THE FRENCH RETREAT IS NOW FULLY BOOKED, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ON THE MAILING LIST IN CASE OF CANCELLATIONS OR BE MADE AWARE OF BOTANICAL PRINTING RETREATS IN SCOTLAND IN 2027 PLEASE EMAIL ME ON bettysbeautifullife@gmail.com and make sure to follow this blog to receive alerts when I open a new event.
The retreat runs from the 10th June 10am till the 16th June 9am and is residential. Arrival will be on the 9th June at 5pm at Carbonne station or directly at La Couech.
For those travelling from far I have organised accommodation on the 9th June evening and your evening meal is included. The pick up time from the local station (surrounding of Toulouse) is 5pm on the 9th June. I have also organised for a last night together on the 15th June night with included evening meal and we drop you off at the same station on the 16th at 9am. Further information is communicated after bookings are confirmed.
The French retreat is a one week residential workshop in Botanical printing on paper, and fabric of cellulose nature using local botanicals. In 2027 we will experiment with Screen printing using botanical dyes. It is taking place in the South West of France near Toulouse in an historical Farm house in the small town of Montbrun Bocage. A small group of 9 participants are hosted by our French host in their beautiful studio and dye studio. Together we learn about mordants and botanical to create botanical art.
The cost all inclusive (workshop, material, accomodation, food) is £1500, a deposit of £300 will secure your space. Two payments of £600 will be required in March and April of 2027. Transport costs for the Carbone pick up will be confirmed closer to the time and payment will be taken in cash on the day of arrival. A payment link is available below to secure the space.
Please read on if you are interested.
Botanical printing on paper is one of my very favorite sustainable technique to create wonderful prints on Art paper. Paper is a cellulose material and it takes the dye very well if mordanted like linen/cotton/hemp. It is a very versitile material and once printed you can transform it in many different items or simply display it as a mono print.
Over the years I have been teaching printing paper online and in person and during the Covid period I have developed an online course in 12 lessons which allows you to create a number of effects from a flat background to some more moody effects when boiled in a pot.
Once we resumed meeting in person I put together a 6 day in person retreat which I run yearly in the South West of France. It is a residential course perfect for beginners or more advance printers. During that week we take time to study via sampling how mordanting and dyeing affect the prints and we create a large body of work on paper, cellulose fiber such as linen to take home as well as some good robust notes for the future.
The retreat is off course residential and we are hosted by JF and his wife Krystel in their farmhouse not far from Toulouse but in the countryside. I only welcome a small group and the experience is very immersive but also very creative.
In the past years the groups of 9 participants have bonded very well and often they still speak in the whasap group after months in a really friendly manner.
The course is ran in a beautiful studio in the middle of the garden and the residence is in a family house (old farmhouse) with the rooms of an open gallery and a large dining room where we meet 3 times a day for meals. JF cooks for us in a true French style using only fresh products from the market. Gradually we just become one family and normal life gradually vanishes as no tv or news are brodcasted there.
We forage the local flora for our prints and on the sunday off we visit the local market to test the home made pizza and ice cream as well as mingle with the locals. It is the event of the are and a very fine event. On Sunday afternoon I usually set up an Indigo vat and those who want to do something creative can dye while others might rest.
This is not the type of retreat where we visit the area for some local shopping although I might introduce a trip to a local market this year.
The accommodation is shared rooms but as the building is an old farmhouse the rooms are huge and comfortable leaving enough space to everyone for me time. There is an outside gallery with comfi chairs to allow you to relax mornings and evenings, a large seating room where you can catch the Wifi and seat in the cool when outside is too hot and a reading room gallery where you can enjoy JF collection of classic books. Krystel is an artist herself and their home is full of beautiful textiles and books ready to be explored.
We have a pick up point at the local train station on the 9nd of June 5pm for everyone arriving by public transport as the drive to the farm is still around 20 minutes but it is possible to commute directly by taxi from Toulouse Blagnac airport. The course runs until the 15th June evening. On the 16th after breakfast we will drop you off at the same station back into normal life. Often I will take that train back to Toulouse myself.
