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The Starwood Festival's
Creation Station

The workshop space for discovering and creating your vision. It features hands-on workshops, accessible materials and daily schedules for making creativity manifest...including fine-tuning your costume, banner or ribbon sticks for the Bonfire Procession and Lighting Ritual or creating something for your camp. Most activities and materials will be free of charge. Classes include children, teens and adults. 
                                     
Stop in and create!

2025 Workshops & Presenters

Dawn Totten

As an etheric, experiential artist and author, I spend as much time off path playing in the dandelions as I do focused on my spiritual growth. My paintings and sculptures are focused on expressions of the unseen world woven throughout our physical life experience.  Over the last 15 years I have created spiritually guided art, channeled and authored 6 books (2 published, 4 in process of publishing) and introduced people to their spirit guides. I am welcoming people to come and play by bringing awareness to the hidden energy that is constantly working in our lives.

Drum, Rattle, or Staff Painting

Playing a drum is one thing, but personalizing it is another.
In this workshop, Dawn will provide guidance and materials to paint, decorate and personalize your drum, rattle, staff, or other transformational companion piece that you bring with you.  Consider what forms, images, and colors you would like to include on your pieces. Sketches are welcome!

A Self Portrait of your Soul!

In this fun workshop we will honor our spirit by playfully creating a take home piece of art. Soul portraits done in this workshop are free form, and so we will practice allowing and exploring the connection with paint, and the multiple mediums available, to help us express ourselves. (suggested $10 offering for materials).

Carrie King

I am a Fiber Artist who loves working with natural fibers, and recycling and upcycling materials. I enjoy teaching workshops on recycled materials crafts. Tie dyeing, felting and sewing recycled sweaters. I also focus on making wire and bead jewelry.  For summer, I knit and crochet bras and tops, tie dye and paint thrifted clothes and upcycle plant fiber sweaters. For winter, I use the animal fibers to create mittens, hats, sweaters and accessories.  In my workshops we will do some of these arts.

Make Your Own Fantasy Fiber Crowns

Starwood is the place we can glow in our own special ways! Come prepared to create headbands or Crowns with horns, flowers, branches, mushrooms, antennae, and other natural items. Learn to wrap wire and sew felt scraps (from recycled and hand Dyed wool sweaters) to make attachments to your headband or Crown. Also available - UV reactive and night glow yarn for night fun! Be ready to dress for the parties!

Night Glow Fabric Painting

Starwood is a time to show your stuff! At this workshop we can make a simple cotton muslin cloth scarf, a cape or banner. Each will be painted with glow on the dark symbols or images for night time dancing or display. Participants will have about a yard of fabric to make a night glow accessory, or banner to add to the night sights. There will be multiple colors of glow in the dark paint and brushes, sponges, stencils, and spray bottles to apply the paint. A sewing machine will be available and I will custom sew simple ideas.

 

George Whitney

When I was a child, my mother included me in making crafts to sell at the flea markets. We did a lot of beading and some refrigerator magnets. I grew up loving arts and crafts. Beading has always been a big part of my life. I started drawing and painting in middle school. As I got older, I continued to create whenever possible. I spent a lot of time with papier-mâché masks, making recycled paper for cardstock, creating Halloween Props, and also making hemp jewelry and doing photography. I have photographed weddings and school portraits, but also many artistic photographs. Most recently I have been creating light up mushrooms from hot glue and fairy lights, and nature prints from leaves and flowers. I am now helping my wife with the Disc-O-Tree, and epoxy pours. We continue to work on projects together and are always looking for new things to do.

Create your own magical mushroom scenes!

Come enjoy creating magical mushrooms scenes with fairy lights using hot glue on natural objects. This is great for home decorations and art projects. Bring home an image of Starwood that you create with what you find!

Learn how to make Nature prints on paper

Learn how to make nature prints on paper using leaves found around Wisteria, and ink or paint. Bring with you leaves that you notice as you walk Wisteria. There will be some leaves available at the workshop. This art form can be incorporated into book of shadows, decorating letters, or scrapbooking.  It can also be framed as a gift, or as a moment of memory for your home.

 

Jennifer Read-Whitney

One of the most significant impacts humans have on the environment is waste production. Upcycling waste into art is a way to reduce our impact on the environment and create things that will beautify our world, instead of destroying it. I’m a retired environmental scientist with a background in natural sciences and ecology, and I worked as a Waste Management Specialist for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.  I create upcycled art, such as costumes and sculptures from trash and unusual objects, as well as interior design upcycling. Upcycling discarded items into art is a fun way to promote sustainable waste management practices.  One beautiful example at Starwood is The Dancing Disc-o Tree - a fantastical and magical outdoor community upcycled art piece made out of old discs that would take over a million years to decompose.  It is completed in a two-part workshop series.

