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THE CRAFT HOUSE

so… let’s talk about the Craft House.

The Craft Weekend wait list is so very long.
i am not exaggerating.

if i ran Craft Weekend EVERY single weekend 52 times a year with ONLY people on the list… it would be over three years before i got to the end of the list.

but that is not going to happen.
unfortunately i cannot work every weekend of the next three years.
🙂

actually getting a spot for CW is super duper lucky.
and awesome!
But the reality is only a few of you get to come each year from the ginormous Craft Weekend list…

It’s not over but i don’t think i can handle another 10 this year.
i miss my kids!
and it is hard work.
it looks like super fun fun fun (and it is!) but there is LOADS of prep and energy and time put into each CW.
so it is not going away but there will not be as many this year as last year.

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So what i think… is that your should get your girlfriends together, pick a date, and have your own weekend at the Craft House!
you get to pick your date and all the people that would be there!
all while getting to stay at the Craft House!

Here are some ideas for great ways to use the Craft House:

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Scrapbookers… this house is set up perfectly for you! there is work space for 16 along with even more tables to set up in other areas to get even more work area.
You can stay longer than 2 nights too if you really need time to get those albums finished. If you are not a scrapbooker pass this post onto someone who is!

Crafters… you could have everyone bring their own projects to work on where everyone does their own thing.  it could be from someone sewing curtains to someone making a digital scrapbook!  OR you could have some people in your group lead projects that were planned and bring the supplies in for everyone.  It’s always nice to sit and do a project that someone else gathered everything for you ahead of time.  But then be sure to make the people who don’t lead the crafts do all of your cooking!  😉  just kidding.

Quilters or Sewing Groups… there is space for you to spread out and work at the Craft House.  One of the first things people say when they come inside for the first time is “It is so much bigger than the photos show”  there is PLENTY of space for sewing here.  We have a really great quilt shop, Charlotte’s Sew Natural, right in our town! And there are many more within short driving distances.  It would be a great place to come and get those sewing projects started or FINISHED finally.  Get your sewing group together for the weekend!

Girlfriends… you can have a full weekend of time away with your friends in a fully loaded house, comfy beds, beautiful kitchen to share your meals together.
you can go antiquing, to a movie, watch dvds or even arrange to have a massage therapist come in to give massage!
it is a fabulous house to just relax!

Bachelorette Weekend… this would be such a fun way to spend a weekend with your bridal party ladies.
you could work on projects for the wedding together… relax… plan… and get pampered before your wedding!

Spiritual Retreat…. the craft house is a lovely space for getting together for a weekend of spiritual focus.  your church group or women’s group could have a weekend away for discussions, study and prayer together.  it is perfect for a small retreat!

Friend Reunion Weekend… college roommates? high school friends? all in one place for a weekend to catch up and relive the glory days!

Birthday Weekend… invite all your favorite people together for your birthday have them come from all over the globe… friends from all stages of your life… together in one spot for the weekend.  it’s awesome!  trust me i know!  🙂  it makes for the best birthday memories!  Plan a surprise birthday weekend for a friend or plan your OWN birthday weekend.  you will have THE BEST birthday of your life!

Workshop… if you have a class or a course that you teach like photography or cooking or an artist workshop you could use the Craft House for a retreat.
everything is ready for you when you arrive… you can order your meals locally… you could arrange for outings or special guests.  I would love to accommodate anything you would need to pull off an amazing workshop.

Bloggers Meet Up…. yes.  all those friends you have online that you haven’t met in real life yet.  but you are soul sisters very obviously.  Pick a date and make it happen!  Have a mini blogger conference at the Craft House.  You will find the deepest of friendships in meeting your online friends face to face.  it’s a weird and awesome thing to know so one so well and never having met.  and it is so amazing afterward!  it always blows my mind that God blessed me with so many friends through the internet.  And i haven’t regretting meeting ANY of them in real life.  DO IT.  you will LOVE it.  🙂

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about a month ago i stopped by (after being invited) when a group who drove from arkansas were using the house for a crafting retreat.
it was lovely to meet all of them and chat for a bit.  but what i loved was looking around at all of these women… each being creative in their own way… each so happy to be there.
they had each taken a break for themselves!
they were all smiling… the real smiles that come when you feel relaxed and content.

i was about to burst with joy seeing how the Craft House was blessing all those women!
it was a big deal to me!
i felt like the purpose was met!
that house is made for this.

it is a place to find your creative self again.
the house is place where you can just be YOU… not the mom, not the wife, maid, employee, not the nurse, not a chauffeur or taxi, not a chef or a referee

just you.

being there and remembering YOU and remembering what kind of creativity you have.
using your hands to MAKE stuff.
sharing coffee with girlfriends who get it.
and lots of T A L K I N G.

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i would love to see the house used to the very fullest.
i want you and your friends to be able to BE at the Craft House!

i am happy to help answer questions about airports, car rentals, restaurants, shopping or anything to help your weekend go smoothly.

the CALENDAR is at the top of the blog in pull down menu under the Craft House button.
you can see the dates that are available for the year.

I would really love to get the January weekends reserved!
So… i am discounting them by $550!

If you book any of the available January weekends you can have the house for 16 guests for only $950.
that could be as little as $59 per person?!!

January  3 – 5 …..$950
January 10 – 12 ……$950
January 17 – 19 …..$950

 

ALSO… if you reserve your weekend for anytime (feb-dec) in 2014 THIS WEEK you will receive 20% off the price of your stay.
that would make a two night stay only $1200!
adding additional days would only be $200 each.

email me anytime this week (through dec. 16) with questions and to reserve your spot.

 

wouldn’t that be something great to look forward to after all the hustle and bustle of christmas season?

i can’t wait to hear from you!

happy monday everyone.

