Join us in the rolling hills of the Driftless for a weekend of reconnecting with nature and exploring the delicate but simple craft of cut-paper floral illustration.

We’ve taken our inspiration for this getaway from Mrs. Mary Delaney (1700-1788), a self-taught “paper-mosaick“ maker who didn’t discover her passion for collaged botanical illustration until she was 72 years old (!). Her vivid and detailed tissue paper collages were praised by botanists of the day, and nearly 1000 of them are housed in the British Museum as part of the permanent collection. Despite such an honor, her tools were simple and her enjoyment in her work clear and apparent, and we will partake in these together.

 We’ve designed this retreat to be equal parts relaxing and instructive and it requires no prior art-making experience. If Mary could, we can. 

We are Rebekka Federle-McCabe and Esther Garcia, and we will guide you step-by-step as we pick wildflowers and foliage to illustrate in Mary’s style. We have designed the instructive part of our weekend to accommodate any level of art-making confidence.  You’ll learn color mixing and matching, composition, and scissor skills in a relaxed environment with generous instructors. There will be plenty of room for play, gorgeous meals and wandering goats. Together we’ll work toward the goal of creating a beautiful keepsake of the weekend for you to take home. 

Come alone, or come with a friend; this is a magical place and we promise you won't forget the visit soon.

Rebekka Federle is an internationally-shown artist who is as much known for her clever and ultra-detailed collage works as for her sass and good humor, and we'll have the good luck to enjoy both her company and her skill as an instructor. She adores teaching and has previously taught collage at the Peters Valley School of Craft, and is currently gaining her MFA at the University of Chicago.  

Award-winning tattoo artist Esther Garcia is Chicago’s premier color queen and unmatched botanical enthusiast. You’ll get the opportunity to tap into her years of experience creating colors that mimics nature, her terrific compositional abilities, and her general generous loveliness. Ask her about her cats.