PHOTO BY NATALIE CHAFFER
APRIL 11–14, 2013 COLOR ADO CHAUTAUQUA BOULDER , CO
Welcome to the Makerie! I can say this journey began in preschool where we were given endless opportunities to explore our creativity. Every child was an artist, and I fell in love with making things by hand. Even now, when I sit by a cozy fire with a pair of knitting needles or illustrate a tiny lunch note for my two small children, I enter another world. A place where all is calm, the ‘to do’ lists and worries melt away, and I feel peaceful. Using my hands to make something reminds me to slow down and brings me back to the simple life I love. A professional artist I am not, nor am I a majorly skilled crafter or design-degree holder, but I am simply someone who has a deep love for all things creative. The heart of the Makerie is to honor the creative spirit in all of us. When creativity becomes part of your life, you look at the world in new ways, you become more playful, and the possibilities seem endless. For me, I have always been a dreamer and hold the utmost admiration for people who follow their dreams. I’m learning that anything is possible if you follow your heart. There is always a way. Creating the Makerie is a dream come true for me, and if I can, in any way, inspire you to go after your dreams, too, then this is what the Makerie is all about. ALI DEJOHN
Some profiles of the working community at the Makerie
It takes a village. TEXT BY NIKKI TOWNSLEY
Mia Semingson Owner, Two Hands Paperie Creating Content assistant While she had heard of the Makerie’s debut 3 years ago, Mia Semingson was busy with her own creative endeavor at the time. Former adjunct faculty of photography at CU Boulder, Mia found herself learning the ins and outs of business ownership as well as creating the community space she and her husband envisioned for Two Hands Paperie. She describes the joy behind her brick and mortar store as “not just selling but making community.” For example, after store closing hours she hosts a “creative play date” for creatives to come and “not just do art but engage” with each other through conversation. Thus it seems natural that Mia’s community would expand to include like-minded creatives in the Front Range area including the Firefly girls and Ali DeJohn. For Mia, connecting with Ali was easy, “she believes in what she’s doing”—making happy communities through creativity. Having stocked UPPERCASE magazine in her own store, it became a natural fit for Two Hands Paperie to then sponsor the Makerie class, Crafting Content. After all, as Janine stated opening night, ‘a project isn’t complete until it’s shared.’ And that’s what Mia sees as the motivation behind volunteering for the Makerie as well as her own inspiration behind Two Hands Paperie—a space to share, not compete, in our collective creative endeavors.
Holland Seydel
Firefly girl and volunteer to letterpress class After visiting the Makerie teacher, Allison Bozeman’s studio in Lyons, Holland became enamored with letterpress. She loved the idea of women unearthing old presses, getting their hands dirty, and creating beautiful pieces from stationary to invitations. The entrepreneurial spirit of these women further catapulted Holland into purchasing her own mid-sized portable press. “I am so fulfilled when I use my hands,” explained Allison. She harkens back to her youth, referencing her mother who always had art projects on hand. For Holland, the Makerie is a physical reminder that everyone is capable of creating. She likens the experience to running—a total immersion—where you can shut the worries of the world out and have space to yourself, to just be.
Katie Bruzdzinski Eat
Katie discovered the Makerie after working with letterpress teacher, Allison Bozeman. Allison, also a graphic designer, had been working with Katie to rebrand her website for eat private chef and catering co. Allison introduced Katie to Ali who soon after invited her to create boxed lunches for last year’s Makerie. Since that time, “the Makerie has changed my life” explains Katie. After getting rave reviews for her beautifully styled lunches and taking last year’s food styling class, Katie’s experience with the Makerie opened many doors within the local food movement. “I got dialed-in to others like the folks at the Lyons Farmette who care about creating art through food.” For Katie, the Makerie continues to be a way to bring out her inner artist. Her boxes lunches are her paintings, her art, and her self. And, she adds, “It’s so fun to assemble all the boxes from the paper straws to the cloth napkins to the stamped tags!”
Teryn Wilkes
Makerie photographer No doubt you had your picture taken by Teryn Wilkes over the course of the Makerie weekend. A neuroscience researcher at CU Boulder by day and a landscape and food photojournalist by weekend, Teryn has been documenting the Makerie photographically since its inception. While Teryn’s wife Kate was taking a class at the inaugural retreat, Teryn was snapping pics. Ali took note, and when the two met again at the holiday Firefly Market at the BCMA, Ali invited him back to photograph the retreat again. This is his third year documenting the Makerie. “My wife and I got married here,” at the Colorado Chautauqua. While they are locals, attending the Makerie provides them with not just a staycation but also a space for inspiration and happiness. “I get to see all the classes. I am here from morning until night,” he explains. For Teryn, the Makerie is not only a space to improve technically, although he has received exceptional technical and marketing advice from former teachers and students—he gets to hone his passion unfettered. Drawing from Janine’s opening ceremony presentation, Teryn emphasizes how the Makerie reminds him to not only learn and practice your passion, but to do it well. And that’s what he’s dedicated his days and nights to doing—using cameras to study brain activity AND documenting life—and he’s doing both very well. See Teryn’s photos of the weekend at flickr.com/groups/makerie2013.
