I was sorting a basket of fabric scraps the other morning, the sun warming the studio floor, when I found myself remembering all the mother daughter pairs who have come to Big Raven Farm over the years. Some arrive laughing, already finishing each other’s sentences. Others show up a little hesitant, unsure whether a crafting retreat can really help them reconnect. By the time they leave, the energy between them has almost always softened. There is warmth, ease, sometimes a glow that was not there when they walked in.
That is the real beauty of these retreats. People sign up because they want to make something. And sure, they absolutely will. But what actually matters is what happens around the crafting table. The way hands are busy with thread or scissors or glue allow the mind to quiet down. The way ordinary materials somehow open the door to extraordinary conversations. The way moms and daughters begin to see each other again, not as a role but as a person.
It is startling how quickly creativity melts the distance that everyday life builds. Before long, someone says something they have not said in months. Someone else shares a story they never got around to telling. Crafting gives people permission to slow down and be real without feeling like they need to perform or solve anything.
Why Crafting Works So Well For Reconnection
There is something unbelievably grounding about sitting side by side, hands moving, minds relaxed, no pressure to come up with the perfect words. Crafting invites presence. You touch materials. You feel textures. You focus on small motions. And in that calm, conversations start flowing like you have all the time in the world.
Mom, Me and My daughter Georgie
Daughters open up differently when they are stitching or assembling something. Mothers listen with a softer ear when they are smoothing paper or choosing materials. It is not forced. It just… happens.
And honestly, crafting is fun. Whether you are building a nature inspired collage, knotting yarn, assembling a handmade journal, or experimenting with mixed media, there is always a moment where you both look at each other and laugh because something turned out wild or unexpectedly charming.
These tiny experiences are the glue. They mend what life frays.
Why Big Raven Farm Is Such A Natural Fit For Mother Daughter Crafting Retreats
All smiles with Georgie
I say this all the time, but Big Raven Farm feels alive in a quiet way. The land breathes. The light shifts gently. The air has this calming quality that settles into your skin before you even unpack your bags.
When you turn down our gravel driveway, something in your chest lets go. Fields stretch wide. Trees rustle with a soft welcome. The barns glow differently in every season. It is the kind of place that invites you to slow down without even trying.
Our studio sits right in the center of it all, filled with natural light and shelves stacked with materials. Imagine baskets of yarn, jars of buttons, bins of patterned papers, piles of felt, stacks of beautiful specialty scraps, weaving tools, fibers, ribbons, glue, stamps, inks, and quirky odds and ends we have collected over the years. It is like stepping into an enchanted craft room that just keeps revealing surprises.
People walk in, take one slow look around, and say, oh this is it. This is exactly what we needed.
How Our Workshops Bring Mothers And Daughters Back Together
My mom's artwork, Flowers in a Vase
We design every session to be approachable. You will not find rigid instructions or intimidating mastery level projects here. Our goal is to open the door to creativity in a way that feels playful and safe, whether you are a beginner or a seasoned maker.
A morning might start with simple collage prompts or nature based crafting. Maybe you assemble a small stitched booklet or experiment with textured papers and found materials. There is plenty of freedom. Plenty of room for imagination. Plenty of permission to try things without worrying how they look.
Mothers and daughters usually begin working separately, sort of feeling their way in, then naturally drift closer. Someone asks for help choosing materials. Someone shares a funny idea. Someone holds up a half finished project with a grin.
Crafting brings out a gentler version of everyone. By midday, conversations become easier. You see daughters leaning in. You see mothers softening in ways they did not expect. And if a few emotional moments show up, they are almost always the healing kind.
The Small, Ordinary Moments That Become The Most Lasting Memories
Georgie’s piece, Flight of Fancy
People assume the finished craft is the souvenir. And yes, you will take home beautiful handmade pieces. But the moments you remember most are the tiny ones.
A daughter whispering, I love how you did that.
A mother laughing at a glue mishap that turned into a happy accident.
The way both of you dig through the same bin of materials at the exact same time.
The way your hands bump while reaching for the same spool of thread.
The way you both sigh at the same moment because the studio feels peaceful in a way you forgot existed.
I once watched a teenager stand behind her mom, watching her assemble a collage with this look of admiration she did not bother to hide. Her mom caught the glance and instantly teared up. Crafting brings out authenticity like that.
These are the memories that stick. Long after the retreat. Long after life gets loud again. They become touchstones you both come back to.
A Day At The Retreat: What It Feels Like From Start To Finish
Picture waking up with no alarm, just soft morning light and maybe the smell of coffee drifting your way. You share a slow breakfast with your daughter. Not rushed. Not distracted. Just two people who get to talk without hurrying.
You wander to the studio, pick your spot for the day, settle in with your materials, and instantly feel your shoulders drop. The energy in the room is warm and gentle. You start crafting. Time becomes wonderfully blurry. Every project feels like play.
Lunch comes and goes. Maybe you take a walk around the farm. Maybe you sit on a bench and talk about what you are making. The afternoon session feels like sinking into something comforting. Something you did not realize you were craving.
Evening on the farm is slow and sweet. Some families journal together. Some stitch quietly while talking about life. Some simply sit together, watching the sky change colors.
It is slow living at its finest. And it creates space for connection in a way regular life rarely does.
What You Take Home That Has Nothing To Do With Craft Supplies
Of course you leave with handmade treasures. That part is lovely. But you also leave with a deeper, calmer connection.
You leave with a new understanding of each other.
You leave with shared stories and jokes from the weekend.
You leave with conversations you finally had the time and emotional safety to explore.
You leave with a sense of closeness that feels both fresh and familiar.
Mother daughter relationships change so much over time. A retreat helps you grow alongside each other instead of apart.
Why Now Might Be The Right Time For Your Own Crafting Retreat
Families come for so many reasons. Some want a joyful shared experience. Some need time to repair something fragile. Some are celebrating a milestone. Some simply want to press pause on the chaos.
I have watched pairs who felt distant at home become inseparable by the end of a retreat. I have seen grown daughters reconnect with their mothers in ways they did not expect. I have watched middle school girls relax into being themselves again. And more than once I have seen families leave holding hands.
Crafting has a way of reminding people they belong to each other.
When You Are Ready, Big Raven Farm Will Be Here
This place has a gentle pull. It helps people unwind. It helps them laugh again. It gives them time. Actual time. Not the rushed version we squeeze into weekends at home.
If you have been wanting a weekend that feels meaningful and warm, if you want to reconnect with your daughter in a way that feels natural, if you want a memory you both will keep close forever, Big Raven Farm has a seat waiting for you at the crafting table.
I have seen this retreat change relationships in quiet, powerful ways. And I would love to see it do the same for you.
Whenever you are ready, we will have the yarn, the paper, the scissors, the tea, the space, and the soft light waiting.