Unique stitching retreats in Maine
Dive into your creative practice with the support and encouragement of some of our day's leading Makers.
There are just two spaces, in a double cabin, available in Slow Fashion 1.0 for 2023! Click through below to learn more. I am beyond grateful and appreciative of all the enthusiastic Makers who have chosen to join me in the woods of Maine for some delightful communing this Summer. If you want to be notified of next year’s happenings please sign up for my newsletter. There is a link to do so at the bottom of this page.
AGOS brings some of the top names in Modern Making to this grand corner of the country for a series of in-depth gatherings. Maine is off the beaten track, an oasis in the fast-paced life so many of us live. The speed of life is a little slower here, allowing your creative mind to wander where it will. With these retreats AGOS incorporates the best of both the quiet, and the stimulation, to create unique opportunities for Makers with some of the most creative minds (and hands) in the world of stitching. Bring your quilting and garment sewing practice to Maine and see what you go home with.
“I loved every minute of it. I was a little nervous when I arrived because I’d never been to a retreat like that and I was so far from home and, quite frankly, it was the first time I was alone in almost a decade. You greeted me with a hug that instantly put me at ease and I totally knew I was in the right place.”
“I was so happy to be a part of the slow stitching retreat this year. It was exactly what I needed as I entered my next chapter of life. Staying at Medomak emphasized the joys and ease of living in nature: maybe shower or take a jump in the lake, camaraderie of a group, the magnificent sounds of rural Maine (OH those loons!), no air conditioning (I loved it!), healthy locally grown food for nourishment of the body and mind. ”
For any event at AGOS, you will work in small groups to foster deep practice, giving you the opportunity to ask all the questions you might have, with time and space to explore the answers. I take care of all the basic necessities so you can relax and focus on the making. There is a reason why so many artists and writers find Maine the perfect place to create. There is plenty of space - psychic and physical - for creating up here. Making happens in all sorts of settings, creativity is sparked by our surroundings, conversations we have, vistas we see, meals we share. Maine is ripe for such inspiration with it's rustic beauty, the immersion in Nature, and the slower pace. I do all the advance work so when you show up, all this inspiration is just waiting for you.....
“Coming solo to the retreat, knowing no one there—it was a little bit of a leap for me. But it took virtually no time to feel right at home. And by the end of our time there together, I had made friendships that I feel sure will last for many years to come.
While I was mainly drawn to the retreat to learn from Chawne Kimber, I ended up finding a huge amount of value in the other classes as well. Simply being in the company of such approachable, knowledgable instructors made those subjects come to life for me in a way I didn’t expect. And doing so in the company of my wildly creative classmates was pure inspiration!
I really can’t say enough about this whole experience. It has impacted my life as a creative person, my approach to the textile arts program where I work, and me personally as a human (not to mention as a progressive woman living in 2019 America).”
“You have achieved the perfect formula for retreats:
Outstanding organization + great teacher + nurturing space”
“It’s life transforming. A week away from it all connecting with a dynamic group of makers is just the best of the best. The camp is ideal, the cabins, the FOOD, the lake, it’s a dream.”
“This was my first sewing class and I had such a great time - and left feeling so much more confident - that I can’t wait for the next one. It was so lovely to meet people just as excited about sewing as I am and even better, ones so generous with their support and kindness. I loved the format, the food, the company, and the time to really dig in to our projects. I actually arrived thinking that I wouldn’t be able to sew for 8 hours a day! But I realized there that it’s completely different to sew when sewing is all you have to do rather than sitting down at the machine after work. ”
“I was a little nervous coming to the retreat but everyone put me at ease. I really appreciated the different skill levels present because you could learn from a breadth of experience. Breaking down the group through rotating days and then having a last recap day was great.”
