2 Day Christmas Retreat - Anaheim

Christmas is coming and what better way to celebrate than to spend some time sewing! This December, Mel’s will be hosting a 2-day Christmas retreat. The price includes half a table, lunch, and snacks for both days. (10:00am -4:30pm) Attendees can choose to work on either a new quilting, fabric collage or embroidery project. Or you can bring a project from home that you want to complete for Christmas. The retreat will be just the thing to get you into the holiday spirit with fun, creative endeavors, treats, Christmas music and fellowship! Sign up today, space is limited. 

I have included some project ideas to get your creative juices flowing. Once you sign up for the retreat, I will contact you to get your lunch orders, discuss which project you would like to work on, send you the supply list, and make sure you have all your supplies ordered.

Quilting Project Idea: 

“Christmas Quilting with Wendy Sheppard” is a very fun book with 9 quilt patterns. Each project quilt could be finished on our 2-day retreat. I have made samples of my 2 favorites, “Deck the Halls” and “Heaven and Nature Sing”. “Deck the Halls” is a paper pieced quilt. It’s great for beginners or quilters looking for a quick quilt. “Heaven and Nature Sing” is a traditionally pieced quilt as are all the other designs in the book. Wendy does a great job with clear instructions so no matter which quilt you pick; you will learn and enjoy the process! Students will learn tips for cutting out their chosen pattern and how to sew the blocks and then the quilt top together. On day 2 we will discuss quilting options.

Fabric Collage Project Idea:

Using Laura Heine’s Whatevers! Blocks Mr. Claus, Mrs. Claus, and Christmas Tree patterns, we will make a festive bench pillow of an enchanted Christmas Forest. Kits of all needed fabrics for this project will be available at the retreat. I will also provide additional instructions on how to incorporate the block patterns into a bench pillow. Students will work on collaging their projects and possibly start sewing the project together on day 2.

Embroidery Project Idea:

OESD “Freestanding Gingerbread Windmill” is the prefect project to learn the new technique of incorporating OESD FiberForm into your freestanding projects. The Windmill is the newest design in OESD’s Gingerbread Village. With just a few extra steps, FiberForm adds much needed structure to our freestanding projects. Students choosing to work on the windmill at the retreat will learn these new steps and how to construct the Windmill.

Finish Up!

Retreat attendees could also choose to finish up a current project. Having 2 days to focus on sewing might be just what you need!