The Creative Playground: The Gratitude Zine
About this event:
One sheet of paper. A few folds, one cut, and suddenly you're holding an eight-page book. This November, we're each making a tiny handmade zine of thanks: a page for a person, a place, a smell, a song, a meal, and a version of yourself you're grateful for. Small enough to finish in one sitting, real enough to keep forever, or give away.
Whether you're looking for a welcoming creative community, you're new to the city, craving some time for yourself, or simply want to disconnect from everyday stress, this space is for you.
The Creative Playground is a no-pressure creative space for adults in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. There's no "right way" to do anything, and nothing you need to be good at. Just paint, collage, markers, a 90s soundtrack, and permission to do something just because it feels good.
What to expect:
The theme: The Gratitude Zine. We'll teach you the classic one sheet fold (it takes two minutes to learn), then the pages are yours: draw, collage, write, or all three.
The setup: A cozy studio stocked with curated art materials: paints, markers, collage materials (all supplies included).
The vibe: 90s music, easy conversation (or none, if you're not feeling it), and a room where nobody's watching what you make.
The structure: We'll open with a quick, optional icebreaker, then move into open studio time. Create solo, chat with your table, or float between both, whatever feels right.
Extras: Light snacks, tea, and coffee included.
What we'll have for you
Fun art supplies (like paint, crayons, markers, watercolours, magazines, and more)
Guidance to make your very eight-page gratitude zine, made entirely by you
A guided opening activity
Two hours of open creativity
Light snacks, tea and coffee
Studio space
Your space-holder: Nani Dels
Nani spent years as a human rights attorney, artivist, and mental health advocate. She experienced firsthand the positive impact creative activities had on the wellness of survivors of violence she worked with. When she experienced burnout from the high-pressure environment she worked in, she turned to creativity to recover and discovered something worth sharing.
The Creative Playground is the space where she put all her learnings and findings, and where she wants to spread the joy of playfully creating.
A note about photos:
We occasionally take photos and short videos during The Creative Playground to share what these gatherings feel like. We keep cameras discreet and the focus is always on hands, art, and the room, more than faces. By attending, you consent to appearing in images and footage. If you'd rather stay out of frame entirely, just tell us when you arrive; it's completely fine and it won't change your experience one bit.