The Travel Stitch Journal: A Week in Thread in the South of France
Lot Valley, Southwest France| May 3-9, 2027
Explore Hand Embroidery & Stitch Journaling with
Elin Petronella
Join Elin for a week at a private château in the French countryside, where you'll make a travel journal out of fabric and thread, and fill it with the places and memories of the week. On the first day you'll turn a hardcover book into its cover. Each day after that, Elin shows you a new way to fill a page, from stitched lettering to the medieval lanes of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie and the market stalls of Cahors, sketched in thread. Beginners are warmly welcome: every stitch is taught from the very first step. Come for the inspiration, and leave with a journal that holds your week in France.
A Week to Recharge, Create & Connect
Step into a slower rhythm in the French countryside, where art, rest, and reflection blend seamlessly.
- Daily workshops with Elin
- Stitch in the gardens, swim, or rest by the private pool
- Relax in a restored château in a tranquil setting with views
- Savor chef-prepared, seasonal meals with local wine at dinner
- Enjoy curated outings to Cahors market, a wine tasting, and Saint-Cirq-Lapopie
- Build meaningful connections with a small group of fellow makers
- Carve out space for solitude, reflection, and joy
Whether you're deep in a page of French knots or gazing at Lot Valley skies, you'll be held by beauty, community, and intention.
What to Expect
The week is built around one keepsake: your own travel stitch journal. With Elin's gentle, step-by-step guidance, you'll learn a few friendly stitches (backstitch, running stitch, satin stitch and French knots) and the design skills around them, with fresh inspiration from every outing.
Throughout this immersive journey, you'll be guided to:
- Make your own fabric journal from a hardcover book
- Stitch words: your intention and guiding dreams for the week
- Turn a photo of a building you love into an embroidered design
- Sketch with thread to capture light and shape
- Add 3D elements with appliqué, slashing and found treasures
- Compose pages that tell a story, and keep your journal going at home