Coming Winter edition: January 19th - 26th 2026
Coming Summer edition: June 22th - 29th 2026
Beginner’s Jewelry Retreat
Winters & Summers · 1 week · Ardennes, Belgium
Starting January 2026, in the heart of the Belgian Ardennes, I invite you into a one-of-a-kind creative retreat — a week to slow down, reconnect to your inner rhythm, and give shape to a jewel that is entirely your own.
Set in a restored château where quality meets soul, every detail — from the natural textures of the space to meals crafted by local chefs — is designed to nourish you deeply and honor a way of living that is both beautiful and sustainable.
Time slows down, and space opens for both deep rest and the joy of creation.
For you to make your custom design
This retreat will offer you a kind initiation into a world where artistry, presence, and refinement meet. You will be guided to my beloved craft onto your own custom design — a piece of jewelry shaped from your hands, carrying your story, and destined to stay close to your heart for a lifetime.
At the retreat, each day unfolds at a slower rhythm, attuned to nature and beauty: yoga in the morning light, seasonal meals crafted with care, creative afternoons at the bench, and conversations that awaken inspiration.
More than learning a skill, this retreat is about reconnecting with your essence — honoring the quiet artistry within you, savoring the touch of materials, and discovering the joy of creating something both meaningful and enduring.
The pillars of the retreat
At the heart of the retreat lies the joy of bringing an idea to life — shaping a jewelry that reflects your story, your symbols, and your inner world. Each day you will be guided step by step, with time to sketch, to reflect, and to let images, words, or memories reveal themselves. From carving wax to refining textures, every stage becomes a conversation between your hands and your heart. This is not just about making jewelry — it is about translating something deeply personal into form. You will leave with a custom design that carries your meaning, a jewelry that is both beautiful and symbolic, born from your own introspection and creativity.
Learning & creation
Beauty & harmony
During your stay, every detail is designed to restore you and invite inspiration. The château holds a quiet grandeur: its spa offers warmth and stillness, while seasonal meals prepared by chefs arrive as rituals of care, shared around tables adorned with flowers and candlelight. Beauty here is not decoration — it is a language. It is in the way light falls on old stone, in the way food is prepared with intention, in the way silence makes space for reflection. Immersed in this atmosphere, symbols begin to surface: images, dreams, or memories that can weave into your design. Harmony arises naturally, and from it, creativity flows with more depth, subtlety, and joy.
Connection & presence
The retreat unfolds as an intimate circle of only eight women, each entering her own journey of creation. Presence deepens not only in shared meals and gentle conversations, but also in the silent focus of designing side by side — each woman turning inward, listening for the symbols or stories that want to take form in her piece. In this environment, connection is not about many voices, but about resonance. You will find yourself inspired by the way another woman’s vision reflects your own, or how her symbols open something in you. Together, the group becomes a mirror: each creation carrying personal meaning, and at the same time belonging to a larger story of beauty, artistry, and belonging.
Once I have read your answers, we will connect in a private call to ensure this retreat feels aligned. It is in this conversation that I will share the full details of the journey, including the investment and available payment arrangements.
Included in the retreat are:
Accommodation
– 7 days, 6 nights in a Château in the Ardennes
– Private luxurious room with double bed and en-suite bathroom (with bath)
– Full access to spa (hammam, sauna, outdoor hot tub, relaxation room) and pool
– Vintage home cinema for evenings of rest and inspiration
– Daily meals prepared by three professional chefs (seasonal, nourishing, and beautifully presented, with floral arrangements)
Stay & Rhythm (all optional & included)
– Guided circle moment to open and close the week
– 45 min. group yoga class every morning
– Forest walks in the surrounding area of the Chateau
– One massage per guest offered, additional available on demand
Workshops & Creation
– an initiation to your very first piece of custom jewelry
– + conversations & workshops about beauty, creativity, and presence
– Guided custom jewelry experience from start to finish
– Step-by-step support with your design and making process
– Materials, tools, and creation supplies
This retreat is held as a premium, all-inclusive experience, created with deep care for each woman who joins. It reflects both your jewelry-making journey and the nourishing rhythm of a week together in the château. After you complete the short questionnaire, we will connect in a discovery call where I will share all investment details with you personally.
The schedule
Each day is designed with a rhythm that weaves together creation, inspiration, and rest. There is space to work on your jewel, time to share in circle, and moments to simply enjoy the beauty of the Ardennes.
