On Higher Ground V
To reserve your registration at the On Higher Ground retreat, pay the deposit; and download, sign and mail the release forms.
The cost of the retreat is $1895, which includes lodging and meals. Reserve your spot with a non-refundable deposit of $895. Payment in full is due July 1, 2023 (and is non-refundable after August 15, 2023). Along with payment, we will need signed release forms to consider you registered. Use the link here to download the forms, sign them and return them to Stacey at the address on the form.
Contact Faith (faithwelsh@gmail.com) if you do not have PayPal and need to make other payment arrangements for this retreat.
This year, lodging and meals are included
in the price of the retreat.
This years retreat is at the beautiful Hyperslow Retreat Center at the historic San Geronimo Lodge in Taos. We will have exclusive use of the entire grounds. All meals will be prepared onsite by a trained chef and made of organic ingredients and local produce. All meals and your room is included in the price of the retreat.
The price of this all inclusive retreat is $1895
- $895 Deposit is due upon registration and is non refundable.
- Payment in full is due by July 1, 2023 and is non refundable after August 15, 2023.
There are a few discounted shared rooms available. Please reach out to Faith, faithwelsh@gmail.com to arrange a shared room.
The Schedule and what to expect
Here is a breakdown of the retreat schedule as well as a little information on ways to plan and customize your trip for an unforgettable and inspiring fiber art retreat.
plan your arrival
Driving from Albuquerque or Sante Fe is beautiful, with opportunities to stop and take in the scenery and sites of New Mexico. Give yourself time to shrug off the hustle of your day to day life and began to see the beauty of your surroundings. THIS is your inspiration. THIS is what will fuel your creativity. Give yourself time to check in, unpack, nap or explore the beautiful resort grounds. Reconnect with old friends or meet new fiber friends as your classmates arrive.
The Night Before Classes Begin
Gather and meet your teachers, the Mercado artists, and your fellow classmates. This informal gathering is a favorite with us organizers. It is the beginning gathering that will kick off the creative synergy of this amazing retreat. Meet your fellow fiberistas who will be working alongside you as you expand your creativity and find new inspirations and skills. Get a little preview about what this weeks classes will bring from our teachers. Set your intentions for your week.
Each day before class
Gather with your teachers and fellow classmates for a catered breakfast included with your tuition. Share stories of your explorations in Taos, show off the work you accomplished after class last night, make plans with your classmates for some afternoon sight seeing or dinner plans. Work in your art journal or knit a few rows. Ease into your day mindful, fed and open to new pathways.
Learn new skills with daily classes
Between 10am and 1pm each day, class will be held in the meeting room. The class series is designed to integrate the inspirations of your trip and new fiber art skills into a cohesive method of exploring and creating art that will inspire your work well beyond the week of this retreat.
Midday break
We will break for lunch each day at 1 pm. Stroll into town with your knitting or art journal, chat about your new skills with classmates over lunch. Check out the Mercado artist of the day. Check out some of the shops in town, or go on a bigger site seeing adventure nearby.
Work time or free time of your choice
From 3-5pm each day, the teacher of the day will be available to answer questions, help with techniques or just companionship as you work in the classroom. But, if you would prefer, the afternoon is also free for where ever you feel called to explore. Because art and inspiration is all about play and exploring…you chose which is best for you and your art that day.
Meet Local Artist of Taos at the Mercado
The mercado will be open daily for 11pm to 3pm. Each day will feature a different local artist with work for sale. Stop by, chat with them and buy unique handmade offerings. Debra, Faith and Stacey will also have hand spun, hand dyed yarn and embellishments available for sale each day. Buy souvenirs, or supplies to integrate into your work in class. Be inspired by local art.
An evening of storytelling with
Valentina devine
This year is Valentina’s 4th in participating in the On Higher Ground series (both as an instructor and Mercado vendor). On Monday, in addition to her Mercado venue in the afternoon, she will be available in the evening to gather with those who choose for informal musing. Last year, those of you who had the good fortune to sit in on her recounting of Horst Schulz’s story, know that a fascinating and entertaining storyteller she is! In her words: “Life is catching up with me — so no more full day workshops — but try to keep me quiet! If willing to listen, I will tell stories, answer questions and share fiber experiences. At my age I have many.”
Evenings are free for exploring
There is so much to see and do in Taos. Gather with classmates for dinner, or find a cozy quiet place at the retreat center to work on your art or journal your inspirations from the day. It is totally up to you. Relax, refresh, and get ready for the next day.
