inspiring,

RELAXING & 
NOURISHING

This is your invitation to a 6-night/7-day creativity retreat in Sardinia, Italy, May 22-28, 2027.

We have an extraordinary week planned at this absolute gem of a location on the Mediterranean that you do not want to miss.

Are you drooling, yet, just thinking about slowing down and spending this kind of relaxing, inspiring, nourishing week in Sardinia with us?

creative, funny, warm

& WELCOMING HOSTS

If you've been craving a getaway with creative, funny, warm & welcoming hosts and a lovely group of fun-loving people... in Italy, then put down that biscotto and save your spot before they all book up (because our retreats fill up faster than a Ferrari).

picture yourself

WAKING UP HERE...

for a relaxing, fulfilling and soul nourishing week. 

If our last two retreats in Sardinia are any indication, you'll never want to leave this dreamy setting or this lovely group of people. 

Playful

WATERCOLOR WORKSHOPS

During the retreat week, watercolor artist Janie Florea will guide you through a playful art practice for your new favorite hobby.

Think of it as playing with paint -- not wrestling with your inner critic. You don't need any experience to enjoy these workshops.

This is the digital detox you’ve been craving, the creative pause that takes up little time, but has a big impact on your wellbeing. 

It’s the kind of simple and soulful hobby you’ll want to bring home with you.

Whether you’re a seasoned watercolorist or a total beginner, this retreat is for you to remember what wonder feels like, and to remind yourself of the simple pleasure of making something purely for the joy of the process. 

artsy 

TRAVEL JOURNALING

You can also travel through the paintbox of Sardinia with travel art journaling where the turquoise ocean and pastel sky practically begs for its own hue.

All of our retreats include our signature art kit and our gorgeous workbook with guidance for capturing and elevating the meaningful moments in your travels in a creative way. 

No experience needed. Start wherever you are. This is an artful reminder just for you of how good (and easy) it is to play in the paintbox. 

perfectionism

CAN TAKE THE WEEK OFF

We’re not here to make you feel like you’re back in art class — fumbling with charcoal.

There’s no judgment here, and you’re not allowed to judge yourself either (perfectionists and inner critics, consider this your week off).

Let loose, rediscover your creative spark, and dig out that playful, joyful part of you that gets buried under to-do lists.

It’s creativity on your terms — zero judgment, plenty of inspiration, and (fingers crossed) your phone on do not disturb mode. 

the art of slowing

DOWN AND SAVORING...

You'll be fluent in the art of slowing down and savoring by the end of this retreat with plenty of downtime for il dolce far niente (translation: the sweetness of doing absolutely nothing!). Because who wouldn't want to spend plenty of downtime by the water in this setting?

While the relaxation of most vacations rubs off at the airport returning home, at this retreat, you'll learn the creative wellbeing tips to thrive long after you're back to the busyness of daily life. 

sail along

THE SCENIC ISLAND OF SARDINIA

along with daily yoga, an Italian cooking class, wine tasting & more.

Beautiful experiences will be brought right to our door with a flavorful cooking class at the villa with our private chef, wine tasting, daily gentle yoga classes and maybe a few saucy Italian vocabulary lessons just for fun (all included).

While it's tempting to never leave our gorgeous villa, we will enjoy a beautiful boat ride along the rocky cliffs and calm seas of gorgeous Sardinia. The water is bluer than you've ever seen! And, of course, the boat practically comes right to our door too as it picks us up right at the beach where our villa is located.

There is also an optional add on horseback ride overlooking the beach that will be arranged during the week.

There's plenty of time for beach walking, swimming, paddle boarding, hiking or shopping in the nearby swanky beach town. Or skip the extras and just enjoy our favorite Italian activity: il dolce far niente (the sweetness of doing nothing) as you lounge by the water. 

Daily Gentle Yoga

IS INCLUDED

Everything is optional, the only requirement is to ENJOY YOURSELF!

Do a little or a lot, enjoy the workshops and activities or let yourself get some rest and relaxation, master that art of doing nothing or don't miss out on a thing.

This retreat is your own masterpiece.

Nothing is mandatory, everything is optional and the only requirement is that you nourish and enjoy yourself (which shouldn't be very difficult in this gorgeous setting).

a private chef,

an Italian wine tasting evening, a delicious wood-fired pizza party on the patio & an Italian cooking class + fantastic chef prepared meals every day. 

Because what would a week in Italy be without the most delicious local flavors? 

Brunch and dinner are all included in the retreat along with nightly wines and aperitivi.

buon appetito!

Brunch and dinner are beautifully prepared by our private chef at La Belle Etoile.

There's even cooking class planned for one of our evenings and an outdoor forno brick oven pizza gathering planned (probably not the vacation to cut out carbs!). But don't worry! All dietary accommodations can be made. If you are gluten free, or you don't eat shellfish, dairy or nuts, or if you're vegetarian, our chef will happily prepare a delicious and special meal just for you!

With over 1100 miles of coastline, Sardinia is a stunning island in the Mediterranean Sea, just off of mainland of Italy. 

It has some of the best beaches in the world, but also mountains, quaint villages, interesting archaelogical sites and water sports galore!

