Return To Your Heart
A day to create, exhale and come home to yourself.
Saturday 24 October 2026
10am to 4pm
Portarlington, Victoria
Join us for a day of intuitive painting, slow stitching and gentle personal reflection in Portarlington, Victoria.
Set in a calm and welcoming space, it is a day to slow right down, create freely, and come home to yourself.
This is your day to be nourished & to receive the support you need.
You have been giving to everyone except for yourself.
And somewhere inside that beautiful, exhausting generosity, you have let yourself slip to the bottom of the priority list. You keep meaning to make something creative. To sit down with the paints. To do the craft project that used to make you feel joyful and inspired.
And then the week fills up. The calendar is full. You keep handing out pieces of your heart to others, and there is little time and space left just for you at the end of it. This is the one day where no one is asking anything of you.
There are no demands, no one else to give to. Only you, and tending to your own heart, gathering back the pieces you have been giving out to everyone else.
Re-awaken the
part of you
that has been
waiting to be
EXPRESSED!
Picture the end of this beautiful day retreat. It is four o’clock. There is paint on your hands. In front of you is something you made.
An intuitive painting, a piece of stitching, and a journal full of new intentions for yourself. You have spent the whole day listening to your own heart, in a room supported by kind-hearted women who needed this just as much as you did.
You feel fulfilled, inspired and energised from a day spent honouring your own needs and your own creative expression.
This day is for you if...
- You have been meaning to carve out time for yourself for months, maybe longer
- You are drawn to creativity but have never quite given yourself the time and space to explore it
- You have lost the thread connected to your true self somewhere in the giving to others, and you want to find it again
- You want genuine connection with like-minded women on a similar path, and real community
- You want to learn new art techniques in a supported space, in a way that feels fun and joyful
- You need a day that belongs entirely to you, so you can honour your own needs
What the
day holds
for you…
Arrive and settle
A warm cup of tea or coffee, gentle introductions, and a grounding meditation to help you land in your body and leave the week behind where it belongs. We begin by asking what your heart needs from this day.
Intuitive painting and journalling, with Laura
A guided visualisation on the theme of returning to your heart, then paint freely and journal gently. There is no technique to get right here. This is about letting your hands move, following your instinct, listening to what emerges in the moment, and trusting your own guidance.
A nourishing shared lunch
Catered with love and care. Real food, heartfelt conversation, and time to simply relax in good company. Afternoon tea is provided as well, and dietary needs are looked after.
Slow stitching and mixed media, with Kay
A calm, meditative textile session rooted in neuro-arts principles. Stitch by stitch, at your own pace, you will make something of your own while learning new techniques along the way, the gentle rhythm of slow making settling the nervous system and drawing you inward. Beginner friendly, all materials provided, and you take your piece home with everything you need to keep going.
Closing circle
A gentle gathering to hold what the day has given you. Then afternoon tea, something sweet, and time to linger before you depart. You carry home not just what you made, but the thread back to yourself, piecing back together the parts of your heart you have been giving away.
What’s Included
in this Creative
Wellness Day Retreat
- A full day of guided creative sessions with two experienced facilitators
- A warm cup of tea or coffee and a grounding meditation on arrival
- Intuitive painting and guided journalling, all materials provided
- Slow stitching session, beginner friendly, all materials provided
- Your textile piece created on the day, plus materials to continue at home
- A nourishing catered lunch and afternoon tea
- A small take-home gift to carry the retreat with you after we depart
Why creative practice is healing
Creative arts therapy is not about making something beautiful. It is about allowing yourself to express what is inside you, in a way that words may not be able to do on their own.
When you paint intuitively, stitch slowly, or write freely, it allows you to come into the present moment. The body softens. You are able to tap into your inner guidance, and the inner knowing that has been waiting underneath the surface finds the space to emerge.
Research into neuro-arts continues to show that creative making lowers cortisol, supports emotional regulation and settles the nervous system.
This is the heart of what we do together. In this day retreat we are not just making something beautiful, we are making something honest, something true to yourself, and learning through the creative process that what is inside you can be trusted.
This process
does not require
any experience.
Only curiosity
and a willingness
to begin!
The DAY RETREAT details:
DATE & TIME: Saturday 24 October 2026 – 10am to 4pm
VENUE : The Soul-Full Mind Wellness Hub, 90 Smythe St, Portarlington VIC 3223
A small, intimate group. Places are limited.
No creative experience necessary, all materials provided
Dietary requirements catered for, please let us know when you book
Concession card holder?
Or booking with a friend?
Enter the code HEART at checkout for $10 off. When you book with a friend, you each receive the discount.
Your Guides
Two practitioners, one shared belief. That women come home to their own hearts through making, and that it flows more easily when creating in community.
Laura Jane Day
Holistic integrated creative arts therapist and visual artist. Laura uses creative arts therapy to help women return to their creativity, trust their inner knowing, and build self-trust through creative practice. Sixteen years of guiding women back to themselves through art workshops and retreats.
Kay Hustwaite
Creative health practitioner and textile artist of thirty years. Kay works with slow making as a healing practice, drawing on neuro-arts principles to bring joy and ease, and to let women reconnect with themselves, and with each other, through creating in community
Get Your Ticket
Concession card holder, or booking with a friend?
Enter the code HEART at checkout for $10 off. When you book with a friend, you each receive the discount.
All pricing is in Australian Dollars (AUD)
Can't Make It To This Retreat?
Pop your name on the list to receive updates about any future retreats. (Bali is coming up in 2027) You’ll also be first in line to purchase at the early bird ticket price.
FAQ
I am not artistic. Is this really for me?
Yes. This day is designed for complete beginners as much as for seasoned makers. There is nothing to get right and nothing to perfect, because the day is not about creating perfection. It is about creative expression, and there are no rules with that. Everything is guided gently, step by step, and all materials are provided. You will be well looked after from the moment you walk in.
Is there parking?
Yes. There is free parking available at the venue. Portarlington is an easy drive from Geelong and the wider Bellarine, and around ninety minutes from Melbourne.
Can I stay overnight and make a weekend of it?
Yes, and some of our women have already booked accommodation to do exactly that. Portarlington sits right on the bay and October is a lovely time to be there. A few places worth looking at close by:
- The Oxley Estate, Hood Road, Portarlington
- Portarlington Beach Motel, Newcombe Street, Portarlington
- The Cosy Bungalow, Marion Court, Portarlington
- Starhaven Retreat, Indented Head, a few minutes along the coast
- Bellarine Bayside Holiday Parks, Boat Road, for cabins right on the water
There are also many holiday rentals across Portarlington, Indented Head and St Leonards. Booking early is a good idea, as the Bellarine fills up quickly in spring.
I have dietary requirements. Can they be catered for?
Absolutely. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten free and dairy free are all easily looked after, along with anything else you need. Please let us know as soon as you can after booking so we can make the arrangements with our caterer. You will be nourished and well fed, and you will not have to think about a thing.
What should I bring and what should I wear?
Just yourself, and clothes you do not mind getting a little paint on. Everything else is provided. If you have a journal or a favourite pen, bring it along if you feel called to.
What if I have never done anything like this before?
Then you are in very good company. Most women arrive feeling a little nervous or unsure of what to expect. The day is held with a lot of care and consideration, and it is guided at a slow and gentle pace. There is no pressure to share anything you would rather keep private. You will spend the day with experienced facilitators who are known for creating supportive and uplifting spaces for women.
Still have a question?
Laura is more than happy to answer any question you may have, big or small. If you would like to reach out, click the link below to get in touch.