Hello friends,
What are Taster Notes? They highlight the details of a gathering—a little taster for you at home. My hope is that you’ll escape, even for just a moment, and that it will feel like you were there with us in person.
There’s something sacred about gathering around a table—whether in a cozy kitchen, a sunlit cafe, or a quiet corner of the world where kindred spirits meet. On Friday, February 21st, a small circle of women came together for the very first Kitchen Table gathering curated around the theme of Connection. Today, I want to bring you into that space with us.
Imagine knocking at the door and being greeted by a warmly lit room. The hostess welcomes you and invites you to pull up a chair at the table. It’s your time to slow down, to savor the moment. At the center of the table, an altar adorned with a candle, a plant, and a wooden sign that says Inspire sits atop a beautiful, earthy-toned quilted tablecloth.
Immediately, as so often happens when women gather, a hum of conversation begins—gentle, curious, open.
The table is set and the menu presented. The hostess reviews what’s being served including the Appetizer, Main Course, Side Dish, and Dessert.
Appetizer: To create a safe space for sharing, and to hold space for one another, the hostess reads aloud The Kitchen Table Truths—guiding principles that serve as shared agreements rather than rules.
Guests then participate in an opening ritual. Taking a deep breath to fully arrive in the space, leaving behind the busyness of the day, each person sets an intention by choosing a word that represents what connection means to them in that moment.
Taking a quiet pause to reflect on words—knowing that throughout the gathering guests are creating something meaningful both in conversation and through creativity— candles are lit together.
Main Course: Sharing an item that symbolizes connection, introductions were made and conversation took place as guests shared what their item was, why it represented connection to them and how this kind of connection shaped their lives.
Side Dish: Reminiscent of pioneer day quilting bees, where women gathered around the kitchen table to create quilts for warmth for their families, to share stories, resources and support one another, we each created a quilt square representing connection to add to our collective virtual quilt. Creativity flowed, and between quiet pauses, moments of laughter and thoughtful exchanges were shared in a game called Story Bowls.
I love the uniqueness of each square and the powerful sense of connection reflected through images and words like Tao, Belonging, Roots, Family, Joy, Love, and Ease.
Dessert: We closed our time together, by sharing the words we chose in the opening ritual and held up our quilt squares in show and tell fashion for a group photo. As we blew out our candles together, we imagined our words being carried forward, lighting the way for deeper connection in the days ahead.
I feel so blessed to be surrounded by such amazing women and am grateful for their kind words:
Thank you so much for last night! It was truly special. I could spend a lot of time at your kitchen table!
I totally enjoyed tonight. I want to be part of any group you’re pulling together.
Thanks again for all you do to create, prepare and deliver a wonderfully connecting space.
Thank you Kathy for bringing us all together in such a creative, fun and meaningful way.
I look forward to the next gathering. I hope you’ll pull up a chair and join us at The Kitchen Table, scheduled for Friday, March 21st, 6:00-7:30 pm MST.
Our March theme is:
Lovely collection of blocks to make your quilt. Your affection for purple is evident 💜.