Creative Workshop Archives | Jessica's Photography

Creative Awakening 2019 | Creative Workshop in Northern Utah

July 31, 2019

Creative Awakening

This years Creative Awakening was such a beautiful day. I love hosting these creative retreats, I love planning them and teaching others how to do something that they haven’t done before. I am so passionate about creativity, I truly believe creative living is the secret to living a fulfilling and joyful life.

This year we were so lucky to have Cover & Co sponsor the workshop, everyone received one of their beautiful aprons! Follow their Instagram to get more info on when they will open their shop!

One of my favorite speakers said this quote and I live my life by it:

“The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before. Everyone can create. You don’t need money, position, or influence in order to create something of substance or beauty. Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment. We develop ourselves and others when we take unorganized matter into our hands and mold it into something of beauty… Remember that you are spirit daughters (and sons) of the most creative Being in the universe. Isn’t it remarkable to think that your very spirits are fashioned by an endlessly creative and eternally compassionate God? Think about it–your spirit body is a masterpiece, created with a beauty, function, and capacity beyond imagination. We were created with the express purpose and potential of experiencing a fulness of joy. Our birthright–and the purpose of our great voyage on this earth–is to seek and experience eternal happiness. One of the ways we find this is by creating things. You may think you don’t have talents, but that is a false assumption, for we all have talents and gifts, every one of us. The bounds of creativity extend far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano. Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before–colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter. What you create doesn’t have to be perfect. So what if the eggs are greasy or the toast is burned? Don’t let fear of failure discourage you. Don’t let the voice of critics paralyze you–whether that voice comes from the outside or the inside. If you still feel incapable of creating, start small. Try to see how many smiles you can create, write a letter of appreciation, learn a new skill, identify a space and beautify it.”

Dieter F Uchtdorf, Happiness Your Heritage, October 2008 General Conference

When I get stuck with trying to find creativity in my business I turn to making something with my hands. I love to experiment with all sorts of mediums, I love figuring out something new and it is so fun seeing the finished product whether it worked out or not. When I am in my busiest season in the summer, when I barely have time to get it all done I crave time to make something whether it is baking or sewing or gardening and as soon as I can create it makes the busy season doable and I am able to be refreshed!

This year for the workshop I taught how to naturally dye fabric, I had so much fun experimenting with different dyes when I was preparing for it. It was like magic seeing the results! For the dyes we used avocado pits and skins, hibiscus, alder cone, daffodils, walnut shells, marigold and a variety of herbs.

During the workshop we had so much fun playing with the different dyes and how so many things can affect the color outcome. Several people used dried hibiscus, and all of the colors came out so different. Changing the water source, adding vinegar or boiling it multiple times brought the most beautiful changes. I loved watching the excitement of this who attended.

In the afternoon I taught how to make ricotta gnocchi and fresh pasta. I have always had a passion for making fresh pasta, I started making it in high school and have continued to learn to make different varieties at home, I also took a class in Italy, which I need to do again! I love showing people how easy it can be to make and how it can change the flavors of your meal. I love how food in other countries brings people together, it is an event and it creates opportunities for family and friends to have memories. I think we need to create more food experiences in our culture, I can’t wait until I have a yard and a bigger place to host larger gatherings with family and friends.

As always we ended the day with a beautiful styled dinner, Amber Reverie created the most beautiful atmosphere for us to enjoy our meal. Nikkol with Refine Studio created the most amazing menus and recipe cards, I am so obsessed with them and need one for every meal that I do and every recipe that I cook! For dinner we started with charcuterie boards down the table and Caesar Salad. For the main dish we had Shrimp Scampi with fresh pasta, the pasta literally melts in your mouth! This is one of our favorite go to recipes, it is easy and so delicious! Margaret with Smackerel made the most amazing Lemon Cake, it was to die for! She came to my workshop last year, so I had to support her in her awesome business.

When I was trying to get the workshop to fill up, I had the hardest time until a week before. Throwing a big event like this is super stressful because of the cost of putting it on. A few weeks before the workshop I decided that this would be my last workshop for awhile, I hated announcing this, because I absolutely love doing them. If you have been interested in coming to one, please let me know, so that I can find ways to fill them up a little more, so I am not paying people to come create with me! 😉 I am taking a course currently to learn how to fill up an event, we will see if I am brave enough to try one more time. After the day was over this year, I truly can’t be done, because it brings me so much joy to teach and to see others create and be fulfilled. I will definitely try to keep going forward with more, I don’t know how it will be or when the next one will be. If you want them to continue, please email me so I can find ways to do it! And I would love to chat about you wanting to come.

