Registration weekend is upon us. It's actually one of my three favourite weekends of the year! Obviously there is the actual retreat, and now, the upcoming Soul Craft, but I also adore registration weekend. It's where I get to find out who is coming to the retreat this year. Always such a fun surprise, with an almost uncanny 50/50 split of new people to people who have been before.... some of them many times.
I love love that the community we have created as part of this retreat and how incredibly welcoming it is. And it shows! Each year about half of you come alone - which I know from your emails can be a bit confronting - but I promise you will be welcomed. The retreat has always attracted such an incredibly welcoming, friendly and joyful bunch of women!
I also can't wait to see your preference forms start coming through (after you purchase your ticket you get a link to the preference form) as I adore seeing what you are interested in each year. It's never quite what I think :).
I really believe we have put together a super-special line up this year with a bunch of new teachers alongside some of our favourites - but 19 of our 21 workshops being new this year I just know that there will be something in there to interest even those of you who have been many times.
The full workshop list is here and the workshop schedule is here so you can get busy planning your choices.
So now, a quick reminder about all the details, and changes, and news, we have about registration to The Craft Sessions 6th Annual Retreat this Sunday 6th at 5pm!
The Important Dates
Scholarship application's close this Saturday 5th May at 5pm. All the details can be found here.
Registration goes live this Sunday 6th May at 5pm. All the details can be found here.
Scholarship Applications are Still Open
Our scholarship enables someone with ongoing financial stress, who would not be able to participate in The Craft Sessions, to come and enjoy a true break. As well as a full place at the retreat, we also provide the recipient with $500 to spend on transport, or materials, or babysitting, or whatever you would need to make coming a possibility. I grew up in a household where ongoing financial stress was just life, and so these scholarships are something really important to me.
Applying is a simple matter of answering a few short questions - it should take about 10 minutes of your time. The scholarships are awarded by an external panel and your details will not be announced.
Please get your application in by this Saturday 5th May at 5pm. We would love to have you join us. All the details are here.
The Important Changes
All of the details can be found on the retreat page but the most important change is that we have made the retreat three full days and nights for the first time. We kick off on Thursday 6th of September and finish up late on Sunday 9th September at 4.30pm.
We have made this change because you have asked us too, and we are thrilled that we will all have more time to really retreat into the space and get to know one another. More time to make, to walk, to talk and to sit in the beauty that is the Yarra Valley.
The Teachers
Finally I wanted to point you too our updated Teachers page before you had to submit your preferences. One of the things we ask you on your preference form is which teacher you would most like to have. It is something that we do our best to fulfill - and so this is your chance to get to "know" these wonderful women a little bit before you need to make a choice. That said - you often answer "Don't mind" - which we totally get, as we love them all too.
Non-Residential Places
We are offering non-residential places again this year and they are a great option for those of you who don't mind arranging your own accommodation. In the past we have had many people stay at Devine Escape (which is a 5 min drive away) or use airbnb to find accommodation in beautiful Yarra Glen or Healesville. These tickets are also a great option if you live locally. You still get to fully participate in the retreat - having all your meals with us (except brekkie), doing morning meditation, workshops, sit and knit around the fire.
Best wishes for registration. Claire, Jenn, Martine and I can't wait to meet you all.
Felicia x
