Craft Sanctuary Embroidery Retreat

8-10 July 2022

3 days from £395pp

Join Royal School of Needlework tutor and Repair Shop textile expert Sara Dennis for this summertime embroidery weekend retreat.

Full board accommodation
12 hours tuition from a Royal School of Needlework trained tutor
Craft kit included
Support from an experienced Arena Travel Tour Manager throughout the retreat

Based in the heart of the Northamptonshire countryside, this summertime retreat is the ideal opportunity to learn a new skill or indulge in your favourite hobby with Royal School of Needlework tutor and the Repair Shop's textile expert Sara Dennis.

Join us in the heart of the Northamptonshire countryside, the Staverton Park Hotel is the perfect location to unwind and enjoy a bit of ‘me’ time. Our two-night retreat includes 12 hours of workshops during which we will be using a variety of embroidery techniques to create a beautiful Beetle Lavender Bag.

Beetle Lavender Bag

This little beetle is full of surprises. With a refresher of silk shading we move on to goldwork basics, with a twist. Surface stitches include padded satin stitch, French knots, turkey rug, Pekinese and heavy chain stitch. Finally, we have a go at trailing – a lovely technique commonly found in whitework and monogramming. Once embroidered the beetle can be made into a lovely lavender bag.

Sara Dennis

After a career in nursing and the forces, Sara gained a first-class degree in Art History and Museum Studies from Lancaster University. She graduated Royal School of Needlework Future Tutor Programme in 2017 winning the Outstanding Achievement Award. Having led a peripatetic life, she has collected many experiences and influences. Now settling in Lancaster, she remains drawn towards the ethnic and eclectic.

As well as Day Classes, the Certificate and Diploma, Summer Intensive Certificate and Degree modules at Hampton Court Palace and Williamsburg, VA for The Royal School of Needlework, Sara has also taught at the Victoria & Albert Museum, The British Library and The Royal Free Hospital. She is the textile expert on The Repair Shop. Sara enjoys curating various exhibitions and volunteers with Combat Stress and SSAFA. She has a studio in Lancaster Castle from where she hopes to continue to develop and teach, using locally sourced fabric.

Overview

This stylish and contemporary four-star hotel is ideally located in the heart of the Northamptonshire countryside. The bright and airy event spaces are perfect for our workshops, the modern restaurant serves up the best of seasonal and local food and the newly refurbished bar is the perfect place to relax after a fun days crafting.

For those looking for more active relaxation, Staverton Park Hotel & Golf Club have a gym and pool and golf enthusiasts can test their skills on the PGA European-tour standard 18-hole golf course in the grounds. (Note – gym and pool open subject to government guidelines).

In a convenient location, Staverton Park Hotel & Golf Club is easily accessible from the M1, M6, M40 and Birmingham Airport, and is just a short drive to Northampton and Coventry.

Free, superfast Wi-Fi with a maximum bandwidth of 1Gb is available throughout.

Hotel Facilities & Amenities

Free WiFi
Restaurant
Bar & coffee shop
Leisure club with gym
Swimming pool
18-hole golf course

Room Facilities & Amenities

Relax in peace and quiet in the standard guest rooms (13 sq m). Thoughtfully furnished, these rooms offer modern amenities and make an ideal base for your stay. All rooms are equipped with the following: