Purple Apple Arts

BeadWork, Classes and Retreats by Sue Swanson

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Schedule for Winter 2010

 

The Journey Expo

Holistic and Spiritual – Organic and Natural Products

Hutchinson McLeod County Fairgrounds

Saturday February 27 10-6    and Sunday February 28 10-4, 2010

Admission is Food Shelf Donation or $5 at the door

I will be selling prayer beads and jewelry

 

North High School Spring Craft Fair

North High – 2415 11th Ave. S. – North St. Paul (enter by Polar arena)

Saturday March 6, 2010 9:00 to 3:00 p.m.

I will be selling prayer beads and jewelry

 

 “Jesus is My Rock” Labyrinth Retreat

Christ Episcopal Church, Woodbury, MN

Palm Sunday

Sunday, March 28, 2010   5:00-8:00 p.m.

Please register by Wed. March 24 by calling Sue at 651-738-7441

For all adults, teens and children down to 8 years of age.

Child care provided for younger children.

5:00 Simple Soup Supper

5:30 Child care for children age 7 and younger.

6:00 Presentation and reflection led by Sue Swanson, M.Div.

You are invited to an evening of reflections about the labyrinth. This is designed to be a quiet evening to reflect on your personal journey with Jesus through Holy Week. The labyrinth is an ancient symbol that represents wholeness. It is used as a tool for problem solving, stress relief and healing. In the middle ages, Christians walked the labyrinth to symbolize a journey to Jerusalem. This Year Sue has created a special experience with the use of rocks & prayer.

 

The Women and Spirituality Conference at Minnesota State University in Mankato will be October 23-24, 2010

 

Celebrate Art! Will be open in Rosedale Center again during the months of November and December 2010.

 

Note: these are my public dates. If you wish to schedule a class or retreat for your private group, please call or email me at swansonmn@comcast.net.

Thanks! Sue

 


Custom orders are welcome. Just call me for details. I offer discounts for volume orders.
Normally, orders take about one week to complete.
 
DESCRIPTION OF RETREATS, CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS
At this time I do not have any classes that are open to the public. All of my events are for private groups. As always, I am available for workshops and retreats for individual groups.
 

SPIRIT OF KNITTING: Come and knit and listen to stories about knitting as a communal activity that has been shared by circles of women throughout the ages. We will be making a spirit bag necklace that combines yarns from each participant. It will be a restful retreat day with times of silence joined with conversation, gentle relaxation exercises and good company. All skills levels are welcome – all you need to know is the basic knit stitch. The Spirit Bag is easy to learn and fun to do. The bag is just the right size to hold your scissors, stitch markers and knitting notions.
Bring a pair of straight size 10 knitting needles and one ball of yarn in a color that reflects your spirit. (Any kind of plain, regular weight yarn will do.) You may also bring a knitting project of your own to work on. 
          

Finger Labyrinths - The labyrinth is an ancient symbol that represents wholeness. It is used as a tool for problem solving, stress relief and healing. In this class the students will learn about various labyrinth designs and the history of labyrinths around the world. We will draw, color and embellish a finger labyrinth and discuss its many uses.

Clay Blessing Bowls - Creating Simplicity – Deciding to live a simpler life can be a counter-cultural choice in a world dominated by materialism, individualism and growthism. We will make clay blessing bowls and use them in an anointing ritual. The bowl reminds us of the begging bowls that monks carried. Each day people in the community would fill up their empty bowls and in return the monks would teach them lessons. We can visualize ourselves as vessels abundantly filled with spiritual and material wealth. Our choices of how we use what we are given affect the world in which we live. We invite the sacred into our lives through decluttering, centering prayer and time management.

The Four Elements:Take a Breath – the Holy Spirit as inspiration, The Transforming Power of Fire – Sharing our stories of turning points in our lives and affirming our personal spiritual journeys, Walking the Labyrinth, Honoring the Earth – the importance of movement and prayer in balancing mind, body and spirit, Reflections on Water – The stories of three biblical women beside the water lead us to an understanding of our own past, present and future and the power of expanding our Now.

Women’s Ways of Worship – exploring the methods and practices that expand women’s worship experience and nourish our relationship with the sacred. Topics include art, movement, prayer, silence, chant, storytelling, feminist theology and ritual.

Concerning Prayer – an exploration of traditional and authentic Christian methods of praying including Lectio Divina, Icons, Centering Prayer, Prayer Beads, Labyrinth, Taize and Examin.


Prayer Bead Classes - The word bead comes from the middle English word bede, which means to pray. Participants will learn to use beads as an art medium as well as a meditation tool. 
 

Circle of Love – This is the introduction to using beads to deepen our prayer experience. The group will begin with a prayer service using pre-made Circle of Love Meditation Bracelets. I will give an overview of the history and use of prayer beads. Then, each person will have the opportunity to make a  circle of love bracelet using a wide selection of Czech glass and semi-precious stones. We will discuss the design that each person chose and how he or she plans to use their bracelet. Then close with a worship time to bless the bracelets.

 
 

Coming Home to Healing – Learn how to make your home a peaceful  sanctuary that nourishes your body, mind and spirit while also being a place to welcome guests with hospitality and grace. Using ritual, discussion and art we will learn how to envision our home as a sacred space. We will set goals for building an environment that reflects our true self. We will look at the history and lore of creating altars within the home and then make a collage of colors, pictures and words to translate our dreams into action. We will also make a set of Home Blessing beads and begin to write a House Blessing or a Welcome Home Blessing.
Gratitude Beads – In this class we will make set of gratitude beads. They are used for counting blessings, affirmations, hopes and dreams. The beads are strung so that when you pull a bead it leaves a space to mark your place.

Beaded Blessings – Participants will make two palm-sized prayer packets, one to keep

and one to send to a traveling exhibition. Each packet contains a hidden prayer.

I always customize my classes and retreats to meet the specific needs of your group.
Classes normally are 2 hours but easily can accommodate other timeframes. I also present keynote addresses and overnight retreats. I look forward to planning a future event with you!

Blessings, Sue