My ideal summer retreat is something I don't normally do - and to do it using the name Natasha.  See, my name is Stacey, which sounds like a perky cheerleader.  But Natasha? ahhh, Natasha is a woman who would have secrets that make her smile quietly.  Paris as Natasha.  The beach as Natasha.  Manhattan as Natasha.  Ok, I usually can only get into the mindset for an hour at best when I'm someplace - but what a great hour!

My summer retreat would be in my brand new 32 foot trailer with a slide out.  It would be parked on the beach that had bright blue flowing water flowing.  I would go swimming and boating daily and get a nice tan being carful not to get sun cancer.  I would go to happy hour at the pool side bar and socialize with my friends that I met along the road doing craft shows.  Sometime while we were there we would attend a big craft fair and make lots of money that would pay for the vacation that I was on.  The best part of it the mortorhome and boat and the money spent while on vacation all came from me doing something I love Embroidery.  Now how many people can do something they passion and then get to go on a vacation for doing it

Summer retreat for me doesn't have to be anything expensive or elaborate.  I would love to have all my quilting friends that live in my computer come to Missouri and meet me at Truman Lake, where we can swim, boat, sea doo, fish, lay in the sun, or whatever we chose.   We would all have our 5th wheel campers with our slide-outs (they are important don't you know). We would march upon all the fun craft and quilting stores in southern Missouri for several days and then we would get serious.  We, of course, would all have our sewing machines and together we would make a memory quilt of the fabulous retreat we are on and then one of us would be the lucky recipient of the fabulous quilt we made but using a highly reputable drawing firm (the nearest guy that would be willing to draw the name out of a hat).  OMGosh it would be so fun.  Don't you all want to join us on this retreat? You might win the quilt~~~~Ooops, just woke up but it was a good day dream!!!

I would just like to have a week's vacation from all the activities I've gotten myself into that keep me from being able to sew when I want to.  I want a week to do absolutely nothing, but sew.

My favorite Summer retreat is a wonderful somewhat secluded hotel that my husband and I stayed at in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.  The area was laid back, full of friendly locals, and wonderful small restaurants and shops.  We snorkeled at Captain Cook's monument, went to the top of a volcano, and attended a luau.  It was amazing and we are going to get back there eventually.  It makes me smile and relax just thinking about it.

My ideal summer retreat is renting a condo @ Grand Lake, CO.  With a solid home base like that, we can eat in for breakfasts, pack lunches & even have an occasional light supper @ "home."  We can take our bikes with us & ride around town & the lake, or even take them for rides up in the mountains.  Lots of hiking is available & the small town of Grand Lake is within walking distance, where we can play @ a shooting gallery, miniature golf, take in a play, eat @ all sorts of yummy restaurants.  We can also hire horses for trail rides, drive along Mountain Ridge Road and see lots of scenic views & wildlife, including elk.  We can also visit the fun shops over @ Estes Park.

Now that we moved to CA, our favorite summer retreat is seldom a possibility.

I have 2 summer retreats.

1.  To not work and do nothing other than what I want and something creative.

2.  A place with water and trees.  This could be a lake in a forest, a river, or by the sea.  A cabin with luxuries that includes a covered porch so I can set up my machine and sew.

My Summre Retreat would be perfect if I could have the whole summer off work from June to September and take my family, a couple of friends --maybe new friends each week, in a large motor home with automatic slide outs that make it really spacious inside.  We would tour the northern US and Canada, even Alaska just staying in each local enough time to see the highlights, do a bit of fishing, kayaking, hiking.  We would travel the scenic routes and stop in all the national parks, as many state parks as possible and just see the country casually.  We would stay in the northern part to avoid heat.

That would be perfect.

thanks for the contest.

Pam Biswas

My ideal summer retreat is right here at home.  We converted a bedroom at the back of the house into a screened in room/porch.  It's furnished with comfy wicker furniture and old trunks (filled with quilts for use after the sun goes down).  Many days are passed out there quietly reading a good book, watching the birds as they flit around the flower gardens in the back yard,  and contemplating just how blessed I am while sipping fresh brewed sweet tea.  This spot is our sanctuary.  The one place in the house with no TV, radio, or video games.  The times when family gathers as the sun is setting and the crickets start to chirp while we are talking about our day or telling stories about the past will forever be tied to the best summer memories of my life.

My favorite summer retreat would be to get together with all of my sisters and just wile away the hours working our creative sides....one of my wonderful sisters is a quilter as am I....one is a most talented weaver ( and I'm working at trying to follow in her footsteps as well)...and my twin sister is still trying to find that special craft that makes her creative muse happy.....our schedules and localities make this difficult at the moment....so for now this little summer retreat will just have to mark time in my dreams....

