Packing bags

1 more sleep and that's it.

Have finally got the suitcase out and started to pack everything for the weekend.  It's hard to believe but after all the months of waiting this weekend is almost here.  Now, need to remember pajamas for pajama party, name tag, stitching project for the weekend, and of course the normal traveling items.

Look forward to seeing everyone this weekend.

More Goodies

Oh Happy Days!!

Today two more suppliers have been added to the sponsor list for the Getaway.

Norden Crafts

Glorianna Silks

3 more sleeps before the Getaway.  

Exclusive workshop Hint #3

Hint #3

Well the getaway is quickly approaching so it's time to show you another hint for the exclusive workshop.

I know that I am looking forward to stitching this piece as it is something that when it's complete will remind me of the retreat and everyone that will have attended.

I have started getting my stitching bag ready and making sure that I have my light, scissors, and my projects that I would like to work on during the weekend all ready.

Time is flying by and still need to finish my name tag, how about you?

More Surprises

This afternoon has been as wonderful as this morning. We received a shipment from another supplier, Kelsea Sales; they included an absolutely spectacular prize pack that will be used as one of the grand prizes at the banquet dinner.
I'm anxious to see what tomorrow will bring.

It's not too late!!!

What a wonderful Monday morning it has been.
Another sign up for the Getaway, bringing our number to 37.  It's not too late to join in on the excitement.
As our kids would say "Only 4 more sleeps".

We also had a wonderful surprise in the post this morning.  Stoney Creek has sent enough copies of a New Release for each attendee.  As last year our suppliers have once again been very generous.
See you Friday.

Sponsors List

As promised here is the complete list of sponsors, as it stands today.  I know Kathrin has requested goodies from a few more distributors.  She is anxiously awaiting their shipments.  If they make it in time, I'll adjust the list on Gitta's website, Events page.


A Needle Pulling Thread

Christine's Swedish Weaving

BeadAddict

Brenda Franklin

Caron Collection

Crescent Colors

Daylight Lamps

Embroidery Canada
Enchanting Lair

Fleur de Paris

Gentle Art

Gitta's Charted Petit Point

H. A. Kidd and Company Limited

Hoffman Distributing Company Inc.

Jack Pizioli Enterprises (Royal Paris/Margot distributor)

JBW Designs
Jeannette Douglass

Kelmscott Designs

Rainbow Gallery

Rosewood Manor

The Printing Mill

Threadworx, Inc.

Victoria Sampler

Weeks Dye Works

Wichelt Imports
X's and Oh's

Zweigart

Wow, what a list, and wow, what a weekend it will be.

Getaway Goodies

I was at Gitta's yesterday, and the retreat "Treats" from Kelmscott arrived.  For those of you not familiar with Kelmscott designs, they make the gorgeous NeedleMinders.  Kathrin and I were both blown away.  Not only did Kelmscott choose a beautiful motif for the Getaway, they were generous enough to include 1 for each of us.

Just like last year, Kathrin managed to arrange a tremendous stash for the welcome packages, banquet packages and prizes.

Goodies have already arrived from:
Zweigart, Victoria Sampler, Jeannette Douglas, Rainbow Gallery, The Beadaddict, JBW designs, X's & Oh's, Christines' Swedish Weaving, Daylight, Kreinik, Caron Collection, Kelmscott, Hoffman Distributing, A Needle Pulling Thread, and H.A. Kidd (DMC).  I feel like I'm forgetting someone; I'll get the complete list from Kathrin and post the complete list of sponsors later.

Kathrin had also finished the 15-sided Biscornu for the Needleworkers Marketplace.  Each designer at the market has designed a pattern 20 x 20 stitches, and you can collect all by visiting each designer.  This is their "Thank you"  to you for coming to the Market.

Here is a sneak peek at the Biscornu,  The designer squares shown here are Jeannette Douglas, The Bead Addict, Kathrin's and Christine's Swedish Weaving

On the other side you can see the ones by Brenda Franklin, Carolyn Mitchell, Joanne Gatenby, Laura Dickson, and Britstitch. 

Remember all Getaway attendees get to enter the Market for free.  So don't forget to collect all the wonderful designs.

What a wonderful take home gift for everyone.

Round Robin Survey

To post or not to post?  That is the question!!
This is a constant dilemma among Barbara, Darlene and me.  Barbara feels that little teasers raise everyone's anticipation;  whereas I feel that seeing the entire finished project will raise the excitement to an all time high.  Having dropped by the shop today, Connie caught sight of the completed Round Robin bell pull, and immediately signed up for the weekend!!
So, I am leaving it up to all of you.  Send us a comment with your vote, whether you would like to see the complete project now, or do I concede and you'll see 2 more little snippets before it is revealed Friday night at the Pajama Party.
Kathrin

Exclusive workshop Hint #2

As we promised last week we would give you another hint as to what the exclusive workshop is going to look like once it's finished. 

