The Big Reveal - and we're off!

 It was a little clearer this morning although still overcast. Windermere was visible.


The daffodils in the garden bed outside the room I occupied in 2017 showed their colours.

We had breakfast from 7.45 and gathered in the lounge for our first briefing at 9.00. There are, I think, 18 students.

Finally, after the preliminary information and introductions, Nicola and Jenny came in with the two projects we are to work on.

They are both extraordinary.

We were split into two groups. I am beginning in Nicola's group. Her project is a crewel work one based on Beatrix Potter's interest in and breeding of Herdwick sheep as well as her efforts in the ecology of the Lakes District, and the land that now forms the National Parks.T
Nicola's sample piece is larger than the version we are working on (meaning ours is manageable!)

Some of the sheep is worked in Herdwick wool, as well as Appleton's and some specialist threads.

The piece is named for Queenie, one of Beatrix Potter's actual sheep. Some of the design echoes ceramics found in Hill Top, her Cumbrian home.

Our classes this year are set up at either end of the dining room,  Jenny's  at the Southern end, shown here and Nicola's at the Northern end shown below.

Meals are set up in between.





We each have a floor lamp with magnifier as well as our 10" hoops.

It is a great set-up, giving us good light and a comfortable space in which to work.

We got started straight away, beginning with the sheep, and using the Herdwick wool to begin. I really love this kind of work. Nicola is an engaged, attentive, relaxed teacher. The group is also relaxed, not afraid to ask questions, considerate of each other are sharing of expertise.


We laughed a lot. I realised that one of the things I so enjoy about these retreats is the laughter. We have so much in common. It is our shared values and common interest that enable us to be so relaxed.

Towards the end of the afternoon it began to rain quite heavily and the we lost some of our natural light. The lights then really came into their own.

We had worked small parts of a number of sections of the sheep by the end of the afternoon. We are, naturally, working a little of each section to make sure we know what to do so we can finish the piece when we get home.

As a finisher I still find this a little frustrating, but I concede it is the only way to work.


At 6pm we gathered in the lounge where Richard interviewed Nicola and Jenny about their design process. It was a really, really interesting session. Both immerse themselves in the physical environment of their subject, as well as reading. There was discussion of the role of instinct or zen, of cultural and historical understanding, of knowledge of tone and colour, of recurring motif. Both spoke of habits of quick sketching, capturing the moment and impression rather than planned perfection.

It occurred to me that both Nicola and Jenny seem to be embedded in  English landscape and environment. It set me thinking. When asked, they both agreed they could only create, for example, a French design by immersion. This has set me thinking about Australian embroidery design, what it is, and the role played by heritage. I am still thinking about recent discussions I have had at the Embroiderers' Guild of SA about the now defunct British Embroidery Study Group, or about Moroccan Embroidery as studied by some Guild members on a recent trip. This is, for me, a really important discussion about identity, history and culture - important to my own embroidery and how I study it.

The discussion continued over what proved to be quite a long dinner. We  discussed the way composers draw on traditions outside their own country but still produce music recognisably of that country. We also discussed the importance of any visual work drawing the viewer in from a distance as well as engaging at close quarters.

It has been a terrific day for me. It is the first day of the retreat and we have surfaced issues of great importance and are discussing things that matter. I am among kindred spirits.

I don't underestimate the privilege - nor the power.

Post 6 : Mainly Bowness-on-Windermere

I'm still waking 3-4 times a night, but managing to get myself back to sleep. I was finally awake and reading by 6.15 this morning, but did not join the energetic group of my fellow retreaters who met to walk at 6.30. It was a misty-moisty morning with little visibility, even when I joined the group for breakfast just after 8.00 am.

We finally left our breakfast table at 10.10. Three headed off to Ullswater to hike and four of us headed off in Kathleen's car. Melody and I hitched a lift into Bowness-on-Windermere, Melody with a bit of a mission, and me as a hanger-on.






Melody wanted to buy a specific gift from a Beatrix Potter themed shop - of which there was no shortage. We found what she wanted in the second one we visited.
It was next to Herdy- the shop devoted to herdwick sheep souvenirs.




We were less successful with her other goal - finding a skirt. Skirts, it seems, are not in fashion. Not even the Edinburgh Wool Shop had an adult size skirt.

It was, however, a good mission to be on, and took us down interesting streets and lanes

Even the overcast grey skies and occasional showers couldn't hide the signs of Spring.






















Giving up on the skirt, we visited St Martin's - the Windermere Parish Church (located in Bowness-on-Windermere, not in Windermere!). It was been the parish church for Windermere since 1203. An earlier structure was, except for the font, destroyed in a fire in 1480. The basic rectangular structure, and a squat tower was rebuilt in 1483 and has been adapted and added to ever since.










Everywhere there are signs that it has been, and continues to be, a church that serves a continuing, living community.






I loved the prominent celtic crosses in the churchyard, one in memory of soldiers of the Boer War, the other a personal memorial to Jane Isabella Fleming 1808-1902.

Inside, the first thing to impact is the roof with it's painted words - a 16th century declaration of Protestantism.

North Window

There is some fine stained glass in the East window - carefully restored after damage by Cromwell's men, and some later examples depicting local people worshiping. There is a sense of continuous engagement of the community- and care for the church.




