Red Alder 2023
Red Alder Fiber Arts Retreat 2023 Recap
We just arrived home from the 2023 Red Alder Fiber Arts Retreat. There were quite a few more students than last year, which is a great sign as many events are still recovering from a year or two off during the pandemic. Below are some of the sights from our trip.
The drive from Pinole to Tacoma always provides scenic views, and this time was no exception. We were blown away (pun intended) by the fact that we could see the snow gusting off the top of Mount Shasta. Imagine those wind speeds!
It’s not too often that we have to get out the snow and ice scraper, but after an overnight stop near Eugene, Oregon, we had some work to do before we could get moving again. It was a nice reminder of how blessed we are to live in the Bay Area!
When we made it to the Hotel Murano, they asked us to unload all of our booth and classroom equipment from both the truck and trailer, rather than wait until the morning. It was a nice gesture, considering the events of last year. Most people – even other vendors – don’t get a chance to see the Marketplace when it is empty.
On Wednesday, we set up both the booth and our classroom. We taught on Thursday and Friday and vended from Thursday through Sunday.
We taught Exploring the Drum Carder on Thursday and Color Theory: Carding the Color Wheel on Friday. I forgot to grab photos on Thursday, but the bounty of colors on Friday couldn’t be ignored.
Each floor of the Hotel Murano has artwork by a different glasswork artist. The Chihuly Bridge of Glass is also nearby, accessed behind Union Station. While we had seen it in daylight before, it was equally stunning at night.
One of our Color Theory students commandeered the Crankless Doublewide in the booth on Saturday to make this 2-ounce gradient, which she then removed as carded sliver. Well done, Carla!
And that’s it for Red Alder 2023. We had an uneventful drive home, which is the most we ever ask for. We have a short turnaround for Stitches West in Sacramento on March 2-5, with four days of teaching and vending.
Join us next year for Red Alder Fiber Arts Retreat on February 15-18, 2024!
1 Comment
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Hi, Roy and Henry. Happy Late New Year and St. Patty’s day (yesterday). Love your photos. Looking at your drum carding workshop set up looks inviting. I can’t wait until you guys can offer another Drum Carding Workshop in the Bay Area.