Experiential Learning Benefits:

You will enhance your your capacity to create authentically and experience joy, by learning how to engage and implement a variety of restorative practices that promote trust, curiosity and presence, while decreasing overthinking, self-judgment, and uncertainty during the improvisational process. We will explore a receptive and interconnected approach to creativity rooted in the Limbic System rather than the Prefrontal Cortex. While both are essential, our thinking brain often over-rides our feeling/sensing self when creating on the edge of the unknown — which can lead to exhaustion and blocks. During this retreat you will learn through experience, how to craft new and liberating patterns with ease, from your intuition (hands), emotions (heart), and instincts (gut) as much as from your intellect... AND make some awesome quilts in the process!

Practices:

Prompts/Score, Rhythmic Chain Piecing, Algorithms/Procedures, Chance Operations, Abstraction, Receptive Creativity, Flow Sewing, Mindfulness Meditation, Yes And/Affirm & Build, Self-compassion/Radical Acceptance, Deep Listening, Harnessing Emotional Energy, Beginner’s Mind/Curiosity/Divergent thinking, Ruler-free piecing techniques

Inspiration & Influences:

• John Cage / I-IV & Chance Operations

• Joik / a traditional form of song performed by the Sámi people in Northern Europe.

• Minimalist composers Philip Glass, Steve Reich and others

• Qigong / involves slow-flowing movement, deep rhythmic breathing, and a calm meditative state of mind with roots in ancient Chinese culture.

• Infinite Emptiness by Alex Salsman / meditative drawing prompts

• SCAMPER Technique / Brainstorming patterns

• Mary Margaret Pettway - “You do you.” / Gee’s Bend Quilters / Abstract Piecing

• Quilts in Women’s Lives / 1981 documentary film

Supplies to bring:

• Large cloth scissors – make sure they are sharp and functional

• Rotary cutter (quilt ruler optional)

• Seam ripper

• Pins

• Tailors chalk or marking tool

• Thread – medium gray or yellow blends well with everything

• Hand stitching kit (thread, thimble, needles - just in case)

• Sewing machine or request one from Clos Mirabel if you prefer not to transport your own.

• Journal for notes, inspiration, reflections

• 5-10 yards/meters of cloth.  It can be large scraps, remnants, old clothes. Bring a range that includes a variety of values, warm & cool, muted & bright hues that inspire you. Resist the urge to color coordinate, instead focus on diversity. Determine the amount that is correct for you, according to your pace of sewing, and the typical scale of your patchwork. For example if you like to work large and you sew fast then definitely bring 10 yards/meters or even more!

• 1-2 yards/meters of fabric to share with the class (large scraps & remnants)

• Optional - your favorite drawing media –colored or gray scale markers, pencils, oil or chalk pastels or crayons– of your choice - (I will provide colored markers to share but if you would like to bring for your own for personal use, please do)

Supplies provided by Clos Mirabel:

• Large cutting mat and ironing stations 

• Clos Mirabel will provide sewing machines for all participants who would prefer not to transport their own. There is no additional charge for this service.

Supplies included in your tuition fee:

• Your own copy of the Infinite Emptiness drawing book

• Additional drawing paper, color and gray scale markers 

• All the materials and supplies for the Group Stitching Mantra activity