Category: 2020 Members

Hi I’m Rebecca

Since living here in Provence I’ve become a master of reinvention, living in the slow lane at a fast pace.
The starting point was what I thought was the end, but often that’s how life starts to become juicier.

Landing in a Provencal village at 39 years of age after having promised myself I’d never move out of the city was the writing on the wall, change was in the air. Why here? A man, of course, a Dutch/French frog with clogs who wasn’t going to live permanently in London, and no way (sorry) was I going to live permanently in Amsterdam. We took a risk and headed here to a village in the Luberon not far away from his now passed-away Uncle and Aunt.

I’ve worked as a Tour Director worldwide for major companies since 1985, and I still do dabble for a major Australian tour operator who is too delightful to resist mid-season.

In my fifties I moved ahead in full throttle, becoming an accredited Life Coach choosing as my niche women who want to reinvent themselves after fifty, I’m an expert at that and endlessly enthusiastic that life after fifty can be your best years.

This year 2023 I published my first book Forward after 50, The Rising Reinventors

I’m also the creator and organiser of Network Provence.

Connect with Rebecca

www.rebeccaronane.com

Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and LinkedIn

My name is Joanna Maclennan. I’ve been a professional photographer for the past 15 years. Having grown up in England, I moved to France in my early thirties and never looked back – though I still love visiting the UK. I’ve been based in Provence for over thirteen years now, where I live with my husband Mike an artist, our young daughter, and a goose.

I’ve always loved travel, different cultures and meeting new people – not to mention art, design and flea markets. Anywhere and anything that has a deep sense of time and place. My photography plays a huge part in this, while also being my greatest passion.

I only work with natural light and mostly use an old Hasselblad camera. It requires time, with a very long exposure. They originally capture 6×6 images, but I have attached a digital back to bring it up to the 21st century. Still, the process is unhurried, which suits me perfectly. ‘Slow photography’ means seeking that precise shot, as opposed to firing off a thousand and leaving it to good fortune. Less is more. And through this process, I am able to get the depth and richness that I’m looking for, my photographs made atmospheric by differing textures and shadows. While much of my work is focused on interiors, I also do portraits and still lifes, drawn to faces and objects that tell a story.

I work for a variety of international magazines and newspapers – World of Interiors, House & Garden, The New York Times – as well as publishers such as Thames & Hudson and Gestalten. Clients include Cire Trudon, GSL Works, Magnolia Pearl Clothing – Texas, Christies UK, Jamb London and David Price Design. I work with Interior Designers, architects and small hotels/chambre d’hotes. The nature of my work means I travel extensively through Europe, the USA and Australia.

I published my first book ‘The Foraged Home‘ in April 2019 which was printed in 4 languages. I also offer private or small group workshops here in Provence and abroad as I have discovered that I love to teach and give back what I have learnt myself.

Connect with Joanna
Website: www.joannamaclennan.com
Instagram: @joannamaclennanphotography
Email: joanna@joannamaclennan.com

Bonjour, my name is Sabine and I am as Dutch as tulips and Gouda cheese. I live with my husband Evert and daughter Sacha in Cereste, a little village between Apt and Manosque in Alpes de Haute Provence.

In my ‘previous life’ in the Netherlands, I worked as a storyteller for an international child rights organisation. I had the privilege to travel all over the world to share the stories of most marginalized children and their families through photography, video and copy.

I strongly belief in the power of storytelling: a good story is about vision, believes, values and emotion. Introducing story telling in your business – a brand story – will help you to capture people’s attention, bake your information into their memories and forge close, loyal and personal bonds with your clients and prospects. That is not only my belief, it is actually proven by neuroscience. It is the same principle as your favourite books and movie characters: if you craft a compelling brand story, your audience will remember who you are, develop empathy and -ultimately – care for you.

CREATE YOUR BRAND STORY

I can help you to create your personal brand story with a simple 3 hour session, which will only cost you € 125,- (Network Provence tariff, through online meeting). The end product of our online sessions will be your personal brand story in approx. 250 words that will be the foundation of all your promotion and communication (even the one-minute Network Provence meeting pitches J).

FURNISH YOUR HOME WITH YOUR STORIES

A home is a 3D biography and the ultimate reflections of your story. The Danish ‘Hygge’ [hoo-ga] means creating a safe, cosy, warm and natural environment that stimulates and relaxes all the senses with colours, textures and light. It connects well with the Provence way of life; where in- and outdoor merge and flavours, colours and scents seem more intense.

Let me help you create your own ‘hygge en Provence’. Your personal story is leading to create comfortable and functional in- and outdoor spaces using Scandinavian, French and Dutch design, brocante, repurposed items, nature and your personal memories.

WELTEVREE
A perfect example of a compelling brand story is the Dutch outdoor design brand ‘Weltevree’. Their products reconnect you to your physical and social surroundings and are produced with durability in mind. I represent Weltevree in the South of France. You can visit my showroom in Cereste by appointment or visit weltevree.eu and email me your order (free delivery and assembly).

LOVE TO GET IN TOUCH!
Email: sabine.copinga@gmail.com
Phone: 06-30183575
INSTA: @hyggeenprovence