I can burn a morning daydreaming about workshops. It’s just not that hard to dive into a list of classes for some divine workshop and flat-out lose myself for a while. I have been known to cook up an entire curriculum for myself at some remote workshop an improbable distance away.
In particular, I attend Shakerag Workshops all the time, despite the fact that it actually happens for only two weeks each June.
Where does this magical land of peace, love, and losing touch with reality happen?
About ninety miles from Nashville, outside Sewanee, Tennessee, on the campus of St. Andrews Sewanee School.
The director of Shakerag, Claire Reishman, is known to climb onto a table during (organic) (always delicious) dinner.
By the end of a week-long workshop with somebody like Beatrice Coron, you’ll do anything, wear anything, love everybody, forget what day it is.
Having been lucky to attend twice, I pore through upcoming offerings, imagining myself doing all sorts of unlikely yet absorbing things. This year, I quote below from the email I just received about this June’s workshops. If you have any inclination to treat yourself to a week of quiet joy amid like-minded makers and artists, well, read on. Among the dozen or more workshops, the fiber workshops this year are particularly choice.
Outside, Inside: Creating a Painting Quilt June 12-18, 2016
Using Pro Chem’s Textile Paints and canvas along with other fabric, each participant will paint, play, explore, and sew, creating two or more quilt tops by week’s end. There will be exercises employing line, shape, and color to lead you to create your personal work. The group will paint half the time and sew half the time, though we will all work at our own pace.
The focus of this class will be to guide you in the process of creating a basic pattern and making a garment to custom fit your body. You will learn the process of how to adapt a commercial pattern to fit your body as well as creating your own patterns. You will learn to take accurate body measurements and translate them onto your pattern. You will then make a garment from the commercial pattern of your choice or from the basic pattern you create. Once you have perfected the pattern to suit your body, you can begin to add details to your own design.
Traditional Yoruba Batik, Adire, and Tie Dye with Indigo Dye June 19-25, 2016
In this class, participants will learn the traditional Yoruba techniques of dyeing fabric: Batik, Adire Eleko, and Tie Dye. Batik is the process of creating designs using wax to resist dyes, while Adire Eleko creates designs using cassava paste. The traditional Yoruba Tie Dye method uses raffia to tie fabric before dying. The primary dye used in this workshop is indigo, and participants will practice all three dyeing techniques.
Monoprinting and Handstitching: Your Personal Expression June 19-25, 2016
Participants in this class will experiment with monoprinting – creating a one-of-a-kind print with water- soluble textile pigments – in order to make a unique cloth for stitching and making collages. We will create a series of small studies investigating the potent interaction of the stitched mark and painted cloth.
To register for these and other Shakerag Workshops, here’s the place. But remember, you don’t have to actually attend Shakerag to enjoy Shakerag. Sometimes, an armchair workshop is pretty good stuff.
Do you have a workshop that you dream about?
Love,
Ann
Sign up for Snippets, our beloved Saturday newsletter
Come Shop With Us
37 Comments
Rose3/02/16 • 6:10AM
Squam! Alabama Chaim!
Tammy3/02/16 • 6:12AM
Manhattan: one-on-one with Kay!!!
Nashville: one-on-one with Ann!!!
Amy3/02/16 • 11:50AM
A Modern Daily workshop! I’m in! Please, please do it. It would be so much fun!
Gretchen (aka stashdragon)3/02/16 • 10:23AM
Absolutely!
Kay3/02/16 • 10:50AM
Awwwww. xoxo
Diane3/02/16 • 6:19AM
I’m with you, Tammy! Where do we sign up??
Rev. Emily3/02/16 • 7:24AM
Sewanee! I’ve never been to the mountain. Tempting.
Su12823/02/16 • 7:28AM
Sounds dreamy! In five short years I won’t be bound by the end of school year in June. Something else to look forward to.
Gretchen3/02/16 • 7:41AM
The John C. Campbell Folk School. My sister and her husband have gone several times, and love it more each time.
