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Quick guide- click for more info: Reiki Attunement Class -Part 1 Full Moon Ceremony Intro to Encaustic Painting Intro to Digital Photography Hula Hoop Crafting Reiki Attunement Class -Part 2 Healing Drumming Circle Gelatin Plate Printmaking Intermediate Encaustic Painting & Techniques Watercolor- Don't Be Afraid to Jump In! Natural Body Scrub Workshop The Grind: Making Oil Paint by Hand Meditation in Motion Quick Card Technique Polymer Clay Beginner's Workshop Falling Into Craftiness- Leaf Printing on Fabric Make Your Own Tie Dye Holiday Appreciation Party! Introduction to Violin Product Photography Etsy 101 Love You Much Valentine's Click here for our current course selection

Past Workshops - Contact us if you'd like to see one rescheduled! Click here for our current course selection Reiki Attunement Class -Part 1 5 Hour course during which you will become a Reiki Practitioner. This is the first of 3 steps in becoming a Reiki Master. The Reiki attunement process is how one becomes a Reiki practitioner. Being attuned to Reiki gives one the ability to easily access the Reiki (Universal Life Force) energy, for the purpose of healing a person or situation. Attunements can be given only by a Reiki master and can be given for either the purpose of training one in Reiki, or for simply giving someone a larger experience of Reiki than usually experienced in treatments. The attunement is permanent, thus making the recipient a Reiki practitioner. -- Optional course supplies: Bring a yoga mat or pillow to make yourself comfortable. Instructor: Justina Anderson, Usui Reiki Master Justina is a Usui Reiki Master and Licensed Veterinary Technician from New York. Full Moon Ceremony In this special healing and releasing ceremony we will create a sacred space for healing and support and to raise a collective consciousness. This ceremony includes: Saging and Creating Sacred Space Opening Prayer A time of sharing Releasing of those things we no longer need in our lives Bringing in those things we want in our lives Pulling a Medicine Card for a message for the month Short discussion of what these cards mean for the coming month Drumming and singing Closing Prayer You may bring drums, rattles, and dress appropriately for an outdoor event (weather permitting--ceremony will take place indoors in the case of rain). Drums will also be available for use or purchase. Instructor: Justina Anderson Justina is a Usui Reiki Master and Licensed Veterinary Technician from New York. Intro to Encaustic Painting Learn the ancient art of encaustic painting! Encaustic is the use of beeswax and damar resin melted together and combined with dry pigments to create a unique painting medium. This paint is applied hot/molten and manipulated with a direct heat source. It makes for a lovely layered image into which objects and photographs can be added. If you've seen a Jasper Johns painting then you've seen an encaustic painting! This class will cover a brief history of encaustic, supplies and where to buy them, setting up, basic encaustic painting including fusing, embedding objects, and creating texture, as well as cleaning up, and caring for your paintings. Participants will complete 1-2 small paintings. No painting experience necessary. Open to ages 15 and up. (private classes for younger students available upon request) Feel free to bring along objects to incorporate (dried natural objects, paper, and photographs on plain paper work well) Instructor: Jamie Ribisi-Braley, Manchester, ME Jamie is passionate about creating art and about sharing her techniques and knowledge. She loves to learn how the old masters created their supplies and how they used them. Jamie believes that once you have the foundations of a medium, you’ll know how to make it work for your voice. Jamie is co-owner of Sweetland Retreat and received her BFA in Painting from Boston University. http://jamieribisi.com   Introduction to Digital Photography If you have ever wanted to learn how to take better photographs this course is for you! This course is for the regular Joe photographer who wants to learn how to turn amateur snapshots into well composed photographs. Using your own digital camera you will learn about using composition and lighting and how to explore the settings on your camera to help you take your photographs to the next level. Bring your own digital camera (and user's manual if you have one). Instructor: Joy Ribisi, Manchester, ME Joy M. Ribisi originally hails from Long Island, NY. She works with the photographic image, concentrating mainly in Polaroid Transfers. Joy studied at New England College in Henniker, New Hampshire where she received a BFA with a concentration in Photography. Tempted by warmer climates, Joy moved to Charleston, South Carolina where she spent her sunny days designing print ads for a women's clothing store and taking photographs from the seat of her beach cruiser. After five years of smelling magnolia flowers and