Join quilt artist and author Heather Jones in October 2020 on a special nine-day hand-quilting retreat in Britain at Goodnestone Park, a glorious manor house and family seat of Julian, 22nd Lord Fitzwalter. Built by his ancestors in 1704, the house was frequently visited by Jane Austen after her brother married into the family and it reputedly inspired her novel Pride and Prejudice.
Heather has designed an exclusive improvisational quilt project for this retreat. Drawing for inspiration from a magnificent medallion coverlet Jane Austen, her sister, Cassandra, and mother hand-stitched in the early 19th century, Heather has based her contemporary design around the large, central diamond motif found in the old coverlet. It finishes at roughly 28” square and featuring 9 blocks with sashing around the edges. Depending on your level of skill, the size or complexity of your chosen design, you may prefer to focus on hand stitching the quilt top during the week. More experienced quilters may find they are able to complete their quilt project including hand stitching the batting and backing. Heather’s tuition includes full instructions for completing the project at home.
The retreat will begin and end in Richmond-upon-Thames in southwest London and include five days of full-time tuition at Goodnestone as well as trips to a historic moated castle, the iconic Arts and Crafts home of William and Janey Morris, a local restaurant renowned for its food, a typical pub and the cathedral city of Canterbury, built by the Romans and a pilgrimage site in the Middle Ages. Jane Austen was as skilful with a needle as she was with a pen and on one evening professor Jennie Batchelor of the Kent branch of the Jane Austen society will visit us at Goodnestone to talk about her book, Jane Austen Embroidery.
Added to all this will be leisurely guided walks through the 15 acres of grounds, including the 17th century walled garden and the option to enjoy bike rides, massage and beauty therapies (treatments at extra cost). The house has recently emerged from a dramatic restoration that took it down to its bare bones and the new incarnation is a sensational take on the original with many stunning features including de Gournay hand-painted wallpaper, two grand pianos, roll-top bathtubs and showers in the bathrooms and the gorgeous first floor Jane Austen sitting room.
Picture yourself on a sofa in the Jane Austen sitting room, overlooking the parterre gardens, hand stitching a unique quilt inspired by one of the world’s favourite authors…