Welcome to the Purple Cottage!

Thank you so much for visiting. At The Purple Cottage you can play out your creative dreams, sharing and learning with others in the process. There are no rules and no boundaries. While with us, you’re encourged to let down your guard, let go of your expectations of yourself and just enjoy the process of creative fun. Throughout the year, we’ll offer a variety of creative retreats led by inspirational, nurturing artists and mothers.

2011 Mermaids and Mamas Artful Adventure Wrap Up Coming Soon!

Spray Paint Art by Sarah, 7 years old

We had such a great time at the 2011 Mermaids and Mama's Artful Adventure! Thanks to all the wonderful Mermaid Mamas who brought their sweet mermaid girls on our adventure. I'm still editing all the photos, but I'll have them to share soon. Here's a couple sneak peeks of the spray paint art we created to whet your appetite!

Spray Paint Art by Olivia, 7 years old

Mermaids and Mamas Artful Adventure 2011--May 14-15

Join us for Mermaids and Mamas Artful Adventure 2011! Designed for mothers and daughters to experience together, this overnight retreat gives you the opportunity to embrace creative fun as a girls only bonding opportunity while enhancing self-esteem and confidence in young girls.

Picture a place where you and your daughter(s) can get away from it all for some joyful creative play: a girls art camp slumber party! In addition to creating kid-and-teen friendly art projects like handmade journals to record our dreams, mermaid fairies to share our secrets with, fairy wands to cast magical spells, and jewels fit for the merriest of mermaids, we’ll add in time for outdoor fun like guided nature talks, fairy walks, team play and campfires with s’mores. We’ll unleash our creative souls while enjoying a supportive atmosphere conducive to sharing, dreaming, and playing…together. In our hectic day-to-day lives, sometimes it’s difficult for moms and daughters to get away from it all and just enjoy being girls! This retreat gives you the opportunity to do just that.

We’ll take care of all the details so you’re able to simply enjoy the fun creating life-long memories. We’ll start Saturday morning at 9am and wrap up Sunday morning at 11am. Registration is $75 per person and includes all meals and snacks, lodging and supplies and a few extra surprises. Lodging is bunk-house style, so all you’ll need to bring is your favorite pillow, sheet and blanket. Registration is limited to 22 so be sure to register now to reserve your spot.*  Registration deadline has been extended to May 6.   

Leading the retreat is Kelly Warren, artist and mom to twin girls who love to create art. Kelly has more than 16 years experience developing and facilitating experiential education programs and learning through creative play and is now combining that experience with her passion to encourage confidence and creativity in young girls through the wonderful world of art and craft. Joining her on this expedition of creative discovery are her two trusty assistants, 2nd graders Sarah and Olivia, who have personally helped develop each and every project to ensure Mermaid and Mama fun. We hope you’ll join us! Questions? Drop us an email!  Scroll down or click here for a wrap up of Mermaids and Mamas 2010!

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up. ~Pablo Picasso

*May 14-15, 2011, is designed for elementary school-aged girls and their Mamas.  If you are interested in a middle school or high school age retreat, please contact me!