Blue in the Mountains

Blue in the Mountains Retreat — October 13-22, 2026

Autumn Color, Natural Process, and Creative Immersion

Join us in October 2026 for a truly special edition of Blue in the Mountains Retreat, held near Murphy, North Carolina, and timed perfectly for crisp days, cool evenings, and the quiet magic of fall just before peak leaf season. The weather should be ideal—warm enough to work outdoors by day, with evenings that cool down just enough to gather comfortably around the fire.

This year’s retreat is a hands-on, process-driven exploration of natural and surface design techniques, rooted in patience, experimentation, and connection to place. Spanning ten days, the retreat is designed to move slowly, giving space for learning, experimentation, and reflection.

We will begin by building an indigo vat together, learning the chemistry, care, and rhythm of this ancient dye practice. From there, we’ll move into basic eco-printing, working directly with plants to understand how nature transfers its color and form onto cloth.

As the days progress, we’ll layer techniques—printing with indigo and rust, exploring how time, oxidation, and material interact. We’ll expand our practice to include printing on leather, combining shibori and eco-printing, and potentially incorporating slow stitching as another layer of mark-making. There will be plenty of time to explore, experiment, and play, with gentle guidance and demonstrations offered to support individual curiosity and personal direction. Participants are encouraged to follow their interests, revisit techniques, and let the work unfold in their own way—making the retreat a fall creative escape shaped by process, place, and personal exploration. We’ll add depth and complexity by introducing background color using both natural and synthetic dyes, creating rich, nuanced surfaces that reflect the season and our surroundings.

🍂 Beyond the Studio
There will be generous time for foraging and hiking, drawing inspiration from the surrounding mountains. Optional outings to local apple orchards and wineries offer a chance to enjoy the harvest season and slow, social moments together.

🔥 Evenings in the Mountains
As the sun sets earlier, evenings become a time to unwind—cool air, warm layers, and campfires that invite conversation, reflection, and rest after full creative days.

🏡 Accommodations
A limited number of cabins are available onsite, offering the option to stay immersed in the retreat experience from morning through evening. Local Airbnbs and RV sites are also available nearby, providing additional flexibility for lodging preferences.

Blue in the Mountains Retreat is about more than techniques—it’s about honoring slow processes, seasonal change, and the deep satisfaction of making with intention. Come ready to explore, layer, experiment, and let autumn guide your work.

Events

• October 13-14: Indigo/ Shibori with Suzanne Connors

• October 15-16; Paper/ stitching on Paper with Claudia Lee

• October 17-18: Eco and Botanical Printing

• Printing on Leather

• Japanese Forest Bathing

• Make Japanese Komebukuro Bag

• Independent Study

What to Expect

Blue in the Mountains Retreat is designed as a slow, immersive, and exploratory experience. Over ten days, you’ll be guided through a range of natural and surface design techniques while being encouraged to follow your own interests and creative rhythms.

Each day will include a balance of demonstrations, guided instruction, and open studio time. You’ll learn foundational skills—such as building and maintaining an indigo vat, eco-printing, and working with rust—then have ample space to revisit techniques, layer processes, and experiment at your own pace. Guidance is always available, but the retreat is intentionally structured to allow room for play, curiosity, and personal direction.

Expect to work across a variety of materials, including cloth and leather, combining indigo, shibori, eco-printing, botanical printing, background dyeing, and optional slow stitching. The focus is on process rather than perfection, with an emphasis on discovery, problem-solving, and creative growth.

Time in the studio is complemented by opportunities to step outside—foraging walks, gentle hikes, and optional visits to local apple orchards and wineries—allowing the landscape and season to inform your work.

Evenings are quieter and restorative, with cool fall air, shared meals, campfires, and time to reflect after full creative days.

This retreat is suitable for a range of experience levels. Whether you are new to natural dyeing or looking to deepen an existing practice, you can expect a supportive environment, thoughtful pacing, and the freedom to make the experience your own—a true fall creative escape.

More details Soon!

Summer Workshops and other venues where Suzanne is teaching

details will be posted soon with links to register