.

It's usually very quiet with birds chirping . . . the occasional boat . . . sometimes a car.  Today they were cutting down trees getting ready to build on a lot that was previously occupied by a trailer.  Yes . . . it's a mix along this road . . . only two trailers left now.  I don't think zoning allows them along here anymore, but the existing ones are "grandfathered" in.



There's just something so relaxing about water . . .

 Even this little fishing trailer looks inviting . . . well, maybe not the trailer, but the property does!

  There are several cute little cottages down here:

 

Then there are some very nice houses as well:

 The one above is for sale . . . right at the end, on the point itself!

I  start back and pass all the "named" properties wanting to stroll down their driveways to have a look . . . I can't quite see their houses.

 

I arrive back at our street and am greeted by a family of concrete deer and a little dutch girl peeking at me from her tree stump:

Returning to our street, I pass our house . . .

and see the water on the other side . . .

The neighbor across the street is selling her house . . . she has a pool!

The folks below are only here occasionally . . . their "real" house is about 20 minutes away.  They have a great view of the lake.  It was their tree that fell and damage their dock and the dock of their neighbor (the house above).

Back home now, from the front porch, I survey the garden that I'm expanding  . . . this is where the mulch is to go:

I still have a lot of digging to do . . . better get busy!

~*