Stitch & Stay

Story and Photos

by Katharine Wagner

@joli.point

www.jolipoint.com

When my friend Julia Navik shared her idea for a fun, welcoming retreat

centered around needlepoint and friendship, I knew I was in. I was lucky

enough to attend Julia’s inaugural Stitch & Stay Retreat while also getting a behind-

the-scenes look at what goes into hosting one. It was an unforgettable

weekend filled with meeting new friends, learning new skills, surviving a

tornado (!), and spending time doing what I love most… needlepointing.

Thursday, April 16

Evening

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect on the first evening of the retreat. But the moment I

saw attendees in pajamas stitching and eating pizza, I knew I was with my people. Julia

planned a relaxed evening with drinks, pizza, and needlepoint trivia. One of my favorite

details was the adorable buttons attendees could add to their lanyards: “My 1st Retreat,”

“Continental Queen,” and “Basketweave Baddie.”

The Grand Geneva Resort &Spa in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin made for an easy drive from my home base in Chicago. The property is

huge and walking between the retreat space and my room alone helped me hit my daily step goal.

Friday, April 16

Morning

Check-in started bright and early Friday morning and attendees were more than ready

to begin! Everyone was greeted with a stitch-themed swag bag filled with thoughtful

goodies, including a Fairlywell Handmade needleminder, an Elizabeth Crane Swartz tin,

a Joli Point notepad, a green leather snap tray, and a coupon to The Pepper Pot.

As attendees grabbed coffee and breakfast from the buffet, everyone happily connected

Instagram names to real-life stitchers. The spacious setup gave everyone room to

spread out and settle in for the day.

Two classes were offered Friday morning: a Beading Workshop with Holly from HN

Stitches and a Round Ornament Finishing class with Julia. I chose the beading

workshop, and it was fantastic! Holly introduced me to a whole new way to bead that I

can’t wait to use again.

Afternoon

After a delicious lunch buffet, shopping officially opened! The vendor lineup truly had

something for everyone and the shopping space was definitely packed with stitchers

ready to shop.

One thing I loved most about the retreat was the relaxed atmosphere Julia created.

Stitchers could head back to their rooms, enjoy the resort amenities, or stay and stitch

for hours. Everyone felt comfortable making the experience their own.

Evening

Dinner that evening was on our own, but the night took an unexpected turn when a

tornado warning was issued and everyone was required to take shelter. Most stitchers

quickly found their way back to the retreat space, where we hunkered down together

until the storm passed. It made for an eventful and memorable evening.

Saturday, April 17

Morning

The second day of the retreat began with breakfast, open stitch time, and plenty of

stories about our “survival” from the night before. The morning class was “Ribbons &

Flowers,” taught by the talented Rebecca Peichel of The Chaotic Needlepointer.

Although I didn’t personally take the class, everything attendees created looked

beautiful.

Another detail that made the retreat special was all of the creative community-building

touches Julia implemented. The de-stashing table was packed with canvases and the

needleminder exchange gave attendees the chance to trade with one another. There was

also a bag charm station, an area showcasing tiny houses stitched by attendees, and a

“State Fair” display featuring beautifully stitched creations people proudly brought to share, as if they were entries in their local fair.

Afternoon

The afternoon flew by after another delicious lunch buffet. Shopping opened up after

lunch and attendees once again had a wonderful selection of vendors

During this time there was also a Q&A panel featuring female needlepoint business

owners sharing insights about the industry.

The retreat closed out much the same way it began: relaxed, welcoming, and centered

around connection. Stitchers spent their final hours stitching, chatting, and soaking in

their last few moments together.

The Stitch & Stay retreat was so much more than a weekend of needlepoint.

It was a thoughtfully created experience that brought people together in a

genuine and welcoming way. Julia created a space where stitchers could

relax, connect, create, and truly feel at home, which is what made the

weekend so special.

Katharine is the founder and owner of Joli Point Needlepoint. Keep an eye

out for her upcoming accessory collection.