taking time out to travel the world, Joy returned to her island roots for one year on the northern shore of Long Island. She recently packed up and moved even further north to Manchester, Maine to live out her dreams of running an artists' retreat in her 1860s farmhouse. Joy is co-owner of Sweetland Retreat. While moving through her days on this earth, Joy is constantly impressed by the stories that light tells of the objects it rests on. She enjoys trying to capture these stories like fireflies in a jar. Hula Hoop Crafting Come join us and make your own personalized hoop to use for fun and exercise! Hula hooping is national past time that is great for young and old. All supplies will be provided (included in the supply fee) and you can decorate your hoop with many colors of tape and even sparkly tape too. Open to all ages, great family activity! Instructor: Linda "Lizzy" Kennedy aka Lizzyoos, and Kyndmamma, lives in the woods of Maine. She has two grown sons and a granddaughter. She is a Tie Dye professional, a music lover, promoter, Radio Dj (wmhb.org), Homegrown Network Rep, an original Phunky Bitch. She spends her days dying new projects, making jewelry, hula hoops, reviewing music, and just enjoying nature. You can find her on the Maine music scene and at many of the summer festivals vending as Lizzyoos. Check out Lizzyoos.net Reiki Attunement Class -Part 2 Reiki II is the second level in becoming a Reiki Master. The students will be attuned to three sacred symbols enhancing their Reiki energy. The symbols are only given to those who have already been attuned to Reiki I. Those attuned to Reiki II can then perform distant healings, emotional/addictive healings and power healings. The class will consist of a review of Reiki I, a study of the three sacred symbols an attunement and practice with the group. -- Optional course supplies: Reiki manual Instructor: Justina Anderson, Usui Reiki Master Justina is a Usui Reiki Master and Licensed Veterinary Technician from New York. Healing Drumming Circle In this healing and releasing ceremony we will create a sacred space for healing and support and to raise a collective consciousness. This ceremony includes: -Saging and Creating Sacred Space -Opening Prayer -A time of sharing -Releasing of those things we no longer need in our lives -Bringing in those things we want in our lives -Pulling a Medicine Card for a message for the month -Short discussion of what these cards mean for the coming month -Drumming and singing -Closing Prayer You may bring drums, rattles, and dress appropriately for an outdoor event (in the case of rain the ceremony will take place indoors). Drums will also be available for use or purchase. Gelatin Plate Printmaking This method of printmaking was developed in the 1970s by Francis Merritt, who was co-founder and the first director of the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Deer Isle. The process replaces other traditional printing plates with gelatin; ink is painted or rolled directly onto the gelatin and prints are pressed and pulled by hand. Because there is no special equipment needed to press or pull prints, and gelatin and natural materials are readily available, this is an easy "take home" class- a method that is easy for students to learn and then experiment more on their own. The class will cover a short history of the craft, the making of the gelatin and gathering of other materials, the printing process including basics and experimenting with found objects, storing and/or disposing of your gelatin plate, and different crafts you can do with this process. All materials will be provided in the supply fee. Instructor: Grace Kendall, Litchfield, ME Grace is currently a stay-at-home mom and works from home as a printmaker and crafter. She sells printed paper goods on Etsy (cozink.etsy.com) as well as in selected stores in Maine. Grace currently has work hanging at Captive Elements Art House in Lewiston as part of their June show. She learned the gelatin plate printmaking method when she was a teenager and attended a workshop at Haystack. She's been printmaking for about 7 years. Intermediate Encaustic Painting & Techniques If you're fairly comfortable with using encaustic then take the next step and learn some new techniques! In this class, we'll cover the following: *Monoprints: Using the hot plate to create a unique encaustic print on paper *Photo Transfers: Transfer images onto your encaustic painting *Texture: Create exciting textural elements & imprints *Line work: Use a tjaunting pen to obtain fine lines and added depth These techniques and more will be demoed and you'll be given time to experiment with them all and create a finished painting and multiple monoprints. You can also utilize this class as studio time since all the materials and equipment will be provided. Open to ages 15 and up. (private classes for younger students available upon request) Instructor: Jamie Ribisi-Braley, Manchester, ME Jamie is passionate about creating art and