Madrona 2010 is our 11th Winter Retreat and the years keep rolling by!You have been so generous and supported us over all these years and we love setting the stage for you to come and make Madrona the event that you love. We will never tire of hearing you say, "I am so glad to be here." If truth be told, Cornie and I may set the stage but it is you who bring it to life. And it is what you bring that makes us want to return each year with you!

This year we want to bring your attention to the United Nations International Year of Natural Fibres. We are delighted to participate and to welcome LINDA CORTRIGHT, publisher, editor and fiber adventurer extraordinaire from Wild Fibers Magazine as our special guest. Linda will share her travels throughout the world in search of fiber at the Saturday evening banquet. And we join Linda on the global mission to ensure a sustainable natural fiber industry for the future. The awful truth is that synthetics have undermined the natural animal and plant fibers of the world and with it, the livelihood and food of many peoples worldwide. Go to www.keepthefleece.org to find out how you can help in partnership with Heifer International. Thursday evening you will enjoy screenings of the fiber industry's most fascinating documentaries. Keep the Fleece has also spawned scarf teams raising funds for Heifer International by knitting the world's longest scarf ever made from natural fibers. One team is sponsored by "Handknit Heroes" and STEPHANIE BRYANT, creator of the first graphic novel for knitters, will be at Madrona to provide the inside scoop on the "Heroes". Madrona is really happy to be able to participate in this very important UN global initiative.

Did you get to the Sock Summit? We did and what a fabulous legendary event it was! We are thrilled that those Wizards of the Sock Summit will be back at Madrona following the yellow brick road to Tacoma. TINA NEWTON will be holding court with her Socks that Rock in the Market and STEPHANIE PEARL-MCPHEE will be teaching savvy speed knitters and hosting her own reality show, "Stump Steph: Knitting Unscripted" as well as turning up "who knows where else!"

We are thrilled to welcome to Madrona, JANE SLICER-SMITH from Australia. Jane has just published her book "Swing, Swagger, Drape" and I had the good fortune to see her trunk show of designs at Great Yarns in Everett. I was fascinated by the way Jane uses technique, texture, design and color. She will show you how to do it and has created a class just for Madrona students using a variety of unusual textured stitches in combination. You won't want to miss her take on intarsia design or the use of mitres in sock knitting. Jane was trained in the UK, settled in Australia, designed for the largest importer of British Wools in Japan, developed her own line of Signatur designs and yarns and taught around the world.

ELISE DUVEKOT's book "Knit One Below" has taken knitting by storm. And we are delighted to welcome Elise to Madrona all the way from The Netherlands. K1b is one of the truly new techniques in creating colorful and unique knitted fabric. Color and pattern is the name of the game and the range of designs that can be created from gossamer fabric to heavy ribbed garments are endless. Elise's classes at Madrona will get you started and you can then let your imagination go! Not to be missed is her Columns of Cables and Columns of Color classes and k1b Socks!

The fiber arts world is just teeming with new and creative work and it has been very hard to pick and choose what to present to you this year. You'll see some of the traditional tried and true along with the new from some of the most creative fiber artists. The adventure begins here!

Color is everywhere this year. MARY SCOTT HUFF has designed a signature neck warmer using color and steeks as a design technique exclusively to teach Madrona students. Mary's new book "The New Stranded Colorwork: Techniques and Patterns for Vibrant Knitwear" has just been published by Interweave Press. JANINE BAJUS, who creates her own inspired and colorful Fair Isle sweaters will combine color basics with pattern design in a class that has you creating your own Fair Isle yoke. CHARLENE SCHURCH returns after several years with a new approach at Color Strategies for Knitting. We'll also explore Komi Knitting patterns from Russia and fancy heel flaps for our socks. Charlene wrote the book on Komi Knitting Patterns and the Sensational Socks series. MARGARET RADCLIFFE returns to Madrona having published "The Essential Guide to Color Knitting Techniques" the most comprehensive compilation of color techniques and patterns ever in one place. Margaret will be teaching some of these to you from Helix Knitting and Embellishing with Color to "Seaming without Sewing: 9 ways to perfectly join your knitting without sewing a single stitch!" Now that is something I want to learn! If there is anyone who knows about using lots of color and creating unusual knit surfaces, it's KATHRYN ALEXANDER. We are delighted to welcome Kathryn back to Madrona. She'll be spinning energized singles, show you how to use energized yarns to make unique knit surfaces, and there will be some entrelac color and design too.

ANITA LUVERA MAYER is one of the most creative fiber artists I know using all sorts of mediums for inspired surface design. Here is a chance to let your imagination go with Anita's classes in creating unique fabrics and garment design with "No-rules Knitting". ILISHA HELFMAN, Jazzknitter, has developed a new way to use the inherent qualities of hand dyed yarn to knit beautiful natural forms. Ilisha, a knitter for 40 years, has shown her knitted collages in galleries in NYC and Portland and is featured in the recent book "Knitting Art". Unlike freeform knitting, Jazzknitting is a considered and structured approach, though liberating as there are no patterns to follow or stitches to count. You will want to discover the potential that lies in Jazzknitting. BETSY HERSHBERG, a long time knitter who fell in love with beads, is another extraordinary artist who has taken her knitting into a new direction--knitted beaded jewelry. Betsy will introduce you to her knitted beaded art and you can take off into your own designs whether it is jewelry or "Mosaic Knitting with Beads for Dessert!"

