Join us on an inspirational sewing and textile adventure in Provence

With our special guest mentor Sarahbeth Larrimore who brings her much-loved workshop, ‘Queen Robe Project’ to Provence.

Hosted by Ruth Ribeaucourt

When: April 23-29 2024 Where: Saignon, Provence

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Dive in

At the heart of this intimate creative retreat is our deepest desire and plan for you to have all the things you'll need to fall in love with your body, follow your creative muse, experience a beautiful flowing process, and return home with a holistic understanding of how to achieve your dreams.

Join us for a 6-day retreat experience in the small medieval hilltop village of Saignon in the South of France learning to create the robe of your dreams with Sarahbeth Larrimore.

Sarahbeth will lead a daily masterclass guiding you to craft a purposeful and beautiful robe and her workshop is as much a primer on creating what you long to wear through design, planning, and sewing as it is about understanding what works for our body types and embracing the joy of the creative process.

Every afternoon, Ruth Ribeaucourt (FAIRE editor-in-chief) will lead our small group on inspirational afternoon adventures, stepping inside off-the-beaten-track artist ateliers and treasure-hunting for antique and vintage fabrics.

This will be an intimate, hands-on, and in-depth practical creative experience open to creatives of all levels. It is certainly not about being the best seamstress - but more focussed on being present. Our retreat is an all-inclusive experience and from the moment you arrive at our retreat residency in Saignon we take care of everything so that you can relax and open yourself up to embracing the magic.

Book your Spot Now!

What is the Queen Robe Project?

Sarahbeth Larrimore has designed this tried and true workshop course to take many dubious never-having-sewn folks from start to finish through the whole process of making a glorious robe of their dreams.

In a ‘bare bones nutshell’ there are three key steps:

- Dream -

- Build -

- Sew -

Step 1: Dream

First we get clear on the feeling. It all starts here, in dreaming. What is it that you long for?

In this section, Sarahbeth will teach a proper inspirational fiber class with hands-on samples taught through the lens of sustainability.

Step 3: Sew

Apparel sewing is simple. Sarahbeth will guide you through the two simple machine stitches apparel sewists need and how to work with a machine. You can't do it wrong, or really - we do it wrong all the time, we just make friends with our seam ripper and keep going. We'll start joyfully constructing our toiles.

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Step 2: Build

This crucial step is about understanding the body and specifically how clothes are made to fit the body and the many techniques that all folks - from couturiers to our grandmothers - have used to make garments.

We'll work with a ‘design-your-own-adventure’ unique pattern to turn those 5 rectangles into the robe of your dreams: 2 fronts, a back, and 2 dropped sleeves and the world is your oyster in terms of design.

Sarahbeth will work closely with you to guide you and help you to combine your dreaming and building language to sketch your unique robe design. Multiple adaptations will be taught in this session. Freedom of expression is encouraged and supported.

Who is this retreat for?

Sarahbeth Larrimore describes it so perfectly when she says….

It all begins with an idea.
What do you dream of stepping into when out of the bath, rising from bed, lounging with your journal?
What do you take your morning coffee wearing? Is it linen, cotton, silk? Does it have long sleeves, short cufffs, no sleeves, kimono edges?
Will you throw in a hidden pocket, or embroider the words most dear to your heart in the panels?
How do you want it to make you feel?

This retreat is perfect for anyone interested in exploring dress-making in a gentler, more inclusive way.

It’s for those of you who dream of owning or crafting something that celebrates your body, and for those who wish to learn both the theory of dress construction and why certain pieces work (or not) - and vitally, remembering our worthiness throughout the creating process.

The fabric of France: it’s also a retreat for those who want to discover Provence through its stories of silk-making and delicious patterned Indiennes toiles that decorated the jupons of the most glamourous women in France in the 18th century (who were from the neighbouring city of Arles not Paris btw!). We’ll explore the powerful colours of Provence from indigo to madder root, leaf through ancient ribbon ledgers and learn about the crafty beginnings of this thin slice of colour and patterned silk and the power of a ribbon to transform even the most humble gown. We’ll learn about the historical Marseille boutis and its more colourful cousin - the piqué. We will nourish your imaginations with invitations inside artist ateliers, and textile dealers treasured private collections - because connecting with other soulful like-minded creatives is what fuels our spirits and fills our cup for the year ahead.