BY MIA SEMINGSON Soon after relocating to Boulder with her husband and daughter, Emily Clark first learned about the Makerie while attending one of the Firefly Handmade markets. Then serendipitously she met Ali Dejohn, founder and creator, at a Whole Foods Market event. The two women connected and Emily expressed how much she loved what Ali was doing and offered up her services as a volunteer. Apparently they were destined to collaborate, and their paths crossed yet again while waiting to pick up their children from Montessori School. As Emily says about connecting with Ali, "I would love to do something (for the Makerie), but I wanted to be her friend more." As their friendship developed Emily's involvement with the Makerie evolved into becoming an integral part of its operation. Her talents cover a wide range of areas including training in New York as a professional chef, touring the world as a cycling guide, teaching at a cooking school, and working on her own creative endeavors such as knitting, sewing and her new found love of photography and writing. What has truly inspired Emily about being a part of the Makerie is meeting
women who have passionate and creative businesses and also manage to balance their lives with family. Emily describes her creative work as "doing a little bit of everything, but nothing is perfect." Her most recent and ongoing project is a blog called Tea With Lola where she brings her passion of being a mom to her fiveyear-old daughter Lola and shares recipes and the concoctions they create together in the kitchen—art projects, book reviews,and the tools and equipment she is fond of working with. INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT EMILY • In high school she studied abroad in India for a year. • At one time she wanted to be a professional French horn player (which she dragged to India and practiced for 2 hours each day). • Grandmother taught her to sew. • Learned how to knit in college. • Homeschools her daughter. • Has an infectious personality that is delightful to be around. • Currently working on an Icelandic sweater. • Loves red shoes.
Ali DeJohn the Makerie maker After summarizing some of the feelings of the volunteers to Ali explained, “It’s really simple. We all want the same thing. We want strong connections. And the easiest way to get to know someone is to create alongside of them.” She continues, “creativity shows our real self and eliminates barriers because we are focused on making something. People are simply happy when they make things; it’s so simple.” Ali also explained how she wants the creative spirit to permeate our happiness not just in the retreat but also in our day-to-day life. In this sense, creativity doesn’t have to be the opus magnum of oil painting but could be a simple dinner that made you happy to prepare and share. For me, the Makerie is heart-centered, invested, happy, grateful, open, and joyful. It’s about playing again.
Center Peace
“How can I know who I am until I find out who I was? ... It is my center, what is yours?” THE RISE OF THE GUARDIANS
“My wish for all at the Makerie is to see how the joy of creativity adds to your life and to carry this joy home.” —ALI DEJOHN
Centering Ali BY DAYNA GR AHAM Ali’s words and actions are laced with three underlying themes: simplicity, gratitude and heart. These are the pillars of her creative and gracious life. Intrigued about the person behind the Makerie? Sit down with a cuppa and read on. Q
What is your center?
Ali
Ultimately my heart, but several things help me to continue to find it when I stray. A snuggle with my little ones, spending time in nature and of course, making something with my own two hands. A bit of quiet time and physical exercise during the day also helps me to find balance.
Q
What is your first thought in the morning?
Ali
I usually have a few because I tend to do a lot of thinking. I try to remind myself to take deep breaths, as it helps me feel more present & to take one thing at a time. I also think about how I can be a better person andfriend that day and how lucky I am to be a mom & be doing something I love at the same time.
Q
What is the favorite part of your day?
Ali
I love many parts! A morning exercise always helps to get the day started out on the right foot, illustrating lunch notes for my kiddos, sitting down to dinner as a family and ending the day snuggling with my littles is the best way to wind down the day.
Project Givingness Q
What is the oldest thing you own?
Ali
My grandma’s shadow box doll house that she made by hand. It’s full of so many beautiful tiny details and I remember staring at it for hours as a little girl. It now hangs in my little girl’s room and I still find myself gazing and admiring it often. I also have her sewing box that is filled with the gorgeous supplies she used for sewing and crafting. It always feels special to open up the drawers and think about all of the things she loved to make. I loved discovering her personal labels that said ‘made by patricia’ and it makes me smile thinking about how many of her wonderful handmade treasures have those tags in them.
Q
What is your favorite ‘done project’?
Ali
That’s a tough one because making anything with your hands is so rewarding. If I had to choose, I love the small pillows I made for each of my little ones. My son drew the cutest baby giraffe when he was four years old so I embroidered his drawing and made it into a pillowcase. The one I made for my little girl was created out of one my favorite outfits she outgrew. Those pillows sit on both their beds & not only make their rooms feel cozy, but add special personal touch that I love and can look at daily.
Q
What is your favorite ‘undone project’?
