Chautauqua!

Colorado Chautauqua in January!

The coziest of cottages!

A gorgeous snow!

I wanted to share a bit more about where the Makerie will be held. The Colorado Chautauqua is simply a magnificent place. I mean the setting alone is breathtaking & add to that the cozy cottages that have all been restored (some even to LEED certification standards), hiking trails practically out your front door and well... I just couldn't imagine a better place to host our retreat. And if that weren't enough, Chautauqua's goal is to become the greenest national historic landmark in the entire country! I just love that. There is recycling in all the cottages, you'll find eco-based soaps & shampoos, they use green cleaning products, recycle & compost leftovers from events & really, everything they do is with thoughtfulness for our environment. It's such a wonderful synergy for us, as we are trying to plan the Makerie in the same thoughtful way. Have we shared yet that we will be donating all possible extra food from Makerie weekend to a local food bank? And that we will be gathering and donating extra materials leftover from the classes as well?

Chautauqua is honestly a place near & dear to my heart, a place our family frequents regularly for hiking & picnics. In the summer time, the Meadow Music Monday night kids concerts with Jeff Kagan & Paige are an absolute family favorite. (If you are local, you simply MUST put it on your list to do this summer!) Even being locals, my husband & I stayed in one of the cozy cottages for our 10th anniversary!

In addition to all of this, what's even neater to me is how the Makerie ties in so beautifully with what the original vision of what the Chautauqua movement really was ~ a place to gather, learn & play. (You can read more about it here.) Oh if you are at all thinking about staying in those cottages Makerie weekend, it would be one super comfy, cozy magical choice!