This is another part of the exclusive workshop piece and it shows some of the flosses that we are going to be using on it.

By this time in two weeks if you are attending the Getaway you will have seen the finished piece and stitching away on yours.  If you want to register for any of the Needleworker Martetplace Workshops it's a good time to do so to ensure that you get into the ones that you want.

Getaway news

For those of you that want to hear a bit more about the Getaway from last year there is a wonderful article in the Spring 2011, A Needle Pulling Thread Magazine. 

You can also look at the archives of this blog (May 2010) to see some of the pictures from last year.

Here is a link to one of the pages:  http://gittasgetaway.blogspot.com/2010/05/saturday-shenanigans-part-2.html


Registration form
We have also included a link to the registration form on the left hand side of this blog so that you can register for the 2011 event.

We are looking forward to seeing everyone there.

Exclusive workshop Hint #1

With the getaway getting closer and everyone wondering what the exclusive workshop finished piece is going to look like, we have some hints over the next weeks to show you.

We have already showed you the colours that were being considering so here is a picture of one of the parts that is going to make up the finished project.

Hint #1 a corner

From now until closer to the getaway we will show you bits of the piece so that you can start to see what the project is going to look like. I know that Kathrin is busy finishing the piece so really looking forward to seeing the completed project myself.

Getaway menu

Well the menu for the weekend has been finalized and here it is.


Friday evening:
  Meet and Greet with designers and other attendees:  hot finger foods to enjoy

Saturday
  Breakfast:  A Taste of Europe
  Lunch:  Bistro Express
  Afternoon Tea
  Banquet dinner: (here are the options)
     The highlited items are the set menu if no choice is made
    Soup or salad (one choice)

• Potatoe leek soup with chive sour cream and bacon shards
• Fire roasted tomato soup with basil oil
• Caesar salad, bacon chips, foccacio crisp & shaved padano
• Mixed greens with roasted red peppers, goat cheese and balsamic vinaigrette

   Main course (one choice)

• Grilled chicken supreme with carmelized onions
• Pan seared Atlantic salmon with citrus glaze
• Pork chop stuffed with Niagara stone fruit, maple syrup glaze
• Wild mushroom risotto with grilled asparagus

  Dessert
      Back by popular demand ........

Sunday
   Breakfast:  Breakwater Brunch
      
All the food sounds so wonderful and I know I have made my choice for the dinner and looking forward to the rest of the meals at the Waterside Inn.

Getaway is getting closer

Last night was the monthly stitch night at Gitta's and I have to admit it was a lot of fun as you can tell everyone is getting excited about the Getaway. 

Of course the ones that went last year were talking about all the fun that we had and spoke about the friendships that were made over that weekend.  Name tags were brought up and some people are finished and others still have to make theirs (only 22 days until getaway and counting).  Even the talk about name tags meant tons of laughs from the group.

Some of the stitchers are going to their first Getaway this year and wanted to hear what the hotel was like as well as the overall experience.  The hotel ensures that everyone has a good time and made to feel very special during the weekend.  The food is excellent and of course the company is indescribable and the Gitta's Gang makes sure that everyone has a wonderful time and forgets about everything other than relaxing, stitching and having fun.

Here is the group that was at Stitch Night busy working on their needlework.   

One of the ladies that is attending the getaway mentioned that her husband (not mine) had renamed the getaway and of course we all wanted to hear what it was.  So here it is:  "Gitta's Girlfriends Wild Weekend for Naughty Needleworkers (only bent needles and twisted threads allowed) *Hunky husbands may briefly visit if properly muted."

So the group last night sure helped bring back a lot of wonderful memories and also increased the excitement of knowing that the getaway is fast approaching.

Exclusive Workshop

This year's exclusive workshop for the Getaway is a Round Robin.  The Round Robin is divided into 4 parts.  During the 2 hour workshop you will have a 1/2 hour with each designer.

Jeannette Douglas, Laura Dickson, and our very own Kathrin Ellison have each designed a portion of a bellpull that symbolizes this weekend's theme "Friends Stitching Together".   The fourth designer in this group is Brenda Franklin;  Brenda is both a cross stitch and bead designer. For her portion, she has designed a beaded tassel to embellish the bell pull's tip.

The workshop will be held Friday evening, to keep your weekend free to relax, stitch in the stitchers lounge, shop at the NeedleWorkers MarketPlace, and/or attend more workshops offered by the designers exhibiting at the Market.

We had another stitcher sign up for the Getaway yesterday, so now there are 16 spots remaining for the Retreat.  With less than 1 month to wait, we have had quite a number of inquiries this past week.