Sisters of the Loom
A Women's Fiber Arts Retreat
January 13th-17th 2022
Nevada City, California
The time has come, dear sister.
We all have weavers in our bloodlines. The wisdom of these ways live within each of us, waiting to be reborn.
Do you hear the song of the loom, calling you home?
Sisters of the Loom is a women's immersive retreat opportunity to learn the ancient crafts of spinning, botanical dying, and weaving; in connection to the Earth, and with reverence for the plants and animals, and for all those who came before who are making this very moment possible.
Within a prayerful, supportive container, in community as we have for so many years, we will create. With the guidance of the elements, our ancestors, your own inner compass, and instruction from Annyea, you will birth a one of a kind altar cloth or wall hanging, made from the Earth up, with your very own hands. You will walk away from this weekend feeling inspired, fulfilled, and connected, with a deep appreciation for textile arts and it's interconnectedness to the natural world, new friendships, and all of the basic skills and tools you need to continue crafting at home.
What you will learn...
Spin
Using drop spindles and spinning wheels, with natural animal fibers, we will spin our very own yarn.
Dye
We will offer plants and threads to our cauldrons, birthing beautiful earthen colors.
Weave
On a frame loom, with our hand spun yarn, we will weave our prayers to life.
Where you will stay...
About our Homestead
We will gather within the unceded ancestral homelands of the Nisenan, nestled in the Northern Sierra Nevada Foothills. We live in Nevada City, California, where we tend 20 acres. Our angora rabbits, angora goats, llamas, chickens, mule and dogs all live here with us too! You will get time to connect with the very animals who are providing us with the fiber we will be using through the weekend.
Our classroom is a gorgeous custom 30 foot yurt, which has a wood stove that will keep us toasty warm through the chilly winter days. The yurt has a beautiful kitchen which will be our dye space, as well as an indoor bathroom and hot shower for everyone to use. The catering kitchen and dining area is in a near by structure which we call the barn, and it will also be heated and cozy.
There will be 3 options for dream time spaces, including an indoor heated room, a heated belle tent, or you may bring your own tent.
What the retreat includes...
-All workshop materials, including drop spindles, frame looms and weaving tools, fiber from our animals, (all to be kept by participants) as well as dye stuffs and supplies, and a few spinning wheels to use during class time.
-Participants leave with their special hand woven creation!
-18+ hours of workshop time guided by Annyea.
-Beautifully catered organic breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Total of 11 meals. All dietary preferences honored.
-Lodging of your choice...indoor, belle tent, or bring your own tent.
-2 morning yoga classes.
-1 morning Tea ceremony.
Our schedule...
Thursday 13th
-2-4 Arrivals, settle in
-4-6 Opening circle
-6:30-8 Dinner
-8- Free time
Friday 14th, Saturday 15th, Sunday 16th
-7-8 Yoga/Tea
-8:30-10 Breakfast
-10-1 Workshop
-1:30-3 Lunch
-3-6 Workshop
-6:30-8 Dinner
-8- Freetime
Monday 17th
-8:30-10 Breakfast
-10-12 Closing circle
-12-2 Pack up, departures
Pricing Tiers & Lodging Options...
Inside-Shared
A beautiful heated indoor space. Bedding provided.
Belle Tent-Shared
Heated canvas tent. Bring your own bedding.
Camping/ Locals
Bring your own tent and bedding or sleep at home.
In an effort to ensure that everyone feels cozy and comfy, we are offering 3 options for lodging. We are just a humble homestead, not a retreat center, so indoor sleep space is limited. The winters in our area can be quite unpredictable...some days it is sunny and warm, and sometimes it is cold and rainy. We live below the snow line and it doesn't usually freeze.
The inside option is a lovely studio located in the upstairs of the barn, and it will be a communal sleep space for up to 4 ladies. We will provide 4"memory foam sleeping pads, sheets, blankets and pillows. The belle tent will also be heated for up to 3 ladies, and you will bring your own bedding. For those who are excited about sleeping in their own tents, that's an option too! Locals are welcome to come and go so that they can sleep at home if preferred. I hope that this system offers each of you the perfect place to lay your bodies to rest.
If any of these pricing options feel out of reach, please contact me. We can discuss payment plan options, and potential partial work trade positions. It is also possible to choose not to keep your loom. I am valuing this retreat in the most truthful and integral way possible, and I also care deeply that this wisdom is available for those for are called to it.
