What’s more exciting than a Girl’s Trip to NYC? How about a Girl’s Trip to NYC that centers around…..a wonderful needlepoint canvas, a fabulous teacher, and fun friends who love needlepointing? You bet! I recently hosted a fun group on a Needlepointing Retreat. And we had a BALL!
Needlepointing: So Much More Than Just
A Great Needlepoint Canvas
First of all, for all you non-needlepointers, here’s the deal. People who needlepoint…who really love needlepoint….stitch all the time! They stitch at home, in carpool line, in the waiting room of all doctor’s appointments. Needlepointers stitch on planes, on long car rides. There’s a needlepoint canvas nearby at all times. Clearly, they stitch every chance they get. Sounds a little like a hobby-turned-addiction, right? Well…maybe a teensy bit.
I have needlepointed for many years, and detailed my journey in this post. But, I never participated in a Needlepoint Retreat. Didn’t even know that they are a “thing.” Once I learned, clearly I needed to organize a retreat myself! And the obvious spot….NYC!
Needlepointing in NYC
Why? Well, because NYC has something for everyone! Museum lovers? Check. Musical lovers? Obviously check. Foodies….shoppers? Check and check. No worries about finding engaging activities outside of the actual needlepointing moments.
Our needlepoint canvas? Undoubtedly, it HAD to be an iconic NYC image. Our choice? The Rockefeller Christmas Tree!
The next most important decision: find the PERFECT Needlepoint Teacher. And lucky me, one of the best lives in my hometown. The famous Patricia Sone, whom I profiled a few months ago. I secured my dates on her very busy dance card, and she designed the most wonderful stitch guide to transform our needlepoint canvas into something really special!
Patricia Sone….otherwise known as Needlepointing Yoda (at least to me)
The NYC Itinerary
Our group arrived in NYC on a Thursday. Patricia and I arrived early in the day to make sure all our needlepointing ducks were in a row, and spent the afternoon enjoying the city. And….planning the next retreat. More on that later! In particular, we thoroughly enjoyed a new exhibit at the American Folk Art Museum.
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By 6:30, it was time to get this needlepoint party started, and we began our weekend with cocktails and dinner at one of my favorite spots in Murray Hill, Madison Bistro. It’s one of the restaurants included in my NYC Restaurant Guide. Properly introduced, and well-fed, our group parted ways to get a good night’s sleep.
Friday morning! Day One! With a bagel and cream cheese in hand, Patricia and I made our way to Annie & Company, on the Upper East Side. Thankfully, the store’s manager, Letty, was a huge help in getting all our needlepoint canvas and threads ready!
The group arrived at 11, giddy with excitement! I’m not sure our NYC hosts were prepared for all our exuberant Texas selves. Ha! Eventually, everyone got situated, with portable LED lights firmly in place, and we got to work.
We stitched until 1:45, and then it was time to get out and enjoy some amazing NYC activities. Afterward, we ate lunch at Pescalou, just a few blocks from Annie & Company. Wonderful little French Bistro, that everyone really enjoyed.
Some of the group peeled off after lunch, to do their own thing. As I have said before, when I plan trips, I’m a Dictator, but a benevolent Dictator! Those who stayed with me enjoyed a walk down Madison Avenue, experiencing some of my favorite shops and sites, which I detailed in this post.
We detoured at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which always has so many wonderful exhibits to see. Then, dinner at another of my favorite French Bistros. Wonderful first day!
Needlepoint Retreat: Day Two
Needlepoint Supplies
Day Two, same song second verse. Except today, we had lunch brought into Annie & Company, so we could stitch a little longer, and soak up as much of Patricia’s wonderful teaching as possible. She also took the time to show us several different Needlepoint Supplies for sale in the shop, that might help us stay more organized and stitch better. The afternoon was spent shopping in SoHo for those who stayed with me, drinks at The Crosby Street Hotel, one of my favorite bars in NYC! Finally, dinner in Little Italy, and an enjoyable walk from Grand Central back to our hotel.
Learning wonderful stitches from the best teacher!
Besides new needlepoint stitches, and improved needlepointing skills, what else did we learn?
We discussed books we should all be reading. We shared apps that everyone should have on their phone. All the girls talked about our children, our husbands and significant others, and our pets. Sounds like a typical Girl’s Trip, right ladies?
Feeling fully recharged, in only the way a great Girl’s Trip can make me feel, we parted ways on Saturday afternoon, so that everyone could enjoy one last night in NYC as they pleased.
We had a wonderful time! If you are a needlepoint shop owner, and would like for me to organize a Needlepoint Retreat at YOUR shop, please send me an email! I’m always in search of the next needlepoint canvas or needlepoint kit for a fun retreat!
Lou Lou….master stitcher and mascot of Annie & Company
What a wonderful trip! Too bad I don’t needlepoint…
Love the entire itinerary and the friendships made.
xoxo – Tanya
http://www.TanyaFoster.com
Thank you friend!!! We really had a ball, and I’m excited to plan future needlepointing retreats!!!
I learned to needlepoint over 30 years ago at a class offered through my church in their art ministry program. I now go to a Tues. morning group of needlepointers during my breaks and summers when not teaching full time. Like you, I have tubs of kits and now am starting to collect canvases! And I just keep buying them!! I love to needlepoint and am encouraged to see on Instagram and blogs that young people are getting excited about this hobby. If you travel here to Kansas City (I live in a suburb here) you need to visit KC Needlepoint shop-one of the very few shops in the city sadly. I rely on them as well as shopping/looking at online shops (for a great source of back/past canvases and kits, check out Austentatious Needlepoint online). I enjoy reading about your adventures on needlepoint girls’ trips, experts, projects, etc. Happy stitching!
Nancee, thank you for such a kind and thoughtful comment! I just love the needlepointing community! It’ a fun hobby, and I have met so many kind people who share our same interest!!!
Sounds like a fantastic retreat! Wish I could have been there.
You were missed for sure friend!!!! But…there’s some more fun in the works…so stay tuned!
I wanna go too!!!
Stay tuned friend! A Texas retreat is in the works!!!!
I’m a New Yorker and Annie’s fan, so I’m thrilled you could visit. Another great needlepoint experience is Rittenhouse Needlepoint in Philadelphia. Enjoy
Thank you! We had a GREAT time, and Annie and her staff are so kind and helpful! Thank you for your other suggestion! I ALWYAS like to find needlepoint shops when I travel!
Patricia just told me to sign up for your blog when I ran j to her at NeedlepointThis today. Can’t wait to join the next trip.
Fantastic Julie! We have some FUN needlepointing retreats planned! Announcements coming soon!
I adore your blog! I can’t wait to learn about your next Needlepoint retreat! Sign me up!
Awwww….Sharon. Thank you so much for that kind compliment! I hope you will join us! We have a LOT of fun!
Just heard about your fun trip to NYC! Patricia told me to sign up for your blog. Can’t wait to hear about your next Needlepoint retreat.
Oh good! We have a BUNCH of needlepointing fun up our sleeves! I always announce retreats on the Blog first!
Hi Mary,
I’m so sad I wasn’t able to go on the nyc needlepoint retreat in April. Looks like it was a great trip. I’m interested in a couple of the retreats you have coming up.
Alison
Oh GOOD! I’d love for you to join us Alison! I’ll email you the registration info! Let me know if you have any questions!!!