Create & Be

Sewing Camp 101

August 29-September 1, 2025 | Waxahachie, TX

Do you have a sewing machine that you never use? Are you waiting for someone to help you get started? We’re here to help! Join Stephanie Ackerman and I for Sewing Camp 101. Whether you’re a new or expert sewer, you’ll have lots of time to exercise your sewing muscles at our Sewing Camp 101 retreat! We’ll review basic sewing tips (like getting your machine set up, threading a needle, loading a bobbin, choosing a stitch) and move from sewing smaller to larger projects as the weekend progresses. We’ll have 3 big projects to complete, including sewing pillows, pants and zipper pouches, but you may also work on your own project.

Each retreater will get a 10 foot table to work on and should bring their own sewing machine.

sea of grace retreat

February 14-17, 2025 | Galveston, TX | Bible Journaling, Fabric Edition

This retreat is exactly what the title says. Bible Journaling, Fabric Edition! We’re going to dive into Scripture, learn how to unpack and dissect it with bible verse mapping. Following this, we’ll creatively process what we have read and document what we’ve learned using fabric, textiles and thread. When I read a passage in the Bible, I love to creatively process it. It is so helpful to associate words with visual images, art and even an artistic style. Both the art process and the resulting art are part of how we can unpack, meditate and understand God’s Word better. If you’re familiar with bible journaling, just think, fabric is your new paper! All participants will receive a bible scripture journal in addition to a fabric journal. You’ll walk away with new tools and ways to document your faith. No prior experience with bible journaling or stitching required.

sea of grace retreat

January 17-20, 2025 | Galveston, TX | Mended

I was inspired to give this retreat the theme of “Mended.” The concept of mending and being mended is both a fitting creative and spiritual reflection for the start of the 2025 year. Our creative sessions will focus on taking fabric scraps, discarded clothing and accessories that we’ve long since given up on, and infusing new purpose and life into them. You’ll be asked to gather textiles from your homes, closets, local thrift stores, clearance aisles, etc. and bring them on retreat. How does something go from ugly, untreasured and unwanted to beautiful, treasured and desired? More on that later! As we create together, I’m praying that God would teach and show us how He is continually in the transformation business. Creating and mending are His trademarks.

Projects Half Done (PHD) Retreat

November 7-10, 2024 | Whatever Craft House | Holiday Stay & Play

We were inspired to create PHD (Projects Half Done) Retreats because a lot sits undone and unattended in our lives and perhaps the most important things are what we don’t make time for. So, we want to flip the script. Our PHD retreats won’t be about learning something new from a teacher. They’ll be about working on things we already know we need to work on.

We want to make time for people to catch up on life…. .. in every sense. We need time to catch up on projects that are half done. So you’ll be invited to B.Y.O.P. (Bring Your Own Project). We need time to catch up with one another. So we’re going to spend time making memories together. And most of all, we need time to be still and catch up with God. Imagine what could happen if we gave God room to speak and work in our life. Simply put, our goal will be to connect with one another and with God a little more deeply.

For our PHD retreat, we’re opening a weekend at the craft house for WHATEVER you want to work on…. do you have a holiday project or holiday DIY gift you want to work on? This will be a great opportunity to check off your PHD (Projects Half Done), or begin a project you’ve wanted to start, or just do nothing and BE. We’ll enjoy an inspired weekend of being together, doing creative work and resting! Food, lodging, time with God, fun surprises, and great company guaranteed! We’re keeping things simple and the cost low. So make plans to stop what you’re doing and come away with us. It’s going to be a delightfully creative time.

And {SPOILER ALERT} there is nothing better than spending time with the creative soul community!

Bible journaling retreat

April 26-29, 2024 | Wimberley, Texas | Creating in Sacred Places

Some people are visual learners and some are auditory learners, but have you considered yourself a creative processor? Sometimes learning and remembering is best done by creating. Let God’s Word come alive to you in a new way. There’s something about processing God’s word, what He teaches us, what we are experiencing in a creative manner. Visual creative processing is tactile, full of dimension, and so insightful. Connecting art and tactile things to Scripture helps us to visualize and remember God’s Word. If you’re worried that you don’t have any artistic skills, have no fear! You will learn a bible journaling process that takes into mind the non-artist, but creative-loving soul. After reading a passage of Scripture together, we will dive into an artist, an art process, and art medium that helps to express, reiterate and illustrate the passage of scripture we just read. Inspired by Psalm 150, let your creativity speak of what the Lord has done. Let everything that has breath, praise the Lord!

