Upcoming Retreat: L'art de la Broderie
Photography by Ruth Ribeaucourt, Emma Cassi
You may remember we featured the beautiful story of French jewellery maker, fibres artist and herbalist, Emma Cassi in Issue 2 of FAIRE and we are excited to share the news of a very special creative retreat, L’Art de la Broderie, organised by the Irish retreat facilitator-extraordinaire Erin Clarke, and Emma Cassi in Ardeche, France this summer.
Where: A historical silk mill in the heart of the Ardeche region of France.
When: June 24 - 26, 2022
Special Guest: Emma Cassi
Clean, joyful, organic food catering for the workshop by Ariane Roque
We sat down with workshop host Erin Clarke to find out more about what they have in store and are absolutely seduced by her description that, “Like silk, this will be a 'soft, fine, delicate, illuminating and beautiful experience”.
Words by Erin Clarke
I am an Irish creative currently living in the Ardeche region in the south of France. It is wild with valleys, mountains and waterfalls in the garden. From dawn to dusk there is stillness, you can wander the roads without crossing a single car, and you witness nature change right before your eyes.
It is this majestic landscape that inspired me to organise small creative retreats. I don’t consider myself an artist, but living in this environment encourages you to look beyond and see the beauty of the everyday. It has shown me a way of life that allows me to be more present. And I thought, how could someone not want to live this experience - even if only for a weekend?.
These intimate retreats are a reflection of all that is important to me, essentially finding ways to better be in harmony with nature, and to recognise all that nature offers to us and where less is more.
In Autumn 2021, we organised a wonderful retreat which focused on natural dyeing with textile artist Aurore Pelisson and artist Emma Cassi reached out to me following this slow-creative retreat. I had been following her on instagram for a short while, after discovering her in issue two of Faire magazine and I quickly fell in love with Emma’s incredibly rich inner world and creative work. We connected instantly over our shared interests in nature and nurturing slow, intentional creativity and I was lucky to visit Emma in her new studio in Madrid.
Together we will host 'L'art de la Broderie' - an intuitive weekend where Emma will share her passion for embroidery and textiles, encouraging students/interns to be nimble and graceful in their gestures and be at one with the silk.
Our retreat will be hosted in a historical old silk mill in Ardeche, and we will be drawing from and creating with sustainable materials including vintage and second-hand sequins, thread and beads. We will have time to explore the incredible natural surroundings, to explore ways to centre and find peace within ourselves, to deepen our breaths and create space for more - or for less.
The beauty of Emma's presence and teaching will be accompanied by energetic and mindful practices, opening up our bodies and spirit and in parallel nourished by the colourful and inspiring plant based cooking of Ariane our chef.
Like silk, this will be a 'soft, fine, delicate, illuminating and beautiful experience'
Emma Cassi
Emma Cassi is a fibers, embroidery, and jewellery artist, as well as a herbalist. Originally from France, today she is based in Windsor, U.K., where she has been living with her family since 2016. She works in her home studio and grows herbs and plants in her backyard garden. Emma is self-taught in much of what she does, priding herself on her ability to find her own way. In 2016, she received a coveted Hand & Lock Prize For Embroidery.
L'art de la Broderie will be held June 24 to 26 in the Ardèche, France.
For more information, or to make a reservation, please contact Erin Clarke at erin.bianaitre@gmail.com or call 0602722156