The Reality of Putting On A Retreat

A couple of weeks ago, I wrapped up the final embroidery retreat of the year. Two, actually, in the space of a week. That makes four retreats in eight months. And since we’ve currently got no more in the pipeline, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the whole experience—what really goes on behind the scenes, how much work actually goes into them, the absolute joy of meeting people in real life, the pressure that comes with it, the financial reality of putting on retreats and why, for now, I’m stepping back from running any more.

Let me start by saying this: running a retreat is great. There’s something incredibly rewarding about watching people step into their creativity—especially those who’ve convinced themselves they aren’t creative at all. But, it’s also a huge undertaking. And after four in less than a year, I think it’s time to share what it’s really like (particularly for anyone who might be considering hosting their own!). The good, the magical, and the slightly overwhelming.