Touchstone Workshop: September 9-13, 2026
DANCING COLOR:
Marbling: Pattern, Process, and Purposeful Wandering with Shannon Kerner
Program Update:
Paper Marbling will not be offered at Touchstones this September. We’re grateful to Shannon Kerner for creating this workshop for us and hope to explore marbling again at a future gathering.
Class and Retreat fee: $1090
Materials fee: $40/person if you want to focus entirely on marbling paper
$90/person if you'd like to marble paper in addition to a small piece of leather and prepared cotton fabric (18"x 22")
Please email Shannon with any questions: ShannonKerner@gmail.com
Shannon Kerner is a marbler as well as a book conservator, bookbinder and book artist who lives in Rockland, Maine. She attended the North Bennet Street School (BB) where she met Chena River Marblers and studied with them for more than a decade.
Touchstone Retreat Schedule
Over five days, you’ll move between studios, shoreline, and gardens. We give you permission to follow your curiosity and learn from each other. While you stroll, we invite you to reach down and pick a touchstone for your pocket.
WEDNESDAY
Settle into this magical world
Our cobbled beaches are a delight for your senses. Rocks ground us with their solidity and remind us to pay attention to textures, curves and temperature while we feel their weight in our hands. We invite you to start your retreat by walking down to the beach, breathing the salty air and searching for the stone that speaks to you.
3:00-4:30 Free Bonus class with Kathleen Farnsworth: Maki-Agi shibori stitched bandana. Stitch and dye with natural indigo.
4-5 Register, pick up our tote bag presents to you, share a cider, catch up with friends old and new. A food truck will be available for those looking for an on-site meal.
5:30-7:30 Join us for cocktails/mocktails and snacks. We'll visit each studio for show & tell by our teachers followed by a campfire in the garden. Retreat Attendees and friends are welcome.
THURSDAY, FRIDAY and SATURDAY
Dive deep into your passion
8-9 Breakfast (veg & GF friendly)
9-12 Class
12-2 Garden Lunch (veg & GF friendly)
12-2 Chair Massages with Danielle Dickey-Heifets, LMT. Sign-up for your time slot and pay Danielle directly. ($25/15 minute chair massage).
2-5 Class
5-7 Chair Massages with Danielle Dickey-Heifets, LMT. Sign-up for your time slot and pay Danielle directly. ($25/15 minute chair massage).
Thursday: 5:30 Drinks and Dinner (veg & GF friendly) Followed by a guided music jam and informal performance in the garden with hot chocolate (bring an instrument and a favorite addition to your hot cocoa if you'd like)
Friday: Dinner on your own OR
Chef Chris Toy will be leading a bonus workshop for a traditional Chinese Hotpot meal in the garden kitchen. Follow this link for details.
The studios will remain accessible and we'll have a campfire in the garden for your pleasure.
Saturday: 5:30 Drinks and Dinner (veg & GF friendly)
6:30ish-8:00ish Open Studios...see what everyone's been creating. This will be an opportunity to buy teachers' work and supplies. If the weather is cooperative, we'll light a bonfire on the beach.
SUNDAY
Re-emerge Gently
8-9 Breakfast (veg & GF friendly)
9-12 Class
12-2 Chair with Danielle Dickey-Heifets, LMT. Sign-up for your time slot and pay Danielle directly. ($25/15 minute chair massage)
12:30 - 3 Lunch, last chance to shop, pictures and goodbyes (veg & GF friendly)
For those who would like to extend their retreat, we'd be happy to provide a personalized itinerary of our beautiful mid-coast region