During the week of the course we will cover:
- Mordanting methods to suit cellulose and protein fiber
- Dye extraction from plant based matter
- Selection of leaves from the local ressources and some information to allow you to adapt to your area
- Botanical printing on paper, cellulose both steamed and by immersion
- On our day off (Sunday) you can visit the local market, organise your own lunch and an Indigo vat can be opened between 2 and 5 for anyone who would like to have a go. It is not an Indigo lesson and taking part will be followed by a communal cleaning session. Please note you have to bring your own fabric and resists I do not supply anything apart from the Indigo.
- Finishing your pieces and neutralising.
- This year I am introducing some Screen printing with botanical paste and discharge on linen.
- You will be given information on a web-based support to take home.
- A debrief at the end of each day.
- A hands on sustainable approach and collaboration between participants is encouraged.
- On the final day we will be setting up our work as a mini exhibition to share with the host and to review our learning.
You will leave with samples on fabric, paper, and some great new knowledge
This year I will introduce screen printing on vintage linen time..
I have calculated a fully inclusive price of £1500 for the 6 days (deposit is £300 to secure the space, then two payments £600 in March and and April 2027) , it even includes the odd glass of local red wine or freshly brewed apple juice from the orchard, that JF serves to compliment the meals. Accommodation and 3 meals a day, the commute from the train station will be settled in cash on the day to the driver (around € 15 to Carbonne, or € 25 to Toulouse Matabiau on the way back) but the workshop, the material and dyes are all included.
What you will have to fund yourself is :
- Your sunday lunch.
- Your commuting costs to and from La Couech.
- Your costs if you would like additional food or drinks. The menu is European and is ok for vegetarians. For strictly Gluten free contact me as there might be an extra cost due to the high cost or food such as “bread” “pasta” etc… For any special diet please contact me there will be a small added cost to help our host.
- Your snacks, we offer coffee and tea but no snacks, In the last retreat everyone brought different elements nuts, dry fruits, biscuits etc… and we had a communal table but this is Optional.
- Any dye kit you might want to order from me or any additional material you might choose to bring in.
Below I have added a selection of photos from last year’s retreat to inspire you.
During the week our group becomes closer and as we focus on our technique the work we produce gets better and better but also we form friendship that will last and our vocabulary moves from everyday things to dye terms, names of leaves, effects, we simply meditate on our techniques. It is such a refreshing moment in this crazy world.
My retreat does not accept partners, nor pets because i want our group to feel the immersion and the closeness of a retreat but partners (and pets) can find something to do in the close by Toulouse and meet you at the end.
We share rooms and there are two tents in single occupency…. Our retreat is fully immersive and from the moment you meet us the day before we start to the moment you leave after breakfast the day after we finish you can live cash free. All is included including the local glass of wine.
If you want to find out more about the program and cost scroll below… If you want to reserve one of the 10 spaces please click the link below and make the deposit payment but … Watch out it is not refundable should you change your mind so think it through.
Payments are non refundable but I will accept a replacement for your space if you cant make it. Please contract a travel insurance in case you have an event to forces you to cancel.
Dates:
9 nd June 2027 – Arrival at 17 h
10th to 15th June inclusive Retreat
16th June departure after breakfast
Location:
Toulouse area.
Accomodation:
Shared rooms full board.
Food type (standard european, if you have a special diet please contact me to discuss at bettysbeautifullife@gmail.com )
PS PLEASE NOTE YOU HAVE TO STAND UP FOR LENGHT OF TIME AND WALK ACCROSS THE UNEAVEN GROUND OF THE GARDEN, YOUR ACCOMODATION WILL BE ONE FLOOR UP. IT IS NOT SUITABLE FOR YOU IF YOU MOBILITY IS IMPAIRED UNLESS YOU BOOK A HELPER AS AN ADDITIONAL FULL RIGHT PARTICIPANTS TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR MOBILITY NEEDS.
If you have any medical issues please email me before booking bettysbeautifullife@gmail.com including if you are using a sleeping machine for treatment of apnea. All rooms are shared and we need to discuss this prior to your booking being made.
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