At CreativeMornings Santa Fe, community and creativity go hand in hand with care for our planet. That’s why we provide the coffee but ask our community to BYOM (Bring Your Own Mug). It’s a simple invitation that reflects a bigger commitment to sustainability and shared responsibility.

Bringing your own mug helps reduce single-use waste and keeps dozens (sometimes hundreds!) of disposable cups out of the landfill each month. It’s a small habit shift, but when practiced together as a community, it adds up in meaningful ways. Plus, we love seeing the variety of mugs people bring—handmade ceramics, travel companions, favorite chipped classics—each one with a story.

Forgot your mug? No worries. We keep a mug library on hand so everyone can still enjoy their coffee. Borrow one, return it, and maybe even discover a new favorite. But whenever you can, BYOM. It’s one more way we can gather thoughtfully, sip intentionally, and build a more sustainable Santa Fe—one cup at a time.

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Our theme for January is کورسو (KOORSOO). It was chosen by our Tehran chapter in Iran and illustrated by Hoda Ramy.

کورسو or Koorsoo (pronounced Koor·Soo) is a Farsi word meaning “a glimmer of hope.”

As a new year begins, ask yourself, “what is giving me hope right now?” Share your koorsoo with the people around you. Because the world needs all the hope it can get.

A warm, sunny December morning brought a full house to our special location at Make Santa Fe and plenty of new faces to the CreativeMornings community. The unique setting amongst humming machines in the industrial maker space was a perfect stage for our speaker James Johnson, Executive Director of Make Santa Fe, as he framed up his experiences as a designer, fabricator, nonprofit leader, and maker. And we all had the chance to be MAKERS by creating finger-drawn digital designs that later became laser-etched keyrings for all to take home.

James opened his talk with a surprise – failure is his favorite thing! It’s the way we learn, the way we get better, and it leads to real innovation. He shared his view of innovation as the practical implementation of creativity. And for creativity to happen, we must differentiate between “creative mode” - where exploration and play surround an idea - and “work mode”- which is about producing.

James outlined his five essentials required for creativity:

Space - Whether a corner of the backyard or fully-fitted studio, creativity needs a space apart from daily life;

Time - Setting aside lots of time for your creative practice isn’t a realistic goal for most, but putting some parameters around it can help. Set a start and also an end to your creative time - enabling you to block out interruptions and other must-do’s for that set time. Even 2-3 hours once a week is a great starting point;

Resilience - Set aside fear of failure and decide to tolerate discomfort while you figure out a way forward on your project;

Confidence - Allow yourself to gain confidence from your microsuccesses. It’s that confidence that allows you to move forward despite making mistakes;

Humor - James shared lovely and funny pix of his beloved dog who helped him remember not to take things too seriously. Humor keeps everything in balance.

With many heads nodding in agreement throughout, James wrapped up with a reminder that community is key to creativity and success - community like Make Santa Fe and CreativeMornings. We agree 100%!

We’re also deeply grateful to Michael Garfield, who layered musical innovation into the morning and expanded the theme beyond words, and to Jeshaka, who created our very first CreativeMornings Santa Fe Sketch Notes, capturing ideas, moments, and energy in real time. Both additions brought new texture and creativity to the experience, and we loved seeing innovation expressed in so many forms.

A heartfelt thank you as well to our December partner, The Santa Fe Biscochito Company, for sharing a taste of local tradition and sweetness with our community. And to all of our 2025 partners—your generosity, collaboration, and belief in CreativeMornings Santa Fe make these gatherings possible. We’re incredibly grateful to be building this creative community alongside you.

You can watch James' talk here.

Check out December's Flickr Album.

Photos by Ivan Barnett and Marisa Gjurgevich.

Video by SpaceHelmetPictures.

Our theme for December is INNOVATION. It was chosen by our Isfahan chapter in Iran and illustrated by Nazanin Emamieh.

Groundbreaking inventions and earth-shaking technologies make headlines and millions in profit. But innovation rarely arrives in a limousine. It shows up as a question or a pet peeve. A hunch that the default setting could be better. An inability to accept the status quo.

Innovation is risky and rebellious. It means breaking the routine and reimagining the familiar. It treats uncertainty as an invitation instead of a barrier. Innovation doesn’t take a genius, it just requires curiosity and willingness to try. And try again.

The world needs more tinkerers, experimenters, and fixers. People who believe change is possible and start with whatever they have. Then don’t stop until they’ve made something new or better.

Creativity asks, “what if?” Innovation replies, “here’s how.”

