Swag Bags, Door Prizes and Giveaways

The other day I started posting about the Mystic Spooky Retreat 2012.  But there was so much I didn't cover.  I didn't mention that there were 34 stitchers in attendance, I never talked about the fabulous food, completely failed to note the presence of a very well behaved canine attendee named Abby, and I realized that I failed to take a single photo of Sue.  There was so much going on that I am sure I didn't even register a fraction of it  ... at a retreat, I often slip into the zone and simply stitch, oblivious to all that is around me.

But one thing even I couldn't ignore were the lavender swag bags that greeted us as we filed into the stitching room and the liberal distribution of door prizes.  Each stitcher in the room got two.  The shops and designers are very supportive of the hideaway retreats, much to the credit of Sue herself who does an excellent job of public relations.  Sue has thank you cards to those who contributed to the swag bags already for our signatures and spread out on the table during the retreat so that we can sign them whenever we have a moment.  And she includes a stamped, pre-addressed thank you note in each door prize bag so that all we have to do is write a personal thank you and drop it in the mail box.  No wonder the shops and designers continue to support Sue's retreats.  

Now, of course, the variety of the donated materials means that not everything a stitcher receives will find it's way into the stash.  But  here is my list of keepers:

123stitch                          skeins of Caron, Threadworx and Thread Gatherer floss

123stitch                          Over the Top Limited Edition 2009 [A Christmas tin]

Elizabeth Needleworks     A is for Autumn

Glory Bee's                      Friendship

GPA                                D4 Scissors Case

Lavender Wings               Pumpkin Patch

However, that left a fair amount of non-keepers available to any reader who wishes to claim them.  If more than one reader wants a particular chart, I'll do a drawing.  Please note, only the items listed below are available as giveaways.

Cross Stitch & Needlework, November 2010

JBW Designs     Dear Santa

Jeanette Douglas Designs     Sweet Pumpkin

Lavender Wings     Esmeralda's Brew

Praiseworthy Stitches     Sassy Bat

Rosewood Manor     Crows' Feet Quilt Block

Tempting Tangles Designs     Valentina, the baby chimp

The Victoria Sampler     State Hearts: Massachusetts

The Victoria Sampler     Boo Buttons #5: Muscateer and Catpunzel