There are numerous examples of well maintained kneelers.




There is a  chapel in memory of the 71 men from the parish who died in World War I. At the entrance to the chapel are two extraordinary silk curtains.These were made by craftsmen disabled in WWI and employed by Painted Fabrics Ltd of Sheffield. They were given to the parish in 1932 in appreciation of parish support. They are fragile, and shouldn't be touched. It seems, none the less, admirable that they hang there, doggedly part of the people-focused history of the community of the church.



The altar frontal in place today (following Epiphany and before the Transfiguration) was a lovely, simple green gold-worked one.

I  really liked the central fish medallion.

There are also some lovely floor tiles, and beautiful mosaic panels in the Victorian marble reredos behind the altar.






































There are lovely carved screens - some on  pews, along with a rood that was transferred from St John's Windermere.

The huge etched Curwen Screen with its music theme was installed in 2000 to create an additional enclosed space in the tower room, clearly meeting a contemporary need for parents and children to be part of a service without disturbing others.


St Martin's took me by surprise. It is packed with community life and evidence of current use.







By now it was lunchtime, and Melody and I went in search of the Hole in't Wall - the oldest pub in Bowness,  built in 1612 and named, apparently for the hatch through which ale was served to coaches.

We made our way to the lower level - once a blacksmithy. It is snug and atmospheric- loads of pewter pots, whisky jars and toby jugs, very large bellows, a few trophies and stained glass






The sweet potato soup was very good.








Outside, it was still dull and overcast, but the roof of the pub has begun to show the signs of Spring.


We managed to find a taxi to take us back to the Ryebeck.

While I was putting this post together, most of the other retreat participants  arrived. The gathering for dinner was full of laughter and exuberance.  The meal was excellent. Missing were our three Ullswater hikers from breakfast. Their plans had gone a little awry, resulting in them walking, it seems, about 8 miles to find a taxi to bring them back to Bowness, where they had dinner - at the Hole In'T Wall.  They arrived back in good humour, but in need of baths and bed.

Stitching tomorrow.

Post 5 to the Lakes District and Ryebeck Hotel

I posted yesterday before my evening meal. I ate in the hotel and did not want much because of our lunch at the Wellcome Museum, so chose the beetroot, pumpkin and spinach gnocchi, It was delicious and beautifully presented. So much so I had to photograph it!

They have renovated the kitchen since I was here last year, to make room for more tables. The breakfast bar is now inside the actual kitchen.  It can be closed off after breakfast. I liked the breakfasts - a good choice and very good granola. Also excellent mushrooms and tomato.

The Wesley remains an interesting hotel. It's clientele is mostly young city workers. They talk of deals and alliances and network skilfully often switching between languages. There are groups off in small rooms having meetings and presenting figures. One of the staff told me there would be a roof bar next time I come.

I have slept reasonably well the two nights I have been in England, falling asleep around 8.30pm. waking up 3-4 times but getting back to sleep fairly quickly. This morning I checked out around 9.15am and made my way to the Virgin lounge at Euston to wait for my train, which left on the dot of 11.30 - perhaps even a minute early.

 I usually book one of the single seats but had, by accident or good management booked an aisle seat on a table for four, with two more acing each other on the other side of the aisle. The photo is a composite, taken when two of our company were out of their seats.
All five of my fellow travellers were going to Glasgow, three of them to attend the European Indoor Athletics - as spectators. The other two, Mavis and Don, were going to for a meeting of a Guild of Coopers - or at least Don, the Cooper, was Coopering while Mavis, discovering that the European Indoor Athletics was on, was planning to slip away to that. I learned a lot about their lives. Mavis claims to be a golf widow, while Don claims to be a choir widower. They have a niece in Sydney and have visited Adelaide more than once. They were excellent company and we laughed a lot. All were followers of the Olympic Games. Three had been to the Sydney Olympics and two to Atlanta as well.

I was met at Oxenholme by my Ace Taxi Driver, this time Hungarian-born and just back from Thailand, and whisked away to the Ryebeck Hotel in less than 20 minutes.

I had requested, I think, my room from last year, upstairs, with a view of the Lake. The downside of the room is the shower over the bath. I had given as back-up, a downstairs room with a walk-in shower. With recent back and sciatica problems , I was a bit worried about the shower and debating whether to ask for a change of room. I had been assigned a downstairs walk-in shower room anyway - so I'm happy.

The room is spacious,with a walk-in closet, a small, comfortable lounge chair and desk.

It opens on to a small outdoor courtyard that I suspect I will not be using for sitting, given the turn in the weather. It is misty and overcast. My outlook is nevertheless quiet, secluded and green.

Behind is a bank of trees partially hiding a grand house.

I am pleased to report the hotel's wifi is vastly improved and works in my room - a major breakthrough for a blogger!

I booked into dinner at 6.30 - the time most other guests had booked for. There were seven of us sharing a table as well as Genevieve and her husband nearby. We had a lovely catch-up, slotting back easily into our shared world and interests. So comfortable, and stimulating.

I was very tired when I arrived this afternoon and rested rather than exploring the garden. I gather there are daffodils out - tomorrow will tell. 

I'm not sure I should have had coffee tonight!