Egrace3/02/16 • 2:01PM
How do you recommend doing it on a budget – if you’d advise me. My daughter and I would both like to try it but it looks to be outside our range
Laura Abrahamsen3/02/16 • 7:46AM
New England Fiber Arts Retreat at Medomak Retreat Center in Washington, ME. My happy place.
Charlotte Rains Dixon3/02/16 • 8:02AM
Squam. Alabama Chanin. Craft South. Alas, they are all far across the country from me. But some day. I do visit Nashville with some regularity and once I drove by Anna Maria’s store. Alas it was at night and the place was locked up tight. Next time I’ll get there during the day.
Sue J3/02/16 • 8:17AM
John C. Campbell Folk School. It’s only about four hours away. Something/anything with the Yarn Harlot. She’s the reason I started knitting. I was curious about knitting and bought her book Knitting Rules, not really thinking that about half way through her book, I’d be driving a few hours to the nearest town with a yarn store, enthused and excited about learning to knit. or that ten years on I’d still be a knitter!
Glenda3/02/16 • 12:11PM
Exactly why I also began knitting! I read Stephanie’s books while caring for my mother. Watching me learn to knit seemed to sooth her, into relaxed sleep, during a very difficult time.
Kay3/02/16 • 10:52AM
I hope Stephanie knows this story!
angela3/02/16 • 8:18AM
I have been very fortunate to attend many of the “hot” workshops (though not Shakerag–yet), and I dream of a class, somewhere, anywhere, with India Flint. I’d also like to go back to The Factory for a weeklong.
Marg3/03/16 • 4:10AM
Living in South Australia all this talk is about places so far away- I do feel a bit left out!
But this one made me smile- because I bought my first two fleece sheep – 2 Border Leicesters – from India Flint 15 years ago. It makes me feel much more connected to the discussion!
Gerri3/02/16 • 8:22AM
Any class schedule that comes my way. Recently looked at Complex Weavers, Madrona, Squam. If you make it to Duluth, MN, you need to keep moving and hit North House Folk School in Grand Marais. Yesterday I was trolling for more ideas and found Shake Rag Alley in Mineral Point, WI. http://www.shakeragalley.com/our-center Who knew? Apparently in the midwest they were shaking rugs out and in Tennesse, rags for moonshine. So says the history pages, any way.
patty3/02/16 • 8:39AM
Kristin Nicholas workshops. Usually in the summer, lots of color work
Jan3/02/16 • 8:54AM
I took two workshops (different years) with Ilze Aviks many years ago. Highly recommend! She’s thoughtful and delightful. Good memories.
Kathy3/02/16 • 10:11AM
Olds College Fibre Week because they bring in amazing teachers and it’s in my home province. I’ve had classes there from Beth Smith, Deb Robson, Sara Lamb and several more local teachers. It’s held at an agricultural college so the campus is beautiful, rose gardens and peonies blooming.
I’d love to take a workshop at Maiwa in Vancouver. Maybe this fall.
Trevor3/02/16 • 10:58PM
Waving from Okotoks! I haven’t been to Olds College Fibre Week, but I did have a private demo at Custom Woolen Mills near Carstairs on a Saturday drive a couple of years ago. Those antique mule spinning machines look like something from Edward scissor hands.
I’m going for a Vancouver spring escape next weekend (green grass, daffodils, oysters, etc). Always a little shopping spree at maiwa supply. Kind of into Boro textiles and Sashiko stitching at the moment – I hope they have a book or two. I tried to sign up for a Michel Garcia dye work shop last year at the Maiwa Textile Symposium but it was full. Someday.
I need to remember to pack the jars of cochineal, woad, calx, etc in my checked bag this trip.
Kay3/02/16 • 10:54AM
Maiwa was at Shakerag last year–they were having an amazing time. We checked their clotheslines every day!
