Aya Fiber Studio

Join us for the 2025 Blue in the Mountains Shibori and Indigo retreat in the North Carolina Mountains. We will begin the event by creating a natural indigo fermentation sukumo vat. Following the vatting session, there will be a series of (5) 2-day stitched Shibori seminars hosted by Makiko Tokunaga.

The shibori patterns we will be completing are Kikkou, Oogangi, Shirakage, Katano, and Hinode. I'm sure Makiko will also bring some new techniques with her, as she is continuously learning and practicing new techniques! Even if you participated in 2024, you will be able to complete different variations of the patterns. Perhaps we will even attempt some Arimatsu Shibori!

The 1st seminars will be Sukumo vatting and Katazome. Makiko will spend the first 10 days or so instructing you how to make the sukumo indigo vat. ( July 1-10). She will begin with the lye water and keep going through the completion of the vat, so it will be completed for the Shibori workshops. During this timeframe, I will also be teaching Katazome Rice Paste Resist in the Wagonwheel. ( We will not be using sukumo to dye our katazome pieces) You do not have to take the Katazome in addition to the vatting, but cutting stencils and learning how to make katazome is a good activity while waiting for the vatting to stir. During the vatting process, there will be plenty of time for independent study and exploring the area. The vatting process requires 4 stirring sessions per day. For those who will be making the vat, I recommend staying on-site.

On the 11th of July, we will begin the 1st of (5) 2-day Shibori seminars

There will be a 1-day resting period between dye sessions - these will be working days, and Sundays will be "Free Days". Class sizes are limited as Makiko does not want to overwork the vat; she has carefully calculated the amount of cloth that can be dyed each day. If you have additional items to dye, we will have other dye vats available. There are lots of things to do in the area. We are close to both the Nantahala and Cherokee National Forests. White water rafting, hiking, kayaking, and tubing are all nearby. The area is known for trout fishing! Asheville is a 2 hr drive, and Blue Ridge, Ga, is about 45 minutes. We are in the farthest Western corner of NC and can be in Ga, North Carolina, or Tennessee within 30 minutes! It is a beautiful area.

For this retreat, I would prefer for participants to pay ONLY a deposit when registering and pay the balance when I send out the final invoice in June, just before the Retreat. I'm asking for only a $180 deposit to hold your spot. The final price will adjust as we get closer since costs for travel from Japan can fluctuate. There will also be a materials fee of $60 for each workshop to cover the costs of sukumo and supplies. (Arrived in FL 4/16) I would like to pay Makiko and Martin with cash before they go back to Japan. International transfer fees are huge!

Lodging is booked separately! There are cabins onsite at the Wagon Master Ranch and local Airbnb cabins, and you can even bring your RV. 

Explore the options and amenities here.

There are 3 cabins onsite and 1 RV for rent, the cabins are shareable, and I can arrange for someone to share cabin space with you! They are not luxurious but are on-site, which makes it very nice as some come back into the studio and work into the evening.. There are RV sites nearby for those wishing to bring their RV, and I've even found a local company that will deliver and set up an RV, then pick it up when you leave! I've also been scouting the area for local Airbnb cabins and have posted them on the website https://www.ayafiberstudio.com/blue-in-the-mountains