As Sarahbeth likes to say - “what lights you up never leads you astray” - so join us for a week of joy, creativity and kinship

In Practice

Most mornings will be spent in the atelier of the bastide, Chambre Avec Vue, under the guidance of Sarahbeth Larrimore.

We will provide all key sewing tools including sewing machines, fabric scissors, measuring tapes, needles and thread etc

*A note on fabric:
We'll provide yards of cotton muslin from which to craft your robe as a unique living pattern. In designer terms we call this a toile. If you have a ‘dream’ fabric from which you want to make your robe and want to bring it great, but the main objective is for you to be wildly inspired, and to learn and create a pattern from which you can go home and make your dream queen robe not that you'll have it completed while in France - we don't want you to rush through a ‘finished product’ and to have this pressure get in the way of your magical, immersive experience of being ‘in the creative moment’. You are going to learn so much about fiber and be immersed in a world of rich textiles through the story of their creation, and making them into art, history, and lore.

Plus !! you'll have the Queen Robe Project online course with all instructions and videos after the week's creative retreat for life.

Photography by Ruth Ribeaucourt

Your home in Provence

Our accommodation and base for the retreat is a beautiful village home in the picturesque 12th-century village of Saignon, in the heart of the Luberon region of Provence. The home is an artist’s residency known as Chambre Avec Vue and is owned and managed by creative couple Kristof Lamberigts and Benedicte Reychler.

There are two options available

A double bedroom with bathroom (single occupancy)
Twin room (with private bathroom) shared option.

All bed linen and towels are provided.

Photos credit Pierrick Verny

Getting here

The nearest airport is Marseille (1hr 20 mins drive) and the nearest train station is Avignon Central (1hr 15 mins drive). An alternative route is to fly to Paris and then take the TGV train to Marseille (3 hours direct).
As for the connection, we will be organising one group transfer from Marseille airport at noon and a return transfer to arrive at Marseille airport at 13h00. Many of our guests choose to fly in the night before our retreats and spend a day exploring the vibrant city of Marseille, I have a list of my favourite Marseille spots which I can send to help you get the most out of your stay.

Photography by Micha Diot

What is included in the package

What is included:

Six days (Five nights) stay in the very beautiful Chambre Avec Vue Artists Residence in Saignon

Freshly made breakfast every morning
All of your meals (including refreshments/wine) for the duration of the retreat. We will have a guest chef cater for the duration of the retreat with a few special supper parties and meals at key local restaurants.
Small group, in-person teaching of the ‘Queen Robe’ workshop as created by Sarahbeth Larrimore.
After our retreat - you will have full access to the Queen Robe Project online course with all instructions and videos.
All required supplies will be provided including a sewing machine (shared between two); cotton muslin to make your toile, fabric scissors, thread, needles tape measures, paper for pattern-making etc.
Transport to and from Marseille airport. One group transfer is organised.
Your transport to and from excursions and workshops (where required).
Exclusive access to private antique and vintage textile sales.
Full-time translation services (French-English) to ensure you get the most out of your trip and meetings with local artists and textile dealers.

What is not Included:

Your travel to and from Marseille airport to retreat. Any costs for visas / overnights / taxi’s etc are not included.
Any additional fabric, notions, items (or gifts) you wish to purchase during your stay.
Obligatory travel insurance.

f.a.q’s

Cancellation Policy:

Unfortunately due to the nature of this retreat we are unable to offer refunds should you need to later cancel. If you wish to find a replacement then your place can go to them but we cannot refund any payments made. We will do our best to advertise and try and fill the place for you but cannot guarantee success in filling your place at late notice.

Comprehensive travel insurance is now compulsory - and will ensure peace of mind and mean that you are covered fully for sickness, accident, or loss/damage of your personal property (cameras/laptops etc) during your trip.