Half-Moon in Taurus: Summer Stitch Meditation

The Taurus half-moon reminds us to accept change and seek equilibrium through reflection: what better time to put needle and thread to cloth and apply the simplest of stitch techniques as a meditation on the fullness of the season? Join textile artist Carolyn Hazel Drake for two days of stitch experiments to create a small sampler in a summer palette. You’ll have a wide range of natural materials to choose from, and Carolyn will demonstrate how simple techniques such as couching, needle weaving, and whipstitch applique can be varied and adapted to result in personal mark-making. Throughout, we’ll drink tea, share in a few simple meditations to stay grounded, and read and listen to passages on creativity and the bounty of the summer season by women writers including Maya Angelou and Mary Oliver.

Carolyn Hazel Drake is a mostly self-taught artist from a long line of craftswomen. She is a third generation Oregonian, and her aesthetic is grounded in the colors and textures of the Pacific Northwest. Her eye for color, pattern and detail was cultivated early on in her mother’s quilt store, as was her appreciation for handwork and being a part of a creative community. Carolyn has worked with all levels of learners, and her belief in the inherent creative potential of her students guides her approach to teaching. It is a source of great joy for her to see her students experience self-discovery through their own creative process.

• Small, sharp scissors

• Sketchbook or journal

• Favorite pens / pencils

Optional:

• Your favorite hand-stitching supplies

• Embroidery thread or perle cotton

• Needle

• Thread

• Pins

• A fabric marking pen

• Batting

• Cotton/linen and wool scraps in a muted, natural summer palette

• A stitch guide