USA 250: Love Where You Live A Day of Art, Place, and Story, June 20, 2026, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
USA 250: Love Where You Live
A Day of Art, Place, and Story
June 20, 2026 | 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
America turns 250 this year—a milestone worth celebrating and reflecting upon!
Join us for a thoughtfully designed one-day creative retreat where art and storytelling come together to explore the places that shaped us and the experiences that stay with us. This is more than a class—it’s a meaningful, creative experience for women who want to slow down, reconnect, and create with intention.
We’ll begin the day with a guided reflection session designed to gently spark memory and meaning. Through a few thoughtfully selected prompts, you’ll explore memories like childhood Fourth of Julys, places that felt like home, and what patriotism has meant in your own life—past and present. Light journaling and small visual exercises will help you gather ideas in a relaxed, supportive atmosphere.
From there, you’ll move into the day’s featured project: Red, White, and You. Using your reflections as inspiration, you’ll create a unique, interactive artist book* made of layered cardstock pages that can lie flat OR expand and stand on their own. Your book will become a visual expression of memories built through meaningful imagery, paint, collage, and more.
*This style of book is often called a “flag book,” a dynamic, sculptural artist book structure invented by Hedi Kyle in 1979. It is characterized by an accordion-folded spine (concertina) with numerous small pages, or "flags," attached to each fold. As the book opens, these alternating flags move against each other, creating a flapping sound and revealing fragmented or panoramic images.
This project is about putting your story to art: what has shaped you, what you carry, and what still matters. You’ll leave with meaningful and visually striking artwork—and a renewed appreciation for the places and moments that matter most.
No experience? No problem! Whether you're a seasoned maker or a curious crafter, you'll enjoy this day of creativity.
Tentative Schedule:
9:30–10:00 | Coffee & Conversation
Meet fellow participants, settle in, and enjoy a cup of coffee.
10:00–11:00 | Guided Reflection & Journaling
Explore memories and inspirations with thoughtful prompts and light journaling and sketching.
11:00–12:30 | Creating Pages
Decorate your pages using collage, inks, paints, and more.
12:30–1:30 | Lunch (Included)
Gather around a large round table and enjoy lunch together—provided so you can fully relax and stay present.
1:30–3:30 | Assembling the Book
Step-by-step instruction to create the binding and attach your pages (flags).
3:30–4:30 | Finishing Touches, Reflection & Sharing
Add final details, photograph your finished work, and share reflections in a gentle closing session.
What’s Included:
- Guided prompts to spark reflection and storytelling
- Step-by-step instruction
- Pre-cut blank pages for your book
- Access to shared paints, inks, stamps, vintage papers, and studio tools
- Coffee, lunch, soda, waters, snacks.
What to Bring:
To personalize your work, please bring:
- Copies of photos of you throughout your life at various 4th of July celebrations, other patriotic occasions, and/or of you at various ages of your life.
- Patriotic collage images (personal or found)
- Map of places you have lived (to use in collage)
- Matte medium or matte Mod Podge
- Any other papers or embellishments to use and share
Additional Details:
- Space for 8 participants. Minimum of 5 must be registered by June 15 to run the retreat; you will be notified and refunded if the minimum is not met.
- Bookings are final and non-refundable, but you may transfer your spot to another participant with advance notice.
Kerry Molina
Yellow Brick Road Studio
8271 Shimmering Rock Road, Gainesville, VA
Voted “Best Arts & Crafts Venue 2024 and 2025” – Gainesville/Haymarket Lifestyle Magazine
[More accurate picture for the description coming soon. That's not a real flag book.]
