We did it! We lumbjeracked. We crafted. And we got cozy as hell during our 2023 Unglued Fall Retreat at the gorgeous Crooked Lane Farm that is impeccable especially this time of year! Complete with campfires, hayrides, spicy fall crafts, our new favorite scarf (who knew you could get custom scarves for this type of thing?!), and all the flannel we could handle. Plus a themed Gilmore Girls Happy Hour with all the coffee.
(the custom scarf!!)
Retreaters arrived down the truly crooked lane as the sun rose (because #fall) in the dusty farm air (because #harvesttime).
After getting checked in (and said new favorite scarf), retreaters were welcomed with a mimosa and a lil social bingo mingle time - and APPLE FRITTERS from Sandy's Donuts and mini pumpkin spice lattes from Thunder Coffee! Just the essentials of a perfect fall morning.
Then we gathered all 130 retreaters to the barn patio to get a visual farm tour with inflatable pumpkin costumes, another all retreat dance to Bloody Mary by Lady Gaga, and emcee faux fur bucket hat duo Erica & Courtney!
(The world's most genuinely kick ass, creative, hard working, and fun couple who run the venue - Brent & Mary Jo - and Maxine - who also got to enjoy a new favorite scarf).
Then workshop session 1 kicked off complete with all of these above spicy, fall-tastic, inspiration flowing workshops by local makers!
After all that morning crafting it was time to eat! With soups and sandwiches by Deb's Corner Catering with Deb Jenkins! And always pumpkin spice (and whip).
PS - we also got our hands on some Wild Terra cider thanks to their generous sponsorship and handcrafted brews by Drekker Brewing Company!
Then workshop session 2 kicked off to craft the afternoon away! More wheel throwing and blacksmithing + spooky scribbles via glass dip pen art + granny square keychains + martini mixology + soap making + wood burning fall garland + moss "paint-by-number" + wood carved spoons and butter knives + wood turned pens + more!
At 3pm Happy Hour arrived! Complete with a good ol' Gilmore Girls theme to include a pop up book shop by More than Words, PIE OF COURSE, coffee cocktails poured by McKaila, folk music, rescue dogs visiting by 4 Luv of Dog Rescue, hayrides, fall and Gilmore Girls trivia with Courtney, and tons of more CRAFTS!
OH!! And especially making happy the hour - Langston's curated cocktail (and delicious mocktail!) bar!!
After getting soooo spicy with Happy Hour we jumped into the pile of crispy fall leaves also known as workshop session 3. Needle felted mushrooms, holiday cocktails, apple pecan stuffed pork loins (yes that's a real class thank you Chef John Ferguson), tarot card reading + stampmaking, upcycled journal bookbinding, ornamental corn wreaths, and more!! Plus this one featured Ashley (myself) and McKaila actually taking a FULL WORKSHOP at a retreat - blacksmithing!
(we had an audience)
Then we enjoyed a deliciously roasted dinner that ended by One on One Pro Catering with this inspired Meghan Thee Stallion + Jimmy Fallon SHEET CAKE!
The night closed out with an all retreat craft sesh time - DISCO PUMPKINS! Taught by our fearless creative leader Kristina Lau who can literally disco everything.
This retreat kicked extra fall ass thanks to Drekker Brewing Company for sponsoring our beer, Thunder Coffee sponsoring morning & lunchtime lattes, and Wild Terra for sponsoring their delicious fall ciders!
And THANK YOU to our ride or die crew who just keeps the spicy magic going regardless of whatever weather or other event craziness comes our way! There pretty much are no words for this, except we are so grateful <3