Isabella Fiske McFarlin (Ladybelle)
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ladybellevt.bsky.social
Isabella Fiske McFarlin (Ladybelle)
@ladybellevt.bsky.social
Writer, activist for kids and animals, co-sustainer of Quarry Hill Creative Center, Rochester, VT. QH is an almost 80- year old artists/writers/thinkers retreat, among other things. The photo is of me with my daughter Joya when she was little.
Oh yes, yes yes
September 25, 2025 at 3:47 PM
I’ll have to take a look at it
September 25, 2025 at 3:45 PM
I have no interest in reading about getting drunk and into fights and making it. I never was able to read it.
September 25, 2025 at 3:45 PM
You might want to do the first year or two for less time and work your way up
September 25, 2025 at 3:44 PM
There is also a community building with a kitchen and a big room and the bathrooms, and so on where people can cook and have get-togethers.
September 25, 2025 at 3:43 PM
You must have quite a big property. Make sure that the legal arrangements are clear. We went through a lawsuit in which people who had built cabins on the land and lived here for quite some time,, then claimed that they owned the land. It was extremely difficult for everyone.
September 25, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Yes, I live here. I was born over the mountain and Randolph, Vermont. I’ve been away for various adventures with friends and boyfriends.
Also, we had a place in Florida where we would go every winter. Sadly, no longer.
September 25, 2025 at 3:40 PM
At Quarry Hill we’ve always tried to have everybody who wants to stay, at this point we don’t have quite as much space to put them up so we have to be a little more selective I suppose.
Katie has one artist at a time for about two weeks. They are artists who are rising in the world to some extent.
September 25, 2025 at 3:38 PM
We charge money and have rentals and always have. At one time it was $10 a week, unless they were completely broken, we liked them and then we might let them stay longer in exchange for some work. Katie’s program is funded by donors.
September 25, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Dia, start small. Try not to have too many at once unless you have a staff to help you clean and cook, or artists will help you. And then I wouldn’t count on too much help. We’ve had all kinds of situations in the part of the place I deal with, Quarry Hill. Sometimes we ask people to leave.
September 25, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Except for the actual artists retreat, called the 8 th house, run by Katherina McCarty. They have dinners together, but the artists also cook for themselves.
September 25, 2025 at 3:29 PM
But of course, over the years, they have been in my hair , out of my hair and everywhere else
September 25, 2025 at 3:28 PM
They are not in my hair because I’m not running that part of things. Katie McCarty, who has worked for years in galleries in New York, runs the artist program and fellowship. I think it mostly goes around what the artists want to do, but Katie will take them around Vermont to see what’s happening.
September 25, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Try it and see how it goes. Adjust and try again. Where will you find those people?
September 25, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Some people have stayed here for over 30 years. Maybe 35 even. But you never know because the times they are changing.
September 25, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Just saw this now.
We’ve had all kinds of variations of interaction together, but at this time we have occasional potluck and otherwise people mostly eat at their own places .
September 25, 2025 at 3:25 PM
What book is it?
September 25, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Maybe you have to read it on the road.?
September 25, 2025 at 3:23 PM
I certainly wish you well with your desire to have an artist retreat. I urge you to have clear, sharp written agreements among the people who come to the place. It’s very important sometimes people get upset and lawsuits come along.
September 6, 2025 at 6:50 PM
But other than that, we don’t have a whole lot of rules and regulations except for parking and so on. And for the past five years The Eighth House, an artist fellowship, created by one of the women who grew up here, has been active and energetic on the place.
September 6, 2025 at 6:48 PM
We have always champion the individuals, freedom, independence, and ability, but we do not allow children or animals to be harmed. My father also insisted that there be no dishes in the sink!
September 6, 2025 at 6:47 PM