Kits on Etsy and Folksy

My kits are now available on Folksy at https://folksy.com/shops/VineEmbroidery and Etsy at https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/VineEmbroidery as well as at www.vine-embroidery.co.uk

Vine Embroidery Classes 2017

Over the coming year I will be running embroidery classes at Broughton Gifford, Wiltshire, Dillington House, Somerset, Ardington School of Crafts, Oxfordshire, Ammerdown Centre, Somerset.

Broughton Gifford, Wiltshire

I will be holding Saturday embroidery classes at Broughton Gifford Village Hall on: January 28, March 25, May 6 and June 17, 2017. 

The classes are for all embroidery projects that you are working on, need some tuition with or wish to start. 

Broughton Gifford is off the B3107 between Bradford on Avon and Melksham, near the village of Holt. The hall is located behind The Fox pub, on the High Street. The postcode for the village hall is SN12 8PN. The classes will be 10am to 4pm and the cost of the class is £25 per person. Tea and coffee will be provided, but please bring your own lunch. 

I will need a £10 non-refundable deposit. Without this your place can not be guaranteed. Class places are available on a ‘first come, first served basis’.  If you do internet banking and would like to do this by bank transfer please email me for my account details. Otherwise, please email me for a reservation form.

Gift vouchers are available, which can be used on classes and kits. 

Dillington House, Somerset

I will be holding a weekend residential course at Dillington House, in Somerset, on embroidered landscapes on February 10-12, 2017. For more details visit www.dillington.com 

Ardington School of Crafts, Oxfordshire

I will be holding courses at Ardington School of Crafts, Oxfordshire, on silk shading and embroidered buttons on May 19 and raised crewelwork on September 23-24, 2017. For more details visit www.ardingtonschoolofcrafts.com  

Ammerdown Centre, Somerset

I will be holding courses at the Ammerdown Centre, in Somerset, on crewelwork on June 27-29 and embroidered landscapes October 30-November 1, 2017. For more details visit www.ammerdown.org 

Broughton Gifford Saturday class

My Stumpwork Washing Line kit is now available on the website at www.vine-embroidery.co.uk and on my Etsy shop at www.etsy.com/uk/shop/VineEmbroidery It's a quirky piece for which you use needlelace to make individual items of clothing to attach on to your embroidered background.

If you would like to have a go at a new embroidery technique, like stumpwork, why not come along to my next Saturday class? There are still places available for the class at Broughton Gifford, Wiltshire, on July 30. Full details of how to book are also on the website www.vine-embroidery.co.uk

Return to Ardington

I'm looking forward to once again teaching at the lovely Ardington School of Crafts in Oxfordshire.

I will be teaching a Jacobean Crewelwork Bird design - a new design I have stitched for this course, which is to run on July 9 and 10.

For more details about joining the course, visit the Ardington School of Crafts website: www.ardingtonschoolofcrafts.com

New mixed thread kits

I now have three new kits available on the website - Autumn Mixed Thread Crewelwork, Spring Mixed Thread Crewelwork and Miniature Crewelwork Motif.

All three are worked on a new linen mix fabric called Normandy, which is lighter than the traditional linen twill, so is easier to make the projects into items such as pin cushions and box tops.

The Spring and the Autumn kits also include stranded cottons as well as crewel wool, and the Miniature Crewelwork Motif includes beads.

The Autumn Crewelwork is displayed on a wooden pin cushion base. These are available, but stock is limited, so please get in touch for more details if you're interested in one of these.

Do take a look at the Crewelwork Kits section of the website for more, click here.

More Saturday class dates

Following the success of the  Saturday embroidery classes in Trowbridge this spring, I have lined up some more dates for future Saturday classes. The next classes take place on 11 July, 19 September, 17 October and 5 December.

These classes are for any embroidery projects you are working on, having trouble with, or wish to start. If you prefer, it could also be an opportunity to try one of my new kits.

The classes will be held at St James' Church Hall, off Union Street, Trowbridge, BA14 8DX. They will run from 10am to 4pm and the cost of the class is £25 per person. Tea and coffee will be provided, but please bring your lunch. Email vine.embroidery@btinternet.com for more details. A £10 non-returnable deposit will be needed to reserve your place.

Saturday Classes

I will be running Saturday embroidery classes on the following dates: 21 March 2015, 23 May 2015, 11 July 2015. 

