Laurel True's 2027 Todos Santos Retreat

Invitation:

More flow, less rules. This week is an unwinding of the rules, a chance to sink into a relaxing, invigorating creative process while nurturing your nervous system through supported, joyful making. Enjoy the creative process in a gorgeous setting, at a pace that allows you two slow down, open up, and exhale.

We'll explore:

• What is flow state, and how do we access it in our creative work?

• How do we enjoy the mosaic process without getting caught up in rules, tools, and over-planning?

• What happens when we shift from creative work to creative play?

• How can our creative process support our nervous system and sense of well-being?

Mosaic Flow 1 — Top left and bottom right: artwork by L. Criswell and M. Haist, all other work by L. True

What You'll Make + Learn:

Over the week, you'll create a mandala-inspired radial mosaic, working with circular forms, flowing lines, and repeating patterns to build a piece that's as relaxing and joyful to make as it is beautiful to have. Your finished mosaic can be installed as an interior or exterior wall piece.

We’ll explore various creative warm up exercises using mixed media that are fun, enjoyable, and can help to calm our nervous system + open our creative channels. (These exercises can be used anytime!) We’ll experiment with intuitive approaches as well as more structured approaches that can invite entry into a creative flow state.

You'll work at your own pace learning to trust your hands and get out of your head, build comfort with tools and materials, experiment with pattern and color, and find harmony in creative play.

You’ll create your piece with gentle guidance using the tile tape technique (no adhesive to deal with during the making process). Laurel will demonstrate how participants can easily install their mosaic onto a surface of their choice at home.

Radial design patterns will be offered as a jumping-off point, with room to work intuitively or with a bit more structure, whichever feels best in the moment.

Laurel will offer guidance on how to use mosaic tools in a way that feels embodied and natural.

Additional explorations include:

• Best practices for enjoying the creative process in an embodied way (and what this means!)

• Creativity as part of a holistic wellness practice

• Learning to trust yourself during the creative process

• How co-creativity and sharing creative space with others can support you and your creative practice

Mosaic Flow 2 — Top middle artwork by V. Murphy, all other work + images by L. True

Workshop Structure:

Laurel opens the week with an interactive talk on creativity, flow state, and how we might regulate the nervous system through creative acts, including how simple acts of mindfulness, noticing, and savoring beauty can shape our creative process.

Each day begins with an intentional opening, curated creative exercises, guided breathing, and gentle movement to prepare for studio sessions. We’ll take short breaks during the day to support mindfulness and presence.

Studio time will run from after breakfast, until early afternoon. There will be plenty of time to relax and explore the beautiful surroundings and colorful town of Todos Santos during the week. Participants are welcome to work after hours in the studio.

You'll Leave With:

• Several small creative experiments

• A medium-sized, mandala-inspired mosaic piece

• Gentle techniques for accessing flow state in future creative projects

• Step-by-step instructions for mounting and installing your piece at home

• Resources to further explore creativity + flow state, embodied creativity, and arts + wellness

No art or mosaic experience necessary. Come as you are. Experienced makers are invited to bring a Beginner's Mind. You are welcome!

Students bring their own materials with supplemental materials and tools provided. A pre-retreat meet and greet Zoom with Laurel is included.

Retreat Experience & Setting

Todos Retreats offers more than time in the studio. It gives you the chance to slow down, settle into a different rhythm, and spend a week creating alongside people who share your love of art.

Our home for the week is Los Colibris Casitas, a peaceful boutique retreat overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Mornings begin in our open-air studio with the waves crashing just below you. Throughout the day you'll enjoy delicious meals prepared by our two personal chefs, quiet moments to recharge, and plenty of opportunities to connect with fellow artists.

**View of the casitas, where we sleep and stay!**

When you're not creating, there's time to enjoy everything that makes Todos Santos so special. Wander through colorful streets lined with galleries and local shops, take a walk on the beach, relax by the pool, or simply sit with a cup of coffee and watch the birds and ocean from your casita. There is no pressure to fill every moment. You can be as active or as relaxed as you choose.

Located just an hour north of Cabo San Lucas, Todos Santos feels like a different world. This historic artist colony has long attracted painters, sculptors, writers, and makers who are drawn to its incredible light, natural beauty, and creative energy. It's a welcoming community that embraces visitors, making it easy to understand why so many artists return year after year.

By the end of the week, most guests leave with more than new artwork. They leave feeling refreshed, inspired, and already thinking about when they can come back.

