Ahhh Mondays! Mondays often have that heavy feel, transitioning from a relaxing or adventuresome weekend of family fun back into the daily grind of work and household duties. Not this week! I’m home on a quick packing layover, gathering my supplies for the Slow Stitching Retreat at Medomak Retreat Center in Washington, Maine!! I dropped in on this retreat for one blissful day last year, but this year I’m attending the entire week! I’m so excited to relax with Sam from A Gathering of Stitches (the mastermind behind these retreats), Alison Glass, Chawne Kimber, my friend Karin Jordan from Leigh Laurel Studios who is also attending the retreat, and all of the other slow stitchers!
My parents have graciously come up from New Jersey and rented a house on a lake only 15 minutes away from the retreat center, so during the day they will be playing with all three kids, and every evening someone will drive Finn to me where he will join me for sleep, to be (hopefully) joyfully picked up each morning. He’s still a nursing babe at 14 months, so I’m looking forward to the nightly mama reconnection time, too.
I originally aimed to schedule some blog posts for while I was away, but life has been very full these days, so this week will be quiet. I will be stitching away in this big, beautiful building and its neighboring barn, and will join you upon my return. Keep your eye on Instagram, since I will post a few updates to help share the blissful relaxation of the week! I have a fun color inspiration post pretty much ready for the week I return, and will get back into the swing of sharing my creative process and projects with you next week. And of course, of course, I will share a reflection of my time slow stitching.
To hold you over for the week, I do have a fun giveaway sponsored by the Fat Quarter Shop! One lucky reader will win this Fresh Adventures Playground Fat Quarter Bundle by Amy Sinibaldi for Art Gallery Fabrics, which includes 10 fat quarters.
To enter the giveaway today, tell me what type of adventures you like to go on. I’m a big fan of exploring new places, so my ideal day consists of traveling to a new ocean beach, walking along the coast line, hiking through the neighboring woods, and picnicking on the beach. I’d love to hear about what you do for an adventure! Leave a comment and make sure I’m able to get ahold of you if you win. For an additional entry, click HERE and sign up for my Night Quilter email list (or let me know you’re signed up). Tell me how you follow Fat Quarter Shop (facebook,twitter, Instagram, their blog Jolly Jabber, etc.) in a third comment for a third entry.
This giveaway is open to US and international participants. The giveaway will be open until Sunday August 14th at 8pm EST when I’ll select the winner randomly with random.org. Good luck, and enjoy your week! This giveaway is now closed! Congratulations One Creative Family!
*Please note that comment moderation is on, so if you do not see your comment right after posting, do not be alarmed! I will be disconnecting from social media for most of each day on the retreat, but will be checking in each evening to approve new comments. xoxo
Night Quilter 
we have a group of moms and kids who get together at least one day a week in the summer somewhere wet…beach/ lake/river, etc. This way the kids get to explore and we can spend time visiting and stitching. I love this palette of fabric.
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Wow what a great retreat! I love hiking too.
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Love yo ho on quilt retreats and traveling with friends and family. Taking my 13 year old son helps me to experience the world with younger eyes!!
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Enjoy! My fav adventures are to those places where I used to play and watching my kids to do the same thing 🙂
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I like to travel around to small towns, shop at their charity shops and antique stores–and of course fabric shops.
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I signed up for your newsletter. I think I already get it, and I guess I’ll find out when I confirm from my email.
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I follow FQ shop by going to their blog and getting the newsletter.
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I hope you are enjoying your retreat. I like exploring new places. Most of my adventures have been with Girl Guides, so we seek out the local shop for crests and other goodies.
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I follow FQ on Bloglovin, Facebook, and Instagram.
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I like to have any adventure that involves the ocean. It can be kayaking, swimming. Walking on the beach, fishing…you name it, I love it!
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I follow FQS on Twitter and Instagram.
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My adventures usually involve the Shenandoah National Park. Finding a new trail to wander while enjoying the views and wildlife.
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I just signed up for your newsletter. Enjoy your retreat.
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I follow the Fat Quarter Shop on FB, Instagram and I get the Jolly Jabber
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My husband and I are avid Civi War enthusiasts and we try tovisit civil war sites each year. It is terrific that we both enjoy ghis type of vacation. Enjoy your wonderful week!
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I am a big fan of the Fat Quarter Shop snd read their blog, follow the newsletter, follow ghem on facebook and shop the flash sale each day!
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Thisvis my 1st time visiting your blog and have just signed up for your newsletter, I am so enjoying your site.
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I enjoy walking/hiking in the woods and listening to the birds and seeing the animals.
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I follow the FQS on Facebook.
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I guess I’m not too adventurous. I would rather be sewing since I only get a few hours F-Su. Otherwise it’s all work and playing with the kiddo.
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Hello Kitty,
I always wanted to say that. But really you must hear it all the time. I love my Winercize group – it is a group of ladies whose kids are grown up who gather monthly to ercize. Then we drink wine. The ercize part has included belly dancing; paint night; bubble soccer; artistic circus. You name it – we are up for it. September is my month and we are going to a place where you work as a group to figure out how to solve clues to escape a room…. There is another booking 2 hours after ours so I am sure they will let us out. So my favourite think is getting out of my comfort zone.
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I am so glad to hear that you are able to attend the retreat and not just drop in. (Nice parents!) I have been watching your restful pictures on Instagram. I am off on retreat on Sunday too. Yay!
My dream adventures would be somewhere with a long history, different culture and interesting food. Throw in old architecture and an art museum, and I am happy.
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I think “safe” describes my adventures…I love traveling, but mostly to Europe where I know I’m pretty safe from violence and bad water and where they use a similar alphabet. I worry so much more about my kids’ safety than I ever thought I would and try not to be too much of a helicopter mom…so, yeah…safe. 🙂
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I forgot to tell you I follow you by email
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I recently started working downtown in a large city, so right now my favorite adventure is exploring the Skyways over lunch!
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I love to go hiking on natural parks. I love specially Nuuksio in Finland.
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I was wondering how you were able to get away for this retreat (that looks totally awesome! I love AG and her technique must have been so fun to learn directly from her) That is so sweet of your parents to come and help out, I know you had a good time so no need to say that here 🙂 I love to explore new beaches as well and living in Greece we have a massive amount them, but sometimes you get stuck on favorites, like we just found a beach that literally glitters as you walk around the water like a water fairy sprinkling glitter.
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Since traveling requires money and it doesn’t grow on trees, I try to keep it local. But if nothing is going on in my immediate area, the kids and I maneuver the mouse around google earth. We can see volcanoes and glaciers! Or we can see the calm waters of a cool summer lake, or view sand castles at the beach.
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I love to camp especially with a group of friends and our dogs. I live 45 mins from the Peak District so often nip up there after work on a Friday for a couple of nights under canvas. Gorgeous fabrics – what a lovely giveaway.
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… and I follow fat quarter shop on instagram
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… and have signed up for your newsletter 🙂
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