A New York Creative Retreat - December 2-6, 2026

Maybe you’ve been making dolls for years and want to try a different approach. Maybe you’re an experienced maker looking to develop your skills further, or perhaps you’ve never made a doll before and would simply like to give it a try.

Dollmaking is at the heart of the retreat. We’ll spend our time together working on a doll from start to finish, learning techniques, exploring different possibilities, and working through the details that give each doll its character. I’ll provide guidance throughout, while leaving room for you to make your own choices and bring your own ideas to the work.

There will be plenty to explore beyond the workshop as well. We’ll visit New York’s Fashion District to look through fabrics, lace, ribbons, and other materials, spend time at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and take in NYC during the Christmas season.

The idea is to bring all of these things together - a few focused days of dollmaking, time to discover materials and textiles, art to be inspired by, and amazing New York itself as part of the experience.

RETREAT ITINERARY

Rather than striving for perfection, discover the joy of trusting your hands and following your creative intuition. This retreat blends dollmaking, thoughtful guidance, and creative exploration to help you embrace the process, let go of self-doubt, and deepen your confidence in your own artistic voice.

Day 1

4:00 PM onward - Arrive & Settle In Arrive from 4:00 PM onward and make yourself at home. Settle into your room, explore the house, go to Manhattan, take a walk nearby, or simply enjoy some time to rest after your journey.

One of the guest bedrooms

Welcome Dinner In the evening, we’ll gather around the table for our first dinner at the residence. A relaxed meal and plenty of time to talk, get to know one another, and begin the retreat.

Day 2

Dollmaking Workshop

After breakfast, we begin our workshop, the creative heart of the retreat. The first day of the workshop is devoted to sculpting and felting the head of a Waldorf-inspired art doll, approximately 33–35 cm (13–14 inches) tall, using soft EcoWool and a special fabric milled in Switzerland and brought from Europe. With step-by-step guidance, each participant will learn how to build and shape the head, sculpt an expressive face, and bring the features to life through needle felting. We’ll explore techniques, proportions, and individual possibilities as each doll gradually takes shape and begins to develop her own unique personality.

Lunch at the Residence A relaxed lunch and a chance to step away from the work before continuing in the afternoon.

Evening After a full day of making, we’ll gather for a delicious dinner.

Day 3

After a nutritious breakfast, we will embark on our trip to New York’s Fashion District, exploring fabrics, lace, ribbons, and all kinds of treasures for our dolls.

After lunch at one of our favorite cafés, we’ll head up Fifth Avenue to see the Christmas windows and the Rockefeller Center tree, followed by a guided tour through The Met and a selection of works chosen especially for our group.

In the evening, we’ll return to the residence for dinner and time to relax.

Christmas Lights at Rockefeller Center

A guided journey through The Met

Day 4

After breakfast, we continue our Dollmaking Workshop, beginning with face embroidery before moving on to the construction of the doll’s body. We’ll focus on creating a balanced structure with natural proportions and graceful shaping, including shoulders that support the tension of the skin fabric and keep the arms securely in place. We’ll also shape a smooth, rounded little bottom and add a delicately placed belly button, subtle details that give each doll charm and character. The legs will be constructed to hold their shape while allowing a gentle bend at the knees, creating a natural sitting position without beads or internal hinges. We’ll then finish the doll with a beautiful hairstyle made from a goat-mohair wig, bringing together all the details that make each creation uniquely her own.

In the evening, we’ll gather for a final celebratory dinner - a candlelit evening with wonderful food, wine, and a sense of shared accomplishment as we admire the dolls we have created together and celebrate the time we’ve shared.

Day 5

Over breakfast, we’ll have one last opportunity to linger together, exchange contact information, and reflect on the days we’ve shared. Then, with our dolls and memories in hand, it will be time to say goodbye and return home, carrying the experience with us and, hopefully, friendships that continue beyond the retreat.

Please note: The itinerary is thoughtfully planned but may be adjusted slightly depending on weather and tour conditions, ensuring we make the most of our time together.

