the makerie

Every once in a while, something happens to you that can only be described as magic. Yes, yes. It might seem strange to describe a crafty weekend in Boulder as 'magic', but it really, really was.

A couple of months ago, Karyn sent me an email about The Makerie. It seemed like the perfect getaway. Beautiful setting? Check. Crafty peeps? Check. Holy moly: there was even shoe making. We were lucky enough to find out that there was still space and promptly booked our tickets.

We took two classes, one for each day of the retreat. First up was shoe making with Jessica Hernandez. Jessican owns Joyfolie, and her shoes are utterly gorgeous--both the ones for women and children. Learning to make cute ballet flats from Jessica was lovely, and I can't wait to make more. Jessica was so open about owning a creative business and the things that she's learned, it was a sweet, refreshing touch. Such a fun class with a wonderful teacher and amazing people!

On Saturday, we took block printing with Lizzy House.  I'll admit that before meeting Lizzy, I was feeling a bit intimidated: I mean, we're talking about Lizzy House. She designed Castle Peeps, people, and is a brilliant artist. What an amazing thing to learn that she's down-to-earth, sweet, and kind.  Also, she has 8 million ideas and things to do in her head while at the same time being super focused. I'm so glad I learned to make block prints from Lizzy; I felt less terrified immediately. For someone who isn't an artist, can't draw, and is only marginally creative, I'm feeling pretty good about my print!

But what made the weekend so amazing was how I felt while there, and how I still feel. More than ever before, I felt connected to a community of truly brilliant people, to my friends, to my family, to myself. I thought frequently of my grandmother, a talented woman that I've only recently come to realize was an artist, too.  I wondered if she were still here if we would have gone together, or spent afternoons sewing and stitching and chatting the way I sometimes imagine we are when I'm in my sewing room. I wondered if my brother feels the way I did when carving my block print when he's drawing or painting or making music. I spent time hoping I could pass these skills to my niece, or maybe even my own children one day. I loved just being there, with my friend Karyn (who was the best retreat companion ever!), and my new friends Lizzy, Anne, the ladies from Fancy Tiger Craft, Ali, and all of the other wonderful women I met. It was a perfectly mushy weekend that I wouldn't have any other way.

So now I'm totally addicted to retreats, especially The Makerie. As Lizzy would say, it was the bomb dot com. Naturally, Karyn and I are already hatching plans to attend more.