Beading Retreats
During the winter of 2008 and 2009, I led beading retreats
that were
held in central Mexico. These retreats were in in the magical town of Patzcuaro
and the wonderful colonial city of San Miguel de Allende. The
retreats are a combination of workshops and touring some of the local
sites and craft studios. If you are interested in this type of trip,
please contact me. See the contact info at the end of this page.
Scroll down to see some photos and a brief description of our past trip to give you an idea what a
trip could look like. If you have your own group, a trip could be
tailored to your needs. Plans are in the works for a 2011 retreat near the beach.
Here are a few photos from our retreats held in Patzcuaro (2008) and in San Miguel de Allende (2009).... Some very fond memories.
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| Here's a description of our retreat in 2009 held in San Miguel de Allende.... |
| Group Size: 6 - 8 persons We will spend 4 sessions (3 hours each) exploring the techniques of Off Loom Bead Weaving & jewellery making. Please see my "Workshops" page for examples of the workshops. Our tours will include a a quick orientation tour of SMA, House & Garden Tour, Mexican Cooking Class and a road trip to historic Dolores Hidalgo. There are more optional tours available for your free time and can be arranged through us or the B&B....or you may simply choose to stroll the cobblestone streets of San Miguel de Allende and take in the magical atmosphere of colonial Mexico. Definitely bring your camera! Our accommodations will be in the centre of town and within easy walking distance of the central plaza, El Jardin. We will have a varied itinerary that will combine both beading and touring. Join us for a week to remember...in magical Mexico. |
| Your Package Includes: |
Airport Transfers: from and to the Leon International Airport |
7 nights accommodation at Villa Mariposa |
| 4 Beading sessions of 3+ hours each |
Escorted
Tours: |
| Your Package does not include: your airfare to Leon, Mexico |
| Payment: 50% of the cost of your package is due at the timeof booking with the balance to be paid by October 1/08. Full payment will be due for any reservations received after Oct. 1/08. |
| Cancellation Policy We are unable to offer refunds in the event of a cancellation. We encourage you to purchase trip cancellation /interruption insurance to cover the cost of your package. This insurance can be purchased from Evans Travel in Bracebridge 1-800-285-6410 or 705-645-5201, or you can use your own travel agency. Once you make your booking along with your deposit, we will provide you with a contract/invoice for your Beading Retreat Package. |
| INFORMATION & CONTACT: VICKI SHARP or JOHN KLASSEN, Telephone: 705-764-1700 - **After Nov. 28/08 please contact us by email vsharp@muskoka.com |
| How to get there: There are many airlines that fly into Leon International Airport connecting through one of the hubs of either Houston, Dallas, or Mexico City. I have found the most flights from Houston with Continental Airlines, so if you have some air mile points, you can get to Houston and continue on to Leon. Leon has the closest airport to SMA and it is 1.5 hours by car. A car service will pick you up and deliver you to the airport. |
| Add more vacation time to your trip: If
you would like to spend a bit more time exploring Mexico, we can help you
with your plans. We can recommend addtional destinations for you
that would complement your time in San Miguel de Allende. |
| About Off-Loom Bead Weaving: Using beading needles and thread, beads are woven together using a variety of stitches that are used to create different weaves, textures and shapes. The resulting jewellery is both sturdy, flexible and easy to wear. No beading experience is necessary. All are welcome. The workshops are for both the novice and the more advanced beader. Beads, needles, thread, & clasps will be available for purchase or you can bring your own treasure trove of beads. |
 About your hosts.....Vicki Sharp & John Klassen have been traveling & wintering in Mexico for the past 15 years. Since 1994 they have owned and operated The Muskoka Moose Gallery for fine contemporary Canadian craft & art, in Port Carling, Ontario, Canada. Vicki is an award winning jewellery designer who has been creating art jewellery since 1989. For the past decade beading has become her passion and her main creative outlet . She holds two degrees; a Bachelor Fine Arts (York University) and a Bachelor of Education (University of Toronto). Currently, she continues to create and exhibit her work in her own gallery and at fine craft shows across Ontario. Through workshops, she shares her enthusiasm and knowledge of off-loom bead weaving and jewellery making techniques. Let us share with you our passion for the cultural richness of Mexico. |
| INFORMATION & CONTACT: VICKI SHARP or JOHN KLASSEN, Telephone: 705-764-1700 email: vsharp@muskoka.com ***After Nov. 28/08, please contact by email since we will be in Mexico |
These are trips to make memories.....
Plans for the winter of 2011 are in process....and there's a good chance that the retreats will be somewhere near a beach! |