If you’ve been to Provence, you have likely stood in wonder before the village of Gordes. Perched dramatically on a rocky outcrop above the Luberon valley, it feels almost mythical, a grand expression of Provence’s magic. It is here that jeweler and artist Meghan Devinat, whose atelier is tucked into the heart of the village, creates pieces inspired by the botanical richness of the region.
Meghan has recently begun offering an experience that invites visitors into that creative process itself: a workshop where guests craft their own Provence-inspired silver pendant. Part walk through the village, part artistic immersion, the experience becomes both a memory of Provence and a tangible keepsake to carry home.
Guests meet Meghan at her studio, The Artbox, in the center of Gordes, before setting out to forage for botanicals that will later be incorporated directly into the pendant-making process. As a local, Meghan leads visitors along quiet paths and stone stairways that many travelers never discover, descending through the oldest parts of the village toward its historic lavoir, a communal washplace dating back centuries. The walk itself feels cinematic: narrow cobbled lanes winding between honey-colored stone walls, wildflowers and herbs spilling from cracks in the rock, the scent of sun-warmed vegetation lingering in the air. There is something about moving slowly through Gordes in this way that naturally stirs creativity before the workshop even begins.
Back at the atelier, Meghan guides guests through the process of selecting the botanical element they wish to immortalize: perhaps tiny spring blossoms such as valerian, wild thyme flowers, rosemary sprigs, delicate grasses, veined leaves, or even a small snail shell gathered during the walk. Each piece becomes a personal symbol of time spent in Provence.
The chosen botanical is first pressed into a quick-setting silicone putty to create a mold. Fine silver clay, known as precious metal clay, originally developed in Japan, is then pressed carefully into the impression, capturing every vein, petal, and texture in relief. Once removed from the mold, the pendant already begins to reveal its final form before being fired, polished, and refined by hand. The final touch is the addition of a jump ring, allowing the pendant to be worn as a necklace charm.
Meghan guides the entire process with the delicacy and attentiveness of an artist, making the workshop feel intimate rather than instructional. The result is not only a handcrafted piece of jewelry, but a small botanical imprint of Provence itself.
The workshop is currently booked directly through Meghan’s website. For visitors planning time in Gordes or the Luberon, it is a particularly meaningful addition to a Provence itinerary: slow, artisanal, deeply rooted in place, and beautifully personal.
