🌿 Blue in the Mountains Retreat

Master Supply List

This retreat is exploratory and process-driven. Bring what excites you — you do not need everything on this list. Choose what aligns with your creative intentions.

🧵 FABRICS (Natural Fibers Only)

For Shibori, Eco-Printing & Indigo:

• 2–3 yards lightweight cotton or linen (white/natural)

• 1–2 silk scarves (8–12mm habotai ideal)

• 1–2 cotton bandanas or tea towels

• Optional: cotton shirt or garment to dye

• Previously dyed fabrics or workshop samples (encouraged!)

All fabrics must be pre-washed without fabric softener.

👜 For the Komebukuro (Rice Bag)

• 1 yard medium-weight cotton or linen (outer bag)

• 1 yard coordinating fabric (lining)

• 1–2 yards cotton cording for drawstrings

• Dyed scraps or patchwork pieces

You are welcome to use previously created fabrics and samples. The bag can be hand-stitched, or you can bring a sewing machine

✂️ SHIBORI SUPPLIES

• Strong thread (button/carpet thread)

• Hand sewing needles

• Small scissors

• Thimble

• Rubber bands

• 10–15 binder clips or clothespins

• Smooth pebbles or small objects for resist

🍃 ECO-PRINTING SUPPLIES

• Cotton string or twine

• Garden gloves (optional)

• cutter to cut leaves

• Botanicals from your region (optional but welcome)

• 2-3 ace bandages

• wood dowels ( no longer than 15”)

📜 PAPERMAKING & DECORATIVE PAPER

Tools:

• Craft knife

• Small cutting mat

• Metal ruler

• Glue stick

• 1–2 soft brushes

• Pencil + waterproof pen

• Bone folder (if you have one)

• Awl or push pin

• Binder clips

Papers:

• Drawing paper

• Watercolor paper (90–140 lb)

• Rice or mulberry paper (optional)

• Old book pages or ephemera

• Paper scraps you love

• Favorite stencils (optional)

🪡 HAND STITCHING

• Sashiko thread or embroidery floss

• Embroidery needles

• Small embroidery hoop (6–8") optional

• Fabric marking pencil or chalk

👚 STUDIO ESSENTIALS

• Apron or dye clothing

• several pairs gloves- long dishwashing for indigo dyeing/ surgical gloves for eco-printing

• Water bottle

• Notebook or journal

🌿 A Gentle Reminder

You do not need to bring everything.
You are not packing for perfection.

Bring materials that feel ready to transform — unfinished samples, beloved scraps, fabrics waiting for new life.

This retreat is about process, vessel, and story.

Cloth becomes bag.
Paper becomes book.
Stitch binds it all together.

Come prepared — but also come spacious.🌿 What Is Provided

To keep your packing simple and your focus on making, the following will be provided:

🫙 Dye & Surface Design Materials

• Indigo vat and maintenance materials

• Eco-printing mordants and modifiers

• Shared botanical materials gathered locally

• Dye assistants and processing tools

• Large soaking tubs, buckets, and rinsing stations

📜 Papermaking Equipment

• supplies to make paste papers

✂️ Shared Studio Supplies

• Extra string and rubber bands

• Clamps and resist tools

• Shared stencils for surface design and sashiko

• Large cutting surfaces

• Irons and ironing boards

• Access to communal stitching supplies (limited)

🪡 Book & Bag Construction Support

• Pattern guidance for the komebukuro

• Construction demonstrations

• Basic measuring and layout assistance

🌿 A Note on Materials

You are encouraged to bring your own fabrics, threads, and favorite tools — but you will not be without what you need. This is a fully supported studio environment.

If you forget something, we will improvise.
If something doesn’t go as planned, we will adapt.
That is part of the process.

🌿 A Final Note on Flow

This retreat is intentionally spacious and flexible. While we will offer daily demonstrations and guided processes, you are free to participate in everything — or to move more independently into the techniques that call to you most.

You may follow the rhythm of the group.
You may linger longer with paper.
You may return to your stitching.
You may sit quietly and reflect.

There is no requirement to “keep up.”
This is not a production workshop.

It is a creative immersion — and your experience will unfold in the way that feels most nourishing to you.

Come ready to make.
Come ready to rest.
Come ready to see your work — and yourself — with fresh eyes.