What should I take on a two and 1/2 day retreat?

[Annette R.]

Wow! I'm bookmarking this thread. You folks have come up with some awesome tips.

Along the lines of Maureen's suggestion to take emergency info, do y'all all know about "ICE"? Add an entry in your cell phone called "ICE" (In Case of Emergency). EMTs and other emergency aid workers are trained to check for an ICE number, since of course they can't know which of your entries is your spouse, best friend, or closest relative. On my phone I have "ICE #1 husband" and "ICE #2 brother" in case they can't reach the first one.

We should all remember to program and ICE and remember to look for an ICE number in someone's phone if they are in an emergency.

[Paula D.]

I always bring a small battery operated fan to blow right on me - "furnace girl" always feels warm in ANY classroom! Also, shoes that are easy to kick off. But DO NOT bring ANY perfumed products (worse than smelling feet!). Enjoy your experience. Make a list of what you forgot this time, so next time you'll have it all.

[Paula D.]

Thank you for the advice on the fan. I am always needing a fan blowing directly on me at work and sometimes at home. :lol: I will add it to my list. 8)
Karen

[Paula D.]

I've been reading all your great messages on how to prepare for a retreat. I will also leave for one on Friday at noon. It will go until Sun at noon. W are free to work on our choice of projects so I'll be bringing projects I've started by not quite finished. I hope to do some bindings, work on a pink quilt for charity, and piece scraps together to cover a sweatshirt. I am going to also bring along an old quilt that will be good for an extra blanket and I like to add to the handquilting when ever I am on a car trip. All of our food will be prepared for us on Saturday, but we need to do the food for Fri and Sun.

[Paula D.]

I love going on retreat with my guild. I would just caution you to take everything you need for your machine . . .such as threads, bobbins, needles, POWER CORD, footfeed. I know I have a small Janome (11 lbs) that I carry for classes and retreat, so I don't use it that often, so forgetting some little attachment can be a bummer. Oh, yes, does it have a 1/4" foot? We go to a bed & bkfst in Kansas called "The Barn" and the food is awesome there. Take your thread catcher, and check to see if there will be enough irons and ironing boards (big boards preferably). I also bought a small table to set up next to me that I can use for cutting and pressing small things. I have already paid for our next (Mar 08) retreat and am looking forward to it. Be there early enough to choose a good spot (I prefer to be near a window for the natural light). . . Most of all. . . .Have fun!!!

[Hannelore N.]

Bottled water (or a plastic bottle that I can refill). I'm always surprised how thirsty a dry atmosphere can make me, and you never know beforehand what the place will be like. I also take my favourite pillow if I stay anywhere over night. It folds out and becomes a lap-size quilt (if needed). My other essential item is a nailfile. Nothing worse than a broken nail that catches on the fabric.

Lorchen

[Anne B.]

I'm just back yesterday from a four-day retreat with my guild. Such fun!

Several years ago a group of us made a list of things to bring to a retreat, in addition to a sewing machine and whatever you need for your projects. Here it is:

Scraps to share
Design wall (with thumb tacks)
Coffee maker and supplies
Kettle and tea bags
Mug
Towel and face cloth
Ott light
Breakfast food (if it's not being provided)
Bottled water
Sewing machine tools and manual
Money for visits to the LQS
Pillow and quilt for your bed
Kleenex
Tool kit (WD40, hammer, little screwdrivers)
Camera, film (if required), and spare battery
Extra-long three-pronged extension cord
Spoons (for yogurt, measuring coffee, etc.)
Snacks to share
Bowl for shared snacks
Extra rotary cutter blades (and the rotay cutter, of course)
Ruler rack
Extension table for sewing machine
Tracing paper
Iron
Pressing mat or ironing board
Cutting mats--at least one that's 18 by 24 inches
White noise generator if you're a light sleeper, in case the person in the next room snores

Anne in Vancouver, Canada

[Beth A.]

Check out the latesst edition of "Quilter's Home" magazine. It has an article with a checklist of what to take to a retreat.

BethMI