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• Afternoon arrival at the château (time to settle in your room)
• Welcome drink & introduction circle
• Local & seasonal dinner prepared by our chefs -
Morning:
• Optional morning yoga & breakfast
• Workshop: from design to shaping; mindful making as a practice of slownessAfternoon:
• Shared local & seasonal lunch prepared by our chefs
• Guided bench time (form development & refinement)
• Optional massage, forest walk or spa timeEvening:
• Local & seasonal dinner prepared by our chefs
• Vintage home-cinema moment (optional) or journaling & rest -
Morning
• Focused studio work: wax carving, refining details
• Piece ready for casting or forming
• Seasonal & healthy lunch prepared for youAfternoon
• Optional outing: waterfalls, forest trails, or downtown Asheville
• Time to relax or journal
• Seasonal and healthy dinner prepared for you or a reservation at a local favorite (optional) -
Morning:
• Optional morning yoga & breakfast
• Workshop: design evolution, textures & details; creative perspective talkAfternoon:
• Shared local & seasonal lunch prepared by our chefs
• One-on-one support & guided studio time (toward final form)
• Relaxation by the pool, gardens or spaEvening:
• Local & seasonal dinner prepared by our chefs
• Circle conversation on the meaning of jewelry & storytelling through symbols -
Morning:
• Optional morning yoga & breakfast
• Workshop: advanced guidance; soldering, structure & fit (as relevant)Afternoon:
• Shared local & seasonal lunch prepared by our chefs
• Floral or cooking workshop (optional)
• Forest walk, relaxation or spa timeEvening:
• Local & seasonal dinner prepared by our chefs
• Gentle sharing: what is emerging in your piece & in you -
Morning:
• Optional morning yoga & breakfast
• Workshop: fine refinement, finishing techniques & surface careAfternoon:
• Shared local & seasonal lunch prepared by our chefs
• Optional massage / quiet reflection time / light studio touch-ups
• Spa, pool or nature pauseEvening:
• Local & seasonal dinner prepared by our chefs
• Free time -
Morning:
• Optional morning yoga & breakfast
• Final workshop: polishing, final checks & care instructionsAfternoon:
• Shared local & seasonal lunch prepared by our chefs
• Presentation & photography of finished jewels
• Rest, spa or a last forest walkEvening:
• Celebration dinner prepared by our chefs
• Closing circle -
Morning:
• Breakfast
• Farewell gathering & departures by 9:00
The custom jewelry you will create (beginners)
At the heart of the Beginner Edition is the creation of your own custom piece of jewelry — a piece that carries meaning, memory, and your unique story.
You may arrive with a clear vision, a symbol that speaks to you, or simply a life moment you wish to honor. Before the retreat begins, we will take time to explore your ideas together, ensuring that your design feels both meaningful and achievable within the rhythm of our days.
Throughout the week, I will guide you step by step:
– Gathering inspiration through sketches, textures, colors, and personal stories
– A design conversation to refine your vision and reveal its symbolic depth
– A gentle initiation to the traditional techniques we will use
– Ongoing one-on-one support through every stage of the creative process
Over two days, you will carve your design in wax, supported with care and patience. Once complete, your model will be cast into your chosen metal — gold or silver — before we refine it through polish, texture, and, if you wish, the setting of a stone.
There is great freedom in what you can create. I will guide you toward details that can be beautifully realized in our timeframe, while honoring your vision in its essence. For more intricate designs, I can complete the finishing touches after the retreat and deliver your finished jewelry to you with the same dedication.
All tools and materials are provided. No prior experience is required — only the desire to slow down, turn inward, and create a piece of jewelry that feels deeply meaningful and will stay close to your heart for years to come.
Once I have read your answers, we will connect in a private call to ensure this retreat feels aligned. It is in this conversation that I will share the full details of the journey, including the investment and available payment arrangements.
The location, the Chateau
The retreat unfolds in a historic domain in the heart of the Ardennes, surrounded by ancient forests, rolling meadows, and quiet gardens. The château itself balances elegance with warmth: high ceilings and wooden beams, light streaming through tall windows that open onto nature. Each space is crafted to invite calm and presence — from luminous salons and the intimate library to the hammam, sauna, and outdoor hot tub that await you.
Meals are an experience in themselves: seasonal dishes prepared by chefs who treat food as art, served in a dining room that feels both refined and welcoming. Tables are set with flowers and candlelight, inviting conversation and beauty in equal measure. Between sessions, you may rest by the pool, walk barefoot through the garden, or settle into the vintage home cinema for a moment of inspiration.
The entire domain holds a sense of seclusion and care. Time slows, and space opens for your own rhythm to emerge. Here, beauty is not added decoration — it is an atmosphere, a way of being. It gently surrounds you throughout the week, allowing creativity and presence to unfold with ease.
The philosophy
This retreat invites you into another rhythm — one that feels softer, slower, and deeply nourishing. Presence arises here not as something to chase, but as a natural unfolding, supported by beauty and care.
Far from the urgency of daily life, surrounded by forests, gardens, and quiet light filtering through old stone walls, your inner pace softens. Time expands. The mind clears. You begin to notice again — the sound of birds at dawn, the warmth of a meal prepared with intention, the quiet of sitting at a bench with your hands shaping something meaningful.
Each day unfolds with a gentle structure: mornings begin without hurry, meals are served as seasonal offerings prepared with artistry, and creation sessions weave together with moments of rest, conversation, and reflection. Inspiration does not come from pressure, but from the simplicity of gestures — sketching at a wooden table, walking slowly through the garden, pausing in the spa, or noticing how the light shifts over the trees.
Being together is part of the retreat. Around shared meals, in women’s circles, or in the silence of carving side by side, a sense of true connection emerges. This is not about many voices, but about resonance — belonging with others who also long for beauty, depth, and creativity.
