"Frenchette Retreat" August 2012

Good evening, everyone!! I hope everyone is looking forward to a great weekend. Last weekend was my "Frenchette Retreat Weekend" here at Land of Oz Dolls. We had such a great time I just had to share many of the highlights with you. We started off the weekend with a Thursday night welcome reception, along with a film called "The Romance", a little shopping and a lot of dolly companionship.

Welcome Reception on Thursday evening.

Watching the film "The Romance"

Shopping on Thursday evening

Shopping on Thursday Evening

"Belle Fleur" in her new bicycle costume.

Friday morning souvenir doll presentation.

Friday morning souvenir doll presentation.

Friday morning souvenir doll presentation.

Friday morning souvenir doll presentation.

Friday morning souvenir doll presentation.

Friday morning souvenir doll presentation.

Friday morning souvenir doll presentation.

Friday morning souvenir doll presentation.

Friday morning souvenir doll presentation.

Friday morning souvenir doll presentation.

Friday morning souvenir doll presentation.

Friday morning souvenir doll presentation.

Friday morning souvenir doll presentation.

Friday morning souvenir doll presentation.

Friday morning souvenir doll presentation.

Friday morning souvenir doll presentation.

After the souvenir doll presentation on Friday morning we had our first workshop. It was the "Sac de Voyage" Carpet Bag taught by Sue Sharp.

Sac de Voyage Workshop taught by Sue Sharp

Sac de Voyage Workshop taught by Sue Sharp



We took off for the afternoon for a field trip, first we went to Lanrk, Il. to the Victorian home of Keith and Lynn Collins along with Lynn's business "Picket Fence" We had a tour of the beautiful gardens, along with a tour of their victorian home. We also had "Pie on the Porch" and then a little time for shopping in what was once the old carriage house and now home to "Picket Fence"



Next stop was Prairie Path Sampler in Mt. Carroll. It is always great fun to see what new things Fern and Buster Stadel have to sell.

Our final stop of the afternoon was at "Ideas and Designs" Antique Mall in Mt.  Carroll owned by Len and Linda Andersen. You never know what treasure you may find in the antique store and the fabric department.

Friday evening was our tour of Havencrest Castle. For now I am only going to show you our group picture taken on the stairway up to the ballroom. Our tour of the castle will be another blog post as I have many pictures of our castle tour to share with you. It was a fantastic tour!

Saturday was filled with a full day of workshops. We started off with the wicker sleigh, fur hat and muff and ended the afternoon with the costume and bonnet.

Then on Saturday evening was the banquet dinner at Granny O'Neil's River Inn Bed and Breakfast. We had a wonderful meal prepared by Chef Bill Lease along with his helpers Gretchen and Chris. We had drawings for attendance prizes, and a great time visiting with each other.

Sunday morning proceeded with more workshops. We started out the day with the leather shoes and spats. During lunch we did the helper drawings. Pat Michaels was the lucky winner of the "Rose" all bisque Kestner doll that I had made and donated as a helper.  Everone was happy with the great helper prizes they won.

Sunday afternoon finished off the workshops with the jewelry class and the bicycle class.

Here is a few of the students with some of their finished projects.

We finished off the day,with those that were still left in town, with a final dinner at Poopy's Pub and Grub.

It was a great retreat with many wonderful people. I am looking forward to more retreats next year. The dates will be announced very soon for a second Bleuette Retreat in May 2013, along with a Valentines Retreat in February and a Retreat for a Bebe Louvre next October 2013. I will be posting all the pictures from our Havencrest Castle tour very soon. I hope everyone has a great weekend and until next time,

Dolly Hugs,

Connie