Making Zen is Back! 4th - 8th May 2026

 

 

Great News Making Zen Online Retreat will be back again from 4th - 8th May!!

Once again it will be a lot of stitched and creative fun! It is hosted by Kate at Zen Stitching and if you have participated before you know that there are lots of fantastic lessons that will inspire you during the retreat.

Examples of my textile arts

If you are not familiar with Making Zen, it is a textile-arts-focused retreat gathering approx. 35-40 artists to host one workshop each over the course of five days, and those workshops are totally free for anyone to watch for a limited time. It is an opportunity to get inspired, connect with new friends and artists, and improve your craft!

Some of the topics on the retreat will cover topics like:

🧵Using your art journaling as a tool for reflection

🧵 Making marks on fabric

🧵 Creating low waste projects

There is so much more for you to take in, and you walk away with new techniques that you can apply to your own practice. I have been blessed to be on both sides of the coin - as a teacher in several retreats and a student. I aways come away feeling inspired and thoroughly enjoy the retreat - While I am not teaching this time, I will definitely be doing the sessions, and I will be sharing some of the things that I have created during this and previous retreats over the next few weeks.

You can register for free HERE

Mark your calendar - It all happens from 4-8 May - which is just round the corner. Once you register you will find lots of information available - FAQs and a full list of the speakers presenting during the retreat.

This retreat is going to be a lot of fun, and a great way to improve your craft or learn a new one. I hope to see you there!

Material Musings - Feeling Out of Sorts

 

Welcome to Material Musings

There are some months where we get out of our normal rhythm, especially when you have a lot going on or your usual creative routine shifts when unexpected things happen.

I like having a routine, it helps keep me focused, and one of the things that I didn't really feel like doing was slow stitching or tackling some of the many projects' calling out to me - I knew that something was up. 

When you are feeling out of sorts the best thing to do is small tasks and not big, complicated tasks that won't get your full attention. Sorting through my fabric always bring calm and I recently received some offcuts from a seamstress neighbor and while they are manmade fabrics that I don't want to end up in the landfill, as I sat with them lots of ideas came flowing for possible projects.

That is the way it is sometimes. So, if you have been feeling 'Off' a little, perhaps it time to think about some of those smaller ideas that you are working on or just sit a while with your supplies. Check out the video to see some of the ideas I came up with.

Creative Archive - Mixed Media Digital Art Papers - April

This month sees the launch of my Realityarts Creative Archive, a monthly collectable set of digital art papers. Each month a new set of papers are released across 4 tiers - Sampler, Studio, Collector, and Atelier.

This month's Sampler Edition for April 2026 available for FREE until 30th April.

Heritage & Time - April Papers

The papers in the Sampler Edition are Free to access for the month of April and gives you the opportunity to use sample and use the papers in your art journals or creative projects. To access the papers you need to join my FREE Tier on Patreon. 

I also share projects that you can do with the papers in your art journals and creative projects each month.

As a FREE member you get access to the monthly digital papers, and see early release posts and member exclusive posts, see some of the behind-the-scenes videos, hints and tips and more, this is a great way to spend some time on yourself and do something creative. You can join us HERE

Here are the other papers across the tiers for this month, these are available for purchase, or you can join the Tier and receive the monthly resources that come with that tier and also access over 900 videos, digital art and posts:

Island & Nature - April Papers

Women & Memory - April Papers

Pattern & Structure - April Papers

Come and join us and enjoy using them in your creative projects. 

Stay Blessed and be a blessing.

Eco Creative Summit - A simple way to reset your Creative Practice

 

WHEN YOUR CRAFT SPACE FEELS OVERWHELMING

If the idea of crafting sustainably feels more overwhelming than inspiring, remind yourself that:

• You don't need to overhaul your entire creative practice.
• You don't need expensive specialist equipment.
• You don't need a weekend marathon crafting session.

Most crafting advice assumes unlimited time, budget, and supplies, and real life rarely works that way - what can you do in 15 minutes?.

I'm excited to share the Eco-Creative Summit, a free online event designed for those who want to create sustainably without the overwhelm and buying a whole load of supplies.

This isn't about perfection, it is about building simple, eco-friendly creative habits that actually stick and find out some great ways to reuse, recycle and repair.

Inside, you'll learn: 

• Botanical printing & natural dyeing techniques  
• Wet felting and upcycling methods
• Zero-waste creative habits you can start today
• How to repurpose everyday materials beautifully
• Real-life sustainable crafting for all skill levels

Here are the Summit Guides

The Eco Creative Summit is on Tuesday 21st April and Wednesday 22 April 2026

You can reserve your FREE spot HERE

P.S. Busy during summit week?  The VIP All-Access Pass gives you lifetime access to every workshop plus exclusive eco-creative bonus resources, so you can learn and create at your own pace. 👉 LEARN MORE HERE