I don’t know about you, but there are times that life gets in the way of other plans, especially the creative ones. Luckily, Milford Makes is coming to the rescue with their upcoming Cultivate and Create Retreat, a retreat designed to give attendees free reign to just sit, relax, and create with whatever medium gives them the most joy.
Cultivate and Create: A Restorative Retreat for Makers will take place on Saturday, October 10th, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Sticks and Stones Retreat Center in Newton, Connecticut. The venue is geared towards peace and serenity — something that is perfect when it comes time to tapping into creative energy. According to a press release sent out by Milford Makes, the event is “designed to give makers, artists, crafters, and creative hobbyists the opportunity to step away from everyday demands and reconnect with the joy of making.” These makers, the press release goes onto say include “knitting, crochet, quilting, sewing”, scrapbooking, journaling, painting, mixed media art, writing, and other creative pursuits.”
“This isn’t a retreat where you’re expected to finish a project or keep up with a schedule. It’s designed to be flexible. If you want to spend an hour quietly knitting, you can. If you’d rather join a nature walk, participate in the creative workshop, or simply enjoy conversations with other makers, that’s wonderful too,” says Jen Conlon, president of Milford Makes.
That being said, the event does have a few different activities should they perk interest. They include, according to Conlon, gentle chair yoga for makers led by Kelly Warters of Breathe, Calm Yoga; Meditative Creativity Workshop led by Tammy Theis Satterlee; and a herbal tea ritual led by Liz Garypie. In addition to that, there will also be chair massages offered as well. Despite these activities, there will be a plenty of opportunities for open creative time, just like the premise of the event promises. All activities, I believe foster the main goal of sparking and growing that creative side to all.
“Throughout the day, attendees will have generous blocks of Open Studio Time to work on their own creative projects while enjoying the company of fellow makers,” Conlon said. “They’ll also have opportunities to participate in guided nature walks, contribute to a collaborative community art project, or simply relax.”
In addition to the activities that planned throughout the day, there will be nourishing and delicious meals provided throughout the day by Chef Melissa of Kitchen Melissa, including breakfast and lunch.
However, Conlon wants to remind attendees that there is no set expectations for anyone attending.
“This isn’t a retreat where you’re expected to finish a project or keep up with a schedule. It’s designed to be flexible. If you want to spend an hour quietly knitting, you can. If you’d rather join a nature walk, participate in the creative workshop, or simply enjoy conversations with other makers, that’s wonderful too,” Conlon said.
This is the first retreat that Milford Makes is creating, and Conlon said the reception has been great so far.
“We’ve heard from people who have been looking for exactly this kind of experience, a creative retreat that’s less about learning a specific craft and more about taking time to recharge and create in community,” Conlon said.
There are 25 spots in the event, and space is limited. Conlon said that they are intentionally keeping the retreat small so it can “feel relaxed, welcoming, and personal.” The cost of the event is $250, and includes meals, snacks, and a goodie bag for participants to bring home.
One thing that Conlon really wanted to focus on however was the fact that without their sponsors, this event would not have been possible.
“We’re incredibly grateful to The Milford Bank, our Presenting Sponsor, whose support has helped make Cultivate & Create a reality. We’ve intentionally priced the retreat to cover the cost of the experience itself (including meals, materials, the retreat space, and our presenters) so the fundraising aspect of the event comes through the generous sponsorships and raffle donations provided by local businesses and organizations,” she said.
Furthermore, she added that without that community support, Milford Makes itself would not be possible.
“It’s been inspiring to see so many members of our community step forward to support this vision. Their generosity not only helps make this inaugural retreat special for our attendees, but also helps move Milford Makes closer to our long-term goal of creating a Creative Reuse Center and Makerspace where creativity, learning, and community can thrive year-round,” she said.
You can find more information or sign up for the event here.
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