Camp Blanding!!!

I'm all packed and ready to head to Houston this evening for tons of inspiration!

For those of you interested in attending our Camp Blanding Retreats... be sure to sign up ASAP for our January (30 - February 1, 2015) and/or February (27 - March 1, 2015)!  

The cost is only $50.00 for 3 days!  Here's a little more about it....

Camp Blanding is located in Starke, Florida (south of Orange Park and Middleburg).  It is the Joint Training Center for the Florida National Guard and a wonderful facility.....located on Kingsley Lake.  

Our 3 day retreats begin early Friday morning where everyone begins to line up around 7:00 am for check-in at 8:00 am.  (can you believe that?)  We sew in one GIANT room that has long (8') and round (large round banquet style)tables (and chairs).  We have great lighting and 24 hour service with a group that takes care of our air conditioning, restroom facilities, etc.  We even have a kitchen to the back of the sewing room that has 2 HUGE refrigerators, HUGE ice maker, places for our crock pots.  Other dining options are available on post or many leave post and head to Starke or Middleburg for their meals.  

Lodging has many options:

Single Lodge Units: ($30 @ night) - newly remodeled the single units have a double bed, microwave, small refrigerator and you share a "Jack-n-Jill" bathroom with a girlfriend.

Quonset Huts: ($90 @ night) - one large room that holds 2 double beds, 1 single bed, dining area, sitting area, bathroom (shower only) and a kitchenette (2 burner stove, refrigerator, microwave - NO oven) with a few dishes.  (no coffee pot... bring your own)

Cottage: ($90 @ night) - 2 bedrooms - #1 - 2 twin beds, #2 - 1 double bed.  Full kitchen, sitting area, screen porch.

All facilities have their own bedding, TV and air conditioning.

Lodging is acquired through www.oldegreencupboard.com website approximately 30 days prior to the first day of the retreat.  NO refunds, exchanges, transfers, hold-overs are allowed for either room fees and/or retreat fees 21 days prior to the first day of the event.

Click on the "Registration Form" link below - it will take you to the website HOME page - click on the form, print, complete and mail with your check to the address on the form.

Registration Form

If you are flying into Jacksonville for the retreat, use the Jacksonville International Airport (JAX). We have people come from all over!!  California, Texas, Vermont, Ohio... you name it. This is NOT a fancy retreat...it's simple, fun and a great way to sew for 3 days on your own projects!

Friday & Saturday 8:00 am - 10:00 pm   

Sunday  8:00 am - 4:00 pm

SALE ROOM

The two extra conference rooms attached to our sewing room are used twice a year for our SALE ROOM!  If you want to participate - the fee is $20.  You are assigned a number that you will use to identify your merchandise (priced).  Once placed in the sale room - we are your cashiers for two days... all the money you make IS YOURS TO KEEP.  The room is a GREAT success and full of things that someone else no longer wants... and now it's your treasure.  It has sold over $13,000.00 in just two days.  It's a great way to clean out your sewing room, crafts, antiques, etc. and earn some cash!  If you are interested, there is a place on your registration form to sign up.

All attendees must include their driver's license number or a State or Federal identification number on the registration form.  This is a new policy the post is enforcing.  You must also have valid identification that you show to the gate guard each time you enter the post.

WE HOPE YOU CAN JOIN US!

Where have I been????

What a great day!!!!  

Today I'm headed to Cinnamon's Quilt Shop to facilitate our "Featherweight Club" !  We all enjoy our featherweights and it's great fun to hear the "huuuummmmmm" of them all running in one room.  Plus... I'm going to show the gang how to make a zipper bag if they are interested!  

Then... off to get my nails and toes all pretty.... I'm heading to Houston Quilt Market on Wednesday to help my friend, Joyce Weeks - Geoff's Moms Patterns in her booth.  I'm so excited for her...she has GREAT new quilt patterns and a wonderful wool BOM that she's debuting!  Take a peak....

Beauty All Around (top right corner) is her BOM!  It's so much prettier in person... I can't wait to see what the response is from the shop owners.  I hope she gets tons of them to sign up!  If you are new to wool applique...this is a great one to begin with.  Talk to your local shop owners and have them check this out.  We will be in booth 2046!

The other exciting thing about market is.. we get to see trends in colors, styles, techniques... it's so mind boggling and so wonderful at the same time.  After market, we will get the booth set up for festival.  I am staying for 2 days just to shop and get inspired.  Actually... it's more like mind overload...but I love it...what can I say?

I'm working on two wool BOM myself and let me tell you...it's a TON OF WORK!  I have one named (for now) LIVING IN AMERICA...  then another one that is all fall.... filled with pumpkins, scarecrow, crows, haystacks, sunflowers, turkey, cats, moon, bats, .... I'm taking it to market with me to see what some of the other designers think of them.  Then... picking out fabric that will still be available by the time I'm finished...that's the challenge.  Fabric moves in and out so fast (almost like being on Project Runway...One day you're IN... the next day you're OUT!)that it's a great challenge to pick some that will be around long enough for you to get the project sample done!  I'm thinking about using those wonderful over dyed muslin and flannels... what do you think?

We are still designing for our Ohio Company and loving it.  Our Christmas and Halloween products are at the manufacturers NOW and hopefully will have samples ready for the showrooms in January!  How fun it will be to see our inspirations LIVE in a room where shop owners can order them.  As soon as we can...we'll show you some pictures!

Well... I'm off to get packed up for my sewing day!  Oh... I almost forgot...I'm making items to sell in Katie Puckett's Off the Ocean Rug Hooking Conference in January.  It's in Orange Park at the Marriott hotel and it's going to be so great.  If you are interested, you can find it under my retreats (top tab on my HOME page).  There is still time to sign up!!  Here are some designs that we all hook!

Here are some things I'm making to put in the store at the rug conference to sell....

Great fabric envelope to store patterns, notions, etc.

This little guy is going to go into something special... it's a surprise!

These are also fabric envelopes....this is on the front!  Cross stitched and tucked inside a sweet metal frame that is attached to the front!

This cross stitch piece is of the Hook and wool!  It too will be a surprise what it's going to be!

okay... off to sew!!!  Stay safe and well!

Gloria

Today is the day!!!! Our Marcus Blog Hop Quilt Review!

I don't know about you... but I couldn't wait to see the final quilt from our Marcus Designers & Friends Blog Hop! Make sure you visit www.redcrinolinequilts.blogspot.com and see the quilt!

Plus you will also be able to see the cutting and assembly instructions for the finishing of the quilt. It's gorgeous! Thanks to all the designers and Paula Barnes (for the final design). Thanks also to Pam Buda for helping all of us through this new Blog Hop process! Thanks to Marcus Brothers who asked us all to participate! The quilt is gorgeous... we had all of us design the blocks, Paula designed the final quilt, Mary Ellen blogged the directions, I had my fabulous quilters here in Jacksonville quilt the top and my sister, Vicky applied the label and binding! Now...that's what I call a team effort! The label Pam Buda designed for the back of the quilt is even more wonderful. Congratualtions (ahead of time) to the lucky person that wins the quilt.

Don't forget to leave comments on Red Crinoline's blog... from the comments they will have the system capture two comments... one will win the fabulous quilt and the second will win a HUGE basket full of wonderful goodies we have all donated.

Enjoy... and keep on sewin' !!!!

Gloria