Patricia will be back at Woodland Ridge in August 2025 teaching her Creativity & Inserted Curves Workshop. Registration opens in JAN 2024.
By Patricia Belyea
DOWNSVILLE WI Twelve enthusiastic quilting gals joined me at Woodland Ridge Retreat for a week-long workshop focused on Creativity, Complex Curves & Compositions. The goal for students was to make flat, pieced curves of their own designs.
It was good that I’d brought 50 bolts of yukata cotton as there was lots of interest in Japanese fabrics with this group.
The first assignment was the Quadrant Quilt made up of four big 18" blocks filled with bold and robust curved piecing.
The second project challenged the newly coined Curve Masters to make compositions with Straights & Curves.
Two students had already taken my Complex Curves Workshop so they delved into more involved assignments.
Besides the delightful camaraderie, perfect facility, fabulous food, and sweet locale, there was an unexpected treat three doors down from Woodland Ridge Retreat.
There I met ceramic artist John Thomas of Dunn County Pottery. I learned that John had studied as an apprentice potter in Japan when he was 20 years old. Then John showed me his two-step climbing kiln—reminiscent of Kawai Kanjiro’s huge climbing kiln in Kyoto!
Next summer Patricia is teaching Creativity & Complex Curves in-person at Woodland Ridge Retreat. To learn more and register +click here
What about bugs in Wisconsin in August?
I thought I was going to get eaten alive on this trip so I packed a highly potent bug repellant—which I never used. The only bugs I met were Monarchs and bees dancing amidst the Joe Pye Weed outside the retreat center.
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
