MARRAKECH, MOROCCO
Contemporary Basket Weaving With Harriet Goodall
November 15 - 22, 2024
Marrakech has long been a favourite destination of ours, a city steeped in ancient artistry that continues to thrive, kept alive by the craftspeople of the souks and surrounding creative communities. This Ace Camp will offer you the opportunity to explore the techniques used in various forms of basket weaving. Within Marrakech, baskets serve both practical and decorative purposes, ranging from traditional bread baskets and storage containers to intricately woven works of art.
Harriet Goodall will be teaching an in-depth basket weaving workshop sharing her design process, material knowledge, and technical approaches to contemporary basket weaving. You will learn while exploring with different materials such as raffia, berber wool, reclaimed yarns, fabric, paper yarn and leather to build several pieces to take home.
Full Itinerary below. This workshop is open to all skill levels.
DATES
November 15 - 22, 2024 ∙ 8 Days, 7 Nights
PRICE
Twin Shared Room $4195 USD
Private Room $4895 USD
Full Rooming + Pricing Details Below
ALL PLACES ARE CURRENTLY FILLED, PLEASE REGISTER FOR THE WAITLIST FOR PRIORITY NOTIFICATION OF OPENINGS
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE
Contemporary Basket Weaving workshop with Harriet Goodall
Visit + Workshop with local women’s weaving cooperative
Basketry Supply kit
Souk Walking Tour
Dinner in the Agafay Desert
Moroccan Cooking Class
Transportation during included tours and meals
Airport Arrival Transfer on November 15
Travel + Learn with
Harriet Goodall
Harriet Goodall, a leading fibre sculptor and basket-maker, seamlessly integrates traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design, drawing inspiration from her upbringing on a large Australian sheep & wheat farm. Following a decade of diverse experiences, including charitable work, teaching, and extensive travel, she co-founded a fair trade textiles enterprise in South America, which sparked a passion for basketry and natural dyes. Her personal art practice reflects the symbiosis between landscape and human ecology, employing foraged natural materials and industrial metalwork techniques to craft textured, reflective pieces that prompt contemplation on identity and belonging. With over 15 years of international experience, Harriet has been a staunch advocate for cultural preservation and economic empowerment, collaborating with indigenous weavers to safeguard traditional practices.
Harriet's immersive basketry workshops offer participants the opportunity to engage in meditative, hands-on practices such as hand weaving, stitching, and looping using materials in context. Whether nestled in the Australian bush or exploring vibrant textile markets worldwide, these experiences foster creativity and human connections while nurturing a deep appreciation for traditional crafts and sustainable living. Through her groundbreaking online course, Harriet has inspired thousands to explore weaving techniques, seamlessly blending tradition with innovation and sending people down the rabbit hole of weaving and creating new obsessions.
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1
Welcome to Morocco! Guests arriving on November 15 will be met at the airport and transferred to our riad.
Take some time to settle in before we have a meet + greet welcome dinner with Harriet. Our riads are located within the historical medina and there is a lot to explore!
Day 2
This morning we venture out on a guided walking tour to explore the souk areas of the Medina, the spices, the dyeing of fibres, the people, all while observing colours, shapes + smells. We take inspiration to notice and document the various moments throughout this new landscape and discover the new ways it might inspire our creativity in an abstract sense.
After lunch we settle into a workshop with Harriet all about Cordage & Pom Pom Tassels. We will start our work together with a deep discussion around the history and nature and benefits of fibre crafts around the world while learning to spin hand-made naturally dyed raffia and yarns which Harriet will bring along. In this getting-to-know-each other class, we’ll also have some fun adding colourful pom pom tassels which seen throughout Moroccan fibre work and can be attached to make any basket more beautiful. Harriet will show you the trick of tassel making using Berber wool which can be extended to simple earrings or even contemporary wall hangings in the style of contemporary master Sheila Hicks.
Group dinner this evening at one of our favourite restaurants in the medina
Day 3
Today we have a full day session with Harriet, which will focus on Coiling with Berber Wool. In the morning we will pick up needles and use raffia dyed in classic colours of Morocco, reclaimed yarns and fabric to stitch baskets using coiling techniques. Harriet will show you a variety of stitches which are used globally to create woven bowls and vessels. We will learn the difference between Spiral Stitch, Buttonhole Stitch and Wrapped Core Baskets. You will begin by making a small vessel and possibly extend to making a tagine shaped lid.
This project is a perfect one for us stitch away together throughout the week. Harriet will bring attachments for you to turn your coils and tassels into earrings or show you how to make a simple pompom lid for your vessel. You can personalise your weavings by overstitching patterns or adding elements to embellish.
