About Unearth


This September, come along to the Pacific Northwest woods outside Seattle with Kelly Barton, Mindy Lacefield, and Liz Lamoreux as your guides. Our five days together will include three full days of unearthing the creativity that we each have within paired with invitations to spend time breathing deeply and noticing what you most need in this moment. The dates of this retreat are September 26 - 30, 2012.

Kelly and Mindy will be co-teaching a three-day juicy, soulful painting workshop, and Liz will share some of her favorite creative self-care practices through mini creative adventures in topics like poetry, self-portraiture, and meditation. The three of us will work together to integrate our workshops into one incredible adventure for all who come along. 

Throughout the retreat and workshops, Kelly, Mindy, 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 create on your own as you are tucked in by the fire at beautiful Frog Creek Lodge. 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 most of the happy, colorful supplies needed for Mindy and 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 and Mindy'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. Vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free options will be available as needed. If other allergies are a concern, please contact Liz.

Evening activities: Opening and closing gatherings, Pajama Soiree, a Soulful Art Brunch (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 and visit the Location page to learn more about Frog Creek Lodge and the surrounding area. Visit the Registration page to learn more details about tuition costs and register.

Note: This is a very intimate retreat with just 16 participant spots (14 spots with lodging at Frog Creek Lodge and 2 additional "day student" spots available). Update 5/10: Just 10 spots left!

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, two 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.