2022 Texas Freestyle Textiles Retreat
Nov 09 - 13, 2022
About the Retreat
Those of you who attended our first annual retreat last November may recall that we had a terrific turn out, attendees learned (or improved) some fiber arts skills, and we all had lots of fun in the process. New friends were quickly made, and we vowed to do it again this year! Afterwards, Debra and I made a list of things we learned from our experience and with the wonderful feedback we received, we started working on this year’s retreat!
Some Great Changes at This Year’s Retreat!
This year we’ll be at a much larger venue, with a large meeting area, a covered porch and adjacent rooms to hold classes. It is a beautiful space and is convenient to downtown Wimberley. We’ll have tables to gather for lunch and also work on projects between classes. There’s ample space for our Maker’s Market for shopping. Parking is plentiful too!
Another change is that we have added an entire day to the retreat! And with that extra time and space, we have expanded our team of teachers to EIGHT! These dynamic fiber artists will share their amazing creative talent in the form of skill building classes and fun “Make & Takes” that may even get you started on your holiday gift giving plans!
Our retreat is a celebration of freestyle art, where attendees have an opportunity to rest and renew with old friends and new, while exploring creative freestyle art forms within the genre of fiber arts and textiles.
The emphasis and theme this year is creativity in our daily lives. We often think that we need to carve out a big chunk of time in order to nurture own creativity, but it really can be just a moment by moment thing. We will begin a conversation during our time together, inspired by some of Brene Brown’s writing, that will spark ideas for living an authentic daily creative life. Being in retreat and socializing with creative friends is a wonderful time to recommit to a daily creative process.
Creativity can also be contemplative, so look for opportunities to quietly work on projects. Remember it’s important to listen to your inner voice, and find moments for silence. Often, that’s where inspiration resides.
Be sure to connect with us on Instagram @texasfreestyletextiles for important retreat news and updates, as we’ll be posting frequently!
Retreat Details
When: Wednesday, November 9 – Sunday, November 13, 2021
- Wednesday 11/9
“Welcome Event” and retreat check-in from 4:30 to 6 pm - Thursday 11/10 — Saturday 11/13
Classes & activities begin at 9 am - Sunday 11/13
Morning classes; Event wrap-up at 12:30 pm
Welcome Event Location: The Shady Llama | 18325 Ranch Rd. 12, Wimberley, TX
Retreat Location: Wimberley Community Center | 14068 Ranch Rd 12, Wimberley, TX 78676
General Schedule:
- Thursday: 9 am – 5 pm (lunch provided on site)
- Friday: 9 am – 5 pm (lunch provided on site)
- Saturday: 9 am – 5 pm (lunch provided on site)
- Sunday: 9 am – 1 pm demos and wrap up
Lodging & Overnight Accommodations:
Wimberley has a number of wonderful lodging options with varied price points. Lodging arrangements are not part of our retreat registration. We recommend that you make your own lodging reservations ASAP, since our local bed & breakfasts, AirBNBs and inns typically fill up months in advance! As a point of reference as you search for lodging, our event location is close to Cypress Creek and the Wimberley Shopping District (a.k.a. “the Square”).
Lodging information links below:
Meals:
Lunch is provided on-site Thursday thru Saturday. Breakfast and dinner are on your own. We encourage dining with friends and enjoying our local restaurants and shops, located just a short walk from our retreat venue to Wimberley’s downtown. Not all restaurants accept reservations, but we are ending our classes in time for you to make early reservations or get on restaurant wait lists and experience the local charm with a beverage while you wait or stroll.
You might want to Google “Good Restaurants in Wimberley” for links to restaurants in the area or try a few of our favorites around the Square:
- The Leaning Pear
- Longleaf Craft Kitchen + Bar
- Wimberley Cafe
- CreekHouse Kitchen & Bar
- Marco’s Italian Restaurant
- Community Pizza & Beer Garden
Cost:
$495 Full Registration ($450 Early-bird registration rate, available through July 31, 2022)
Full Registrations Includes:
- 3½ days of classes and activities to choose from
- Daily access to the Maker’s Market
- Entry to our Welcome Event on Wednesday evening, with a complimentary drink ticket
- Delicious lunches Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
- Daily snacks and beverages
- An amazing reusable swag bag filled with surprises!