Ali
I have so many of them &and wish I could find the time to finish them all! I have quite a few knitting projects on the needles at the moment, but also have the making of a quilt on my mind. I haven’t actually started it yet but have the design planned out. Maybe writing it here will push me to get started on it!
As the 2013 Makerie folds away, take a moment at dinnertime to pause and take in the details of the rose-papered centerpiece. And drink toasts of love for all things creative and for those who follow their passions.
BY CAROL FOWLER The Colorado Chautauqua was created through cooperation of the University of Texas in Austin and the city of Boulder, Colorado in the late 1890s. Boulder city leaders wooed the Texans by offering to supply land, facilities and public utilities for the assembly. The site below the dramatic Flatiron rocks for what originAli was called the Texas-Colorado Chautauqua was chosen for its spectacular mountain setting and its health-giving environment. More than 4,000 people gathered for the opening day on July 4, 1898. In the beginning of the “Grand Assemblies,� summer residents erected tents they furnished with all the comforts and luxuries of home. These tents also took on the personalities of their owners and were often decked out with city names and the state flags.
In the spring of 1899, the first houses were constructed to establish “permanent� sites for the summer families. At the peak of the Chautauqua movement, the daily attendance at the Assembly Hall averaged 1,000 to hear orators, musicians, speakers and watch dramatic plays.
Over the years, the city of Boulder and its residents have taken precautions to protect the Chautauqua and the surrounding nature by purchasing the land all around the site to protect it from development. This has helped to preserve the ideals and mission of the Colorado Chautauqua.
ESCAPE from routine, technology,
preconceptions to simplicity, authenticity, discovery
ENGAGE your mind, your body,
your senses with nature, with heritage, with others
ELEVATE your thinking, your spirits, your being
(The above good words are from the Colorado Chautauqua web site.)
‘Chautauqua’ is the Seneca word for “moccasins tied together” and was a description of the lake in New York where the first gathering of adults for “educational and intellectual pursuits” met. Since that time, the word Chautauqua has become synonymous with adults continuing educational and cultural activities outside of their profession.
BY R ANDY ROSENTHAL
“Its important to not simply to observe life from a distance, through the lens, but to actually experience life. When I’m taking pictures in the Antarctic, I need to be there, with the penguins and watch them closely as they interact with their babies.” Linda Winski beams as she describes her latest photographic project. However, the tears start when the conversation turns to her daughter, Ali, who is the founder and driving force behind The Makerie. “We are there for each other in all aspects of our lives,” she says. “She has such a big heart and is here for everyone who is here attending The Makerie Retreat.” She describes Ali as a little girl being obsessed with detail, drawing the tiniest little things that you could barely see at all. Seeing this quality in Ali brings joy to Linda who snaps photos of her daughter carefully folding and refolding and arranging picnic blankets that will soon be covered in dirt and crumbs. “People do notice and it makes a difference,” Linda says.
There is a special joy for Linda to be a part of this experience that elevates so many. An active, outgoing, people-loving little girl, Linda was never very crafty herself growing up, yet is happy to draw an artistic line connecting Ali to her mother Pat, who first taught Ali to knit. “It skipped a generation.” (In this writer’s view, Linda is very much the artist.) Today as a photographer, she is happy to contribute to The Makerie in a creative way in addition to being a supportive mom. Climbing on furniture, popping up in the middle of a class, Linda is seemingly everywhere connecting with people and documenting the Makerie experience. Two women catch Linda’s eye. They were so at ease with each other. They laughed freely and both had the same girlish twinkle in their eyes. It turned out that they were just one of several mother-daughter pairs at this year’s Makerie. Having an opportunity to spend time together, and reliving cherished childhood memories of making things together was a common theme for these women. Linda captures them drawing each other and playing like they were children. She laughs as she describes this happy scene. “It’s so great to see mom and daughter interact like that—happy, fun and playful. “ After a moment, through her smile, tears start forming again and she is thinking about her own daughter. “Her connection to creativity has opened up her world and she needs to share this. She is attracting people to her and building a community. I feel like she is blossoming in front of my eyes, and for me as a mother, this is beautiful.”
Word Play with Molly Hatch
STORY BY FR AN MENELEY
The very in-demand, insanely talented Molly Hatch has heard the siren call of the Makerie and ventured out west to share her love of the illustrated word with 10 lucky students. Hailing from Northampton, Massachusetts, Molly answered Ali’s call for a chance to slow down and reconnect to some hands-on lettering and design. Working from vintage illustrations and some wonderful sheets of inspired typefaces, her students created collages of images and words and then, using Saral Transfer Paper, traced the images onto their page and then created a painting with gouache (an opaque watercolor). The very act of tracing the images brings a hand drawn and lettered quality to each student’s work. Each person’s hand shows up on the page with the fear of drawing alleviated. Molly teaches ceramics at RISD (Rhode Island School of Design) so we are lucky she decided to visit her old college town (she received an MFA in Ceramics from CU Boulder in 2008) to return to her love of things handmade. In the afternoon, students worked on stencil designs that were to be transferred to a drinking glass with a special Italian ceramic paint and baked in the oven to a make a permanent decoration. Her first love of hand drawing is apparent in her class assignments and her lucky students will come away with beautiful hand-illustrated word play.
