Vermont 2020: Tapestry design, learn to love it!

Dates: May 28 to June 1, 2020
Location: Good Commons, 4771 Route 100A, Plymouth, VT, 05056

March 26, 2020: This retreat will be rescheduled due to COVID-19

THE MASTERCLASS

For this retreat we are going to focus on the skills you most want to learn. I’ve had many students over the years request a retreat where we work on the design and technical skills that each individual wants to address. So this year I’m jumping fully into that idea. We’ll have some group sessions each morning where we discuss design and technique problems guided by the questions you send me ahead of time and by what comes up in our meetings together. But most of the time will be devoted to the project you most want to work on. That does put some of the initial preparation on you! You’ll need to come to the retreat either with some of your past work to talk about and develop, or with new design ideas you want some help fleshing out. From there you can either focus on developing designs or you can work on sampling for your next tapestry with guidance from me.

I’ll have a sign-up for private sessions which are entirely optional. If you’d like to spend about 30 minutes one afternoon chatting with me privately about your ideas and where your tapestry practice is going or maybe about where you feel stuck, I will have sign-up times available at the retreat.

Because some people feel a little frightened by the thought of having the program rest on their shoulders, our morning talks will center around the following thoughts:

The structure of tapestry weaving can often interfere with the ephemeral designs that live in our imaginations. Learning to design successfully for tapestry includes understanding the technical limitations of the medium and the ways to get around them. What really is weave-able in tapestry? And how do I get from that little jewel of a design in my head to a fully realized work?

For some of us, discouragement is common. We might tell ourselves, “I love weaving tapestry, but I don’t have any design ideas and I can’t find even one glimmer of a design. How do I begin?” The secret is to start. Having a toolbox of idea generators to assist you is essential. We’ll talk about how to develop that list for yourself.

Others of us have cleared that first hurdle of simply having ideas. Maybe we now have so many ideas we are having difficulty narrowing it down and settling on something that will really shine in the medium of tapestry.

Bring the seeds of an idea with you, and we’ll work on how to modify designs for success in tapestry. You will find new ideas while we work together and you'll go home with a firmer direction for your weaving.

I will also have a few exercises available for people who want to work on how to simplify forms and what is really=y weave-able in tapestry. So if you don’t have designs you want to work on in the course, you could spend the whole time weaving one or two of those rather fun exercises.

Skill level: This masterclass is for people who know basic tapestry techniques and are ready to work on their design skills and use of color. This is not a workshop for beginners. You may choose to spend much or all of your workshop time working on design. Or you might explore ways to realize your ideas in the actual weaving, learning to mix colors for various effects and experimenting with what is actually achievable in this wonderful medium. If you are an alumni of one of my past retreats, you are ready for this one. But please contact me if you’re not sure this is for you.

And of course we are going to have a great time!

THE SETTING

Vermont 2020 will be held at Good Commons, a retreat house in Plymouth, Vermont. Good Commons is committed to providing creative space in a relaxing environment for their guests.

Enjoy your days working in the beautiful downstairs studio with other tapestry weavers. We will share meals together in the Good Commons dining room prepared by one of its fantastic chefs. Afternoons provide time for further work on weaving with my help, or may be spent at your discretion exploring the local state parks, the President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site, a hike on the Long Trail, or a brew at the Long Trail Brewery. In the evenings, join your fellow students for a beverage on the deck or in the hot tub, relax with a good book, watch a movie with new friends in the upstairs living room, continue to weave, or play a game. The house has a couple communal living spaces. There is a balcony on the second floor and a hot tub and fire pit in the back garden.

This retreat, due to space limitations, is only open to weaving participants. Spouses are welcome only if they are participants in the workshop.

Participants are requested to stay at Good Commons or the Good Farm Barn Apartment. If this housing situation will not work for you, please consider a different retreat experience (the only exception involves ADA access or if you live locally. Please contact me if this applies to you).

WHAT IS PROVIDED

• Workshop instruction with the full group each morning plus open studio with my assistance each afternoon. The studio is open any time you want to use it during the retreat.

• Reference handouts and exercises for anyone who struggles with a more open-ended approach to design.

• Private sessions with Rebecca are available if you’d like to talk through your current questions or have her look at some design ideas privately.

• All meals starting with Thursday dinner and finishing with brunch on Monday are provided. Good Commons can accommodate most special diets but please indicate any dietary restrictions on your registration form. Good Commons is committed to providing healthy meals with local ingredients. Their food is simply fantastic.

WHAT TO BRING

For the workshop (detailed materials list will be sent after registration):

• Looms: You must bring your own loom. It can be any loom you can get to the retreat and that works for tapestry.

• Tools: Please bring all your own weaving tools.

• Yarn: Please bring the warp and weft yarn you need for what you think you’ll work on. I won’t be bringing yarn to this retreat, so bring what you need!

• Design materials. If you love colored pencils or paint or tracing paper, please bring some. I will have some limited supplies because you don’t always know WHAT you’ll want or what new design technique might be the one for you. But please do bring the sorts of materials you like to play with while designing. That includes an idea notebook!

• Headphones for your music. Not once in five years of doing these retreats has a whole group been able to agree on music. Please provide your own tunes.

• Task light: There is good overhead light, but you’ll find it probably isn’t enough. Please bring an extension cord if possible.

