Take a Class in 2012
Friday, December 23, 2011
If you’re looking for something exciting and embroidery-related to do in the New Year, how about taking a class?
Your local needlework store (LNS) offers an awesome variety of classes taught by local and nationally-known instructors. Check with the shopkeeper, or sign up for their newsletter so you know what’s coming up in your area.
If you want to pack up your needlework threads and embroidery fabric to get away for a few days, several instructors participate in cruises, retreats and conventions. You can find these through needlework news sources, or ask at your local retailer.
But, if you need if you’re craving something truly, consider a destination learning adventure. You’ll have two treats in one – a class and a vacation!
My favorite recommendations for embroidery-centric excursions are:
The Ecole Lesage Atelier de Broderie in Paris, where you can indulge in needlework classes geared from the beginner level all the way up to professional, advanced levels (photo above left). This is the same school that has taught many of the world’s most famous couture designers, enabling them to create the beautiful handwork on clothing seen in their clothing collections.
The Royal School of Needlework in the United Kingdom. The RSN offers hand embroidery courses for all levels; as well as classes on the conservation and restoration of historic needlework. Check out their list of classes, featuring one and two-day sessions with dates through August 2012. Their special Saturday-only tours allow you a peek into their extensive needlework archives, an opportunity rarely offered to the public (photo at right).
Koala Conventions from Australia offers a wide range of workshops to either learn or advance your skills while being taught by a great team of professional Tutors from around the world (photo at right). In addition to Brisbane and New Zealand, they often offer several events in the US each year. Their 2012 Brochure is available online.
If you prefer to learn from the comfort of your own home, there are many terrific classes and tutorials offered online including those presented by Mary Corbet, Tanja Berlin, Helen Stevens and others. Using “online embroidery classes” as your keywords in your favorite search engine brings up a wide variety of options for cyber stitching events.
Happy Travels!
~Emma
