Doll Retreat Reflections ✨

The Doll Retreat was an absolute blast! We stayed at the beautiful Saint Francis Retreat in San Juan Bautista, California—a peaceful place surrounded by gorgeous grounds, cozy rooms, and handmade quilts on every bed. The quiet and calm helped me completely clear my mind.

The whole experience felt like finding my classroom. For those who don’t know, I’m dyslexic and have inattentive ADHD, so many of life's puzzle pieces were started to fit together. At this retreat, I felt the glue coming together—I was witnessing my own growth and understanding in real time.

Building Our Dolls, Step by Step

On the first day, we learned how to mold our wire frames. The second day, we wrapped them in batting, then added fabric or ribbon of our choice. Next came the molded faces—slowly, one by one, our fairies began to take shape.

There were about twenty of us in the group, and watching everyone’s concentration as their dolls came to life was pure joy. The camaraderie and energy in that room were something special.

A Community of Creativity

We shared everything—supplies, snacks, and encouragement. A long “community table” held an ever-changing pile of ribbons, trims, beads, and fabrics. Every afternoon at 4:00, we had a little happy hour to unwind, laugh, and connect.

What I loved most was how everyone respected each other’s pace and needs. If things got too loud or I needed to recharge, I could slip away for a quiet moment without question. Not everyone joined in the drinks; some of us kept right on crafting at our own rhythm, and that was perfectly fine.

The Rhythm of the Retreat

Each day was marked by the soft ringing of the church bells at 8, 12, and 6—a gentle reminder it was time to gather for meals in the cafeteria. Another group was there working on clothing, and we visited their workspace too. They were making shoes and beautiful garments. It was touching and inspiring to witness such kindness and purpose in action.

Finding Healing Through Art

The entire experience was deeply healing for me. Being surrounded by creative women, all supporting one another and sharing joy through art, reminded me why I love making things—and why community matters so much.

Enjoy looking through some of the photos below. I hope they capture even a fraction of the warmth, laughter, and magic of this retreat. 💕