This month’s GROWTH event opened with an easy icebreaker: What instrument did you play as a kid? Answers ranged from piano to clarinet, with our speaker’s reveal during the Q&A bringing it full circle. Before the talk, attendees stocked up on CrashMurderBusiness coffee and wildly inventive treats from Donut Vision, including brown butter miso and taro coconut flavors. Magically delicious.

Shout-out to our door prize winner, Sherry Sullivan, who won two tickets to the symphony!

At the podium, Emma Scherer, Executive Director of the Santa Fe Symphony, framed growth as both collaborative and personal. “The parallels between business growth and personal growth are infinite. You can’t grow one without the other.”

Using the symphony’s merger with the Santa Fe Youth Symphony Association as an example, she explained how the two organizations combined strengths under the premise that “one plus one can equal three.” Instead of layoffs, they hired more staff, expanded programming, and deepened their connection with the community. But not without a few growing pains.

Her hard-won advice to us was to lead with a growth mindset, embrace the gray areas, and ease the pressure of urgency with a motto that applies to most jobs: “There are no symphony emergencies!”

During the Q&A, someone asked about Emma’s musical background. She smiled, saying she played sax and piano growing up, then went to college to pursue opera. But after receiving constructive feedback on her voice, she realized her skin wasn’t thick enough and thought, “You know what would be great for me? The music business!”

One attendee reflected on the talk: “I’m in a new job, so the growth mindset was very applicable, especially learning different ways to handle challenges.”

In keeping with the theme, here’s what our chapter volunteers are working on if you’d like to support their growth:

Monty Montgomery- Space Helmet Pictures
A cinematic production company that creates high-end video for films, brands, artists, and storytellers.

Corrie Reynoso- Wild Forest and Fauna
Helping protect the habitat of endangered bonobos in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Shelley Singleton- Fora Travel
A travel advisor offering fee-free travel planning for anyone dreaming up their next trip.

Ivan Barnett- Serious Play
A creative consultant for artists, galleries, and cultural leaders who helps unlock creative clarity for growth.

Lana Abeles- Action Dog Santa Fe
A canine adventure facilitator with client openings in 2026 for off-leash adventure hiking and overnight boarding.

Amy Lin- In-house CTS
A start-up transforming human waste into a regenerative resource. Seeking volunteers and offering free in-home trials.

Zivi Krieger- Zivi Records/Zivi Rocks
Musician, songwriter, and producer bringing other artists’ music to life through vibrant professional recordings.

Hillary Spittle- Eloqui
Leads training workshops that build confidence and clarity for presenters in both meetings and public events.

Jim Spittle- Percussionist
Looking to join a band or musical project, and help others in their music coordination.

Zak and Lauren Hardage- Hardage + Hardage
For artists or designers with something to sell, this husband and wife team builds Shopify websites.

Dae Knight- Dae Design Studios
Looking to collaborate with museums in 2026 for high-end event design and marketing.

Kaela Waldstein- Mountain Mover Media
This Emmy-winning video production company focused on arts and culture now offers headshots and event photography.

Travis Fowler- Directed by Travis Fowler
Our chapter videographer who also directs and shoots docu-series and branded content is leaving Santa Fe for Detroit 😢

Tracy Sprinkle- Rainmaker Productions and CreativeMornings host
Creative consulting and design is his day job, but CreativeMornings is his baby and he wants to see this community grow… so please support your fellow creatives!

You can watch Emma's talk here.

Check out November's Flickr Album.

Photos by Travis Fowler and Marisa Gjurgevich

November's theme was chosen by our Sacramento chapter in California, illustrated by Amber Rankin, and presented by Adobe.

When we were kids, it happened fast. We outgrew clothes and shoes seemingly overnight. We constantly reached for things just out of our grasp. We made messes and art without worrying about what anyone would think.

As we shift into adulthood, growth gets harder to come by. Get good grades and a great job. Burn the midnight oil. Struggle against the odds. Then somewhere along the way, we get comfortable with the status quo. Sitting on the couch, watching and scrolling instead of trying and doing.

But creativity demands growth. Not the kind that can be measured with a ruler. It’s about taking stock of your character. Who’s ready to chase wild possibilities and meaningful progress? We must unlearn the need to be perfect and busy. Remember how to play and get our hands dirty again.

It takes curiosity and courage. Because growth doesn’t always feel good. It forces us to shed our old skin, to stumble, and start again. Sometimes, growth happens quietly, in between uncertainty and doubt, the moments when nothing seems to be changing. Until everything does.

October's SOFT event kicked off differently than usual: enter quietly, grab some CrashMurderBusiness coffee and Chocolate Maven treats (brownies for breakfast, anyone?), and find your space, which included floor cushions and mats. Dress code: soft and comfy.

