KEEPER OF STORIES - LESSONS IN PAPER ALCHEMY 10th - 18th September 2026
A GEORGIAN CREATIVE ART RETREAT
Dive deeply and join Wanda for an Art retreat & workshop exploring techniques and demonstrations into making miniature bespoke handmade books using antique & vintage ephemera. Working in an intuitive, supported and enriching environment she will guide you through the process of making your own truly unique set of books whilst handling and working with historical ephemera. A Stunning antique ephemera pack will be provided to all participants for this workshop which you are free to use/keep.
Exploring various traditional binding techniques and discover Wanda’s own unique “rebellious stitching” binding as you become acquainted with sought after antique and vintage papers.
Wanda incorporates early Victorian sepia and black-and-white portraits, miniature fragments, dyed & textiles into her books to create entirely original, bespoke handmade books. “I employ printing techniques, intuitive mark-making, stamping and stencilling with each page allowed to take root and grow organically and intuitively.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
8 NIGHTS IN THE 4 star APEX HOTEL, Bath, UK. James St, West, Bath BA1 2DA
4 day workshop with Wanda. Use of stamps, stencils, inks & acrylics.
All breakfasts, 5 lunches & 4 dinners
Workshop venue: The Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution set within the world famous Queen Square and just moments away from the Royal Crescent.
Excursions to the smallest UK city of Wells. Wells Cathedral & Bishops Palace including transport, Antiquarian bookshop & Bindery tour. A special Afternoon tea at the Jane Austen Museum, Royal Crescent, A visit to No.1 Royal Crescent Museum.
Free time to explore with recommended sites, examples, Bath Abbey, Bath Spa & Pump Rooms, Victoria Art Gallery, Holburne Museum, Great Pulteney Street, A river boat trip. Feel free to extend your trip to soak up the Cotswold countryside, Stonehenge, Glastonbury, Oxford, Salisbury are all within 1 hours drive from Bath.
PRIVATE WhatsApp group
Price $5400 limited to 14 people based on double occupancy. Limited single occupancy rooms available for an additional $1000 for the duration of your stay (please request upon registration where this additional fee will be due).
A $1000 non-refundable deposit is due upon registration to secure your spot. The remaining balance is due 31 January 2026. Our workshops are kept small and intimate, your reserved spot is transferable to someone else if needed and subject to there being a waitlist. However PLEASE NOTE that upon receipt of your registration and payment of deposit this becomes non refundable. When registering you are agreeing to these terms.
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
Travel insurance which is mandatory and will have to be shown as part of this trip, visas, flights, alcohol during your stay, transportation to and from airport. However private pick up and drop off to airpot can be arranged.
Nearest Airport is London Heathrow.
Travel options: Private car hire (approx 2 hours) to hotel in Bath. Not included but can be arranged,
Alternative route. Upon arrival at Heathrow, Heathrow Express train to London Paddington (approx 30 mins) Great Western Train from London Paddington to Bath Spa (1hr 30 mins)
DAY 1 - Thursday, 10th September
A warm Welcome
Arrive in the historic heart of Bath and settle into your hotel. Brief evening welcome and gather with Wanda & a chance to meet your fellow participants and receive a brief overview of the week ahead.
DAY 2 - Friday, 11th September
Cathedrals, Cloisters & Medieval magic
After hotel breakfast, we journey by mini bus to the enchanting and smallest city in the UK, Wells, (approx 1 hr drive from bath) where we will have a leisurely explore of the stunning and awe-inspiring Wells Gothic Cathedral, including the Chapter House with its famous “Sea of stairs” and fan-vaulted ceiling. If Open, we will explore the Cathedral library, home to rare medieval books. There will also be a stroll along the oldest medieval street in England.
After lunch (included) we will explore the Bishop’s Palace & Gardens. A stunning idyllic haven surrounded by a charming swan filled moat. A quiet, spiritual and deeply grounding experience and a perfect source of creative inspiration.
We return to Bath in the late afternoon where you will be able to rest and replenish before a group dinner.
ART RETREAT ITINERARY/ WORKSHOP
DAY 3 - Saturday, 12th September (Full Day) COVERS, WRAPS & BINDINGS
Today marks our first full studio day with Wanda. We will be making several handmade books using an array of both antique and vintage ephemera, mixed media, textiles and binding using both traditional binding and Wanda’s unique rebellious stitching approach.
Handing out of Wanda’s amazing antique ephemera packs to use in class.
A selection of her handmade books will be available to view for inspiration during the workshop. Also available for use will be vast selection of stamps, stencils and various paint & ink products.
Consider sizes for our books, collate and gather pages, work on how to make interesting and unique book covers. An introduction on book bindings & spine work
Break for lunch (not included)
We will begin collating, sizing and mark making on our pages before Wanda demonstrates several traditional bindings to use for our books.
Late afternoon free time to explore before meeting up for a group dinner.
DAY 4 - Sunday 13th September (HALF DAY) - A DEEPER DIVE
Morning in the studio, where you continue your own intuitive mark making practice, working at your own pace with gentle guiding from Wanda
Afternoon, we step into Bath’s grand Georgian narrative with a visit to the iconic Royal Crescent. We will explore No.1 Royal Crescent Museum set within a beautifully restored 18th Century townhouse. Afterwards we will enjoy a whimsical Mr Darcy Classical British late afternoon Tea set within the Jane Austen Museum. For those who wish there is the option to visit the Jane Austen Centre Museum (entrance fee not included) just steps away.