Blocks & Ink… with Samantha Hirsh
BY MONA CACCIARI
As a child, she loved to take things apart, sort of a deconstruction. She says carving is sort of like that…” as you carve away at the block, a beautiful design appears in its place.” One that she can use to make cards and fabric designs. For Samantha Hirsh, the teacher for the Makerie’s Inky Fingers workshop, it’s all about the feel and the touch of the inky wood block pressed onto a piece crisp linen and the smell of the ink. And it all started for Sam when she saw an ad for block printed fabric by Galbraith & Paul. She was so inspired by the look of the fabric she immediately went out and bought the supplies and tools to learn the craft. “My first project was a dove that I carved and used in our Christmas in 2007.” From there she created prints for fabrics and pillows which she sold through her company Inklore. These days she’s still designing, but has recently accepted a dream job as a project coordinator with Aeolidia, a web design/graphics design company.
PHOTO BY NATALIE CHAFFER
Tools.
BY KRIS MCMILLAN
As we wandered through workshop spaces and saw the tools being used, we started to feel the makings of our dreams.
Tools. There is something fascinating about tools and raw materials . . . they are full of possibility, full of potential, and they hold the keys to how we bring our visions to life.
In every room, the tools stood strong and ready . . . ready for our approach, ready for us to pick them up and shatter our state of waiting as we started to create.
Once we started, our tools and materials became our collaborators. They cooperate if we’re ready to work with them, and they can hinder us if we hurry, or expect too much, or abuse them somehow.
A table of tools is a table of possibilities. . . they make us ready to explore our thoughts and our senses.
They symbolize our readiness to express ourselves. They are our quiet partners . . . beckoning us to begin.
TEXT BY TONA BELL Crafting Content is a class where we created a one-of-akind handmade commemorative book that documented the 2013 Makerie Creative Retreat experience. Over two days we observed classes, interviewed each other and found ways to tell the story of our “adult spring break” and why it is so special to each of us.
“I took this class for a challenge and I was so excited that I was able to do it! It wasn’t as hard as I thought and I felt great about the experience and what I learned.”
“I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and be challenged.�
CRAFTING CONTENT What we learned Telling a story is like design, you can tell a picture. If you live a creative life you are a successful artist. There is no difference between being an artist and a crafter, we are all makers at heart.
About the creator and teacher
CRAFTING CONTENT
Janine Vangool is the publisher/editor/designer of UPPERCASE, a quarterly magazine for the creative and curious. She has also developed and published many books (nine and counting) under the UPPERCASE name. Janine worked as a freelance graphic designer for a dozen years in the arts, culture and publishing sectors and has also taught typography and publication design at the college level.
For more information or to subscribe to this fabulous magazine: uppercasemagazine.com
“I think everyone came to the class with set intentions and yet they were able to discover new things about themselves.�
This book represents the effort of all students and teachers. From our heads, to our hearts, to our hands— we lovingly craft our hopes and dreams for living a creative life.
LOVELY LETTERS PRESSED
The first time I met Allison Bozeman, teacher of Lovely Letters Pressed, I was entranced by her letterpressfeed sack-paper world she had created in her booth at Sweet William outdoor market in Denver. As a matter of fact I remember the booth being very full, so perhaps I was not the only one entranced…
BY HEIDE MURR AY
Allison bought her first press in 2006 while she was pregnant with her son, figuring if she could make a person she could in fact also make her work by hand. Leaving digital graphic design behind, she bought a press after interning with a old-timey printer in Denver. Being a fan of the “buy it before you drive it” school of life choices, she had the press dropped off in her garage just before winter, while her husband was away. (But I’m sure that was accidental.) While baby slept she defrosted the inky plate and printed her first wedding invitations. The next obvious step was the New York Stationery Show. Following plenty of production work, lots of letterpress and a studio with heat, she landed at Colorado artisan markets. Well established in her letterpress lifestyle, she specializes in limited edition calendars, collages sewn onto her pressed paper, and branding logos for companies. (See: tags on your Makerie lunch boxes.)
Allison told me she is all about “concept to completionâ€?. As makers and crafters we understand concept at the least and completion can sometimes be occasional. Allison and fellow awesome artists Kristin and Holland began hosting the Firey Artisan Market in Boulder. The April markets coincided with the Makerie in 2011 and in 2012. With barely enough to do, she started teaching letterpress at the Makerie in 2012.
The class is a quick and inky hands on letterpress experience. Satisfaction in making ďŹ rst impressions. Shouts of happiness as the antique presses worked as they always have. Sharing of new skills with old tools. A letterpress class for everyone—just in case you want to see what happens if you drive it before you buy it...
