Come Reignite Your Creativity in Paris!

Join Me This October as a Paris Insider and Finally Light the Spark to Make Your Dream Projects a Reality

Salut mes chères et chers (Hi my dears),

Bienvenue, entre ! (Welcome, come in!)

Comment vas-tu ? (How are you?) Whether you’re here for the first time or you’re a veteran of La Flâneuse, I’m delighted to see you—t’es magnifique !

Today’s very exciting announcement has been a long time coming, but it’s something that I’m so passionate about, I couldn’t wait any longer to release it and let it fly.

If you’re not too into a big reveal and you just want some summer fun ideas and stories from France, you know j’adore ça ! Just scrolllll on down…

A Chance to Nurture Your Creativity as a Paris Insider

By way of a quick (re)introduction since we have quite a few new folks coming to visit, I’m an American author, designer and serial entrepreneur living in Paris (I moved here from New York after falling in love with a handsome French guy in the middle of the pandemic). I’ve spent twenty years creating events for A-listers, business icons, and other fascinating people.

Some of you may know that earlier this year I started Le Salon by La Flâneuse, a free online creative meetup community. It’s been so incredibly rewarding, with the most fantastic women logging on from all over the world. We support each other’s creative projects and share what we’re working on. We work alongside each other for about an hour and it’s simply magical! (If you’re interested in joining us online, there are some new dates over here.)

OK. Time for the Big Reveal.

As a result of Le Salon, I’ve decided to take the experience of our shared creativity LIVE. In Paris. This October 4-10, 2025. But only for a very small group of women.

If you’re a woman who truly values creativity and you yearn to deepen your relationship with your creative practices so that you can finally unlock your muse and make progress on your novel, your watercolor painting, your memoir, your big dream of moving to France—or if you’d simply love to learn how to weave more artistic awareness and beauty into your every day life—this one-of-a-kind journey is for you.

My own dream with this Paris retreat is to help you feel like a true creative insider—in Paris! I’ll introduce you to places, people and experiences that will bathe you in inspiration. We’ll have meaningful conversations and fun workshops to activate that spark within you and guide you forward toward actually pursuing that life force of creativity that tugs at your heart.

Bonus: You’ll never be just a tourist in the City of Light again. You’ll be on the inside of the creative community in one of the most artistic cities in the world.

At the end of five days soaking in the wisdom of other creative Parisian women from the past and present, you’ll take home plenty of insights and self-care strategies to unblock obstacles, nurture your inner muse, and prioritize and value your own work.

We’ll laugh, we’ll challenge ourselves and our doubts and fears, we’ll play like the illustrious artists we are, and we will seek joy and fulfillment to make our lives more beautiful. Hint: I’m known by my A-list clients in the events world for creating whimsical moments and beautiful surprises, and I’m bringing my A-game for this experience.

As one of France’s most successful (and badass) female artists put it so clearly:

"My whole life has been devoted to improving my work and keeping alive the Creator’s spark in my soul. Each of us has a spark, and we’ve all got to account for what we do with it." ~Rosa Bonheur

Isn’t It Time You Devoted Five Days in Paris to Nourishing Your Own ✨Spark✨?

I’ve created this page with allllll the information if you’d like to learn more. This will be a remarkable, bespoke itinerary that I’ll create based on the small group we assemble and where our particular dreams and goals are oriented.

One quick and important note: this retreat lets you choose your own accommodations so you can be comfortable with your lodging budget and atmosphere. For participants, I will share some of my favorite spots! Bref (in short), this Paris creative adventure is perfect for those who will travel to the City of Lights to participate as well as those who live in Paris.

The page includes the logistics, pricing, more about your host (me 😎), plus a section of FAQs with lots of details and answers to many of the questions you may have. If you should find that questions remain, you can always write me a comment below, or reach out to me at karen at karenbussen.com.

Disclosure: If you’re someone who doesn’t fancy surprises or activities that will lift you out of your creative comfort zone and help you transform your practices, this retreat may not be right for you. But if you’re ready to open up to joy and a deeper connection to your inner muse (and your fellow creatives), then get over here. We’re waiting for you in Paris! Places are extremely limited, so if you’re interested, apply now.

And Now, Some Summer Fun in France

Speaking of retreats, I spent a few days in the south of France last summer with a great group of women. It was sun-drenched and delicious.

That reminds me of something not sun-drenched. Did you ever do something you really didn’t want to do, just to make your partner happy? I did that. Twice.

If you’re looking for a fresh, fancy-looking but pretty simple dessert to make for friends and family, grab some strawberries and some ladyfingers and whip up this refrigerator classic Charlotte aux fraises. No stove required! Ah bon ?!

There’s also my Summer Rosé Sangria, ideal for those evenings (or brunches) sur la terrasse and which makes the perfect accompagnement (partner) for a show-stopping appetizer, this Tarte au soleil.

Pasta, you say? This Lemony Spaghetti with Anchovies and Sardines is on heavy rotation chez nous à la campagne (at our country place) every summer.

Ok, my sweet friends,

I’ll leave you (temporarily) to what I hope will be a lovely weekend weekend for you.

Wherever you are in this crazy world, I wish you rest, cat stretches, a curious walk, maybe a new idea or two, some good news, and all the comfort and sweetness you crave right now.

Bises, 😘 😘

Karen