Participants will make a batch of hot press goat milk soap using a variety of molds and having many scents and extra add-ins to choose from. Each person will come out of the class with 4-8 soaps, depending on the choice of mold and the recipe and know-how of how to make future batches at home. Each student will need to bring a dedicated crock pot and submersion blender/hand mixer to the class that night. All molds, scents, and soap materials will be provided by the instructor. Soaps will be ready for pickup the following week, due to curing time. The fee includes all materials.

Learn how to design and carve your own fishing handline. Each student will get materials to make up to two handlines, though only one may be completed during the class. Supplies include wood, line, hooks, and weights. We will go over everything from how to use your handline and cast it properly. 

Your instructor, Mary Laury is an accomplished watercolorist and highly esteemed teacher. She encourages all her students to believe they can be successful. Painting is an exciting medium; it flows and moves and does beautiful things. If you have never painted in watercolors, we will start at the beginning. If you have painted before, you will pick up some new tips and tricks as well. We all learn together!

Painting Flower Portraits in Watercolor is the focus of this retreat.  

Paint flower portraits realistically. You will paint pictures of flowers in detail, but more painterly than a scientific illustration. We won’t count veins, but we will count petals! Painting flowers is a wonderful exercise in observation.

Learn brush stroke and value

White on white flowers

Leaves, long and short

Iris, narcissus, orchids, tulips, and other spring flowers.

Materials list:

We will paint on smooth paper; Strathmore Series 500, one hundred percent cotton paper, either plate or vellum. This paper can be bought at Artist and Craftsman in Portland in large sheets, which we will cut up.

Bring a #2 round brush and a #6 round brush, pencil, palette, tube watercolors in the 3 primary colors and perhaps a green. Paper towels and water container. And bring a plant or flower specimen with no more than 9 petals. This is a slow and careful process and 9 petals and some leaves is enough happiness for us all.

Escape to a Grand Victorian Inn, the Harbor View House in Prospect Harbor on the coast of Maine, with an intimate group of artist, cooks and creatives! All meals are included in the workshop fee plus special activities to extend your learning from the day’s workshops, including a private house concert by Grammy balloted sing-songwriter, storyteller, and author Gordon Ward. Day students are welcome.

For more information about the workshop, call Mary at 207-632-2251. To book your stay at the inn call 207-963-9122 or visit https://harborviewhousellc.com/.  

Feedback from recent participants: 

“Great instructor!-Mary acts as a guide to develop our own style.“ “Easy no stress instruction.”

In the Thirsty Gourd Workshop, we will create a water bottle and a cup from a bottle gourd. In the class, we will learn a little about the cultivating of these gourds, harvesting, processing, and then creating wonderful works of usable art. Students will have time to personalize their creations with paint designs or experiment with wood burning. A variety of stencils will be readily available, allowing students to add an extra touch of artistry to their cups and bottles.

Join Heather for a night of still-life painting in a 'watch and copy' format that anyone can do. No previous painting experience needed! Join in the fun and take your masterpiece home that night. All materials supplied, and included in your registration fee.

Make your own cards with love. These classes will teach you how to make beautiful cards, providing instructions and techniques. You will make four unique cards, and each class will teach a different design. The instructor fee is $5 per class (payable the night of each class) and there is always a door prize. All supplies are provided.

Learn how Alexander Calder created his famous kinetic sculptures, also known as mobiles and stabiles. Choose among sea shells, pieces of driftwood, or feathers to create a relaxing, balanced piece of art that moves and shifts in the slightest air currents. All materials included. If you have a favorite pair of needle nosed pliers with wire cutters feel free to bring them along. $10 supplies fee included in price.

Tired of paying crazy expensive prices for candles? Are you looking for a great gift-giving idea? Learn how to make handmade candles with non-toxic soy wax and scented with all-natural essential oils. Each student will receive 2 lbs. of soy wax, wicks, a variety of scents, and containers to choose from, leaving the class with their creations that night to give away or keep for themselves. $10 materials fee included.