In case you missed it, the 2024 Riley Blake Designs Garden of Quilts class/event schedule has dropped. Sign-ups open April 15th. There are many, many classes I’d LOVE to take, but I must pass this time. We have some other things going on in September that take priority. Perhaps next year.
I did, however, make a list of the projects/designers that interest me. Of the five projects, I’ll only need to buy two patterns. I found online tutorials and did a little quilty math to figure out the other three. Now, I’ll have plenty of projects for upcoming sew days and any fall Koosa quilt retreats with my Friday Sew Squad I might be able to attend.
QuiltCon was fun and I’m eagerly anticipating my JK Quilts retreat in Idaho at the end of April. After this, I plan to keep the quilty fun close to home for a while. It’s kind of strange. Hubs and I love to travel. This spring & summer, we’ve opted to pass on events we’ve attended in recent years in favor of volunteer opportunities or similar local events. I think it’s a combination of wanting to do something different, all the crazy people travelling now and the increased cost of travel.
For me, does the value received for attending an event justify the cost to attend? I realize it’s a highly subjective and very personal decision. For example, Stitchin Heaven is currently advertising a mid-November retreat in Asheville, North Carolina. It’s within reasonable driving distance from me and the projects look fun, but I did a double take when I saw the price for a single attendee – $2549.00 – and then a second one when I realized what wasn’t included in the cost of the event. For that kind of money, I want to stay at the Grove Park Inn – not the Embassy Suites. You may have a different opinion, and that’s totally fine.
Most of my local sewing/quilting group retreats are held at a state park lodge, scout camp, FFA facility, church retreat center or a quilt retreat center. The total cost runs $300-$400 for 4-5 days. Occasionally, a local shop offers a “sleep in your own bed retreat” where the shop hosts a long weekend of quilty fun. These are a blast! Personally, I prefer retreats where I bring my own projects, sew with friends and have my own room/share with one person I know. I want to attend a Koosa retreat with my Friday Sew Squad, but I’m not sure about the dormitory style accommodations. Hubs is encouraging me to get outside my comfort zone on this one. His solution: drive up by myself and come home if it gets to be too much. He has a point.
Here’s to quilt retreats how ever you like them!
Come Stitch With Me 
Woah, the cost of that retreat is astounding! I guess I won’t be doing that one, LOL! And I’ve never understood why single occ is more than double 🥴
I won’t be attending this one either! You still have to add travel to Asheville, dinner each night, cost of 2 kits, parking, etc. to the retreat cost. If hotel for a single is $1000 for the 5 nights, what does the $1500 cover? I’m not seeing the value there.