Those who skipped the door prize table missed out. Congrats to Amanda Burns who won a gorgeous dandelion necklace courtesy of Hello Wellness, made in collaboration with jeweler Cynthia Jones.

A gentle gong from Sound Healing Practitioner Valarie Budayr signaled the start, with singing bowls and chimes providing the soundtrack for Erin Doerwald’s talk.

“What if we could be soft on ourselves instead of hard?” Erin asked.

Part meditation, part confession, part study in courage, Erin’s talk included her personal journey: a fear of public speaking, her father’s mental illness, moving 22 times before age 19, and building a life in Santa Fe. “Growing up, I wished for roots,” she said. “Now I help others find theirs.”

As founder and CEO of Hello Wellness, Erin and her team help people reconnect through therapy, wellness coaching, mindfulness practices, and somatic exercises. During the talk she walked us through straw breath, fist clenching, self-soothing touch, and a grounding meditation through the four elements to cultivate softness. Each practice calming the nervous system and showing ourselves gentle kindness.

At the end of the talk, attendees reflected:

“It felt like a master class in calm.”

“I loved that mix of strength and softness—how she talked about being soft and strong at the same time.”

“Those singing bowls were like a soundtrack for the whole morning. I could live with that!”

And while the icebreaker conversations often kick off the event, some were saved for the end.

Who or what is your soft landing?

“Mary Poppins because I just think of her floating. The talk was about being soft and strong and that’s kind of Mary Poppins too.”

“Puppies. When doing step-ups at the gym, my trainer said it’s easy to become mindless when stepping back, so to stay present, I should imagine there are puppies under me. That way I step back softly.”

You can watch Erin's talk here.

Check out October's Flickr Album here.

Photos by Ivan Barnett (SeriousPlay) and Travis Fowler (Slice of Santa Fe)

Next month’s theme is Growth with Emma Scherer of the Santa Fe Symphony. Registration opens November 14th!

Our theme for October is SOFT. It was chosen by our Victoria chapter in British Columbia, Canada and illustrated by Leah McInnis.

The world feels hard in so many ways. Couldn’t we all use more softness? 

Soft is gentle, empathic, and vulnerable. But being soft is not a weakness. It is a sign of deeper strength. Having the courage to walk through life without armor. A willingness to listen before speaking. Welcoming whatever comes with open palms. Pulling someone close for a hug. 

What if our work was softer? What would we make with a little tenderness? Art that truly resonates. Innovations that heal instead of harm. Communities that hold one another instead of tearing other people down. 

Soft can be a quiet form of resistance. Practice subtlety, trust, and intimacy in a world that celebrates loud braggadocio, knee-jerk reactions, and blunt force. 

Let’s snuggle up and let down our guard. Soft can be our salvation. 

Our theme for September is BLOSSOM. It was chosen by our Pereira chapter in Colombia, illustrated by Edwin Morales, and is presented by Adobe.  

Every blossom is an act of becoming. The quiet force of roots pushing through the dark, the slow unfurling of a bud, a sudden burst of color. But plants don’t blossom on command. Each flower requires the right amount of sunlight, water, and nourishment across the cycle of the seasons. 

It’s the same for creativity. Our next idea lies dormant, while we fertilize our mind. With attention, protection, and space to play, our work becomes what it is meant to be. Petal by petal, the passion inside us bursts into a glorious bouquet.

But remember that flowers don’t bloom purely for their own sake. They share their fragrance, attract pollinators, and serve the larger ecosystem. Your creativity needs to pollinate as well. So, share your gift. Spread more ideas, more beauty, and more courage. 

To truly blossom, you must take the risk of opening up. This is your season. You deserve to be seen. Offer your abundance of color to the world! 

Ask yourself, “what within me is ready to blossom?” “What can I nurture to help others do the same?”

Our theme for August is NOMAD. It was chosen by our Ulaanbaatar chapter in Mongolia and illustrated by Oyuna Bold.

Some people feel compelled to travel from place to place. To live outside the confines and constraints of a permanent address. Others have no choice but to leave home in search of a better life. A nomad embraces discomfort, welcomes the unknown, and sees every detour as a new adventure.  

Have you heard the call of the open road? Ever dream of being a digital nomad working from exotic locales? Crossing borders and time zones to discover fresh inspiration and share-worthy views. But following your nomadic spirit doesn’t require collecting stamps in your passport. 

The act of creating is its own journey. So, meander through your ideas. Roam between different styles. The most important thing is to take the first step. It doesn’t matter where it leads, because the joy is suddenly finding yourself somewhere unexpected.

Whether you’re racking up frequent flyer miles or navigating a change in your creative career, remember that motion fuels imagination. Wander. Wonder. Repeat.