September is a GORGEOUS time of year to visit Sardinia, as the weather is great, the water is inviting and the summer crowds won't be there. 

Laura

King

If you could bottle sunshine, laughter, and unstoppable optimism—you’d probably just call it Laura King.

Laura is a Certified Hypnotist, NLP Practitioner, Life Coach, Emotional Intelligence Coach, speaker, and author who’s been helping high performers crush their mental blocks for more than 25 years. Her mindset work has helped Olympians, entrepreneurs, and equestrians alike get out of their heads and into their personal bests (and yes, she can help you do the same for your creative goals, career leaps, relationship obstacles, equestrian dreams, golf swing, and pickleball dinks).

But before she became one of the most sought-after mindset coaches in the country, Laura opened her own roller rink (Florida Skateway!) and co-invented the board game Trivia USA with her brother and sister—proof that she’s been mixing fun, innovation, and entrepreneurship since before it was trendy. She’s also authored multiple books, recorded hundreds of self-hypnosis programs, and spoken on stages for the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation, Dressage4Kids, and beyond.

Laura first joined us on our very first Croatia retreat in 2025—celebrating a milestone birthday and a bucket list dare to herself to say yes to every adventure that came her way. She fell so head-over-heels for the Art of Life Creativity retreat experience that before she even unpacked her suitcase, she joined the team to host a retreat with us.

An avid traveler who’s explored everywhere from Africa to New Zealand, Laura brings an adventurous, “why not?” spirit to everything she does. She’s the kind of person who can turn a boat ride to an oyster farm into a full-blown comedy, and a dinner table into a laughter-filled masterclass on living your best life, no matter what the hiccups are. Her smile is absolutely contagious, her joy is the real deal, and her energy could power a small island.

She’ll be your host for the week—guiding you through mindset tools, meditations, and spontaneous dance parties—and she’s bringing her best friend Janie, an accomplished artist and fellow adventurer, along for the fun. It's quite literally impossible NOT to be inspired to live your biggest, boldest life when you're around Laura King!

Her magic goes far beyond hypnosis, meditations & mindset. She’s living proof that when you say yes to life, it has a beautiful way of saying yes right back.

Janie

FLOREA

Janie Florea paints the way she lives—boldly, joyfully, and with a healthy dose of adventure.

A classically trained artist from Virginia Tech, Janie spent more than 25 years channeling her creativity into marketing and advertising at The Miami Herald. When she retired, she swapped headlines for watercolor paper and never looked back. Three years studying at a Bob Ross–certified studio gave her his legendary patience and love of happy accidents—just with a little more whimsy, mischief, and “let’s see what happens if we mix this color” bravery.

Janie believes art should never intimidate—it should invite. She’s taught everyone from small children to retirees proving that creativity doesn’t come with an expiration date. Whether you’re picking up a brush for the first time or ready to stretch out of your artistic comfort zone, she makes it easy to find your creative flow and your favorite new hobby!

Known for her bold color palettes and playful compositions, Janie’s work radiates warmth, humor, and heart. She’s been friends with co-host Laura King since the roller-skating rink days (yes, that far back). Together, they bring a perfect mix of creativity and camaraderie to this Art of Life Creativity Croatia Retreat.

Janie’s warm, encouraging teaching style will remind you that art—and life—get a lot more fun the moment you stop worrying about perfection and just start letting yourself PLAY. With Janie as your guide, you’ll remember how good it feels to see the world in living color.

Torre Delle

STELLE HISTORY

In 1963, Edith Pelgrims de Bigard from Belgium discovered a little fishing town. She fell in love with the crystal clear waters and serenity of the bay, and decided to build her new home there. 

She bought the two bays and surrounding land and named the town ‘Torre Delle Stelle’ (‘Tower of the Stars’). She built the roads and put in the electrical and water system that helped shape the area. 

Torre Delle Stelle (Tower of the Stars) has become a charming holiday escape surrounded by 2 sandy beaches. It's nestled between the crystal clear sea and the surrounding hills of Sardinia. The town has a few restaurants and a cute church. It's known as a beautiful, quaint summer village in between the capital city of Cagliari and the vacation town of Villasimius. Its ideal location makes it a respite from the hustle and bustle of busier areas. 

Keeping with the celestial theme, the roads in Torre Delle Stelle are all named after constellations.

In her favorite spot in the bay of Gennemari, Edith decided to build Villa La Belle Etoile (‘The Beautiful Star’ in French).

Villa La

BELLE ETOILE

63 years later, Villa La Belle Etoile is still family owned and managed by Edith's great granddaughter whose passion for the island of Sardinia, its culture, arts and people shines through every welcoming detail.

It is a unique villa under many aspects: right in front of a golden sandy beach, with a private infinity edge swimming pool overlooking the turquoise sea, surrounded by a lush and verdant garden and walking distance to restaurants and parks.

The villa, with its suites, alcoves, and creatively themed rooms, is perfectly suited for our Art of Life Creativity Retreat!

May is perfect for our retreat to avoid the summer crowds while immersing ourselves in the beautiful surroundings!

it's the perfect villa

for our Art of Life retreat!