My favorite summer retreat requires air-conditioning and the mercury over 100 degrees outside.  I love to stay in my "cave" and spend all my time quilting, cutting and sewing.

My favorite summer retreat would be to visit quilt shops in Amish towns and stay at a nice bed n breakfast.  Since I'm in TX and it's over 100, any place that is cold would be great.  I would love to take my husband and my Down's son with me.  My son is the very best on picking and putting together colors.  Every time he picks the colors, the quilt or wall hanging comes out great.

My ideal simmer retreat would be anywhere by the beach as long as I could bring my sewing machine.

My favorite Summer Retreat:  Every year my husband and I go to Maine for a week.  We both love the ocean and nature.  We hike, beach and eat lobster.  We make sure we both have time to ourselves, he goes golfing while I stitch a bit.  I also have become extremely friendly with two local Quilt Shops.  

Jeanne from CT

I am truly blessed as my summer retreat  isn't just a dream. My husband and I spend all of August and September in NW Montana on beautiful, very big Flathead Lake.

I have a lovely sewing room there that has a view of the lake and mountains. Every morning I walk about 2.5 miles with our Labrador. Then I usually spent at least a couple of hours piecing a quilt.

There are 2 wonderful quilt shops within 30 minutes drive. I visit each of them at least once.

Activities always include hiking in Glacier National Park, 50 minutes drive away, participating in the annual pot luck dinner at the clubhouse on the water and going to concerts, especially the ones hosted by the Crown of the Continent Guitar Festival. We also kayak on the lake and on the Clark-Fork river the flows past my sister's home in Paradise. Yes, that's really the name of the town!

The only thing that could make it better would be sharing it with my family and friends from my home state. Unfortunately, it's difficult for them to travel the 2,000 miles.

My favorite summer retreat would be up in the mountains where I could hike every day in a beautiful pine forest and watch the birds and other wildlife from my cabin window or patio.  Of course I would be able to quilt and scrapbook there as much as I would like and would be able to have friends come and visit and share thee activities with me.

when I was a little girl my fathers employer had a picnic at Crystal Beach, Ont. Canada.  We would pack up a picnic lunch and take the long ride, which with 4 sisters and 3 brothers, was always an exciting and fun ride.   Once there we road the rides and enjoyed everything the park had to offer.

It was the best time all summer and I looked forward to it every year.  By the way Crystal beach was a huge amusement park.

More that a year ago my quilting friends and I went on a quilter's retreat in the southeast mountains of Arizona.  For the entire weekend, Thursday evening to Sunday afternoon we had nothing to do but quilt.

No cooking, no cleaning, no husbands, no other household chores, just quilting.  There were seven of us sharing sewing space in the Arizona room filled with tall windows looking out over the cool forest.  We worked on our own projects and had the use of cutting and pressing tables as well as a design wall.  We were treated to the antics of many visiting birds, as we enjoyed the mountain breezes streaming through the tall windows, each day as we sewed.  And sew we did, from early morning to late evening.  It was the most ideal summer retreat I've ever had and I'm just dreaming of being able to do it again.

We have a little cabin nesteled under trees, on the bank of a river.  After mowing I love to spend the rest of the time sitting out on the large screened-in porch which I helped build.  I read, embroidery, do counted cross stitch, and hand-quilt smaller projects.  Have taken my sewing machine with me and sewn quilt blocks.  Love to sit on the porch swing where I enjoy the beauty, watch the birds, and sometimes the neighbors chickens who come by for a visit.  What a great little retreat.  So peaceful.    

My ideal summer getaway is camping in the mountains north of our home.  There is a beautiful canyon and it is fun to go camping or just go for a picnic to enjoy the beauty of nature!

I like to go to the cabin by the lake, take the horses and the dog, and just swim and ride.  Of course there would be a few quilt blocks that need cut out, but I can do that in the evening before bed.  Sitting outside with all of nature's noises, who could ask for anything more.

My ideal summer retreat would be to have all 4 generations of my family with me anywhere for a week. Sewing has been in my family for generations. My Dad taught me how to sew and I keep it alive in his memory. My mom and I sew together from time to time and I taught all of my children to sew and am also teaching my grandchildren to sew. 3 of my granddaughters are making baby quilts to donate to the pregnancy care clinic where we live. The 4 of us always do a community service project every year. So again My Ideal Summer Retreat would be to spend 1 week with the 4 generations of family working on a community service project together.      Thanks Lisa

My ideal summer retreat is our cabin in the mountains of Ruidoso, NM.  Having just moved to eastern New Mexico from the sweltering southwest coast of Louisiana, I cherish to trips to the mountains to escape the heat.  At least it's not humid too.  At the cabin, I have a machine and several projects to work on.  They only get work on when I'm there so they are always "new" projects to me.  And since they are usually projects for the cabin they tend to be very different from the quilts I make at home.  During the winter evenings, sitting by a fire and doing handwork is simply sublime and stress free.