Leigh3/02/16 • 11:25AM
I love reading workshop catalogs and dreaming too. 🙂
I’ve taken lots of small classes, and sometimes they’re good and sometimes they’re so-so. It makes it hard to spend big money (use my scarce vacation hours, airfare $$, lodging $$, food $$ AND the class$$ and supplies$$) to go to something that may only be so-so. I’ve done that before and the combo of $$$$ and so-so was hugely disappointing. I’ve also had huge success which was fabulous. It does make one a bit gun-shy though given the $$$ that can be involved.
My new strategy (and I WILL try it this year) is to decide on a “workshop”, get the info if I don’t already have it in triplicate, prep for it, take a vacation day, and just DO it in my studio. at my own pace with thai takeout. Act like I’m away home and refuse to be distracted by a pile of laundry and only do the classwork. Sounds easy, but it is a challenge for me.
egrace3/02/16 • 2:05PM
Maybe we could create a mini workshop with others using a digital interface as we start, at a mid-point and at the end. A workshop away at home appeals to my budgetary constraints as well.
Gerri3/03/16 • 12:08PM
I started thinking along those lines after I posted. I like your idea! If we can knit along with a pattern, why can’t we all workshop along?
Gerri3/02/16 • 12:58PM
I have done this with a friend. It really was good. My sister and I also set aside time to focus on a project when we were together last fall.
My spouse and I also did a “Creative Weekend”. Easy food, no household work/projects, just time to focus on what we were doing. Great.
Both were efforts on my part to work with things I’d already had a workshop on or any a technique that I wanted to focus on.
CraStaCation? Craft Staycation?
Ann Marie3/02/16 • 12:18PM
A great idea. The challenge is to make what I’m doing into my “work” for the day, and not let *anything* else interfere. Laundry be damned.
Barbara3/02/16 • 11:57AM
That sounds like an excellent idea for those of us with limited budgets. I just might “join” you.
Barbara3/02/16 • 11:55AM
The Clearing Folk School in Ellison Bay, WI hosts knitting and weaving classes throughout their Summer Season, along with all manner of writing, gardening, yoga, bent willow furniture, wood carving, lathe classes, poetry, bird-watching… I could go on and on (and generally do at some length) about the campus (128 acres on a bluff overlooking the sunset and the bay of Green Bay), the staff, and the food (fresh bread at every meal, homemade everything to die for)… oh, just go on their website and see for yourself–theclearing.org.
I want to go to Squam and anyplace that the Yarn Harlot is/teaches.
Ann in St Paul3/02/16 • 12:21PM
I swoon thinking about a Lotta Jansdotter class in either Sweden or India ????????????
gsle zucker / she shoots sheep shots3/02/16 • 4:41PM
Someday Shakerag or John C Campbell! I don’t know why but I feel like a southern workshop week would be extra relaxing. Meanwhile–I attend the always inspiring and slightly wacky Fiber College of Maine in Searsport every September. And the A Gathering of Stitches workshops look amazing (also in Maine). In real life, my timing is more realisitically matched with one day workshops so I am adoring our friend Amy Lou Stein’s new place Craftwork Somerville in Massachusetts. http://www.craftwork.rocks/
Paula F3/02/16 • 5:02PM
I get quite tempted by workshops and am reading the comments for more ideas. Just reading and making a plan is fun. But then, I think of what my mother once said to me. “you don’t need to take an art workshop; you need to do art” Then I think of the yarn stash and projects on the needles and think that instead, I should do a crafting “staycation”. I have done a crafty home vacation; I lined and inserted a zipper on a knitted purse.
Jan Q.3/02/16 • 7:31PM
Just had a bucket list experience at John C. Campbell last summer with Gasali Adeyemo. He’s at Shakerag this year and it’s a great class!
chez3/02/16 • 8:35PM
I’ve been to Nancy Crow’s Timber Frame Barn, outside of Columbus, OH. While I didn’t take class with Nancy, there is plenty of interaction with her and her family – all a gracious and delightful bunch. I’ve taken a number of fabric dyeing classes there with Carol Soderlund – can’t recommend her highly enough. I’ve also taken classes at Pro Chemical and Dye in Fall River, MA. Again, they are outstanding, great classes and very dear folks. Nice folks make a big difference.
