DPN's Size 4-10's. Check!

Getting a few tools ready for a nice long knitting weekend ~ Woo Hoo!

I would have missed... ~ Melissa

God how we get our fingers in each other's clay.  That's friendship, each playing the potter to see what shapes we can make of each other.  - Ray Bradbury :: Something Wicked This Way Comes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

an Orenburg shawl made by Sirkku ~ sent to a daughter in Europe to wear in her wedding and now back in the states for another daughter to wear

Diane's hands...

a pillowcase stitched by Diane at eight years old...

 

and a sampler also worked by Diane, some 50 years later, and finished at retreat

...inspiring...



Kristi working on a Sue Spargo quilt...

an applique stitched square being worked by Kristi

needlepoint worked by Sandi, my new football buddy

...amazing craftsmanship...

 

 

 

 

the view from our outing to the country club to watch Sunday football

 

 

there is so much beauty in pattern and order

 

I was minutes away from cancelling my part in the retreat this year.  My husband did a bit of arm twisting and insisted that I needed to go.  He's a smart man.  I was feeling low and unsociable and I was running on empty.  I spent 3 days listening to stories and laughing like I've not laughed in months.  Laughter to that point of tears where you don't feel like you can take another breathe.  I did need this weekend, much more than I knew.

 

I watched a group of amazing women interacting with each other while they stitched and appliqued, knitted and crocheted, and there was even a spinning wheel whirring this year.

 

There was an auction, our sixth I believe, to raise money for Friendship House.  We donated our unwanted stash as well as some handcrafts (there were beaded shawls, hand woven baskets, handmade wooden needle holders and holiday ornaments) and then purchased each other's donations...new treasures for everyone and a final tally of $2,265.75 to donate.  An incredible gift from an incredible group of ladies.

 

We celebrated a birthday with specialty chocolates, saw a grandpa sweater for a first child completed, and took walks in the damp autumn woods.  I came upon a sleeping doe that I did not see until I was right upon her.  She stood startled, so close I could see my amazed reflection in her eye.  We stared at each other for what seemed like days, until she decided that I was of no consequence and folded her legs back under her, lowered herself back to the ground and returned to slumber.  I stood statue still for a lifetime in disbelief.  I almost felt that I could have touched her if I had been brave enough.

 

There were stories told of cruises and castles and far away places, grand hotels and lego kingdoms, grandchildren and new puppies, basket caskets and wee bears, jackalopes and shouts of HEIDI-HO!  There were twice told tales ~ where's mother? ~ and brand new ~ Joanne, what's new pussycat?  Notes were compared by type A personalities ~ yes, there is a right way to eat m & m's ~ with affirmation that we must be sane if there are so many of us!

 

I cannot wait for next year and I'm so glad that I went since I'll have these memories and many more to get me by until then.  And yes, Fran, you may have the cot next year...I won't fight you for it.

 

Thanks to everyone who was there this year for making the weekend such a special time.  Thank you, Linda, for being the organizer-extraordinaire once again.  I feel so lucky to be counted among this incredible group of women.  Thank you all so much for including me in this amazing fellowship.

 

See you all next October!

~ Melissa

(and yes, if you're wondering, there was some knitting done by me...I finished my Jared Flood 'Shale Baby Blanket' (ravelry link here)...pictures soon to follow!)

what do you see? ~ Melissa

Who would have guessed that inside this unassuming building...

 

in the midst of a tall stand of evergreens...

 

could be found this seemingly chaotic cacophonous clutter?

 

 It might be hard to convince the untrained eye that what you see before you...

 

 

is creativity and kinship like you've never imagined.



 

An annual gathering of friends together under one roof...

 

doing all the things they love best and doing them oh, so well!

 

 

Reconnecting & rejuvenating, teaching & learning, laughing to the point of tears.  Creating artwork and friendships that will last a lifetime and beyond.

 

We also took a break from all the fun to catch the Seahawks game ~ of course we did!

 

I came home to the mess I left behind ~ the housework undone, the laundry piled up, the heavy dose of turmoil that our life has been for 13 months now with no end in site.

 

But I came home feeling like the mess I was when I left had been cleaned up and purged.  Ready to tackle our struggles with a lighter heart and the many memories of love and friends and the joy  these three short days brought to fall back on when I need to take a deep breathe and hit 'refresh'.

 

I've got so much to catch up on at home, including full email boxes in both my personal and Ravelry accounts (I promise to get back to each and everyone that has sent me mail...please be patient!) and I will get a better post up about the retreat as soon as I finish getting all my thoughts in order and my photos processed.  Until then, cheers!

~ Melissa

Knitting In The Firs~ a post by Kelli

The 2012 Knitting Retreat in Bellingham,Washington was another success. If out of control laughter, overeating and knitting all day, are things you do or like to do, this retreat is for you. We enjoyed our time away greatly. We shared our favorite knits with each other, Melissa is modeling her very creative, multi-madeline Bridgewater. The garment of the weekend was the Churchmouse Easy Poncho, we should of gotten a picture, it seems I saw around 10 ponchos either worn or being knitted on. We saw stitching, quilting, woven projects, all while surrounded by items we brought from our stashes to donate in a Silent Auction, we raised over $1700.00, for a local women's shelter. The much needed time went by so fast and was a 'good' tiring event, I napped when I got home. Can't wait till next year. What a bunch of highly creative and inspiring ladies, that probably weigh a little more then when they arrived. It takes a lot of energy to knit that much~ Kelli

Seasons Change

Mother Nature at her best ~ boy, she has a good eye for color

happy weekend, all

~Melissa

Island Girls

Just returned from our 3rd annual Roche Harbor knitting retreat on San Juan Island.  Zoe and Jo came along for the ride and behaved themselves quite nicely:

The weekend was filled with wildlife (these deer were crazy!!) ~

A visit with old friends on the farm:

And meeting some new:

Wardrobe additions from Peru:

Beautiful views from the front porch, morning and night:

Captured moments:

Autumn splendor:

Tons of laughter and sharing with this amazing group of women:

And another adventure shared with my best bud and partner in crime:

There are some good stories that go with the deer, the beads and that dazzling dress but I'll save those for another day.  And oh, yeah ~ I did manage to get some knitting done!  madeline, madeline, madeline....mmm mmm mmm ~just can't get enough of ya:

I cannot wait for next year!  What a fantastic weekend!   ~ Melissa