“I expected to like it, but I did not realize how much I needed to slow down, and how that slowing down could work its way inside me, giving me a chance to reflect, to reset my priorities, and to plan ahead for continued calm. It was so much more than any quilting retreat I’ve ever been part of, because it was all-encompassing: heart, soul, mind, and strength. I was nurtured in all of those ways. I am inspired. I feel connected to this community. And I can’t wait to come back for more! ”
“Many of us have “real jobs”, and even though my real job challenges me to think creatively and solve problems on an every day basis, the reward is not as personally fulfilling to me as exercising my creativity and challenging myself as a maker. Making is even better when shared...creating within a community with encouragement and inspiration is an awesome experience. Everyone is so generous with their time and their spirit...sigh...so wonderful!”
“It’s always nice to learn something new, but this was a different learning experience. There was a freedom there, a way to be vulnerable and creative without judgment. It is not hyperbole to say my life was changed. ”
“This is one of my favorite weeks of the year and I look forward to next year the minute I leave. I love the location, all the teachers and fabulous makers that attend and the wonderful positive vibe that you set from the start. ”
“The people were the best part. And I would come back just to hang out with them... it was a pleasure to get a new take on these skill sets - you always learn new tricks from others! And your teachers were gems, but you already know I think that. Another bit of awesome was four whole days of time where I was required to sit down and make, rather than being continuously distracted by the laundry or the groceries or the flooding basement.”
I believe that few experiences in life cannot be made better by stitching. Truly... Whether you do it to escape, or you choose it as your avocation, stitching is a way to connect us to our ancestors, our community, and ourselves. When we engage in these tactile analog traditions we connect to our agency. We remember our ability to create, to make, to change, to connect. The retreats are about stitching but ultimately they’re about connecting to others, about recognizing and acknowledging the humanity in all of us. Centering that knowledge, and taking it with you back out into the world. AGOS gives you the opportunity to turn off the day-to-day noises (or at least turn the volume way down) and turn up your creative voice. My retreats combine a good mix of structure and epiphany. There is always time to process what you're learning in the moment. And if you really just need to go for a walk, that's totally cool. I want you to return to your daily life feeling renewed, energized and maybe a little jazzed about a new skill.
“Oh, the lady that organized the whole thing. I can’t recall her name... Sandy, Susan, Sammy or Something (just kidding, Sam! 😘) well she was approachable, funny, lovable, quirky, such a kindred spirit and all around fantastic lady. Love you, Sam. Thank you so much! ”
“Slow Fashion 2018 was an incredibly enriching learning experience. I have already begun to use what I learned at home. To be in the company of so many makers who are committed to “slow fashion” was truly inspiring. I loved how the “teachers” were also active participants in the daily activities, meals, and “porch time.” I spent one-on-one time with them all and I am so grateful for their generosity of spirit to answer questions and to share their knowledge even in the “off time” of their classes. ”
“The days were a beautiful blend of structured and unstructured time; the camp, staff, and food at Medomak were fantastic; the instructors were unfailingly generous and kind. The whole experience was a pleasure and absolutely enriching.”
If you'd like to read more about the background of these retreats read my blog post here. You can read about the 2015 retreats below:
• Amy Butler and Heather Jones •
• Chawne Kimber & Carolyn Friedlander at the Slow Stitching Retreat •
• LLADYBIRD! •
~Other folks have written lovely things about my retreats as well. Check out what they have to say below:
Kitty Wilkin, Night Quilter
Karin Jordan, Leigh Laurel Studios
Kristin Shields: Medomak Magic; Slow Stitching 1 (Carolyn Friedlander); Slow Stitching 2 (Chawne Kimber);
Elisa Albury: Slow Stitching Reflections
Lauren Taylor (LLADYBIRD)
“The days with Carolyn and Chawne were damn near perfect - the weather helped, but the time together and relaxed atmosphere was lovely.”
“The retreat and the experience exceeded my expectations. In the days and weeks leading up to the retreat I was tired and needed a break from work and my life. Before I got to the retreat, I hoped it would be a place to unwind, relax and that it would help me regain my creative mojo. I experienced all of that and more. ”