Making Zen: The May 2025 Online Retreat

There is something so special about creating something with your hands. It's almost addictive - you get hooked on it and want to keep coming back.

If you've ever wished for a quiet week dedicated to getting your making fix—filled with fabric, thread, gentle inspiration, and no pressure to get things perfect—you’re going to love what’s in store.

The Making Zen Online Retreat is five days of creativity, mindfulness, and connection, featuring 32 workshops from artists around the world. Whether you’re a seasoned maker or just rediscovering the joy of crafting, this retreat offers a chance to slow down, experiment with new techniques, and gather with a global community of like-minded creatives.

To help you explore what’s on offer, we’ve curated workshops in six loose themes. Think of them as starting points, not boundaries—many sessions cross categories, just like a good creative practice often does!

Projects

Sometimes, the most satisfying thing is completing something from start to finish. These workshops guide you through hands-on projects that are as practical as they are beautiful.

• Ellie Beck – Soft Keepsake: Roll-Up Felt and Silk Pouch

• Jody Alexander – Book + Bag: A Traveling Kit

• Margeaux Davis – Sewing Fabric Mushroom Ornaments

• Mirjam Gielen – Mini Felt Pumpkin and Apple

• Ruth Woods – Embroidered Arch Cushion

• Trixi Symonds – Spirit Owls

   

Intuitive

Let go of rules and stitch from the heart. These workshops invite you to explore spontaneity, embrace imperfection, and trust your inner creative compass.

• Andrea Tsang Jackson – Colouring with Your Scraps

• Jen Strauser – Mini Stitched Landscapes

• Jessica Swift – Art-Making and Your Intuition

• Tiffany Smith – Up-Cycled Belt Bag with Printed Fabric

• Karen Turner – Zero-Waste Stitching

Scrap Fabric Projects

One of the most powerful things we can do as makers is work with what we already have. These workshops celebrate the magic of transformation, using offcuts and leftovers in imaginative, joyful ways.

• Giovanna Zara – Fabric Scraps Funky Bracelet

• Ann Smith – Stitching a Fabric Scrap Hummingbird

• Lisa Goddard – Recycled Fabric Bracelets with Image Transfer Buttons

• Selina Ben – Unwritten Scrap Puzzle Pouch

• Victoria Martinez Azaro – Making Patch Pockets with Fabric Scraps

Explorations

These workshops are perfect for curious creatives. Whether it's exploring a traditional cultural technique, diving into the mindfulness and spirituality of creativity, or dipping your toe into zero-waste making, these workshop allow you to deepen your understand and your connection to your practice.

• Natalia Olefirenko – Embroidered Traditions: Stitch & Assemble a Ukrainian-Inspired Pysanka Egg

• Saima Kaur – Phulkaris from Punjab

• Emma Freeman – Deepening Your Creative Practice with Oracle Cards

• Kate Ward – Mindful Mountain Stitch Pin Cushion

• Liz Haywood – Making a Zero-Waste Humpty Dumpty Toy

   

Embroidery Technique

For those who want to hone their stitch skills or try something new, these workshops dive into unique embroidery approaches—from classic embellishment to thread painting and floral appliqué.

• Betz White – Mend and Embellish with Needle Felting and Embroidery

• Blair Stocker – Chicken Scratch Embroidered Needlebook

• Erin Eggenburg – Chance & Choice Embroidery Sampler

• Pippa Haynes – Thread Painting: Creating Movement in Your Stitching

• Yasmeen Branton – Create Your Own Unique Floral Hand Appliqué Pattern

Beyond Stitching

These sessions step outside of needle-and-thread tradition while still embracing the core values of Making Zen: intentionality, beauty in the everyday, and the joy of making something with your hands. Explore paper, macramé, knitting, natural dye, and more.

• Casey Turner – Paint, Paper and Journal Making

• Isabella Strambio – Macrame Butterfly Necklace

• Liz Kettle – Easy Tray Dyeing

• Liza Laird – Intentional Knitting: A Bolster Project

• Rebecca Desnos – Eco-printing on Paper

• Lisa Agaran – Weaving Remnants with Intention 

   

Whether you stitch to soothe, create to connect, or just want to try something new, there’s something here for you. You can follow your curiosity, make space for calm, and come away with fresh inspiration—and perhaps a finished project or two!

The Making Zen Online Retreat runs from May 26–30, 2025 - register for your free ticket here!

All workshops are free to watch for 24 hours after release, or you can upgrade to the VIP Pass for extended access and special gifts from the artists.