A dedicated sewing studio in the forest, lodging for your whole group, and nothing to do but create.
Tucked into 42 private acres deep in the Ouachita National Forest near Pencil Bluff, Seams Sew Me Retreats pairs a bright, purpose-built sewing studio with a comfortable single-level home all your own. It is the perfect getaway for guilds, groups and quilting friends: sew uninterrupted by day, gather by the fire at night, and never rush between venues.
Your host Belle welcomes every group in person with homemade Southern treats and a goodie bag waiting at your table. It is a retreat our guests return to again and again.
Discover the lovely amenities available to retreaters at the Riverglen Estate including private forest walking trails, Ouachita River access and a fully stocked sewing center.
Attached to the house for easy access to sewing any time, day or night, the studio is set up and ready the moment you arrive. Bring your machine and your projects; we have handled the rest.
The studio stays generously stocked thanks to our wonderful retreat sponsors.
Belle meets every group personally (unless she is traveling for work), makes sure the studio is set up just so, and is on hand whenever you need her. Her teaching has reached some of the biggest stages in quilting, including Quilt Festival, the American Quilters Society, and the Original Sewing & Quilting Expo.
Want to learn something new together? Add a group class to your retreat.
A relaxed, beginner-friendly 4-hour workshop for your whole group, the same class Belle has taught at national quilt shows. $400 for group instruction.
Quilt guild board strategy and leadership planning sessions are available on request. $400 to $1,000, custom.
The single-level Studio House is home base for your retreat. Bringing more than six? The River House next door is available for your overflow.
Retreat Home · Sleeps 6
The sewing studio connects right to this bright, single-level home: a big stocked kitchen, two full bathrooms with grab bars and step-over tubs, a high-capacity washer and dryer, and two RV sites beside the house, both with 30-amp electric and water.
Overflow · Sleeps 8
For larger groups, add the rustic River House just across the estate, room for up to eight more, with river views, a screened porch and a cozy quartz crystal fireplace. Everyone stays close, with space to spread out.
Retreats are a three-night minimum, and the whole estate is yours to enjoy between sewing sessions.
Forty-two private acres in the Ouachita National Forest are yours to roam whenever you need to rest your eyes and stretch your legs.
Grass, gravel and dirt paths wind through pines and oaks across the estate.
Climb to the slate bluff for sunrise and sunset views for miles in three directions.
Swim, wade, fish or kayak on your own quiet stretch of the Ouachita River.
Gather under the covered pavilion around the fire, with cedar logs and cushioned seating provided.
Wonderfully remote, yet remarkably central. Here is what is nearby when you step away from the studio.
A three-night minimum, with taxes and the cleaning fee already included. The more quilters in your group, the lower the cost per person.
| Group size | Per person, per night | 3-night total, each |
|---|---|---|
| 8 quilters (with RV spot) | $62.50 | $187.50 |
| 7 quilters (with RV spot) | $71.42 | $214.28 |
| 6 quilters | $83.33 | $250.00 |
| 5 quilters | $100.00 | $300.00 |
| 4 quilters | $125.00 | $375.00 |
| 3 quilters | $166.66 | $500.00 |
| 2 quilters | $250.00 | $750.00 |
| 1 quilter | $500.00 | $1,500.00 |
Extra nights are $400 per night, split across the group. Adding the second home for overflow is $700 for a three-night stay. Rates reflect the 2026 to 2027 season; please confirm current pricing when you book.
One person in your group acts as coordinator and single point of contact, and Belle walks you through the rest.
Choose a group coordinator to handle communication, the liability waivers and collecting everyone's share.
Settle on dates (three nights or more) and a fun name for your group.
Submit the booking form or email Belle, and she sends a packet with waivers, guidelines and a welcome manual.
The coordinator gathers signatures and payments (Venmo, card with a small fee, or check) and submits payment in full to lock in your dates. Reservation fees are non-refundable but retreat dates can be changed if needed.
Need fabric, thread or a new ruler? These shops are within reach of the retreat.
Belle's own shop, right in the studio, stocked with thread, needles, rulers and the little extras you forgot. Group coordinators have access throughout your stay.
A family-owned creative mercantile and quilt shop near Russellville, with fabric, handcrafted goods and DIY kits, and a stop on the Pope County Quilt Trail.
A Hot Springs fixture since 1999 for fabric, custom quilting and quilt finishing, plus embroidery and memorial quilts.
A full sewing center with around 1,000 bolts of quilting fabric, Bernina machines, kits, patterns and a knowledgeable staff.
A charming Caddo Gap mercantile with quilts and fabric alongside antiques, local jams, soaps and crafts, and a stop on the Montgomery County Quilt Trail.
An authorized Brother sewing machine service and repair center in Hot Springs, handy if your machine needs a tune-up before or after the retreat.
Ready to gather your group in the forest? Reach out through the Seams Sew Me booking form and we'll help you pick your dates.