Ady Grafivna3/02/16 • 11:24PM
That Yoruba class sounds amazing!
Vicki3/05/16 • 5:25PM
Alabama Chanin, for sure — a week. I am saving up, even.
Come Shop With Us
Our site uses cookies to collect the necessary data to improve your browsing
experience and customize content based on your interests.
Squam! Alabama Chaim!
Manhattan: one-on-one with Kay!!!
Nashville: one-on-one with Ann!!!
A Modern Daily workshop! I’m in! Please, please do it. It would be so much fun!
Absolutely!
Awwwww. xoxo
I’m with you, Tammy! Where do we sign up??
Sewanee! I’ve never been to the mountain. Tempting.
Sounds dreamy! In five short years I won’t be bound by the end of school year in June. Something else to look forward to.
The John C. Campbell Folk School. My sister and her husband have gone several times, and love it more each time.
How do you recommend doing it on a budget – if you’d advise me. My daughter and I would both like to try it but it looks to be outside our range
New England Fiber Arts Retreat at Medomak Retreat Center in Washington, ME. My happy place.
Squam. Alabama Chanin. Craft South. Alas, they are all far across the country from me. But some day. I do visit Nashville with some regularity and once I drove by Anna Maria’s store. Alas it was at night and the place was locked up tight. Next time I’ll get there during the day.
John C. Campbell Folk School. It’s only about four hours away. Something/anything with the Yarn Harlot. She’s the reason I started knitting. I was curious about knitting and bought her book Knitting Rules, not really thinking that about half way through her book, I’d be driving a few hours to the nearest town with a yarn store, enthused and excited about learning to knit. or that ten years on I’d still be a knitter!
Exactly why I also began knitting! I read Stephanie’s books while caring for my mother. Watching me learn to knit seemed to sooth her, into relaxed sleep, during a very difficult time.
I hope Stephanie knows this story!
I have been very fortunate to attend many of the “hot” workshops (though not Shakerag–yet), and I dream of a class, somewhere, anywhere, with India Flint. I’d also like to go back to The Factory for a weeklong.
Living in South Australia all this talk is about places so far away- I do feel a bit left out!
But this one made me smile- because I bought my first two fleece sheep – 2 Border Leicesters – from India Flint 15 years ago. It makes me feel much more connected to the discussion!
Any class schedule that comes my way. Recently looked at Complex Weavers, Madrona, Squam. If you make it to Duluth, MN, you need to keep moving and hit North House Folk School in Grand Marais. Yesterday I was trolling for more ideas and found Shake Rag Alley in Mineral Point, WI. http://www.shakeragalley.com/our-center Who knew? Apparently in the midwest they were shaking rugs out and in Tennesse, rags for moonshine. So says the history pages, any way.
Kristin Nicholas workshops. Usually in the summer, lots of color work
I took two workshops (different years) with Ilze Aviks many years ago. Highly recommend! She’s thoughtful and delightful. Good memories.
Olds College Fibre Week because they bring in amazing teachers and it’s in my home province. I’ve had classes there from Beth Smith, Deb Robson, Sara Lamb and several more local teachers. It’s held at an agricultural college so the campus is beautiful, rose gardens and peonies blooming.
I’d love to take a workshop at Maiwa in Vancouver. Maybe this fall.
Waving from Okotoks! I haven’t been to Olds College Fibre Week, but I did have a private demo at Custom Woolen Mills near Carstairs on a Saturday drive a couple of years ago. Those antique mule spinning machines look like something from Edward scissor hands.
I’m going for a Vancouver spring escape next weekend (green grass, daffodils, oysters, etc). Always a little shopping spree at maiwa supply. Kind of into Boro textiles and Sashiko stitching at the moment – I hope they have a book or two. I tried to sign up for a Michel Garcia dye work shop last year at the Maiwa Textile Symposium but it was full. Someday.