My ideal summer retreat would be a hammock, tied to coconut trees on a tropical beach, with someone bringing me fresh pineapple, mangos and papatas to eat.  A dolphin to swim with, and not needing to use oxygen for 2 weeks so I could enjoy the water.  I would be looking at colors and patterns in the scenery, flowers and trees that I could copy in a new quilt when I got home.  Lots of pictures of what I saw to provide lasting inspiration.

My ideal summer retreat is the time I spend cleaning my sewing room.  I rediscover projects, fabric, threads and patterns.  It is a time to sit and ponder, to dream, to plan, and of course clean.  I meet some old friends: projects that need completed, fabrics that I love, but have not found the perfect pattern for them, magazines to reread,  lost tools and gadgets that were buried in the deep, and scraps of fabric from quilts that were given to family, friends, and new babies.  The windows and door are open and you can feel and smell the heat, and the noise from the neighborhood drifts in and provides a pleasant background.  I love the smell of Pine-Sol and wax.  Soon it will be time to close the door and windows and  get busy on the holiday gifts and winter projects.  But for now, I will enjoy my clean sewing room and dream.

My ideal summer retreat involves horseback riding through the forest during the day and quilting in the evenings. Meals, of course , would be provided and involve barbeque and the traditional sides. I would be able to take my own horse so that we could share the experience and meet new friends along the way.

My summer retreat would be in our new 5th wheel with 3 slide outs and lots of windows. I would set it up so I coulld look at the ocean and enjoy the ocean waves and palm trees blowing in the breeze. I would have my sewing machine set up on the desk and fabric ready to sew. I would also have my favorite CD's of soft music playing.  Later towards evening I would take a dip in the pool and sit by the Tiki Bar and enjoy a Pina Colota then back to sewing again.

If you live in Tucson, AZ, your biggest priority for a summer retreat is COOL!  Go to the White Mountains, take your sewing machine, quilt project(s) and any other quilting essentials, Pepsi, chocolate, tent, and a long extension cord, tape player and "quilting music".  Find a camp site with electricity, a large picnic table, a view of the mountains and the smell of pine.  Set up your "Quilting Site" and enjoy life until your children or friends come looking for you.

Much as I would love a retreat in the mountains or anywhere right now,I would take a week at home without yardwork, gardenwork, housecleaning and cooking so that I could attempt to make a dent in my UFO's.

I would love to have a modern log cabin in the North Carolina mountains.  I went to camp in Hendersonville as a kid and have loved the mountains.  I even had a mceramic that I made at camp entered in the art festival one of the first years when it was held nearby.  I loved Brevard for music and saw "Horn in the West" as well as "Unto These Hills."

I admit I want to have my sewing machine and lots of fabric as well as a chance to shop hop from PA to the Mountains.  My children are grown, so we would love them to come visit with my grand (she is 3 1/2) and my husband could fish his brains out and I could quilt.  A month would be about perfect!

My perfect summer retreat is here in my own sewing room.  I would make machine embroideries and make quilts from them, make the applique baby quilts that I have imagined (lots of them), clean and declutter my sewing room, work on the many ideas I have for other quilts that I want to try.  All this with a cup of tea, the phone turned off, an audio book playing, and the air conditioner going.  No worries about the family or the state of the world, nothing.  This would perfect.

Other than any traveling my husband and I do.     I look forward to the hot summer day when I can no longer bear the heat.   I retreat to my basement where it is quiet and cool to work on a quilt project that  has been waiting for me since the beautiful outdoor weather has taken it's place.

A week in the mountains -- trees, lakes, cool nights -- solitude -- who could ask for more!  I would take the time to meditate, write, design, and sketch.  

my ideal summer retreat is much like where I used to go with my parents when I was young....a cabin at the lake with a big lawn (that the caretaker mowed) leading down to the private beach where we could pull up our little sailboat and leave it there overnite, no fear of intruders. During the day, we could swim or go boating. On a rainy day, I could sew on a project just for myself. Cookouts on the grill, or go to the village nearby for pizza for supper. No clocks, no phones, no tv.

My ideal summer retreat would be at the beach, no children allowed.  Anything I wanted to eat would be brought to me and there would be no calories!  I could do whatever I wanted: sew, read, sleep or sit over a cup of tea with a friend.  I am ready to go!!

