Spring 2019 Blackbird Designs Retreat

The Spring Blackbird Design Retreat was scheduled for April 26-27, 2019 at Dyeing to Stitch in Virginia Beach. I knew I just had to attend as this might be the last one I would be able to attend. It had been on my bucket list for sometime but because of Jim’s health I could not attend. I joined the All About Berries club so that I would be able to apply for the earlier registration. Registration was to open on Wednesday, January 30th at 10am. I filled out the forms, scanned them, and had them ready to send at 9:59 by email. Yippeee, I was accepted.

2019 Retreat Info

I was up bright and early on Friday, April 26 with the car packed with everything I thought I might need and ready to hit the road by 8:30AM. The weather  forecast was NOT promising and it did not take long for the rain to start. Crossing the top of the mountain, was very foggy but that quickly disappeared and the rain continued off and on but got much heavier the closer I got to the Norfolk/Virginia Beach area. I had decided to go directly to Dyeing to Stitch first and then head to the hotel. The shop was packed with lots of ladies buying all sorts of things. I registered and got my name tag and retreat information and Fridays project.  Barb and Alma were at the back of the shop so I headed back to introduce myself and have a chat. They are both so sweet and friendly and Ann Robbins was in the back so I chatted with all of them and got a picture taken.

Barb Adams, Alma Allen, Ann Robbins and Pat Geary.

Our registration packet included the first night’s project, Home From the Sea.

Home From the Sea kit

While I was at the shop, I picked up Oh Joyous Day and the floss to stitch it.

I followed Cara Bonner back to the hotel and she helped carry stuff in, got checked in and up to my room to relax for a bit. About 5:30 I went down to our “stitching room” to join all of the other stitchers. What a noisy bunch we were. There are no stitchers that I know of in my circle of friends so it was fun to sit with other stitchers to see what projects they were working on, what tools they were using and how they were stitching. I marveled at the ladies who were stitching on the much higher count fabrics (36, 40, 46 and more) and in hand at that. Mamma Joan had set up in the hallway with all of her various bags and we all crowded around to see what she had. I was good and only bought one of them. Since I very seldom travel, my stitching project bag is usually a zip lock bag in a gallon or two gallon size depending on the project. Jam Emerick came over and brought me a lovely little pincushion and angel scissor fob. Love them both. Before I knew it, the time was 12:30 and I had signed up for the early morning class which began at 9:30AM. Unfortunately, I never even thought of taking pictures.

Pincushion and angel scissor fob.

When I got ready for bed, I realized the beds were pretty high with no foot stool or anything to help you into the bed. I tried hoping up but my butt just slide off the bed. It was rather comical to see me flop down and roll over to get in the bed.

I had set a wakeup call for 6:30, showered and went down for the free breakfast that was quite good. As I went to sit down, Alma was sitting there and invited me to join she and Barb which, of course, I did. What a treat to have breakfast with my two favorite designers and listen to their stories. Pat from Dyeing to Stitch came over and catted with the three of is about the fabric dying process and the various types of fabric. Wonderful to hear someone who really knows their subject. I road with a fellow stitcher to the country club of the morning session.

Barb and Alma told us some stories of their adventures and introduced us to the sampler that the two retreat projects were taken from.

Antique sampler that inspired the retreat projects

We were then given our class projects, a beautiful sampler, We Live in Hope.

We Live in Hope kit with chart, fabric, and floss

During the class many of the class participants started on one or the other of the projects based on the sampler. Because I need to stitch on Aida and linen was what came with the kit, I worked on something I had brought with me. Once I got home, I would switch out the linen and grid the fabric so it would be easier for me to work on. Ann Robbins had offered to loan me a light which turned out to be a light and magnifier. It worked great and I may decide to buy it for use at home. However, it is meant to be used on a table in front of you and I usually stitch on the sofa. As we worked on or projects, Alma and Barb stopped at each of the tables of stitchers and took time to chat with us as did Ann and Pat from Dyeing to Stitch. All to soon, the class was over and we gathered up all of our belonging and lined up for lunch.

Our lunchtime speaker was Linda Stolz of Erica Michaels. We learned all about assembling and finishing strawberries and received some awesome swag!

After lunch those of us in the morning session could go back to the hotel or do what we wanted. I chose to go back to Dyeing to Stitch to look around and perhaps buy some more. After all, my closest LNS is at least 1 1/4 hours drive for me.I

I hitched a ride back to the hotel with Mamma Joan and her daughter. Then time to sit down, go through all of the projects, and charts and floss and try to make some order of it. The stitching room was open again tonight for all of us to gather and stitch. A group of us headed out for one of the local restaurants for something to eat and then back to stitching the night away. Lots of chatter and laughing with fellow stitchers and meeting some folks I only knew from facebook. All to soon it was time to call it a night and head for the high bed. I knew this would probably be my last time at an even like this because of my eyesight but what an experience it had been. I met my very favorite designers, Barb Adams and Alma Allen, two great shop owners, Ann and Pat, and fellow stitchers I only knew by name on Facebook. It was something I will remember for many years to come.