Virtual Retreats

GillyMac Designs Spring 2021 Virtual Retreat is sold out. The next Virtual Retreat will take place in October 2021. In the meantime why not try one of our classes – available in the shop. 

GillyMac Designs is delighted to announce the Spring 2021 Virtual Retreat will open for bookings at 10am on Friday 29th January.

Spring 2021 Virtual Retreat

The next wonderful Virtual Retreat will take place from Friday, March 26th to Sunday, March 28th. Once again, the Retreat will happen from the comfort of your sewing table

The project for this Retreat is the Summertime Table Runner and Placemats. You could make the placemats or the runner over the weekend, but you will have the full pattern and video tutorial for both items.  The Summertime Runner’s design comprises a log cabin block background onto which I have sewn modern flowers. I have chosen to make my log cabin blocks in an improv style, but the pattern also includes a regular log cabin block option. The edges of the runner and placements are curvy, which looks great!

What is a Virtual Retreat hosted by GillyMac Designs?

Over the past two years, the Retreats have become a regular Spring and Autumn feature in the GillyMac Calendar. 

The Retreat is a weekend of sewing and laughter with 16 hours of mixed live tuition and personal sewing. There is a quiz and a highlight of the weekend is always our Bingo game! The event runs over Zoom with a supportive private Facebook group. The Facebook group opens ahead of the Retreat to allow participants to share photos of their fabric choices and stays open after it for final projects to be shared between the group.

During the weekend, Gill will be doing the project with you, demonstrating every stage in full. Furthermore, the pattern comes with fully illustrated notes, and there is a pre-recorded video tutorial for the project.

Retreat Box & Saturday Night Bonus Project!

Gill will send the carefully curated Retreat Boxes to you ahead of time.

On Friday evening, we try to kick the Retreat off by opening the Boxes. The Boxes contain a mixture of quality sewing supplies and mini gifts to get you buzzing from the very start.  

It is one of Gill’s favourite jobs to build the box contents in the months leading up to the Retreat.

Each Retreat Box also contains a complete kit for the Saturday night project which you can either sew along with Gill that evening, or you can save it to complete at another time.

The Spring Saturday Night project is a set of stitched greetings cards or afternoon tea invite cards!

What are the logistics of the 2021 Spring Virtual Retreat ?

The Spring Retreat will run from:

7pm on Friday, March 26th to 
3pm on Sunday, March 28th.

The Facebook group will open to participants a week before the Retreat and will be available for a further six months after the Retreat is over.
The instructional videos will be yours to access from my website forever.
The Retreat Box will arrive by registered post in the week before the event. 

Busy cutting/sewing/creative time will be from:

7pm – 9pm on Friday, 
10am – 7pm on Saturday and 
10am – 3pm on Sunday.

What’s included in the price of the Virtual Retreat?

  • 16 hours of mixed live tuition and personal sewing over two days and one evening
  • GillyMac Summertime Runner and Placemats Pattern
  • Bonus Pattern & Kit for the greetings cards
  • A Bespoke Retreat Box, full of quality goodies delivered to you for the weekend’s enjoyment.
  • GillyMac Bingo & prizes.
  • Instructional videos for all aspects of making and quilting the Summertime Runner and Placemats and the stitched greetings cards – These videos are available forever. or the gift bag project available forever.

What happens if I get stuck with the sewing, who will help me ?

There will be live instructional Zoom sessions and pre-recorded Video Tutorials covering all aspects of making the Summertime Runner & Placemats and the greetings cards throughout the weekend. Additionally, Gill will be online, answering your questions and cheerleading your progress. Gill and her small team will help you get the very most from experience.

What happens if I can’t be available for the whole weekend or miss a part of the retreat?

 All the instructions video tutorials will be available in Gill’s website members for you to replay at your convenience. So there is no chance of you missing out on the tuition.   If you need to pop out or do something else for a short time, you will be able to catch up with all the teaching when you get back. Just don’t miss the Bingo!

 

Gill's Biography

What you'll need for the weekend

  1. An internet connection, access to Zoom (you do not need a Zoom account) and Facebook account,  if you would like to join the Retreat Group.
  2. Fabric – Gill will send you the requirements shortly after booking.
  3. Sewing machine, Sewing kit, rotary cutting equipment and enthusiasm.

How much is this Virtual Retreat and how do I book it ?

The price of the GillyMac Virtual Retreat is £135 and places are limited.

An early-bird discount rate of £120 for the retreat is available for bookings taken from  29th January to 14th February.

Book Now

Will fabric kits be available to purchase? 

This project is suited to using up your stash of fabric. However, we all like to buy fabric, and Gill will send details of fabric packs and their availability along with the requirements.

