Join textile artist and instructor Fleur Woods in South West France for a week of playful experimentation with textiles and hand embroidery, learning how to draw floral motives with stitch.
About this course:
Creative Retreat participants can expect to be taken on a joyful, generous, exciting creative journey with Fleur as your guide. This retreat offers you the opportunity to create your own contemporary stitched textile collage artwork using a variety of textile collage, embroidery and beading techniques.
Stitch is a beautifully slow and mindful way to create, we will embrace that ethos for our time together and enjoy taking our time to emmerse ourselves in the studio while learning Fleur’s methods for creating her colourful, richly stitched textile collage works.
Inspired by the region and the Atelier we will all draw from an abundant selection of vintage & hand painted textiles and threads as well as Fleur’s hand dyed wools to design and create unique artworks. A basic level of stitching is useful for this workshop. Our group size is limited so that there is plenty of time for one on one guidance and support for you to develop your creativity at whatever stage you are at. My teaching style is informal and kind, thorough and generous, I aim to meet each individual where you are at in your creative evolution and support you with plenty of resources and gentle experienced guidance.
All materials are supplied and included in the workshop cost so all you need to do is arrive and sink into a week of creative bliss. While a schedule is provided you may find that the topics organically move around during our time together as we progress as a group and individually however the timeframes for studio time each day will stay the same.The studio will be available for optional additional untutored stitching time as you wish.
Retreat Schedule: 14th – 21st March 2026
Saturday 14th
4.00 – Check-in time from 4pm onwards. Guests arrive, settle in and explore Clos Mirabel
6.00 – Welcome drinks and dinner
Sunday 15th
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
10.00 – 12.00 Introduction to Studio, Materials and Project Design
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
2.00 – 5.00 Base Composition and Layering Textiles
6.00 – Aperitifs before 4 course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace
Monday 16th
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
10.00 – 12.00 Fresh eyes layout review and colour palette selection
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
2.00 – 5.00 First layers stitching
6.00 – Aperitifs before 4 course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace
Tuesday 17th
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
10.00 – 12.00 Stitching Studio
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
2.00 – 5.00 Stitching Studio Forms & Layers
6.00 – Aperitifs before 4 course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace
Wednesday – 18th – day off
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
We suggest wine tasting in local vineyard, explore Pau or beyond
6.00 – Aperitifs before 4 course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace
Thursday 19th
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
10.00 – 12.00 Individualised One on One and group sessions as projects evolve
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
2.00 – 5.00 Individualised One on One and group sessions as projects evolve
6.00 – Aperitifs before 4 course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace
Friday 20th
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
10.00 – 12.00 Stitching Studio
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
2.00 – 5.00 Project Review
6.00 – Evening exhibition in the studio followed by aperitifs before 4 course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace
Saturday 21st
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet Breakfast and fond farewells (Check-out 11am)
The Art Studio, offers a spacious open plan layout of 75 m2. It is available at all times during your stay. Click here for more information.
Non-participating guests: we are more than happy to welcome non-workshop guests, accompanying partners, family or friends. There are plenty of activities to experience around Clos Mirabel, that will make your holiday unforgettable Click here for more information.