Registration Process:
Once registered for the retreat, you’ll receive a confirmation email that will include a link to our class offerings, where you may indicate your preferences. Someone on our team will contact you within 2 work days to discuss or confirm your choices and suggest alternative classes if we have exceeded our class limit for that particular class.
What to Bring
Bring whatever comforts you in the evenings, early morning, or any down time. This might be something portable that you can do with your hands, like simple knitting or spinning at a wheel. Each freestyle workshop will have its own “What to Bring” list, so be sure to take note of those for any workshops you plan to attend.
Retreat Schedule
Wednesday, Nov 9
| 4:30 – 6:00 pm | Welcome Event at The Shady Llama
Location: 18325 Ranch Rd. 12, Wimberley, TX |
Thursday, Nov 10
| 9:00 – 9:15 am | Theme Intro |
| 9:15 – 11:45 am | Morning Workshops:
A. Freestyle Bangle Bracelets w/ Kathy Utts B. Creative Mending: Japanese Inspiration w/ Kathy Rothstein C. Spinning for Beginners: “Spinning the Herd” w/ Liza Q, Wirtz D. Let’s Mix It Up! Creative Warping and Wefting Using a Rigid Heddle Loom! w/ Anne Burgeson |
| 11:45 am – 1:00 pm | Lunch |
| 1:00 – 3:30 pm | Afternoon Workshops:
A. Creative Journal Making w/ Debra Lambert B. Patchwork Drawstring Pouch w/ Kathy Rothstein C. Sit & Fit (The Sequel!) w/ Liza Q, Wirtz D. Nano Electric Wheel Yarn Spinning w/ Anne Burgeson |
| 4:00 – 5:00 pm | Chair Yoga
Free Time with Teachers |
Friday, Nov 11
| 9:00 – 9:15 am | Theme Intro |
| 9:15 – 11:45 am | Morning Workshops:
A. Art Yarn Spinning w/ Debra Lambert B. Creative Mending: Japanese Inspiration w/ Kathy Rothstein C. Freestyle Weaving for the Creative Spirit w/ Liza Q, Wirtz D. Let’s Mix It Up! Creative Warping and Wefting Using a Rigid Heddle Loom! w/ Anne Burgeson |
| 11:45 am – 1:00 pm | Lunch |
| 1:00 – 3:30 pm | Afternoon Workshops:
A. Art Yarn Spinning w/ Debra Lambert B. Freestyle Weaving for the Creative Spirit w/ Liza Q, Wirtz C. Nano Electric Wheel Yarn Spinning w/ Anne Burgeson D. SAORI Gift Tube w/ Jeffrey Fields |
| 4:00 – 5:00 pm | Chair Yoga
Free Time with Teachers |
Saturday, Nov 12
| 9:00 – 9:15 am | Theme Intro |
| 9:15 – 11:45 am | Morning Workshops:
A. Freestyle Knitted Mitts w/ Debra Lambert B. Patchwork Drawstring Pouch w/ Kathy Rothstein C. SAORI Kai w/ Kathy Utts D. Getting “Batty” with It: Art Batt Making Tools & Techniques w/ Liza Q, Wirtz E. Creative Use of Loom Waste: Zanshi w/ Denise De La Garza |
| 11:45 am – 1:00 pm | Lunch |
| 1:00 – 3:30 pm | Afternoon Workshops:
A. SAORI Kai w/ Kathy Utts & Kathy Rothstein B. Freestyle Meets Tapestry Weaving w/ Rasa Silenas C. SAORI Gift Tube w/ Jeffrey Fields D. Getting “Batty” with It: Art Batt Making Tools & Techniques w/ Liza Q, Wirtz E. Tiny Tapestries on Nature’s Loom w/ Anne Burgeson |
| 4:00 – 5:00 pm | Chair Yoga
Free Time with Teachers |
Sunday, Nov 13
| 10:00 am | How to Finish Your Weaving w/ Anne Burgeson & Kathy Rothstein |
| 11:00 am | Draping as a Design Method for Making Clothes w/ Kathy Utts & Debra Lambert |
| 12:00 – 12:30 pm | Retreat Wrap Up |
Retreat Classes:
Freestyle Weaving for the Creative Spirit w/ Liza Q. Wirtz
Let’s Mix It Up! Creative Warping and Wefting Using a Rigid Heddle Loom! w/ Anne Burgeson
SAORI Kai w/ Kathy Utts
Freestyle Meets Tapestry Weaving w/ Rasa Silenas
Creative Mending: Japanese Inspiration w/ Kathy Rothstein
Spinning for Beginners: “Spinning the Herd” w/ Liza Q, Wirtz
Sit & Fit (The Sequel!) w/ Liza Q, Wirtz