about sharing her techniques and knowledge. She loves to learn how the old masters created their supplies and how they used them. Jamie believes that once you have the foundations of a medium, you’ll know how to make it work for your voice. Jamie is co-owner of Sweetland Retreat and received her BFA in Painting from Boston University. http://jamieribisi.com Watercolor- Don't Be Afraid To Jump In! After a brief time of exploring what watercolor can/cannot do, we will "dive in" to an easy, pre-drawn (by Melissa) still life, finding the darkest darks and learning to leave lots of white paper. Perfect as a beginner or refresher course...don't be afraid to jump in! Required supplies: Watercolor paint--either tubes or paintbox style--can be quite simple and inexpensive, a medium size "round" brush, and a small detail brush. Instructor: Melissa Post van der Burg, Augusta, ME Melissa works in both water color and oil. There is a “dryness” about watercolor that she likes very much—that is, after applying washes and letting them dry, she can go back and work over an area with drybrush, and the result will be a more finished look. She uses lots of pigment, thereby “pushing” the medium into value areas that are not traditionally associated with watercolor. Melissa has always thought of painting as a form of prayer—not in a religious sense, but in the process itself: finding a quiet place to work, carving out the time needed, going deeper into her own awareness of what it means to be living. Melissa has won numerous awards for her intimate watercolors and oils. See more of her work here: http://www.mpostvanderburg.com/   Natural Body Scrub Workshop Create an assortment of all natural body scrubs - great for yourself or for gift-giving. You will leave the workshop with 3 finished 8oz containers of your own mixtures of body scrubs (more containers may be purchased at the class). Scrubs will be made from a base of sugar or salt and feature your choice of ingredients including: pumpkin, coffee, almond & orange extracts, lemon balm, essential oils, and much more. All ages are welcome- make this a family event! Instructor: Joy Ribisi, Manchester, ME Joy M. Ribisi originally hails from Long Island, NY and now lives in Manchester, Maine where she's living out her dreams of running an artists' retreat in her 1860s farmhouse. Joy is co-owner of Sweetland Retreat. Some of the plant ingredients used in this workshop were grown right here at Sweetland Retreat! The Grind: Making Oil Paint by Hand - FREE hands-on demo! Ever wonder what goes into making a tube of oil paint? Come and participate in a hands-on demonstration where you will learn how to make your own oil paint from scratch! Discuss the different properties of various oils and what would work best for you as an artist. Making your own paint can save hundreds of dollars a year on supplies and is a technique that is easier than you think! Free: The event is free but please register so that we can keep track of attendance. (If you would like to make your own paint to take home there is a supply fee of $5 per tube made.) Instructor: Jamie Ribisi-Braley, Manchester, ME Jamie is passionate about creating art and about sharing her techniques and knowledge. She loves to learn how the old masters created their supplies and how they used them. Jamie believes that once you have the foundations of a medium, you’ll know how to make it work for your voice. Jamie is co-owner of Sweetland Retreat and received her BFA in Painting from Boston University. http://jamieribisi.com Meditation in Motion "MAGIC STEPS" - let's dance Saturday November 7th, 10am - 3pm From many ancient cultures archaic dancing sequences have been handed down, which have direct impact on our consciousness and our abilities of perception. To practice them is a form of meditation in motion, which opens the door to a conscious experience of the unity of body, mind, and soul. The roots of theses magic steps are thousands of years old. They address human archetypes which are hardly lived anymore in our modern times, as they are so devoid of conscious rituals. These movement sequences are quite easy to learn and open the door to a space beyond our every day worries and the constant struggle with our past and our future. This seminar is an invitation to deal with your own being, physical body, and originality. A part of the training will be accompanied by live music and each dancer has the opportunity to work on the connection of rhythm, voice, and dance. Students should wear loose, comfortable clothing. Bring a bag lunch. The workshop will take place in two sessions of two hours each with an hour lunch break. Instructor: Joao Carlos Bordallo, Portland, ME Joao Carlos Bordallo is an instructor of Movement Concept and the Brazilian martial art, Capoeira. He has trained in Capoeira for thirty-three years and was honored with his master’s belt, achieving the title of “Mestre,” in 1995. His work is a unique combination of martial art, dance and meditation