I’ve always had the desire to not only create but also explore! Growing up in a small town in the mountains of Montana was inspiring, but also left me with a deep desire to see the rest of the world.
In 2009, I took a tour management course at sea on a ship that had nine ports of call throughout the Caribbean and Central America. From the pastel buildings of Curaçao to the woven textiles in Guatemala, I was impressed with how these cultures not only embraced color but celebrated it. My travels continued when I met my husband and he took me to India to meet his family for the first time.
My senses were overwhelmed by the gorgeous saris with their liquid gold embellishments, and shades of crimson, turquoise and gold. I was captivated not only by the colors, but also by the exotically vibrant and fearless combinations in which people wore them.
Shortly after we married, I was diagnosed with cancer. Being too sick to work, I went back to art and fell in love all over again. I remembered all my travels — and being so inspired by the artisans we saw during our journeys — and my little dream of one day being able to offer experiences that would blend both art and culture in a unique way started sprouting.
The goal was to create something beyond a workshop in a pretty place. Artist retreats often focus on one instructor, and I really wanted to switch things up and put the focus on local women artisans. After all, what better way to get a feel for a culture than through its art?
A big part of this dream was highlighting my fellow women creatives. As women, we have so much to offer and, to me, there’s something really special about going into someone’s studio and hearing the process behind their work; seeing all their experiments, trials and errors, and hopefully being inspired in return.
I started by doing local workshops and retreats to get my feet wet, and in 2020 Wandering Women Retreats was officially born. That’s right, the dreaded 2020!
Of course, everything shut down and travel was not an option — and I’ll admit I felt like giving up some days. My dad had just passed away and, after a lengthy legal battle over his estate, it took everything I had left just to launch this thing. And it felt like as soon as it began, it was already over. I’d waited so long for this, but I’m glad I persevered and kept going!
I used the downtime to research beautiful destinations and hunt down the most unique experiences, so that when the time came, we’d be offering something off the beaten path and one of a kind. I started with two international retreats, then four, and am proud to say this year we have eight departures and counting!
Each retreat highlights not only a guest artist who joins us for the journey, but also local artists in the region we travel to, with visits to their studios, artist talks, demos and more! Seeking out bespoke activities is also a passion, so maybe we visit the private atelier of a world-renowned perfumer or a 13th-century paper mill to see how artisan paper is made. It’s all a part of the journey.
Another big part of Wandering Women is connection. It’s always been my goal to form a community of women supporting women. These days, we’re so disconnected and often isolated. You have more and more folks working from home (myself included) and it’s hard to connect and meet new people.
PHOTO BY MORGAN POTTER PHOTOGRAPHY
Being able to offer something where women can come together and bond, having like-minded interests and a love of art, has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my business. A lot of retreaters often stay in touch long after the retreat ends, and many form lasting friendships.
It’s been a long road and now we almost have more business than we know what to do with as we expand and grow. I get a lot of inquiries on how I did it all, what works and how to be successful. My best advice is to offer something unique, find your niche and nurture your following. Don’t rely on social media. Get a newsletter or email list going — it has been the one thing that has completely changed my small business. Don’t obsess over thousands of Instagram followers — it’s the connection that matters!
I am incredibly grateful to be living this life. It’s a lot of work but so worth it! I can’t wait to see where my next adventure takes me, and I hope you come wander with us!
PHOTO BY MORGAN POTTER PHOTOGRAPHY
I’ve always had the desire to not only create but also explore! Growing up in a small town in the mountains of Montana was inspiring, but also left me with a deep desire to see the rest of the world.
In 2009, I took a tour management course at sea on a ship that had nine ports of call throughout the Caribbean and Central America. From the pastel buildings of Curaçao to the woven textiles in Guatemala, I was impressed with how these cultures not only embraced color but celebrated it. My travels continued when I met my husband and he took me to India to meet his family for the first time.
My senses were overwhelmed by the gorgeous saris with their liquid gold embellishments, and shades of crimson, turquoise and gold. I was captivated not only by the colors, but also by the exotically vibrant and fearless combinations in which people wore them.
Shortly after we married, I was diagnosed with cancer. Being too sick to work, I went back to art and fell in love all over again. I remembered all my travels — and being so inspired by the artisans we saw during our journeys — and my little dream of one day being able to offer experiences that would blend both art and culture in a unique way started sprouting.
The goal was to create something beyond a workshop in a pretty place. Artist retreats often focus on one instructor, and I really wanted to switch things up and put the focus on local women artisans. After all, what better way to get a feel for a culture than through its art?
A big part of this dream was highlighting my fellow women creatives. As women, we have so much to offer and, to me, there’s something really special about going into someone’s studio and hearing the process behind their work; seeing all their experiments, trials and errors, and hopefully being inspired in return.
I started by doing local workshops and retreats to get my feet wet, and in 2020 Wandering Women Retreats was officially born. That’s right, the dreaded 2020!
Of course, everything shut down and travel was not an option — and I’ll admit I felt like giving up some days. My dad had just passed away and, after a lengthy legal battle over his estate, it took everything I had left just to launch this thing. And it felt like as soon as it began, it was already over. I’d waited so long for this, but I’m glad I persevered and kept going!