Dancing Disc-o Tree Part 1

Old discs are a problematic waste made of plastic that would take over a million years to decompose, but they can be used to make shiny, iridescent art! In Part 1, the label side of the discs are decorated with whatever images inspires participants. Neon and other acrylic paints will be available. Discs will then be allowed to dry and clear coated prior to part 2.

Dancing Disc-o Tree Part 2

Using the dried disks that participants began in Part 1, everyone is encouraged to get creative adding more bling, beads and mini disco balls. Once the discs are fully decorated, participants will walk down to the Dancing Disc-o Tree and add their discs to the ongoing community art project. After dark, the tree is lit up with black lights, and the disks spin joy onto the festival!
 

Mary Helen McNally

I’ve been a professional creative for over two decades. The first act of my career was as a natural living and do-it-yourself author and blogger. During those years I made hundreds of batches of soap, countless craft projects, and piles of food. I now work as a freestyle food and set stylist for television, film, and print media. In addition, about seven years ago, I pivoted to focus more directly on art, and have been a working ceramics artist and instructor ever since. 

Magical Soap Making

Soap can be a Magically powerful manifested affirmation. This workshop focuses on how to make soap. We will use magical herbs and clays, along with some basic natural soap making ingredients, to create batches of gorgeous cold process soap. Students are welcome to observe a demonstration of the soap making process, or join in with their own batch for a small supply fee.

Pit-Fired Yoni Pots

The divine feminine form not only celebrates sexuality but also the spiritual elements of creativity, abundance, and astral travel. At this workshop you can Celebrate the divine feminine form as you sculpt a classic vulva shape out of clay. Come make your own beautiful sculpted pots which will then be dried and fired in a bonfire later that week.

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Wilde*Majiker

Called “the real deal” by past participants, Wilde*Majiker (WM) doesn’t suffer fools, but is gentle, while direct, in her healings/teachings.  Combining ministerial training, social work education and street smarts from both careers and being a dedicant to Bride, WM presents workshops in entertaining, educational and fast paced methods for the purpose of serving our community. As a Feminist she bases her Work in equity and civil rights. As an Elder she incorporates an awareness of different abilities in communication styles and physical limitations. As a Pagan she is open to all Paths, welcomes all People and intends to make a better World. As an American she is aware of the traumas our country has survived but that very little conscious healing has occurred for those traumas and so greets everyone as a Survivor.

A Chameleon Community Clubhouse Project: We Are All Stars

This workshop improves on the 2024 well-received “Cards for Festival Participants who couldn’t attend.” This year is a threefold crafting workshop presented by Chameleon Community Clubhouse! We will again create Starwood Missing You cards for those of us who didn’t get to attend this year. We will also make Pagan fortune cookies for our attending festival compatriots, which will be placed in a large see-through container to be enjoyed by all.  And there will also be Starwood Stars cards to take with you to your activities.  Once filled out with the titles of 10 events you attended this year, leave the cards in the marked bin at Creation Station and get 50% off your membership to the monthly zoom meeting of Chameleon Community Clubhouse!

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Kim Keffer
Lifetime Artist Kim Keffer is a photographer, painter, writer, and faceted glass artist inspired by nature and her human experiences. At festivals, Kim creates a new work of art where she paints the vibe and characters she sees, offering the finished work of amazing details by the end of the event. In addition, Kim offers a beautiful gallery of her art. For over 20 years Kim has been facilitating a creative recovery group, Creative Companions, where we are all believing mirrors for one another and encourage authentic expression. At festivals, Kim offers a Creative Recovery workshop designed to ignite the creative spirit and silence the censor. In this guided painting workshop each participant will complete an acrylic painting. No painting experience necessary. All supplies provided.
Guided Painting #1
Join in a creative, guided acrylic painting experience with Artist, Kim Keffer. No painting experience necessary. This workshop is designed to ignite the creative spirit and silence the censor. Each participant will complete an acrylic painting.
Guided Painting #2
While the conversation of inspiration and the creative spirit continues from workshop 1, we will enhance and add details to the painting begun in that workshop.


