"Designing needlework with the greatest of confidence!"  
 2012
Tutor: Your needlework design tutor is Sally Scott Aiton. Sally is the designer and creator of Cobweb Designs and with clients throughout the heritage world, her talent, design experience, needlework skills and use of colour will be an inspiration. As a tutor for the Quilters’ Guild and the Embroiderers’ Guild she has taught in the UK, USA and Europe.  

Périgord , Dordogne
We will be visiting beautiful locations in the Périgord region. Armed with cameras and/or sketchpads you will 
look at textiles, furniture, stonework, architecture, vineyards and gardens, fruits and vegetables, butterflies 
and beetles – the project choice is huge!

Included in our travels will be ....

The beautiful Château de Hautefort with its stunning interior and gardens.

The medieval village of Eymet with its colourful market.

In the Moulin de Larroque you will see how handmade paper is produced (later in the week we shall experiment with paper 
and embroidery).

In Monpazier we will visit the textile studio L'Atelier Médiéval of Claudie Maigrot.  Claudie will be there to 
show her fantastic appliquéd wallhangings. Her medieval scenes are incredible in detail using gorgeous fabrics.

Cadouin is a pretty village dominated by the Abbaye de Cadouin.  We will meander through it’s cloisters and enjoy stunning stonework and with inspirational designs.

A visit to the Dordogne is not complete without a vineyard! The nearby Château de Monbazillac will not only be inspirational for needlework but will include a tasting of their internationally renowned wines.

Workshop days will be spent at the Petit Rousset Atelier. This light and airy studio will be filled with colour and inspiration!

The workshop modules cover:
Colour:
We will explore the mystique that surrounds colour and how to better understand its use in design. Colour is, of course, a
matter of personal choice but there are boundaries to be pushed and ideas to be tried. The colour wheel is a science and we will explore the kaleidoscope of options it has to offer.

Materials:
Working with different embroidery fabrics and canvases students will have the opportunity to explore and find their personal 
favourite method of stitching. Experimenting with many types of threads, wools and fabrics will demonstrate the effect of texture 
and scale.
During the course we will also discuss how to buy, where to buy and how much to buy of the materials required for a project 
and what is helpful to have as basic kit. You will have access to a library of needlework books along with shade cards and product samples from Europe's top thread and fabric manufacturers.

Scale:
We will discuss how to decide what scale a project can be – looking at a 5 inch (12cm) little cross stitch bookmark design 
through to a 5 foot (1.75m ) patchwork wallhanging - each inspired by the same image.

Design Translation:
How to translate an image into embroidery. Working on paper, canvas and fabric.  All the tricks – from tracing to photocopiers – 
how to make life easy!  Individual time will be given to each student to implement your project.

Students who have chosen a simple design project and finish it quickly will be encouraged to start stitching. Alternatively you can try another design option. Those who have taken on large and challenging projects will leave with full knowledge of how to complete their work at home.

All materials (art and needlework) required for the workshop will be provided.

So .. what will inspire you in the châteaux, medieval villages and countryside of the Dordogne? 
It could be the shape of a classic, formal garden, it could be special detail from 12th century stonework, a château or a tiny village house, it could be artichokes in the market or a field of 
poppies but there's so much more to discover and enjoy ... 
not to mention fabrics and threads and stitches and colour. Join us at Petit Rousset!