Frequently Asked Questions

Information for Guests

Who is Creative Cottage For?  All women of every age and in every stage of life!  You!

Do I have to be crafty or artistic?  We don't believe you do!  We find women experience great joy in community and creative expression regardless of their past artistic experience or perceived skill level.  

What does it cost?  Nothing to attend a gathering and your host will let you know if there is a cost for materials!

How can I find a gathering?  Visit our "Gatherings" page for help finding a group!

Can I start a gathering myself?  Absolutely!  The vision of Creative Cottage Life is that this wonderful idea will spread far and wide as women are inspired to get together and be creative!  Feel free to contact us or use the resources on this site!  We are here to help!

Information for Hosts

Venue?  That's totally up to you!  Meeting in a home is often the best choice.  Other possible venues include library meeting rooms, recreational centers, churches, and parks.  Schedule a meet-up with your girlfriends over coffee at a coffee shop if the nature of your activity allows for it!

Schedule?  That's totally up to you!  Work within your schedule first, then consider the needs of your guests!  You may decide to share hosting responsibilities with other friends in your group rotating activities and/or venues; or create a calendar of open gathering opportunities for people who are wanting to "try it out" or who are unable to meet regularly.  You may decide to schedule weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, by semester or for the duration of a lengthy group project.  The possibilities are endless!

Number of Participants?  That's totally up to you!  Your get-together can be large or small! This decision is often determined by the complexity of the project and the size of the venue, but we believe that considering how to structure your gatherings to ensure genuine community among your guests is of paramount importance!

Devotional Time and Prayer?  That's totally up to you!  For us, inviting Jesus into our time together is a key component that sets Creative Cottage apart from other creative gatherings.  We believe our creativity comes from being made in the image of our Creator God!  We find that spending a short time in devotion and prayer is a wonderful way to honor God and build connection with one another!

Choice of Creative Pursuits?  That's totally up to you!  What do you like to do?  Focusing on those things is usually a great starting place!   Venue, participants, time, cost, experience and purpose are also factors to consider.  We truly believe that community with creative pursuits is relaxing and life-giving.  Have fun!  It is all about the experience.  Your guests will be so glad they came!  

Choosing an activity that is new to you or your guests?  We suggest you prepare a sample of the finished product in advance and be ready to guide the process along. This will help you troubleshoot potential difficulties and manage your time together making you and your guests feel more comfortable!

Bonus thought:  Guests or groups may choose to use their creations to bless individuals or benefit worthy causes!

Covering Costs?  That's totally up to you! Time, effort and supplies are all costs to be considered.  Providing the supplies needed for creative activities can become expensive.  While Creative Cottage gatherings are never to be a source of income, hosts are also never expected to shoulder the costs themselves.  Guests can be asked to either provide their own materials or contribute to the cost.  Because every gathering is unique, we encourage hosts to structure this aspect of their planning in a way that works best for them and sets realistic expectations for future meetings and for potential new hosts. 

Refreshments?  That's totally up to you!  We believe snacks are optional to keep your gathering focused and simple.  We do like the idea of asking everyone to bring a beverage of their choice in a closed travel cup to prevent accidental spills, water rings and damage to art projects.  Scheduling a separate food-focused gathering strictly for fellowship and sharing is always an option! 

Helpful Documents

We have found it helpful to have these two documents on hand to share with guests who attend your gatherings!

• Creative Cottage Culture (pdf)  The 5 "C" of Creative Cottage Culture!

• Are You Interested in Hosting?  (pdf)  Information about becoming a Creative Cottage host!