Sarah Jones
Sarah loves to draw, read and write, do photography and film making, even dance and play music because why not? It’s a way for the soul to grow. Art is the one spiritual outlet for her. Sarah Jones lives in the pine barrens of New Jersey. Sarah has an Associates in Fine Art and a Bachelors in Computer Art, Animation and Visual Effects.  Join her in her character building workshops as we meld character design, puppetry, textile art, and so much more in a whimsical fashion!
Whimsical Art: Faces in Clay
All ages love working with clay! In this class, learn how to sculpt quirky, fun characters. Learn the steps for creating a face, with lots of variations to get different looks, a trick for creating whimsy without overthinking it. Or use push molds and make it a successful experience every time!  These whimsical clay faces are the basis of dozens of different craft projects such as: Dolls, Altered art, Frames, Jewelry, Journals, And more!  
Spirit Dolls: How to Make Healing Dolls for Yourself
The essential process of healing yourself with artmaking is one involving creating change so that you can become more conscious and restore your connection to nature and your soul. You can heal yourself with art by opening up to your inner voices, listening to them, and allowing their messages to emerge. In this workshop we will construct a small medicine doll. Doll Making can help you to heal at a physical, emotional, mental and spiritual level.
(Consider taking the whimsical art faces workshop and create your own face - not required).


Angela Yelton
Angie is a mom, a wife, a witch, and an artist, not necessarily in that order. She hails from Northern Indiana, where she drives a giant Twinkie to fund her life and artistic endeavors. Angie has been an artist as long as she can remember. She has dabbled in various mediums, with modeling clay being the favorite until she discovered ceramics in high school. After a few college courses and a personal hiatus, she began playing in the mud again seven years ago and hasn't been clean since! More recently, she has picked up wire wrapping, originally to enhance her ceramic pendants, and fell in love with the process and possibilities. Angie loves showing people that anyone can create. She co-owns an art studio in her small town where she teaches classes for all ages. Also, please be sure to stop by her booth, FalconFire Ceramic Studio, to see the Starwood Bonfire replicas (and maybe take one home!)
Wire and Gem Trees
Trees are a huge part of all paths of life. In almost every belief system, you will find a story involving a tree. Trees give us oxygen, shade, paper, firewood, homes, and more. Let's bring a tree inside! In this class, we will use wire and gemstone beads to make little trees. Multiple colors of wire will be available, along with many types of natural gemstone beads. We will attach finished trees to rocks, shells, or air-dry clay to help them stand. This class is suitable for all ages. All supplies and tools will be provided, although you're welcome and encouraged to bring a special rock or seashell for your tree's base. Please make sure your rock or shell is at least 3" and can sit flat on one side!
Wire Wrap Bead Rings
Do you like rings on your fingers? Or toes? Come make your own with me! Each participant will make 1-2 rings. Lots of beads to choose from including gemstones, lava rocks, and various colors of Evil Eyes. All tools, supplies, and instruction provided. Bonus:  Besides being a beautiful piece of wearable art, the beads will spin when you're done! Endless fun at your fingertips!


Wendy Raphael
Wendy, an eclectic spiritualist, has been a part of the community for 30 years. She is a professional artist & sign painter, teacher, and writer with a vast portfolio. She is known for her extraordinary, intuitive hairwraps at festivals (available by private appointment or luck.) Look for her silly signs and random art installations at events.
Deluxe Edition Sketch Journaling
GRAB your sketchbook/journal and MAKE TIME to fill a PAGE! Bring your FAVORITE PEN & colored pencils. Open your mind. MEET other ARTISTS. We'll discuss tools, 150 page suggestions, Sketch and Burn, Pop Up Pages, Best Case Scenarios, fancy folds, stories, magic, manifesting, meditation and ceremony, while adding to the pages of YOUR LIFE. I ENCOURAGE you to get out the FANCY BOOK you've been saving for a SPECIAL OCCASION!! Set the Timer and don't miss this one!!


Penny Goody
Witches Ladder
Together we will create a unique magical contrivance. We'll  investigate exactly why sailors of Old often carried one, and how knot magic basically works. This folk magic practice involves weaving a spell as we construct/bedeck our hanging ornament. Using cord, scissors and tokens from the "natural world" -icksnay on plastic- our own conTRAPtion can be manifested for a specific intention. This particular witches' ladder will focus on perseverance, stamina, courage, vigor and vitality. Witches Ladders are always created with a multiple of 3 (6,9,12,up to 39).  You are encouraged to gather nine items 2-13 inches long-such as twigs, feathers, rocks, herbs etc- that you may knot tie into the cord 9 times.  
Kids music and Bubbles

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Drew Huesman
Drew has been practicing art ever since he could hold a crayon. He is a freelance artist educated in commercial arts. Job titles include photographic manager, art director, sign maker, and production manager. His classes combine skills and experiences to help everyone become better artists.
Learn to Draw
In this class we will cover the basics of learning to draw.
Figure Drawing
In this class we will be doing live figure drawings.

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