Getting “Batty” with It: Art Batt Making Tools & Techniques w/ Liza Q, Wirtz
Art Yarn Spinning w/ Debra Lambert
Nano Electric Wheel Yarn Spinning w/ Anne Burgeson
Make-and-Take Classes:
Patchwork Drawstring Pouch w/ Kathy Rothstein
Tiny Tapestries on Nature’s Loom w/ Anne Burgeson
Freestyle Bangle Bracelets w/ Kathy Utts
SAORI Gift Tube w/ Jeffrey Fields
Creative Journal Making w/ Debra Lambert
Freestyle Knitted Mitts w/ Debra Lambert
Creative Use of Thrums: Zanshi w/ Denise De La Garza
*Please Note: There are supply fees listed for each class that will be payable directly to the instructor by cash or check at the start of the class.
Freestyle Weaving for the Creative Spirit with Liza Q. Wirtz, Instructor
“Weave your heart!” “Express your true self!” Sound familiar? These are statements frequently made by SAORI weavers. At the core of this year’s retreat is the idea of freestyle fiber art, and this class fully embraces that concept. If you’ve been curious about this kind of weaving, then this is the class for you!
Honor your own inner sense of beauty and individuality in a “no mistakes” creative process while you play with color, texture, and technique. Learn the basic skills of freestyle weaving on highly approachable and easy-to-use two-harness SAORI floor looms, which will be pre-warped with all necessary weaving materials provided.
The result will be a small, surprisingly beautiful piece of woven cloth that you can use a number of ways, or for gifting. You can also save it to use for the Make & Take classes!
Skills Needed: None! This class is for both the absolute beginner and experienced weavers alike.
Materials Fee: $25 – includes pre-warped SAORI looms and all manner of weaving supplies
Let’s Mix It Up! Creative Warping and Wefting Using a Rigid Heddle Loom! with Anne Burgeson, Instructor
So many yarns in your stash, but what will you do with it all? Have you ever been tempted to try different yarns together in weaving? Never thought of it?
Weaving on a rigid heddle loom is a wonderful way to use scraps and tiny balls of orphaned yarn, and you’ll get to do that here! Get started on the right track with this useful class!
Just like any fiber project, yarn choices matter. We’ll spend some time looking at and talking about what kinds of yarns work well as warp, what do not, and how to incorporate fun stuff into the weft. Why? Because using different styles of yarn opens up our interpretation of weaving in creative ways.
As mentioned, this is a fantastic way to use up small amounts of precious (a.k.a. expensive?) yarn from your stash, so feel free to bring yarn from home to add to the assortment provided in class.
This class is designed for those who have done some weaving before, and who have (preferably) warped a rigid heddle loom. Because of time constraints, we will be sampling on our looms rather than completing a larger project. Everyone will be able to bring their sample home.
Skills Needed: Some experience on a rigid heddle loom
What to Bring: Scissors
Materials Fee: $8 – includes assortment of yarns, both hand spun and commercial
SAORI Kai with Kathy Utts, Saori Guide
“Kai” in Japanese means “gathering.” In the SAORI tradition, kai means to gather and share knowledge and experience that are gained along our collective creative weaving journeys. Misao Jo, founder of the SAORI weaving philosophy and art form intended that we share our ideas and artwork generously to inspire each other and extend our friendship. SAORI studios all over the globe endeavor to do this in gratitude and remembrance of Misao Jo’s life’s work.
