It Shore was a Great Retreat! 🏖

Oh my, it's been over a month already since the fantastic shore retreat!😲 But here's the fun that we had there.

It's always a good time in a house full of stitchers, eating, stitching, drinking, and laughing, with some frogging along the way!

Getting ready for the Gone Stitching NJ Shore Retreat and Miss Mia doesn't want to be left behind! If only she could join us.

This sweet piece was stitched by Annette K, and finished by her daughter-in-law, Kathy. A combo of the LinAnn retreat patterns.

It was a beautiful day when I arrived, just a bit breezy.

My stitching view, just gorgeous.

I added some more stitches to my Halloween Hijinx.

I know this will take a while to finish, but I'm not in any rush.

Our little walking group and what we saw that evening.

So Amy, Robin, and I started this sweet pattern as a SAL together. We all started it there.

This is Amy's, beautiful fabric.

This is Robin's, another beautiful fabric choice.

I started the one on the left over two, then decided I didn't like it so big. Lucky for me, Amy brought some extra fabric with her that I liked. I restarted, and it was back to over one on the right!

Deck views

Mermaids on a morning walk.

The lovely Janis @Noteworthy Needle was there too, and she had her beautiful pieces to show and purchase. Amy will be showing these models and charts in her shop.

Do you have any of her designs?

The group photo inside since it was too wet outside to take it that day.

The annual lunch at Wallys, yum!

More gorgeous beach photos. It was definitely a little chilly, and certainly windy, but still lovely.

It was windy, but time for another group photo.

On Friday, Amy, Janis, and I headed to Amy's shop to get goodies for the others to shop from.

Now this is teamwork! Having everyone help with bringing in the goods in and out went by so quickly.

And the set up - looking good!

The nerve, this is the thanks we get! 😠

Although the dates were wrong - we were framed! 😝

Well shoot, we still had fun! 🤣

The Barnegat Lighthouse is nearby, but I have yet to visit it. Maybe next year?

I started this about nine years ago for a friend's mother. I was close, but didn't quite finish it. (That friendship ended - don't ever tell anyone that you love unconditionally but don't reciprocate the same.)

I know I could still give it to her sweet Mom, but knowing that she'll end up with it puts a damper on it. I know that sounds awful, but it was a really upsetting and hurtful situation.

So, I would still like to finish it and thought I would bring it next year for everyone there to put some stitches in, it only needs the ocean to be finished. Then it can be a gift for the owners of the house, as a thank you for all the great times there.

Not really wanting to wish the year away, but I'm already looking forward to next time!

It SHORE was a Great Retreat! 🌊

Oh boy, off we go! (Or rather, went!)

This was at the end of April, I'm just a little behind in posting.

The view from the bedroom we were in this year.

Quick walk to the beach, just a little breezy.

The sun before the rain that came for almost the whole weekend.

It started out as a good idea...

... plans change!

Our goodie "bag", complete with flip flop bottle opener and ort bag (thanks, Jane!)

Afternoon stitching.

Don't be mad or sad, Brad/Chad/Thad/whatever his name might be, gets around to everyone!

I got the darn frog too.

Friday's lunch at Wally's, delicious!

The White Elephant exchange, lots of stealing ahead.

The word was SAND and this is what I finally was able to keep! I love the Mill Hill pattern, I've been wanting that one.

This was what I put together, looks like the ice cream melted.

Did you know - a Small Adorable Necessary "Ditty Bag" is a bag especially used by sailors to hold small articles like needles and thread - a perfect addition to what I gave.

Karen and I camped out in the big room this year to stitch.

It was a comfy room, as you can see!

Kelly finished this adorable mermaid blanket, so sad it wasn't for me! 😉  Although I do have one that Gman1 made me a few years ago, so all is good.

Linda and Annette had this piece going around the house for everyone to stitch a little bit. They will then frame it and give it to the owners of the house as a thank you. I stitched the little bucket.

Keep those frogs in one place and away from everyone!

Luckily it stopped raining long enough to get our group photo.

Such fun, I got to join the I ❤ Brad Club!

I had this last year at the retreat, but never started it even though Janis @ Noteworthy Needle explained it to me. This year, she helped me start it and that made a BIG HUGE difference! Are you ready to start yours, Jo?!

I did have a small finish there, Hands on Design, A Year of Celebrations.

I bought a couple fabric pieces, because I didn't think I  had enough at home. 🙄

And then, before we knew it, the weekend was over.😞

Another wonderful time with great ladies. I'm always looking forward to seeing them at the next stitching event!