Mixed Media Workshops & Retreats
April Sproule Mixed Media Art Textile Five-Day Retreat
September 8 - 12, 2025 |$1,250
Embark on an exciting journey to unlock your creative potential. This workshop explores accessible yet striking techniques for combining fabric and paper with hand stitching in mixed media textile art. You’ll work with exquisite materials like linen, silk, and Japanese rice paper, each addingdepth and texture to your creations.
With a strong focus on composition and color, you’ll develop a deeper understanding of how to craft visually compelling pieces that reflect your artistic vision.
Imagine the thrill of breaking through creative boundaries, discovering new possibilities, and igniting your passion for self-expression. That is the heart of this workshop—to help you define what truly inspires you and bringit to life through your art.
Mixed Media Creativity
Making time to play and experiment is essential for fueling creativity. In this workshop, you’ll create a wall hanging approximately 18” x 24” (though size is flexible), incorporating meaningful ephemera or exploring abstractdesign.
We’ll start by learning key embroidery stitches inspired by Japanese Boro stitching—all done without an embroidery hoop. You’ll have the option to create a sampler for practice and future reference. One of the workshop highlights is a full day dedicated to surface design and mark-making with fabric and paper.
These intuitive, expressive techniques free up creativity, allowing you to generate a variety of unique textures and patterns. By the end, you’ll have plenty of materials to choose from for your collage piece, plus extras to takehome for future projects. April will also be sharing some of my bird illustrations and patterns to be used in class.
As you begin assembling your collage, we’ll focus on composition and color—fundamental elements that can make or break a piece. We’ll break the process into simple, manageable steps, ensuring a strong start and steadyprogress. You’ll also learn strategies for overcoming creative blocks, as well as innovative finishing and display options.
Ultimately, success lies in the joy of creation. This workshop will guide you toward developing a confident, personal style that is uniquely your own.
Learning Objectives
● Hand embroidery without a hoop● Basic embroidery stitches to create pattern, texture, and design emphasis● Mark making techniques on fabric and paper● Collage techniques for fabric and paper● Finishing and display options
Skill Level
The class is appropriate for all levels, beginner to professional.
What's Included In Retreat
● Meet and greet with hors d'oeuvres on Sunday, September 7th at 5:30 pm
● Five days of instruction--Monday through Friday
● Three lunches
● Two dinners
Retreat Schedule
Day 1
Japanese Boro Stitching
You will learn to transform hand stitching into breathtaking patterns and textures using traditional Boro stitching.
Boro stitching is a traditional Japanese way to mend and patch textiles using fabric scraps, often with a simple stitch called sashiko. Boro is a demonstration of the key Japanese ideas of reducing waste and finding beauty in imperfection. People now value Boro for its history and modern art appeal, recognizing its sustainable practices and unique design.Day 2
Surface Design Exploration: Mark Making on Fabric and Paper
You will learn mark making on fabric using paper, dyes, and paints to create unique patterns. This process opens up limitless creative possibilities and lays the foundation for future artistic projects.
Day 3
Color & Design
Today we focus on color, focal point, and theme. You will learn how effective a simple color palette and composition can be. April will provide examples of her bird illustrations for you to use in your work.
Day 4
Additional Elements
We will cover variations of the blanket stitch, couching, and the inclusion of text in your work as time permits.
Couching is a versatile embroidery technique that can include various materials like plastic, paper, or found objects, going beyond traditional embroidery. You can use couching to add texture, dimension, and conceptual depth to your work.Day 5
Finishing & Displaying Your Work
Our last day together, we explore possibilities for finishing and mounting your work to make the best presentation of it. We then collaborate and kindly critique everyone's designs to unlock fresh perspectives and elevate your artistry.
Supply List for April Sproule Retreat
When choosing fabrics, keep in mind that you want your stitching to show up in most areas. Solid fabrics work great, but so do some stripes or feature fabrics with motifs. Tip for fabric selection: You can decide on one main color to work in, and build your class stash based on that.
Supplies Provided With Class Supplies Fee
● $30.00 fee paid to Estelle● Japanese Rice Paper,15 sheets per person, 9” x 12”● Assorted inks, paints, and mark making items● Parchment for stitching design development● One yard of silk organza, used as a leave-in stabilizer● Instructor will provide some bird designs
Supplies You Need to Bring With You
● Vintage and repurposed fabrics from clothing are highly recommended● Prewashing is recommended whenever possible● Cottons, silks, linens, and wool are suitable for this project● Fabric for Background: Suggested finished size of your piece is: 18” x 24”● You can make a larger piece, or more than one piece if you like● You can bring a neutral colored solid fabric if you like● There is no need to cut anything before class● Fabrics for surface design, mark making, and painting: light to medium colored solid fabrics work best● A good guess might be one yard total● Bring some additional fabrics you love
About April Sproule
April Sproule is an artist whose medium is textiles. She has a great love of design and the numerous ways it can be used to enrich and embellish our lives. She has been sewing and creating with fiber since she was old enough to hold a needle: patiently taught by her two grandmothers.
She received her early professional training at the San Francisco School of Fashion Design, and continued her education by studying textiles, art, and business through a wide variety of means with some very inspirational teachers who quickly became some of her favorite personal heroes.
For 20 years, April was employed by several different fashion and accessory manufacturing firms in the United States and Canada. Her area of specialization was design/new product development and production management. She especially loved problem solving and the challenges of transforming a vague idea into a tangible product.
April has been a full-time textile artist since 2001 when she opened Sproule Studios and has won numerous awards for her work over the years. She has also developed her own commercial product line of textile-related goods. April works in her studio in northern California where she offers workshops in surface design techniques, contemporary hand embroidery, and private consultations. April also offers virtual workshops and presentations through her website and Skillshare.
But best of all, April says she loves the opportunity to share the ideas, inspiration, and techniques that she loves with others while encouraging them to develop their own unique style.
Important InformationRead Before Registering
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation Policy: If WE cancel the retreat, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel 60 days or more from the start date of the retreat, you will receive a full refund minus $100 cancellation fee.
If you cancel 59 days to 31 days before the start of the retreat, you will receive a 50% refund minus $100 cancellation fee.
If you cancel within 30 days of the start date of the retreat, you will not receive a refund and will be charged a $100 cancellation fee.
Payments
A deposit of $500 is required to register. The balance of $750 is due by July 8, 2025. You will receive an invoice for the balance due by July 1, 2025.
Meals & Lodging
The April Sproule Mixed Media Art Retreat includes three lunches and two dinners. Other meals and lodging are not included in the registration fee.
Estelle Center guest rooms are currently under construction. Estelle’s Upstairs, our overnight guest accommodations, will be available in March 2025.
If you’d like to be notified when the registration is available, you can email Sunshine Caulfield. In the meantime, you can find other dining and lodging options on our Plan Your Visit Page.
What To Expect Next
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Payment
I wish to pay a deposit of $500
I have read and understand the cancellation policy. I understand the balance of $750 is due by July 8, 2025.
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