I need to remember to pack the jars of cochineal, woad, calx, etc in my checked bag this trip.
Maiwa was at Shakerag last year–they were having an amazing time. We checked their clotheslines every day!
I love reading workshop catalogs and dreaming too. 🙂
I’ve taken lots of small classes, and sometimes they’re good and sometimes they’re so-so. It makes it hard to spend big money (use my scarce vacation hours, airfare $$, lodging $$, food $$ AND the class$$ and supplies$$) to go to something that may only be so-so. I’ve done that before and the combo of $$$$ and so-so was hugely disappointing. I’ve also had huge success which was fabulous. It does make one a bit gun-shy though given the $$$ that can be involved.
My new strategy (and I WILL try it this year) is to decide on a “workshop”, get the info if I don’t already have it in triplicate, prep for it, take a vacation day, and just DO it in my studio. at my own pace with thai takeout. Act like I’m away home and refuse to be distracted by a pile of laundry and only do the classwork. Sounds easy, but it is a challenge for me.
Maybe we could create a mini workshop with others using a digital interface as we start, at a mid-point and at the end. A workshop away at home appeals to my budgetary constraints as well.
I started thinking along those lines after I posted. I like your idea! If we can knit along with a pattern, why can’t we all workshop along?
I have done this with a friend. It really was good. My sister and I also set aside time to focus on a project when we were together last fall.
My spouse and I also did a “Creative Weekend”. Easy food, no household work/projects, just time to focus on what we were doing. Great.
Both were efforts on my part to work with things I’d already had a workshop on or any a technique that I wanted to focus on.
CraStaCation? Craft Staycation?
A great idea. The challenge is to make what I’m doing into my “work” for the day, and not let *anything* else interfere. Laundry be damned.
That sounds like an excellent idea for those of us with limited budgets. I just might “join” you.
The Clearing Folk School in Ellison Bay, WI hosts knitting and weaving classes throughout their Summer Season, along with all manner of writing, gardening, yoga, bent willow furniture, wood carving, lathe classes, poetry, bird-watching… I could go on and on (and generally do at some length) about the campus (128 acres on a bluff overlooking the sunset and the bay of Green Bay), the staff, and the food (fresh bread at every meal, homemade everything to die for)… oh, just go on their website and see for yourself–theclearing.org.
I want to go to Squam and anyplace that the Yarn Harlot is/teaches.
I swoon thinking about a Lotta Jansdotter class in either Sweden or India ????????????
Someday Shakerag or John C Campbell! I don’t know why but I feel like a southern workshop week would be extra relaxing. Meanwhile–I attend the always inspiring and slightly wacky Fiber College of Maine in Searsport every September. And the A Gathering of Stitches workshops look amazing (also in Maine). In real life, my timing is more realisitically matched with one day workshops so I am adoring our friend Amy Lou Stein’s new place Craftwork Somerville in Massachusetts. http://www.craftwork.rocks/
I get quite tempted by workshops and am reading the comments for more ideas. Just reading and making a plan is fun. But then, I think of what my mother once said to me. “you don’t need to take an art workshop; you need to do art” Then I think of the yarn stash and projects on the needles and think that instead, I should do a crafting “staycation”. I have done a crafty home vacation; I lined and inserted a zipper on a knitted purse.
Just had a bucket list experience at John C. Campbell last summer with Gasali Adeyemo. He’s at Shakerag this year and it’s a great class!
I’ve been to Nancy Crow’s Timber Frame Barn, outside of Columbus, OH. While I didn’t take class with Nancy, there is plenty of interaction with her and her family – all a gracious and delightful bunch. I’ve taken a number of fabric dyeing classes there with Carol Soderlund – can’t recommend her highly enough. I’ve also taken classes at Pro Chemical and Dye in Fall River, MA. Again, they are outstanding, great classes and very dear folks. Nice folks make a big difference.
That Yoruba class sounds amazing!
Alabama Chanin, for sure — a week. I am saving up, even.