Past Events & Retreats

2018 Holiday Workshop
Red Wing’s Octagon House B&B once again hosted its popular Holiday Workshop featuring creative ideas and projects for home, tree, and table.

June 2018 Garden Workshop: A Creative Getaway for the Garden Enthusiast

Holiday 2017: Annual Octagon House Holiday Workshop

June 23-24, 2017: A Creative Getaway for the Garden Enthusiast
Participants gathered ideas for garden decorations, art projects, and gardening techniques. Topics included selection and care of succulents and ideas for creative succulent accents.

2016 Holiday Workshop
This year’s theme was a break from traditional red & green holiday decor with unexpected color schemes, new styles and creative uses of pattern and texture.

Fall 2015 Holiday Workshop
Workshop projects included gifts, ornaments,  and holiday decor with a holiday music theme.

September 18-19, 2015: Autumn in the Garden Workshop
Participants gathered ideas for autumn decorating in the home and garden, preserving garden materials for use in holiday decorating, and other gardening projects.

July 25-26, 2015: Photography Workshop ~ “Shoot What You Love”
Instructor Luke Luther covered topics such as composition, lens selection, and processing

May 29-30, 2015: Spring in the Garden Workshop
Participants gathered ideas for garden decorations, art projects, and gardening techniques.Ideas for outdoor/porch entertaining were also discussed.

November 2014: Thanksgiving & Vintage Christmas Holiday Workshop
Held twice in November 2014, this workshop included projects to decorate your home and gifts in vintage style for the holidays.

November 2013: Victorian & Country Reflections – Holiday Decorating
Held twice in November 2013, this workshop included projects to decorate your home and gifts in Victorian or country style for the holidays.

September 2013: Photography Weekend Retreat
Instructor Luke Luther covered topics such as composition, lens selection, and processing.

July 2013: Creative Arts Weekend Retreat
On July 19–21, 2013, the Octagon House hosted a fun-filled creative arts workshop and retreat with projects such as sun printing, felt flower-making, and crafting with fusibles.

November 2011: Finishing Touches for your Christmas Holiday Decorating
This retreat focused on two decorating themes for the holidays: Naturals and Glitz & Glam.  Participants created ornaments with dried fruit, berries, glitter, and pinecones. Landscape Designer  Steve Danielson demonstrated decorating ideas for wreaths and other greenery.  Other demonstrations and hands-on activities included holiday place settings, wrapping techniques, and creative gift tags.

August 2011: Creative Ideas for the Garden
On August 12th & 13th, 2011, we had a fun and informative garden-focused workshop and retreat. Topics included: “Creative Design Ideas for Your Gardens”, “Solutions for your Garden Dilemmas”, and “Create Enchanting Garden Accents”. Participants left with 3 great projects: a Candelier, a Miniature Garden, and a Birdfeeder Teacup Garden Stake.

July 2010: Fiber Arts Weekend Retreat
Participants spent a summer weekend at the Octagon House learning fiber arts techniques such as gelatin printing, flower pounding, and stenciling.  After a relaxing weekend of practicing these techniques, socializing with other participants, and enjoying great food, participants left with three completed projects: a tote bag, wall hanging, and silk scarf.