Day 6: Embroidery Retreat Day 3

Today was an intense embroidery day. It began dull and overcast, wet from overnight rain.

In our class, we began stitching the acorns, using a padded satin stitch. I didn't get the padding quite right but managed to get quite a smooth satin stitch finish.

It doesn't look like a lot, but it is significant progress.

We all worked intensely.

We are still trying out a variety of lamps and magnifiers. Our conversation today focused a bit on the experience of two of our number who had in the English justice system  - as well as plenty of discussion about our stitching.








I made good progress on the acorns.


During the morning the sun came out and the landscape changed. The colours in sunlight make such a difference. There is still snow on the top of the mountain.

After lunch we worked on one of the rose petals. I have made real progress with padded satin stitch and finished off a second acorn.

Before dinner Philippa made a presentation on the history of Crewel embroidery with some wonderful slides. There is now a jigsaw going and a keen group progressing it after dinner. Our eyes, for the most part, won't stand further stitching at night. Tomorrow we have our final sessions with Nicola and a half day of free time.

I have struggled tonight to control the size of photos as I upload them. I hope to fix it soon.

Day 5: Stitching Retreat Day Two.

This morning I woke to find an elegant visitor walking around just outside my room. So charming.




















The day began fairly grey, although clear.  The setting is attractive even without sunshine.

Today was an intense stitching so after breakfast (OK, I admit it - the full breakfast won again) we were soon settling back into our groups.  Today, my group, working with Nicola Jarvis, was well into it. We work at different paces but were all progressing.  We are also trying out various different lights and magnifiers.

I am making visible progress today. My satin stitch improved. It was lovely working in different thicknesses of thread and changing stitches within a small area. I got into a rhythm.

Nicola has a wonderful finished version of our project which we are able to examine and also photograph. This is a photograph of this part of Nicola's finished piece. 

Late in the morning, this sun came out. The landscape brightened. We rushed outside to take photographs and feel the sun on our skin.

The sun also revealed the snow on the mountain top.

We stopped for lunch - but not for very long. We were all keen to stay in the swing of our stitching.

We learn so much from each other, just sharing the mistakes we make, the angle of our frames. I love the way we find so much in common - and areas of difference. We laugh, identify, draw boundaries, share anecdotes and experiences. Our experiences as women are so common - and support our differences.

Although we all work at different paces and have different strengths, we all gain from working with an experienced, good teacher. We hang out for tips and the opportunity to ask questions and improve technique. We all understand the privilege of being able to learn in a face to face setting.

I'm planning on a little more stitching this evening, but I'm pleased with where I have come today.

Day Four: Stitching begins.

This was the view from my bedroom window when I rose this morning. I woke feeling refreshed, even though I had been awake for a couple of hours from about 3.30 am - partly due to two phone calls from Australia. I shall turn my phone to silent at night in future!

At breakfast, to compensate, I broke my muesli and fruit only routine in favour of the Ryebeck breakfast.

As we didn't begin until 1pm I went for a walk around the grounds before spending an hour or so working on my last Robins panel.

I will post photos of the landscape a few each day. It will be interesting to see if the Spring changes take effect in the week that we are here.

After lunch, we began our stitching. We are now a group of 12 students, split into two groups. For the next few days, my group is working with Nicola Jarvis on a Mountmellick Whitework project designed by Nicola.  Next week we swap teachers, and my group will be working with Jenny Adin-Christie on a project of her design. I will not be posting much detail at the moment, as I don't want to spoil things for the other group. Both projects relate to work at Blackwell Arts and Craft House which we will visit next week.

The hotel is excellent for stitching. Our group is working in a lounge area with a large window and good natural light. The other group is in part of the dining area with big windows and great light. Philippa has also supplied lights, magnifiers and clamps. We are experimenting a bit to see what works best.  

It is magic to be in a group so focused on learning, so willing to share with a teacher intent only of helping us understand and improve.

This is where I got to today. It is very fine work. My satin stitch has improved- still not brilliant but improved. I have never done Mountmellick embroidery but I am, of course, familiar with many of the stitches.

Before dinner, Nicola gave an illustrated talk on May Morris. One of the things I most appreciate about The Crewel Work Company Needlework Retreats is extending my knowledge of women who have pioneered or achieved in needlework, design and social change. It is a wonderful opportunity to understand our history in a broader context than the conventional. 

The door from my room to the outside terrace.

We are now sitting in the lounge with tea and coffee. It's been a joyful day with laughter, conversation and learning.

Can't ask for more than that - with more to come!

Day Three - to the Lakes

On my second (and last) night in London I didn't last much beyond 8.30 before falling asleep. Although I woke several times during the night, I slept until about 6.30 am so I think I've adjusted to the time change.  

