A wholesome three day workshop in Andros, with botanical dyeing and slow stitching
An immersive creative retreat in Andros, Greece, blending natural dyeing, slow stitching, and slow living.
Join Christiana, Natalia & Melia and escape to the breathtaking island of Andros for a three day workshop focused on slow living, creativity, and deep connection with nature. Hosted by Olive & Love Retreats, this immersive experience combines art, craft, movement and meditation in a serene, natural setting.
Nestled among olive groves and overlooking the Aegean Sea we will be meeting in the mornings and afternoons, at Villa Perivoli and Touchstone House in Livadia for hiking & foraging, natural dyeing and embroidery classes.
Dates & Location:
📍 Hosted by Olive & Love Retreats in Andros, Greece
🗓️ Friday 9th of May - Sunday 11th of May
What’s Included
Price: 250€ per person
✔ Daily workshops in natural dyeing (practical and theory) & slow stitching
✔ Foraging walks and hikes in the lush Andros landscape
✔ Snacks and drinks
Prepare to unlock your creativity and connect with nature as you move, experiment and explore.
If you are interested in accommodation, you can contact Melia and Natalia to stay in Touchstone House or Villa Perivoli.
Workshops with Christiana Vardakou
During these three days, I will be leading two immersive workshops—Natural Dyeing and Slow Stitching—where we will work with plants, fabric, and thread to create unique, one-of-a-kind textile pieces.
🌿 Natural Dyeing Workshop: Colours from Nature
Nature is full of hidden colours waiting to be discovered. Flowers, tree barks, roots, and even kitchen waste can produce stunning natural hues. In this hands-on workshop, we will dive deep into the ancient art of botanical dyeing.
What We’ll Do:
🧺 Foraging Walk: We’ll begin with a guided hike in Andros' wild landscape, gathering plants to use as natural dyes.
🎨 Dyeing with 4 Key Plants: Using a carefully selected range of natural dyestuffs, we’ll create a rainbow of 8 colours—from earthy yellows and rich reds to deep purples and greens.
📝 Learn the Science & History:
• The Greek traditions of plant dyeing
• How different fabrics (cotton, silk, linen, wool) absorb dyes uniquely
• The key steps of fabric preparation (scouring) & mordanting for long-lasting colour
🌎 Sustainability & Skincare: Learn why natural dyes are gentle on both the environment and our skin.
📖 Create a Dye Sample Book: Each student will leave with a fabric & yarn swatch book documenting all the colours we create.
🧵 Slow Stitch Workshop: Mindful Textile Art
Once our fabrics and threads are dyed, we’ll use them in a meditative slow-stitching session—a deeply personal and relaxing craft practice.
What We’ll Explore
🧶 The Beauty of Hand-Stitching:
• Understanding the unique qualities of cotton, silk, linen, and wool threads
• How slow stitching can be used for creativity, mindfulness, and self-expression
🌍 Cultural Inspirations: Learn about Kantha (India) & Boro (Japan), traditional quilt-making techniques that embrace reuse and sustainability.
🎨 Creative Process & Techniques:
• Introduction to simple yet beautiful stitches such as Running Stitch, Blanket Stitch, French Knots, and Feather Stitch
• How to follow the flow of fabric and thread, letting intuition guide your hands
📖 Keeping a Stitching Journal: A daily practice of adding stitches to your fabric, like a visual diary of your retreat experience.
Why Join This Workshop?
🌿 Reconnect with Nature: Experience the beauty of foraging, natural dyeing, and stitching in harmony with the earth.
🧘 Slow Down & Be Present: Embrace the Slow Movement through mindful craft, movement, and deep connection.
🎨 Create Something Unique: Leave with hand-dyed textiles and embroidered pieces—personal, meaningful, and one-of-a-kind.
🎟 Limited spots available—book your place today!