The magic of Network Provence hit a new high yesterday evening as our group met for a collage class at member Raina Stinson's home in Velleron. There are artists among us and non-artists, and I know I was not alone in my own deep-seated anxiety towards the idea of having to learn how to and then produce a piece of crafty artwork. We were on very safe ground as Raina guided us through simple steps, inviting us to play and, for a little while, unleash our inner creative child.

Raina is a professional photographer with a strong background in healthcare and is regularly available to teach photography with a therapeutic influence that introduces Mindfulness into creating. She guided us, with near nonchalance, to choose, cut, and arrange found images into little collages that, on reflection, showed us profound mini views of our minds' inner workings. Hands, scissors, images, and glue flew around our communal table as we traded ideas, opinions, and experiences in absolute safety and female fellowship. It brought to mind olden-day quilting bees. Women coming together to work on communal projects is a studied subject known for being a powerful way to accomplish great things. Adding creativity to this gathering took us to another level of safety, where even for a short time we were able to open up and share ourselves, then hold each other up. The small works of art we produced were lovely, but secondary to the connections we created in this session.

What about the networking? We did that too! From tour guiding and art history studies to professional pet sitting, retreat hosting, hair colouring, and women's political empowerment, we explored an impressive range of connections. Women are running amazing businesses in Provence, and it pays to get to know each other. Many thanks to our founder, Rebecca Ronane, for having the insight to form this powerhouse network.

Thanks to Raina for hosting and guiding us. Raina can be found at Rainastinsonphotography for fine art photography,portrature and photography classes. She also hosts women's retreats seasonally, and her home in Velleron has a gîte plus an artist residence with its own studio for multidisciplinary creating in an idyllic setting.

Thanks also to the women who participated. The cold and flu season kept our group small, but I hope this will be yet another way we create connections in Network Provence.

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By Maryna Fontenoy for Network Provence