

There will be four workshops. Yippee!
1. Christmas Folk Heart Ornaments with Anne Kelly
2. Joyeux Noel Felt Pillow with Kari Bender
3. Joyeux Tactile Textile with Linda Sweek
4. Cookie making workshop - like elves baking at the north pole. Yummy. Recipes please.

Featured Artist:
Anne Kelly, textile artist, author and teacher. This is so exciting!
Make a charming and original heart shaped decoration from a folk art inspired kit designed by Anne Kelly. We will have the opportunity to work with a variety of hand stitching techniques and embellishments, before assembling your heart(s). You can take them home to hang on your tree!
Anne Kelly’s multilayered and densely stitched textiles have been likened to “small worlds.” Canadian born and trained at Goldsmiths College in London, she creates wall hangings and objects using a mixture of mixed media collage and hand and machine embroidery. Anne is an award-winning artist, author and tutor.
Widely travelled, Anne likes to question and research the landscape, culture and traditions of the places she visits. Those small worlds are made of patches, embroidered and stitched stories. Whether it’s being inspired by people of the past or vintage objects, exploring other cultures and traditions, or creating multi-layered works rich in meaning and visual interest, she uses this knowledge to create wall hangings and objects like Christmas ornaments. She uses a mixture of mixed media collage and hand and machine embroidery in each creation. Her teaching and gallery work takes her around the UK and abroad. Click here to learn more about Anne.

While in Reims, Kari Bender, shop owner of The Quilting Workshop/The Needlework Workshop, will teach a sweet Joyeux Noel Felt Pillow. Kari is joining us for the entire retreat as the trip liaison.
She is so knowledgeable about all things quilted and stitched. For over 30 years, her shops in central Wisconsin have offered amazing fabrics, threads and notions. The Quilting Workshop has over 4,500 fabrics to choose plus hundreds of patterns and notions! The Needle Workshop carries thousands of supplies and threads for cross stitch, needlepoint, hardanger, drawn thread, embroidery, sashiko, wool appliqué, needle punch, knotted rugs and more! Kari is passionate about customer service, crafts, and helping you succeed. She gives free advice on creative projects, life, shopping, friendship and inspiration. Click here to learn more about her shops.


I will teach a class called Joyeux Tactile Textile while in Paris. Taking a piece of pretty patterned fabric, we will embroider on the printed fabric, highlighting selected details. The embroidery created with needle and thread will lovingly transform the fabric, adding texture and dimension. Finished, the embroidered fabric can be used for pillow or home décor.
This class will be held in Paris at Au Ver à Soie. Since 1820, Au Ver à Soie, meaning the silkworm, has produced the finest spun silk threads from Paris for hand embroidery. These threads have been sewn into the fashions of every major couture house in France, Chanel, Dior, Jean-Paul Gaultier and the world-famous hand-sewn scarves of Hermès. After the workshop, we will get to shop the many gorgeous threads and kits!





What's Christmas without some Cookie Baking time?
We will have a Macaron Workshop where the macaron was invented - Ladurée . In a convivial atmosphere inspired by the kitchens of French châteaux, with old-fashioned tiled floors and copper utensils, join us to learn the secrets of the Maison's emblematic pastries, Ladurée will be a lovely dose of Christmas spirit. Ladurée will be a lovely dose of Christmas spirit.

Sew & Sew Retreats brings together people with a similar interest and then offers the opportunity to spend memorable moments creating, learning, exploring, relaxing and laughing with like-minded people. I hope you will join us!
Registration is Now Open
Space is Limited.

Sew and Sew Retreats, Linda Sweek
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