I have been wanting to teach at my own retreat for a while, so I’m very excited to announce that the very first “Once In a Blue Moon Fiber Art Retreat” will take place October 4-7, 2012 in Black Mountain, NC. Please make plans to come, and immerse yourself in a creative environment of learning and fun amidst the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains near Asheville, North Carolina. This retreat is limited to only 25 students, so you’ll get lots of one-on-one time with me. There is also time to relax and renew the spirit in a beautiful setting.
I’m working with my friend Joyce Mullis, who has years of organizing retreats, to put on this event. Joyce is also an excellent cook, and she will be handling our breakfasts and lunches, and keeping everything running smoothly.
Workshops and lodging will both take place in the same spacious facility, Barnhardt Lodge at the historic Blue Ridge Assembly YMCA conference center in Black Mountain, NC. The accommodations are contemporary, clean and spacious. We will have the whole lodge to ourselves. Sleep is not a requirement, and you may spend the day in your pajamas, if you wish! We have lots of fun activities planned for the three evenings we will be together.
Enjoy tasty and filling breakfasts and lunches at the lodge. Dinners are your chance to sample the many wonderful restaurants in nearby Black Mountain or Asheville – towns known for their eclectic mix of arty shops and diverse restaurants. Don’t want to drive? You can arrange to eat dinner at Blue Ridge’s dining hall for a small fee.
The workshop is based on the techniques in my new book. You’ll learn the skills you need to go home, take your favorite photo, and interpret it in fabric using fusible appliqué and thread sketching. Choose from one of two brand-new projects I am designing specifically for this retreat – pumpkins and passionflower — based on the photos shown here:
We will spend the first day constructing a small fused applique art quilt, and the second day thread sketching it. Basic free-motion machine stitching experience is helpful, but not essential. You’ll learn how to:
- create a pattern from a photo
- make a positioning overlay
- create patterns on fusible adhesive
- cut out your fabric pieces and fuse them
- choose the right threads, needles and
- stabilizers for thread sketching
- adjust tension for the correct stitch
- use thread to “sketch” on top of your fabric to add detail, color and texture.
The cost is $385 for a shared room, and $445 for a private room (limited number available). Some handicap-accessible rooms are also available. This includes three nights lodging, linens and towels, three breakfasts, two lunches, and two full days of workshops.
To download a retreat flier with more details and a registration form, click here.
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