If you are feeling stuck or unmotivated in your life, find something to bring you joy, find something to touch in your hands and transform, life is always better when you can create something. I love that I can share my talents with others, and hope you will do the same!

To view last years Creative Awakening, click here!

Creative Awakening

Photo from Michele Lee
Photo from Michele Lee

Photo from Michele Lee

Photo from Michele Lee
Photo from Michele Lee
Photo from Michele Lee
Photo from Michele Lee

Creative Awakening

This workshop was held in beautiful Bear Lake, in Garden City, Utah. The Farmhouse at Bear Lake was the perfect place for a retreat! The property was so beautiful and the kitchen was so dreamy to cook in. There was so much space for all of our activities and enough rooms for anyone that wanted to stay the night. I would go back to this venue in a heart beat and I am trying to get my extended family to stay here for our annual Bear Lake trip!! It would be big enough for my large extended family! They fill up fast for the summer, contact them to book your next trip or workshop!

A Creative Awakening

March 18, 2019

Last year I hosted my first workshop, I didn’t want it to be like other workshops. There are so many amazing workshops and photographers to learn from, I have loved the ones that I have attended. My entire life I have been a creative. I started at a young age making things, I remember when I was 6 or 7 I crocheted a little blanket for my dolls. I loved to get my hands on anything that I could transform into something different. Through the years I have tried all sorts of projects, I love to learn something new, or to create a pattern. Some of my main hobbies right now are sewing, cooking, baking, leather making, gardening, and knitting. I go through phases and I do not do them all at one time. Every time I try something new, I get all into it and I love learning about all of the different ways and I make mistakes and I learn how to get around those mistakes. There is something so magical about creating something, I think it is good for the soul to explore creative outlets.

I have been a professional photographer for over 14 years now. I know a lot of my early years in business I had a lot to learn and to improve on. And I still am learning new things and becoming a better photographer. In those 14 years, I have never hated photography, I have never wanted a break from shooting, I have always wanted more. This doesn’t mean I haven’t struggled with staying on top of business areas or finding ways to market or have been frustrated. But I have never complained about photography as my craft. Too often I hear how photographers or creatives are burned out, and I always feel bad that they have to experience the burnout feeling. I have been able to stay out of that area, by exploring other artistic outlets. When I quilt or dye fabric, I am being inspired in my photography. I am thinking of ways to improve or change. I always end up finding a way to photograph the process or the end result.

A lot of people tell me how they could never do what I do, or make something that I have made. I may have a lot of experience, but everyone can do something with practice. I had someone once tell me they wanted to give up on something because my project was better, she had just started and I started when I was 10. I felt so bad after she told me that, I don’t want people to quit because of other peoples successes, I want to teach people skills so that they can have satisfaction in what they can achieve. For the last 5 years, I have held a little wreath night, and I invite family, friends, neighbors, Instagram friends anyone that wants to come. Everyone that comes for the first time has never made a wreath and they are all intimidated when they begin and they all comment how they are not going to be able to do it. But every person that has come has created a beautiful wreath and they always leave so satisfied and happy with themselves. I want more people to feel this. I want to teach people how to feel the joy from creating. When I started coming up with the idea of my workshop, my goal wasn’t to earn money, it was to teach people to find their creativity interests and to pursue those things. Not to make it a career, but to give themselves an outlet from their business or from ordinary life.

My creative workshop, A Creative Awakening will be held on April 16th, 2019 in beautiful Bear Lake. It will be a full day of creating and inspiring each other! The day will begin at 10:00 am and go until 8:00 pm. We will first start with learning how to use natural dyes to dye fabric. Each attendee will be able to dye 6 linen napkins that can be used for your next dinner part, or to style in photo shoots. I have been amazed at some of the colors that I have been able to create from ordinary food and foliage. You will also go home with all of the tools to continue to experiment with natural color dying. We will then break for a light lunch and then start into learning how to make homemade gnocchi and other pasta shapes. This is one of my favorite things, I know that it sounds like a lot of work, but when you are creating the shapes it really is relaxing and the taste is just so good! We will end the dinner with a fancy dinner, with shrimp scampi and homemade pasta! Amber Reverie will be styling the dinner and you won’t want to miss out. She creates such a beautiful atmosphere where we can talk and discuss ways creativity can influence your business or life. You will go away from the day inspired and ready to go back to business and maybe it will be something you want to keep pursuing or it will inspire you to look into something else.