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Melissa - This would be such a fun way to gather all my girl relatives – do we get to use the sewing machines when we rent the craft house??

Michelle Whitlow - Carrie – How fun would that be??!! We should have a separate website for “Craft Weekend wannabe’s”!! haha Don’t pick us from the list…we’ll have our own!! haha Yeah, I’ve been on the list from nearly the beginning so I’m starting to think I’ll never get picked 🙁

Kathie M – I’m in WA, too 🙂

Jami NATO - Is feb 7&8 available?
Is there a tv there? We were thinking of trying to do the IFgathering there but we’d need to be able to watch it on something. I’m assuming there’s Internet there.
Could have emailed you that. But I’m on my phone and being lazy. 😉

Christa - Meg, Maybe you could start a seperate sign-up of women who want to come and do their own crafts but don’t know enough women (16!) in their own lives to make it cost effective for them. That way the house could fill up and be the cheapest per person and everyone can make new friends while relaxing, getting away and getting projects done!

Sara - I just want you to come to Georgia and decorate my house to look just like the craft house! I think that I would be happy every day to wake up surrounded by all those fun happy colors! And those quilts……

Dani - Hi, I love this idea! I live in Australia and love reading about the craft weekends, they are on my bucket list. What a fab idea to open it up like this if I lived closer I would book in a flash. I am sure many will enjoy your beautiful space and create and be and chill.
Merry Christmas to all xx

Shelly - What an Awesome idea!!! Back home, we’d do a craft weekend every year…but last year we moved from Northern Illinois to New Mexico so no more weekends for me 🙁 I linked this post on Facebook to spur on my friends and have some questions for you…Kansas just happens to be a pretty decent halfway point lol!!!

Karen Gerstenberger - What a wonderful idea, Meg. I admire you for knowing your own boundaries and keeping them for your self and your family. I know lots of women would love to have a place like your craft house to meet and share – much better than a hotel!

Kelli - I’d love to get together w/ a group of ladies …. who says it has to be people we know we can still make new friends and keep the old 🙂 …

So glad you are able to take more time for your family! And am very honored to still have the option of using the craft house 🙂

Melissa - Would we get to use the sewing machines and all that?? If so ill talk to my family a we are from Council Bluffs IA and various parts of KS and MO so this would be perfect!

lara sheriff - would leave out of DFW….wondering what airport we would fly into AND how far of a drive it is from north dallas. would LOVE to bring my bunco girls one weekend. it would be perfect. thanks meg! 🙂

meg duerksen - Debbie – YES they told me when i met them that they knew a Graber and it was so funny because i said “i met him once at the Etc Shop” anyway its such a small world! so glad jill loved it!

meg duerksen - Pamelotta… YES still having Craft Weekends but not as many as last year and the list keeps growing. 🙂

elz - Still going to wait for my turn! What a fun idea though, maybe next year.

Pamelotta - Sounds like a smart move. That house is so perfect for gathering, of any kind, it’s a blessing that you’re opening it up for anyone to enjoy it.

Will you still be having the occasional Craft Weekend? A lottery is still a lottery no matter what the odds and I’ve still got my fingers crossed that my name will get picked.

tara - this is exciting.
so happy for your family that God is providing in this way or y’all.
You’re one smart mama.

Lori - I love to see your craft weekend pictures and have gone back to your pictures of the craft house often. I don’t think that I will ever have the ability to go to the actual house but a dear friend and I have started planning our own mini craft weekend based on yours. We have been testing out some crafts that we might like to do. Our practice night was SO relaxing and inspiring that I can’t wait for us to plan our weekend! Thanks for the inspiration Meg and for helping us busy girls realize that we deserve to honor our creativity!!!

Lori - I love to see your craft weekend pictures and have gone back to your pictures of the craft house often. I don’t think that I will ever have the ability to go to the actual house but a dear friend and I have started planning our own mini craft weekend based on yours. We have been testing out some crafts that we might like to do. Our practice night was SO relaxing and inspiring that I can’t wait for us to plan our weekend! Thanks for the inspiration Meg and for helping us busy girls realize that we deserve to honor our creativity!!!

Debby Graber - Meg, Did you know those Arkansas people were from my son’s church?? Jill LOVED this past weekend, by the way. I was talking with some of those moms from our church who spent this past weekend doing their own craft weekend and they had so much fun. And so little sleep!! Did you know that A.B. stayed up until 3 a.m.??? I think those mommies will be catching up with sleep the rest of this week!

Carrie - Michelle Whitlow ~ I am the same as you!!! Maybe we should plan our own craft weekend?? I keep hoping God will choose my name for Craft weekend, but after 3 years on the waiting list, I’m wondering! I guess it just hasn’t been time yet! Here’s to hoping!!!

Merry Christmas!

Jen - What an awesome blessing that you are giving to women by letting them share this house! I’m reaching out to all my girlfriends asap to see if I can gather a group. I’m thinking my 35th birthday deserves a girls’ getaway weekend…..

Kathie M. - I am always inspired by you and your amazing house. I love keeping up with your blog and love seeing the photos after and during each Craft Weekend. I really want to start a craft weekend up here in Washington. I love crafting and teaching and sharing my gifts with others. I would love to come out your way but it just isn’t in my cards. I will however continue to support you and your amazing gift! Thank you for sharing and inspiring creativity in everyone.

Michelle Whitlow - I so wish I could do that…but I think I’m like most people in that I don’t know that many women who would be willing to spend the money to fly out to another state for a weekend retreat. It’s great for people who are within a day’s drive. That’s probably one of the main reasons I signed up to be on the wait list sooooo long ago. Because I would most likely be coming by myself. If I knew that many people who’d be willing to do the trip I’d rent the house in a heartbeat! Sadly, I’m just too far away to get people to commit to that 🙁

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