at French Lick, Indiana

October 15, 16, 17, 2007

     This popular 3 days workshop Retreat is filled with a special ambiance found only at French Lick Resort and Casino. From the moment you arrive, your stay will become a lasting memory of comfort and old-fashioned, southern Indiana charm. All skill levels are invited.

     This year will be very different from past years -- the $400,000,000 renovation of the elegant French Lick Resort and Casino Hotel is complete and it’s nearly overwhelming. It can’t be described in words, and only photographs or actual being here can best convince you of its architectural beauty. I’ll include a few photos of the Resort’s elegance.

     Other major changes from past years are an additional full day and night added to the Retreat, and more food. I have reserved space for participants’ arrival on Sunday afternoon, October 14, 2007, through the class conclusion at the end of the workday on Wednesday, October 17, 2007. Please read on because there’s much more.

      The cost of three days and three nights in French Lick includes three breakfasts and three lunches at the 100’ long buffet in the Colonnade Dining Room, one sit-down dinner at my home which is within walking distance of the hotel, and a second dinner at my home on the final evening. Several quilts are on display in my home, and both evenings will be filled with plenty of camaraderie. Your confirmation following registration will include a detailed time schedule of the entire Retreat.

     The Colonnade Dining Room is the exact location where FDR first announced his candidacy for President in 193?. The National Democrat Convention was held several times at French Lick, Indiana, and this was a regular/sometimes hang-out for such as Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Lana Turner, Vincent Price, Joe Louis, Hoagy Carmichael, Al Capone and more. I’ve seen Harry Truman and other famous folks here when I was a kid growing up at French Lick.

     This one-of-a-kind experience is guaranteed to please. Following my painting demonstrations, all participants will successfully paint white cotton fabrics with beautiful results. The hand painted fabrics then become the materials used to create table runners, place mats, tote bags, large shoulder bags, wall hangings, pillow covers, and other projects of similar size. Areas of achievement in fabric painting and designs are endless in Phil Beaver workshops.

     Workshop Retreat fee includes 3 days and 3 nights at French Lick Resort and Casino; all meals except 2; classroom work space; instruction in fabric painting and design elements for individual projects; rough edge machine applique and free motion quilting; nearly everything you will need for workshop class including fabric for painting, fabric paints, paper patterns for sunflowers and poinsettias; swimming in both indoor and outdoor pools; ground transportation to all Resort locations including the stables, world famous Dome, all three state-of-the-art golf courses including Donald Ross and Pete Dye, two elegant country clubs with great dining rooms and actual bar relocated here from Chicago where Al Capone sat for many drinks; use of up-to-date fitness center; fast speed internet; tennis courts; and much, much more.  Did I mention croquette?

     Many more patterns will be available including, but not limited to, Canada geese, toy elephant and toy rabbit, several chicken hens and roosters, heron, tulips, daffodils, daylilies, irises, oak and maple leaves, pumpkins and leaves, gourds, pears, rabbits, rag doll, barns, turkeys, mallard ducks, etc.

     It seems to never end: the porches and lobbies are filled with sounds of the Roaring Twenties and on into the 30’s, the hotel shops are ready to make you happy with apparel from these eras, the Resort Casino is attached to all this, and a rich-to-the-brim huge Events Center featuring top performance stage shows and Grande Hotel murder mystery dinner shows are scheduled on select evenings. The beautiful rolling hills of southern Indiana should be at their best this time of year with sounds, colors, textures and fragrances of October in Indiana. It’s my home, and if you attend, you’re my guest.

________________________________________

Workshop Objectives:

* learn to brush fabric paint onto white cotton fabric with superior results

* learn to build poinsettias and/or sunflowers with painted fabrics, using supplied paper patterns or from other resources, recall, etc.

* learn to layer and pin all fabrics and batting, and prepare work for sewing

* learn and develop skills for machine free motion quilting

* produce finished quilted work as explained in above objectives

* have fun

* eat

     To see many pieces of work from these workshops done by students in earlier classes, go to my website, www.philbeaver.com, click Travelogue and scroll down to many locations and individual work.

     The Workshop Retreat is scheduled for October 15, 16, 17, 2007, with arrival Sunday, October 14. Please know Resort policy does not permit cancellation refunds, regardless of reason, after July 15, 2007. This is a 90 day period. If you must cancel after July 15, I will try to fill your slot from names that might be on a waiting list, but if this is not possible, perhaps you will know someone who would like taking your vacated space in the workshop. I wish this weren’t an issue, but as a retired school teacher, I cannot absorb any losses due to late or last minute cancellations.