Sewing Workshop - (Non Residential) - Fri 20, Sat 21, Sun 22 June (2 or 3 day options)

A beautiful farmhouse in North Dorset awaits you. The perfect location to spend your days sewing with likeminded sewists, unwinding and enjoying the incredible location, swimming pool & sauna.

With a Georgian Farmhouse and two cosy cottages, there are plenty of options whether you are travelling with a friend, family member or on your own. With an indoor swimming pool and sauna, gorgeous views and fresh air, you'll never want to leave. 

Room options:

THE FARMHOUSE - stunning farmhouse with 6 bedrooms:

1. ROOM 1 - Double bedroom with shower. Single occupancy 
2. ROOM 2 - Double bedroom with shower. Single occupancy 
3. ROOM 3 - Twin Room with shower. Single occupancy 
4. ROOM 4 - Twin bed with a roll top bath in the bedroom & separate bathroom with shower. Single occupancy 
5. ROOM 5 - Twin bed with a roll top bath in the bedroom & separate bathroom with shower. Single occupancy 
6. ROOM 6 - Twin Room with separate beds. Very large bathroom with roll top bath & separate shower. Double occupancy.

THE BOTHY  - self catering cottage:

The cottage is for 2 people to share and perfect for a sewing bestie break or a family member that sews. The cottage features:

- Lounge
- Self catering kitchen
- Private outdoor space with bateau bath
- Twin Bedroom
- Bathroom with shower

All on one level

DOUBLE OCCUPANCY ROOMS:

Farmhouse

There is one room "Orchard" that is a large twin room with  a super large bathroom that has a bath and a separate walk in shower. If booking this room for you and another guest, please both book at the same time or add two to the basket to secure the room. Please put "sharing with x" in the notes.

Alternatively, if you are travelling alone and happy to share, we will pair guests together.

Cottages 

The Cottages are for 2 friends/family members to share. We will only pair up single attendees if the cottages remain unbooked. Please don't book the cottage if you are travelling alone or contact us to see if there is someone we can pair you up with.

Provided in each room:

• Bed linen
• One hand towel and bath sheet
• Faith In Nature toiletries (hair & body wash and conditioner)
• Hair dryer
• Toilet paper
• Coat hangers

In the Farmhouse the rooms are upstairs. We'll provide a packing list for the retreat. All properties are non-smoking.

We're thrilled to offer a smooth, manageable payment plan for our workshops and retreats. After an initial deposit, you can spread out the remaining payments over several months, with the last one completed a month before your workshop or retreat. It's our way of ensuring that the excitement of learning new skills and joining our supportive community is within everyone's reach.

Should you be interested in the payment plan at hello@thecreativespirit.co.uk

The Workshop is a purpose built space with a large room that can be used for sewing. It is such a fantastic, creative space that you'll enjoy whilst at the retreats. 

Each person has their own large sewing table made of sturdy wood. The space has an additional room that is set up with a large cutting table with cutting mats, irons & ironing boards and overlocking stations.

With haberdashery and fabric for sale, you'll have everything you need to create your Avid Seamstress garment. The workshop has it's own fully equipped kitchen that is filled with drinks options, fruit and treats through the day. The space is surrounded by the Dorset countryside and you'll be able to enjoy the fresh air or go for a swim/sauna during the day. 

Our tutors will take you through each step of creating your garment. This retreat is for all levels so if it's your first garment, you'll be surrounded by a warm community and you'll pick up so many tips along the way. We have attendees making their first trousers, putting in their first concealed zips, making fully lined blazers and more! 

Cancellations from time of booking to 8 weeks before the event - 30% of the cost payable

Cancellations from 8 weeks to 4 weeks before the event - 75% of the cost payable 

Cancellations from 4 weeks before the event - 100% of the cost

November 2023

"This was my first sewing retreat and I loved it! From start to finish we were looked after so well. Sewing at the workshop was so relaxing with wonderful group of people. Lisa, Tess and Amanda couldn’t have been more helpful and encouraging. "

"I loved my “me” time away from the daily grind. It was great to have the freedom to work on my own choice of pattern at a pace that suited me. The help I received from both yourself and Tess and Amanda gave me confidence to complete my pattern and the other items I cut out. I also loved the concept of “slow”. It’s not about the end result but rather about the journey to reach the end. And also learning new techniques and skills to enable me to have the confidence to attempt more advanced patterns. "

"Very enjoyable weekend spent at Creative Spirit Retreat sewing Avid Seamstress pattern. Location and venue could not have been better. Facilities and food were excellent. Great support while sewing and watching everyone having fun creating their garments added to the experience. "

October 2023

"Lisa and the team provided a beautiful, restful retreat. Luxury surroundings, mindful breathing, massage, sewing, amazing food and lots of laughter - Heavenly" 

"The retreat exceeded my expectations. Excellent tuition in beautiful surroundings with the added benefit of the pool, a massage and two breath work sessions. Was wonderful to be able to give time to sewing in such a setting."

"This weekend was just what I needed. A wonderful place to share and learn. The support and tuition was excellent. Everything was high quality. I would certainly go again"

June 2023

Our incredible group of creative sewists for our June 2023 retreat. They bought with them warmth, enthusiasm and immersed themselves in our retreat experience. 

June 2023 reviews

"I was slightly apprehensive about attending on my own, but everyone was so lovely it turned into a very special experience. The support given by Lisa, Tess and Amanda was superb and despite choosing to sew a garment I’d never attempted before, with their help I managed much better than I thought I would. The venue was perfect, and extremely comfortable, and the food was delicious. The addition of meditation and a massage session was a real treat. Overall, a magical experience which I hope to repeat next year. I wholeheartedly recommend the Creative Spirit Sewing Retreat by the Avid Seamstress" 

"I am so happy that I was able to attend The Avid Seamstress' Creative Spirit retreat. The experiences I had will stay with me for a long time to come - some of them were almost life-changing. I knew I'd have a good week sewing, but it was the added mindfulness activities attached to the retreat that really opened my eyes and imbued the week with so much of its magic. If you want a retreat where you can immerse yourself in sewing, meet great people and take time to reconnect at a slower pace, look no further. Thank you so much to everyone involved."

"This treat is exactly what I needed. A unique immersive experience. Surrounded by like minded creatives and the support from Lisa & Tess was amazing. My heart was full when I left the retreat and have used techniques picked up from the meditation in my everyday life. "

"A great venue for a sewing retreat. We were cocooned in tranquillity, great food, expert advice and unlimited patience from Lisa and her team. This is a sewers dream. "

Blandford Forum, Dorset

Rail - Salisbury (15 miles), Poole (15 miles) and Dorchester (23 miles).

Air - The nearest airports are Bournemouth (24 miles), Southampton (43 miles) and Bristol (70 miles). We are an approx 2 hour drive from Heathrow and an approx 2.5 hour drive from Gatwick.