Dinner this evening we visit a design forward restaurant. Set on a nine-acre garden just outside Marrakech, this is a fairytale oasis overflowing with lush gardens, palm trees, tropical plants, and artisanal details.
Day 4
In your morning workshop with Harriet, you will learn about weaving with leather (or vegan leather). Morocco is famous for its leather work so in the next phase of the workshop, we’ll be using offcuts of vegetable tanned leather or recycled leather – you will learn ways to strip these offcuts to make leather yarn. (Paper yarn will be available as a vegan alternative). Harriet will demonstrate traditional -weaving and basketry techniques of twining and looping (For those who love to knit or crochet, feel free to bring your largest large needles to play with) and we will together be making openwork twined and looped leather vessels which can as an option be transformed into contemporary light shades. These can be squashed down to pack into your suitcases and Harriet will show you how to wet mold or harden them into full shapes again on your return home.
Later this afternoon you’ll experience a traditional Moroccan cooking class where you’ll learn to cook with a variety of local ingredients.
Day 5
Today we will run an open studio style workshop where you will continue working on your individual weaving projects in the riad - leather baskets, coiled vessels, platters, earrings, or with Harriet available to guide you through shaping and finishing and embellising techniques. Harriet will also bring attachments to make your tassels into earrings and show you how to suspend your leatherwork as lightshades for a photoshoot. We will keep working on these in our own time and at the end of the week have a small show and tell exhibition in the Riad before our final night celebration.
For dinner this evening we journey to the Agafay Desert where you’ll dine under candle light while the sun sets over a pastel landscape.
Day 6
This morning you have some free time to relax and explore on your own. We’ll meet up late morning and venture to the modern area of Marrakech for family style lunch at one of our favourite restaurants.
After lunch we will visit visit the studio and shop of a contemporary weaving + painting artist in Marrakech, who revises materials’ purpose and spontaneously combines elements to create uniquely designed pieces.
Dinner this evening is free time to explore the medina on your own or with others from the group.
Day 7
This morning we leave Marrakech and venture south to a smaller village where you will meet with a women’s weaving cooperative. You’ll be introduced to their artisan village followed by a hands on Palm Basketry Weaving Workshop. These women use traditional methods to make contemporary designs and products.
We’ll return to Marrakech early afternoon and the rest of the afternoon is free time to relax, shop and explore.
This evening we celebrate our final evening together with a farewell dinner at the riad.
Day 8
After breakfast this morning we pack our bags and say our farewells. Thank you for joining us on this incredible and often unexpected journey around the captivating city of Marrakech.
Nota Bene: this is a prospective itinerary. It is subject to modest modifications, some activities may be dependent on local weather, new opportunities, and the desires of the group.
Where We’re Staying
Nestled amongst the historical sights of the city, we have two boutique riads next door to one another which are located at the heart of the Mouassine district, just a 5-minute walk from the vibrant Jemaa El-Fnaa Square and two minutes from the Mouassine Mosque. They features a roof-top terrace with views of the Medina and a courtyard with a small plunge pool.
WHAT IS A RIAD?
A riad is traditional house in Morocco and is characterized by having an inner courtyard or a garden as the central element of the building. Following the Islamic idea of privacy and inward reflection, a riad doesn’t usually have large windows facing the outside. Instead, rooms will have windows facing the opened-ceiling inner courtyard and garden.
ROOMING OPTIONS
Please read below carefully and make your rooming selection on the booking page
Group Size: Minimum 8 guests and maximum 11 guests.
All Prices are in USD.
ALL PLACES ARE CURRENTLY FILLED, PLEASE REGISTER FOR THE WAITLIST FOR PRIORITY NOTIFICATION OF OPENINGS
OPTION 1 - TWIN SHARED ROOM PRICE
Room Notes: Shared rooms have two individual beds. You will share a room + bathroom with one other guest for the duration of the trip. The style and layout of every room is unique and may not be exactly as pictured.
The fee for this trip is $4195 per person, paid in two separate instalments.
Deposit due immediately to secure your place on the trip: $1995
Final Payment due July 16, 2024: $2200
OPTION 2 - PRIVATE ROOM PRICE
Room Notes: You will have a private room for the duration of the trip. The style and layout of every room is unique. Our group will stay in 2 small riads located next door to one another. If you are travelling with another guest please let us know and we will do our best to assign you rooms in the same riad.
The fee for this trip is $4895 per person, paid in two separate instalments.
Deposit due immediately to secure your place on the trip: $1995
Final Payment due July 16, 2024: $2900
Important Trip Notes + Details
WHO IS THIS TRIP FOR?
This trip is for the open minded and patient traveler. This is an immersive adventure and best suited for those who enjoy traveling as a part of a small group.
