As we put the finishing touches on our preparations for next spring, we wanted to give you a chance to see what we have going on in regard to all the fun to be had. This week’s “sneak peeks” include more from our sample pieces for The Canvas of Curiosities, and some examples of what we think of as our signature offering; the magic that happens when creative souls gather.

To jumpstart your creativity, or to expand beyond your comfort zone, have you ever thought about new uses for old favorite supplies or techniques? We’ve been discovering some cool ways to do that: working with a brand new (to us) type of paper in familiar and sometimes surprising ways; substituting one medium for another in an age-old technique and getting great results; featuring a technique previously used in jewelry-making on canvas: using kindergarten-era art supplies in astounding and very successful ways—all of these experiences and more await you in our haven by the sea, March 19—23!

We cherish the fact that Your Creative Connection does not curate “follow the teacher” events. Our Creative Explorers do not come away from their time with us with work looking exactly like the samples we present. Rather, each woman creates, according to her own vision, interests, and desires, which means that even though we all begin with the same materials and instructions, the resulting work is always unique to its creator. This magical phenomenon happens every time we gather, from our first Seaside Sessions event in 2020 (that idyllic time just before the world shut down due to the pandemic):

**Unique concertina 2020 books, created using all of the same materials.**

to the beautiful book boxes created during Seaside Sessions 2023:

to our fabulous flag books and peace flags last March:

**Just a few of the peace flags created in March 2024.**

Have we gotten your creative wheels turning? Have we enticed you to join us in March? Or, do you need more information before you decide? If you’re ready now, please head over to our Seaside Sessions 2025 page to begin the journey.
If you’d like more information or have a question, leave us a comment on this post, or better yet, join us for our first ever Facebook LIVE question and answer event on Monday, January 13th. Full details on that event to come soon, so watch this space!

Until next time,

Michelle

As we put the finishing touches on our preparations for next spring, we wanted to give you a chance to see what we have going on in regard to all the fun to be had. So, this week and next, we are offering some “sneak peeks” as well as some additional information about the concept for our next gathering.

As previously reported, Seaside Sessions 2024 was The Year of the Monoprint - everything from our opening night Arty Party through two full days of Creative Sessions was all about gel printing. Next year, we are ushering in The Canvas of Curiosities. I can almost hear the head scratching and a chorus of “…but what does it mean!?”

*Domenico Remps, Cabinet of Curiosities (c. 1690) from an excellent article on the subject at Sotheby’s Institute of Art (https://www.sothebysinstitute.com/news-and-events/news/cabinets-of-curiosities-and-the-origin-of-collecting*)

In much the same way cabinets of curiosity (also known as wunderkammern or “wonder-rooms”) were used throughout 16th century Europe, we will gear our time together toward the creation of an entirely-unique-to-you canvas wall hanging that will incorporate a host of mixed media techniques shared throughout the course of the retreat. Think of it as a way to visually compile everything that you learn and/or encounter during your creative explorations by the sea!

Just as cabinets of curiosity were products of an era of exploration and discovery, our works will encapsulate the combined offerings of our Creative Sessions in a visual feast of mixed media methodology. In addition to serving as a virtual catalog of techniques, they will also allow us to include natural elements from our ocean front surroundings to more fully document your experience: seashells, feathers, sea glass, smooth stones, and more.

We will work with paper, fabric, fibers, inks, paints, and more as we create in view of the sea. Above are a few glimpses of the preparations under way for Seaside Sessions 2025. Want to see more? Mark your calendar and plan now to join us on January 13th for our 1st ever Facebook LIVE presentation. We’ll have The Big Reveal and answer your questions! (Time to be announced after our poll closes). If you’ve been curious about Seaside Sessions and the offerings of Your Creative Connection, this is your chance!

Has this Sneak Peek piqued your interest? There are still a few open seats for our magical, mixed-media gathering! Join us by registering today. Meet us back here for another look behind the curtain next week with Michelle.

Until then, stay creative!
~ Penny & Michelle