Learn Stumpwork & More at the Making Zen 2026 Online Retreat

I have something really exciting to share with you: my friend Kate Ward over at Zen Stitching is holding the Making Zen Online Retreat this September, and I’m teaching a workshop!

If you haven’t taken part in Making Zen before, you’re in for a treat: this textile-arts-focused retreat is gathering 30 talented artists to host workshops over the course of five days, and those workshops are totally free for anyone to watch for 24 hours. It’s an incredible opportunity to get inspired, connect with new friends and artists, and improve your craft!

Along with myself, you'll be able to take workshops from:

Alison Dawson, Amanda Trought, Amy Maricle, BB Henry, Cass Merrigan, Cindy Gilstrap, Clarissa Grandi, Cynthia Hauk, Darcy Hunter, Deanne Fitzpatrick, Donna Davies, Ellie Fisher, Eva Kittelsen, Giesela Michelsen, Helen Hiebert, Isabella Strambio, Kasia Jacquot, Kate Ward, Kiala Givehand, Kimberly Ligocki, Kira McCoy, Kristin Peterson, Lauren Weber, Lisa Agaran, Lisa Goddard, Madge Evers, Mary Ann Gebhardt, Melissa Galbraith (ME!), Michelle Hamill, Mollie Johanson, Nichole Vogelsinger, Pippa Haynes, Rebekah Johnston, and Selina Latour.

With this incredible lineup of artists, you can be sure that a wide range of topics of hand stitching will be covered - I’m particularly excited for Kate Ward's Boro-Inspired Peekaboo Pouch workshop and Nichole Vogelsinger's Unpatterned Pleats: The Art of Improv Smocking worksop. My own workshop will be about stumpwork embroidery! I'm sharing two different types of stumpwork (wire slips and stuffed padding) to create 3D elements in your hand embroidery.

Join the Making Zen Online Retreat

The Making Zen Online Retreat gives you a five-day event to bring creativity to the front of your mind again. It's a reason to make art a priority, a chance to slow down, and a time to make learning playful. You'll be able to connect with other like minded creators of all experience levels and share your ideas, inspiration, and projects.

Simply put, this retreat is about you and making time for the things that fill your cup, so that you aren’t continuously pouring from an empty one. As someone who is constantly on the go, this retreat is a pretty special way to make that happen.

You can join me for the Making Zen Online Retreat that’s coming up from September 28- October2, 2026. Along with my stumpwork embroidery workshop, you'll be able to take workshops from thirty artists over the course of five days. It’s going to be a creative paradise, full of inspiration and non-stop stitching!

You can get your free ticket now, and VIP Passes ($147) are currently available at the early bird price of $97 USD until the retreat starts.

The VIP Pass is an amazing value. You get:

• Special gifts from the artists

• Access to workshops beginning September 14 (that's two full weeks before the free retreat!)

• Forever access to all of the content

Get Your VIP Pass

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