These classes are for all embroidery projects you are working on, having trouble with, or wish to start! I hope you will be able to join me and spend some time with like-minded friends. 

The classes will be held at St James' Church Hall, off Union Street, Trowbridge, BA14 8DX. 

The classes will run from 10am to 4pm and the cost of the class is £25 per person. Tea and coffee will be provided, but please bring your lunch. Email vine.embroidery@btinternet.com for more details. A £10 non-returnable deposit will be needed to reserve your place.

Silver Snowdrop

Take a look at my new Silver Snowdrop kit, now available on the website. It is stitched in silver and green metal threads and is delicate and twinkly! Click here to see it.

I taught it at Dillington house last weekend.

It was a popular choice for the ladies, many of whom where able to take home the finished project.

I am now working on 3D embroidered owls for my Bath class. I think they are going to be a hoot.

New kit - 18th Century Style Bouquet

I'm now back from maternity leave, and earlier this month taught my first class at Dillington House since the birth of Charlie last year.

The piece I stitched to teach at the class is now available as a kit. The 18th Century style bouquet silk shading can be ordered by clicking here.

It features metal thread embroidery, with a sequinned bow.

Charlie William Clensy has arrived

Delighted to announce that our second son Charlie William, arrived on Friday evening - just one day after his due date.

He weighed 8lb 0.5oz, and is just as blond as his brother! We are all well, and Charlie is doing fine.

Please ignore the spam email

Within the last 24 hours my email account has been hacked and has sent out a spam message to all contacts telling them I am in the Philippines and need money. Don't send money, I'm not in Manilla! I have changed the password for my email account, so hopefully this won't happen again. Clare.

Stitch magazine

I am featured in the Feb/March edition of Stitch magazine, in the "Few of My Favourite Things" slot - in which, funnily enough, I get to talk about a few of my favourite things - everything from Cornwall to wrought iron, from Betjeman to sweet peas.

Looking ahead, the March/April edition of the magazine will feature my Rustic Rooster project - which is available to order on my website, either as a full kit or as a materials pack to accompany the instructions in the magazine. That issue of the magazine is out on March 28.

Christmas Kit Orders

The last order day for guaranteed arrival before Christmas on UK mainland orders is December 16.

Today's Sale update

Update - Saturday Nov 24, 9am:Today's sale will go ahead unaffected by recent flooding. Staverton causeway remains closed, so please approach from the Trowbridge or Melksham  side of Hilperton

Relocation, Relocation, Relocation ...

It's been a busy few weeks with a lovely weekend teaching whitework at Dillington, and I will be teaching whitework again at Weston super Mare this weekend.

But mostly time is taken up with preparing for my move from my current workshop in Hilperton, to my new workshop at home in Bradford on Avon, as we prepare for the arrival of our second child in the spring.

I will be holding a relocation sale on Saturday, November 24th, as I need to get rid of sewing and embroidery materials, frames, books, fabric remnants, threads, accessories and much more - all at bargain prices! My embroidery kits will not be included in the sale, though they will of course be available to buy on the day,

The sale will run from 10.30am to 4pm at Marsh Farm. For directions, click here 

I hope I will get to see lots of you on the day.

Hanging Out

The stumpwork washing line - for the class on September 8th - has now been stitched. Here is a picture of the finished piece.

There are still some spaces left on the class. Click here for details.

It's been a busy few weeks, as I am also currently working on an altar frontal project for a local church.

Feline Classy?

Details of my next set of Saturday classes are now available on the website. It includes a rather gorgeous blackwork cat, pictured, a stumpwork washing line design, and the Dillington rose, which includes silk shading and goldwork.

I have also been asked by a number of people for an "unfinished projects" class, so the workshop on November 17 will be about finally getting to grips with those embroideries you've put to one side and never returned to. I'm hoping to be able to help you get over any stitching hurdles that might have scuppered the project in the past. Or you can bring along a design you haven't even started yet. If you fancy joining this class, please let me know a bit about what you will be bringing in advance, so I can prepare myself.

Jubilee Crown

So here it is - my completed "Jubilee Crown".

The goldwork design, celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, features appliquéd red silk and white velvet for the fur trim. The jewels on the crown are worked with sew-on gems and brightly-coloured gold purl threads.

There are some places still left on the class on Saturday, May 5th. Please get in touch if you would like to join us.

There will be more Saturday classes announced soon.

Rose and Crown

It's been a busy few weeks, with an enjoyable weekend at Dillington House back in March, where I had a full class. Many were stitching my new design - what soon became known as the Dillington Rose (pictured).