**UPDATE: work trade positions have been filled.**
Meet Your Guide...
Hi! My name is Annyea. You might know me as Kin Weaver.
I'm here to be in service to you on this path of remembrance.
I've been a lover of fiber arts for over a decade. What started as hobby crocheting, has become a life long path. As I grew to learn the importance of sustainably creating, I grew eager spin my own yarn with natural fibers, and was lucky enough to soon after have someone put a drop spindle in my hands with a few simple instructions. My body knew just what to do! I totally fell in love. I was then called to the spinning wheel, and eventually to the loom. I am blessed to have had the guidance of my teacher Eileen Lee who supported me immensely with initial lessons for my wheel and floor loom, though I am mostly self taught, through years of experimentation and exploration.
I homestead here with my partner, where we grow food, flowers, and medicine, and raise animals for fiber, food, and companionship. I've been a total animal lover my whole life, and I feel very fortunate that two of my passions have merged into one! Kin Weaver is the culmination of all of my fiber arts experience and my life long passion for working with animals. I sell our homegrown angora and mohair fiber, my hand spun Angora yarn, as well as finished woven creations. I offer private in person spinning and weaving lessons, teach at primitive skills gatherings such as Spirit Weavers and Origins, and am now stepping more fully into the roll of a teacher through Kin Weaver's most recent offering, Sisters of the Loom!
Though many of us may not depend on these crafts for every day life nowadays; we once did, and we may again one day. These are useful, beautiful skills that are being forgotten in these modern times. They hold such wisdom and deep connection and I am passionate about playing my small part in keeping them alive. I find finishing a handwoven, hand spun, botanically dyed piece of cloth to be one of the most fulfilling experiences and I love guiding others who wish to do the same. I truly believe that this wisdom lives within all of us, passed down through many generations who tended the medicine of the wheels and looms. I'm just here to open the door for you, and point the way.
It's taken me many years to refine my technical skills, as well as my own personal weaving style. I have developed this course that condenses my years of experience into this immersive learning space, thanks to you all, who are ready to learn! My teaching style isn't to give step by step instructions from start to finish, but rather to provide the basics, and to support you in finding and embracing your vision, and bringing it to life. My workshops don't result in a bunch of matching tapestries, but rather a rainbow of unique weavings, born from your one of a kind, authentic heart. The world is ready to embrace your creations!
It is in our togetherness that we are remembering.
I can hardly wait to meet you here.
Special Notes...
-Yoga. We will be sitting for many hours each day crafting away, so we will have a local yoga instructor coming to visit us in the mornings and guide us in a gentle practice! Don't worry, no experience needed.
-Tea. One morning, we will rise to the singing of the kettle, and sit together in ceremony. Tea reminds us just how beautiful the mundane is. Water, air, fire, earth; all coming together in perfect harmony in every moment, within our bowls, and upon our looms.
-Communal altar. I believe that weaving can be a spiritual practice. I will be encouraging you to infuse your weaving with loving intention! To help ground our personal and collective prayers, we will build and tend to a communal altar space in the yurt.
-Sacred Fire. We will be sitting beside the wood stove through our gathering, and it will be an integral space holder for us. We will light our fire with reverence, and offer our prayers to it through the weekend.
-Animal Time. You will get to meet and spend time with my dear animals friends who's fiber we will be making magic with.
-...and whatever other goodness naturally unfurls!!
This workshop is geared towards beginners. We will be starting with the most basic concepts and techniques for each craft and working our way from there. So if you're a beginner, you're in the perfect place! If you have some experience, let me know if you have any questions about what we will be covering so that we can see if this is a good fit.
Are You Ready to Say Yes!?!
Space is limited to about 10 participants so that our container is nice and intimate, and everyone gets plenty of one on one instruction. Indoor lodging is available on a first come first serve basis so jump on it especially if you know you want to sleep inside! Please send me an email below to confirm your space and lodging preferences, and I'll send an invoice your way. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have and make sure that this retreat is the perfect fit for you!
Deepest gratitude and blessings~
Annyea
Thank you so much for your message!
I'll be in touch soon.
Please note: There is so much hard work going into the production of this event, and because capacity is so limited, tickets are non refundable. This ensures that we don't have any last minute cancelations, leading to an empty seat that could have been filled. So please be sure that you are a 100% yes before committing yourself!