A leisurely breakfast, a stroll to Euston Station, an hour in the wifi- equipped waiting room and on to the Glasgow train for my journey to Oxenholm in the Lakes District. 

It was a very fast train - not conducive to good photography. The landscape sped past. Nevertheless, it is an enlightening view of the countryside. The train skirts more rural than industrial. Some of it is surprisingly open. I have to remind myself this is emerging from Winter, not burnt by the sun!

I don't have a sense of the geography but I love looking at these landscapes - lakes, lines and layers of cloud.

There were ruins that passed too quickly to capture and buildings that appeared an odd mixture of domestic and industrial.

Passengers are treated to continual contrasts between landscapes that have changed little in a century and those reflecting continuing change. 

d There are huge lots of caravans or load haulers, parking lots for vans or cars, schools - and universities that advertise themselves on the station signage (It doesn't seem entirely surprising that Lancaster would be the home of Lancaster University!).

I was met at Oxenholm and transported to the Ryebeck Hotel on Lake Windermere. My young taxi driver, of Polish background, asked a lot about life in Australia and approved of our 'controlled' immigration policies. His girlfriend lives in Thailand where he visits her regularly.

The Ryebeck Hotel was welcoming and efficient. My room, on the first floor was warm and inviting - but required climbing a flight of stairs. The view over the Lake was lovely. It has a spa bath.

I unpacked then met up with Philippa Turnbull who immediately negotiated a change to a ground floor room (" you don't need to 'manage' - you're on holiday"!).                                                                                                                          My new room is below the old one, with access to the terrace and a lower view of the lake. Although it doesn't have a spa bath, it has a large shower recess and does not require climbing into the bath to shower - a fair trade.

It has a comfortable leather armchair. Unfortunately none of the bedrooms has wifi and my phone has, for some reason, no data coverage here. I am, therefore, sitting in the very warm lounge area, using the hotel's wifi.

The retreat begins tomorrow. It is lovely to see Philippa again. A few fellow students have arrived. There were 8 of us for dinner. I had duck with broccoli and an extraordinary creme brulee with ginger ice-cream and rhubarb. From tomorrow we have the hotel to ourselves - 12 students and 3 teachers. It promises to be relaxed and interesting. 

Day Two: around Euston

After keeping myself awake yesterday afternoon when I arrived, I found it difficult to get to sleep at night. I eventually succeeded just after midnight and slept until 5.30am - not too far off my usual pattern, so I'm very happy with that.

From Euston Station. Wesley half way down on left

My goal for today was to familiarise myself with Euston Station and where I need to go tomorrow to catch my train. That proved to be very easy. The British Rail section of the station is a straight walk of no more than 200 metres from my hotel.

The platforms are displayed, there is a waiting room and announcements. It is an oddly twentieth century scene - people milling around staring at a board, waiting for information to change.

I then went for a walk around the local area - enjoying once again the fun of exploring a London precinct. Euston itself is open and inviting. People, cars and buses move easily. The trees are stark and interesting.

You come across interesting little pockets of park or squares.

Nineteenth century buildings mix it with ingenious 21st century bike racks and twentieth century brickwork.

Everywhere there are tributes to people, events or associations. Stevenson, of rocket fame, still attracts floral tributes.

This association, formed under the 1911 National Insurance Act, lasted until 1948, had offices at 30 Euston Square and provided benefits to members through a partnership of about 14 associations.

Just as my hotel promotes values derived from Methodism, Friends House, opposite Euston Station, promotes Quaker values of sustainability, responsibility and friendship through its cafe and meeting rooms.The banners hanging outside say "Quakers lead by faith to build a fairer world".









To keep up the theme of service in this area, the Royal Society of General Practitioners has its headquarters here, accessed through a grand set of gates and sharing its building with a rather trendy cafe.

There are also creative hole-in-the -wall pit-stops.

I stumbled across The Wellcome Collection on Euston Road. Set up to house and display some of the collection of Sir Henry Wellcome (1853-1936), entrepreneur, philanthropist and collector of scientific and medical curios this is a stunning museum and library with a popular cafe and great shop.

There is a permanent exhibition from his medical collection, a gallery of art inspired by contemporary medical issues and a large temporary exhibition gallery. The exhibition of the moment is on Electricity: The Spark of Life.

Photos were not allowed, but I enjoyed the Spark of Life exhibition, which featured a wonderful range of equipment demonstrating the history of electricity - from  early specimens and images of electric fish, early experiments with electricity, to sections of the first trans-Atlantic cable, original books, industrial and domestic equipment and devices. It was a treasure-trove. I'd have loved to have had access to this when I was studying electricity as part of my Matriculation Physics course over 50 years ago.

Back at the hotel I had a late lunch of mushroom and soft cheese burger with chips - thrice cooked. it was truly delicious.



Off to the Lakes District tomorrow where the adventure ramps up.