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 4 full days/ 5 nights on a creative oceanfront wandering. We can venture out into the beautiful environment and then gather inside to talk, draw, paint, felt and create, all within the warmth of our beautiful cabins and rooms, and window-filled workspace. Plus, for even more warming, we have access to a gorgeous thermal spa area with warm and hot pools, sauna, and hammam. Inspiring, Relaxing, Creating- our words for the week!
There are two 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- May 19-22, and you are welcome to join us for our group evening meal on May 22nd.
Registration for this retreat will open at 9am PST on February 1st, 2025 (Vancouver, BC time).
Oceanstone Resort
Indian Harbour, Nova Scotia
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, 10 residential, and 2 non-residential.
All levels of experience are welcome, but knowledge of basic feltmaking and a curiosity in exploring new ideas is essential.
Day by Day Itinerary
May 18: Arrival Day
Welcome Evening Meal at Rhubarb Restaurant, onsite, Introductions, Overview.
May 19: What You See
May 20: What You Think
May 22
Complete all felt work, final shaping, plus mounting if applicable. Group dinner out, at Rhubarb Restaurant, onsite or another local restaurant, tbd.
Day 6: (Departure Day): Breakfast, Review and discuss. Show and Tell. Departure at 11:00am.
Where We’re Staying
Our oceanfront accommodations and workshop space are clean and modern, while still a touch rustic. Comfortable and cozy! I have a combination of mainly private rooms and a few shared rooms, to help meet your preference and budget. We’re going to be comfortable, relaxed and inspired in this beautiful setting. There is a separate building we’ll be using as our main workshop space. We all have easy access to the shoreline and ocean. All residential spaces include one session in the award winning hydrothermal spa including warm and hot pools, sauna, cold plunge pool and hammam.
Here are the rooms, spaces and the fees for each:
Captain’s House: 3 bedrooms/ 1.5 bathrooms
- 2 private rooms, queen bed, $3450 CDN per person
- 1 shared room, 2 beds, 2 people: $3150 CDN per person
- Ocean Views
- Kitchen with microwave, fridge, dishwasher, toaster, and stovetop oven
- Deck/Balcony
- BBQ
- Living room with two couches and wood stove
Crowsnest: 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- 2 private rooms (1 Queen, 1 Double): $3650 CDN per person
- Ocean Views
- Kitchen with microwave, fridge, toaster, and stovetop oven
- Deck/Balcony
- BBQ
- Living room with couch, tables & chairs, and wood stove
Periwinkle: 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- 2 private rooms (1 Queen, 1 Double): $3650 CDN per person
- Ocean Views
- Kitchen with microwave, fridge, toaster, and stovetop oven
- Deck/Balcony
- BBQ
- Living room with couch, tables & chairs, and wood stove
Hollyhock: 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- 2 private rooms (1 King, 1 Queen): $3150 CDN
- Microwave and fridge (note- not a full kitchen)
- Living room with 2 couches
Tour Details
Included in retreat fee:
Residential
- 5 nights accommodation at there Oceanstone Resort in Indian Harbour, Nova Scotia.
- All Breakfasts, 4 wholesome and hearty lunches, tea/coffee & snacks during the day and 2 evening meals at Rhubarb Restaurant, or another restaurant tbd.
- All transport to and from the retreat, plus evening outings.
- 4 day felting workshop with Fiona!
- All workshop supplies
- Evening outings to take in some special places in this beautiful natural environment for further inspiration.
Workshop Only
- 4 wholesome and hearty lunches, tea/coffee & snacks during the day
- 4 day felting workshop with Fiona!
- All workshop supplies
- Optional: end of workshop dinner on May 22nd.
Where we’ll be: On the ocean at the Oceanstone Resort in Indian Harbour, just 4 km from Peggy’s Cove and a 45 minute drive from downtown Halifax.
I visited here while in Nova Scotia last year and it is everything I could want for this immersive creative experience with you. I’m so excited to be there!
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 fee is payable in full at the time of registration.
Cancellations
We do understand that situations arise that can change your plans! We maintain waiting lists for all classes and will do everything we can to fill your space, so we can provide a full refund.
To cancel your registration, please email your complete booking details and reason for cancellation to mail@fionaduthie.com
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.