ABOUT

about us

At Cropping Daze Retreat, there are TWO HOSTESSES on staff at all times to cater to your every need! We promise to be attentive (but not intrusive) so you feel special and receive all the extra attention you deserve!

HOLLY KASTER

Owner, Founding Member, Hostess

Hello friends! I guess you can consider me a seasoned scrapbooker. I've been scrapbooking for over 25 years and was a scrapbooking demonstrator for 8 years. I was also a Stampin' Up! demonstrator for 2 years. I have experience in organizing large scrapbooking events and love to try new techniques. I’m currently learning how to use my Cricut (lol).


Before Cropping Daze, I could barely make spaghetti … I learned “on the job” and have become a pretty good cook. I love to eat - so I know how I want things to taste! I’m usually never the baker on the weekend because I don’t measure and that doesn’t work out well while baking!


I left my full time job as an Auto Body Designer at General Motors for my dream job - a stay at home Mom to our adopted daughter, Grace and become one of the owners of Cropping Daze Retreat. By pure miracle, our biological son arrived in January 2008 - a wonderful surprise to us all! It’s hard to believe that Grace will be graduating high school as the valedictorian this year and going away to college at Grand Canyon University (fall2022). You can read more about her in her bio below. Mac is now almost 6 feet tall and plays travel hockey with the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies in Troy.


I’m a busy hockey mom and do a lot of running around between practices, games and tournaments. I reside in Brown City with my husband (and soul mate) Brian, our children (Grace and Mac), two crazy black labs (Phoenix and Lila), a cat (Mea) and a barn full of chickens (if you’ve been a guest before you’ve heard my crazy chicken stories!).


I really look forward to the weekends I work at Cropping Daze and treasure all the wonderful people I am lucky enough to meet there. I am one of the fortunate people in life who actually LOVE their job.


I can't wait to meet you!



PHYLLIS MACLEOD

Owner,Founding Member, Bookkeeper

I retired from the business world in 1999 and helped start Cropping Daze in 2004.  My past work experiences included being an Executive Secretary at Chevrolet Engineering, Million Dollar Club Member as a Real Estate Associate and Broker, Administrative Assistant to the Building Director at Shelby Twp., and a sales representative for B-Dry Waterproofing.  


My husband, Hugh, passed in 2000, but there have been many babies through the years to fill the void, and in December 2021, I became a great-great-grandmother.


My favorite crafts are painting and scrapbooking.   I am a big General Hospital fan and I love the Detroit Tigers!  I enjoy fine dining and trying new restaurants with friends and family.   I recently adopted a very handsome cat named Charlie who is quite a character and keeps me company.   Vegas is my favorite vacation spot and I try to go once a year to try my luck!  I also enjoy visiting my other daughter, Melana, in Arizona and her family. 


My health has forced me to discontinue working at Cropping Daze, except in a paperwork capacity, but I enjoy staying a few weekends a year to see old friends I have met throughout the years.  



MEET OUR TEAM

In their own words

Cropping Daze would not be what it is today without our amazing staff!  These are the faces of the ladies who help make it happen.

GRACE

Hey, my name is Grace Kaster. I’m the whole reason Cropping Daze exists. The End. Just kidding, I am a senior at Juniata Christian School and after I graduate high school, I will be heading out to Arizona to attend Grand Canyon University.


I am the Valedictorian of my class (2022) and I am also very involved in sports. I play varsity volleyball and basketball, and I also play for a travel softball team.


I started helping my mom at Cropping Daze when I was 10 years old and have met some of the nicest people throughout the years.


I love being able to work with my mom and maybe cause a little trouble in the kitchen!


I hope you all come and have an amazing time while we take care of you! :) 

PEGGY

My name is Peggy Harrison. My favorite color is Pink. One of my nicknames is Pegalicious. I have been married to my best friend, the love of my life- Buzz for 25+years. We have 5 amazing kids and now 3 bonus thru marriage. I’m a Gigi to my 3 precious grandbabies.


I have had the honor of working at Cropping Daze since 2016. I don't know what’s better, working there or being a guest. When I was little I wanted to grow up to be a housewife and throw parties. I get to do that whenever I come work at Cropping Daze. I love baking and pampering all you ladies, helping you forget the outside world for a few days. Working with one of my besties Holly is an added bonus.


