Julie Freeman Mullins, founder of Anam Cara Clay Goods, host of The Gather Retreat in the Shenandoah Valley
A Day to Make, Gather & Be

The
Gather Retreat

A small, unhurried day in the Valley — for making something with your hands, sharing a meal, and coming home to yourself.

Season Fall 2026
Location Shenandoah Valley, VA
Group Size 12 guests max
Format Full day experience

The Gather Retreat is a small-group day retreat hosted by Julie Freeman Mullins of Anam Cara Clay Goods in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia. Fall 2026. Featuring a guided polymer clay workshop, shared meals, creative reflection, and intentional community for up to 12 guests.

The Vision

This fall, I want to gather us.

I've been sitting with this idea for a while, and it feels ready to be said out loud. A small group, somewhere beautiful in the Valley — making something with our hands, sharing a meal, and being present together. Not a workshop. Not a conference. A gathering.

What to Expect

Make Something

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A guided polymer clay session at the heart of the day — relaxed, not rushed. You'll leave with something handmade and a little more confident in your hands.

Share a Meal

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A welcome breakfast and a shared lunch, both made with care. Food is how I've always gathered people — it won't be an afterthought here.

Find Some Space

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A quiet moment for reflection — a journal prompt, a question to sit with, a little room to breathe. No performance required.

Be in Community

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A small, intentional group of people who actually want to be here. The kind of conversation that only happens when everyone at the table is present.

Your Host

Hi, I'm Julie.

I've been a chef, a dance teacher, a summer camp arts director, and for the past several years, a polymer clay jewelry maker and teacher right here in the Shenandoah Valley. What I've learned from all of it is that people come alive when they make things with their hands and share a table together.

The name Anam Cara means "soul friend." This retreat is the fullest expression of what that's always meant to me — a space where people feel genuinely seen and glad they came.

Julie Freeman Mullins, polymer clay artist and retreat host, Shenandoah Valley Virginia
Tell Me You're Interested

I'd love to hear from you.

Details are still coming together — but your voice helps shape what this day becomes. This isn't a registration. It's a conversation starter.

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I read every response personally. Your answers shape what this day becomes.

You're on my heart now.

Thank you for taking a moment to share your thoughts. I'll be in touch as details come together — keep your fall open.

— Julie