Closing Gathering and Student Showcase
It is always so amazing, the connections that happen at On Higher Ground. And it just would not be the same if we did not honor the connection and creative expansion of the week. It is so important to us that we give you each space to share your a-ha moments, your work, and your new visual language. Before we all journey back home, we as teachers want to send you off with blessings for safe travels, to thank you for sharing your creative time with us, and to assure you as you continue with your creative fiber art beyond this week.
End your visit to Taos with new inspirations and creative skills as you explore the town, attend the Wool Fest, and make your way home.
Retreat Schedule
Sunday: Arrival and Opening Reception
Give yourself time to travel from the airport, relax and check in.
Check in 3pm
Opening reception 5pm
Monday: Grow Fiber Art Ideas with Art Journaling with Stacey Budge Kamison
Learn mixed media art Journaling, classic sketch book, styling and thumbnail techniques professional artists use to capture inspirations and flesh out those inspirations into fiber art ideas. Blank art journals will be provided and is included with you tuition.
Class 10am-1pm
Open Work Time with Stacey 3pm-5pm
Monday: Valentina Devine at the Mercado
Valentina will be showcasing her freeform art knitting and selling her beautiful yarn.
11am – 3pm
Tuesday: Weaving Perspectives with Debra Lambert
Learn to weave intuitively with color and texture to create a unique and inspired piece that will express and represent all the inspiration of your trip. We will use this piece to explore ideas for both garment construction and home dec pieces. Materials and tools will be offered to purchase in Class.
Class 10am -1pm
Open Work Time with Debra 3pm-5pm
Tuesday: Robert Lucero And Monte McBride at the Mercado
See Robert’s beautiful hand-turned wooden bowls made from local wood inlaid with turquoise and paua.
Monte will be showcasing her handspun yarn and selling her handspun POQUITOS.
11am – 3pm
Wednesday: The Art of Yarn with Faith Welsh
Faith will explore several knitting techniques such as short rows, random holes, couching art yarn, embellishing ends, fostering limitless inspiration for you to unleash your creative potential for coming up with ways of making your work uniquely your own.
Class 10am-1pm
Wednesday: Freeform Crochet with Cheryl Reifsnyder
Cheryl will be sharing freeform techniques for experimenting with different crochet stitches and fibers and how they can be combined to create art of varying sizes, shapes, and textures.
3pm – 5pm
Thursday: Open work time with all teachers
All instructors available for guidance on all projects
10am – 1pm, 3pm – 5pm
Thursday: Final Gathering and Student Showcase
This is your opportunity to share your work. Gather for the final student showcase, closing talk and blessing for your journey home.
3pm – 5 pm
What to Bring For Class
We will be updating this section as we get closer to or retreat. In addition, all kinds of fabulous hand spun yarns, baubles and embellishments will be available every day at the Mercado. Debra, Stacey and Faith will be set up throughout with an assortment of treasures to add to your stash. Faith is offering studio visits by sign-up to her studio every afternoon.
Getting to Taos
Fly into Albuquerque International Sunport and either rent a car or take a shuttle to Taos, it’s about a 2.5 hour beautiful drive. You go through Santa Fe so you may way to stop there and look around.
This year we are offering direct shuttle service just for our enrollees for additional fee. Shuttle leaves Albuquerque International Sunport at 1pm Sunday. Email Faith faithwelsh@gmail.com to book your seat.
Book a third party shuttle:
Twin Hearts Express
(575)751-1201 or (800)654-9456
Taos Rides
https://taosrides.com/
at his website here.
Climate and Altitude in Taos
Albuquerque is at 5000’ and Taos is at 6,900’ above sea level. Many people coming from lower elevations experience some type of mild altitude problems: shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea or fatigue. Drinking lots of water, like 8+ full glasses a day, and resting will help. Usually symptoms are mild and pass within a couple of days. Consider coming out a few days early and take advantage of all there is do to in Santa Fe and Taos. Weather in October is beautiful: clear skies, cool nights and the aspens turning gold. Average temperatures are 60’s in the day and 30’s at night. Rain is unlikely but there could be brief showers so do bring an umbrella. Dressing in layers is smart so you can adapt to the wide range of temperatures in a day.
our Favorite Sites nearby
Visit the Pueblo
Check out the Taos tourism website
for more sight seeing ideas
Studio Tour
The TAOS Wool Festival is now the Mountain and Valley Wool Festival
The Taos Wool Festival, renamed Mountain and Valley Wool Festival, relocated to Santa Fe, NM is October 7-8, 2023 immediately following the On Higher Ground V Retreat.
