It's been way too long since I last blogged, or stitched for that matter, but I'm hopeful this new year will bring my stitching mojo back with a vengeance. In the meantime, Sara has started lining up retreats once again..... First .. Jackie du Plessis will be spending the weekend of April 9-12 with us and she'll be teaching 4 days of fabulous stitching with 2 classes.
Friday & Saturday Class
Ode - (includes 2 nights lodging, and a boxed lunch for both days-) This is a take-off of an antique lace display desk Jackie saw many years ago. She had it scaled down to 7" x 8" and done with a cherry finish. Jackie was inspired by Jane Austin's words and created her own tapestry of silken stitches as the desk's bottom $650
The class includes the desk, all stitching and finishing supplies needed to complete the project as seen. Fibers are silks-Hand dyed and solid and 100/3. Ribbons are hand-dyed and Mokuba from Japan. All finishing by hand-only the pinkeep gets a machine guideline for finishing. Linen is 32 ct.
The collection of items created to fill the Ode desk consists of
Desk bottom - Regency period wallpaper inspired the circle-shaped border. Jackie added the hand-dyed medley colored flowers to add a bit of nature's beauty. Various bands and motives of nature stitched to mimic a tapestry for the desk base.
Sewing case - that has two functional ends, the storage case interior features an alphabet, paying homage to Jane and her masterful weaving of these letters into timeless stories. The two functional ends consist of a pocket for trinkets and the second is a padded mattress pincushion that lifts to reveal a needle storage section. Two thread holding Hedobo rings embellish the interior. The outside of this sewing case features a circle pattern that is used to frame the desk bottom and can also be seen on the Pin Keep, Messenger thread storage bag. This circle pattern was inspired by the regency period wall-paper. When the case closes it fits perfectly vertically into the desk bottom.
Message bag thread pouch - Jackie wanted to create a special holder for finishing thread that mimic's the message carrier of yesteryear.
Button Pouch - Wanting to capture nature and all the beauty it brings, Jackie stitched a base of green leaves, each of these leaf edges is cupped with tiny Hedobo scallop stitches creating a scallop leaf effect. From these leaves, pretty flower buds sprout as if they hold a promise of things to come. The back of the button-bag features a stitched butterfly.
Pin Keep case - inspired by a watered-silk antique from Jackie's collection of smalls.
Bottle/trinket holder - holds three storage bottles. The top and bottom of these two panels that are pulled at the sides to snugly hold the bottles in place are cupped with a Hedebo scallop edge.
Sunday and Monday Class
Gardenesque - (includes 2 nights lodging, boxed lunch for each day)
Spend two enjoyable days stitching a series of needlework accessories to outfit the glorious hand-painted Gardeneque wooden basket. $850
The basket is approximately 5”x7” in size, with a lid on each side of the handle, with an oval cut-out for a pincushion to be inserted. The basket has a swing handle and at the bottom a pull-out drawer for more treasures, running the length of the basket. The basket is made of tiger-wood maple and the lids, handle, and drawer have a hand-painted design of flowers, leaves, and a border. A collection of needlework accessories fit and stow neatly in the glorious workbasket.
The class includes the basket, all stitching and finishing supplies needed to complete the project as seen.