Joining me on this retreat is my friend, Dawn Kelly. Dawn loves to schedule God dates and tries to spend time with the Lord each morning reading the Word, bible journaling, taking notes, and stitching and praying. Drawn to color, texture and layers, she is passionate about having a “sacred place” to create and has transformed many vintage books into journals. Dawn was a featured Illustrated Faith devotional author and vision caster and is currently working on the Kelly Bangs’ Illustrated Faith team.

Beach retreat

October 6-9, 2023 | Galveston, Texas | Document Your Praise

Our time together will be about giving thanks to God. It will be a great kickstart to the Thanksgiving and Advent season. Creative soul coach and my dear friend, Stephanie Ackerman (@stephanieackerman1), will be with us on this retreat. She is such a talented and creative slow-stitcher and her work is absolutely inspiring. As Stephanie always encourages, we will “use what we have” and dive into textile art as a form of meditation, worship and praise to God. Inspired by Psalm 150, let your creativity speak of what the Lord has done. Let everything that has breath, praise the Lord!

Hill Country retreat

September 1-3, 2023 | Wimberley, Texas | Sabbath Keeping

Over the Labor Day weekend we’ll take time to reconnect with what it means to take a Sabbath. We’ll rest and relax in God’s care for us. Finding time to stop from our work and participate in activities that nurture peace, worship, relationships, celebration and thankfulness. Getting away from our long to-do lists, relentless activity, ongoing work and household responsibilities will help us to experience God’s grace in a new way. We’ll make new things, new friends, and new discoveries.

We will spend time shopping at Wimberley Market Day and enjoy creative time stitching fabric and learning how to punch needle with Jenn McGlon from Noodle and Lou. Jenn is a self taught artist with a passion for all things vintage. She creates mixed media pieces, paintings, illustrations, fiber art and a charming collection of clay sculptures and dolls. Teaching in her hometown of Waco, Texas and across the U.S., Jenn has been able to encourage and inspire women to remember the artist inside and to always be curious and play. It is her greatest joy to have the opportunity to share her art and passion.

Beach retreat

April 27-30, 2023 | Galveston, Texas | Designed by Choice

Sea of Grace is ready to embrace you! This is an incredible venue, a gorgeous, ocean front home that is steps away from the beach. I am grateful to be partnering with Stephanie Ackerman again for this retreat. We will be diving into ways we can document our lives–our prayers, our hopes, the beautiful, the messy, our everyday things through mixed media integrating paper, fabric, photos and more in a documented life journal. Just as YOU were designed by choice, you’ll also learn to curate and exercise your own designs by choice. Who are you as a Creative being? There is so much we can learn as we walk in our Creator’s footsteps…. both about God and about ourselves.

Beach retreat

January 13-16, 2023 | Galveston, Texas | Daily 5: Eat, Move, Rest, Pray, Create

We make life pretty complicated sometimes. It’s time for us to return back to the basics. Five simple daily practices can help our soul. This creative faith retreat isn’t about making new resolutions. It’s about returning back to what is truly essential in life. It’s simple. We’re gathering at the Sea of Grace to make time for what is important. Want to join me?

During this retreat, we’ll cook, take long walks on the beach, talk and share, pray for one another, be still, reflect, and create…. we’ll make new things, new friends, new discoveries, but above all, we’ll tend to our creative soul. God has a purpose and a plan for your life. He wants to tell you something amidst the crashing waves. Cease striving and know that I am God. But… how do we even begin to really know God? When we surrender and become still, He will make Himself known.

