The Enchanted Lake – Great Escapes weekend

For me, a Great Escapes weekend is a bit like Christmas. I really look forward to it and enjoy all the preparation – organising my stash and supplies for everyone, and then it’s arrived, and it’s all over in a flash! Knowing that I was even more determined to enjoy every minute of it this time, and I wasn’t disappointed. This weekend workshop was at Barnett Hill in Guildford, set within the most wonderful gardens and woodland, all bursting forth with buds and foliage. We all arrived for an introductory tea at 4pm and already the temptations began with the chef’s delicious, homemade cakes and biscuits.

After a break to unpack and set up the teaching room for The Enchanted Lake workshop, we had a beading session and the laughter began. It didn’t stop all weekend and it’s surprising how much beadwork we actually achieved! I loved seeing everyone’s gorgeous choices of colour – and this project really pushed some thinking buttons when it came to colour. True to the project, there was lots of sparkly magic going on – the colours of the beadwork even managed to confer different moods on the “Lakes”. We had Woodland Elves, Narnia, Arctic Solitude, Maypole Magic, something rather Dark Apollo and Deep Forest. Can you guess which is which?

Being in good company all weekend (it’s a bit like a lovely family reunion), eating excellent quality food and getting to do lots of beading just can’t be beat! I can’t wait the go back in October to teach the Introduction to Hubble Stitch weekend – the Autumn colours will abound!