Two posts in one day??? What???? I just had to blog about the retreat this past weekend. We had a great weekend, but I was really wondering ..... Is there any such thing as "quilt ettiquette"? I know it is taboo to use other people's tools without asking - like the all revered rotary cutter but what about other things?
What are the rules for quilting in groups? I am picturing Amish women (in my head they are the founding mothers of quilt retreats) all gathered around the quilting frame - do they have the same issues we do in groups? I am guessing that they do not have the issue of the super industrial commercial iron blowing the fuse, over and over and over - yes Julie I am talking about you (this was a great laugh this weekend -so thanks for the entertainment) - but do they have other issues?
Do the Amish women talk about their husbands - certainly they don't complain about having to watch football or the NASCAR race every sunday - but do they spend too much time in the barn - their own version of the man cave or spend too much time working on the horse and buggy?
I already know one rule - in my head at least - there is no crying in quilting - it is an homage to Tom Hanks in A League of Their Own - but I need to come up with others.
The retreat was so much fun this past weekend - but like with all gatherings - it had some small glitches (that's glitches - not bitches).
Here are my rules for retreats.... next year I am going to make the attendees sign a contract that states they agree to the following rules.....
1) Never ever leave your wing man. We all have the friends we are closer to and naturally gravitate to - but when you have to sit next to Nancy Know It All - never ever leave her alone.
2) Have a code word with your wing man - if you get bothered or want to go postal - it is nice to have a phrase to let your wing man know what you are feeling
3) If you can't carry it - you have no business bringing it. My motto for traveling is if I can't carry my suitcase - I have no business packing it. Asking people to carry things for you - is muy annoying. And no - I don't mean carrying my mom's suitcase or machine or my friend's mom's gear - these are my job - I am the porter upon arrival - but others people's stuff - not in the cards
4) Don't go to Mr. Pancake in April - it ain't open. Don't eat at Country Kitchen either - while it was fantastic as a kid - now, not so much
5) Try to go to at least one quilt shop every trip - it is nice to get out of the house for awhile.....
6) Cheetos - not a quilt friendly snack - who wants orange crumbs on your fabric - but the baked ones are oh so good.....
7) Silence is golden - for some of the time.... The rule should be..... sew a little, talk a little, repeat, repeat, repeat. Not talk, talk, interrupt, bud in, talk, talk, sew, sew, press, repeat, repeat, repeat. For the health and criminal record of all people involved - shut your pie hole some of the time...... we go on retreat to get away from the constant nagging and commotion at home - we don't need it all weekend.
8) Only go to locations where alcohol is allowed - if you have to deal with number seven - a slight buzz makes it a little better.
9) Take a group photo - we didn't do this ......
10) Remember to behave - any one of us can be voted out of the tribe and kicked off the island - we don't want to be the one that people are talking about the whole next year - we don't want to be the Jill Junior of the group (and no I haven't changed the name to protect the innocent)
I did have a great time - I loved spending time with sister and mom - it was great to see my mom getting back into quilting after her stroke. I had to fight back tears after putting her blocks up on the design wall. It just made me think how fast things can change and how lucky we are to have great friends and family that want to spend time with us.
To everyone that attended the retreat..... thank you for the laughs and memories - I am already wanting to plan next year!
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4 comments:
I had a wonderful time! Loved meeting everyone new, especially some of your family. I really hope Patti and I are on the list to be invited back next year! We made plans for it the whole trip home! Thanks again for your hospitality! Now to head down and unpack all my stuff! Love ya, Jen, and you are an amazing young woman!
Never leave your wing man? I had no wing man! Oh wait, I did but they were BOTH upstairs for the first 3/4 of the weekend.
My issue was getting my sewing machine back into the truck but I solved that by leaving the bag in the bed of the truck and then walking out with my machine and putting the machine in the bag once it was up in the truck. Worked out nicely. I totally pared back the rest of my stuff because I didn't want to carry it.
#5, if you miss the quilt shop field trip, it's ok to go over the wall at 9:30 at night and hit the casino by yourself. Of course when the annoyance is still there when you come back, you're still screwed.
#7, I really liked our sing along times too!! That and the goofing along. The incessant rambling about negative things irritated the shit out of me.
#6, may I suggest pretzel rods?
#8, alcohol was great UNTIL I was being monitored and told I was out of control. Then it just pissed me off. Hello, i'm a damn adult and if my own Mother isn't saying a word then there isn't a problem. And if no one else was concerned, AGAIN, no problem. 1 out of 16 people had a problem with EVERYONE.
#9 Dumbass here...I HAD my TRIPOD INSIDE so that we could do this. I blame ME. The only picture I have with someone else is the flashlight envy shot. =(
I'd like to add a #11. Offering to do a meal or a desert and being told we don't need additional food is one thing, blatantly NOT OFFERING is completely WRONG 100 times over.
I had a great time with a few stumbles along the way. Definetly alcohol is a must. And no, we didn't drink all that much not enough for a really good buzz. I agree if you can't carry it don't pack it. Don't just assume that everyone else is going to do things for you. Don't butt into a conversation that has absolutely nothing to do with you and please don't be negative it makes for a very long weekend. When you're going over the wall take someone with you don't go alone.
When it's time for your meal assignement do it gracefully. Don't stomp around an expect everyone else to help out, they've already done their kitchen time and for a hell of alot more people.
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