Aran Goyoaga Feasting on Food Photography Photos by Casie Zalud.
Aran grew up in the Basque Country in Northern Spain in a family of professional pastry chefs and cooks. Her love of food began in her maternal grandparents’ pastry shop and in the fields of her paternal grandparents’ farm. She studied business and economics but soon realized that she belonged in the kitchen. In 2010, after a bout of debilitating health issues, she was diagnosed with gluten intolerance and began living gluten-free. She is the mother of a six-year-old boy and a two-year-old girl and works out of her South Florida home studio. She continues to be inspired by nature and what seasons have to offer, which is why it was a perfect fit for her to join the Makerie Retreat, leading classes on “Capturing the Life of a Farm through People & Food” and “Fabulous Food and Prop Styling.” Aran Goyoaga is the writer, stylist, and photographer behind the award-winning blog Cannelle Et Vanille. Her blog was a finalist in the 2012 James Beard Awards, and her first book “Small Plates and Sweet Treats: My Family’s Journey to Gluten-Free Cooking” (Little, Brown & Co) due to be released in October 2012.
photos by Penny
“With my own two hands I will change my world.”
A PHOTO ESSAY BY PENNY
“Making things with your own two hands slows you down.”
“Clean hands are nothing to be proud of.”
“I am more comfortable using my hands.”
“Your personality comes out through your hands.”
“Handmade makes everything original.”
“It is very freeing not to look at what your hands are doing.”
“I love my calluses because they are proof that I am working with my hands.”
“We learn by watching hands, not listening to the words.”
Meet Elke Bergeron, designer
BY MARY KENNEDY
Elke grew up in Long Island, NY and graduated from the University of Delaware with a Fine Arts Degree in Illustration and Textile Design. She began her career after moving to NYC working in Apparel Design but has also traveled the world and has lived in several countries along her career path. A little known fact about Elke is that she even lived in Iceland when she was a student at the tender age of 16. This adventure opened the world to her and was a wonderful and positive experience—even though it was a bit on the chilly side! Elke has always been creative, in sewing and handstitching in particular. She began creating handbags and totes using leather scraps from her husband’s design work. Three years ago, Elke attended the Makerie as a Birthday gift to herself to be amongst other like- minded creative types. There, she met Ali DeJohn, the creator of the Makerie along with other designers associated with the Makerie and Firefly Market who urged her to sell her beautiful handmade leather bags.
She decided to give it a try by creating a blog which quickly evolved into cultivating her thriving business venture. Many of her creations are one of a kind or limited editions as her inspirations and experimentations manipulating elements continue to evolve. While gathering Elke’s story it is clear to see by her enthusiastic smile, that her most important creative endeavor has been building a beautiful life with her husband and two creative boys, ages 11 and 13, who began their lives together in New York, spent an adventurous time growing up in Costa Rica and now currently reside in Boulder.
Jennifer Mercede BY LEXIS KRIEG
Jennifer Mercede didn’t set out to be an artist. She enjoyed art and drawing as a child but put no weight into becoming an artist. In high school she enjoyed science class. But after moving schools, the class wasn’t advanced enough to hold her attention. Deciding to explore her interest in art and illustration, she signed up for an art class. Jennifer wasn’t a star student, but she enjoyed creating. Upon high school graduation, Jennifer’s parents told her that she had to go to college. Her response: “I like art, I’ll go to school for art.” She chose a liberal arts school over an art school to surround herself with real people and in case she decided to change majors. However, she didn’t own the title of “artist” until about seven years ago when she read The Artist Way by Julia Cameron. She made bold statements like, “I am the next big artist in Portland.” She painted fast, moving quickly from one piece to the next and back again. She was on a roll creating art, with several shows a month. As she sold more art, she gained more confidence. Now, years later, Jennifer finds balance by maintaining inspiration and variety in her life. Her art is licensed through Oopsy Daisy, which showcases her art to a much wider audience than what she would otherwise be exposed to. This provides a consistent paycheck and has resulted in commissioned art. Surprisingly, Jennifer’s calling isn’t to teach. It is part of the great variety with which she fills her life. In order to keep it sacred, she is careful about how many teaching commitments she takes on. When she makes her decisions, she makes a point to listen to what’s calling to her and following that passion. Her gut gave her “a clear yes” when she was asked to join The Makerie this year. Watching Jennifer teach, you can see the energy in her hands as she scribbles on the papers and boards. Guided by Jennifer’s techniques, her students dive into their doodles, making expressive marks. As her students worked, Jennifer was surprised to find that despite her responsibilities as the teacher, she was able to let go and create. “Yeah, I’m feeling this right now.”
“Yeah, I’m feeling this right now.”
