Space Between 4 - Creative Practice!!

It's just around the corner!!

crisp mountain air.  golden leaves.  rip-roaring fires.  hot tubs.  i know, i know, it’s still the middle of the summer….. but  i’m starting to dream about these things and about all the fun that’s going to happen at the next space between retreat!! 

this year of “imagine” has prompted a plethora of new powerful PRACTICES to permeate my life (wow- that’s a lot of p’s!!).  there is sooooo much inspiration out there if you look for it, but it can become a little distracting and overwhelming in terms of translating it to actual creative output.  it’s easy to start something, try it a few times, get distracted by something else, try that, etc. etc.

i’m convinced that practices can have a profound effect on the creative life.  the way i am defining practices is like this:

something you do regularly to enhance creative and/or spiritual well-being and growth

examples of practices:

• engaging in  your creative pursuit
• (apart from an actual project)
• journaling
• meditation/prayer
• inspirational reading
• visualization
• soul collage
• shiva nata
• art journaling
• contemplative photography
• brain-storming
• yoga
• working with affirmations
• gratitude journaling
• accountability relationships
• blogging
• reading/writing poetry

we'll explore the ones we are interested in and learn from each other.  there will also be plenty of time for connecting, hiking, journaling, art-making and just hanging out together or alone.

i plan to teach contemplative photography and art journaling.  i know some of the participants will have things to share as well, so the retreat details will evolve as we get closer and i will post when i have new information.

i'm super excited (it's not getting old!).  the price is staying the same.  you can register HERE or with me directly.  just $100 will hold your spot.  if you register online, you need to pay the full amount.  there has been a lot of interest so don't wait too long!!

Who Should Attend??

i have been wanting to deal with this topic for a while.  because if you have never been to an art retreat, it can be a little intimidating and you may think you would not fit in.  or benefit from what is offered.  or have anything to contribute…. 

believe me, i have been there!  i have been there myself and i have also watched others who were pretty overwhelmed with the idea of coming together with a group of “strangers” and being expected to share.  and to actually produce something.  but we showed up anyway.  and let me tell you, i have watched some amazing transformations take place.  and that’s what drives me onward!

 

so maybe the retreats are not for everyone.  or maybe another retreat is a better fit for you.  after all, there are a lot of choices nowadays!  so i came up with this list to try to clarify who it is that could best benefit from the retreats that i am doing:

• 1.      women who feel they are hopelessly “not creative” (we will prove you wrong!), yet are drawn to the idea.

• 2.      women who feel that they may have some creative tendencies, but don’t know what they are.  (that was me a few years ago.)

• 3.      women who are already following a creative path, but are lacking direction or have some frustration with their journey or want to share their experiences with others in a safe environment.

 at the space between retreats, all activities are optional.  so if there is anything that makes you uncomfortable, well, go ahead and skip it!  or just watch.  the groups are small (10 or less).  the atmosphere is open, friendly, accepting and supportive.  you are encouraged to contribute something to the group (wide range of choices), but not required.

 skills are taught, but are not the entire focus of the retreat.  in the past, we have learned soul collage, yoga, mosaics, altered photos, mixed media, fabric baskets, shiva nata and foot massage. ideas for the future include art journaling, contemplative photography and meditation, as well as revisiting some of the above.   we have shared poetry, inspirational books, recipes and ideas.  nature is prominent in this setting and (optional) hikes in the state park,  national forest and lodge grounds are included.

 so…. there you have it.  the next retreat is tentatively scheduled for November 4-6.  in addition to the other activities, we will be taking a look at our creative journeys and share some of the practices that best help to move us forward.  please let me know if you have questions or would like to reserve a spot!!

What a Day!!! (Inner Gardening MIni-Retreat)

i could feel in my bones that it was going to be a wonderful day.  i never doubted that for a moment. could not have asked for more picture-perfect weather…  i was prepared (ok, maybe over-prepared!) but somehow the unfolding of the reality ALWAYS exceeds my expectations.  because it’s the connecting and sharing that happens throughout the day that create the MAGIC of the retreat.

(laura - thanks for taking this!)

 this was the first time i have done a one day mini-retreat.  the others have all been an entire long weekend so things can unfold gradually.  it’s a challenge to fit everything that i wanted to share into one day and, as it turned out, i had to cut a lot of it out.  but that’s totally ok!  because it’s not nearly so much about the material that’s presented as it is about the new ideas that are sparked and the interactions that take place.

 

 

it was also the first time i have co-hosted a retreat with a partner.  laura and i only met recently but quickly realized that we had similar dreams and ideas as far as bringing women together around a creative theme.  it was wonderful having someone to bounce ideas off from and to share in the responsibilities.  laura is an art teacher.  she led the group in an easy and fun mixed media project that produced some pretty amazing results. oh – and she makes a mean coffee cake too!

 robin did a brief yoga session with us that was just the right ingredient to set us up for our afternoon of art-making.

 here are a few more shots from the day…..

lunch on the terrace

playing in the children's music garden

hiking

yoga

art-making

kait matthews, vaf featured artist this month

reveling in the flowers!

in the end, it's the PEOPLE that make or break an event.... could not have asked for a better, warmer, wiser, wittier, or more wonderful group!!!

so now that we’ve got our “feet wet”, we are excited about doing it all again….. 

more details to follow!!

Inner Gardening Mini-Retreat!!

oh my goodness, i’m literally bursting with ideas over here. 

this event is going to be packed to the gills

with so much yumminess!!

The garden house will be our home base

 please join us on june 4^th in the gardens, where we’ll do art and so much more!!  we’ll dig deep into our creative soil.  we’ll do a little pruning and trimming, plant some new seeds, cultivate and nourish them and end up with some new insights and a lovely project to take back home with us!  

So many varieties of flowers!!

 our day together will begin with some openers and breathing exercises from a yoga instructor to put us right into our creative zones (oh, and coffee!)  we’ll explore our own creative journeys through illustrated presentations, questions and prompts, journaling and sharing. then, after some photo tips and prompts, we’ll wander the beautiful park trails with our cameras.

One of the hidden bench hide-aways

 after lunch, we’ll channel our thoughts for the day into in an expressive mixed media art project, share what we’ve learned (optional of course!) and leave refreshed and ready to ease back into our daily routines.  there will be many other surprises imbedded in the day.  i do hope you will join us!!  we are hoping that this is the first of many such days and we are offering a special price to get things rolling!

In the children's Music Garden

 there will be some discounts available: for bringing a friend, for helping with set-up 

and for my former retreaters.  please e-mail me with any questions.

Online registration now available!

Sinking In

it’s all over so quickly, but as i told my retreaters, little bits of goodness keep popping into my brain and letting me know that they are there to stay.  wanted to share a few of the special retreat moments:

• lying down on our backs on the deck gazing at the constellations
• discovering a lingering patch of snow and making snowballs 

• finding juicy tidbits in the books we brought to share
• navigating and holding out a hand to help each other across the many rain-swollen creeks

• sharing ideas of what true nourishment means to each of us
• coloring mandalas

• moments alone on top of the rocks with the sunrise - twice
• stumbling upon things i had never seen even though it was my third time there

• watching each person’s altered photos come out in such unique ways

 

• collaborating on a mosaic project and seeing the results
• seeing women who just met connect and engage in deep conversations

 

sigh.........