All about Spellbound's Needlepoint Retreats
Recapping our recent retreat and sharing my thoughts on the value of needlepoint retreats for body, mind, and soul.
“My battery is empty, but my heart is full”
The second Stitch a Spell with Spellbound Stitchery retreat just concluded, and I couldn’t be happier about how it went. This year we opted to make it a three-day retreat instead of a one-day retreat, and our days were full of stitching, friends, and making great memories in my small town home base of Rutherfordton, NC. We welcomed nineteen stitchers from all across the country for this retreat, and it was fabulous getting to share my studio, my community, and my heart with all of our participants.
I want to share some of the takeaways from this retreat, things to consider when choosing your next needlepoint retreat and also things I want to emphasize for my Spellbound Stitchery retreats moving forward.
It’s important to build in-person connections
Online community building is a fact of life, but it’s not where our lives should begin and end. It’s healthy to set the phone down for several hours a day to be present in our bodies and minds. It’s also healthy to pursue experiences that force us off of our phones and into community and conversation with friends. Needlepoint retreats allow you to meet your online friends in a totally authentic context, where you can be present and get to know them without the barrier of screens or algorithms.
Friendship is such an essential part of life, and getting to build friendships and relationships with people built around a common interest is incredibly important as adults. Our lives can be so isolating, built around work and home, with maybe a third space such as a coffee shop, bar or library to allow us to make personal friendships in our communities. Sometimes it’s difficult to form bonds with friends if we are working hard in a new career, if we have recently moved, or if we are busy raising a family. Needlepoint meetups and retreats allow us to find like-minded people — people who may turn into lifelong friends.
For me as an artist, it was extremely rewarding to spend time with people who deeply connect to my work. My support staff also loved getting to know the attendees. Since my studio isn’t a traditional brick and mortar retail store, with online shopping and shipping the main mode of commerce and communication, it was transformational for us all to spend time with some of Spellbound’s biggest supporters.
The rewards of unique experiences
At my retreat this weekend, I offered hand massages and tarot readings to my participants. Participants could elect to do one or the other, or pay a nominal fee to get to do both activities. I wanted to share opportunities for rest, community, and care for the body, soul, and spirit.
Each person was called into their session one by one, to a quiet space where they could relax with Julia, the masseuse, or with me in their tarot reading. As an introvert myself, I know how important it is to get a break from the noise of multiple conversations happening concurrently, and I think these experiences allowed for a brief renewal and reset for each person.
I love the self-discovery that occurs when we read the tarot, and it was so incredible to share that process with my guests, especially people who have never experienced it before. While I provide readings virtually, it was great to get to do them in person over the weekend.
When you’re looking at needlepoint retreats, check out what unique offerings they provide. If you’re looking for a new experience in a part of the country you’ve never been before, see if the retreat includes any outings or opportunities for independent sightseeing. If you’re looking to enhance your stitching skills, look for a retreat that includes hands-on needlepoint instruction. If shopping is your priority, or if you live in a needlepoint desert, look for a retreat that will allow for plenty of chances to shop at well-stocked needlepoint stores. There are events and experiences that will meet your needs and desires, just figure out what those are and go for it! Once you get clarity on your desires, avoid retreats that don’t seem to align with your interests or activity level, in order to prevent exhaustion or boredom on a trip you’re paying good money for.
Sharing my community
Once upon a time, I worked for the Town of Rutherfordton as the Main Street coordinator, and my entire job revolved around community development, supporting local businesses, and getting people to visit the Town of Rutherfordton. The ethic of “shopping local” and supporting local businesses and the local community is ingrained so deeply in my core that it was one of the primary objectives of my Stitch a Spell retreat.
The Town of Rutherfordton has the most adorable, walkable, and self-contained Main Street and downtown districts that make it ideal for a retreat. Both of the Bed and Breakfasts we used for the retreat are within a couple of blocks from each other, as are the restaurants, coffee shops, antique shops, and my own Spellbound Stitchery Studio. Not only does the charming, small town feel contribute to the cozy warmth of the retreat atmosphere, but the people who own and operate our local businesses are hospitable and warm in their own right.
We got to support over a dozen small, local businesses in Rutherfordton, Morganton, and beyond during the Stitch a Spell retreat, including:
… and more
It was a joy to share my community with the nineteen people who came to experience Stitch a Spell, and I know the community felt the love as well from having guests here for the weekend. In Western North Carolina, much of our economy is supported by tourism, and we are still in the recovery phase after Hurricane Helene brought havoc and devastation to our region just one year ago. Retreats and events here support the community and local economy, so we will continue the effort in the coming months and years!
When you’re choosing your next retreat, notice how many businesses you are supporting and working with besides just your retreat host. From catering to lodging, to anything in between, your presence at a retreat makes a positive difference in that community.
Looks my kinda group!❤️
This is awesome!! Wish I had known about this earlier!! I am in Winston Salem NC! Will keep an eye out for more retreats !