I have been working on various small commissions, including embroidering a wedding waistcoat for a groom and a christening gown.

I've also been preparing for a number of classes, including a goldwork coronation crown - especially for the Diamond Jubilee year. This class will be running on Saturday, May 5, at my workshop. Get in touch if you would like to reserve a place.

A few people have asked me to let them know when I had satin boxes in stock once again. I have recently received a new supply - a range of shapes, sizes and colours. Again, drop me an email if you would like more details.

I will be teaching my first class at Ardington School of Crafts, in Oxfordshire, on the last weekend of May. They now have a website up and running - visit it here.

Crewel World ...

I spent another enjoyable weekend at Dillington House teaching crewel work last weekend. I stitched two new projects for the class, both in shades of reds and blues.

The smaller of the two, Forget Me Not (named for the small blue French knot flowers in the design), I made into a cushion with a gingham surround, and the other, Summer Leaf (pictured), is a larger project for those brave enough to take it on.

Both will shortly be available as kits.

If you missed the crewel work classes at Dillington, and fancy a break in the new year, the classes are re-running (due to popular demand) on January 6-8.

In other crewel work news, I am now stocking the excellent new crewel work book from the Royal School of Needlework. I'll be uploading a PayPal link for this soon.

While we're talking about books, part of my silk shading book is to be included in a compendium of other Search Press beginner guides - a big hardback book. This will be out in May.

The third and final Christmas king (which is worked with copper threads) is now a kit, and will also be available online soon.

We're looking forward to our first Christmas with George (he is doing well, and is growing fast!), and wish you all a happy Christmas and look forward to seeing you soon.

Class Conscious

The Saturday classes are filling up quickly, and I would encourage you to get forms back as soon as possible before they fill-up completely!

Here are the images of the first two classes - the drawn thread work (October 22), below, and the embroidered padded hanger (November 5), above.

The drawn threadwork class gives you the chance to stitch a small sample of drawn thread work which can be used as box top or a small coaster.

Once you have drawn the threads out, you will learn how to weave patterns back in using a coloured thread and ribbon to create a delicate design.

The embroidered padded hanger will give you the chance to make a lovely Christmas present for somebody. The embroidery will be on silk dupion fabric and will include silk shading and other hand embroidery stitches.

Saturday classes ... now online

My latest series of Saturday classes are now planned, and you can find full details on the website by clicking here.

The first class, on October 22, is a drawn thread work class. This is a dainty project, which fits one of the new satin boxes that I now have in stock.

I have been busy stitching all the Saturday class projects, and all the pictures will be online soon.

In another development, we have now set the website up to allow you to order and pay for kits online using Paypal - this already seems to be a popular move.

I've recently visited Wells to give a talk to a group of ladies at Wells Museum, and was delighted to discover a room full of beautiful samplers on display there - it is well worth a visit.

I hope there will be a class to tempt you - look forward to seeing you soon.

Mid-Maternity Leave Update ...

Still enjoying my maternity leave - but taught for the first time since George's arrival, at Dillington House last weekend.

Some of the students stitched my latest design, a stumpwork castle (pictured) which was inspired by the piece I recently completed for the newly reopened Holbourne Museum in Bath.

I was asked to stitch some step-by-step samples of how stumpwork is worked. They are incorporated into the new display surrounding the King Charles II stumpwork at the museum - which is worth going to see.

George is doing very well and is a very good little boy, sleeping through the night and letting mummy get her beauty sleep.

George Arthur Clensy has arrived!

Clare and David are delighted to announce the safe arrival of George Arthur Clensy, who arrived on January 20, at 7lbs 11ozs.

It was a long 60-hour labour, and Mum and baby are still in hospital, but are doing well.

One important delivery made ...

For the past six months I have been working on the restoration of a beautiful Victorian altar frontal and super frontal for St Cyriac's Church in the National Trust village of Lacock.

The silk shaded motifs had to be removed from the old silk and reapplied to new silk damask. The fringes were replaced and the whole thing was reupholstered on to the wooden frame on which it hangs.

The ornate altar frontal is to be used on high days and feast days in the church, for the first time in years. I managed to complete the restoration to deliver it in time to be used on Christmas Eve.

The completion of this job allowed me to start my maternity leave. The baby is due on January 10th ... so watch this space for news!

Wishing you all a very happy new year.