Making Joy with Making Zen

There’s a certain sense of joy, presence, and possibility that comes over me when I sit down to make... and from what I can tell, most other makers feel the same. These feelings are what sparked the Making Zen Online Retreat in the very beginning, and what started as a simple desire to share that feeling has grown, over the past five years and nearly ten gatherings, into something much more expansive: a space where that joy is nurtured, shared, and multiplied, as thousands of makers come together to explore, experiment, and create in their own way.

Our very first gathering happened at the end of 2021, and it filled my heart with more joy than I knew it could carry; gathering those fifteen artists together and showcasing their talents, and seeing the joy and the passion it ignited in so many people, was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had. It’s not surprising that I couldn’t wait a whole year before starting to put another one together, using everything I’d learned to launch our next retreat in May of 2022.

^{The very first Making Zen poster from 2021, and the poster for my workshop from the retreat in May 2022.}

Over the last five years and nine events, the retreat has evolved a lot. What started out as a collection of about two dozen courses, including the VIP bonuses, has turned into something much bigger - and I don’t just mean what’s included in the VIP Pass, though that’s gotten bigger, too. 

We’ve built up this beautiful community of artists, inspirers, creators, and makers. Tens of thousands of people have joined us and let go of their creative inhibitions and supported each other in making beautiful things. We’ve learned, laughed, and made mistakes together. I’ve had the opportunity to sit down for virtual chats with dozens of artists, and you’ve had the opportunity to listen in and drink in their wisdom. The connection, depth, and community we have today goes beyond what I ever imagined was possible late in 2021.

^{A comment from inside our year-round Making Zen Facebook group}

Of course, the additions to the VIP Pass are important too - it means a lot to me that when people pay for this event, they are getting something really special. Each artist offers a little something extra for the VIPs, a special gift to help you explore their teaching a little further. There’s also a podcast in there, where you can listen to those conversations I had with the artists that I mentioned earlier. We’ve even added a small selection of fan-favourite workshops from the archives of past retreats to explore, PLUS we'll have a handful of VIP-exclusive live workshops, too. And of course, there is lifetime access to the workshops happening during the free retreat week.

I want this retreat, and especially the VIP Pass, to feel like a gift that’s been created for you. That’s why it really warms my heart when I get a comment like Lorelle’s, who says, “This experience is a gift to myself for my 59th Birthday on 22nd April. I really can't wait!”

^{Just some of the projects we'll be making during the Making Zen Online Retreat - see them all here!}

You don’t need to upgrade to enjoy the event, though. Each retreat, I hear from people who watched the free workshops and tried something they never would have experimented with on their own; people who didn’t think they’d have any interest in a topic, but who found a way to weave it into their practice; people who have been thinking about learning a new technique and got to try it out. And the idea that this can all happen because of Making Zen just gives me goosebumps.

I talk often about the ripple effects of making, and how sharing those joys with one person often leads to them sharing with others, who then share with others, and the joy ripples out. Making Zen has that same effect, but threefold - the artists who share their workshops have the joy of teaching their art; the makers who follow along get the joy of the process and of learning something new; and the people around the maker get the joy of seeing beautiful works in their day-to-day - and if they are lucky, maybe the joy of a handmade gift!

I hope you’ll experience some of this for yourself at our next retreat, coming up from 4-8 May 2026. This is going to be our 10th event, and we’ll have 40 artists sharing their skills - a long way from the 16 we started out with back in 2021! It’s a sense of community, curiosity, and creativity that you have to see to understand, so I hope you’ll register for free and start making some joy for yourself.