Pick Your Own Projects: Choose From This Amazing List!
The Pick Your Own Project retreats are a “choose your own adventure” experience—you can select up to three projects from the list below, and Joleen will make sure there are enough materials and time to talk you through them. If you work quickly and want to jump in on additional instruction while others are still creating, you're more than welcome to! Your pace and energy level are entirely your own, Joleen will guide and support you along the way.
Reverse Applique Monogram Crew
What to Bring
Sweatshirt-new or Repurposed
Difficulty Level:Easy-Medium
Time Commitment:More than a few hours
Laser-Cut Bookboard Mosaic
What to Bring
Nothing! I have everything you need to make this one!
Difficulty Level:Medium
Time Commitment:A few hours
Trash Tote
What to Bring
Nothing! I have everything you need to make this one!
Difficulty Level:Hard. Some sewing experience is required
Time Commitment:Less than a few hours
Kinusaiga Radiant Heart
What to Bring
A box frame or shadow box no larger than 6X6 (if you want a supplied pattern) 8x10 if you want to freehand
Difficulty Level:Easy
Time Commitment:A few hours
Gilded Mirror Revival
What to Bring
Gold gilding foil sheets (bring enough to generously cover your frame — extra is always smart) These are the ones Joleen prefers Variegated Gold Leaf Sheets
Bring a mirror — wide frames work best (the frame can be any color)
Difficulty Level:Medium
Time Commitment:More Than a Few Hours
Hexagon Lazy Susan
What to Bring
A lazy Susan. If you can't find one at the thrift store, we like this one
Difficulty Level:Medium
Time Commitment:More than an hour
Tomato Cage Tree
What to Bring
Tomato cage
Lots of magazines
Florist wire on a spool
A base to set your tree on
Difficulty Level:Medium
Time Commitment:This Will Take All Weekend
Beehive
What to Bring
One large picture frame with a sturdy back but no glass. The frame shown is 2½ feet wide × 4 feet tall
Earrings (optional)
Blouse fabric (optional)
Difficulty Level:Medium
Time Commitment:More Than a Few Hours
Paper Topiary
What to Bring
8"–12" round styrofoam ball
Decorative upholstery tacks
Difficulty Level:Easy
Time Commitment:A Few Hours
Flowers in a Vase
What to Bring
One box frame (frame with tall, square sides). The frame shown is 30" × 32".
Difficulty Level:Medium
Time Commitment:More Than a Few Hours
Feathered Heart
What to Bring
One large picture frame with a sturdy back and no glass.
Enough fabric to cover the background of your piece — burlap, linen, muslin, or velvet make nice choices.
Difficulty Level:Medium
Time Commitment:More Than a Few Hours
Coiled Tray
What to Bring
One wooden beverage tray.
Difficulty Level:Easy
Time Commitment:More Than a Few Hours
Finger Crochet Throw
What to Bring
10 skeins of yarn in colors of your choice. The yarn weight is “7 Extra Bulky” and should be at least 300 grams per skein. (Example)
Difficulty Level:Medium-to-Hard
Time Commitment:More Than a Few Hours
Brooch Art
What to Bring
One large rectangular picture frame with a sturdy back and no glass. The frame shown is 12" × 18".
Fabric to cover the back of your project; velvet is a great option.
Selection of brooches and costume jewelry to match your frame. You’ll need a lot, so raid those old jewelry boxes!
Difficulty Level:Medium
Time Commitment:A Few Hours
Macramé Plant Hanger
What to Bring
Nothing! I have everything you need to make this one!
Difficulty Level:Easy
Time Commitment:About An Hour
Hand-Sewn Journal
What to Bring
Nothing! I have everything you need to make this one!
(Special fabric scraps are optional to help personalize your journal.)
Difficulty Level:Medium
Time Commitment:A Few Hours
Pom-Pom Wall Hanging
What to Bring
3–5 coordinating yarn colors, 2–3 skeins of each
Drapery rod, dowel, tree branch…anything from which to hang your pom-poms!
Difficulty Level:Easy
Time Commitment:A Few Hours
Book Mobile
What to Bring
8–10 paperbacks per strand, with each paperback being approximately 300 pages
Difficulty Level:Easy
Time Commitment:More Than a Few Hours
Book Paper Wreath
What to Bring
Nothing! I have everything you need to make this one!
Difficulty Level:Easy
Time Commitment:About An Hour
Map Mums
What to Bring
Nothing! I have everything you need to make this one!
Difficulty Level:Easy
Time Commitment:About An Hour
5 Magnificent Paper Mums
What to Bring
Nothing! I have everything you need to make this one!
Time Commitment:A Few Hours (if you make 5)
Library Wreath
What to Bring
10" or larger grapevine wreath
Difficulty Level:Medium
Time Commitment:A Few Hours
Framed Paper Flowers
What to Bring
One box frame (frame with tall, square sides)
Difficulty Level:Easy
Time Commitment:A Few Hours
Seed Savers Sunburst
What to Bring
Nothing! I have everything you need to make this one!
Difficulty Level:Easy
Time Commitment:A Few Hours
Happy Stack Bracelets
What to Bring
Enough semi-precious stones for 3 bracelets: approximately 22–25 8mm beads per bracelet
Difficulty Level:Easy
Time Commitment:An Hour Or So
Flight of Fancy
What to Bring
Nothing! I have everything you need to make this one!
Difficulty Level:High
Time Commitment:More Than a Few Hours
Herringbone Wall Hanging
What to Bring
A sturdy background substrate, like a thicker piece of plywood or a thick piece of Masonite
Difficulty Level:Easy
Time Commitment:A Few Hours
Cyanotype Sun Prints
What to Bring
Glass and backing from a recycled picture frame. (You don’t need the frame itself.)
This project requires sunshine and is weather-dependent
Difficulty Level:Easy
Time Commitment:About An Hour
Berry Knot Wall Hanging
What to Bring
4mm macramé cord totaling 328 yards or more
Difficulty Level:High
Time Commitment:More Than a Few Hours
Fancy Pants
What to Bring
Recycled picture frame with a sturdy back and no glass. The frame shown is 7" × 23"
Difficulty Level:Medium
Time Commitment:More Than a Few Hours
Optical Illusion
What to Bring
One large SQUARE picture frame with a sturdy back and no glass
6–7 books that are the same size and have the same page count; Readers Digest Condensed Books are ideal for this!
Black fabric to cover your background
Difficulty Level:Easy
Time Commitment:More Than a Few Hours
Free the Doilies
What to Bring
One large picture frame with a sturdy back and no glass
10–15 doilies of various sizes. If you have trouble finding some, please reach out!
Fabric to cover your background; black velvet makes a great choice
Difficulty Level:Easy
Time Commitment:A Few Hours
Sculpted & Folded Books
What to Bring
As many hardcover books as you’d like to fold, all roughly the same size. (Readers Digest Condensed Books are perfect for this!)
Difficulty Level:Easy
Time Commitment:A Few Hours (Up to many hours, depending on how many you want to make)
Tree of Life
What to Bring
One large picture frame with a sturdy back and no glass; the one shown is 16" × 20"
Background fabric of your choice (optional)
Difficulty Level:Medium
Time Commitment:A Few Hours
Illuminated Stories
What to Bring
Nothing! I have everything needed to make this one, except the twinkle lights. You can add those when you get home.
