Sun Blooms
Following the Light
Some seasons bring a clear direction. Others leave us wondering what to do next. You do not need to see the whole road to take one faithful step with Jesus.
August’s Blooming Grace Retreat invites you to turn toward Christ, the Light of the world, through John 8:12 and Philip’s encounter with the Ethiopian traveler in Acts 8:26–35.
Make a cyanotype cotton baseball cap with one front-centered white sunflower, black stitched petal outlines and seed dots, and a pressed-flower botanical resin sun catcher. Enjoy optional photos among the sunflowers when your cap is fully processed and dry.
Come to make, notice, listen, and pray. Quiet participation is just as welcome as conversation.
What You’ll Experience
Arrange pressed flowers on a prepared cotton cap, then let sunlight reveal their shapes through cyanotype. While the print develops and the cap dries, there is room to listen, reflect, and enjoy making together.
Once the cap is completely dry, add black embroidery around one front-centered white sunflower, including its petals and small seed dots. Finish the stitching at home if you prefer.
Create a clear botanical resin sun catcher with dried flowers. It needs time to harden and fully cure before the hanging pieces are finished; your host will explain later collection.
Scripture, I Saw the Light performed by Josh Turner, and gentle reflection unfold between making stages. Sunlight is an illustration; Jesus is our guide.
Scripture Focus
John 8:12
Jesus is the Light of the world. Following Him means returning to His truth, even without a complete explanation of what comes next.
Acts 8:26–35
Philip takes a step, listens, and helps an Ethiopian traveler understand Scripture through Jesus. The Spirit’s specific instruction belongs to this biblical story; it is not a promise that every thought, feeling, dream, or coincidence is a divine instruction.
Practice prayer, biblical truth read in context, wise counsel, and one faithful next step. There is room for grief and questions that remain unanswered.
At a Glance
Biblical Truth
Follow Jesus as the Light of the world, one faithful step at a time.
Creative Keepsakes
A cyanotype cotton sunflower cap with black outline embroidery and a pressed-flower botanical resin mobile.
Featured Song
I Saw the Light, performed by Josh Turner.
Photo Experience
Optional sunflower-field photos with a fully processed, dry cap. At home, enjoy a garden or sunny-window photo.
You do not need to see the whole road to take one faithful step with Jesus.
Your Journey
-
![]()
Flood
God softens our hearts before He shapes our lives.
As you form your bowl, you'll reflect on how God often prepares us long before we understand what He's doing.
-
![]()
Fire
Trials refine us without defining us.
Discover how God uses seasons of hardship to strengthen our faith, build our character, and prepare us for what lies ahead.
-
![]()
Earthquake
Brokenness is never the end of the story.
When your bowl intentionally breaks, you'll be reminded that every life experiences loss—but God never abandons us in the middle of it.
-
![]()
Drought
Healing often begins in the waiting.
As your bowl slowly comes back together, you'll reflect on the quiet seasons where God is working, even when nothing seems to be changing.
-
![]()
Rainbow
God's promises outlast every storm.
Complete your bowl with gold and leave with a lasting reminder that God's faithfulness shines brightest through the places He has restored.
A Reminder for Ordinary Days
Your sunflower cap and botanical sun catcher are reminders to return to Christ’s light in everyday decisions.
The cap has one front-centered white sunflower, black petal outlines and black seed dots. Clear resin pendants preserve dried flowers in a hanging mobile.
Wear your cap only after processing and drying are complete. Stitch at a comfortable pace, with help optional. Resin needs later inspection and finishing after curing; arrange collection with your host.
No artistic experience is needed. Making, listening, and quiet participation all belong here.
Imagine Yourself Here
Summer light falls across the table as you choose flowers for your cap. There is room for easy conversation, a quiet pause, or a prayer you keep between you and God.
Between making stages, return to John 8:12 and Philip’s story. Listen to I Saw the Light performed by Josh Turner, and consider one ordinary decision you can bring to Jesus.
Later, enjoy the sunflower field with your dry cap, or simply sit and notice the beauty around you. Photographs and sharing are optional. You do not need to arrive with answers or leave with a complete life plan.
Come As You Are
Sun Blooms welcomes women from every denomination and stage of faith, including first-time guests. Come on your own or with a friend.
You can enjoy making and gentle conversation without telling your personal story. Every reflection question is optional, and listening quietly is full participation.
Grief and unanswered prayers do not disqualify you from this experience. Christ’s guidance is not measured by how quickly a craft is finished or how certain you feel.
Ready to Begin?
Whether you experience Disaster Blooms on the farm, at home, or with your church, our prayer is that you'll leave encouraged, refreshed, and confident that no storm is beyond God's redeeming work. May the bowl you create become a lifelong reminder that He is always bringing beauty from brokenness.
Experience Disaster Blooms Your Way
God remains faithful. Healing can begin here.
Disaster Blooms is an unhurried January winter-storm retreat for one woman or a gathering. Isaiah 40:28–31 centers God’s power and care for the weary, and Everlasting God offers a purposeful pause while we wait. Ephesians 6:10–18 brings the Armor of God into the patient repair; Joshua 3–4 remains an optional reflection.
Dried flowers leave their mark in clay. Use tweezers to lift them, then create a layered botanical plaster relief with enclosed drywall mesh strips and a suitable cast-in hanging support. While it sets, begin the teacup story and contained breaking. Return for a first glimpse of the relief, leave it supported to strengthen further, then patiently repair both the porcelain or ceramic cup and saucer with gold-accented seams.
