Dreaming of a relaxing getaway where you can indulge in your love for Cretive Art and Textiles? Look no further than our Retreat! This one-of-a-kind experience is designed to nurture your creative spirit and provide a supportive community of women who share your passion. Join us for a weekend of fun, learning, and inspiration.

I am so very excited about this retreat. In 2023 I attended one of Roz’s art retreats and LOVED every minute of it. It was fun, relaxing, engaging, full of colour and loads of tips and tricks. I am not the world’s best artist but I felt validated and came away with some work that I am extremely proud of…so much so that a couple of my paintings are hanging up in my house!

It’s been a dream of mine to share a Gathered Threads retreat with Roz and it’s finally happening!

We are combining her love of art and colour and huge artistic talent with my love of textiles to bring you this wonderful creative retreat.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to recharge, relax, and create to your heart’s content! Read more about what we will be doing below.....I just can't wait for this one!

Day 1 - arrival

Arrive any time from 4pm  and receive a warm welcome, a cup of tea and some cake. This is a great  time to get to know your fellow retreatees, make yourself at home,  settle into your room, bag your space in the studio, pop your slippers on and ……breathe…..! 

Day 1 – evening

At 6pm come and join us at our ‘Welcome to the retreat” glass of bubbly and some canapes in the sitting room in front of the roaring log fire..this is  just the start! We then gather in the dining room for a delicious home  cooked supper. What happens next is up to you. You can head for a  squishy sofa in the sitting room in front of the fire, have a dip in the  hot tub, dabble in some painting or just retire to bed.

Day 2

Help yourself to a morning  cuppa, lie in or head out for an early morning walk by the river. A  yummy breakfast of home made bread and jam, yoghurt, cereals,  croissants, fruit salad awaits you from 8.30am. The morning is punctuated with tea/coffee and cake and then more delicious homemade food at lunchtime!  Afternoon tea is at 4pm with yet more cake tea and coffee and dinner is served at 7pm and then it’s hot  tub, sofa, painting or bed time!

Floral Lampshade Painting

Explore your love for colour and flowers in this relaxing workshop to create your own floral lampshade.

We will begin with experimenting on paper and calico, learning to “go with the flow” and embracing how paint spreads into the grain of the fabric. We will try more watery paint for watercolour effects as well as elements in thicker paint to create more control in your brushstrokes.

Once you’ve tried this, you will be emboldened to paint everything... starting with your lampshade.

We will then show you how to make your own lampshade using a kit (provided) that will then be ready to paint. In easy steps using Roz’s tips and tricks you will learn to create loose, expressive flowers on a fabric shade....think colour, flowers, fun! (More lampshade kits will be available to purchase should you wish to have a go at another one whilst the inspiration is flowing!!)

Day 3

After breakfast it’s back  to the studio for...

Garment restyling with paint and stitch

Bring your favourite denim or canvas garment you’d like to paint on.

Don’t worry if you don’t feel confident at drawing, Roz will bring out your inner artist! You will learn mark making and simple brushwork to create dynamic patch pockets or placement designs...imagine the back of a jacket or legs of jeans or just a simple pocket...let your imagination run wild!

Whilst we are waiting for your design to dry Yvonne will demonstrate freemotion embroidery using your sewing machine. This is a highly addictive technique once mastered and can be used to embellish the painting on your garment.

Once your design is dry, highlight areas with machine or hand stitching, add beads and interesting thread work.

No need to bring paints (Roz will provide these). Choose your own palette of threads and beads to coordinate with your garment and bring them to the retreat if you’d like to add these.

Bring an apron and wear old clothes - we will be getting messy!

On Sunday afternoon we like to stop for a cuppa and a mini cream tea  in the sitting room – a time to catch up with everyone.

You can then return to the studio to continue with your stitching or just enjoy your last evening relaxing and being on retreat! Roz will be leaving us at Tea time to head back to London and her family.

Day 3 – evening

Our evening meal on Sunday is always rather special…friendships have  been forged, memories made, lots of laughter shared and it’s wonderful  to celebrate that on our last evening together.

A somewhat sadder morning  as we gather our things and say goodbye to everyone. For those who have  the whole day to spare there is the opportunity to pop into Dartmouth or  have a trip into Totnes for the unique independent shops.

Don’t be too sad…there will always be another retreat…..!

We will also have an area devoted to play and experimentation in mixed media throughout the weekend. Roz will set out large sheets of heavy paper for you to use whenever you fancy.

You can try coloured pencils, oil pastels, water-soluble crayons and collage coloured papers and stickers.

Your pieces can be cut out and reworked with machine or hand stitching onto greeting card blanks, into bookmarks, your own frames or sketchbooks.

Paints, pencils, crayons, pastels, brushes, card blanks and papers provided by Roz. Feel free to bring your favourite art materials, picture frames and sketchbooks.

Creating side by side opens up the best of conversations and it will be a lovely way to break the ice and get to know your fellow guests.

Roz is a former New York textile designer turned contemporary artist and co-founder of Tipperleyhill. Specialising in florals, pattern, and expressive mark-making, she brings a designer’s eye for detail to her collaborative paintings with partner Abi. Her work is a celebration of vibrant colour and the philosophy that art is - and should be - for everyone.