Winter Whimsy Creative Retreat

December 12, 2026
10 am - 5:30 pm

Fun, whimsical crafts | Mountain views | Creative community

At this full day retreat, guests will learn new crafts, meet likeminded creative spirits, and relax at a cozy historic home in the heart of Virginia’s wine country.

a day away

take it easy

This retreat is for you if you’re looking to slow down, take time for yourself, and enjoy learning new crafts in the middle of what can be a difficult or busy season.

Whimisical crafts

Turn fluffy, unspun wool into an ornament during the needle felting workshop, which you can use for holiday decorating (or regular home decor).

Later in the day, learn how to embroider directly onto photographs to make them special to you. Choose from wintery, vintage pre-selected photos or bring your own.

planned with intention

As with all of Meadow’s retreats, this is an all-inclusive day that you just need to show up to. We’ll have plenty of food and drinks, craft supplies, and more, and all workshop supplies are included.

In addition to creating crafts, this retreat is also about creating moments for you to rest, find connection, and be inspired. We’ll set intentions for the day, the holiday season, and the year ahead. Communal activities like orange garlands and s’mores, along with plenty of quiet nooks in the house and grounds to have a peaceful moment, give room for both socialization and rest.

If you’ve been looking for a way to find the time and space for your creative practice (and to add a little joy), I hope you’ll join us.

The Location

Cozy getaway near Washington, DC. Kitchen table for creative retreat.

This retreat will take place in a beautiful, 250 year old stone house in Hillsboro, VA, about an hour to an hour and a half from DC.

Historic home

Indoor and outdoor spaces to relax

Accommodations nearby for the night or weekend, if desired

Historic beauty

Cozy Crafting Spaces

Three fireplaces

Sunroom

Everything you need to feel comfortable

Nature views

Backyard patio space with fire pit and s’mores (weather allowing)

Chickens and farm-fresh eggs

In Virginia’s wine country

The crafts

Embroidered Photographs

During this 2-hour workshop, embroidery artist Kasey Foley (@kaseyfolio) will teach you to embroider directly onto photographs, using thread to add detail, emphasis, and personal meaning. You're welcome to bring your own photo to stitch or choose from Kasey's curated selection. You'll walk away with a hand-stitched photo and a technique you can use on gift tags, postcards, tickets, greeting cards, and any other paper ephemera you want to personalize. Come stitch, connect, and unwind at this cozy workshop. All experience levels welcome!

What's included:

Instruction in photo embroidery techniques
A curated selection of wintery, vintage photographs to stitch on (or bring your own)
All materials needed during the workshop
A take-home photo embroidery kit.

NEEDLE FELTING

Learn the basics of needle felting and create an adorable ornament to add a bit of whimsy to your home - or to gift to a loved one!

Meadow Creative Retreats founder Mia will introduce you to needle felting, which is sometimes referred to as sculpting and painting with wool. Using felting needles and wool roving, you’ll sculpt an ornament and add a decorative motif.

This technique can be used to create brooches, earrings, figurines, and much more.

full Itinerary

Coming soon

What's Included

7.5 hours of programming
Embroidered photograph workshop
Take-home embroidery kit
Needle felted ornament workshop
All workshop supplies
Community craft supplies
Lunch (combination of locally catered and homemade - accommodation to dietary restrictions possible)
Non-alcoholic drinks
Snacks throughout the day
Orange garland making
S’mores and use of fire pit (weather allowing)
Indoor and outdoor spaces for crafting
At least three finished pieces to take home
A welcoming group of likeminded people
Photos of special moments
A small welcome gift
Creative inspiration
Memories and skills you can take back with you

Experience Details

December 12, 2026

Date

10 am - 5:30 pm

Time

Registration opens September 30 at 10 am. Early bird will be available until October 14 or until four tickets are sold.

Payment plans available at checkout.

$350 Standard | $300 early bird

Pricing

Instructors

Kasey Foley

Guest Instructor, Embroidered Photography

Kasey Foley, Ph.D., is an Alexandria, Virginia–based artist working in embroidered photography. She hand-stitches into found, archival, and personal photographs, using color and thread to explore memory, intimacy, and connection. Kasey exhibits throughout the Washington, DC region and teaches embroidery workshops under her studio practice, Kaseyfolio (@kaseyfolio). She'll be guiding you through the fundamentals of photo embroidery - from threading a needle to adding your first stitches. No experience necessary!

Mia Concilus

Mia is the founder of Meadow Creative Retreats. She is a serial hobbyist, artist and workshop teacher, and lover of the outdoors. She can be contacted with any questions before or after the retreat at mia@meadowcreativeretreats.com.

For the Winter Whimsy retreat, Mia will be leading attendees in a needle felting workshop, as well as through the general flow of the day.

Coordinator, Meadow Creative Retreats Founder

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The exact workshops vary depending on the retreat, but we are particularly inspired by vintage and traditional craft themes, such as printmaking, stained glass, crochet, and more. Be sure to check the detail page for your retreat to know exactly what you’ll learn.
We also have a supply of basic craft materials for you to use during open craft time, such as watercolors, magazines, stamps, markers, etc.
Retreat itineraries are always optional and you’re encouraged to have the type of day you want to have - even if that’s just solo crafting (or something else) the whole day!
We keep our retreats small so everyone can get to know each other. Each retreat will have 6 - 10 people.
We welcome adults of any gender identity, race/ethnicity, ability, and sexual orientation. We strive to provide a safe space for all to create.
Absolutely. Guests are welcome to come on their own, and the day is intentionally designed to feel welcoming and easy to step into. There are natural opportunities to engage with others, along with plenty of space for solo creative time if that’s more your thing.
No prior art experience is needed. Whether you have never picked up a paintbrush or have your own thriving art practice, you’ll be able to learn, connect, and create.
Everything - all you need to do is show up! You can check the event page for the retreat you are interested in for specific details, but in general, workshops with all materials, additional craft supplies for experimenting with, meal(s), snacks, and non-alcoholic drinks are included with every retreat.
At this time, transportation is not included in retreat registrations.
We do our best to balance flexibility with the advance planning that retreats require. You have 14 days after your booking to receive a full refund. Payment plans are also an option for additional flexibility.
After 14 days, you have until 30 days before the retreat to receive a 50% refund of what you have paid. Cancellations and bookings made less than 30 days from the retreat are non-refundable. However, we are always willing to work with you to transfer a credit to another event.
Yes - take a look at the Special Events page for more information!
You can sign up and learn more information at our Work With Us page.
Still have questions? You can reach us anytime via our contact page or email (mia@meadowcreativeretreats.com). We aim to respond quickly—usually within one business day.