Teacher Retreats at Beal Cottage with Sandra Brown

A chance to restore, explore, learn, share, commiserate and tackle deeper rug hooking topics with fellow teachers.  These will be small (maximum 3 teachers and myself) facilitated gatherings that last 3 days, with superb food, private rooms and almost an acre of flower gardens and woodland for inspiration.  What are some of the rug hooking topics you’ve always wanted to explore a bit more deeply, especially in the company of experienced fellow teachers?  My list for upcoming study groups in 2017 include: a palette of neutrals from nature, dyeing for finely shaded florals, Orientals, and advanced dyeing.

A Palette of Neutrals from Nature

Who hasn’t picked up a dried leaf or wet stone and not seen some remarkable colors hidden there they’d like to use in a rug?  Nature provides colors that blend to make the most beautiful neutrals imagineable.  Let’s explore the complemental nature of neutrals, beginning each day with natural objects found around Beal Cottage and experimenting with several dye pots going at once, different colored foundations, and dyes.  Notes and formulas will be gathered and an optional workbook plus samples will be available for every attendee.  Retreat limited to 3 teachers plus myself.  $375 includes, “instruction,” private room, three healthy, gourmet meals per day for Thursday dinner through Sunday brunch.  

Dyeing for Finely Shaded Florals

The best floral rugs have the most color and this Teacher Retreat aims to produce the stunning color combinations that set our finely shaded florals into the stratosphere.  Dip dyed wools with painted splash, transitional color swatches with tipped ends, casserole dyeing for quantity will all be covered.  We’ll have several dye pots going at the same time and notes and formulas will be gathered and an optional workbook plus samples will be available for every attendee.  Retreat limited to 3 teachers plus myself.  $375 includes, “instruction,” private room, three healthy, gourmet meals per day for Thursday dinner through Sunday brunch.

Orientals

Dyeing for Oriental rugs is a special challenge and the goal of this Teacher Retreat is color plans and formulas that are not only go-to classics, but interesting contemporary interpretations as well.  We will bring together our current favorites color plans and/or wools and dye up everything we might need to take those plans to the next level.  Several dye pots will be going at once and any color attendees may want to experiment with we will try!  Notes and formulas will be gathered and an optional workbook plus samples will be available for every attendee.  Retreat limited to 3 teachers plus myself.  $375 includes, “instruction,” private room, three healthy, gourmet meals per day for Thursday dinner through Sunday brunch.  

Advanced Dye Workshop

It’s great fun to throw dyes into a pot of soaking wool and see what comes up—it’s even more fun to be able to control your results with a programmatic approach so you can replicate it if you want.  For the rug hooking teacher who appreciates methodology, this advanced dye workshop will be a dive into familiar waters.  A chance to play with color and advanced dyeing techniques (casserole, coat hanger dip, transitional swatches, splashing and tipped ends, complementary or analogous in dip dyeing, abrash and layered colors, special spot dye techniques and how to dye the perfect match).  We’ll have several dye pots going at the same time and notes and formulas will be gathered and an optional workbook plus samples will be available for every attendee.  Retreat limited to 3 teachers plus myself.  $375 includes, “instruction,” private room, three healthy, gourmet meals per day for Thursday dinner through Sunday brunch.  

Sandra L Brown •  1275 Beal Rd.  •  Mansfield,  OH  •  44903  •  419.709.8108 • pghframe@aol.com