In the first part of our kai, while participants are weaving, a SAORI “guide” will teach some fun and creative techniques that might expand your weaving repertoire (or even blow your mind!) SAORI looms will be available for those new to SAORI weaving or traveling from afar, but we invite those who own their own SAORI looms to please bring them! Those interested are invited to share work brought from home and tell a brief story of their work.
Skills Needed: Prior SAORI weaving experience, or attendance at our Freestyle Weaving for the Creative Spirit class
Materials Fee: $10 – includes lots of crazy yarn and creative treasures!
Freestyle “Meets” Tapestry Weaving with Rasa Silenas, Instructor
Tapestry weaving is all the rage these days, both as artistic expression as well as a decor trend, and you’ll understand why with this fun class! If you like to doodle or fill in coloring books, you will enjoy tapestry weaving!
It’s low tech, low cost, and usually the loom is easy to carry. Learn how to weave on an inexpensive, and portable loom with very simple tools, incorporating basic tapestry techniques such as horizontal and vertical lines, diagonals, and curvy shapes. There’s no limit to what you can create in an afternoon by twining, mixing textures, and blending colors! And with all the fun “treasures” provided, you can throw your freestyle heart into making something truly unique!
Skills Needed: None
What to Bring:
- Scissors
- Small amounts of worsted weight yarn, if you have some in your stash that you’d like to use
- Notepad and pen
- Pencil, chopstick, or other smooth stick
Materials Fee: $20 – includes a tapestry loom set, tapestry needles in various sizes, tapestry warp yarn, yarn for weft, and a detailed handout
Creative Mending: Japanese Inspiration with Kathy Rothstein, Instructor
What is Sashiko? Boro? Are they the same thing as “slow stitching?” Find out the answers to these questions, and learn about these Japanese hand-stitching traditions as you practice a few techniques to mend and embellish your own clothing. You will also receive a kit with everything needed to repair your jeans, jackets, or shirts at home.
In this skill-building class, we will not be mending our own garments. Instead, we will end up with a denim sampler patch to take home, displaying three different useful, yet decorative mending stitches. If you want to work on your own personal clothing that you’ve brought during the retreat, take this class first! During free time, our awesome instructor will be available to assist with individual projects!
Skills Needed: Must be comfortable working with a needle and thread
Materials Fee: $12 for kit
Spinning for Beginners: “Spinning the Herd” with Liza Q, Wirtz, Instructor
Are you a new spinner… or do you want to be? Maybe you’re intrigued by this “spinning thing”… beautiful fluffy fiber… turning it into yarn… How cool is that? Maybe you have friends who have fallen in love with spinning on a wheel, or you have tried a drop spindle and are interested in giving a spinning wheel a try. If any of these scenarios sound familiar, try this experiential class!
You’ll get some exposure to the basics of spinning, including some traditional terminology and concepts as you practice the necessary spinning skills of drafting and treadling on a spinning wheel. You will also get to try out some of the instructor’s herd of spinning wheels. Get those hands and feet working together! By the end of our class, new spinners should have a sense of whether spinning on a wheel is for them!
Skills Needed: No previous experience needed. Students must be able to treadle with both feet and maintain a firm hold on wool roving.
Materials Fee: $10 – includes approximately 2 oz of wool roving from various breeds of sheep for use in experimenting with provided wheels
Sit & Fit (The Sequel!) with Liza Q, Wirtz, Instructor
So you’ve done a bit of spinning here and there, had some exposure to the basics, and you think you might be falling in love… but you need to spend a little more quality time together before you’re ready to commit to the relationship.
If you know how to treadle and how to draft, let this “next step” class give you room to grow your new skills and explore the wonders of spinning yarn.
You’ll practice the core skills of spinning and start spinning your own handspun yarn using lovely fluffy fiber in different colors, so you can create beauty as you learn.
Since each student will also have the opportunity to experiment with 6 different popular spinning wheels, you’ll get the chance to see which wheel might be the best fit for you. This information is very useful if you’re considering purchasing a wheel in the future!
Skills Needed: Very limited previous experience required; Students must be able to treadle a spinning wheel and know how to draft fiber.
Materials Fee: $15 – includes a variety of wool roving from various breeds of sheep
Getting “Batty” with It: Art Batt Making Tools & Techniques with Liza Q, Wirtz, Instructor
What is an art batt? How might you make one? What can you do with it? And why would you want to? Learn answers to these questions and more!
