Retreats and Workshops with “These hands”
Vortex is thrilled to pair with close friend and Amazing pastry chef Carrie Rodgers to offer some incredible adult art workshops and retreats! We have listed a brief overview of upcoming events but to read a full description and keep up to date we invite you to see our new website for all the extended info!
Upcoming Retreats & Workshops.
May 12-14, 2023
Art & Pastry Retreat at Le Peaches and Cream
Click here for more info
July 15, 2023 9:30am – 5:00pm
Cozy Boho Crafts & Comfort Food
Vortex Studio $337
Click here for more info
July 16, 2023 9:30am – 5:00pm
Fine Art Mixed Media & Painted Pastry
Vortex Studio $337
Click here for more info
August 5, 2023 9:30am – 5:00pm
Nature Inspired Art & Cakes
Vortex Studio $337
Click here for more info
August 6, 2023 9:30am – 5:00pm
Nature Inspired Art & Focaccia Garden
Vortex Studio $337
Click here for more info
October 15, 2023 9:30am – 5:00pm
Art and food -Vortex Studio
More information coming soon
November 11-12, 2023
Festive Holiday Home Decor & Gifts and Baking Retreat
More information coming soon
“It’s about hands-on learning, discovering new techniques, and treasuring small details in the everyday. “
We welcome creatives of any skill level with a variety of classes for beginners, seasoned professionals, and every curious maker in-between. Each day includes two hands-on workshops (one art and one baking), supplies, lunch (with cooking or baking demonstration), beverages and snacks. You will go home with everything you have worked on, instructions and recipes, plus new found knowledge and confidence to create and share at home.
Each of these workshops involve advanced planning and preparation of numerous staff, supplies and food. In order to proceed with each workshop, a certain amount of participants is needed. In the unlikely event that we do not have enough participants, we reserve the right to cancel and will refund for the full amount paid. We will notify you of any changes or cancellations two weeks prior.
If you have questions about any of our workshops, please feel free to email thesehandsworkshops@gmail.com. We look forward to creating with you!
Workshops
*Workshops are subject to change (ever so slightly) based on registration and supply availability.*
July 15, 2023 9:30am – 5:00pm
Cozy Boho Crafts & Comfort Food
beaded wall hanging, acrylic painting, sour cream doughnuts, edible flower pies, pretty salad pizza
Vortex Studio, 903 Riverside, Wakefield, QC
$337 (Supplies, lunch, beverages & snacks included)
Click here to book.
July 16, 2023 9:30am – 5:00pm
Fine Art Mixed Media & Painted Pastry
learn-to-use mixed media art supplies and image transfer, painted buttercream cakes, summery soup & biscuits
Vortex Studio, 903 Riverside, Wakefield, QC
$337 (Supplies, lunch, beverages & snacks included)
Click here to book.
August 5, 2023 9:30am – 5:00pm
Nature Inspired Art & Cakes
nature image transfers, pressed flower artwork, rustic flower cakes, madeleines, edible flower summer rolls
Vortex Studio, 903 Riverside, Wakefield, QC
$337 (Supplies, lunch, beverages & snacks included)
Click here to book.
August 6, 2023 9:30am – 5:00pm
Nature Inspired art & Focaccia Garden
pressed flower collage, foraged nature prints, focaccia gardens, edible flower shortbread, pretty salad pizza
Vortex Studio, 903 Riverside, Wakefield, QC
$337 (Supplies, lunch, beverages & snacks included)
Click here to book.
October 14, 2023 9:30am – 5:00pm
Photo-based Mixed Media & Painted Pastry
Vortex Studio, 903 Riverside, Wakefield, QC
(Supplies, lunch, beverages & snacks included)
November 11-12, 2023
Festive Holiday Home Decor & Gifts and Baking Retreat
More information coming soon
Retreat
Art and Food Retreat.
