When I first saw the promotional materials for The Creative Connection Event last year, my first thought was, “I don’t care if I don’t know anyone there and if I spend the whole time by myself, I’m doing this!” I begged my husband to give me a day at the event as my birthday present and I think he was relieved to not have to come up with a more creative idea. I ended up doing the Friday day-tripper and loved every minute. Although I felt the event was designed a little more people looking to create a career out of their craftiness, than people like me (I just enjoy learning new techniques and trying new things), I felt like I had found my tribe. There were so many creative, unique, and friendly personalities all together in one place. I discovered new favorites (like Lisa Leonard’s jewelry, the Farm Chicks and The Pioneer Woman) as well as got to hear from Amy Butler, already a favorite.
There were two big things that I brought home from the event though. The first was a new friend, Melanie and we still get together several times a month to craft, cook or just hang out. I feel like I’ve known her so much longer than the 9 months since we met.
The other big thing that came out of the event was a dream. I had an idea for a camp that would be similar to The Creative Connection Event, but for girls ages 11-14, a place to create, try and learn new things, make new friends, learn some cooking and crafting skills, and (because I am a youth minister) to connect with God. For the 9 months since that time, that dream became a reality called The Soul Sisterhood Retreat, and we just had our week at camp last week. The camp sold out in 3 weeks.
It was amazing and everything I hoped it would be. We kept a blog (sort of, as much as middle school girls blog) at www.thesoulsisterhoodretreat.blogger.com and also have a website: http://www.spdlc.org/soul-sisterhood-retreat. It was a very rewarding thing for me to see something that I dreamed become a reality–and a very popular and high demand one, at that. The girls didn’t want to go home and can’t wait for next year.
I felt like the Creative Connection Event was a place that fed my creative soul. Just being around other creative people opens up my own heart to dreaming and creating like nothing else!
~Amanda Berger, Plymouth, Minnesota