For the house:

• All linens, central A/C, Wi-fi, hot tub, hair dryers, washer/dryer

• You can find more information about lodging on the Good Commons website: http://goodcommons.com/amenities/

• clothing appropriate for May in Vermont, casual dress is fine

• bathing suit if you’d like to enjoy the hot tub

• walking shoes if you’re interested in exploring the nearby state parks or the mountains near Plymouth

• bathrooms are shared by a few people, so you may want a bag or basket to transport your toiletries and towel

• people often bring a bottle of wine or beer to share. Good Commons does have a soda stream if you like fizzy water, but otherwise beverages offered are generally just plain water along with as much fresh coffee or tea as you’d like. There is some refrigerator space for beverages or special food you might need.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Good Commons is owned by the remarkable Tesha Buss. She bought this old general store and turned it into a gorgeous and comfortable retreat center. There are six bedrooms on the second floor of the house and a large sleeping loft on the third floor. There are six bathrooms in the house: one on the first floor, three on the second, and two adjacent to the sleeping loft. You can make your housing choices in the registration form. Please think about whether you are a light sleeper, enjoy privacy and thus a private room, or if you would prefer to share a room with someone else. The sleeping loft is designated for women only (sorry guys). If you snore, it is imperative that you request a private room so you do not damage the retreat experience for your roommate(s).

We will also utilize the Good Farm barn apartment, a beautiful spot about a 15 minute drive from Good Commons. This will provide accommodations for two people who want private rooms. This option has been well-loved by everyone who has stayed there. It is a large apartment with full kitchen, living room, and its own hot tub.

PRICING

Retreat fee including three meals a day: $925

Housing fees: vary as below. These are the total fees for the whole retreat (NOT a daily rate).

Private room at Good Commons, full bed: $725 (FULL)
Private room at Good Farm Apartment, king bed: $700 (AVAILABLE)
Private room, twin bed (there are two beds in the room): $625 (FULL)
Shared room, full or king (for couples taking the workshop together): $475 each (FULL)
Shared room, twin beds: $475 each (FULL)
Sleeping loft (women only), twin bed (four max in loft): $385 (FULL)

Deposit: Your initial non-refundable deposit is $300 due upon registration. The remainder of the fee is due April 27th via PayPal or check.

CANCELLATION TERMS

Your $300 deposit is non-refundable. You can get a refund for the rest of your fees paid until April 27th. After that nothing is refundable unless I can fill your spot. If I am able to fill your spot, you will get a refund minus your deposit.

RETREAT SCHEDULE

Thursday, May 28, 2020

4-6 pm Arrive, move into your room and the studio
6:30 Dinner
7:30 pm Brief meeting to discuss plans for the retreat, upstairs living room
Evening relaxation

Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Breakfast
9-12 am Workshop (all participants)
12-1 pm Lunch
1-5 pm Open Studio with Rebecca or exploration of the surrounding countryside
1-3 pm Private meetings with Rebecca as needed, 30 minutes each, upstairs living room
6:30 pm Dinner
Optional evening activities: A firepit in the backyard Good Commons, A Weaverly Path video viewing about Silvia Heyden in the 2nd floor living room, other movies, games, or private time.
Studio open for further weaving exploration.

Monday, June 1

9-11 am Workshop review and wrap-up. Discussion of what we learned with show and tell.
This review is a vital part of the workshop. Please plan to stay for it if at all possible.
10 am Group photo
Pack and disperse as needed.
11:30 pm Brunch is available
Check out by 1 pm

Massage

Olga Kuchukov has been doing massage for our retreats for a few years now. I can personally attest to the fact that her massages are fantastic. I’ll message everyone registered in April or May to allow sign-ups for anyone interested on either Saturday or Sunday. Massages take place at Good Commons and can be and can be 60, 75, or 90 minutes. Fees for massage are paid to Olga on the day of service. Massage is not part of the retreat package and if there aren’t three people interested in having one, Olga won’t make the trip out.

GETTING THERE

Good Commons is about 100 miles from three airports: Burlington, VT, Manchester, NH, and Albany, NY. In past years the registrants formed effective carpools to share rental cars or get rides from local people driving near those airports. One group even carpooled from Boston. I am happy to connect people who want to rideshare. I do not provide any transportation to Plymouth and there is no public transportation option that I know of.

TECHNOLOGY AND ADA ACCESS LIMITATIONS

Good Commons has a bathroom on the first floor, but sleeping accommodations are upstairs. There is no lift and the two upper floors are full of short and rather funky stairways. The barn apartment is on the upper floor with no elevator. If you still want to come to the retreat but you can't manage many stairs, please contact me for potential housing options. The weaving studio is on the first floor with two small steps to get in.

Good Commons is situated in a valley, and the cell service is unreliable. Do not count on your cell phone working. Good Commons has a landline which you can use to make free long-distance calls anywhere in the continental USA. Wi-fi is included so you can use Facetime or Skype to call your family from your own device. There is reliable cell service a few miles away.

Be advised that Good Commons is a refurbished 19th century general store, and there are no locks on the bedroom doors. There is sufficient parking for our group.

This is a non-smoking property. Pets are not allowed. We expect that all guests will abide by Good Commons' maintenance standards and respect the privacy and security of their fellow retreatants.

Please contact me directly if you have questions or concerns about these issues.

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