APRIL 13, 2024

 I’m always excited when it is time to launch new classes; however, this is probably the most stressful time of the year for me!

 It’s hard figuring out what everyone wants to learn and what classes will be popular.  It is even harder to coordinate the schedules of myself and 17 other instructors into 29 different workshops spanning from October 2024 through April 2025. This doesn’t even consider the Summer Blue in the Mountains Workshops. This summer I am hosting an Indigo Retreat where we will be building an authentic sukumo indigo vat and we will be learning some new shibori techniques. I have invited a Japanese friend from Tokushima, Japan and she will be joining me in Murphy North Carolina during July.

This year we have 11 returning instructors and 6 new instructors.  I currently have 29 Workshops on the NEW Schedule. Next year, the 2025 Season will end in mid-April as I have a Japan Textile Tour Scheduled. All-in-all, I think there is a GREAT SELECTION of new classes and hopefully something for everyone. (Shibori, Batik, Stitching, Joomchi, Surface Design, Marbling, Encaustics, Natural Dyes, Indigo Dying, Discharge, Selective De-Gumming, Quilt Arts, Embroidery, Bookmaking, Papermaking, Eco and Botanical print, Katazome and much more) I try to add classes where everyone can build on skills from previous workshops.

But don’t think that just because an instructor is returning, they will be offering the same class. Instructors work hard to provide new material with every new class and even if you were to take the same class again, I promise you will learn something new!

Check the NEW schedule to see what is being offered by the returning instructors; Betty Busby, Gasali Adeyemo, Lisa Binkley, Carol Anne Grotrian, Claudia Lee, Jiyoung Chung, Amy Nguyen, Mary Hark, and Lorraine Glessner.

People often ask me how I select a new instructor. Let me tell you, it’s a process!  I spend hours browsing over different instructors’ websites and reading class reviews from other venues.  Some instructors are recommended to me by students who have attended in the past, and others are recommended by other instructors. A few instructors just email me directly and ask to be included, then submit proposals!

Muffy Clark Gill, Natalie Stopka, Suzanne Dekel, Rio Wrenn, Marjolaine Arsenault, and Kevin Womack will all join us this year with brand NEW Workshops, and they are all very talented artists. I welcome all of them into the studio and look forward to their new classes!

Finding a great instructor is not as easy as finding a plumber or an electrician! There are so many things to factor in when selecting.

All instructors at The Aya Fiber Studio are well-vetted. All are authorities in their particular genre and well respected in the fiber art community. I strive to bring in the VERY BEST I can find! so far, I think I have succeeded!

After several emails back and forth, I typically arrange a Zoom interview with the artist. Our personalities must click. After all, the instructor is representing the Aya Fiber Studio, and their personality can make or break a class and tarnish the studio's reputation.

Then, of course, we have to schedule around their existing schedules, hurricane season, and holidays.

This year has been especially stressful.  In October, I lost my son and this is the hardest thing have ever had to live through. I’m thankful that I have the studio and my fiber community to help get me through this trauma. Some days, I feel like I’m just going through the motions, but things are getting better. One day at a time!

Since my current class prices were all based on 2022 prices, this affected the studio! Higher hotel and flight costs meant the costs to bring instructors in were much higher than estimated!  Class fees are calculated mainly by teacher expenses. In the past, I would take the costs to bring the instructor ( flight, hotel, food, shuttle, and teaching fees) and divide it by minimum enrollment (6) to get the class fee. If 7 or even 8 enrolled, it covered studio overhead and if the class filled: we might even make a little profit.

But everything is different now! 2024 workshops had lower-than-average enrollments, this was the 1st year people canceled when final payments were due.  We even had a few NO-Shows! I think those who waited to make travel arrangements were hit with sticker shock!

This in itself has been stressful, I am continuously rethinking this business model and adjusting the pricing structure to incorporate inflating costs! But prices just keep going up! I have wondered if this business model will succeed, despite lasting through COVID and operating for over 11 years!

But as they say, “The show must go on!” I’m trying to think creatively and make it work. I have too much invested, and I don’t see myself working in the Walmart, checking everyone’s receipts! I’m trusting that God has a plan for me and the studio. This year, most of our full classes had filled within days of the 2023 LAUNCH. Hopefully, the same will happen tomorrow when the Links OPEN! I also saw many more locals this year, and 2024/25 should bring even more new people in. Stuart was just named the #1 Coastal Community to live in and people are moving here like crazy! Early class confirmations benefit everyone, as traveling students can secure better travel costs when they can book early. Wintertime is the season and everyone comes for spring break! This season late enrollments became a bit more normal, some just a few days before class. Classes took longer to reach enrollment. Students enrolled then dropped out at the last minute. So needless to say, many classes were small! But everyone LOVED these smaller classes. Both the students and the teachers! There was a lot more 1:1 teacher interaction. Bonds between the students were stronger and deeper friendships were often formed. Textile conversations were more in-depth and evening activities were easier to plan.

