I returned last night from a weekend at Alston Hall. The NW Region of the Embroiderers Guild takes over the venue, once a year for an incredible weekend. This year the tutors were, Liliane Taylor, Frances Pickering and Nicola Jarvis.Frances started her class on Thursday and the group created amazing “Books to Cherish”. Liliane gave inspiration to create huge “Pictorial Collages”. In a conversation with her ,, she told me that she is booked to speak in Bolton in October. I will look forward to that.I chose the “Modern 3D Crewel work taught by Nicola.
We began after dinner on Friday,selecting fabric, threads and designs. I had decided that I did not want to work in wool so took along perle thread. I was more inspired by a traditional design than the 3D offered but as always with embroiderers , we all moved off in different directions.
We worked hard and then moved into the bar for a little R and R.A good nights sleep and up for a cooked breakfast and I was stitching again soon after 9.00am. Morning coffee and home made biscuits .buffet lunch, afternoon tea and scones and then another 3 course meal in the evening punctuated our stitching,
I was also in charge of selling our raffle tickets and taking photos of the event so often went on a ramble to get some fresh air and shake down the food! You can work as much or little as you wish but again on Saturday, some of us did not reach the bar until well after 10.00pm.
Sunday followed the same format but after lunch we began to tire and think about clearing up. We held a mini show and tell in our group and then visited the two other groups to see what they had done. Afternoon tea was served at about 4.00 to set us up for our journeys home.
Alston Hall is a comfortable venue set in very pretty gardens.It even boasts a croquet lawn. Several of the regulars were unable to spend the whole weekend with us but called to see old friends. On Saturday, Jennifer Bamford and Sandra Kedzlie arrived and then on Sunday, Betty Mansfield and Pauline Hannon
. If you have ever thought about joining us , but were not sure , then do think again. Persons of all abilities are accepted. Friendships are made and a whole weekend of stitching whilst being tempted by excellent food is a dream come true.
This was my weekend stitching, soon to be finished.
Nicola proudly displays our work,
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