Farther afield, the EGA guild on the road studying goldwork

Yesterday was the first of two classes taught by master stitcher Carol Homer, at the convent in north Jersey we visited a while back, where the stitching workshop has been in continuous operation with both nuns and laypeople, since the 1850s.

Goldwork and other forms of ecclesiastical, that's church related,  stitching, are a tradition there, and Carol is currently teaching there and at her home.  She not only introduced us to goldwork, most of us having no experience of it before, but supplied a trove of materials, great  gold and silver threads, and many silks, and linen pieces to learn on.  

She had us set up a simple shape or two, drawn directly onto the stretched linen,  to get some learning on couching, the main theme of ecclesiastical work, and here we are in learning mode.  Carol demonstrated every step, and we embarked on a great adventure.  Next week is our second session, and we can hardly wait.