Who’s Ready for a Retreat?
Did you know Tracy Riffle of Hands to Work holds an annual retreat every year? Well, now you do. 
Tracy mentioned this year’s retreat, which will occur from Friday, October 5, 2007, through Sunday, October 7, 2007, back in June on her blog. That’s when it was announced this retreat would feature classes from Kathy Barrick-Dieter of Carriage House Samplings, Barb Adams and Alma Allen of Blackbird Designs, folk artist Maggie Bonanomi (whom cross stitchers may know best because her drawings have been interpreted in cross stitch by Blackbird Designs) — and Tracy, of course 
. Can you believe it’s actually possible to take classes from all of these amazing women in one place (and eat most of your meals, too!) for the low price of just $400?
Unfortunately, that amount does not include your hotel costs; if it did, the retreat would already most certainly be full. This exciting and educational event will be held at the Hotel Strasburg in Strasburg, Virginia, (a town known for its great antiquing, by the way) which is about a 45 minute drive from the nearest airport (Dulles International Airport). Be sure to mention that you’re participating in Tracy’s retreat in order to receive a 15% discount on your room costs.
Proving that it pays to know people in any business, a bracelet-making class will also be offered separately for an additional price during the retreat by Liz Mathews, a jewelry designer who also happens to be Kathy’s daughter.
The event will also offer significant stash enhancement opportunities with designer trunk shows open the whole weekend! (Could this be the real reason the retreat cost is so low? To give you the chance to collect everything else these talented designers have created?)
Tracy posted on her blog just yesterday that there are only four openings left for the retreat, so sign up right away if you want to go! She also showed us this gorgeous picture of Kathy Barrick-Dieter’s retreat project, which is called A Virtuous Woman:
Be sure to check out Tracy’s blog to see a picture of Maggie’s project, too, which looks really fun and just perfect for the fall!
To sign up for the retreat, contact Tracy Riffle right away. A deposit of $150 will hold your spot, with the final payment of your balance due in September.
At least one way Tracy is accepting payments is by PayPal, so you can be signed up in just about the blink of an eye and back to your stitching in no time!
Technorati Tags: retreat, needlework, Hands to Work, Kathy Barrick-Dieter, Barb Adams, Alma Allen, Blackbird Designs, Maggie Bonanomi, Carriage House Samplings, Virtuous Woman, Liz Mathews, Tracy Riffle, jewelry, bracelet, trunk show