Round Top retreat

September 2-5, 2022 | Round Top, Texas | Meet the Maker

God has made you in His image . . . you are a creator and maker too, even if you don’t consider yourself one. Join us for a creative faith retreat to unwind, be still, and learn more about your creative soul. During the retreat we’ll enjoy several creative art sessions working with textiles and mixed media elements, including painting a floral canvas with artist, Stacy Spangler. There will also be time for meditation, reflection and listening. Learn and practice Lectio Divina, a contemplative way of reading the Bible dating back to the early centuries of the Church. Let your heart and soul be taught by the Maker in our midst.

Beach retreat

January 14-17, 2022 | Galveston, Texas | Stitch, Pray… and Repeat

Come to the Sea of Grace. Develop a habit of prayer. Break your cycle of worry and action with stillness and surrender. Together, we’ll learn to slow our pace down while picking up the art form of slow stitching. We’ll put together a fabric prayer journal and stitch and pray what is on our hearts. We will learn to pray for ourselves and our loved ones. There is no prior art or stitching experience required. All supplies will be provided. New techniques and ways to integrate mixed media and textiles into your fabric journal will be introduced. You’ll learn fun techniques such as adding color to your fabric. making your own fabric washi tape, using stamps for your stitching, creating your own felt applique and slashing fabric… to name a few. Guest teachers include Stephanie Ackerman and Jean Pennington. Join us and begin stitching prayers into the fabric of your life in the new year!

Canton retreat

June, 4-7 2021 | Canton, Texas | Makers, Pickers, Creators, Thrifters

This is an open invitation to sit on the porch for a while. Join me for a creative retreat to unwind and learn more about your creative self. Play and rest are important in the creative process, so every retreat includes a fun excursion and time to relax. We will to dig into God’s Word, receive His grace and uncover His creative spirit. Don’t expect perfection. Just come prepared to share, learn, create, laugh, cry, fail, and triumph. Faith and art will collide. And that is always a messy business.

This retreat is for all my Makers, Pickers, Creators and Thrifters. Are you ready for a fun weekend in Canton, Texas? We’re going to hit June First Monday Trade Days. In case you’ve never heard of First Monday Trade Days, it’s basically the world’s largest flea market. It’s something to experience! Do you want to join me? I’m looking forward to a weekend of hunting and gathering, finding treasures, refurbishing old while creating new things. We’ll dive into lots of creativity and play!

beach retreat

January 2-5, 2020 | Crystal Beach, Texas | In the Beginning, God Created

In the beginning God created … and the Word was with Him. The start of the new year is an invitation for us to “go back to the beginning.” Join me in January to dig into God’s Word, receive His grace and uncover His creative spirit. Retreating to the sea, we’ll be inspired by the expanse of God’s creation. Inhale time and truth, and be open to what God wants to do through you this year.

This is an open invitation to sit on the porch for a while. The hustle of the holidays are over and a new year is waiting on the horizon. It’s time to reconnect with what really matters. Vent, laugh, cry . . . pray, journal, dream . . . God’s listening and waiting to be with you. Take a walk or many long walks on the beach. There’s something about the ocean, it’s vastness and uncontrollable beauty that speaks to our soul. We’re often drawn to the sea searching its horizons for something to take away, and if we linger long enough, we always find something to take home with us. Together, let’s start the new year off right with God’s Word. Each guest will receive a Chronological Bible which portions out daily readings from Genesis to Revelations that can be completed in one year. Renew your commitment to God’s Word… you won’t regret it. Whether we are writing, reading, or praying … cooking, designing, or making … our actions will draw us closer to God as we acknowledge and join in His creative work. For God created all things and in Him all things were created. Let’s be Makers together.

Waco retreat

Aug. 30-Sept. 2, 2019 | Waco, Texas | Designed For You

The beauty of what God has created in you is indisputable. You are one-of-a-kind, made in the image of God and were created to create. Nobody can do what you can. God has made us all creators and artists, even if you don’t consider yourself one. You have potential, purpose, and dreams to develop. There are endless ways to unleash that. This weekend will give you time and space to unwind and learn more about your creative self. Join me for a soul-inspiring long weekend to discover, nourish, and grow your creative soul. Create and be rebuilt.