PALS Stitching at the Beach - Part Four

Ooops.  I know I said Part Three was the last installment, but I forgot a few things.  So here goes...

TWO COMPLAINTS
#1  -  This card was in our hotel room.  Notice the part I highlighted?

We threw the towels on the floor for the maid to take.  For two days, dirty towels laid on the floor where we left them.  Having worked in the hotel industry for six years, I was disappointed in the maid service we received.

 

#2  -  Three times I had to go to the front desk to get a key card that worked.  Granted, the first time was my fault, sort of.  I didn't know you couldn't put the key card and cell phone next to each other.  The phone affects the magnetic strip.  The third time the card didn't work, I walked across the parking lot to the front desk shoeless (because I originally walked out of the room without shoes to run down to the conference room to get my camera).  They gave me a new key and said if it didn't work to call them from the elevator.  Guess what?  Had to call them from the elevator.  A maintenance guy came with a master card to let me in.  Apparently, he didn't believe me the key didn't work because he insisted on trying it for himself.  Do you think he brought me another card?  No.  He offered after he opened the door, but I said I'd get a new one in the morning.  Did I mention it was almost midnight?  I was tired and irritated by that point.  I mean, really?  Three times cards didn't work?

 

DESIGNERS & SHOPS

There were quite a few designers at the retreat.  They shared the conference room with us stitchers.  This was part of Praiseworthy Stitches booth:

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Other designers and shops included Hands On Design, Summer House Stitche Works, Dixie Darlin/Foxwood Crossings, Down Sunshine Lane (of course!), and a couple others I can't remember.

I had some good conversations with Cathy at Hands On Designs.  We talked finishing ideas.  I received her Fall ornament in the exchange.  She designed the cutest ornament in celebration of the retreat.  It came with little turtle and seashell charms.

  

I debated on getting the Simple Gifts-Courage sampler by Praiseworthy Stitches.  In the end, I gave in.  I kept looking at the display piece and I couldn't resist.  I also got Snow Pals.  I thought it would come in handy for an ornament exchange.

The Eggstraordinary Egg kit came free with the above purchases.  It comes with everything needed to make a needlebook, pincushion, and scissor fob.  The chick is an ort container!

Foxwood Crossings had a lot of wonderful designs.  I bet I looked at her table displays three different times.  (If truth be known, I admired the Praiseworthy Stitches table just as often)  I walked away with several Foxwood designs.

They had an entire little tree covered in sled ornaments.  So cute!  There are nine different designs.  I loved the Sled Friends.  The little penguin is adorable.

There were a couple of tables set up for stitchers to bring stitching stuff they no longer wanted and other stitchers could help themselves.  I brought home a few things from there, too.

GROUP PHOTO
Never be the last one to enter the room as the group photo is to be taken.  A lot of fingers pointed at me and naughty "boo" was directed my way, lol.

FLAT SCOOTER
Do you remember Flat Stanley from grade school?  My college alumni association has their version of Flat Stanley.  His name is Scooter.  Alumnists are encouraged to take photos of themselves with Scooter and send them in for the alumnist magazine.  This was my first photo op with Scooter.

 



STITCHY FINISH/GIFT
Before the retreat I had a finish, but couldn't show it.  That's because it was a belated birthday gift for my PALS roommate, Sue.  I was really happy to have finally met her and Laura.  Sue loves owls, so I made her a trifold sewing book:

 

Designs:  Whoo-Hoo Me? and Whoo-Hoo Me Too?

Designer:  Kinkavel Krosses

Fabric: 18ct Fiddlers Aida

Floss: DMC

 

Okay!  I'm really finished with my retreat updates this time.  Thanks for following along. :)  As you can tell, I had a really good time.