Evening is at your leisure.
Dinner not included
Day 5 - Monday 14th September (half day). REBELLIOUS STITCHING
Our morning will be spent in the studio continuing your creative journey with Wanda. Demonstration and explanation of a “REBELLIOUS STITICHING” binding….showing various materials that can be used, stitching our signatures and working on book covers.
Lunch included
Afternoon offers free time. Why not visit the stunning Bath Abbey and Roman Baths or visit Great Pulteney Street, one of the most famous backdrops for TV and films and visit the World renowned Holborn Museum….
Evening is yours to rest and explore further.
Dinner not included
DAY 6 Tuesday 15th September - Full Day BOOKS & BINDINGS
A deep dive creating with Wanda. Explore various binding techniques that our a staple in her book practice. We will explore her rebellious binding ideas to create your own 5” x 3” book filled with your own mixed media pages and you will also be supplied with a bespoke pack filled with antique ephemera created especially for this workshop.
Lunch and Dinner included
In the evening we will come together for a relaxed group dinner, sharing stories, ideas and reflections over good food and laughter.
Day 7 Wednesday 16th September (Half Day)
Half day in studio with Wanda. Working in a purely intuitive and holistic way Wanda will demonstrate a traditional binding technique which can be used for future books.
We will continue with our mark making and begin to collate our signatures for our books.
After group lunch we will set off on a bibliophile’s adventure - first to an antiquarian bookshop with an opportunity to explore the vintage book department with plenty of purchasing possibilities before we will enjoy a private behind-the-scenes tour of the bindery, where we see first had the delicate art of book restoration and craftsmanship. Followed by free time to explore all that Bath has to offer
Evening at leisure (Dinner not included)
DAY 8 Wednesday 17th September
Half day in studio.
Consolidating and final touches to our books.
Lunch included
In the afternoon we will visit the the American Museum & spectacular Gardens designed by Sir Alan Titchmarsh, a British national treasure.
A special farewell dinner in the evening.
Day 9 18th September
A FAREWELL TO THE CRESCENT
After breakfast, we say our good byes. Though your time in Bath comes to an end, we hope you will leave with inspiration that will echo long after you have returned home - in your work, your spirit and your stories.
Until we meet again!
ARTIST SUPPLY LIST
Workshop will provide, white/black gesso, textured clear gesso, Book binding and matt medium adhesive, book gauze, raw canvas drop cloth, thick card, PLUS……….
Wanda’s will provide an exceptional antique ephemera pack filled with material to use in the workshop including C17th & C18th manuscripts, speciality papers and ephemera from around the globe. This amazing bundle will include a selection of vintage photographs, eco dyed textiles, French lace, Embroidered textiles, Vintage tickets, correspondence, invoices, French cabinet photo cards, a bundle of antique and vintage fragments and so much more.
Just a note to mention my own colour choices from the Tim Holtz range are Vintage photo, Scorched timber and Walnut
Please bring your own favourite preferred mark making mediums, ie. A mixture of acrylics, watercolours, oil pastels, crayons, pencils, Stabilios, whatever you like to use to make your own marks.
Various paintbrushes and brushes for glue
Tim Holtz oxides sprays in your preferred colour choice.
Tim Holtz oxide inks plus blending tool (feel free to use different brands )
Walnut ink or walnut crystals (optional)
Waxed threads
Vintage photos you may have (some are provided in the Antique ephemera pack)
Assorted paper could include vintage book pages, newsprint, tracing paper, glassine, up cycled papers, magazine pages, Kraft paper, interesting papers and pages, your own mixed media pages, vintage photographs or photocopies of personal photographs.
Assorted fabrics, lace, vintage textiles, eco dyed textiles (optional)
Strong cottons, embroidery threads, twine, raffia, wool, string, copper wire, sari silk, strips of textiles, for a rebellious stitching binding, or anything you would like to bind one of the books we will be working on. Let your imagination run wild with your ideas.
Interesting objects you have gathered or saved.
Various laser jet printed images you would like to incorporate into your books.
Scissors and ruler
Stanley box cutte/small cutting mat A5
Assortment of paint brushes, palette knife /spatulas, Brushes for glue
Stapler/staples
Spray bottle
Binder clip
A variety of both embroidery and sewing needles to include a large eye embroidery needle.
Awl or paper piercer
Waxed threads
CANCELLATION POLICY
We understand that plans can sometimes change. Unfortunately we cannot offer any refunds for cancellations made within 90 days of the commencement of the art retreat. All our costs and arrangements have been made well in advance.
If you wish to cancel with more than 90 days, if there is a waitlist for the art retreat, we will connect you with the first person on it. You can arrange payment directly with them. Once this has taken place we will remove your name and transfer your place.
Please bear in mind that if there is not a waitlist and either your deposit or full fee has been paid, we will not be able to refund you. Sadly there are no exceptions.
Please also note that we are not responsible or liable for any personal travel expenses, ie. Airline tickets or hotel accommodation should the workshop have to be cancelled. You will be reimbursed solely for the deposit amount/full workshop amount, whichever is applicable. It is imperative and required that a comprehensive travel insurance to cover these eventualities be taken out and is mandatory for this workshop.
Thanks for your understanding. Please feel free to ask any questions in relation to this matter.
