By Patricia Belyea
I love a heady quilt retreat. Where you’re encouraged to dive deep and fly high.
I’m talking about a quilt retreat where:
~ you learn something new and are completely challenged.
~ the people around you are just as engaged as you.
~ you have a perfectly comfortable bed but you can barely sleep because you’re so excited!
I believe a quilt retreat spans three phases:
1 ~ PLANNING YOUR ESCAPE
The first third of a retreat experience happens before you even leave home. It’s the delight of anticipation.
2 ~ THE JOY OF IMMERSION
The day-by-day involvement of learning and exploring creates the tangible retreat adventure. That’s what you paid for!
Parts of your brain start waking up as you process new information and put this knowledge into action. You also gain from the focused energy of your peers and the guidance of the retreat leader.
3 ~ A TOUCH OF TRANSFORMATION
The final phase of a quilt retreat happens as you head for home. Your quilting mo-jo is turned on high!
You feel different. There’s clarity in your vision and less weight on your shoulders. Something has shifted beyond your quilting skill set.
Finding concentrated time to be creative is a form of self-care. It's like taking yourself to a charging station and filling up.
I hope you can find time for a quilt retreat in the coming year. If you make it to an Okan Arts Retreat, I look forward to seeing you there!
For info on some upcoming Okan Arts in-person retreats +click here
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ABOUT US: Okan Arts, a petite family business, is co-owned by mother-daughter duo Patricia Belyea and Victoria Stone. Patricia and Victoria sell Japanese textiles online, host creative quilting experiences, and lead quilting & textile tours to Japan.
FOLLOW OKAN ARTS ON INSTAGRAM @okanarts