Creative Hands – Mixed Media Art and Pastry Retreat
Friday May 12th 4:00pm – Sunday May 14th 12:00pm
Le Peaches and Cream, 24 chemin Justin, Low, QC
$1195 Retreat & Workshops + Communal Lodging
(twin bed + shared bathroom)
$1350 x 2 – Retreat & Workshops + The Friend Suite Lodging
(2 twin beds in private room + semi-private bathroom)
$1350 x 2 – Retreat & Workshops + The BFF Suite
(1 shared king bed in private room + semi-private bathroom)
All art supplies & food are supplied in price.
Come get creative and join artist Stella Pagani and pastry chef Carrie Bradley on a 3 day-2 night retreat at the stunning Le Peaches and Cream in Low, Quebec for a weekend of creativity with art and food. We will take participants on a unique journey full of new discoveries, fresh perspective and meaningful connections. Our approach will pair curiosity with creativity, offering hands-on experiences in both the beautiful open kitchen and modern studio space all set in nature. This retreat is open to beginners and professionals alike, anyone who loves to create and is looking for inspiration in a new space.
WORKSHOPS
During this retreat we will be fully immersed artistry and design. All the food we prepare and eat will be based around beauty and creativity as well as exceptional taste. Our art workshops will be based on mixing supplies and getting a solid hands-on understanding of what each different art supply can do and experimenting with it and challenging ourselves and the medium. All the food we eat will be made on site by all of us and created with new knowledge and the intention of food as an art form.
Art workshops – Stella is a photo based mixed media artist with over 20 years of experience in interdisciplinary arts and teaching with a vast love and knowledge of mixed media art supplies. During this workshop she will guide you in a photo based mixed media image transfer class focusing on water soluble and acrylic art supplies and all of their capabilities. With more than 25 different mediums and paints available, each student will get hands-on experience with each tool to better understand there textures and teques though hands on learning. Throughout the weekend the beautiful studio space will be open for freestyle art making, reflection, reading, or assisted art guidance. Stella will be present during open studio hours for any assistance needed, all the art supplies will be readily available as will a collection of fine art and cook books. This workshop is wonderful for all skill levels. It will have instructions during the workshop, but we encourage self-directed exploration so that everyone can challenge themselves at their own pace. Stella will be on hand for as much or as little support and direction is needed. We will be using art supplies such as watercolour, ink, acrylic, pastels, watercolour pencils and markers, paint markers, spray paint, acrylic mediums and much more.
Pastry workshop– Carrie is a pastry chef who trained at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and most recently owned and operated La Toque in Wakefield. Participants will enjoy both sweet and savoury pastry lessons, including instructions for and preparation of macarons, choux a la creme and focaccia. We will spend time discussing the ingredients, methods and timing of various baking applications. Everyone will have opportunity to get their hands dirty. We will mix, pipe, fill, decorate and most importantly, EAT!
The venue – Le Peaches and Cream is a stunning venue located on 900 acres in Low, QC. This venue is often used as a wedding and event venue with a cozy, contemporary log main house with soaring ceilings and floor to ceiling windows facing the country landscape. This is where everyone will stay and cook. The contemporary reception area is where we will host our art workshops. It has a glass garage door, high ceilings and lots of light! We are beyond lucky to host you in such a stunning space based in the Gatineau Hills.
TAKEAWAY
- the art created over the course of the weekend & a sketchbook
- small gift basket with supplies and treats for the weekend
- a focaccia ‘garden’ to share with your friends and family on Sunday afternoon
- a custom ‘These Hands’ cheese board made by Nordic Woodshop, Wakefield
- all of the recipes and instructions for pastries and meals prepared over the course of the retreat
This retreat will involve advanced planning and preparation of numerous staff, supplies and food. In order to proceed, a certain amount of participants is needed. In the unlikely event that we do not have enough participants, we reserve the right to cancel and will refund for the full amount paid. We will notify you of any changes or cancellations two weeks prior.