As a result, I have decided to embrace this as the “new normal” and have adjusted my class fees to accommodate smaller class sizes!   This will mean we will have fewer cancellations due to low enrollments and more teacher-student interaction. But, it will also mean that workshop prices for next year are going up like everything else. The cost is still based on the teachers’ fees and expenses, but this year I MUST also incorporate the studio overhead into minimum enrollment. Without covering this upfront, I won’t be able to keep the studio open and continue bringing in the same GREAT INSTRUCTORS! This year, I will also offer payment options for those wishing to make smaller payments towards their classes.

So why come here?

There are a lot of factors in play when choosing which studio to attend, from the programs offered to studio vibes and location.

The Aya Fiber Studio has all the above, great programming, awesome instructors, a beautiful location, and an incomparable studio vibe!

This gorgeous, well-appointed studio is in Stuart Florida.

The Atlantic Coast city of Stuart, known as the "Sailfish Capital of the World," is located along Florida’s renowned Treasure Coast, north of Palm Beach and south of Vero Beach.

Along with fishing and other water-intensive pleasures, Downtown Stuart is the cutest little town along the St Lucie River…but it is also home to some of the most beautiful beaches along the Atlantic. Average winter temperatures are in the mid 70’s and the foods are an entirely different subject! If you live in the cold areas of our county, this is a great escape from the wintery cold!

The Stuart Fiber studio opened 11 years ago. Its prestigious reputation continues to this day, and the studio boasts an impressive student-teacher ratio of about 7:1

In our dedicated fiber arts studio, you will have your own space to create and investigate the many dimensions and techniques of fiber arts. Come participate in the hands-on discovery of the science and art of fabric dyeing and fiber arts with some of the world’s most respected fiber artists. You will be learning from renowned experts in the fiber-world! In each class, you will work alongside a different artist instructor who brings their unique perspective and expertise within their discipline to the studio. Limited enrollment ensures you have access to equipment and time to interact with the instructor and enjoy quality camaraderie with like-minded people. You will be working alongside experts and practicing artists who have exhibited both nationally and internationally that can help build your network.

Our studio is a leader in providing unique and fiber-art programming that provides the best possible hands-on studio experience, we have workshops in Natural Dyeing, Indigo, Shibori, Batik, Surface Design, Quilt Arts, Mixed Media, Stitching (Sashiko, Bojagi) and have recently added some paper arts.

Our recently renovated facilities include a large student worktable, a naturally lit classroom open to fresh ocean breezes, a dye kitchen, and an outdoor working area. Just this week, we have been reorganizing and have added an additional worktable.

The studio is fully equipped with all the equipment needed for dyeing: we have a big assortment of mixing containers, pots, stoves steamers, and a large multi-bay commercial sink. Dry areas include sewing machines and irons, cutting table, sergers, Cricut machines and an intensive fiber art library. There are also fabrics and supplies for sale.

Come create in a spectacular natural environment, supported by dedicated instructors and a welcoming community of local, regional, and international fiber artists and designers! Our intimate fiber workshops are the perfect opportunity to learn a new technique or skill, and with a low-class size, you'll have plenty of one-on-one attention from our experienced instructors.

PLUS, we have GREAT WEATHER- When it is cold and snowy in the North, we have beautiful sunny days in the 70’s and 80’s!

We are looking forward to meeting you!

New class registrations will OPEN April 15th. There will be a “short” early bird sign up, so be sure to put this date on your calendar. Early registrations help a lot in getting great accommodations and better airfares!

Browse Through Our list of Upcoming Workshops that are listed by date or check the Event Calendar to see when the class is scheduled! Call your fiber-friends and start planning your Fiber-cation!

We Have Quite A Selection This Year and hope to see you in the studio!

https://www.ayafiberstudio.com/coming-workshops-and-events

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FIBER WORKSHOPS WORKSHOPS INDIGO WORKSHOPS SURFACE DESIGN WORKSHOPS AYA FIBER STUDIO PAPER-MAKING WORKSHOPS MIXED MEDIA WORKSHOPS SHIBORI WORKSHOPS STITCH WORKSHOPS GASALI ADEYEMO LISA BINKLEY JIYOUNG CHUNG AMY NGUYEN LORRAINE GLESSNER CAROLE ANNE GROTRAIN MARY HARK