It’s a dream vacation for any embroiderer: surrounded by embroideries rich in history and beauty, tutored by specialists and professionals, pampered in comfortable accommodations, shopping quaint English and Scottish high streets, exploring castles and manor houses, rubbing elbows with lords and ladies.
Silk. Goldwork. Crewel Embroidery.
Castles. Country gardens. Cathedrals.
Tea. Scones. Shops. Sumptuous meals.
Perhaps even a pub or two on the sly….
Ahhhh… come dream with me!
What the Dickens is she going on about? you may very well ask!
Well, I’m dreaming about Phillipa Turnbull’s Lady Ann’s Needlework Retreats, which are taking place next Autumn – just short of a year from now.
The inaugural Lady Ann’s Needlework Retreat took place in 2012, and it was, by all accounts, a great success. I heard from a couple readers who went, and their reports upon return were glowing.
And I was literally glowing upon hearing them – a soft, subtle shade of green. The retreat sounded marvelous! Beyond marvelous, even. And so, I began to dream.
I thought, “Next time. Next time, that will be me. Errrrr… that will be I. It will be I who goes. Next time.”
Life being what it is, though, and the Cold, Dead Fish of Reality slapping me in the face more than once in the last year (we’re very good friends, the fish and I), I’m not going!
But I thought I’d tell You about it, in case you are in a quandary over what to do for your vacation next year. Maybe you’ve been pining for your Trip of a Lifetime, and you just don’t know where to go or what to do!
Well, here it is!
There are two retreats taking place next year – one for needlework professionals, from September 27th through October 6th, and one for needlework enthusiasts, from October 11th – October 20th. You’ll find all the information about both of them, including itineraries, on The Crewel Work Company website, or you can go directly to the Lady Ann’s Needlework Retreats Brochure here. (PDF)
Better that you read the itinerary and imagine your own dream, than I try to tell you all the details about the retreat.
Even if you know you can’t go, there’s nothing wrong with reading about it and salivating.
Well, the latter in private…
…and certainly not around the Lord and Lady of the Manor.