What Past Retreat Participants are Saying…

It’s always great to receive feedback on my classes

Superb weekend
Winter 2020 VR Participant
A great way to sew at home, - with a talented tutor - learn new techniques or twists on old ones, in an informal format, and with a whole bunch of Zoom sewing buddies
Winter 2020 VR Participant
Gill is lovely, supportive and encouraging. All the instructions and tuition are very clear. The virtual retreats are a pleasure to be part of.
JL - Winter 2020 VR Participant
Gill has taught me both face to face and also using remote sessions. She is an excellent teacher, well prepared, willing to go over techniques, while keeping everyone engaged. Her classes book up quickly, which shows how popular they are. I thoroughly enjoy her sessions and highly recommend them to anyone, from the novice to the experienced quilter.
LL - Winter 2020 VR Participant
I really enjoyed my first virtual retreat with Gill - even though we weren't together Gill managed to provide excellent demos and was very engaging. Being able to ask questions and get real time help and advice was very helpful and the addition of a surprise box of treats and a bingo session added some fun to the weekend. I am looking forward to the next one !
MP - Winter 2020 VR Participant
Any class taken with Gill is full of information and her generous teaching style is always a delight. No matter what your anxieties or abilities you will have a fully informed, engaged and enthusiastic teacher and you will be given the tools to continue on your sewing journey.
MB - Winter 2020 VR Participant
Nothing is too much trouble for Gill when she runs a course or a retreat. Every detail is thought of in advance. Lots of options and advice and nothing you do as a participant is ever wrong!
SJ - Winter 2020 VR Participant
A thoroughly enjoyable weekend dedicated to sewing with lovely fellow quilters and fantastic teaching as always from Gill. I learnt so many new skills that will be useful in so many projects. Thank you so much - here's looking forward to the next one! 😊
Winter 2020 VR Participant
Another fantastic retreat - a gorgeous box of carefully thought out goodies, a stunning quilt with lots to learn, fabulous teaching with brilliant reference video, bingo... what more could you possibly ask for?! Roll on spring for the next one!
DK - Winter 2020 VR Participant
This was my first virtual retreat, I will certainly be doing another one, if I can get a place! Fun and informative with plenty of support material online.
HJ - Winter 2020 VR Participant
As a newbie to patchwork I found this really helpful, informative but most of all brilliant fun. Meeting new people and experiencing a new skill under expert guidance; couldn't be better! Gill is a generous; patient; friendly and knowledgeable. I look forward to learning more on her courses and Retreats.
MK - 2020 VR Participant
Such a fabulous idea – I really enjoyed working on a project with other people from all around the country……can’t wait for the next one.
TF - 2019 VR Participant
The virtual retreat was a fabulous weekend idea, masterminded and managed expertly by Gill. From the arrival of our Goodie Box, through the cutting out, Smarties Challenge, reverse sewing, fabulous fabrics, cats & dog, great encouragement, getting A & B mixed up, hints and tips and regular video tuition catch-ups I cannot enthuse enough about how much I have enjoyed the inaugural GillyMac Virtual Retreat. Oh, the Bingo too – how can we forget that! Gill’s generosity is fabulous- I can’t wait for the Winter Virtual Retreat. Thanks you all.
EC - 2019 VR Participant
Valuable experience for anyone who finds travelling a barrier when getting to a venue. Being able to go back and view a video session again makes it easier to catch up. This also means that you don’t have to make copious notes. Everyone was so encouraging, especial Gill
Summer 2019 VR Participant
The virtual retreat was a wonderful idea and something great to try! Really looking forward to the next one!
Summer 2019 VR Participant
Gills a awesome teacher. I’ve been blessed to be on a residential three day retreat and just finished a virtual 2 1/2 day retreat. What I know about Gill is she really meet you at your ability she doesn’t make you feel silly if the others are advanced she is such an encourager & inspiration. I’ve been blessed to be on a residential three day retreat and just finished a virtual 2 1/2 day retreat. What I truly know about Gill is she will meet you at your ability she doesn’t make you feel silly if the others are advanced she is such an encourager and is willing to help you on a one to one. Nothing is too much of a problem for her. I’m quite disabled and no feeling in my hands. But I’ve always found my way around those problems with her help. I Must mention the glorious GillyMac box 📦 of goodies that turned up just before the virtual retreat. Like Christmas. It’s a no brainier GillyMac Retreats are worth it for the teaching And comradeship.
JM - 2019 Retreat Participant
A lovely experience and an excellent new concept. Brilliant idea Gillymac.
JF - Virtual Retreat Participant 2020
Not only an excellent lesson but also a lovely box of quilting goodies. Nice touch.
MA - Virtual Retreat Participant
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07818 551232
mail@gillymacdesigns.com

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