Hey, everyone!

What does five days of patriotic quilting, good food, great company, and zero interruptions at The Gathering sound like to you? To me it sounds like the perfect start to the summer season, which is exactly why the Red, White & Blue Retreat is one of our most popular retreats year after year — and why we’ve opened up three sessions in 2026 to give more of you a chance to grab a spot before they’re gone!

So what exactly goes down during my annual Red, White & Blue Retreat? Think at least two red, white, and blue-themed projects — one wool and one cotton — taught by yours truly, complete with my signature tips and techniques, along with a healthy dose of fun and quilty shenanigans. And if that’s not enough to get you excited, we’re also hoping to bring in another talented member of the Primitive Gatherings team to teach an additional project during the retreat. Five days, awesome projects, and more creative energy than you can shake a rotary cutter at — it’s going to be a good one!

As I mentioned, since it always sells out, this year’s Red, White & Blue Retreat is being offered in three separate sessions to give more of you a chance to join in on the fun. No matter which session you choose, you’ll get the same incredible experience, the same projects, and the same great company — plenty of time to stitch, learn, and recharge your patriotic batteries.

With spots in all three sessions going fast, the clock is certainly ticking on this one! In fact, Session One is nearly gone — we’re down to just one lodging spot and one day student spot, so if those dates work for you, don’t even think about waiting. Sessions Two and Three aren’t far behind either, with only a handful of spots remaining in each. If you’ve been on the fence, now is the time to jump off it and claim your spot before it’s gone for good! You can register by calling The Gathering at 920-778-8031, or by emailing thegathering@primitivegatherings.us!

Isn’t it funny? While I’m over here busy dreaming about summer retreats, Mother Nature is currently cooking up what the weather folks are calling a “historic blizzard,” which is headed our way as we speak. Between now and Monday afternoon we’re being told to expect 18+ inches of snow! Quite the contrast, right? With conditions like that in store, I’ve made the decision to close the shop on Sunday for the safety of everyone involved. We are currently planning to be back open on Monday, but with the forecast continuing to change in terms of how much snow we’ll actually get and how long the storm will last, I encourage you to keep an eye on our Facebook page and blog for the most up to date information.

On that note, I’m going to sign off for the weekend and get myself home before this storm decides to make an early appearance! Wishing everyone a safe and cozy weekend — and if you’re stuck inside with feet of snow holding you hostage, you know what to do. Grab your needle and thread and get stitching! See you all next week! ~Lisa