2017 Creative Retreats At Leyden Glen Farm

I have planned 3 Creative Weekends here at Leyden Glen Farm. 
Two day Retreats will open up Thursday April 14th. 
Single Day Retreats will open up Monday May 1st.

This is a new experiment I am trying this year to see how 1 Day Retreats compare to 2 Day Retreats in the form of attendance, work load for me, and income. I will welcome students for one or both days but Two Day Retreat Registration will be available first. 

Sign up for my newsletter at the top right of my sidebar to get advance notice of Creative Retreat Schedule. Newsletter subscribers are notified first. 


Weekend 1 - Fabric Printing and Lampshade Painting - July 15/16
Two Day Retreat - $360 ($38 savings)
July 15 - Fabric Printing $199  
July 16 - Lampshade Painting $199

Weekend 2 - Fabric Printing, Decorative Embroidery and Ceramic Tile Design
Two Day Retreat - $360 ($38 savings)
July 29  - Fabric Printing + Decorative Embroidery $199
July 30 - Ceramic Tile Design $199

Weekend 3 - Color and Embroidery for Knitters and Crazy Quilt Swatch Afghan
Two Day Retreat - $360 ($38 savings)
September 23 - Color for Knitters and Embroidery on Knitting $199
September 24 - Crazy Swatch Afghan $199

Other days/weekends are available if you want to get together a group of your own and take a trip to the farm. Costs will be the same as classes listed here. You will need a minimum of 4 people to book a class. See more about booking a class for you and your friends here


Weekend 1
Saturday - Fabric Printing
Sunday - Painted Lampshades
July 15/16, 2017

Dates: July 15-16, 2017
Come for both days ---- $360 ($38 savings) - NOW AVAILABLE
Fabric Printing + Color: July 15, 2017 ---- Saturday $199
Paint Your Own Lampshade: July 16, 2017 - Sunday ----  $199

Hours: 9:30 to 4:00 Class Limit 8 students
Prices include morning snacks, farm-raised lunch, all supplies with extra being available for purchase.


To see photos from past year's Fabric Printing Retreats, click here and here and here and here

What will you learn and make? 
Day One July 15 
•You will learn to design and print your own fabric using my easy favorite printing technique. 
•Introduction to fabric design and what shapes and motifs are successful and why. 
•Make your very own foam printing blocks that you can take with you for further fabric and paper printing. 
•Learn about paints and fabrics to use for successful projects.
•Make a printed fabric bag or fabric for a printed dishtowel or napkin. The fabric can also be turned into a pretty pillow. Additional fabrics to print will be available.
• Afternoon Session will include demonstration of Linoleum Block Printing. Students will be able to carve a block and print depending on their interest.
• Day One will also include a tour of our farmhouse with its decoratively painted walls and handmade interiors.
What is included: Materials for making printing blocks. Fabric paints for printing will be supplied. Fabric for tea towel or a canvas bag to print on. If you want to purchase additional fabric, it will be available. Feel free to bring your own fabric. Food, beverages, snacks.

Day Two July 16 
• Paint Your Own Lampshade. Using textile paints, you will paint a fabric lampshade. You will be given design and color guidance to plan out your project. 
•Bring your own lampshade. I will have extra for purchase if you are traveling too far.
What is Included: All fabric paints and brushes. Bring your own lampshade to paint. If you are traveling from far away, I will have shades available to purchase. I will send a list of lampshades that will be suitable for painting. Food, beverages, snacks.
Hours: 9:30 to 4:00
Includes snacks, beverages, and farm-raised lunch. 


Our farm is 2 hours from Boston and 3 1/2 hours from NYC.  
Shortly after purchasing the class, you will receive an email with more information on where to stay, directions to the farm and more. This is not an automated email, so please be patient. 

Weekend 2
Saturday - Fabric Printing + Embroidery
Sunday - Ceramic Tile Design **NEW CLASS**
July 30/31, 2017


Dates: July 30-31, 2016
Come for both days ---- $360 ($38 savings) - NOW AVAILABLE
Fabric Printing + Embroidery: July 30, 2016 - Saturday --- $199
Ceramic Tile Surface Design: July 31, 2016 ---- $199

Hours: 9:30 to 4:00
Class Limit 8 students

Day One: Fabric Printing + Embroidery
•You will learn to design and print your own fabric using my easy favorite printing technique. 
•Introduction to fabric design and what shapes and motifs are successful and why. 
•Make your very own foam printing blocks that you can take with you for further fabric and paper printing. 
•Learn about paints and fabrics to use for successful projects.
•Make a piece of fabric which we will stitch in the afternoon. The fabric can also be turned into a pretty pillow for your sofa. 
Day One will also include a tour of our farmhouse with its decoratively painted walls and handmade interiors.
To see photos from last year's Embroidery Retreat, click here
To see photos from past year's Fabric Printing Retreats, click here and here and here and here

What will you make? Printed fabric for stitching. What is included? Day One - Linen fabric to print and stitch on. Selection of crewel wool. Crewel needle.
What do you need to bring: Scissors, portable Ott-lite with magnifying glass if you have difficulty seeing small things. There will be additional embroidery supplies and fabric available for sale at the end of the class. 