BY LEXIS KRIEG
I was struck by the fact that several of the women on the Teacher Panel on Friday night didn’t consider themselves artists. I guess I shouldn’t have been that surprised. I’ve created my entire life and even went to art school, though I become a graphic designer. I still wasn’t able to declare myself an artist until last year. As a society, we have elevated the word “artist” so that we feel unworthy of claiming this title. Since The Makerie is a gathering of creative individuals, I set out to find out if others struggled with claiming the title artist. Cherie Wilson paints expressive marks onto her board, creating art that is playful and makes her happy. She considers herself an artist, but she didn’t always consider herself an artist. “No, no. You have to get to that point,” she says, talking of how she believes you must be generous in your offerings to the artists behind and ahead of you. It was the artists ahead of her that encouraged her, and she believes it is her duty to bring someone from behind. Tanya Staples feels that she has the artistic spirit. But she doesn’t consider herself an artist because of the idea that an artist produces and sells art and people like it. Jessica Hernadez, a shoe designer, says her talents are commercial. She believes that we are all artists at heart, but it’s our culture that squelches that feeling.
When I asked Mary Kennedy if she considered herself an artist, she said, “I do, but I don’t state that when I introduce myself.” Mary doesn’t have a particular interest and she feels that when you say that you are an artist people expect you to have a specialty. It’s easier not to claim the title and avoid the connotations of the word artist. But she’s always felt she was an artist because no one told her she wasn’t. Elaine Burns is probably one of the youngest woman at the retreat this weekend. When asked if she considered herself an artist, she says, “Sure.” She studied art and feels confident in what she does, but she doesn’t present herself as an artist. It’s not her profession, but she doesn’t believe that being an artist is an either or title. She believes if it makes you happy, that’s good enough, creating isn’t for anyone else. Elaine has enjoyed being among other creative’s and seeing how their creative path has turned out and how others make creating a part of everyday life. And even our dear Ali, who has created this beautiful retreat, doesn’t consider herself an artist. “Oh! No, not really. I didn’t go to art school. I wish I did.” She doesn’t really define what she does, she just makes things with joy. I hope that as we part from this weekend, that we can all hold the title “artist” in our hearts. Even if we don’t declare it to the world, we can at least declare it ourselves.
BY ALIX CHRISTIAN
Words from the Makerie BY SHARON NEWSOM As an introvert, the crafting content class was a boundary pusher for me. Instead of being an observer, I was placing myself outside my comfort zone by choosing a class that would involve interaction rather than just observing and doing, I had to engage ... yikes! Inspired by the Makerie entrance signs, guiding participants to their creative home for the weekend, I came up with a set of questions to ask my fellow makerie-ists. It went like this: I spoke a word plucked from one of the entrance signs and asked the participant to tell me the first word that popped into their mind. The responses were heartwarming, charming, funny and a delight to hear. They also acted as an ice breaker for me to approach and engage with folks I might not have spoken with otherwise. I’m grateful for the experience and happy to share the results.
TIME heals all wounds precious harried of the essence invaluable early morning more a lot flies need it speeds away non-existent
PLAY
HAPPY
BE
fun
create
be
fun
smile
me
fun
a good goal in
in the moment
dance
life
peaceful
essential
smile
creative
daily
ya-ya
studio
yes please
random
authentic
ya-ya
family
now
full
sunshine
kind
fun
Oh god ...
create
everyday
now
in motion
drive
free
trees
acorn
PHOTO BY NATALIE CHAFFER
“In order to understand the world, one has to turn away from it on occasion.” –ALBERT CAMUS
A Reason for Retreats BY BRIANNA VAN DYKE Because rest restores the body and play lifts up the soul. To notice the color of spring grass. To-do lists are overrated. To try something new and laugh along the way. Because the morning sun has risen upon us, if we will but only notice. So that curiosity can have some legroom. To take a break from multi-tasking. Laundry will wait. And so will your email inbox. To glory in the quiet. To step backwards and see the larger picture. Because contemplation isn’t just for nuns and monks. To renew the weary-hearted. Because rest isn’t frivolous. To be still and pay attention. Because beauty-making happens when busy-making fades. To hear the sound of a lively creek during spring snowmelt. To wonder. And to wander. To say no to multi-tasking, and yes to just one glorious thing. Because the children will be fine and will understand (they rest and play all the time). To remember what it feels like to dawdle, and to ask questions, and to improvise. So that we can come home with thankfulness knitting and purling down our mind. And because rest restores the body and play lifts up the soul.
Why the Makerie Participants are Taking a Retreat “Because it’s soothing.” “To be fed.” “I like trying new things—experimenting and playing.” “Making things with friends.” “Learning from others.” “Lingering thoughts and experiences.” “For a get-away.” “To not have a worry.” “To re-connect with myself.” “To be looked after.” “To learn new things and then go home and teach those things to others.” “The adventure of something new.” “To unplug. “ “Because tax season is stressful.” “To ignore the phone.” “To go back better.”
