A Gathering of Creatives | The Art of Resting

I HAD THE WONDERFUL PRIVILEGE OF HELPING TO HOST THIS FALL'S > A GATHERING OF CREATIVES < EVENT WITH ABIGAIL TROYER & KENDRA MILLER IN OHIO. IT IS A GROUP CREATED TO REFRESH, SUPPORT, ENCOURAGE & TEACH CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURS WHERE COMMUNITY IS NOT COMPETITION BUT A GROWING FORCE! 
AT OUR FIRST GATHERING, REBECCA MILLER OF, REBECCA'S BISTRO SAID, "IT IS IMPERATIVE TO FIND PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING." IT WAS LOVELY TO GATHER AGAIN IN THE FALL & CELEBRATE THE COMING SEASON.

White Barn Gatherings // VENUE

WE GATHERED AT THIS BEAUTIFUL VENUE > THE WHITE BARN GATHERINGS < NEWLY BUILT & FURNISHED TO HOST GROUPS & EVENTS IN DUNDEE, OHIO. WE COULD NOT HAVE RECEIVED WARMER CARE OR A BETTER SLATE TO CREATE ON. THE INSIDE IS CLAD WITH SIMILAR WHITE & BLACK DETAILS AND BIG OPEN SPACES! THE KITCHEN FULLY FURNISHED WITH 50 MATCHING ENAMELWARE PLACE SETTINGS & COOKWARE. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A  PLACE TO HOST YOUR BANQUET OR EVENT, LOOK NO FURTHER.

THEME // The Art of Resting

WE CHOSE "THE ART OF REST" AS THE THEME FOR THIS GATHERING AS WE ARE CLOSING A SEASON AND ENTERING INTO A SLOWER ONE. WE ALL KNOW THAT IT IS HARD FOR AN ENTREPRENEURS TO SLOW DOWN AND TAKES INTENTIONAL EFFORT, BUT IS SO INCREDIBLY NEEDED. SO WE FOCUSED OUR EFFORTS AROUND CREATING SOLUTIONS FOR MAINTAINING BALANCE WITH OURSELVES & FAMILIES.

“When you get tired, learn TO REST, not to quit.”

— Banksy

Tiffany Reiff & Red Mug // COFFEE & HEADSHOTS

THE MORNING STARTED OUT WITH COFFEE FROM RED MUG COFFEE COMPANY, BAGELS & TIME TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER WHILE WE TOOK TURNS GETTING STYLED BY KATIE YODER (MAKEUP) & ANNIE MILLER (HAIR) FOR HEADSHOTS WITH TIFFANY REIFF DESIGNS. TIFFANY WAS ALSO THE EVENT PHOTOGRAPHER (WHO TOOK ALL OF THESE GORGEOUS PHOTOS! / I INCLUDED A FEW OF MY OWN, WHICH I'LL NOTE). TIFFANY IS ONE OF THE KINDEST, MOST EFFICIENT PHOTOGRAPHERS & APART OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE LOVE HER.

PC // (Above & Bottom Right) SHYLA YODER

// GIFTS

GUESTS WERE GREETED WITH WELCOME BASKETS FILLED WITH ABIART CREATIVE NOTEBOOKS, FLORAL SNIPS, A SEASONAL SCENTSATIONAL CANDLE & MATCHES & A SPRING DAFFODIL BULB.

REST by Ruby Yoder // SESSION 1

RUBY YODER, WIFE OF SAM YODER (OWNER OF BERLIN GARDENS/ PASTOR OF GOSPEL HAVEN CHURCH) SHARED WITH US A WEALTH OF WISDOM ON CREATING SPACE TO REST. SOME OF MY FAVORITE POINTS SHE SHARED ON THE SUBJECT WERE, "THE FIRST STEP TO REST IS RELEASE/ WE MUST OPEN OUR HANDS; EXHALE AND LET GO BEFORE WE CAN REST." & "REST IS NOT SLEEP, REST IS WHAT YOU DO TO MAKE YOUR SLEEP SWEET."

GATHERING AROUND THE TABLE // Rebecca’s Bistro

TO ME THERE IS NOTHING BETTER THAN GATHERING AROUND A TABLE WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE. IT'S COMFORTING, PUTS THE HEART AT EASE, HEALS & NOURISHES -  IT IS AT THE HEART OF COMMUNITY. 

WE SET A TABLE WITH SEASONAL DECORATIONS.. FORAGED & DRIED FLORA, PLACED THEM IN APOTHECARY BOTTLES, SPREAD FRUIT...POMEGRANATE, PLUMS & PEARS, & LIT TALL WHEAT COLORED CANDLES. ABI, KENDRA & I SERVED A MEAL HANDMADE BY REBECCA MILLER (REBECCA'S BISTRO), FIRST CORNBREAD SALAD, THEN BOWLS OF PUMPKIN APPLE BACON & TOMATO BASIL SOUP WITH HERBAL CROISSANTS. FOLLOWING A LONG CHAT - DESSERT.. BY ABIGAIL'S MUM.. HONEY ALMOND PEAR & RUSTIC APPLE GALETTE'S FRESH OUT OF THE OVEN WITH SCOOPS OF CINNAMON ICE CREAM MELTING ON TOP.

Discussion Groups // AFTERNOON

THE AFTERNOON BEGAN WITH DISCUSSION GROUPS, LED BY LORENE  STUTZMAN & MYSELF. WE DISCUSSED TOPICS AROUND INSTILLING THE ART OF REST INTO OUR OWN LIVES & BUSINESSES  - INCLUDING BEING IN CHARGE OF OUR OWN LIVES/ A PASSAGES FROM PRESENT OVER PERFECT BY SHAUNA NIEQUIST/ HOW TO TAKE CARE OF OUR BODIES & WHEN TO SAY NO TO CREATIVE ENDEAVORS.

Wreath Making & Foraging by Root Design Co. // WORKSHOP

LARONDA & ROSITA OF ROOT DESIGN CO. LED OUR AFTERNOON WORKSHOP > WREATH MAKING. THEY OWN A FLOWER FARM & DESIGN COMPANY IN CAMBRIDGE, OHIO WHERE THEY GROW A FEILD OF GORGEOUS BLOOMS & SHARE THE JOURNEY GENEROUSLY WITH FRIENDS & COMMUNITY ONLINE. THEY BROUGHT ARMFULS OF BEAUTIFUL GRASSES, DRIED GREENS & TEXTURAL BLISS ALONG WITH VINE WREATS & FLORAL WIRE FOR US TO CREATE WITH. THEY STARTED OUT INSPIRING US WITH IDEAS & SHOWING US THE MECHANICS BEFORE SENDING US OUT TO PICK OUR OUR PIECES AND FORAGE MORE. IT WAS WONDERFUL FUN.

Hillcrest Orchard Cider & Salties // AFTERNOON SNACK

A GATHERING OF CREATIVES

THIS IS US. WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR EACH GROUP WE GET TO KNOW AND THE COMMUNITY THAT GROWS EACH YEAR. ALL OUR WELCOME. IF YOU ARE A CREATIVE ENTREPRENEUR & NEED SUPPORT WE HOPE YOU'LL JOIN & THAT WE CAN CONNECT YOU TO ONE ANOTHER.

THANK-YOU SINCERELY FROM KENDRA, ABI & I TO EACH ONE THAT MADE THIS EVENT LOVELY, POSSIBLE & A SUCCESS. SEE YOU NEXT TIME!

EVENT SPONSORS

WHITE BARN GATHERINGS
REBECCA'S BISTRO
TIFFANY REIFF PHOTOGRAPHY
ROOT DESIGN CO.