Day Two: Simple Ceramic Tile Surface Design **NEW CLASS**
• You will be introduced to pattern design. 
• You will learn how to handpaint a simple pattern. No painting experience is necessary. 
• You will hand paint a set of 4 ceramic tiles using underglazes, brushes, and with help and guidance from Kristin.
• If you are quick, extra tiles can be purchased and painted during the retreat.
• Your tiles will be fired in my electric kiln after the retreat is over. You can make arrangements to pick them up later or they will be shipped to you at the cost of shipping.  
What will you make? Day Two - Set of 4 ceramic tiles, underglazes and paintbrushes. 







Price: 
Come for both days ---- $360 ($38 savings) - OPEN NOW
Day One: Saturday July 29th - $199 - Registration Opens May 1st.
Day Two: Sunday July 30th - $199 - Registration Opens May 1st.

Class Size: Limited to 8 students




Our farm is 2 hours from Boston and 3 1/2 hours from NYC.  
Shortly after purchasing the class, you will receive an email with more information on where to stay, directions to the farm and more. This is not an automated email, so please be patient. 
Weekend 3
Saturday - Color + Embroidery for Knitters
Sunday - Crazy Quilt Swatch Blanket **NEW CLASS**
September 23/24, 2017

Date: September 23-24, 2017
Come for both days ---- $360 ($38 savings) - NOW AVAILABLE
Day One: September 23, 2017 - Saturday --- $199 Registration Opens May 1st.
Day Two: September 24, 2017 - Sunday ---- $199 Registration Opens May 1st.


Hours: 9:30 to 4:00
Class Limit 8 students

Visit Leyden Glen Farm when the autumn leaves are beginning to turn gold, red, orange, and bronze (nature permitting). See growing lambs grazing in the pastures. This class is for anyone from advanced beginner to experienced knitter. You will leave incredibly inspired and you will never think of your knitting the same. 

You will be supplied with a couple homework assignments to bring along which will be used during the class.
To read past student's comments about their experiences on Kristin's Weekend Retreats, click here.

To see past knitting retreats, click here and here.  


Day One: Color and Embroidery for Knitters




Day One Morning: All about Working with Color for Making and In LifeYou will learn how Kristin sees color and how you too can become confident when working with color in your knitting and stitching life.



Day One Afternoon: Embroidery on Knit or Crochet
You will learn to embroider on your own fabrics. You will bring a knit or crochet homework swatch with you and you will decorate it similar to the swatches in this photo:



Day Two Crazy Quilt Swatch Blanket **NEW CLASS**

This is the first time I have taught this class and it is going to be loads of fun. Bring all the knit and crochet swatches you own with you. You will learn how to sew them all together into your very own Crazy Quilt Swatch Blanket. 
• Learn how to piece different size swatches together.
• Learn how to cut your knit swatches into different sizes. 
• Learn how to add decorative embroidery to swatches.
• Watch a demo on how to dye swatches to create a more appealing color selection.
• Learn how to seam swatches together.
• Learn different types of edgings.
• Learn how to seam different swatches made with different weights of yarn together.

What is Included:
Full instruction and hand-outs. Homework and a supply list will be provided. Some studio yarn will be shared.

Includes snacks, beverages, and farm-raised lunch.



Our farm is 2 hours from Boston and 3 1/2 hours from NYC.  
Shortly after purchasing the class, you will receive an email with more information on where to stay, directions to the farm and more. This is not an automated email, so please be patient. 

Class Fees:

Each class runs for one day from 9:30 to 4:30. Space is limited to 8 students. You can come one day or both days. Registration will open up first for Two Day Workshops to accommodate those traveling from far away.
One day registration will open up May 1st. 
TWO DAY Pricing: $360 - SAVINGS OF $38.
ONE DAY Pricing: $199

Our farm is 2 hours from Boston and 3 1/2 hours from NYC.  
Shortly after purchasing the class, you will receive an email with more information on where to stay, directions to the farm and more. This is not an automated email, so please be patient. 

Includes: Instruction and necessary hand-outs
Most supplies: You will be sent a list of what to bring and "homework" if any depending on which class you choose.
Meals: Morning snacks, lunch, and beverages and end of day wrap-up session. You will be on your own for dinner - a list of suggested restaurants is here.

Where to Stay: 
This page gives suggestions of where to stay in our beautiful valley. A neighboring farm is now doing Airbnb. Eden Pond Farm is 4 miles from our farm. They rent an apartment that is available for up to 5 people. Here is the link to their accommodations.

Other AirBNB are popping up in the area. Check for the towns of Bernardston, Leyden and Greenfield, Massachusetts.

Payment is by Paypal at check-out. If this doesn't work for you, I can take credit cards by phone. Please e-mail me and I can make arrangements for a credit card sale via a telephone call. Email - kristinnicholasATgmailDOTcom
Check is fine too. Email me and I will send you our address.