The Lavender Path
She’d signed up for a month-long artist’s retreat at the edge of a small village, a quiet cluster of shutters and slate roofs perched above the Dordogne. Her room overlooked a garden filled with rosemary, thyme, and soft yellow roses. Mornings were for tea and journaling beneath the fig tree. Afternoons were spent in a stone barn-turned-studio, where others painted or wrote or wandered in thoughtful silence.
The day she arrived in Périgord, the pale afternoon sky made the stone buildings glow as if lit from within. The taxi wound through fields of sunflowers and rows of lavender, each bend in the road feeling like an exhale. She hadn’t known exactly why she came—only that something within her had stirred in recent months. A soft tug. A need to shift, to shed, to listen.
She hadn’t painted in years. Her canvas sat untouched for days while she filled pages with dreams and fragments. Not dreams in the ambitious sense—but the kind that visited at dawn. Wordless knowings. Images of rivers, open doors, birds in flight. A color she couldn’t name but felt in her bones.
One morning, a glimmer came. Just a glimpse: a goldfinch on the windowsill, tilting its head as if to say yes, keep going. She sketched it quickly. Later, the same golden hue appeared in her dreams.
The village market became her favorite ritual. She spoke halting French, pointed to olives and soft cheese, chose peaches by touch. There was a woman there with wild gray curls who sold hand-dyed linen scarves and who said, “You are beginning again. I can feel it.” She didn’t know what to say in response, only smiled and nodded, blinking back tears.
By the third week, she found herself painting—not for show, but as a way of listening. Shapes emerged from her brush: spirals, seeds, hands reaching toward light. Others in the studio began to notice. “There’s a kind of energy in your work,” one said. “It wakes something up.”
The final night of the retreat, they gathered under a vine-covered arbor with wine and candles. Someone asked what they were taking home. She looked around at the soft faces, the long table, the stars above them. Then, her own voice, steady and quiet: “I think I’m bringing home…myself.”
And she was.
Not the self shaped by expectations, but the one she’d glimpsed all along—in bird feathers, in brushstrokes, in lavender light. The part of her that had been waiting, not to be found, but to be remembered.
Feeling the stirrings of your own unfolding?
Join us for a soulfully guided art retreat in the French countryside—where beauty is slow, mornings are quiet, and something deep within you begins to remember.
This is your invitation to join us in an immersive 10-day all-inclusive creative journey in collaboration with Perigord Retreats. We will be staying in the Dordogne and Lot regions of southwestern France, a place full of exquisite beauty, fascinating history & endless inspiration!
Each day of our retreat is a gentle unfolding of inspiration and connection. Our days are spent between mindful creativity, as we gather to create, reflect, and share in the sanctuary of our journals, and exploration—wandering through picturesque landscapes or quaint villages, collecting stories and mementos that spark our imaginations. Evenings are a celebration of community, where laughter and heartfelt conversations weave bonds that linger long after the retreat ends.
Immerse yourself in the allure of southwestern France and create your own one-of-a-kind travel journal. In this hands-on workshop, we’ll journey through picturesque towns, markets, and historic sites, gathering inspiration and unique vintage materials along the way. Using vintage books, antique papers, ephemera, and found objects, you’ll craft a bespoke journal that captures the essence of your travels.
From charming village streets to the beauty of the French countryside, every detail of your adventure will come alive on the pages of your vintage travel journal. I’ll show you my favorite creative journaling techniques, blending mixed media art with personal reflections, while discovering the beauty of preserving memories in a meaningful, artistic way.
Whether you’re an experienced artist or new to journaling, this workshop is designed to spark your creativity and bring the magic of France into every page. Throughout our time together, I will guide you through my favorite mixed media techniques utilizing vintage materials, gathered papers, paints, and ephemera. My teaching style is rooted in the belief that there are no mistakes in making art—only opportunities for discovery and growth. I offer gentle guidance, encouraging you to set aside expectations so your creativity can flow freely. Together, we’ll create an open, supportive space where experimentation is celebrated, and the magic of the process can truly unfold. My goal is to help you trust your instincts, embrace imperfection, and find joy in the unique beauty of your artistic journey. Leave with not only a beautiful journal, but also unforgettable memories and newfound artistic inspiration!
Come home to yourself in Périgord. Click here to join us or for more information.