SCHEDULE (subject to change)
Friday, May 12
4pm – 6pm: Welcome and Registration / Independent Open Studio or Free Time
6pm – 8pm: Dinner – Create personal art inspired butter boards and fruit-veggie-cheese boards / Painted Cookie Portraits
8pm: Campfire and S’mores
730-10pm: Optional Independent Open Studio
Saturday, May 13
7am – 9am: Optional Open Studio/ Free Time
8am – 9am: Scone Demonstration / Breakfast
930am – noon: Art Workshop – Mixed Media Image Transfer
noon – 1pm: Lunch
1pm – 5pm: Pastry Workshop – Macarons & Choux a la Creme
5pm – 7pm: Open Studio / Dinner Prep/ Leisure Time
7pm: Dinner – Wood Fire Pizza demonstration / Campfire / Dessert / Mat Falvai musical performance
8-10pm: Optional Independent Open Studio
Sunday, May 14
7am – 915am: Optional Open Studio/ Free Time
8am – 9am: Breakfast / Free Time
930am – 1130am: Baking Workshop – Art-based Focaccia Garden
1130am – noon: Pack up / Goodbyes
What is open studio? Open studio is an optional time when the space we are creating art in is open to whomever would like to use it for whatever art making they would like to do. All the art supplies and books will be available and ready to use. Stella will be present and ready to offer help and guidance if needed, but overall, this is freestyle art making with no one-on-one instruction, unless it is requested. Art supplies available will be: Watercolour paper, mixed media paper, watercolour paint, liquid watercolour/ink, acrylic paint, acrylic mediums, chalk pastels, oil pastels, watercolour pencils and markers, grease pastels and more…
If you have a special project you are working on, we welcome you to bring it to work on during this time.
Independent open studio – The studio is open to use, however, all projects are independent and self directed as Stella is not present to help.
FAQ
What do I need to bring with me?
All food, supplies and equipment for the weekend will be provided for participants. Aside from personal items or special food and weather-appropriate clothing , we have you covered. If you have a special artwork you would like to work on during open studio we welcome you to bring that. Please email us if you have any questions at all.
Can I bring my own art supplies?
Yes definitely if you have something that you would like to work on specifically during open studio. Please note we can not have any toxic mediums in the space such as turpentine or oil based paints.
What are the accommodations like?
Le Peaches n’ Cream is an extraordinary venue just outside of Low, QC. The modern farm house was recently renovated and the art workshops will be held in the new reception building, which boasts the most incredible light. The main house has four private rooms, two rooms with a king beds (the BFF Suites), two rooms with two twin beds (the Friend Suites) and semi-private bathrooms on the main floor. The lower floor is dormatory-style, a spacious communal room that sleeps 10 with shared bathrooms and a games room. All rooms at beautifully appointed and will be booked on a first come, first serve basis.
Do I have to stay overnight?
We would love everyone to stay overnight; however, we understand that might not be possible for all. While we welcome you to leave as you needed, we do require you to pay the full fee of the retreat.
What will provided for meals?
The meals and snacks will be vegetarian and prepared mainly onsite by Carrie with as many local products as possible. Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate gluten intolerance or other serious allergies such as nut or egg allergies. Feel free to inquire about your concerns.
Will snacks and drinks be available?
We will be providing light snacks that will be available in the kitchen in a help your self capacity. Coffee and tea will also be available. If you have any special snacks or drinks you would like, we encourage you to bring them for yourself.
Can I bring alcohol to the retreat?
We do not provide any alcohol at the retreat but if you would like to bring something to cheers with over dinner or unwind with in the evening, we welcome you to do so.
Do I have to participate in all the workshops?
If you would like to have a rest or unwind during one of the workshops we welcome you to do so. However we do require everyone to do the friday evening charcuterie board as it is dinner for that night.
REFUND POLICY
Registration is non refundable. Should you be unable to make it you may send a friend or family member in your place or sell your spot. You must provide us with the name and contact information of the person taking your place.
The venue
The kitchen
For inquiries, please email thesehandsworkshops@gmail.com.
Vortex Art Studio 