Let’s catch up on all the June stuff with RIVTAK

In this Newsletter:
-Summer Camps are still happening and going strong! Sign up through Freeman’s Creative- Links below
-Recaps from this busy month’s creative sessions!
-Birthday Coupon Code for 25% off!

We had a Super G student group show and I had a blast connecting with other people and with the host, Paige of Ample Art. I made a short reel on IG to share my experience and share that there are more intermediate workshops coming up at Super G in July!

SUMMER CAMP - For Adults and Kids! Sign Ups now open!

Sessions are 3 or 5 days, 3 hours long each day, 9am-12pm or 1pm-4pm, for different age groups. All Supplies provided for kids camps. Bring your own machine in good, working condition or rent a classroom machine!

Starting June 17th, we will host a number of kids camps, and NEW: two adult camps!

July 10-12- No Fear Serger Camp (3 Day, Adults)
New to using a serger or sewing with knits, or Re-acquaint yourself with your machine and take your serger skills from nervous to no fear! We will cover basics on Day 1, Day 2-underwear with a pattern, and Day 3 will be for serging a garment of your choice, or finishing/starting projects that involve the serger.
AM Session (9am-12pm) for Adults (4 spots open)

NOW OPEN TO ADULTS TOO!:
July 10-12- Make +Mend (3 Day, Age 13+ )
PM Session (1pm-4pm) for 13+ year olds (6 spots open)
UPDATED: We didn’t have any teens sign up for this camp so we are opening it up to adults too! Do you have projects you want to start strong, or finish strong? Want guidance on a mending project? Sign up!

July 15-19- Beginner Quilting Camp (5 Day)
Explore the heritage craft of Quilting, looking at historical influences and modern takes! In this machine-based camp, students will start by making simple blocks and move to improv patchwork, a log cabin potholder, and a lap quilt in the course of the week. All supplies included, although fabric and scraps from home are welcome. All skill levels welcome, but no prior sewing experience is necessary.
AM Session (9am-12pm) for 8-12 years old (4 spots open)
PM Session (1pm-4pm) for 13-18 years old (6 spots open)

Remember…I compiled the most epic local directory/spreadsheet of places and people you can learn from- well, it’s always here! If you have interested to learn something I don’t teach, check out the 2nd spreadsheet in this file which has a bunch of local artists that teach! If you would like to be added- be sure to include all your information you would like to be linked - I’m not trying to chase that down, but I’m happy to add you if you make it easy for me.

Creative Workshops Resources

June Creative Recap!

We started off the month strong at Observable Universe! I loved hosting Summer and her friends to celebrate her birthday with an Indigo Dye Party! Everyone brought a few things to dye and learned the techniques of Shibori Resist!

Book a lesson or party now!

A note about booking private lessons and group workshops: I have updated my Setmore calendar where you can book and see my calendar. I have very limited availablity thru the end of September since I’ll be teaching at Emerson Waldorf School again and other stuff. But you can grab my few open dates.

4H Camp session Natural Dye with Plants- Sponsored by a generous donor of Durham’s Master Gardeners! I taught 28 kids (in 2 groups) how to dye Shibori Indigo and Hapa Zome (Plant Hammering) Prints- both on cotton hankies. This was so much and helped me practice pairing down my whole set up to the bare minimum! We had a great time exploring with plants and dancing together!

I was thrilled to be a guest judge that The Scrap Exchange’s Great Puppet Make-Off! I love the Scrap and any chance to work with the team and other artists!

Best described about on the Scrap’s Instagram:

All kinds of Scrap treasures were used in this competition, from an entire ironing board to foam, hangers, lanyards, bottle caps, and much much more.

Some of the masterpieces created will be on display in Cameron Gallery - come check them out next time you're in.

First 2 weeks of summer camp at Freeman’s Creative have gone great! We’ve been making so much - it’s exciting to see how much sewing empowers kids to make their designs a reality. Kids as young as 8 years old have the ability to design their own pillows, dolls, and pick out fabric from the shop to make tote bags and shorts! Camps for adults and kids are listed above!

Creative exploration with friends!: I love getting to play and hang out with friends through shared ideas! I had a blast making Cicada wing prints with Alexis- here with all the prints she made in 5ish hours - wild how time flies when you’re having fun!!

Another “open studio” Study with friends: These are samples of Batik and Stitched shibori and corn wrapping resist inspired by African methods. This session was with artist Marcella- pictured above are a mix of our experimentations!

Want to get involved with more at Observable Universe?

Become a Patron on OU’s Pateron here, and get monthly updates from Heather starting at just $3/month.

We missed last month’s collage night but we are planning on hosting again soon!

I’m still experimenting with large scale cyanotypes- made possible by being at OU with my large table on wheels and the garage door I can wheel it outside!

Here is a special sneak peek at a lovely photoshoot I did with Sarah Devoti, who I met at a local market selling vintage goods! I love how this session turned out! It’s been years since I had a photoshoot and wanted to celebrate 7 years of making vulva pillows!

Just for newsletter members: Use the code STILLYOUNG to get 25% off your total purchase to celebrate my birthday month with me and help clear out inventory before the fall restock! I love the idea of you having and gifting my handmade items! Thanks so much for your ongoing support!

2024 Calendars will be included in all orders until they are gone!

Thank you for reading all the way to the end! I hope your summers’ are off to a fun start!

Signing off until next time!

Cheers,

River

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