Laura's Corner

Happy Fall Y’all!

This month ends my one-year project of visiting all buildings every week and weekend to deliver reuseable bags and personally thank each guest for coming to Creative Passions, some of you multiple times a year for over a decade!! I appreciate each one of you and your support of my Retreats and Quilt Shop. It has been exciting to give away 5,000 bags in one year, can you believe it? That is a lot of guests!

Next summer, 2025 will be the 20-year anniversary of the first Creative Passions Retreat. We are planning a one-day celebration on the Saturday of Father’s Day weekend at CP1. Details are still in the works, but we had to block off a date first. Tentative plans are an open house at CP1, food truck(s), tent set up in the side yard….lots of time to figure it out, we just needed to pick a date first!

Thanks for all the love,
Laura G

 Tamara's Tidbits

Hello friends! Barb is in the process of emailing our February Group Contacts their reservation packets. Our rates have remained the same at $165 for your weekday or weekend retreat, and $30 for early arrival. Deposits will be due in November with final balance due in January. 

Please remember to pay your deposits and balances on time. This helps us know which groups are coming back and also helps us confirm how many team members we need to schedule for cleaning and early arrival. While we do understand that things come up and some guests cannot commit due to work or family, our policy is to have deposits paid 90 days in adavance and the balance is due 30 days in advance. This is for all locations.

If you ever have any questions regarding your retreat, please call the office at 989-845-2159 Monday thru Friday from 9-4. 

Selena's Scoop

If you’ve been reading our newsletters for any amount of time, then you know, I love all things Fall.  The smell of the air, leaves on the ground, pumpkins and gourds and my boys coming home for football on Sundays.  There’s just something about having them home, their friends joining them all crammed into my living room screaming at the TV on a Sunday watching the Lions play.  Maybe I’m a sucker but Sundays are for the boys and I will literally make anything they want to eat.  Most Sundays, I’m trying to outdo the last week, constantly trying to find a new dip that will wow them.  Now I’ve shared a lot of great dips but how about an upgraded caramel apple dip.  I’ll sneak a few fruits in to their diet while they eat all the other decadent cheesy desserts and they won’t even know I’m doing it.

Heath Apple Dip

1 8 oz package of cream cheese room temperature

2/3 cup packed brown sugar

¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 8 oz package of Heath English Toffee Bits

3-4 medium tart apples, sliced

In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese with an electric mixer on medium speed for 2-3 minutes.  Add in brown sugar, cinnamon and vanilla and continue beating for 3 minutes.  With a rubber spatula, fold in the toffee bits until fully incorporated.

Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours and serve with apple slices.  It’s also delicious with animal crackers or graham crackers. 

Michelle's Material

FreeSpirit invited a selection of global designers to share what inspires their art, creativity and fabric design. The results are a diverse and expressive outpouring of inspirational thoughts certain to resonate with any maker. "Writing on the Wall," powerfully presented in black and white, is a must have - perfect for background, filler and/or as a master print. 

Vivid sunflowers dance across the "Sundance" collection from Chong-A Hwang for Timeless Treasures. Available as quilting fabric by the yard, fabric panels, and quilt kits.

River Rhythms showcases various freshwater fish. Take a closer look at their unique spots and scales. Lure them in with colorful flies that float on top of the water. Be sure to bring a map with you so you can identify the best spots to catch certain types of fish. Perhaps you will catch a trout, bass, walleye, musky or a pike. You never know what will swim your way on a day out fishing.

Plumberry III is another beautiful floral collection designed by Pam Buda for Marcus Fabrics. This sophisticated collection captures the essence of a garden in bloom with sprigs, bouquets, grass, and other exquisite verdant designs in shades of purple and cream. This fabric is digitally printed, giving it brighter, more vibrant colors than traditional, screen-printed fabrics. 100% cotton.

Retreat Availability

While we do our best to update the website daily, when it comes to reservations we ask that you call our office to make them over the phone. This allows us to confirm whether or not the location is currently available.

Here's the availability left for this month, which is also on the website:

October 4-6 (Fri to Sun)
CP2B - 4 spots, Available This Year Only
Suite Q - 4 spots, Available This Year Only
CPRC 3RD Floor – 4 spots

October 7-10 (Mon to Thurs)
CP3B – 4 spots, Available This Year Only
CPRC 3RD Floor – 4 spots
 
October 11-13 (Fri to Sun)
CP3B - 4 spots, Available This Year Only
CPRC 3RD Floor – 4 spots
 
October 14-17 (Mon to Thurs)
CP2B - 4 spots, Available This Year Only
CP3B - 4 spots
Suite B - 4 spots, Available This Year Only
CPRC 3RD Floor – 4 spots

October 21-24 (Mon to Thurs)
CPRC 3RD Floor – 4 spots

October 25-27 (Fri to Sun)
CP2 - 24 spots
CP2B - 4 spots, Available This Year Only
Suite A - 4 spots
CPRC 3rd Floor - 4 spots
 
October 28-31 (Mon to Thurs)
CPRC 3RD Floor – 4 spots

 Local Events & News

This Weekend Oct 4 & 5, Handmade Music Festival at Showboat Park, more details can be found HERE

Carriage House Events, Oct 9, Cookie Decorating Class, more info HERE

Carriage House Events, Oct 10, Beach Glass Craft Night, more info HERE

Carriage House Events, Oct 15, Cookie Decorating Class, more info HERE

Big Rock Coffee, Oct 17, Game Night, you can find info HERE

Happy Halloween, Trick or Treating, 6-8pm Oct 31