Through nature observation and creative exercises, we look at where to find inspiration and use it to make your own personalized paper prints for felting, through abstraction in colour, form, text and layering in markmaking. We’ll discuss how to go from idea to finished project, and work together through the design steps as you create your own artwork. This could be a wall hanging, collaged or dimensional, a vessel or sculptural form, or be fully felted shapes that are layered into a dimensional map of your experiences.
We’ll gather for 5 full days/ 6 nights in beautiful, historic, St.John’s. I grew up in St.John’s and so look forward to spending time in this rugged landscape with you! We’ll venture out into the beautiful environment, both urban and rural and gather in our workshop space to talk, draw, paint, felt and create. There will be colour, architecture, beaches, lighthouses, cliffs and, of course, rocks both big and small! Inspiring, Relaxing, Creating- our words for the week!
There are four non residential spaces for those who can drive to the site daily from home or other accommodations. The non-residential spaces are for the workshop days only- June 10-13, and you are welcome to join us for our opening evening on June 9th.
Registration for this retreat will open at 9am PST on February 1st, 2025 (Vancouver, BC time).
St.John’s, Newfoundland
June 9-15, 2025
Skills covered:
- Sketchbook work for felting- collecting inspiration in colour, form, or line.
- Designing your projects- working with theme, narrative, or intuition.
- Composition for interest, balance, individuality
- Layering and Collage in felt design
- Project mapping and construction- how to get the sizes and shapes you want
- Painting on paper for felting
- Paperfelting
- Refining your shaping and finish in felt projects
All class materials and tools are provided.
There is a maximum number of 12 participants, 8 residential, and 4 non-residential.
All levels of experience are welcome, but knowledge of basic feltmaking and a curiosity in exploring new ideas is essential.
Daily Itinerary
June 9: Arrival Day
Light Evening Meal, Introductions, Overview, plus a short walking excursion to introduce you to this special place.
June 12: What You Feel
A physical manifestation of the last two days. Instruction on gestural painting on paper for felting. Listen inward and outward, Let line patterns come forward. Fill in spaces with colour or text from on previous prints. Complete layout of project. Optional Evening outing to a natural area for inspiration.
June 13
Complete all felt work, final shaping, plus mounting if applicable. Group Dinner out in St.John’s.
June 14
Free day to explore more of St. John’s on your own. We’ll provide you with suggestions based on your own interests and what we’ve already seen to fully round out your experience.
June 15: (Departure Day): Breakfast, Review and discuss. Show and Tell. Departure at 11:00am..
Where We’re Staying
We’ll be staying in the Monroe House Executive Suites, which has 8 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms and lots of comfortable spaces for relaxing. It is within walking distance of downtown, plus many St.John’s sights, as well as our workshop venue, but we can also drive on any outings, including the workshop days We want you to enjoy every part of your time here! We have a combination of private rooms plus one shared room, to help meet your preference and budget. All rooms have an ensuite or adjacent bathroom.
Private Rooms: 6 spaces available
$2950
Shared Room: 2 spaces available
$2650
Tour Details
Included in retreat fee:
Residential
- Six nights accommodation in a centrally located traditional house in St.John’s.
- All Breakfasts, set up in a self serve manner to meet your personal preference, 4 wholesome and hearty lunches, tea/coffee & snacks during the day and 6 evening meals (5 in house and 1 group dinner out)
- All Transport in St.John’s, Newfoundland
- 4 day felting workshop with Fiona!
- All workshop supplies
- Evening outings to take in some special places in town and also in surrounding areas.
Workshop Only
- 4 wholesome and hearty lunches, tea/coffee & snacks during the day
- 4 day felting workshop with Fiona!
- Optional: welcome dinner at house on arrival day, June 9th, 2025
Registration for this retreat will open at 9am PST on February 1st, 2025 (Vancouver, BC time).
This is a helpful tool to find the registration opening time in your timezone:
https://www.worldtimebuddy.com/
Payments: A deposit of $1000 CDN is payable on registration. The balance will be payable by March 31st, 2025. Non residential workshop fees are payable in full at the time of registration.
REFUND POLICY
If you need to cancel before the start of the workshop/retreat, you’ll receive a full refund, if your space can be filled.
If we cannot fill your space, you’ll receive 50% of the full workshop fee. There are many bookings and commitments that have been made to make the event all come together, with bookings paid for in advance. This is why we must withhold a portion of the fees, upon your cancellation, especially if your space can’t be filled on short notice.
If you are unable to attend, please let us know as soon as possible.
If we cancel any workshops, full refunds will be made.
It is strongly suggested that you take out travel insurance in case you are unable to attend due to unforeseen circumstances.
