Mahjong, Needlepoint, and a Room Full of New Friends: Inside Hobby Hol

Picture walking into a resort ballroom alone, not knowing a single soul, and walking out a few days later with a table full of new friends, a gorgeous finished canvas, and a mahjong habit you didn't have before. That's the magic of Hobby Holiday, and it's exactly what Georgie & Lottie saw firsthand as a vendor at the very first one, held at The Greenbrier in West Virginia.

In this episode of Oh, Stitch, sisters Natasha Sewell and Alonsa Riddle sit down with Hobby Holiday founder Elizabeth Trainor. Elizabeth is a military spouse, a mom of five, a needlepointer, and a mahjong player who decided her two favorite hobbies belonged in the same room. They talk about what it really takes to pull off a retreat, what's coming to Jekyll Island this April, and why you should absolutely come by yourself.

A Retreat That Didn't Exist Yet

When Elizabeth's family moved from Chicago to Virginia, she learned to play mahjong and quickly found a weekly group of women she still plays with today. Somewhere between tiles and conversation, an idea took shape. There were plenty of mahjong retreats, plenty of needlepoint retreats, even book club retreats, but nothing that brought these analog hobbies together. So she built it.

The location matters just as much as the hobbies. As Elizabeth puts it, the destination is part of the draw. Nobody dreams of a long weekend at a roadside chain hotel.

The Biggest Win at The Greenbrier

For Elizabeth, the win was simply pulling it off. Retreats require a huge upfront investment and contracts that leave the organizer on the hook if things fall through. Instead, tickets sold out relatively early, seasoned needlepointers who attend retreat after retreat showed up, and many guests bought tickets for Jekyll Island before they'd even unpacked.

Learning Out Loud

Elizabeth spent years as a hairstylist before this, so spreadsheets and email workflows were brand new territory. There were behind-the-scenes hiccups, including a coordinator who needed more structure and an email server that kept her messages from reaching attendees. Guests never noticed a thing. Elizabeth sent out a feedback questionnaire and treats every answer, good or bad, as a way to make the next one better.

Her one wish? Having a circle of fellow women business owners from day one. Every Greenbrier vendor is returning for Jekyll Island, with more joining, and that cheerleading squad has become one of her favorite parts of the whole adventure.

Next Stop: Jekyll Island

The next Hobby Holiday heads to Jekyll Island, a small barrier island on the Georgia coast near Savannah, famous as the birthplace of the Federal Reserve. Like The Greenbrier, it's steeped in American history, and Elizabeth's new coordinator has said yes to every idea she's pitched. Here's what's new:

An extra day, which means two full core days instead of one
Daily breakfast plus more coffee, tea, and snacks (Elizabeth admits she runs on caffeine alone, but she's learned the rest of us don't)
High tea for lunch on one of the days
A much bigger space in the main ballroom, plus overflow room
Champagne sabering planned for the welcome cocktail party
More classes to choose from

Classes are always optional, and the island makes skipping one tempting. It's small enough to bike end to end, and Driftwood Beach is breathtaking.

Natasha and Alonsa have one regret from The Greenbrier: they didn't take a single class. The standout was Wendy's ribbon work class, built around a rhododendron canvas inspired by Dorothy Draper's famous pattern that covers The Greenbrier (the rhododendron is West Virginia's state flower). Every finished piece was stunning, and a true keepsake. This time, the sisters are signing up.

Come Alone. Seriously.

One of the biggest surprises at The Greenbrier was how many women came solo, and how fast they found their people. Elizabeth's message is simple: there are no mean girls here. Whether you're a brand new stitcher or still learning which tiles to keep, there is no judgment. You're there to learn, relax, and have fun.

A Black Friday Leap and a Road Trip Lesson

Elizabeth is newer to both hobbies than you might guess. One of her mahjong friends happens to be an excellent needlepointer, and after months of thinking about it, Elizabeth bought a few canvases on Black Friday and taught herself on the drive from Virginia to Florida for Christmas. That first canvas is a little rough, and she's considering frogging it to stitch it again. She was hooked from the start.

As a mom of kids with medical needs, she spends a lot of time traveling and waiting. She wishes she'd had needlepoint during the hardest stretches, especially when her youngest was hospitalized, because of how it resets her brain when stress runs high. Needlepoint is the quiet, solo hobby you can take to a waiting room. Mahjong is the social one that gets you around a table. Together, they're a perfect yin and yang.

Her advice for anyone eyeing a new hobby: stop thinking about it and just do it. Grab a simple canvas, jump in with both feet, and if it looks wonky, who cares? Life is short.

Rapid Fire with Elizabeth

Basketweave or Continental? Continental. She almost asked someone to teach her basketweave at The Greenbrier. Maybe Jekyll Island.
13 or 18 mesh? Both, but 13 is quicker.
Stretcher bars or in-hand? Stretcher bars, especially for decorative stitches.
One project at a time or many going at once? All the projects.
Embrace imperfections or rip it out? A little of both, leaning toward embrace.
Do you scoop? Not yet. She plans to learn on a big pillow canvas she's hunting for this Black Friday, likely something Americana or floral.

Join Us on Jekyll Island

Georgie & Lottie will be there this April, and we'd love to stitch beside you. Use code GLJIC for $100 off your Hobby Holiday Jekyll Island ticket at hobby-holiday.com.

Special Offer

Itching to start or grow your stash? Use code OHSTITCH10 for 10% off your first order at georgieandlottie.com.

Links Mentioned

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Mahjong, Needlepoint, and a Room Full of New Friends: Inside Hobby Holiday with Elizabeth Trainor