Tea Stories with Ruby Silvious April 17 - 19, 2026
Black Cat Farm | Boulder, CO
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Welcome Pages 4 - 5
Venue Pages 6 - 7
Materials Pages 8 - 11
Daily Schedules Pages 12 - 15
Inspiration Pages 16 - 17
Notes Pages 18 - 21
Boulder Local Favorites Pages 22 - 23
Our Team Pages 24 - 25
The Warmest Welcome!
We’re so excited to gather with you in April to ignite our imaginations as to what a canvas can be with masterful artist Ruby Silvious. We can’t wait to share cozy, joy-filled days at Black Cat Farm—surrounded by the arrival of spring and the rhythms of farm life.
Something special happens when we work with our hands. We find a slower pace, feel our feet on the ground, and begin to notice little things we might otherwise overlook. Creating works of art on a humble tea bag invites us to pay attention, to play, and find meaning in unexpected places. This retreat is designed to do just that. To make (imperfect!) things, to try something new, and to share the experience with a wonderful, supportive community. Creative energy is contagious!
Inside this Retreat Booklet you’ll find everything you need to get ready for our time together. We’re always here for your questions or special requests, and we’ll do our very best to make them happen for you. We have just one ask of you, and that’s to leave the most important thing behind: your expectations. When we show up to an experience with a blank slate and beginner’s mind, without a preconceived idea for how it will be or how we’ll feel, we create space for delight, surprise, and maybe even a bit of magic to unfold.
Every retreat is its own unique experience, bringing together a beautiful mix of returning participants and brand new friends joining our Makerie family. The creative community we build together is one of the most cherished parts of it all, and we already can’t wait to create this with you and our own two hands.
We’re so happy you’re coming.
Ali, Eric & Jill
Venue
Black Cat Farm 9889 N 51st St Longmont, CO 80503
Parking
As you turn onto 51st Street, drive past the farm entrance and you will see the parking area on your left.
Take Home Kit Materials
Materials we’ll provide for you to keep
Tea Bag Canvases
Vintage Zinc Frame
Mini Suitcase
Winsor & Newton Watercolor Set
Ruby’s Favorite Fine Paintbrush
Uhu Glue
Vintage Wooden Spool
Signed Copy of Ruby’s Book Reclaimed Canvas
Shared Workshop Materials
Materials we’ll provide to use during the retreat
Scissors
Sketch Paper
Pencils
Erasers
Extra paintbrushes
Watercolor Paper
TWG Tea for Muslin Bags to Sew On
Student-Supplied Materials
Materials for you to bring
Reading Glasses or Magnifiers *if you wear them
Images of Your Favorite Mugs and Shirts
Journal for Sketching & Note Taking *optional Your Wonderful Imagination!
Friday, April 17th
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
Welcome Tea & Morning Snack
9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Introduction
All About Tea Bags; Painting Exercises
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Farm-to-Table Lunch
1:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Tea Cup Painting; Framing
3:15 PM
Afternoon Snack 4:00 PM
Session Ending
4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Open Studio
Saturday, April 18th
9:00 AM
Morning Tea
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Gentle Body Movement & Breathing with Caitlin
9:30 AM
Morning Snack
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Tea Shirt Concertina Book Demo & Sketching Ideas
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Farm-to-Table Lunch
1:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Painting Tea Shirts & Creating Concertina Books
3:30 PM
Afternoon Snack
4:00 PM - 6:15 PM
Open Studio 6:15 PM
Black Cat Farmstead Dinner
Sunday, April 19th
9:00 AM
Morning Tea & Snack
9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Short Demo of Flower Pen Illustrations on Tea Bags:
Flower Sketching & Painting
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Farm-to-Table Lunch
1:30 PM - 3:10 PM
Glue Tea Bags Together to Create the Vintage Spool Hanging Display
3:10 PM - 3:30 PM
Student Sharing, Wrap Up & Farewells
3:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Open Studio
*schedule subject to slight changes
Notes
Farm Life, Dress and Comfy Shoes, Gates and Doors
What a treat to be on a working farm! Depending on the weather, (which can be very unpredictable in Colorado) we may work and play outside so please plan to bring appropriate clothing for various conditions to keep you cozy and comfortable - warm hats, sun hats, jackets, scarves, fingerless mittens, etc. Wear comfortable shoes for walking around the farm, where there will be uneven surfaces and potential muddy spots. This is definitely a ‘no-heel’ zone. Being on a working farm, please be thoughtful about closing gates and doors you encounter. Thank you in advance.
Open Studio Time
Each of our retreat days, you are welcome to cozy up in the barn or your favorite farm spot to continue your creative work. There will not be an instructor present so this quiet time will be yours. Check our schedule for times.
Farm Dinner Notes
For those of you joining us for dinner on Saturday night, the evening begins at 6:15 pm on Saturday evening. The dress is comfy and casual. Please note that other guests with reservations will be dining at the farm on the Friday and Saturday nights, but our group will be seated together. The barn/workshop space is reserved exclusively for us throughout the retreat.
Cell Phone Usage
We encourage you to use your phones as little as possible during workshop time so you can immerse yourself in the experience and be present to the learning. If you do bring your phone into the workshop place, please put it on silent mode and step out of the room when you need to make a phone call during class time.
Photography Release
We might have a photographer capturing parts of the weekend. Some of these images may appear in print publications, promotional videos, or other marketing purposes. If you opted out of being photographed during the registration process, please make sure to remind us upon arrival so we know not to include you in images or video footage. Thank you!
Social Media Sharing
If you share this experience on instagram, please tag our team at @themakerie, @blackcatboulder, @caitlinrosekenney and @la__filature so we can celebrate what you’re posting.
