June WIPocalypse Stitching Retreat

WIPocalypse is hosted by Measi's Musings

Each month we have to share the projects we want to complete before the End Of The World.  For me, this will be my "18 in '18".  Many of them are part of SALs so I will be working on them each month.

This month I have stitched on all my outstanding projects because of the Longest Day Marathon!  Here's a little collage of all the projects:

That was easy to post!

I also got a finish from my list of 18 earlier in the month.  Satsuma Street's Libra:

stitched on 28 count black Jobelan

This weekend I have continued with my focus piece for the month which is Chatelaine's Gardens of London.  I have completed the inside of the top left Garden and just have the Rhodes, Queen and Rice Stitches in the border.  Beading will be done at the end.

Here's the whole piece:

stitched on 32 count Cotton Clouds Belfast by Crafty Kitten

Measi always sets us a discussion topic:

June - Tell us what you think the ideal stitching retreat would include. 

I have been on two quite different retreats.  The first was a Re-Treat with the emphasis on the treat.  Two sisters owned a converted barn where they held the retreats for only 6 other ladies at a time.  One sister taught the stitching and the other sister did the cooking and also the pampering in the evenings.  I had a wonderful time!  We spent three days just stitching, chatting, eating, having our nails done and shopping in the pop-up shop they had there.

The second was more formal, based in London at the Imperial College in Kensington, I signed up for a goldwork course.  This was fascinating but sadly I never finished the project.  I have sent it to Dima as she has more chance of completing it than I do.

So my ideal retreat would be a combination of the two; time to chat and a class to learn a new technique or a special class project with a designer I admire.  I would love to get together with more stitchers, especially my blogging friends but that just isn't possible at the moment.  But if anyone is passing this way do get in touch and come round for coffee and stitching!

Finally, there will be a Summer Blog Hop this year.  I will be returning to the Postcard theme.  Each person emails me a photo of something they have stitched which is suitable as a postcard to a fellow stitcher along with a short message of the kind you write on a postcard.  I will forward the photo to another participant who shows it on their blog.  The photo can be anything Summer themed, beach themed, holiday themed, you get the idea!  If you'd like to take part then leave a comment or send me an email.

Edit to add - the Hop will run over the whole of the Summer with a few cards going out each week.  Final deadline will be the end of August, just in time for Back to School!