The Makerie Directory Makerie Staff
Volunteers
Ali DeJohn ali@themakerie.com themakerie.com
Chris DeJohn cdejohn@msn.com
Emily Clark emily@themakerie.com teawithlola.com
Teachers Allison Bozeman woof@birddogpress.com cargocollective.com/birddogpress Aran Goyoaga aran@arangoyoaga.com cannellevanille.com Elke Bergeron Elkejb@aol.com byelke.com Janine Vangool janine@uppercasemagazine.com uppercasemagazine.com Jennifer Mercede jmercede@hotmail.com etsy.com/shop/jennifermercede Molly Hatch molly@mollyhatch.com mollyhatch.com Samantha Hirst samanthaahirst@gmail.com samantha-hirst.com
Linda Winski lindawinski@icloud.com Joyce DeJohn 63clearjoy@comcast.net Jim DeJohn j.dejohn@comcast.net Kara Lundquist kara@themakerie.com Allie Olson aolson326@gmail.com Sara Sanderson sandersondesign@aol.com Catherine Cooper catherine@carlentinidesigns.com catherinepistone.com Teri Lema terilema@gmail.com etsy.com/shop/TeriLemaHandmade Amy Breeze amy.adriana.breeze@gmail.com Kristin FitzGerrell Kristin@studio22art.com Christa Grundy christa.grundy@gmail.com Daria Carter dariacarter@mac.com Mia Semingson mia.semingson@gmail.com twohandspaperie.com Denise Newberry denise@cabinpressstudio.com cabinpressstudio.com Katie Bruzdinzki katie@icookyoueat.com icookyoueat.com
Liz Weider lizwieder@gmail.com Casey Longo sunmountainstudio@hotmail.com Erika Arakawa arakawabunga@gmail.com Cecilia Zalinger monazal@gmail.com Kate Hansen katemhansen@hotmail.com
Photographers Teryn Wilkes tswilkes@gmail.com flickr.com/photos/terynandkate Alessandra Cave alessandradesouza@gmail.com alessandracave.com Linda Winski lindawinski@icloud.com Julia Vandenoever juliavandenoever@gmail.com juliavandenoever.com Casie Zalud casie@casiezalud.com casiezalud.com
Videographer Creativebug creativebug.com
Tracy Alleman talleman@mtechg.com DENVER CO
Radhika Behl radhuchopra @hotmail.com simplyradhika.com ATLANTA GA
Tona Bell tonab@ tricyclestudios.com tricyclestudios.com TAMPA FL
Julie Birschbach julesbirsch@yahoo.com LOUISVILLE CO
Eileen Bissen eileen_bissen@yahoo. com CONCORD CA
Kim Boos kim@teeandcakes.com teeandcakes.com LAFAYETTE CO
Anne Brolly anne.brolly@yahoo.fr MILWAUKEE WI
Jill Burns burns99@charter.net earlybirddesigns.net WORCESTER MA
Elaine Burns emb.burns@gmail.com NEW YORK NY
Mona Cacciari mcacciari@san.rr.com LA JOLLA CA
Farrell Carfield farrell_allen @hotmail.com rplaw.com DENVER CO
Natalie Chaffer nchafshop@gmail.com ESCONDIDO CA
Cheryl Channing cherylchanning@ hotmail.com SEATTLE WA
Kimberly Chisholm kchisholm2@gmail.com MINNEAPOLIS MN
Alix Christian alix.christian@me.com alixchristian.com LONGMONT CO
Christy Daly loriarickard@gmail.com HARRISBURG PA
Lindsay Dartnell dartyo@hotmail.com CALGARY AB CA
Jody Dunham jody@lynda.com VENTURA CA
Joyce Ellis joycemellis @bellsouth.net ATLANTA GA
Vida Forrest y Salazar vida.forrest@gmail.com SANTA BARBARA CA
Carol Fowler carol@f2-design.com LUBBOCK TX
Kathryn Frazier katefrazier@live.com BOULDER CO
Ellen Gager efgager@comcast.net BOULDER CO
Blue Geiger blue.geiger@live.com BLOOMINGTON CO
Sue Ann Gleason sueann@ sueanngleason.com VIENNA VA
Gwylan Goddard gwylangoddard@ gmail.com gwylangoddard.com LACHINE QC CA
Dayna Graham daynagraham@ hotmail.com WINNIPEG MB CA
Cara Harjes cara@caraharjes.com caraharjes.com caraharjes.com/blog DENVER CO
Cassie Harrington (R) cassieharrington @roadrunner.com ERIE PA
Janae Harrington (L) jc45harrington @yahoo.com SPOKANE WA
Keira Havens lonekei@iit.edu FORT COLLINS CO
Jessica Hernandez jessica@joyfolie.com joyfolie.com KINGWOOD TX
chocolateforbreakfast.com
Wendy Hurd hurd.wendy @gmail.com RICHFIELD MN
Rebecca Jackson rmb_jjj@hotmail.com CENTENNIAL CO
Berry Kendall berry938@ bellsouth.net ATLANTA GA
Mary Kennedy marykennedy55 @gmail.com BLACKLICK OH
Coleen Kolarik coleen.kolarik @amgreetings.com CLEVELAND OH
Patricia Koval trishkoval@comcast.net BOULDER CO
Lexis Krieg lexisworks@gmail.com lexisworksart.com ENGLEWOOD CO
Rebecca London becca.london @ymail.com SAN TAN VALLEY AZ