Adults follow the complete making instructions themselves, with help optional. Eye protection, secure containment, safe sharp-piece handling, product directions, and full curing and drying remain essential. You may choose prepared pieces, observe, pray, write, or rest. Neither craft proves God caused harm to make someone useful. Visible seams remain part of the story; repair does not mean healing is complete.
YOUR DOWNLOAD INCLUDES BOTH PACKETS
Personal packet: Solo Devotional, Participant Reflection Workbook, and Creative Experiences and Preparation Guide. The slideshow is not included in the Personal Packet.
Group packet: Group Devotional, the same workbook and creative guide, Group Host Guide, and widescreen devotional slideshow PDF.
Each packet contains separate PDF files. The Creative Guide begins with portal access and a table of contents, followed by Setup & Get Ready, Making the Crafts, and Cleanup & Care. The internal At-Farm Facilitator Guide is not included.
The 20-page workbook welcomes private reflection and ends with lined journal pages. The Group Host Guide supports an ordinary host with preparation, supplies, setup, optional hospitality, troubleshooting, and cleanup. No pastoral training or timed schedule is required.
The cup and saucer begin a mission of transformation through the year. You are invited to return and discover what they become by December. Bringing your fully cured set back is optional; one retreat or many, you belong here. Keep a Scripture, prayer, trusted person, or small faithful response for another difficult day.
Finished ceramics are decorative only: no food, drinks, standing water, heat, or flame. Projects may need later collection for safe drying or curing, without a second class. Hosts and solo participants gather materials using the Creative Guide. Follow its instructions for the supplied products, or the manufacturer’s instructions if you choose other products.
Digital files only. Physical materials, optional supply kits, printed workbooks, and farm registration are separate. Choose your Bible translation and a song recording; full song lyrics and music recordings are not included. Product artwork is inspiration, not a photograph of shipped projects.
Digital Retreat Experience
Complete devotional workbook
Leader guide
Printable participant pages
Supply list
Setup guide
Step-by-step activity instructions
Closing devotional
Bloom Challenge
Prepare gently for Disaster Blooms.
January's two participant activities are now a gold-accented repaired porcelain or ceramic teacup-and-saucer set and a dried-flower botanical plaster relief. These replace the earlier air-dry bowl and floral hat.
Before ordering this optional supply kit, contact Blooming Meadows Farm to confirm the current packed contents, participant quantity supported, and suitability for the revised crafts. The materials and epoxy system have not yet been finalized; this listing does not promise a complete package for both activities.
Do not assume cups, saucers, epoxy, mica, plaster, molds, protective equipment, shared tools, or finished keepsakes are included. Use the separate Digital Retreat Experience's attendance-based supply planner and preparation guidance to identify what your host must arrange.
A suitable tested ceramic repair system, product-specific safety instructions, supervised contained breaking, and supported curing are essential. No universal mix ratio or cure time applies. Prepared pieces, observation, writing, and rest are welcome. Finished keepsakes are decorative only, not for food, drinks, standing water, heat, or flame. Safe later collection may be needed.
The devotional, printed workbook, music recordings, and farm registration are separate purchases. Kit photographs are visual inspiration rather than a verified inventory of packed contents.
Supply kits are available for preorder year-round and are handcrafted and shipped during Disaster Blooms' scheduled production month. Confirm current materials and fulfillment details with the farm before ordering.
Supply Kit
Air-dry clay
Gold finishing materials
Decorative floral papers
Adhesives
Specialty craft supplies
Disposable materials
Pre-measured project components
One kit is designed for one participant.
A gentle place for your unfinished story.
This printed Disaster Blooms participant workbook accompanies January's Scripture-centered retreat, whether you join at the farm, reflect alone, or gather with friends or a church group. Isaiah 40:28-31 and Everlasting God turn us toward God's power and faithful care for the weary.
The updated 21-page participant content follows the gold-accented repair of both a porcelain or ceramic teacup and saucer and the dried-flower botanical plaster relief. These keepsakes help us remember God's Word: visible repair begins restoration without erasing the cracks, while the relief invites patient receiving and remembrance of His nearness. Healing may still be ongoing.
Inside are Scripture, meaningful devotional reflections, gentle activity guidance, private prompts, a practical return point for another difficult day, and four lined journal pages at the end. You never need to disclose trauma, explain suffering, forgive prematurely, or pretend to be healed.
The instructor-kept teacup-and-saucer journey is separate from guest keepsakes. No prior attendance or returning with a cup is required.
Printed format: 5.5 x 8.5 inches, full-color cover, black-and-white interior, saddle-stitched binding.
This is the participant workbook, not the full facilitator guide or craft supply kit. Host preparation, supply planning, safety, and facilitator resources are included in the separate Digital Retreat Experience. Craft materials, music recordings, and farm registration are not included.
Participant Workbook
Professionally printed participant workbook
No printing or stapling required
Devotional and Scripture readings
Reflection and journaling pages
Activity instructions
Beautiful keepsake from your retreat
Perfect for individuals or groups
Supplies Not Included
To complete Disaster Blooms at home or with your group, you'll also need a few common household items.
Standard kitchen oven
Baking sheet or oven-safe tray
Parchment paper or aluminum foil
Water
Mixing bowl (if making homemade clay)
Paper towels
Pen or journal for personal reflection
A complete preparation guide and detailed shopping list are included with your downloadable devotional.