**Results of the cooking class and dinner on the last night! Not too shabby!**

Retreat Details

Our hosts during this retreat are Tami and Jerry Macala. They have been hosting retreats at Los Colibris Casitas in Todos Santos for more than 10 years.

Retreat Price: $2,995 (double occupancy)

$1,495 deposit to reserve your spot
Balance due 90 days before retreat

Partner Plan: $1,595 (includes all activities except the workshop)
Single Room Supplement: $650 (limited availability)
Retreat Limited to: 12 students

What’s Included

Airport transfers to/from San José del Cabo (SJD)
(Must arrive by 2pm on retreat arrival day and depart 2pm or later for flight on retreat departure day). If you cannot arange travel within that window of time, there are other transfer options available.
6 nights lodging at Los Colibris Casitas
Welcome dinner & reception with Chef Iker
6 full breakfasts & 5 lunches prepared by Chef Martin
Refreshing agua fresca throughout the workday
Evening transportation into town
Final night cooking class & dinner with Chef Iker

Tentative Itinerary (Subject to change)

The tentative itinerary below offers a preview of the experiences planned for the Todos Santos Retreat. While subject to change, it reflects our commitment to creating an engaging, inspiring, and memorable creative retreat. Each activity has been thoughtfully chosen to enrich your time with us.

Day 1: Arrival; introductions and welcome dinner with Chef Iker
Day 2: Morning beach walk with Todos Retreats Host Tami; workshop; dinner in town
Day 3: Workshop; gallery strolls; shopping in town; dinner in town
Day 4: Workshop; Poolside Grill night
Day 5: Workshop; optional shopping in town; dinner in town
Day 6: Workshop; group photo; cooking class & dinner with Chef Iker
Day 7: Departure (breakfast provided)

Breakfast daily: 8:00–9:30 AM
Workshop 9:30 - 1:30
Lunch daily: 1:30 PM
Optional studio time after lunch

Free Time & Optional Activities

There will be ample free time to explore Todos Santos and surrounding areas. Popular activities include beach walks, gallery visits, shopping, yoga, massage, and optional excursions through Todos Santos Eco Adventures. Room selection is based on the order of full payment received.

Learn more about the accomodations at Los Colibris Hotel and optional excursions at Todos Santos Eco Adventures and Todos Santos Eco Adventures Facebook.

Registration & Payment

To register or join the waitlist, contact Tami Macala at [email protected]

Credit cards accepted (+4% processing fee) added to the full price of the retreat

Cancellation Policy

90+ days before retreat: Full refund minus $200 processing fee
Less than 90 days: 50% refundable (deposit non-refundable)
Less than 45 days: No refunds or credits unless retreat is canceled due to a government travel ban and the workshop is canceled.

All Cooped Up Productions, Inc. (SBSMA) have no obligation regarding any additional costs or fees related to the issuance and/or cancellation of airline tickets or other travel reservations. All Cooped Up Productions, Inc. (SBSMA) accept no liability for any airline cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a non-refundable ticket or for canceled flights.

Travel insurance is strongly recommended. Please consider Travel Insurance and Travel Guard and Travel Off Path.

Participants should consider purchasing Trip Cancellation, Emergency Medical Evacuation, Baggage, Accident and Medical insurance from a reputable insurance company.

Participants are responsible for all airline and travel arrangements.

About the Instructor

Laurel True is an artist, educator, and independent researcher. Her thirty-five-year professional practice has focused on architectural mosaics, public art and social practice, while her studio practice is multidisciplinary, encompassing works on paper, photography and collage.

Laurel's teaching practice includes technique-based training in the mosaic arts, professional development courses, and synchronous online curricula investigating the connections between creativity and consciousness, through the lenses of ecology, psychology, spirituality and neuroscience.

Her recent research and training in nervous system regulation, interpersonal neurobiology, and the role of expressive arts in collective well-being have shaped her understanding of embodied creative practice and interconnectivity.

Laurel’s recent mosaic murals are inspired time, movement, and the natural world, and are characterized by radial, mandala-like shapes and flowing lines in glass and mirror. She has created mosaic murals and architectural elements with and for communities around the world. She is the principal at True Mosaic Studio, Founding Director of Global Mosaic Project, and Co-founder of the Institute of Mosaic Art, a pioneering education and resource center.

Any questions? Please contact Tami Macala
📧 [email protected]