I would love for you to join me! Tuesday, March 19th, is the last day for early pricing. Right now it is $350 for the entire day and on Wednesday it goes up to $425. Head to this link to secure your seat! Can’t wait to meet you!

If you are coming from out of town, no worries there are options to stay over night on the 15th and the 16th for just $50 per night! If you choose to stay the night the party will continue all night! Click here for the options to stay over. And if you have a certain diet, don’t worry I will create a specific meal just for you! I want you to feel like you can still come!

Creative Workshop

Above images are film, shot with a Pentax 645nii with Fuji Pro400H film and developed by The Find Lab.
Creative Workshop

“I firmly believe that we all need to find something to do in our lives that stops us from eating the couch. Whether we make a profession out of it or not, we all need an activity that is beyond the mundane and takes us out of our established and limiting roles in society. We all need something that helps us forget ourselves for awhile—-to momentarily forget our age, our gender, our socioeconomic background, our duties, our failures, and all that we have lost and screwed up. We need something that takes us so far out of ourselves that we forget to eat, forget to mow the lawn, forget to resent our enemies, forget to brood over our insecurities. Prayer can do it for us, community service can do it, exercise can do it—but creative living can do it, too. By completely absorbing our attention for a short and magical spell, it can relieve us temporarily from the dreadful burden of being who we are. Best of all, at the end of your creative adventure, you have a souvenir—- something that you made, something to remind you forever of your brief but transformative encounter with inspiration.”

Elizabeth Gilbert, “Big Magic”

A Creative Awakening 2019 | A Creative and Photographer Workshop

February 12, 2019

Photography Workshop

A Creative Awaking is now open for Registration! I can’t even wait! I am so excited about all that we will be doing! To sign up click here!! If you want to stay the night, it will be $50 for each additional night. Click here to book one or two nights. Workshop will take place at Bear Lake Farm House, in Garden City, UT.

Here are the photos from last years workshop! It was so amazing! Flowers by the talented Amber Reverie.

Early Pricing will expire soon!

Every person has something creative within them, we all have talents, we all have the desire to create something out of nothing. I truly believe as we create, something inside of us is unlocked and transformed. Creativity creates a magical joy that can’t be found anywhere else. When I make something, I am inspired in my personal life and in my business. I love to do and try all sorts of hobbies and arts. But what I really love is teaching others that they can do the same thing, some arts may take longer to accomplish and develop, but the practice of creating is good for the soul.

I am so excited to be hosting this workshop for the second time, last year was so amazing and I can’t wait for what this year will hold!

Come away with me to a beautiful cabin in Garden City, Utah (Bear Lake) and enjoy a day of creation and inspiration. The day will begin with a light lunch and introductions. We will start the day off with learning how to dye fabric, we will be using all natural dyes. We can experiment with Avocado pits and skins, and walnut shells, pomegranate skins, herbs and foliage. I can’t wait to see everyones creation. We will be making a set of 6 linen napkins. The linen napkins will be finished with a rolled edge and will be beautiful for any event. The colors are so beautiful! The dyes will have to sit for the rest of the day.

After we have started the dying process we will learn how to make homemade Gnocchi, it is one of my favorite things to make, it is so soothing and the gnocchi is so beautiful. While we are making the gnocchi I will have set ups for you to practice some food photography. We will learn about different lighting techniques and fun ways to style.

To end we will be enjoying a fancy dinner and of course we will photograph all the pretty details before we eat. Amber Reverie will be coming again to do the florals, she is so amazing!! Menu will be announced closer to the workshop date.

During the dinner and through out the day we will be talking about creativity and how it can help you in your life and profession. This workshop is not just for photographers, it is open to anyone that desires to be creative and inspired. I will be an open book about my success in photography for over 14 years and how I have stayed in love with my craft throughout the years. I truly love what I do, it is a part of me and I know it is because I have let myself live a creative life.

The workshop will begin at 10 am and go to 8:00 pm, there are options to stay over because of the time. Each night will be an additional $50. If you choose to stay the night we can stay up and talk and create as long as we would like. In the morning we can go on a walk around beautiful Bear Lake. Depending on the interest I may host a mini workshop on Monday the 15th.

Click this link to sign up today!

Creative Awakening 2019 | Creative Workshop in Northern Utah

A Creative Awakening

A Creative Awakening 2019 | A Creative and Photographer Workshop

Let’s Connect

Recent Posts

Welcome