The most fun I’ve had in a long time! Modern Stitching Affair (MSA) is an annual sewing retreat held in Madison, Wisconsin. The Co-founders, Wendy Franczak and Trina Peterson, have thought of every little thing to make this weekend fun and productive, but also magical and seamless! Well, actually, there are a lot of seams, as it is a sewing retreat after-all! Some of the extras that made the event so special were: a Welcome Cocktail Hour and “make-and-take” scissor charm project with Trish Frankland, swag bags (with their own name tags, so as not to take someone else’s), special afternoon snacks like homemade potato chips and dip and delicious birthday cupcakes, door prizes and drawings, 4 sewing machine giveaways, awesome guest teachers. Natalie Santini of SewHungryHippie, and Violet Craft of Violet Craft, taught amazing classes on their specialties, vinyl bag-making and foundation paper piecing, respectively. We had chair massage appointments and late night sewing availability and met 44 of the most amazing like-minded makers!!
L to R - Violet Craft, Trisha Urben, Amie Borgelt, Natalie Santini
There was an epic bag swap! If you wanted to participate all you had to do was make a small pouch and fill it with your favorite things. Everyone submitted their bags then a swap was organized and we all got a fabulous take-home!! I feel like I won the jackpot because I got a beautiful pouch made by noneotherthan PoweredByQuilting’s Sherry Shish!! The darling and intricate pouch was beautifully made and the treats inside were a big bonus!!
My # quiltybff, Trisha was a good sport and attended with me, with very little pressure. I am a self-described non-joiner of organized social occasions, but I wanted to go to this so bad ! I think she may have had a better time than me and maybe I am turning into a bit of a “joiner”. Trisha and I had completed block of the month quilts earlier this year and took them to cozy-up our hotel beds. I did manage to get a photo of this, as it was the first thing we did upon arrival.
I barely photo-documented at all, but only because I was having such a ball and forgot to pop the phone out. I could say… I was living in the moment, living my best life, and trying to be present. Nope, I just didn’t do it.
Another hi-light of the weekend was that we totally lucked out, some may call it destiny, and ended up being table-mates with Natalie Santini, vinyl queen and bag-maker extraordinaire!! What a treat!! Trisha and I can be a bit much. I know. But, we came out with a new friend and I’m so glad to have gotten to know Natalie better. Dare I call it creative kismet?
The weekend was splendid, start to finish! I hope we are lucky enough to score a spot again next year!!