Students will come away with the basic skills needed to create art batts, knowledge about what tools can be useful for that creative process, and three variously sized batts that they’ve designed and created using ingredients from the one-of-a-kind Foldout Cat Batt Buffet!
You’ll get to choose from a variety of fibers for carding, including merino and other wools, silk and sari silk, bamboo, Angelina, and Firestar, then you’ll learn to use hand cards, blending boards, and drum carders, and create an art batt to spin with!
Yes, we ARE batty for batts, and we think you’ll be as well!
Skills Needed: None
Materials Fee: $15
Art Yarn Spinning with Debra Lambert, Instructor
Back by popular demand, this class is our signature freestyle textiles class, created for those who are both comfortable and independent using a spinning wheel.
As author and spinning rock star, Lexi Boeger, writes in her amazing book Intertwined: “Traditional spinning does not diverge far from its roots. It has reflected a close tie to its historic past and a satisfaction in maintaining these historic methods and materials.”
She goes on to explain, “New techniques that break all the traditional rules of spinning are changing the definition of how yarn is made. Yarn has become a medium for personal, social, and creative expression.”
Learn how to sculpt fiber with your hands while still leaving the characteristics of each animal’s curls, crimps, and waves as intentional design elements in your textured yarn. With an array of materials provided in class, students can experiment by incorporating other “treasures,” such as bits of silk, bamboo, ribbon, and even small craft ingredients. Plying is where a yarn can really take on its own personality, and you’ll learn fun techniques that will make it artful and unique!
Skills Needed: Must be comfortable spinning fiber on a wheel
What to Bring: Students must bring a spinning wheel. If you do not own a wheel, consider borrowing or renting from a friend or your local Weavers and Spinners Guild. Please practice spinning on this borrowed wheel prior to class.
Materials Fee: $15 – includes lots of wool roving from various breeds of sheep, plus an assortment of treasures that can be added in while making your one-of-a-kind handspun yarn
Nano Electric Wheel Yarn Spinning with Anne Burgeson, Instructor
E-spinners have worked their way into the hearts of traditional spinners. They come in many sizes, shapes, and price ranges. Come and have fun with this tiny wonder!
The Nano is an amazing little machine that spins and makes beautiful yarn. It is lightweight and very portable, making it ideal for spinning on the go.
The Nano looks like a toy in this photo, but it spins like a grown-up wheel! This class is geared for new spinners, but others with spinning experience are welcome to join us too!
Our wonderful teacher for this class is bringing enough Nano e-spinners for each class participant, and spinning fiber is also being provided, so you’ll come away with some of your own handspun.
Skills Needed: No experience needed. Great class for beginners!
Materials Fee: $8 – includes all materials
Make-And-Take Classes:
It’s so much fun to go on retreat and learn a bunch of new things with fun people, but it’s also therapeutic to work on small projects quietly with our hands. Especially during these crazy, scary times, it’s important to get out of our heads and go where our creative juices are flowing. Here are some ideas to choose from that we hope will serve that purpose! Get started on a project in class, then finish up at our group seating area, your lodging, or at home.
Patchwork Drawstring Pouch with Kathy Rothstein, Instructor
Learn to make Honey Folk’s adorable Patchwork Drawstring Pouch, with the author’s permission, using scraps of fabric and Sashiko thread. If you have taken our Creative Mending class, this will be a chance to expand on what you’ve learned. If you haven’t taken that class, that’s fine too!
Great for holiday gift giving, or to send to a friend who needs cheering up!
Skills Needed: Student must be comfortable working with a needle and thread.
Materials Fee: $5
Tiny Tapestries on Nature’s Loom with Anne Burgeson, Instructor
Take a look at these fun projects! With a couple of nails and some yarn, we can create little looms on driftwood. Or big looms on BIG driftwood! We usually think of driftwood as something you’d pick up at the beach, but good wood exists anywhere there are woods to walk in!