I used the downtime to research beautiful destinations and hunt down the most unique experiences, so that when the time came, we’d be offering something off the beaten path and one of a kind. I started with two international retreats, then four, and am proud to say this year we have eight departures and counting!
Each retreat highlights not only a guest artist who joins us for the journey, but also local artists in the region we travel to, with visits to their studios, artist talks, demos and more! Seeking out bespoke activities is also a passion, so maybe we visit the private atelier of a world-renowned perfumer or a 13th-century paper mill to see how artisan paper is made. It’s all a part of the journey.
Another big part of Wandering Women is connection. It’s always been my goal to form a community of women supporting women. These days, we’re so disconnected and often isolated. You have more and more folks working from home (myself included) and it’s hard to connect and meet new people.
PHOTO BY MORGAN POTTER PHOTOGRAPHY
Being able to offer something where women can come together and bond, having like-minded interests and a love of art, has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my business. A lot of retreaters often stay in touch long after the retreat ends, and many form lasting friendships.
It’s been a long road and now we almost have more business than we know what to do with as we expand and grow. I get a lot of inquiries on how I did it all, what works and how to be successful. My best advice is to offer something unique, find your niche and nurture your following. Don’t rely on social media. Get a newsletter or email list going — it has been the one thing that has completely changed my small business. Don’t obsess over thousands of Instagram followers — it’s the connection that matters!
I am incredibly grateful to be living this life. It’s a lot of work but so worth it! I can’t wait to see where my next adventure takes me, and I hope you come wander with us!
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PHOTO BY MORGAN POTTER PHOTOGRAPHY
I’ve always had the desire to not only create but also explore! Growing up in a small town in the mountains of Montana was inspiring, but also left me with a deep desire to see the rest of the world.
In 2009, I took a tour management course at sea on a ship that had nine ports of call throughout the Caribbean and Central America. From the pastel buildings of Curaçao to the woven textiles in Guatemala, I was impressed with how these cultures not only embraced color but celebrated it. My travels continued when I met my husband and he took me to India to meet his family for the first time.
My senses were overwhelmed by the gorgeous saris with their liquid gold embellishments, and shades of crimson, turquoise and gold. I was captivated not only by the colors, but also by the exotically vibrant and fearless combinations in which people wore them.
Shortly after we married, I was diagnosed with cancer. Being too sick to work, I went back to art and fell in love all over again. I remembered all my travels — and being so inspired by the artisans we saw during our journeys — and my little dream of one day being able to offer experiences that would blend both art and culture in a unique way started sprouting.
The goal was to create something beyond a workshop in a pretty place. Artist retreats often focus on one instructor, and I really wanted to switch things up and put the focus on local women artisans. After all, what better way to get a feel for a culture than through its art?
A big part of this dream was highlighting my fellow women creatives. As women, we have so much to offer and, to me, there’s something really special about going into someone’s studio and hearing the process behind their work; seeing all their experiments, trials and errors, and hopefully being inspired in return.
I started by doing local workshops and retreats to get my feet wet, and in 2020 Wandering Women Retreats was officially born. That’s right, the dreaded 2020!
Of course, everything shut down and travel was not an option — and I’ll admit I felt like giving up some days. My dad had just passed away and, after a lengthy legal battle over his estate, it took everything I had left just to launch this thing. And it felt like as soon as it began, it was already over. I’d waited so long for this, but I’m glad I persevered and kept going!
I used the downtime to research beautiful destinations and hunt down the most unique experiences, so that when the time came, we’d be offering something off the beaten path and one of a kind. I started with two international retreats, then four, and am proud to say this year we have eight departures and counting!
Each retreat highlights not only a guest artist who joins us for the journey, but also local artists in the region we travel to, with visits to their studios, artist talks, demos and more! Seeking out bespoke activities is also a passion, so maybe we visit the private atelier of a world-renowned perfumer or a 13th-century paper mill to see how artisan paper is made. It’s all a part of the journey.
Another big part of Wandering Women is connection. It’s always been my goal to form a community of women supporting women. These days, we’re so disconnected and often isolated. You have more and more folks working from home (myself included) and it’s hard to connect and meet new people.
PHOTO BY MORGAN POTTER PHOTOGRAPHY
Being able to offer something where women can come together and bond, having like-minded interests and a love of art, has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my business. A lot of retreaters often stay in touch long after the retreat ends, and many form lasting friendships.
It’s been a long road and now we almost have more business than we know what to do with as we expand and grow. I get a lot of inquiries on how I did it all, what works and how to be successful. My best advice is to offer something unique, find your niche and nurture your following. Don’t rely on social media. Get a newsletter or email list going — it has been the one thing that has completely changed my small business. Don’t obsess over thousands of Instagram followers — it’s the connection that matters!
I am incredibly grateful to be living this life. It’s a lot of work but so worth it! I can’t wait to see where my next adventure takes me, and I hope you come wander with us!
The Women Create Foundation is a catalyst for small but significant strides to empower women creators through grants that help bring projects to life and foster innovation.
