Maine Stitching Retreats for 2018
Here they are! Each image below is a link directly to the full description. I encourage you to read all the way through them, and here, as there will most likely be answers to all your questions held within. You can also get to these descriptions via the Maine Stitching Retreats page on the pull down menu to the left.
Slow Fashion returns in almost the exact same form as last year. The first time you run a retreat you are putting out an idea that some will immediately latch onto, while others will hold back to observe. While the retreat was taking place I got all sorts of feedback on social media that made me think I hadn't reached all the possible interested parties. So I conferred with Cal, Katrina, and Jessica, surveyed those who attended, and decided that we should do it again! There are a few updates. This year we will be joined by Amy DuFault, Slow Fashion journalist and activist, who will share her perspectives on the movement, the industry, and why this is important to all of us. We'll also integrate the subject matter from all three instructors from the start to give you a bigger picture of ways to use these cool ideas in your life. Ah, and yes, the Swap is coming back....!
Slow Stitching sees the return of Chawne Kimber, this time joined by Denyse Schmidt and Maura Ambrose. I am very excited about this line-up. Chawne will share her pieced words, Denyse will explore needle turn applique through Hawaiian quilting, and Maura will set up a natural dye kitchen up on the top of the hill. I liked the clothing swap in Slow Fashion so I am adding a fabric swap to Slow Stitching. It's going to be pretty damn fabulous, if I do say so myself....
I went back and forth about adding to my offerings for 2018. The two Slow retreats are pretty damn perfect, I love running those two, they are dear to my heart. However I also have this draw to champion the benefits and joys of a handmade wardrobe. I fervently believe in the process, and results, of making your own clothing. And I also love working with Lauren Taylor (aka LLADYBIRD) who hadn't been to Maine in over a year. She and I put our heads together and came up with this workshop that I'm really jazzed about. It will take a similar form to the workshops I offered when I had the studio up in Portland- a long weekend of intensive sewing in a dedicated space. This time the space will be Rabelais, the book business my Husband and I started together, that he now solo runs handily here in Biddeford. (My AGOS studio has been tucked in the back of Rabelais for a year now. ) This time I will be doing some teaching too! We'll still have catered lunches, and a special celebratory meal to cap off the weekend. The costs are lower to make it accessible to more folks, you make your own housing arrangements so can save, or spend, your money there. The small size (just 10 people) means everyone gets a LOT of attention. This will be a great opportunity for those who want to move their wardrobe closer to entirely Me-Made.
If you have actually made it all the way down here without veering off to the descriptions you are a diehard, and I adore you....! As with last year I have posted the full descriptions here, and now, but I will delay the opening of registration a month. I think decisions like this- to come to a retreat for a chunk of time and money- should be made with the least amount of stress possible. I want you to make sure this works for you and your circumstances before committing to anything. I also like having a full month to chatter a bit about these retreats, so as to reach as many of the lovely people out there who might like to come to Maine and participate. It's a loud world out there, and I'm not great at shouting. My instructors and I will quietly talk about these cool experiences for a little while. And then we'll open registration, first by notifying the newsletter, and then on various social media. So if you're not on the mailing list, and you want to know when it is time to sign-up, you might consider signing up. There is a form on the right hand side here. Registration will open around the 26th or 27th of February, after Quiltcon. As with past years, registration opens first to folks who have previously attended. I have been truly honored by my returning attendees. I thank each and every one of you. I hope this year I get to meet some more of you lovely people too....!