Perhaps that invitation is one of the greatest gifts of retreat.

We step outside our usual routines long enough to remember that creativity is not something we manufacture. It is something we enter into. It is a conversation between ourselves, the world around us, and something larger that seeks expression through us.

What I witnessed at Tipi Village was a beautiful reminder that the Muse does not belong to only those who put in the 10,000 hours. She lives in the space between us as well as within us. She is nourished by generosity, curiosity, encouragement, and the willingness to share our stories.

And when a community gathers with open hearts and open hands, something remarkable happens. The spark that begins in one person is carried to another and then another. What starts as a single ember becomes a warm and glowing fire.

Days later, I find myself carrying deep gratitude—for the people who gathered, for the stories that were shared, for the art that emerged, and for the beautiful forest that held us all.

The Muse, it seems, loves good company.

With love and gratitude,

gg

Art Doula and Creative Guide

The artist highlight feature will return in August.

Just because it's so much fun!

I taught Gelli Plate printing at the FOBA conference last week and was reminded how much fun it is to play with monoprinting on silicone plates in the company of other artists. We shared ideas and inspired one another to try all kinds of new experimental techniques -- not the least of which involves playdoh -- yes, PLAYDOH!

So, I've decided to offer a Gelli Plate printing class in my studio this fall. Come and join me for a monoprinting extravaganza!

Saturday October 3, 2026

9:00 am to 4:00 pm

GG's Down to Earth Studio, Salem, OR

You'll go home with a beautiful collection of prints. What do you do with them? Gelli prints are a beautiful collection of visual ingredients. Like a painter's palette or a basket of fabrics, they become the raw material for countless creative projects. Use them for collage, mixed media, books and journals, cards and paper crafts, home decor, nature-inspired projects, gifts, creative play, group activities -- the possibilities are almost endless!

$85.00 All materials provided.

Or, bring all your own supplies and only pay a $25 studio fee.

Email GG to register.

Tipi Village Retreats

Marcola, Oregon

June 10 - 14, 2027

GG and Dayna Collins

Imagine spending five days nestled in the sanctuary of a rich green forest next to a babbling brook, sleeping in a cozy bed, being pampered with gourmet food, playing with paint and collage, and renewing that spontaneous, juicy, creative, soulful part of yourself. It’s all yours to enjoy in a community of kindred spirits.

GG and Dayna will be your midwives clearing the way for you to step out of what you think is true about your creative self, and step into an environment where you feel free to birth whatever wants to be expressed.

Through a series of experimental exercises with paint, paper, and written and spoken words, you will explore a variety of techniques designed to bypass creative blocks and connect deeply with your personal serendipitous muse. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just starting to explore your creative potential, this workshop offers a supportive environment where you can freely experiment, awaken the subconscious, discover new creative pathways, build creative muscle, and develop a more profound connection with your mysterious and creative Self.

The Tipi Village Retreat center is a haven away from the ordinary. Located in the Mohawk Valley near Eugene/Oregon, it is the perfect location to step out of daily life for four days and step into a place where you are held by majestic trees and nourishing waters. Meander along the trails, nap in the shade, soak in the hot tub, or dip in the swimming hole, this place is intimate and magical – truly one of Oregon’s hidden emerald gems. Bring your swimsuit and dive in!

Registration will open up in January 2027.

August 8 - 12, 2026

Seabeck Conference Center, Seabeck, WA

Once again I'll be teaching my Dynamic Mixed Media Collage class at Creative Arts Eliot. In this combination workshop we explore true mixed media by combining paper collage, painting, stenciling, and Posca pens to reveal "windows" of collaged delight.

Learn more and register here.

Friday evening September 18th through noon on Monday the 21st, 2026

This retreat is full. Contact Breitenbush to get on the waiting list.

Join us for a soulful retreat at the serene and healing grounds of Breitenbush Hot Springs: “The Return of Grace: Reclaiming the Sacred Feminine” SoulCollage® Retreat

Autumn + Sacred Feminine + Healing

In the golden hush of autumn, we mirror the Earth — letting go of what no longer serves, composting old identities, and preparing the inner soil for new life. Through SoulCollage®, council, ritual, reflection, and rest, we gather to remember the Sacred Feminine as she lives within and around us — the part of us that knows how to soften, receive, and heal.

Equinox invites us to balance the feminine and masculine energies within self and culture, doing our part to heal the wounds of overdrive, competition, and depletion through receptivity, intuition, and care. Guided by archetypes of the Sacred Feminine, we’ll explore the path to allowing the feminine to rise again, radiant and whole.

Solo Passage Book and

Oracle of the Sacred Path Card Deck

are both available on my website here.

Solo Passage Book: In this series of interwoven stories, GG chronicles her path toward healing through wilderness quests in the Pacific Northwest and Central California. Thorugh her connection to nature, she rediscovers the importance of self-esteem, forgiveness, acceptance, and standing in her own truth.

*****

Solo Passage Oracle Deck:

Birthed from the rhythms of the Earth and the whispers of the unseen, and graced by GG's original artwork and photography, this 65-card deck is a companion for wilderness questers, threshold walkers, and seekers of truth. Each card holds a question—a doorway to a theme, an archetype, or a symbol meant to speak directly to your Soul.