Day 1

The crew packed into the van, campers chasing a getaway escape in Decorah, Iowa. First stop: Hobby Lobby. An endless stretch of glitter, paint, and decor. The crew scattered, hunting for whatever odd materials spoke to them. Some grabbed stickers, Others found beads, markers, or fabric they had no idea what to do with… yet.

A slow drive through rolling farmland led us to the Airbnb. A house right on the corner of water street. The place has enough room to breathe, spread out, and make a mess. Dinner was pizza.

The night was about setting intentions. Journals cracked open, markers bled through pages. What’s your vision? What do you chase when no one’s watching? Not the kind of thing you usually ask out loud. Some drew, some wrote, a few just sat quietly staring at blank pages like the answers might crawl out on their own.

Tomorrow, we dive headfirst into projects, whatever those end up becoming. It’s about the process, not the product.

Day 2

Morning cracked open like an egg on a hot skillet. The smell of something righteous filled the air. Emily, running the kitchen like a pro, had a breakfast casserole in the oven. Not your sad, cafeteria-grade mush. No. This was a proper, heart-pounding affair. Hash browns crisped to perfection on the bottom, with eggs, tomatoes, onions, bacon, and sausage tangled together in glorious excess.

Bellies full, we drifted down to the crafting room. A mix of clattering scissors, pages turning, the low murmur of campers lost in their own little universes. First order of business: finish up last night’s journals. Pages were getting hacked up, collaged, and reimagined. Afterwards, some grabbed coloring sheets or dug into hobby store projects. Little personal obsessions hauled back from Hobby Lobby like some modern-day foragers.

Lunch? Emily’s back at it. Chicken pot pie this time. A thick, hearty thing that sits heavy in the best way. Not a dainty dish, this was food with purpose, meant to fill and fortify.

Afternoon crafts rolled on like a lazy river. Bedazzled sunglasses that would’ve made Elton John blush. Suncatchers catching whatever light managed to sneak through the windows. Paint, markers, scissors, the table a chaotic, beautiful mess.

Dinner came on soft, grilled cheese and tomato soup, a pairing that makes you feel like a kid again, even when you’re far from it. We ate, talked about the day’s weird little masterpieces, flipped on some TV.

The day wrapped up in a haze of sugar cookies and frosting, a final project before calling it. The room smelled like warm cookies and acrylic paint.

Day 3

The crew enjoyed a homemade blueberry coffee cake, after the delicious breakfast everyone loaded the van and prepared for the journey back to Cedar Rapids. Upon arrival they enjoyed Raising Cane’s for lunch and then headed home after goodbye hugs.

View all the crafty photos here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/campcourageous/albums/72177720326425240/