A Celebration of Being!
Join us at Recovering Joy Arts and Nature Center on July 25, 2026
Our schedule for the day:
10:30 AM
Welcome by Brenda Richardson
Tohono O’odham blessing sung by Maria Garcia
11:15 AM
Art activities begin and run simultaneously through the day
Basement, back room: Indigo dyeing, shirts, and prayer flags
Basement, front room: Display of hand-shaped clay items by participants
Back yard: Welt felting. Be prepared to take your shoes off for the many-feet piece!
Exhibit Catalogs available beside the front door for self-guided tours of the collections.
1:30 PM
Live music and reading, sequence to be determined:
‘Songs of Experience,’ by Dan Dutton, performed by Dan and his group
Joie Paige Andrews will sing and play acoustic guitar
Ellis Dale Sexton will sing and play electric guitar
‘Relating’ by Brenda Richardson, a reading and movement by Sky Hope participants
5:00 PM
Recovering Joy chef Oliver Gibbon will start grilling burgers, lamb burgers, and veggies.
Finger foods provided by Chef Joey Fitzwater will be available throughout the afternoon.
Ice, water in the Berkey filter by the kitchen door, and sparkling water will be available all day.
8:30 PM
CLEM PEARSON will set up the telescope AND be our guide for AFTER DARK SKY SCENES!!!
Reminders:
Bring a lawn chair, hat, and water bottle!
Bug repellent and sunscreen will be on the front porch table.
Wear comfortable shoes that will protect your feet.
sunflower seeds will be provided for giving the sheep a treat from your hand!
Parking will be on the grass below the driveway and along the road. The driveway should remain clear.
Call Brenda ahead of time if you’d like to bring a tent and camp out.
ADDRESS: 1890 Malvin Hill Church Road
Somerset, Ky. 42501
BRENDA’S PHONE: 606-219-7418
2 miles on Malvin Hill Church Road, watch on the right for a little brick house with 2 VERY TALL spruce trees and dry laid rock chimney in the front yard.
Watch for deer!!!
Wool Spinning School
The Wool Spinning School is sponsored by the Southeast Kentucky Sheep Producers Association and the Pulaski County Extension Office. This is a hands-on instructional workshop designed for both beginner and experienced spinners who wish to improve their wool spinning skills. This event is paired with the Sheep Shearing School that is scheduled for the next day at nearby Cabin Hollow Farm in Pulaski County. Come to both events!
Participants will learn how to skirt and clean a fleece, card the wool, make roving, and spin. Discussions will include felting and dyeing.
Registration is required.
Please register by calling or texting Patrick Angel at 606-312-5264. Participation is limited to the first 6 people who call or text.
Registration is $10 per family, which includes your SKEPSA membership for 2025. FREE for SKEPSA members in good standing. Registration includes a delicious lamb lunch.
Crochet Care Kits Workshop with Britney Luttrell – May 18
Join us on May 18 for a special Crochet Care Kits workshop led by fiber artist and social worker Britney Luttrell. Combining Appalachian traditions with trauma-informed practices, Britney’s workshops provide a space for creativity, healing, and self-expression through fiber arts.
In this session, participants will create Crochet Care Kits, assembling the tools and materials needed to continue their crochet journey beyond the workshop. Whether you’re new to crochet or already experienced, this workshop will offer guidance, encouragement, and the opportunity to craft with intention.
Britney’s approach to fiber arts is deeply rooted in mindfulness and transformation, helping participants overcome creative barriers like fear of failure or judgment. Through crochet, she fosters connection, confidence, and a sense of accomplishment—key elements in both the creative process and personal growth.
This is a wonderful opportunity to learn, create, and take home a kit that supports ongoing practice and self-care. All are welcome!
Indigo Dyeing Workshop with Sarah Broomfield – May 3, 4, & 10
We are excited to welcome fiber artist Sarah Broomfield back for a special three-day workshop in indigo dyeing and spoil clay resist on May 3, 4, and 10th. Through this immersive experience, participants will learn about the ancient art of indigo dyeing while exploring the powerful metaphors of transformation, healing, and renewal.
Sarah brings deep knowledge of indigo’s global history and its connection to art, culture, and nature. Using an organic indigo dye recipe that minimizes environmental impact, she teaches participants how to work with natural dye in a way that is both creative and sustainable. A key part of this workshop is the use of "spoil clay"—a waste material from abandoned coal mines—as a resist paste for creating patterns on fabric. This process transforms a discarded material into something beautiful, mirroring the journey of recovery and self-renewal.
Participants will dye prayer flags and t-shirts, watching as the fabric emerges from the dye vat in shades of green, only to oxidize into the signature deep blue of indigo—a visible reminder of unseen forces at work in both art and personal transformation. The slow, meditative process of dyeing encourages mindfulness, patience, and a sense of accomplishment.
Sarah’s workshops have helped countless participants reconnect with creativity, gain confidence, and find meaning through artistic expression. Studies show that making art supports healing and wellness, reducing stress, increasing self-esteem, and fostering emotional regulation. By working with natural materials and age-old techniques, participants not only create unique, hand-dyed textiles but also strengthen their connection to nature and their own healing journey.
Join us for this transformative workshop and experience the magic of indigo firsthand. No prior experience is necessary—just an open heart and a willingness to create.
Continuing the Crochet & Transformation Workshop with Britney Luttrell
We are excited to continue our Crochet & Transformation Writing Workshop with Britney Luttrell, a social worker and fiber artist who brings trauma-informed practices and Appalachian traditions into her work. Raised in Eastern Kentucky during the opioid crisis, Britney has dedicated herself to making art workshops accessible, helping participants explore creativity as a tool for healing and self-expression.
Britney was trained in traditional mountain fiber arts by her grandmother, the town seamstress, who at 101 years old still carries the wisdom of generations. Through fiber arts like crochet, embroidery, and needle felting, Britney weaves storytelling with skill-building, encouraging participants to embrace mindfulness and overcome common creative barriers such as fear of failure or judgment.
Join us in this continuing workshop as we embrace the interconnectedness of art, recovery, and Appalachian heritage.
Upcoming Writing Workshop with Rick Childers – April 19th
We’re thrilled to announce that Rick Childers will be leading a writing workshop on April 19th. A native of Estill County, Kentucky, Rick writes fiction that explores addiction and recovery, drawing from the deep roots of his Appalachian community. His novel Turkeyfoot has been praised by Kentucky Poet Laureate Silas House as a “harrowing debut with equal parts grit and empathy.”
In this workshop, Rick will guide participants in using storytelling as a way to process personal and communal experiences. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just beginning to put pen to paper, this is a unique opportunity to learn from a writer whose work sheds light on both the struggles and resilience of Appalachia.
Join us for an inspiring day of writing and reflection.
Weaving & Spinning
Weaving, Intro to Spinning, planting in the high tunnel With Beth Rosdatter.
Become A Volunteer
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud.