At some point, crafting can start to feel repetitive.
Same supplies. Same projects. Same result.
It still looks good.
It just doesn’t feel like anything anymore.
Most people don’t notice it right away. It creeps in.
You reach for what’s familiar. You finish projects faster. You stop experimenting as much.
And eventually, you realize it’s not that you’ve run out of ideas.
You’ve just outgrown the way you’ve been creating.
This July, our Mixed Media Retreat in Minnesota is designed to give you a different way back in. Not more projects to follow, but a different way of working altogether.
Who This Retreat Is Really For
This retreat is for anyone who enjoys making things but is ready for something more.
You might recognize yourself here:
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You’ve done the kits, the patterns, the Pinterest projects
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You enjoy creating, but it’s started to feel repetitive
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You want to try something new, but don’t know where to start
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You need a break, not just physically, but mentally
You don’t need to be an expert. You don’t need a perfect skill set.
You just need the interest and the willingness to try something different.
The Setting Shapes the Experience
Before you even touch paper or paint, the space does something to you.
Big Raven Farm isn’t just a location. It changes how you show up.
You walk in and immediately notice the details. Italian marble floors, an open staircase, craftsmanship that feels intentional.
Step outside and it shifts again.
Free-range chickens wandering through. Auggie, the resident dog, making his rounds. Deer moving through the distance. If you’re paying attention, you might catch pheasants, turkeys, even a bald eagle overhead.
It’s quiet, but not empty.
Because when your environment slows down, your thinking does too, and that’s when better work starts to happen.
What This Retreat Actually Is (and What It Isn’t)
This is not a “make something perfect by the end of the weekend” kind of experience.
You’re not here to execute a polished final piece.
You’re here to explore mixed media collage. Layering, tearing, building, experimenting.
Letting things evolve instead of trying to control them from the start.
Instead of asking, “Is this good?” you start asking, “What happens if I try this?”
Why Mixed Media Is the Right Next Step
If you’ve been crafting for a while, you’ve probably worked within structure. Patterns, instructions, expected outcomes.
Mixed media breaks that.
You’re combining materials that weren’t meant to go together:
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Hand-painted papers
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Transparent layers
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Found materials like envelopes, scraps, handwriting
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Ink, paint, marks that aren’t “perfect”
Nothing starts and finishes. You build into it.
You’re not repeating. You’re discovering.
What the Weekend Looks Like
There’s structure, but it doesn’t box you in.
Guided Sessions
You’ll learn:
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How to layer for depth and texture
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How to combine transparency and opacity
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How to build composition without overplanning
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Ways to incorporate personal materials into your work
Open Studio Time
No step-by-step. No instructions.
Just space to follow an idea and see where it goes.
This is where most people move past “comfortable” and into something more interesting.
Why This Setting Produces Better Work
Most creative workshops happen in borrowed spaces.
This isn’t that.
At Big Raven Farm, everything supports the process.
When you get stuck, you step outside, walk the trail, reset, and come back with a different perspective.
When you need space, you have it. Thirteen-foot ceilings, natural light, room to spread out.
At night, you’re still in it. Sitting on the porch, talking through ideas, letting things evolve.
You can take a class anywhere. This is different because you stay in it. The space, the pace, the people. It all carries through the entire weekend.
That continuity is what most people are missing, and it’s what separates this experience from a typical art retreat in the Midwest.
What Past Guests Notice First
“Where to begin?! Oh yes, at Big Raven Farm! Walking into the main house is like a big warm hug! You are immediately immersed in a welcoming and cozy environment, surrounded by art and beauty. The food was amazing and each meal was part of the experience. Our art instruction was inspiring and so much fun! And the farm animals — the most adorable dog and chickens who like to come up to the house to check things out! The yoga studio was an oasis of serenity — perfect for any level of practice. You owe it to yourself to stay here and experience this place and the amazing couple who will host you!”
— Jennifer M.
The Experience Beyond the Studio
There’s a 2+ mile hiking trail that circles the property. Patios and porches where people stay longer than planned.
An on-site yoga studio if you want to reset physically between sessions.
A dining hall that doubles as your studio. Open, bright, built for working without feeling confined.
And while you’re intentionally stepping away, you’re not cut off. High-speed fiber internet keeps everything connected if needed.
What You’ll Leave With
By the end of the weekend, you won’t just have new projects. You’ll have a different way of approaching your creative time.
Most people arrive with a few ideas and leave with a stack of work they didn’t expect to create.
You’ll leave with:
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A new way to start projects without overthinking
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A broader creative toolkit beyond structured crafts
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More confidence working without a fixed outcome
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A process you can return to at home
Why We Keep These Retreats Small
We cap each retreat intentionally.
Not to create hype, but to protect the experience.
A smaller group means:
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Direct access to guidance when you need it
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Space to actually spread out and work
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A more engaged, less passive dynamic
Once it’s full, it’s full.
Reserve Your Spot
If you’ve been stuck in the same creative loop, this is your window to break out of it.
We intentionally keep this Mixed Media Retreat in Minnesota small so you get real space and personal attention, not a crowded experience.
That also means once it fills, it’s closed.
No extra spots. No second session.
These spots typically fill before July, and once they’re gone, we don’t open additional sessions.
If this is something you’ve been needing, a break, a reset, a new direction, don’t wait until it’s full.
Most guests don’t come because they “have time.” They come because they decide to make it.