It is a real pleasure to welcome KAYE COLLINS back to Madrona. Kaye is a master knitter and spinner. She has visited Peru and studied Andean knitting and spinning over the years and one of her most popular classes is Andean Knitting. She will teach this class again at Madrona and will also introduce you to Andean spindle spinning and spinning Alpaca. Kaye will be our featured speaker Friday evening before the Teachers' Gallery and will take us to the Andes of Peru where we will experience the knitting, spinning, and weaving of the fabulous alpaca fiber in villages supported by the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco. Kaye's handspun alpaca knitted poncho with Andean punta edging is one of the patterns featured in the "New Handspun Handknit" book from Interweave Press.

What would be more appropriate to celebrate the International Year of Natural Fibers than to take spinning fibers back to the basics -- to the sheep! And who better to do that than much loved JUDITH MACKENZIE MCCUIN. Judith wrote the instant best seller "The Intentional Spinner" published this year by Interweave Press. She will teach two class sections called "Beautiful Sheep: the Pleasures of Spinning a Fleece" focused first on the luster long wools and second on the down breeds. And to make sure you keep your wheel in top shape, she will teach her class "Popular Wheel Mechanics". JACEY BOGGS has the hottest DVD in spinning..."Sit and Spin: the Spinner's Guide to creating Smart, Sturdy, Outrageous Art Yarns"...it's got to be #1 on every spinner's list. We welcome Jacey to Madrona for the first time and she will take us all on a rollercoaster ride through coils, loops, cocoons, beehives, twists, knots, halos and ominous foreign objects! Many of you know JILL LASKI as the owner of Ashland Bay Trading Company and spun or knit her fibers and yarns. Jill is a master at blending colors and fibers. She will be teaching the ABC's of Color Blending using a drum carder and also creating yarns using various color blending techniques. AMELIA GARRIPOLI, the wizard of spindle spinning, will again expand your spindle skill-set...there must be a way to be more productive and Amelia will show you. Amelia will also offer Exotic Fiber Spindling for those ready to move on to those fine luscious fibers like alpaca, cashmere, camel and yak.

SYNE MITCHELL has a dedicated following who can't wait to see what she will try on the rigid heddle loom next. Those who missed out on being introduced to rigid heddle weaving last year...well here's another chance. And those who want the next step...how about Woven Shibori...dyeing what you weave! Syne will be here to walk you through all the steps!

Tired of your hand knit garments not living up to your expectations? We've got some answers! JEAN WONG returns with her very popular Japanese Tailored Knitting and Fine Finishing classes. These will show you how to fit and finish your garments professionally. CATHERINE LOWE returns and this year and will teach her couture techniques for construction and finishing. GLORIA TRACY has more enthusiasm than anyone I know and it is catching! She has developed a step-by-step process to make your own schematic so every pattern from now on will fit YOU!

Remember those argyle socks of the 50's and early 60's? I sure do. Well they are back and created anew and oh so retro. ANNE BERK will be teaching you the whys and wherefors and how to do them just like yesteryear. Skirts have become so fashionable and CAROL LANSINGER is back with "A Skirt for You: the Long and Short of It". The centuries old Japanese braiding technique, Kumihimo, produces delicate braids and hardy cords of many patterns, shapes, colors and texture. If you don't have Samurai armor to lace together you can use them as unique necklaces, trim for knitted garments, or even handles. LINDA GETTMANN will teach you using yarns and beads you already have in your stash--the sky's the limit!

What would Madrona be without lace. You will be able to hone your lace knitting skills with lace designer, SIVIA HARDING, incorporating beads into your lace along with a knit-as-you-go edging. We are delighted that EVELYN CLARK, author of the favorite "Knitting Lace Triangles", returns to Madrona this time to take you on a journey into the tradition of Icelandic lace shawls. You'll look at the characteristics of wool from Icelandic sheep, review lace knitting and charting techniques and start your own small shawl that can grow into a large one later if you like.

And if all this makes your muscles stiff, your shoulders sag, and your back ache, then CARSON DEMERS, PT and ergonomics specialist will teach you techniques to keep your body healthy and knitting and spinning happily ever after.

Informal gatherings and hanging out is part of the Madrona fun and tradition. Even if you don't take a class, come and enjoy the Market, demonstrations, evening events and knit and spin with old and new friends. DANIEL HERRERA will again be available for problem solving of all kinds in the Rotunda. And this year, we are offering "Mini's" for those of you who find you can come at the last minute, didn't get all the classes you wanted in regular registration, or just want an introduction to a new skill or technique. In January we'll announce the Mini Sessions--each an hour and a half in length--and registration will open for them the end of January.

Cornie and I can't wait to join you again at Madrona in February!