Retreats by Tricia Spitzmueller

Is your guild planning a retreat and you want to take the “planning” out of it? Well then, sit back and relax because that's Tricia's specialty! You provide the place and food and let Tricia guide you on an experience of fun, camaraderie, creativity and levity. Women get together because they like each other. Laughter, storytelling, a project or two and a massage at the end of a day are sheer heaven. Whether you are looking for an overnight, a weekend or a week retreat, let Tricia tailor-make a retreat that's just right for your group.

Highlights:
Start each day with a “Breath of Creativity”- 50 minutes of inspiration, gentle movement and breathing exercises to open up the creative channels within you.

• Guided Imagery Sessions- a chance to relax and play with your inner child.
• Women's story telling sessions- small breaks that let us tell our stories and jokes to each other promoting a spirit of fun and camaraderie.
• Massage and Energy Healing Sessions (available separately through sign up).
• Playful warm up exercises that encourage the closet artist within you.
• Tricia's selection of GREAT music!

Options:
Tricia can also provide a variety of classes if that is your preference. (See the descriptions of classes on website)

• You can bring your own or a group project to work on.

Do you long for a time away to nourish a relationship with another female?  Come with a female companion, be it mother, daughter, sister or friend and rediscover the ways that we are connected and supported.  In this weekend of reflection, retreat and reconnection we will open the doors to the Inner Spirit of Wisdom.  Through periods of reflection, guided imagery, inspiring talks, beautiful music and the playful prayer of making an Inner Spirit Wrap Doll you will open up channels of connection, creativity and discovery.  Friday night we will connect and settle in.  Saturday, we will be using the simple materials of bottles, batting, yarn, fabric and found or recycled “treasures” to allow a doll to be created through our hands. Lighten up and relax!  This Inner Spirit doll is made from the African wrap-doll concept where the maker will just let go and be shown by the emerging doll how to release and give form to the Wisdom Voice born from within. Sunday will be a day of renewal, completion and reconnection to all that is good in our lives as women.  The Inner Spirit Figure that creates itself right in front of you through your hands will be yours to take home to continue to bring forth the wise voice of your Inner True Self. 

*  Bring a symbol or article that you would like to incorporate into your Inner Spirit Doll.  A feather, leaves, or other natural materials or even a grandmother’s baptismal ring or hanky can be incorporated into this doll.  

A retreat designed for doll makers, quilters or crafters of any kind.  Need time off to doze, relax, laugh and discover?    Let a doll make itself through your hands! Begin with the basics of non-intimidating doll making. In between food and naps, retreatants will sew an original S.O.U.L doll from the Quirky Doll collection of Tricia Spitzmueller learning all the secrets of unbreakable seams, quick turn methods, effortless stuffing and fanciful gesture. Tricia will teach you the tricks to successfully paint a doll face, and how to clothe and accessorize your emerging creation in fanciful and kicky ways. Hats, hair, beads and bobbles, shoes and accessories will complete your doll’s personality.  Tricia will bring her own collection of QUIRKY DOLLS for inspiration.  At the end of the retreat, we will have a naming ceremony and let your dolls “tell their story” to each other.  Be ready to come and play dolls!  Basic sewing skills and the ability to kick back and laugh are mandatory.

This Cloth Retreat is meant to be a gorgeous time to center, relax and explore your inner landscape using cloth and paints as the medium. To be in common space with other explorers accelerates the connection and creates greater energy and flow.  This is a non-results orientated retreat that centers on connecting with oneself.  Throughout the retreat we will do guided imagery and creativity exercises to move towards greater awakening and awareness. The beginning process will be to loosely paint on cloth, letting the brush and color guide you. The retreat deepens over the course of the weekend to rekindle and connect the natural flow within you. We will begin to make "marks" on our cloth, perhaps embellish it, and even quilt it.  I will be there to guide and to support your process.  (Size limit of 15.  I will bring an assistant if the numbers are larger and will charge $75 extra per student)