England Day 9: Embroidery Retreat Day 6

This morning the daffodils had buds that were beginning to open. It is chilly, but the day was largely clear.
















As we began breakfast two deer came to graze.















In the morning we had a session with Auburn Claire Lucas, a student of the Royal School of Needlework who has been sponsored by The Crewel Work Company.  Auburn taught us  an Elizabethan Sweet Pea.








The sweet pea itself was done in a corded buttonhole - green thread over gold passing thread. It is a lovely technique and Auburn gave very clear and precise instructions. I really liked the stitch and the effect. I have an idea to use it on my next Dijanne Cevaal dragon.













The Elizabethan plaited braid stitch was much harder - though beautiful. I got into the swing of what I thought was it, but in fact I had not quite got it right. Nevertheless, I'm happy with the effect and I look forward to putting the piece together.

I'm really pleased to have had the chance to learn with an  embroiderer of the future. It is important for all of us that we support the future of our craft and mentor young embroiderers.






While we were working with Auburn, the hotel changed the flower arrangement in the lounge. Spring is evident.























In the afternoon we swapped tutors to begin our second project. My group is now working with Jenny Adin-Christie on a lovely roundell based on work at Blackwell, where we were yesterday.

It was a lovely sunny space this afternoon - so sunny that for some of the time I worked with my back to the window!





We were a very relaxed group and Jenny paced our work well.

We began with shadow work, which I love and moved on to prepare an appliqued gold insert.

As I am writing this, well into the evening, some of my fellow stitchers are still working on this, advancing their projects. I will need to get up early tomorrow to catch up !

England Day 8: Embroidery Retreat Day 5

Today was excursion day. We set off at 8.45am for Dove Cottage, the Wordsworths' home in Grasmere. It was chilly but very clear as we set out.

It was a lovely drive to Grasmere in our bus from Appleby driven by Tony, who drove us around Scotland on the Scottish Highlands tour.

Every image is conjured by, and conjures, poetry and music.

 

The tiny bridge house.

The sheepfolds did indeed seem calm and tranquil this morning.




















At Dove Cottage, home of the Wordsworths from 1799 to 1808, we were privileged to have a private tour. There are many moving artefacts, including William Wordsworth's spectacles and a cushion embroidered by Dorothy Wordsworth.

Our guide read from Dorothy's diary and, in the garden, read William's "To a butterfly".

We were then treated to morning tea with gingerbread in the cottage before we moved on to the museum!

 In contrast to Dove Cottage, the Wordsworth Trust Museum is a purpose-built modern building with plenty of light. We were privileged to have the curator show us some extraordinary documents and artefacts - letters and books written and published by the Wordsworths and a number of their friends.







We were allowed to photograph some of these for our own personal use - and we all got quite excited by some.






From Dove Cottage we went to Blackwell Arts and Crafts House near Bowness where we had lunch and a tour of the ground floor.

















Blackwell is extraordinarily beautiful - light and airy with views at all angles over the landscape and exquisite detail in wood, textile, glass,metal, plaster and ceramic.

Everywhere there was elegance and inspiration


- even music.



Back at our hotel we are relaxed and reflective - conscious that we have spent a day in places of greatness and beauty - connecting us not just to the past, but to the continuity of ideas and creativity.

England Day 7:Embroidery Retreat Day Four

It was such a misty moisty morning that I thought I should be out looking for an old man clothed all in leather.

Instead I went to my class, where we worked hard learning the last few stitches we need to complete our Mountmellick cushion. We worked Palestrina knots and a braiding stitch along the edge of our project as a practice. They will be worked in situ when we have put in most of the other stitches. These are both stitches I have learned at our Guild, but I will still need a bit of a reminder and practice before I add them to the piece.

By mid-morning the mist was lifting and the landscape emerged sharp and clear.

We spent our last session with Nicola going through the steps to finish the project and learning Mountmellick stitch. The project doesn't use this stitch, but Nicola figured we should know how to do it.

This is where I finished up at the end of the session. There's a way to go but it's significant progress and I can see myself finishing it.

After lunch a small group of us went into Windermere for a bit of an explore. It's a very attractive town - especially on a clear day. It has attractive stone buildings in a pleasantly curving street.

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I find the chimney's and rooflines really attractive.

There's a Methodist chapel and some lovely nooks and lanes.

There are two butchers. One has an extensive display of local meet. The other has a window full of prizes he has won for his meat. I'm not sure which one I'd buy from!

There were several men up ladders, washing fittings and windows or painting them - the tourist season must be approaching.

When we got back to the Ryebeck Hotel, Philippa had organised a display of some of her collection of antique embroideries and reproductions. They are all interesting and remarkable pieces, including a bedspread, a petticoat, a box, sweet bags and a waistcoat.


We then went out to the Boar's Head Inn for dinner. The food was good. I had pheasant. The company was even better.We talked and laughed, ate and drank.

Back at the Ryebeck there are pockets of conversation, a bit of jigsaw puzzle, someone stitching, a few gone to bed and three of us taking advantage of the lounge room wifi.

Contentment. I'm counting my blessings.