Bring a treasure piece of wood from home, or take a casual walk in a park or even on the side of the road can yield several amazing creative opportunities! as an alternative, or if you’re flat out of time, we will provide an assortment of pre-made stick looms that students can use for their projects, and take home. This is an enjoyable project due to it’s portability – easy to do in the car, sitting around with friends, etc. Once we get a good start on the project, you’ll be good to go! They take as little or as much time as you want.
Skills Needed: No experience needed. Great class for beginners!
What to Bring: Tapestry Needle (if you have one) and a tiny amount of fun yarn from your stash, and a treasured or stick with interesting character.
Materials Fee: Optional are additional Driftwood Looms (priced between $7-12); warp yarn and Tapestry Needles ($3).
FreeStyle Bangle Bracelets with Kathy Utts, Instructor
One of my favorite quick projects when I need to ‘change the channel’ in my brain are making these creative bracelets! They’ve been a big hit as gifts and in this class you’ll have time to make at least two! Join me in class as I spread fabric, ribbons, yarn, wire, found objects, charms, findings, beads etc. out on a big table and invite you to dig in!
You may want to bring an old bangle bracelet, charms and beads from home if you’d like, however, it may be too tempting not to use the beautiful items provided!
Skills Needed: None
What to Bring: Please bring small pliers like those used in jewelry making for bending and cutting wire; and scissors
Materials Fee: $10
SAORI Gift Tube with Jeffrey Fields, Instructor
Inspired by the idea of up-cycling SAORI’s pre-made warp cardboard sections, this class will show participants how to transform these leftover papers into a wonderfully personalized gift wrap for a gift such as a small SAORI art piece, scarf, or anything that would fit within it’s tube shape.
These beautiful fabric wrapped, edge-stitched tubes, closed with a section of handmade woven cloth and pin, make for a perfectly unique way to wrap that special gift!
You will learn each step of the basic process in crafting these fun and easy wraps by hand finishing the fabric and paper edging, securing the internal gift tie and finally wrapping it closed with your SAORI woven band and pin.
Skills Needed: None
What to Bring: Scissors
Materials Fee: $8
Creative Journal Making with Debra Lambert, Instructor
Many fiber artists say they wish they would have kept a creative journal to record their process for different projects, sketch out ideas, add photos, and write down thoughts and inspirations. Why not start (or restart) that deeply valuable habit? In keeping with our theme of a daily authentic creative practice, we thought that attendees might like to kickstart it at this retreat!
This is one of Debra’s most requested classes, and she has agreed to guide us in a Journal Making class this year! Using freestyle hand-woven fabric that participants weave on small handmade looms, participants will be guided with ways to design and embellish a beautiful leather cover for your journal.
Skills Needed: None
What to Bring: All items will be provided
Materials Fee: $35
Freestyle Knitted Mitts with Debra Lambert, Instructor
Join Debra in this fun class! You’ll be knitting hand warmers using a simple pattern and your own hand spun yarn!
Haven’t spun yarn yet? There’ll be plenty of GORGEOUS handspun at our Maker’s Market!
Skills Needed: Participant should be an advanced beginner or intermediate knitter.
What to Bring: Please bring knitting needles size 11, 13, 15, and 17, if possible. If not, Debra will have needles you can borrow.
Materials Fee: $20 — includes bulky yarn and pattern
Creative Use of Thrums: Zanshi with Denise De La Garza, Instructor
In traditional weaving, loom waste is a calculation made and allowed for at the beginning of each project. Doesn’t that just seem wrong?!
“No Waste” seems to be an important tenet of Japanese culture. Let’s look with our SAORI shining eyes at loom waste, also called thrums, and think about how to incorporate them into our SAORI projects. Weaving with thrums is called zanshi, a beautiful traditional rural Japanese weaving technique.
We will look at examples of how to use thrums in weaving and have some fun tying thrums into a continuous weaving yarn.
Skills Needed: None
What to Bring: All items will be provided
Materials Fee: $5
Cancellation Policy:
Cancellations received before October 31, 2022 will be eligible for a full reimbursement of payment. After this date, no refunds will be issued.
COVID Policy:
The retreat will comply with any state mandates and CDC recommendations with regards to COVID safety. In addition, we require that all participants be able to show proof of a negative COVID test result from a reputable pharmacy, health department, or medical facility from within 48 hours of the start of their participation in the event.