Morocco can be overwhelming for the first time traveler. It is not for the fearful traveler nor for the person who is not open to cultures, trying new foods, or a schedule which may go awry.
If you prefer a journey free of hassle and without being hectic - this may not be the Ace Camp for you.
CULINARY NOTES + RESTRICTIONS
We cannot guarantee to accommodate vegan, egg-free, dairy free or gluten free meals.
While we do our best to manage some dietary concerns with prior knowledge, during certain meals, local dishes may be served family style and will not be possible to modify ingredients.
Most Moroccan food is made of humble things: tomatoes, peppers, onions, pumpkin, olive oil, herbs, spices, eggs, honey, grains, couscous, legumes, fragrant waters. There are certain components essential to real Moroccan cooking: preserved lemons, preserved butter (called smen), olives pickled with aromatics, and vegetables preserved in brine or in raipe (a kind of yogurt in which milk is thickened by an element in the centers of wild artichokes). There are also the delicious preserved meat called khlea, yeast-raised breads, and the onionskin-like pastry leaves called warka used for bisteeya.
We cannot accommodate any dietary preferences if you do not advise us when you register.
Please contact us before registering if you have any questions or concerns.
WORKSHOP SUPPLIES
Most supplies will be provided on site in Morocco, however a few things you will need to bring from home, these will need to be transported in checked luggage but will not take up too much space.
ACCESSIBILITY
You should be comfortable walking or standing for extended periods. Excursions may include navigating uneven terrain such as hilly and cobblestoned streets and possibly a gravel/rough trail. Our hotel and workshop space have several sets of stairs and no elevators.
THIS ACE CAMP INCLUDES
Seven nights accommodations in Marrakech; transport during included tours.; private tour with local guide; exclusive hands-on workshops led by Harriet Goodall; Basketry Making Supply kit ; Marrakech Airport arrival transfer on November 15; seven breakfasts, four lunches and six dinners.
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
International roundtrip airfare; Personal Travel Insurance: We require all participants to have personal travel insurance that at minimum covers medical emergencies and cancellations; Alcoholic Drinks during included meals; activities and meals not included in the trip itinerary; hotel incidentals including room service, expenses during free time; laundry service and hotel bar tabs; food and beverages not included in itinerary.
COVID DISCLAIMER
While we strive to deliver all aspects of the included itinerary and specific accommodation, due to challenges some vendors may be facing, certain aspects of your Ace Camp may be changed according to the situation beyond our control. In the small chance this does occur, we will work to offer comparable accommodations and/or activities when possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Individuals will be responsible for ensuring they are able to travel to the destination selected. Countries have various Covid-19 related entry requirements including but not limited to: providing proof you are fully vaccinated, taking a test before entry and after entry etc. You should be prepared to meet all necessary entry requirements. This may also include wearing masks in all public settings.
Ace Camps Inc. will not be responsible for refunding any lost trip funds if you have to miss your scheduled trip as you cannot meet the requirements provided by the country you are visiting.
Please read our full COVID-19 Policies + FAQ’s HERE
WEATHER
Days are usually sunny and hot with balmy evenings, guests should pack light and breezy clothing. The average daily temperature during the month of November hovers around 25 degrees Celsius. This includes a potential low of 20 degrees Celsius at night, and a high of up to 30 degrees Celsius. * Please note that should the weather prove challenging some excursions may be altered from the posted itinerary.
ACE CAMPS TOUR MANAGER
An Ace Camps Tour Manager is a part of your group and is there to look out for your safety, to help resolve issues, and to make sure you get what you want from your trip. Your Tour Manager is not a local guide but will work with all local vendors and partners to insure the right combination of pace, information, and duration.
TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
Ace Camps will email you when it is time to make your travel arrangements. This email will be sent 90 days or more before your trip departs unless you book within 90 prior to the camp. We will also be sending you an Ace Camps Travel preparation document prior to your trip. It will include a detailed itinerary, arrival and departure information, a suggested packing list, useful country information and more.
WHERE DOES THIS TRIP START + FINISH?
This trip starts and finishes in Marrakech, Morocco.
The closest airport is Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK), which is serviced by international + domestic airlines.
BOOKING TERMS + CANCELLATION POLICY
You may cancel on or before July 16, 2024 and receive a full refund minus a $1000 USD per-person admin fee. If you cancel on or after July 17, 2024 there is a 100% cancellation fee and all funds paid are non-refundable.
Please ensure you read through our full Booking Terms + Cancellation Policy.
QUESTIONS + FAQ’S
If you have any further questions about this Ace Camp please feel free to contact us.
You can also read more FAQ’s here.