About Pen & Paper
Come along to the Pacific Northwest woods outside Seattle with Susan Wooldridge, Kelly Barton, and Liz Lamoreux as your guides and spend time putting pen to paper and playing with a little bit of paint (no previous experience with glue required!). The dates of this retreat are March 14-18, 2012.
This retreat is for the creative soul inside you who longs to spend time writing in a cabin in the woods with like-minded kindreds. We will also explore how our writing can inspire mixed-media art creations and photography.
Throughout the retreat and workshops, Susan, Kelly, and Liz will share stories and creative tools while creating a safe, encouraging environment for everyone. There will also be time spent recharging and time to write on your own as you are tucked in by the fire at beautiful Frog Creek Lodge. And with these three as your guides, you can be certain there will be laughter, joy, and perhaps even a bit of dancing.
All Be Present Retreats include:
- A safe environment that holds space for truth, laughter, moments of quiet, and the opportunity to share your story.
- A heart-opening five-day experience that begins with a welcome dinner and opening ceremony on Wednesday evening and ends with a closing ceremony Saturday evening and farewell breakfast Sunday morning.
- Daily group gatherings that explore meditation, ritual, and everyday sacredness as ways to be more present in your daily life.
- The opportunity to connect with kindred spirits who might just become life-long friends.
- A time away from your day-to-day roles where you can just show up as you.
- Workshops that will provide you with the opportunity to sink into writing and poetry, photography, mixed-media art, and “being present practices,” so that you can add tools to your creative toolbox and give yourself the gift of uncovering more of your story.
- The opportunity to connect with teachers who deeply understand the power of healing through creativity and will share stories that will remind you that you are not alone.
- An invitation to come home to yourself.
puget sound, key peninsula, washington
New for the 2012 retreat season:
Each participant will receive a workshop kit that includes the happy, colorful supplies needed for Kelly’s mixed-media workshops.
The kit will include items like: paint, gel medium, any special brushes needed, the substrate used in the workshop (such as canvas, watercolor paper, and so on), collage materials, and other good things along with the opportunity to play with some of Kelly’s favorite supplies. You will be asked to bring a small creative toolkit of items you most likely already have such as scissors, favorite pen, pencil, and similar items.
Each participant will also take home a creative self-care kit designed by Liz that will support them in continuing to create space for creativity and self-care when they return home. This kit will become a companion for you during the sometimes challenging re-entry experience after time away from your daily life.
Your retreat experience includes all of the above plus:
Four nights of lodging, shared rooms
Three days of workshops and other experiential activities
All meals (except one dinner as the schedule includes free time one evening to explore the surrounding areas at your own pace)
Snacks and hot tea/coffee/water provided daily
Important Note: Please know that allergy/food needs will be taken into consideration when planning meals and snacks so we can all be nourished during our time together.
Evening activities: Opening and closing gatherings, Pajama Soiree (which will provide the opportunity for mentors + participants to share, trade, and sell their artwork), and other activities
Surprises and treats throughout our time together
Visit this Workshops page to learn more about the teachers and workshops at this retreat, visit the Location page to learn more about Frog Creek Lodge and the surrounding area, and visit the Registration page to learn more details about tuition and registration dates.
Note: There are just 14 participant spots available at this intimate retreat (12 spots with lodging at Frog Creek Lodge and 2 additional "day student" spots available). All lodging at this retreat is shared rooms and transportation from the airport is not included. If you would like to attend the retreat but find your own lodging, four of these spots are available. At this time, all Be Present Retreats are full retreat experiences (this means you can't sign up for only one teacher, only one day, and so on). Contact Liz for more information if would like to attend but find your own lodging nearby.