I just spent 4 wonderful quilting days in the beautiful San Juan mountains in Colorado with my BFF at her family cabin.  We quilted all day and night, slept in each morning with no one waking us. Took short walks to look for wildflowers between rain showers. It was a great retreat and we both were able to complete several projects.

My Best Summer Retreat would be time spent quilting without interruptions with all my favorite meals prepared for me including snacks to keep me sewing throughout the entire day and late into the night.  Waking to a light breakfast, I could get right back to sewing and visiting with my friends.  My retreat would include stopping at all quilt stores on my way to my destination so I could pick up several quilt kits to work on during my retreat.  My quilting buddies would join me and we would have a knowledgeable instructor available to ask questions as we learned new skills together.  We would be in a fully stocked classroom so we wouldn't have to bring all our supplies with us.  We would all come back refreshed to our families and look forward to our next retreat.

My ultimate summer retreat would be to go to on a quilting cruise either to Hawaii or to Paris, France as the ending desitination. I would learn so much and take so many classes and ask so many questions. I would learn sew many techniques. I would take along my boyfriend, my roommate who is my friend and my mom.  My roommate because she wants to learn to quilt and there is no better way than by the people who are professionals and teachers. My boyfriend to share the wonder and joy of the cruise areas. My mom because she has done so much for me through my lifetime allready. I would shop on the cruise and in the destinations. If it was hawaii I would do all the site seeing things and enjoy. If it was Paris I would shop and do the sites and restaurants.

My summer retreat, since I live in hot Arizona, is to participate in one of the week long quilting workshops in the cool mountains of northern Arizona.  Good food, wonderful companions, great instructor and superb workshops surrounded by gorgeous fabrics.  A longarm or 2 would also be nice to have, along with instructions on how to use it.  Plenty of nice size cutting tables available and peaceful, cool & beautiful surroundings.

I just may sign up for 1 if it's not too late!

My ideal summer retreat would be a quiet place, where I can stay up as late as I want reading or working on whatever craft I feel like and sleeping until I feel like getting up.  Not worrying about doing dishes until I want to.  Not feeling the need to accomplish anything on a schedule.

I want a mountain get-away...not a cabin but an ultra-modern house with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the fabulous views. I want to fill the house with quilting buddies. We'd share the cooking and chores. We'd take walks through the woods. We'd leave behind our worries and jobs. Just lots of quilting, laughing, sharing and cool temperatures. Wow!

My summer retreat would be to go to Northern MN (by Lake of the Woods) and be able to rent a well furnished cabin on one of the lakes. I would have creative activities along (like quilting) so that I could alternate between enjoying nature outside, or inside looking out when I want a break from sewing. The solitude would be the best.

How great it would be to rent a condo on the beach with an outside porch - then sit in a comfortable chair with my hand embroidery and listen to the waves and sea birds - and hopefully, hear NO man made noise.

My ideal summer retreat would be to sit in the shade with a tall glass of lemonade and a few quilt magazines and books to browse for inspiration - to be followed by a trip to my favorite quilt store to shop for fabric

Being a newlywed at the age of 60, I still dream of a place uninterrupted. I dream of a week, or 2 or 3, in our mobile home up in Marquette County, Wi. with my new machine, a truckload of fat quarters. a refrigerator of fresh cantaloup, and Amish grown veggies. I'd park myself at the table in front of the bay window and piece a painting of nature, using thread painting to color the crimson wild roses growing on our 45 acres, use camel colored ultra suede to applique the white tail deer that dance between the pine trees to water themselves at the creek. Black satin and charmeuse would be appliqued to represent the wild turkeys eating at the wild blueberry bushes, represented with dark blue gems on the quilt. I'd hand dye the background with a soft yellow off to the right, fading out to a soft eggplant purple, washed out to fade into twilight, Norwegian Red Pines would be appliqued with brown and black batiks. I would be creating my own special mental place, a retreat of the mind while viewing it, remembering the solitude and quiet that encompassed the time used to create my fantasy quilt. This quilt would always be a trip back to my fantasy retreat, if only in my mind. No one really needs to travel to take a vacation or have a retreat if the mind if left to conjure up a fantasy, the mind can travel while the body is at rest.

I would love a summer retreat in a simple, rustic cabin with my Bernina sewing machine and all my quilting supplies and books. Quiet, peacful surroundings, all by myself with clear thoughts and creative juices flowing. No interuptions. No stress. Time to just think about the projects I want to do and finish some I have started. No responsibilities, no worries.  

My ideal summer retreat would be into the mountains somewhere. Find a little cozy cabin near a lake and enjoy some peace and quiet. Either that or visiting the green areas of New Zealand or Scotland.

Yea, I finally won something good :) How do I claim it or do you send it through email?