Krissy Maier orangeboxjewelry @gmail.com orangeboxjewelry.com EDMONDS WA
Kay McKinnis bkaymail@swbell.net MOORE OK
Kris McMillan krismcmillan@me.com LA JOLLA CA
Fran Meneley fran@ athandstudio.com
Heide Murray allgoodwishes @mac.com
Bettina Neset bneset @comcast.net STEAMBOAT SPRINGS CO
allgoodwishes.tumblr.com
BROOMFIELD CO
franmeneley.typepad.com
BOULDER CO
Sharon Newsom sharon.j.newsom @gmail.com ithreegd.com CARBONDALE CO
Michelle Nicolson (L) mnicolson @comcast.net EUGENE OR
Cynthia Nouri clnouri@msn.com sashanicholas.com ST. LOUIS MO
Nicole Nutt Nicole@joyfolie.com joyfolie.com joyfolieblog.com KINGWOOD TX
Dorian Oconnell Sweetpastry101 @yahoo.com dorianoconnell.com BOULDER CO
Caroline Padden crpadden@gmail.com cbirdlikes.tumbler.com BOULDER CO
Lori Rickard loriarickard@gmail.com HARRISBURG PA
Maria Claudia Rivadeneira claudiarivadeneira @yahoo.com PT ST LUCIE FL
Aviva Roller avivaroller@gmail.com SAN FRANCISCO CA
Shannon Rose shanrose@cox.net PHOENIX AZ
Judy Rose judykowasso@cox.net COLLINSVILLE OK
Neilly Rosenblum neillylane@gmail.com pinterest.com/ neillylane BROOKLYN NY
Randy Rosenthal randyr@ tricyclestudios.com ticyclestudios.com TAMPA FL
Tasha Shaw-Verbic tshaw_verbic@me.com TORONTO ON CA
Michelle Smith shelley_smith2011 @hotmail.com FRIENDSWOOD TX
Lanette Smith hearttalkart @yahoo.com DUNDEE OR
Sarah Sonntag ssonntag22@gmail.com LAS VEGAS NV
Paula Spahr pmspahr@gmail.com WAYZATA MN
Tanya Staples tanya @tanyastaples.com OJAI CA
Deb Stoner skyonfiregirls @yahoo.com TIGARD OR
Katherine Tolliday katherine.tolliday @me.com mypartyguru.com ATLANTA GA
Nikki Townsley nctmom@gmail.com ARVADA CO
Ludmila Valias-Clark mvaliasclark @yahoo.com SAN RAMON CA
Brianna Van Dyke briannavandyke @gmail.com ruminatemagazine.org FORT COLLINS CO
Laura Weldon lauraaweldon @gmail.com LONGMONT CO
Kate and Teryn Wilkes KathrynWilkes @gmail.com BOULDER CO
Cherie Wilson cariani1 @bluemarble.net humblepiedesigns. blogspot.com BLOOMINGTON IN
LuAnn Wolfe luannwolfe @hotmail.com SHORELINE WA
All information as of printing. We regret any errors or omissions.
Our brand new summer events the Makerie Summer Series presented by Whole Foods Market
The Makerie Summer Series presented by Whole Foods is a series of creative day retreats designed for anyone! By gathering our local creative and food communities, we’ll be providing three unique, soul-filled days at the lovely Lyons Farmette. Each event, centered around a theme, will offer a variety of modern, creative and homesteading classes in sewing, photography, letterpress, flower arranging, collage and canning, just to name a few of the fabulous choices. Delicious and healthy meals, provided by Eat Catering, Crust and Whole Foods, will incorporate local, farm fresh and organic food into each event through charming styled boxed lunches and a fabulous farm dinner. Add to that marvelous mix a creative cocktail hour complete with a special ‘cocktail crafting’ lesson by Whole Foods. If that doesn’t sound like a day dream, we even have a few surprises planned that will be sprinkled into every event! The inspiration to start the Summer Series came out of the need to celebrate and focus on our local creative and food communities and to highlight the incredible people and small businesses that are doing fantastic things. Having them share their knowledge through leading workshops in an intimate setting creates a wonderful connection within our communities and adding the farm dinner element further fosters this. What better way to get to know someone than by sitting next to them in person, sharing a farm fresh meal. After creating weekend-long retreats, we felt the need for a new kind of offering that was a little different, yet just as magical. We can’t wait to combine two of our very favorite things— creative workshops and farm dinners—which naturally go hand & hand for these summer celebrations. So pencil us in and join us! We’d absolutely love to have you.
June 2 ~ on the farm July 7 ~ for a gathering August 4 ~ in the home