Create & Be

Retreats

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,
according to His power that is at work within us,to Him be glory for ever and ever!

Experience His goodness. See His beauty. Rest in His Word.
Here’s your invitation to create alongside your Creator.

A Creative Dock

February 11-14, 2027 AND February 15-18, 2027
Lake LBJ near Austin, TX
$750 covers food, lodging and supplies; transportation not included

For my faithful Texas sojourners, I have a new place for you to retreat! Join me on Lake LBJ in a beautiful 5 bedroom, 5.5 bath, lakefront home complete with an infinity pool, hot tub, game room, and multi-level outdoor lounge areas. Weather permitting, we’ll move our creative time outdoors. Looking for a leisurely, lovely place to recharge? Dock with us by the lake and feed your creative soul. We’ll dig into God’s word and discover the Art of Being Human and what it means to be alive. We’ll exercise our creative muscles and expand our handmade art with little bits of everything: jewelry-making, mixed media, and slow-stitching. Stephanie Ackerman and Angela Chapman will be our guest teachers. There is no telling what this creative dock will launch you into! Bring your creative spirit and let God renew your soul. We are hosting TWO retreats at Lake LBJ and there are 18 spots available for each retreat.

The February 11-14 retreat is currently full, however, there are currently spots available for February 15-18.

Stitching by the Sea: Woven and Watercolored

March 10-13, 2027
Kiawah Island, South Carolina
$875 covers food, lodging and supplies; transportation not included
(additional $125 to add-on March 8-10)

Get ready to slow down and enjoy South Carolina in a beautiful, brand new beach house on Kiawah Island, a private luxury barrier island and golf resort. This house is literally being built as you read these words. Kiawah Island boasts 10 miles of Atlantic oceanfront and is a protected habitat for loggerhead sea turtles, bobcats, dolphins, and hundreds of bird species. We’ll savor and soak in the sea as we learn how to capture God’s handiwork in our own creations. W e’re going to explore how fabric can be our new “paper” as we combine mixed media, color, textiles, and lots of stitches! In conjunction with this, we’ll also learn how to make paper into more of a textile fabric. Get ready to expand your creative toolbox while delighting in God’s beautiful creation. Stephanie Ackerman will lead our creative time and Missi LeFave, local South Carolina creative soul resident, will help us capture our work in a special journal.

But wait, there’s more! 2027 will be my 7th year of hosting retreats by the Sea. Inspired by God’s intentional day of rest on His 7th day of creation, I am adding a sabbath-like experience prior to this retreat. Taking a cue from Genesis 1, my 7th year at the beach will include a wonderful mix of creativity, slowing down, and resting in the presence of our Maker. Being silent and still isn’t something we’re used to, but what better place than at the sea to experience a little extra time with God? From March 8-10, I will offer guided times of silence and solace with God followed by community time with one another. These two days of “Silence & Solitude at the Sea” are optional add-on days prior to our “Stitching by the Sea” retreat.

Retreat cost is $1,000 if you want to participate from March 8-13 OR $875 if you just want to attend March 10-13. These prices include all lodging, meals, drinks, creative supplies, resources and books. Transportation is not included, however, carpooling to and from the airport is usually discussed among the attendees. Sleeping arrangements in the house allow for 18 guests in either single or shared beds. The closest airport to the house is Charleston International Airport (CHS).

Merry Maker Sew-Along

July 15-18, 2027 AND July 19-22, 2027
Missouri Star Quilt Co. (Hamilton, Missouri)
$875 covers food and lodging; transportation not included

Stephanie Ackerman and I hosted two retreats Hamilton, Missouri in July of 2026 and they were fantastic! So we are going to run it back next summer to host TWO more retreats! If you missed the opportunity to come to Missouri this year, I hope you’ll get to come with us next summer. Why Hamilton?! This is the home of Missouri Star Quilt Co, also coined as Quilt Town USA for their 16+ themed fabric stores. It’s a dream experience for stitchers, sewers and fabric lovers. We will be staying one block from the Missouri Star Quilt Co. hub. Talk about a shopper’s dream come true!

Each participant will be asked to bring a sewing machine as we’ll be working on a couple of sewing projects. 2027 will be our third annual summer sewing camp experience. We’ve seen both beginning and advanced sewists make incredible things. Don’t be intimidated if you haven’t sewn very much. This is a great opportunity to learn, practice and get your feet wet. Our prior sewing camps have included making stockings, pajama pants, pillows, quilts, pouches and more! While you will need to bring your own sewing machine to this retreat, no sewing expertise is needed. We will start from the beginning and walk you through the process. Come sew along with us and create something beautiful! It’s incredible what comes from gathering in Quilt Town USA for just a few days!

Retreat cost is $875 and includes lodging, meals, drinks, and creative supplies. Transportation is not included, however, carpooling to and from the airport is usually discussed among the attendees. Sleeping arrangements in the house allow for 12 guests in either single or shared beds. The house is located one hour from Kansas City Airport (KCI).

The July 15-18 retreat is currently full, however, there are still spots available for the July 19-22 retreat.