Come stitch with SEW CRAZY author, designer and teacher Alice Kolb at her first Spring 20008 Cloudcroft, New Mexico retreat. Personal studio space designed for ten stitchers is located in the Woodland’s area of this quaint, cool and peaceful mountain village.

Located 8600 feet up in the clouds, Cloudcroft is a quiet village, inviting you to enjoy its mystical treat of porch sitting, simply watching the breeze blow through autumn aspens and trees, or quietly stitching while the clouds cover the village in early morning or late evening. A beautiful 100- year-old golf and resort lodge, small, locally-owned restaurants and an old-west style shopping street (Burro Avenue) enhance and complete the town’s natural beauty and charm. An oasis among the surrounding desert, it is a perfect “get-away” for hours of sewing, connecting as girlfriends and reconnecting to your very being—your inner self + stitching a favorite project.
The retreat site is a wonderful, bright and happy sewing space at the lower ground level of the mountain cabin. Individual tables, cutting and ironing space and a visiting area complete the room with easy access doors on two sides. CD music or the sound of the breeze among the trees (you decide) can fill the room. Adjacent to the sewing space is a coffee nook and private bath. Upstairs is a visiting and eating area. A long porch runs across the front of the cabin. Check out photos of our interior here:

www.amigorealtyllc.com – Woodlands Cabin.
Retreat Themes

There are 2 retreat themes. Select one of the following:
- CRAZY x 5 is about crazy quilt blocks joined to simple and fun classic blocks.
- A SIMPLE JACKET is for those of you who want a “personalized” but quick-to-make jacket. Embellishment of stitches, machine and hand, will be the theme. Intermediate sewing skills are applicable to all workshops.





     
Each retreat is designed as a 3 1/2 day class, based on a theme of classic, yet innovative patchwork and stitchery technique. Because the spring season is so glorious in Cloudcroft, I’ve selected these dates:



Class times:

Wednesday through Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Saturday: 9:00 am - Noon

Arrive (and set-up, if you wish) Tuesday night and depart Saturday afternoon.

A typical day session is:

8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Wednesday - Saturday: arrival, hospitality
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Wednesday - Friday: Stitch till you drop!—with instruction and personal aid throughout each day.
Noon lunch break upstairs in our dining room
5:30 p.m. Supper styled in delicious New Mexico/Texas cuisine. (If you have special dietary needs, please feel free to bring personal foods).

Wednesday evening kicks off our retreat with a delicious supper, show and tell and a get-acquainted session.

Thursday and Friday evenings are designed for renewed stitching until bedtime, or relaxing in your personal setting.

8:30 a.m. -12:00 noon on Saturday closes our retreat with last-minute stitching and MAKING PLANS TO COME BACK!
Retreat fee is $395. The tuition fee includes individual sewing tables and design area, a coffee bar, daily snacks and water, 4 starter breakfasts, 3 lunches and 3 suppers.

A SPECIAL BONUS of our retreats is our nutritious and delicious food. Our in-house favorite chef, Judy, will provide nutritional, simple meals in a friendly, family buffet, casual style. You may pick and chose from salad, veggie and entrée fare, and of course, dessert. Each day we will break from our workshop, go upstairs and enjoy delicious fare, then back to our afternoon session. Evening meals will follow a short break between class and supper, then you can retire, relax or stitch some more!

Payment: Please include deposit of $150 with registration form. One-half of the deposit is refundable until April 20. After April 20, no refunds are available.

Please mail the payable balance by April 20:

Alice Kolb
Cloudcroft Retreat
542 Doebbler Road
Fredericksburg, TX 78624

If enrollment is insufficient, Alice reserves the right to cancel and refund deposits up to 1 month prior to retreat.

Click here to view and print the REGISTRATION FORM.

Arrival: We are located on Hwy. 82, with direct routes from Ruidosa, Artesia, and Alamogordo. Air transportation is available from El Paso (about 2 hours away). You are responsible for all transportation arrangements.

Lodging: Several good options are available in Cloudcroft. Look up choices on the Cloudcroft Chamber of Commerce website www.cloudcroft.net or phone 877-UPHIGH7. Also consider Amigo Realty website www.amigorealtyllc.com or phone 505 682-3356 for information on home rentals or their listing of www.sprucecabins.com, phone 877 682-2381. Another wonderful choice is TheLodgeResort.com, phone 800-395-6343. All accommodations will be arranged by retreat participants and their choice of lodging. Note: If several of you are coming together, I suggest you consider a home rental—very reasonably priced for luxury and comfort.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO BRING:
  • Simple, casual clothing (layers) ranging from warm weather to cool. Mountain weather changes throughout the day. Walking areas are somewhat steep so wear walking shoes. ALSO, remember that Cloudcroft is 8600 ft., so evaluate your health and ability to walk, climb stairs and enjoy the high altitude. We want you to have fun - not suffer from breathing problems!
  • Your favorite sewing machine, accessories, and manual
  • Class supplies: refer to class lists on this site or in the brochure. Bring what you need—there are no sewing shops in Cloudcroft! (Website has each class with supply list given)
  • I will have a small “insurance box” of supplies that might be needed: limited supply of interfacing, basic thread, needles, etc.
All images © by the artist, Alice Kolb, and are not to be copied, reproduced or distributed in any manner.
Last update 1/28/08. Website design by Holly Knott.