Yes... I've posted two days in a row! I know you are shocked... !!
I wanted to tell you about the retreat we recently went on - to Laporte, TX! Yes.... it was fabulous...we visited our sewing buddy Ronda Stockton at her NEW RETREAT HOUSE and had a blast. 13 of us sewed, antiqued, ate, and so enjoyed each others company...
Ronda and I met through Red Crinoline Quilts. Paula Barnes had taught at her guild, stayed at her home, and then brought her to Camp Blanding for a retreat. We all had such a good time together...she's crazy just like us. Then we found out she and her hubby (David) were working on building a retreat house from an old Sears house! Now... for those of you that are young.. you used to be able to order house kits from Sears and then build them on your lot! Can you believe that?
Well, the demolition began... you can read all about the entire building adventure on her blog - "and sew it began". Now... her retreat has a website: And Sew It Began From this site you can see what the house looks like... but I have other pictures I want to share with you....
Here they are.... Ronda and David! They have worked so hard on this house... David has done tons of the work himself along with working a full-time job! He's soooooooo talented!
This is the front of the house before they had all of the landscaping in and the porch decorated.
She has so many cute things decorating the house. This sewing machine lamp is in the red, white, and blue quilt room. On the table is this sweet Americana table mat! It was calling my name...
Loved it!
In our dining area...she has a wonderful Hoosier cabinet ... Look at this sweet collection of rolling pins sitting on the top!
Then... this was the coolest ironing board I had ever seen. It was really, really wide and had entirely different type of legs on it. She used it to hold her flat TV screen... and to hold the necessary boxes (for cable, etc.) she had an old advertising box underneath. Then... of course is the little footstool I made for her... it look so adorable under the ironing board!
Now.. this is right up my alley...and pure "Farmhouse Country".... yes that is our toilet paper in the downstairs bathroom (she has 4 of them in the house) and it's stored in an antique galvanized bucket! Now tell me... how stinkin' cute is that?
Then... on the other side of the Hoosier... is this antique coffee pot that has been made into a lamp! Sara loved it so much she found one at an antique store ! She's going to make her one for her house!
See... here is the full photo of the Hoosier!
Upon entering through the front door... you'll see this wonderful antique hall tree. These were made back in the days when men had to hang their top hats up, remove their boots ...this gave them a place to sit down to make that all happen.
Look at this table!!! It is is also by the front door.... sitting near the stair case and a big soft fluffy chair for reading. Here is her guest book...where we all signed our name!
I wanted to show you how delightful and beautiful this staircase landing is.... they just don't make them like this anymore. Don't you love how it curves around to the side? So pretty!
Now the kitchen... it is ALL BRAND NEW and so much fun to cook in..... I adored these wonderful mustache pulls they have installed on the kitchen drawers
The windows have sweet red gingham curtains... a "farmhouse sink" (LOVE THEM) brand new stainless steel appliances... a BUNN coffee pot unit that makes coffee faster than
I've ever seen before!
Beautiful tall white cabinets and tons of counter space for all of us to prepare, cook,
and serve our meals.
The back porch has been turned into a bedroom... so if you decide to come to the retreat and hire a caterer.... they have their own room to stay in...right off the kitchen. Now how clever is that?
Tomorrow I will post the photos of the classroom and the bedrooms... what a treat they are!
Red & White Room,
American Room
Aunt Gracie Room
and Reproduction Room!
YOU MUST PLAN YOUR NEXT TRIP FOR THIS RETREAT....
YOU WILL LOVE IT....
Chat with you tomorrow!
Gloria