In this atmosphere, your jewelry takes shape. It is not only a piece of gold or silver — it becomes a symbol of your story, born of reflection, shaped by your own hands, and carried within a community that holds you with care.
Once I have read your answers, we will connect in a private call to ensure this retreat feels aligned. It is in this conversation that I will share the full details of the journey, including the investment and available payment arrangements.
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The retreat takes place in the quiet beauty of the Belgian Ardennes, within a historic château surrounded by forests and gardens. A place to slow down, connect, and feel deeply inspired.
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Travel is simple. Guests make their own way to the retreat, but we can help coordinate carpooling with other participants or arrange a pickup from nearby train stations or airports if needed. Whether you come by car, train, or shared ride, arriving is easy — and from the moment you step onto the grounds, everything else is fully taken care of.
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This experience is designed for a small circle of eight women. You may come on your own, with a friend, or alongside a loved one, and you will be welcomed into a group that quickly feels like community. Some arrive to mark a life moment, others to rest or to rekindle creativity — but all are received with the same presence and care.
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Yes. Your fee includes:
– 6 nights in a private room with en-suite bathroom, within the château
– Access to the spa (hammam, sauna, outdoor hot tub, relaxation room) and pool
– Seasonal meals prepared by professional chefs (all dietary needs accommodated), plus morning and afternoon snacks
– Women’s circles to open and close the retreat
– Daily guidance and creation sessions with Emma, including the full design and crafting process
– All tools and materials (including up to 5g of recycled gold or silver, and stone setting if desired)
– Optional workshops such as floral design or seasonal cooking
– Space for restoration: yoga, forest walks, massage, or quiet time in the gardens and salons -
After reading your answers to the appellation form, I will likely invite you to a call to feel if our energies match. During this conversation, I will share all details about the retreat, including the investment and payment options.
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You’ll receive a detailed guide after booking. But in short: bring soft, comfortable clothes, a notebook for your reflections, shoes for walking in the forest, and anything small that helps you feel at home.
F.A.Q.
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All meals are prepared for you by our chefs, using seasonal and organic ingredients, with care for every dietary preference — plant-based, gluten-free, or omnivore. Breakfasts, lunches, and three-course dinners are served at set times, always nourishing and beautifully presented, with morning and afternoon snacks to keep your energy gentle and steady. Every table is dressed with flowers, making each meal not only food, but a moment of care and beauty shared together.
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Yes, absolutely. We take this seriously. Upon booking, you’ll be invited to share anything we should know—so that every detail can be adjusted to your needs, in advance.
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None at all. The process is intimate, slow, and entirely guided. Whether it is your first time working with your hands or wether you already have experience, you will be fully supported at each step.
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Yes. The retreat is thought so you can each create your own personal piece, or collaborate on one together if you come accompanied. It’s up to you. We will discuss this in your initial call so everything is tailored to your wishes.
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Each project is different. Some guests come with a clear idea, others with a memory, a color, or a symbol. Together, we co-create a design that feels right for you.
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You are not alone in the process—I will be by your side every step of the way. Whether it is your first time working with your hands or you feel unsure about your design, you will be guided with patience, kindness, and expert care. This is not about perfection—it is about presence, meaning, and the quiet joy of creating something that feels true to you. We go at your rhythm. And if needed, I will lovingly shape certain steps by hand, so that your piece reflects your story—beautifully and faithfully.
"Emma is fantastic. After Sam bought one of the rings from her collection as engagement ring... We immediately thought about her when we discussed our wedding bands. We went to her with an idea and she turned it into reality. She sent us the prototypes of the rings in very short time and they were already perfect 🥰 We loved chatting with her and discussing ideas. We can't wait to have another jewellery project in our head just to work with her again." Rox & Sam
"Emma is fantastic. After Sam bought one of the rings from her collection as engagement ring... We immediately thought about her when we discussed our wedding bands. We went to her with an idea and she turned it into reality. She sent us the prototypes of the rings in very short time and they were already perfect 🥰 We loved chatting with her and discussing ideas. We can't wait to have another jewellery project in our head just to work with her again." Rox & Sam
"We called on Emma for a rather special request. We had some old jewelry belonging to my grandmother. Unfortunately, they were no longer to our taste. So my mom and my sister and I wanted to create something that would unite the three of us. As my mom already had a gold band, we decided to ask Emma to create 2 other identical bands, as well as a ring from her existing collection. Emma listened, advised and, above all, explained the whole creation process! We were really able to follow the whole process, step by step. I'm so happy to have called on her magnificent talent and creativity for this project, which was very close to our hearts. What's more, supporting a young craftswoman was essential for us."
"We called on Emma for a rather special request. We had some old jewelry belonging to my grandmother. Unfortunately, they were no longer to our taste. So my mom and my sister and I wanted to create something that would unite the three of us. As my mom already had a gold band, we decided to ask Emma to create 2 other identical bands, as well as a ring from her existing collection. Emma listened, advised and, above all, explained the whole creation process! We were really able to follow the whole process, step by step. I'm so happy to have called on her magnificent talent and creativity for this project, which was very close to our hearts. What's more, supporting a young craftswoman was essential for us."