I am very thankful to be well enough to come back and work after my heart attack in 2019. Cropping Daze has brought so much joy to my life, meeting all our wonderful guests and seeing all their creativity. I look forward to meeting all of you in the future!


MANDY

Hello! My name is Mandy! I grew up in Flint, Michigan and currently live in Grand Blanc. My husband and I have 5 kids between us!


We also have the sweetest Aussie named Bruno and my bearded dragon named Mushu.


For my day job, I am a Special Ed Paraprofessional in a 3rd to 5th grade classroom. I absolutely adore the kids I work with.


Decorating is a passion of mine and I do many types of crafts including sketching, painting, and vinyl.


I have been a guest at Cropping Daze for many years myself. I absolutely love working here as well!


Hope you enjoy your stay with us!


BARB 

Hello my name is Barb Patterson. I have been a guest at Cropping Daze for years but just recently started helping. I love being creative and crafty but I also love entertaining, baking and being on the other side of the craft room.


I have been a domestic engineer for years, married to my husband Roy for 19 years. I have a daughter who will be a senior in the fall (2022) and 2 stepsons, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren. 


I enjoy bowling and helped coach the Howell High School Bowling team this year. I’m very passionate about glamping and traveling and try to squeeze in every bit of it that I can during the summer. Late summer and fall I help my sister and brother-in-law at the Oakland County Farmers Market. So master of nothing, dabbling in a lot!

KARRIE

Hello crafters!   I'm Karrie and I'm from Clifford. My full time job (and passion) is the lead preschool teacher/director at Our Savior Lutheran in Marlette. My "kids" mean the world to me and I absolutely love my job and the kids! 


When I'm off during the summer,  you can find me at the county fairs pulling trucks with my family. I am also a member of the Thumb Tractor Pulling Association.  I love camping, bonfires and hanging out with friends. My family means everything to me.


I've been working at Cropping Daze on and off for the last few years.  I do the baking when I'm on the job and my favorite dessert is cookies!


I have met the most incredibly strong women during my weekends working here and I would recommend being a guest 110% - especially if you like to be pampered and eat! 

TAMMY

I occasionally work as the Thursday check-in person, but I am also the weekly house cleaner.  I work part-time as the secretary for my husband's business, and full-time as a domestic engineer (aka housewife).  I have been married to my awesome husband, Phil, for 9 years.


I live only a half hour away from Cropping Daze on 5 acres of woods full of wildlife, which I spend great amounts of time and money trying to attract. It is my little patch of heaven because of my love of animals and all things nature. I love living in the state of Michigan because of all the nature there is to enjoy, but the Upper Peninsula is my favorite place to be. I also love the Great Lakes because I'm an avid rock collector.


My hobbies include sticker collecting, traveling, puzzles, and going to garage/yard/estate sales.


TONYA

I do the baking and assist Holly when on duty.  I am (not telling) years old and I have lived in Waterford, Michigan for pretty much my entire life. Not admitting to the year, because I cannot believe how long-ago graduation was, but I am a Waterford Kettering Captain. Tony (my handsome hubby) and I have been married now for 28 years and love day trips/weekends exploring Michigan.


I am the proud mother of two boys, a fabulous daughter-in-law, and the most awesome grandson who calls me Memaw. I really haven’t decided yet what I want to be when I grow up. I’ll let you know when I get there. In the meantime, I dabble in scrapbooking, knitting, crochet, embroidery, quilting, sewing, oil painting, diamond art, and stamp collecting. I know enough about each but would not say that I am an expert in any craft/hobby but always love trying new things.


KRISTY

Hello fellow crafters! My name is Kristy and I live in Marlette, MI with my husband and two cats. During the school year I work as a teaching assistant for visual impaired students and am really enjoying this new chapter in my life. In our spare time, my husband and I enjoy watching Broadway musicals.


I started scrapbooking when I was in high school and it has evolved to many other crafts over the years. My favorites are scrapbook, any vinyl project, mixed media, painting, working in my planner and card making.


I have been attending Cropping Daze as a guest for a long time and starting working there in 2019. Working at Cropping Daze is awesome and I love making your stay with us as relaxing as can be!!! 


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