Monday, April 22, 2013

Spring Woodland Retreat

I have been busy, busy, busy lately. I've been getting ready for our Women's Ministries Spring retreat which was this past weekend. We used a Spring Mountain Lodge theme.  I thought I'd show you a few of the details.  
I wanted to find some animal silhouette stamps to use on the name tags. Of course, I couldn't find exactly what I was envisioning. A friend suggested that I carve my own stamps on linoleum blocks.  I've always wanted to try that, so I jumped in. I used these instructions. We needed four different groups, so I carved four different animals. They needed to be small in order to fit onto the small tags. My team have helped me during work days, but I think they feel like I'm a little crazy. Here are a few samples of the tags. The moss made them even better. 
I found these straws on Anthropologie. They are evidently no longer available. I didn't get a picture, but we used them in Mason jars. We had soup in sourdough bowls with salad for lunch. Dessert was cobbler served in iron skillets on a birch log in the center of each table. Snacks on the first night were a hot chocolate bar and a trail-mix bar. The ladies loved it. 
The kits we bought for the retreat came with a necklace that has a scripture on it.  We didn't really care for them, so we changed them up a bit.  I had helpers crochet longer necklaces and then added a leaf charm.  I also added colored seam binding bows, which I obviously didn't photograph.  

 I made a large terrarium for the registration table and four smaller ones for door prizes.
 We pooled all our silverplate, and crystal for the centerpieces.


 I made mushrooms out of air dry clay and then we painted them.  I should've left them lighter because they didn't show up very well with the moss, stones and wood.

The retreat called for different room setups.
 The ladies enjoyed our props.

I didn't get the best pictures since I was in charge of the weekend. I'm so exhausted and anxious to get back to some unfinished personal projects.The retreat package we used is originally called Cozy Mountain Lodge from Group Publishing. I wanted to make it more appropriate for this time of year, so as you can see, we made it our own. Our ladies absolutely loved the retreat material. I heard more than once that it was the best retreat some had ever attended. Check it out if you need these resources.  



4 comments:

  1. darling, you have indeed been busy!! i love everything you did and your attention to the little details inspires me! i seriously love your linoleum blocks!!! i would have loved to have been at that retreat...great job!
    erin
    xxoo

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  2. Sounds like you had a lot of fun with this. And...that it might have been a tad bit inspired by your recent Sequoia trip? :-) It all turned out really nice. I love the centerpieces and necklaces. Those straws are super cute too! And...I see knitting!!! :-D I also see Heather! She said she had been invited and asked if I wanted to go. I thought about it but didn't realize it was so soon or that it was while I would be gone. We just got home last night from a trip to Three Rivers...just outside of the southern entrance to Sequoia. Enjoy a more relaxing week and some of your own projects. Let's get together one of these days! :-)

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  3. It's lovely dearest!! Thanks for the look at your sweet woodland vignettes. Really love that idea and with the silver, ggalvinized or otherwise beautiful patinas to house this bit of beautiful life is so inspiring!! sending a hug from Indiana!! XO

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  4. What a great idea! I loved hearing how it turned out! How was the actual study? Did the women have a positive response for the study?

    It takes an extra special person to lead a retreat! I know you were blessed!!

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