that blends balance, agility, strength, music and mindfulness. Joao’s work is inspired by his training in Sufism in Turkey and Germany, and his study of Butoh in Japan. He has traveled as a teacher and creative instructor to Asia, Africa, Europe and America. Quick Card Technique Wednesday November 11th, 6pm - 8pm Join Lorna and Maryanne for an evening of fun with cardmaking! You will learn how to make 10 cards out of one 8 1/2 x 11" sheet of decorative scrapbook paper. Additional decorative papers, including holiday themed designs, along with ribbon, brads, stamps, and other embellishments will be available to create your cards. We will think 'outside the box' and you will discover just how easy and fun this is. You will be amazed! Instructions will be handed out at the class, examples will be provided, and door prizes are drawn at the end of the class. This class is stress-free and the only thing you have to do is HAVE FUN! All ages are welcome. $15 includes all supplies Instructor: Lorna Plourde, Gardiner, ME Lorna retired from Central Me. Power after 36 1/2 yrs. of service. She & her assistant Maryanne McCullough have 15+ years of stamping experience each. "We enjoy card making and always looking for new and unique ways to make cards. We do this as a hobby, that's why we enjoy it so much." Polymer Clay: Beginner's Workshop Saturday November 14th, 10am - 3pm Join instructors Connie Pelkey of Constance Pelkey Designs & Theresa Chioffi of Dragon Fire Designs for a day of learning about artist grade polymer clay, a very approachable and versatile medium. In the morning we will learn the basics of polymer clay – conditioning, mixing colors (the Skinner blend), creating simple canes, baking and finishing techniques, basic tool use and care, storage options, the differences in brand names, and fun tips and tricks will be discussed! After a bag lunch, you will split into groups to work closer with the instructors and “get your hands dirty”! Whether you have dabbled with this medium or never touched it, you will successfully complete a small project of your choice to take home! You are going to be working on making decorative veneer sheets and then choose from various projects to decorate with those sheets; Fun Shell Peeps, Plant Pot Sitters, Pens, Bangles, Mini Diffuser, Purse Pill Tins, Barrettes, Focal Beads, etc.... Join us for a day of Fun and new Friends! Instructor: Connie Pelkey, Augusta, ME Connie makes wearable art and more! This includes bags, accessories, art beads, boxes, scarfs, functional and fun sculpture and just about anything else she takes a fancy to! From design to construction, she does her best work and hopes that it shows in her items. She's happy to answer any and all questions related to her work. See more of Connie's work here: http://constancepelkeydesigns.blogspot.com/ Falling Into Craftiness- Leaf-Printing on Fabric Saturday November 21st, 2pm - 3:30pm Leaf-printing is a fun and easy printmaking method. Using fabric screen printing ink and real leaves, students will create unique, one-of-a-kind fabric art on tote bags, clothing, scarves, or whatever they would like to try! We will also try leaf-printing on paper to make some unique gift tags or cards. There is NO experience necessary to jump right into this craft, so NO WORRIES! It is easy and fun and yields awesome results no matter what your printmaking experience is. Kids welcome! This craft is suitable for ages 5 and up, but we do need a parent/guardian there to work with their child. For each parent who registers for the class, one child 10 and under can attend for free. Provided by instructor: screen printing ink, brushes, brayers, 1 small 8" x 9" tote bag to print on. Students need to bring: Fabric to print on for additional projects- this can be t-shirts, scarves, shawls, socks, tote bags, table runner, skirts, etc. The fabric should be smooth (i.e. no terry cloth or knits), and fairly light in color to allow the ink to show up well. Instructor: Grace Kendall, Litchfield, ME Grace has been printmaking for about 7 years- a craft she learned at the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts on Deer Isle, Maine. She is currently a stay-at-home/work-at-home mom, and sells one-of-a-kind paper goods in her Etsy store (www.cozink.etsy.com) and at select stores in Maine and "outtah state".     