New England - Days 4, 5 and 6 - The Retreat

Let me backup a bit…..this retreat….The Shaker Sisters Retreat was sponsored by Jennifer Richardson of Violets & Verses  and Merry Susan of The Prim Peacock.  I attended the second of two sessions that were held.   We had 13 at our retreat.   More were scheduled to attend but there were some last minute cancellations due to illness, etc.  I actually liked the small number; it was so friendly and we all got to interact and get to know one another; fewer people kept the group intimate.   I’ll say it here and again later, this was an awesome retreat.   Jennifer and Merry Susan thought of everything and their attention to detail was above and beyond.   We all felt very pampered.

The museum is right on Mascoma Lake

The museum from the back.

When we returned to the stitching room after dinner on the first evening - what? another gift.    To Emeline - AW 1847 Sampler, complete with linen and Splendor silks.    The sweet sampler by AW was a tribute to her friend.    Research leads us to believe that AW refers to Ann Maria Wheeler.   Ann Marie left Shaker life after one year to return to her husband in Oswego, NY.  It is a strong possibility she stitched this as a parting gift to her friend, Emeline.   The original sampler is owned by the Western Historical Society in Cleveland, Ohio. 

We had a slide show and discussion on the history and life as a Shaker.  Both Jennifer and Merry Susan are experts with their unending knowledge of the Shakers.  Before I forget, I must add that we were locked in the museum for our first of  several nights.  The gift shop and museum are on the first and second floors, my room on the third floor.  I, for one, tired from the driving and day of touring, I didn't last too long in the stitching room on this first night and headed up to my room around 10 pm.

I would be remiss if I continued without talking about our delicious food.  We had a personal Chef for all our meals while at Enfield.  Each and every meal was beyond delicious.  Many recipes were Shaker recipes.   Fresh baked desserts after each dinner.   Fresh baked breads daily.   Warm cookies just out of the oven every evening.   Kathy was a dream.   Such a wonderful cook.  Jennifer and Merry Susan could not have found a better Chef for the Retreat.

Saturday morning we arrived at our stitch stations to find we had received beautiful project roll.  Each and everyone stitched by Merry Susan for us using material to match the orts bowl received earlier.  

Pin Cushion at one end.

Draw string closure for storing your scissors and floss.

Words to live by

Mid morning we had a guided tour of the museum as well as visited the gift shop.   I was tempted but I restrained from buying a Shaker Sewing box by reminding myself I am in the purging phase of life, not the accumulation phase.

After lunch, we were off on our own to the Vermont Country Store to shop.   

Leaving there we visited King Author’s Baking Company, unfortunately we arrived AFTER the cafe was closed so no goodies and pastries for us …. Not that we needed any move to eat.  We were able to shop in their store and I picked up some Christmas presents.  

Our next goodies was a pair of scissors, scissors fob pattern and scissors holder.   All in matching linen and using the Splendor floss from the sampler we received.    We even got a new New Hampshire Quarter for weight the scissors fob.

Another great dinner and another great present - a pin cushion to complement our previous gifts.  The pin cushion to be completed and mounted in a shaker box.  Again stitched using the Splendor floss of the sampler.

 

Velvet for a strawberry with emery and wool roving was the next gift.

 

Door prizes were also handed out and I received a few.  Larger Wonder Clips which will be great for quilt bindings; a cheery Autumn tea towel; an adorable stitchy necklace; and, a button scissors fob.  

One attendee, Cathy, brought her Shaker baskets and shared information on them.  

You can see in the next two baskets below, samples of “poplar ware”.  My Shaker Sister, Martha Wetherell, was the first to incorporate thin strips of poplar into the weaving.   Weaving of baskets was know as “fancy work” and the Shakers used as well as sold baskets.     

Look at the intricate quadrill weave on the bottom of this basket!

Attendees also did an exchange.   Purely voluntary, you could bring a small gift for the other attendees.  I did the Monster Mix which was Halloween Chex Mix.   Others did cookies, cross stitched buttons, magnets, floss, mini candy bars, charms, etc…….people were so clever in their gifts and as well as their  packaging.

This was far and wide the best retreat with such generous organizers.   Generous both in their gifts and their sharing spirit.   Every detail was well thought out and executed to perfection.   I'm already on board for next year's retreat!

But there’s more…..but I need to do some laundry, need to put away my stash, need to stitch…..stay tuned for Days 4, 5 and 6, Part Two!