The skies were blue, the sun was out and the billowing clouds just added to the picture perfect day ahead of us at Hampton Court/Hampton Palace.
It was just a short walk across the street and soon we were on the grounds of this palacial spread. We were headed for our class at The Royal School of Needlework, something that’s been on my bucket list for a very long time. Taking a class on this hollowed ground where kings and queens have walked before me, where they embroider wedding dresses for royalty and so much more.
Some of us took the elevator and some of took the stairs to the classroom, which they failed to mention just how flights upstairs it was!
Hmmmm, what was this basket for?
One of the previous tenants had a little dog and yes she did agree with me that it was way too many stairs! So she would lower the dog in the basket to the ground floor and the dog would do what a dog needs to do… and then get back in the basket and be brought upstairs!
Our classroom was all ready for us! Our project was a goldwork pomegranate to coincide with the display of Pomegranates and Peacocks in the RSN.
This was our teacher sitting on the stool!
and here was our project, and as you can see mine is still a WIP!
Look at these grounds! How can you pay attention to class when all you really want to look out the window?
After class I had my first scone with clotted cream, some retail therapy and then we had a private tour of the rest of the school, where no pictures were allowed.
Too soon the day was over and back to our hotel to rest up abit before our night out…
Which found us a Lebanese restaurant where the wine flowed, the food was fantastic…but the company was even better!
This was dessert and yes they were small baklavas with pistachio’s sprinkled on them!
The view of our hotel as we were walking back.
This will be it for at least a week or so since I am leaving for the summer TNNA trade show… see you later!
I took a three day advanced gold work class with Tracy Franklin on my first trip to England in 2005. I went into the visitors area at Hampton Court Palace and was given directions to the same staircase in the photo, Vicky. But the elevator was right there so I decided to get on. On the wall next to the elevator was a barricade protecting the wall with a sign saying to keep your bloody hands off the rare Tudor paint that was being restored (I’m paraphrasing a bit). So what did I do? You guessed it – I touched it, right at the very edge verrrrry carefully because I couldn’t imagine touching a wall painted 500 years ago. It’s true, the Tudors did not generally paint things other than portraits, so I figured touching the tip of my finger to it might be the only chance I ever got.
what a great story Joanne! and trust me that was a LOT of stairs!
The Royal School of Needlework. I have no words …… but am glad you are sharing your wonderful photos with us.
Thank you!
Wow! I would so love to do a class there. Hampton Court Palace is one of my favourite places. Too bad it is a long way from Melbourne, Australia!
I would like to go back and take a silk shading class!