“Class was life enriching. I am thrilled to have spent time with Cynthia before she retired. This is the best environment in which to create!” – Cheryl K. “Cynthia has the ability to bring out our most creative self. This is a lovely inn. You make sure we are comfortable and well-fed, including afternoon cookies. The workroom/studio is excellent, wonderful light and super chairs.” – Sharon C.
It was a great week with Cynthia Corbin as she taught a 5-day workshop to a full house of students. We even “ordered up” a little snow to the delight of our 3 Californians! The students all said they had an amazingly productive week and I only wish I had had the opportunity to stop in the studio to take more pictures. 
Except for the one day of light snow, we had some gorgeous Fall weather and there was still plenty of colorful leaves to enjoy. 
Cynthia gave a nice presentation about her work and inspiration after dinner one of the nights. 
A bit of snow on Wednesday! 
Some garden inspiration around the inn! It is peak echinacea season at the moment. 
We have finally arrived at the season of beautiful, temperate weather! Just warm enough, with a tiny bit of chill in the evenings. This was taken just after a 5 minute rain storm. 
Susan brought a whole bunch of her work for the class to see. This is one big stack of talent here. 
On the last day was a critic of the students work, with each person describing what they liked best about their work and what they thought needed improvement. 
Since the chill is back in the evening air, we now have in stock some fabulously soft and warm hoody sweatshirts. They come in black, navy, and blue with a contrast color on the inside of the hood. The minute I put them out most of our staff said they wanted one! 
These are some close-ups of some of the magnificent works that Sandra brought with her. Such amazing detail! 
Some example projects that the students had to choose from for the process of learning the specific techniques that Sandra uses. 
We also had a winner of our Early Bird Drawing in Sandra’s workshop. We had a drawing every year from the pool of students who sign up for a workshop before our workshop season begins. There are 3 possible prizes and Katherine Stevenson won 3rd prize for the year. For the fiber art workshops, the 3rd prize is a $100 gift certificate to Hudson River Valley Art Workshops. The gift certificate can be used to put towards another workshop or for shopping in our supply shop, or it can even be using the buy chocolate from our organic chocolates shop, Life By Chocolate! Such a deal. 
Sandra also bought along a good selection of her kits for other appliqué projects for further practice before venturing forth with your own designs. 
Outside the studio the Spring flowers are finally starting to put in a show. This tulip is obviously an overachiever! 
The next fiber art workshops coming up in our 2016 schedule are with 
All sorts of stamps and recycled materials were available for making marks on the paintings. 
Here you see an assembled abstract landscapes coming together made with strips of painted canvas. 
Throughout the days, Katie would introduce new techniques for adding interest, texture, form and line to the painted canvases. This is a drip technique use to good effect. 
A composition by Cindy Heath. 
An amazing landscape by Kathy Nurge. 
A great composition by Sherry Shine. 
Katie also showed the group how to put together a fun abstract floral still life. This one is also by Sherry Shine. 
Here is Katie’s still life arrangement. 
Next Katie brought out the power tools. She showed the group how to construct their own frames for the stitched paintings. 
One the frame was assembled, Katie demonstrated how to attach the stitched painting to the frame. 
These are book covers that Katie showed everyone how to make with the painted canvases. 
Another thing to do with the painted canvases was to create mini zippered bags for holding stuff! So if you didn’t like the way your painted canvas turned out, Katie showed the group that there were lots of ways to make use of them. 
On the final day of class every one put all the work on display and we all went around the studio on a tour. This is the work of Sherry Shine. 
This is what it looked like to the person standing next to their art work and talking about it. The paparazzi in action! 
This is the work of Kim LaPolla. 
This is the work of Jane Pinchuck. 
A fun landscape by Alison Chandler. 
The work of Manon Boisvert. 
The work of Kathy Nurge. 
The work of Donna Dynes. 
The work of Cindy Heath. 
Earlier in the year, Katie also taught her Log Cabin Abstracts workshop and Alison also attended that workshop and brought back her finished piece to show to everyone. 
It was such a fun workshop that the group formed a “Painting Monday” challenge to motivate everyone to keep on painting! Katie will be back again teaching in 2017 and will teach her fabulous Fractured Landscapes class. Don’t miss it!
Here is the happy crew at the end of the week posing on the back steps of the inn. As you can see in the background, the beautiful Fall foliage of upstate New York was surrounding the class all week. 
Halloween fun was had on the final night’s dinner on Friday, even though it wasn’t officially Halloween until Saturday. Our staff joined in the fun. This is “Wilma Flintstone” setting the dinner table with ghost napkins. 
Sue will be back again in 2017!
The peonies will be gone in the Fall, but Katie will be back! She is returning in early December to teach her 