Make Your Own Tie Dye You are never to young or old to learn to tie dye, Lizzy has done instruction for ages 4-80! Age has no place in this adventure. There is something special about seeing people creating their own artwork. She will provide everything needed for the completed project. It is a great time and students get something they have created to take home. Each participant will be able to choose the design they wish to make and will learn how to tie the shirt up for that design. Each will bring home a finished product that will need to process for 24 hours. Instructions will be sent home for the wash out and end processing. Instructor: Linda "Lizzy" Kennedy aka Lizzyoos, and Kyndmamma, lives in the woods of Maine. She has two grown sons and a granddaughter. She is a Tie Dye professional, a music lover, promoter, Radio Dj (wmhb.org), Homegrown Network Rep, an original Phunky Bitch. She spends her days dying new projects, making jewelry, hula hoops, reviewing music, and just enjoying nature. You can find her on the Maine music scene and at many of the summer festivals vending as Lizzyoos. Check out Lizzyoos.net Holiday Appreciation Party! Saturday, December 19th, 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Hosted by The Pond, A Pool of Wellness - With a special discussion about the benefits of Juice Plus+ Enjoy making one free Natural Body Scrub with a special workshop presented by Joy Ribisi of Sweetland Retreat. Free smoothies, snacks, and door prizes! This event is off-site and will be hosted by Pat Berger at The Pond located at 1783 Snow Pond Road in Sidney, Maine. The event is free and we encourage you to bring friends who are interested in seeking wellness in the new year. Introduction to Violin Wednesdays: January 20th - March 24th, 6pm - 8pm (10 sessions, 2 hours each) Image: Daniel St.Pierre / FreeDigitalPhotos.net In this course you will learn the basic foundation skills of playing the violin. Among other things, students will be taught to identify the parts of the violin, and the basic technique. You will need a violin in working order along with a bow. A limited number of violins may be available for rental from the instructor. Please inquire at registration. Once those run out we can suggest local music stores to rent from. Instructor: Hannah Miller, Waldoboro, ME Hannah has played violin for over 19 years, and has taught private lessons during that time. Product Photography Workshop Sunday, January 24th, 11am-1pm Whether selling products online through Etsy, eBay, or your own website or selling your items in print catalogs, your product photography is one of the most important keys to success in sales. Join us for an exploration and discussion of what works to strengthen images and interesting ways to enhance your photographs. Bring 5 of your own items to photograph during the studio session of the workshop for hands-on lessons on how to photograph your own unique products. please provide a link to your online shop(s) when you register. Bring your digital camera and a tripod if you have one.   Instructor: Joy Ribisi, Manchester, ME Joy Ribisi lives in Manchester, Maine where she's living out her dreams of running an artists' retreat in her 1860s farmhouse. Joy is CO-owner of Sweetland Retreat. Joy studied at New England College where she received a BFA with a concentration in Photography. She worked for five years as a webmaster in a women's clothing store where she photographed the store's inventory to sell on both the store's website and eBay. She currently runs a photography and a crafting store on Etsy. Etsy 101 Sunday, January 24th, 2pm-4pm Heard of Etsy.com but have no idea where to start? Maybe you have a shop already but you're in a funk? Then this is the class for you! In this workshop we will start with the basics of how to open a shop on Etsy.com, how to accept payments, and dealing with shipping. We will then move on to learning about writing powerful descriptions, effective tagging, joining teams, and even venture into social networking tips for sites like Twitter & Facebook. We'll discuss exciting networking and marketing ideas- finding your audience & creating a market for your work. Perfect for both beginner and intermediate users. Think about taking this class with the Product Photography workshop above to add more punch to your listings! Bring a bagged lunch if taking both classes. Please provide a link to your online shop(s), if applicable, when you register. Bring along a few of your items so that we can discuss personalized ideas. Instructor: Jamie Ribisi-Braley, Manchester, ME "I've been addicted to Etsy since 2005 and love to buy & sell handmade! I run a successful shop there and have made amazing artisan friends through the Etsy Maine Team." Jamie is Co-owner of Sweetland Retreat. http://jamieribisi.etsy.com   Love You Much Valentine's Class Saturday, January 30th, 1pm - 4pm What better time of year is there to express your love and appreciation to your family and friends than Valentine’s Day? In this class you’ll create 4 love & friendship cards, 4 3” x 3” friendship notes, and 9 tags that can be used when packaging up Valentine’s treats for your kids, teachers, friends, &/or co-workers. The whole collection is packaged in this one-of-a-kind Stationery Purse. students need to bring scissors and adhesive (double sided tape, tape runner, tombo glue or another scrapbooking glue). All other supplies are included. Instructor: Carrrie Arsenault, Gardiner, ME Carrie has been a Stampin' Up Demonstrator for 2 years and a scrapbooker for 12 years. Artwork © Stampin’ Up!       Interested in being an instructor? Click here   Join our mailing list: