Flowers, disco, rain, wet llamas, and rosé + 120 crafty retreaters defined our Spring Retreat 2023 this past May! We definitely believe in the whole "there's no such thing as bad weather - only bad clothing" and so regardless of some relatively constant rain (which, I mean, SPRING HAPPENS) we still welcomed in the Spring season from Crooked Lane Farm! Link in profile of our photo recap thanks to Studio Freshly!
It kicked off with our crew in their rain gear welcoming retreaters down the literal crooked lane to check in and get the full 4-1-1 for starting off their crispy, drizzly, perfectly true spring day.
Our emcees Erica and Annie were ready to help retreaters get their social mingle on with a lil social bingo time - but not before coffee from Thunder Coffee complete with lavender lattes!
Also welcoming retreaters were the biggest most delicious rolls from Sandy's Donuts in Fargo to carb up for their crafty day ahead!
And our now flower-potted emcees kicked off this extra special day the way all days should really start - with celebratory cake!! For both Bethie's birthday from our Unglued crew and Hannah's new shop opening for Scribble Lady that all also happened that day (and they both chose to spend it with us!! <3 insert me tearing up).
And after learning our retreat dance to get stretched out and fully awake to make all the things, we kicked off workshop session 1 with a big ol' variety of springtastic workshops for everyone! Session 1 included workshops like fruit tarts, wheel throwing, quilled plants, sewn garden aprons, soap making, leather belt pouches, watercolor, and blacksmithing. And wreaths, of course.
Then our tasty lunch kicked off thanks to Bernbaums delightful sack lunches with DJ DizzyB spinning some disco fever vibes. Plus our plant-a-(herb)-seed table, bingo, and just enjoying the fresh farm air.
1pm took us to Workshop Sesh 2 full of the craftiest afternoon vibes with things like flower crowns, quilled butterflies, disco ball mobiles, rhubarb hand pies, leather sunglasses cases, wine and cheese pairings, sewn zipper pouches, and watercolor glass dipped pen workshops featuring bar cart and cocktail items :)
Mid-afternoon means HAPPY HOUR BB! This spring time theme was a delightful Flower Power Happy Hour - which, I mean, the whole april showers bring may flowers mashed up perfectly to fit this day!
Tunes came in full swing thanks to Brass Interference, themed cocktails crafted up by bar boss Langston were enjoyed (with crazy good mocktail options), MORE CRAFTS like epoxy bookmarks with dried florals (one of our best ideas yet TYSM) + disco-ing up a pot to plant a succulent in + making an essential oil roll-on + ironing on our swag item Unglued patch + more, enjoying cupcakes from Yeobo Sweet Shop + cotton candy, AND MEETING ALPACAS.
Added bonus was Kate handing out lil roses with McKaila bacheloretting it up to ask everyone if they'd accept some rosé :)
Then it was time for Workshop Session 3 of 3! This session included barn quilts, knitting basics, wood burning a cheese board, hand cut steaks and grilling, leather earrings, beeswax wraps and lotion bars, sewn plant buckets, floral punch needle, spring mixology, and more wheel throwing and blacksmithing!
Then it was dinner time which got to suddenly shift into the actual farmhouse which was an adventure itself! We enjoyed the delicious dinner by Sugar Hill Catering and then sat down to get ready for our all retreat evening craft time!
Ashley of My Actual Brand lead us through a Matisse-style floral collage on stained wood!
This lovely wet day was photographed by the talented Studio Freshly! And a special thanks to Drekker for sponsoring our beer and Thunder Coffee for sponsoring our morning lattes :) So grateful for our crew for always making this kind of day full of magic regardless of how wet we get!