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​Price & What's Included

Price for this all-inclusive retreat is $3490 per guest.

This intimate retreat is limited to just 4 guests, allowing for a truly personal and relaxed experience.

All 4 participants are needed for the retreat to go ahead at the advertised price. If fewer than 4 guests enroll, I will contact you to discuss the available options.

 What's included​:

• Four nights of accommodation in a private bedroom, with a shared bathroom for every two bedrooms

   - Arrival: December 2nd after 4:00 PM 
    - Departure: December 6th at 11:00 AM 

  ( Your home for the retreat will be a beautiful historic townhouse in one of Jersey City’s most charming neighborhoods, with tree-lined streets, graceful brownstones, and cozy cafés. Just a short distance from Manhattan, the house will be our peaceful home for gathering, creating, sharing meals, and enjoying a few special days together.)

• Two-day dollmaking workshop, as outlined in the itinerary

• All workshop materials (feel free to bring any of your favorite tools)

• Daily freshly prepared meals, with dinners prepared by a private chef. (We’re happy to accommodate common dietary preferences, including vegetarian, dairy-free, and gluten-free. Due to the nature of our kitchen and our chef’s traditional cooking approach, we’re unable to accommodate vegan diets, highly specialized dietary restrictions, or severe, life-threatening allergies.)

• Guided shopping tour of NYC’s Fashion District, featuring our favorite fabric and trim shops (personal purchases are at your own expense)

• Guided tour and admission to the Metropolitan Museum of Art

• Transportation for our day trip to New York City’s Fashion District

• Café lunch in NYC

  Everything is thoughtfully arranged so you can simply arrive, create, explore, and be inspired.

Not included:

• Roundtrip airfare (Nearest airport: Newark airport, NJ - about 9 miles away) 

• Airport transportation to and from the venue 

• Travel Insurance- HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! 

• Additional excursions or taxi journeys you may wish to take outside of the itinerary 

•  Other expenses guests might incur on their own

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Booking & Cancellation Policy

A non-refundable $750 deposit is required upon registration to reserve your spot. The remaining balance will be paid in two installments:

• $1,500 on October 20, 2026

• $1,240 on November 16, 2026

  Payment may be made via Zelle or bank transfer (ACH), with no additional fee from us, or via PayPal, with a processing fee.

  Cancellations made before October 23, 2026 are eligible for a refund of any payments made beyond the non-refundable $750 deposit. Beginning October 23, 2026, all payments are non-refundable.

If you are unable to attend, you may transfer your reservation to another guest with prior approval. The replacement guest must agree to the retreat’s terms and conditions.

The retreat requires a minimum of 4 participants to take place. We reserve the right to cancel if the minimum number is not reached. In the unlikely event that this happens, participants will be notified no later than one month before the retreat start date and all payments (incl. $750 deposit) will be refunded in full. For payments made via PayPal, the original PayPal processing fee is non-refundable. Payments made via Zelle or bank transfer will be refunded in full.

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Travel Insurance

We understand that no one books a retreat with the intention of canceling, but unexpected circumstances can arise. For this reason, we strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance that includes trip cancellation, interruption, and medical coverage.

Due to the advance commitments and expenses involved in organizing this retreat, exceptions to our cancellation policy cannot be made for illness, injury, weather, personal emergencies, or other unforeseen circumstances. No refunds or credits will be issued for failure to attend or complete the retreat, late arrival, or early departure.

We also recommend ensuring that your travel insurance covers medical expenses, trip interruption, and emergency situations that may occur before or during your retreat.

We cannot be responsible for personal travel expenses, including airfare, transportation, or other costs incurred due to changes to the itinerary or cancellation of the retreat.

What to Bring

In addition to your usual travel essentials, we recommend bringing:

• Comfortable walking shoes for our day trip to New York City

A Note About Accessibility

Please note that the bedrooms are located on the second and third floors, and there is no elevator in the house.