Threads of inspiration: The Creative Workshops blog
Welcome to our blog, a space to explore the stories behind our workshops, the artists who inspire us, and the mindful creative journeys we embark on together. Dive into a world of art, making, and connection.
Mindful embroidery at Goodnestone Park
Join us for a day-long workshop with internationally renowned textile artist Cristina Rebeccani Coretti, where you will explore a unique and mindful approach to embroidery inspired by the natural surroundings of Goodnestone Park. In this workshop, Cristina will introduce her distinctive and unconventional use of needle and thread, guiding you through a creative process that responds intuitively to nature. Through observation and reflection, you will be encouraged to slow down, connect with your surroundings, and translate what you see and feel into stitch. Working with a range of materials and techniques, you will create your own expressive textile piece, supported by Cristina’s thoughtful guidance and inspiring examples of her work. Open to all levels, this workshop offers a gentle, immersive introduction to embroidery as both a creative and mindful practice. The day will include time to explore the gardens at Goodnestone Park, gathering inspiration from the landscape, textures, and seasons.
The timeless charm of Goodnestone Park
Once regularly visited by Jane Austen, Goodnestone Park carries a gentle historic charm, making it an ideal setting for a meditative embroidery workshop. Set within 15 acres of beautifully designed gardens, the estate blends elegant formality with peaceful woodland paths and wide, open views. The Walled Garden, reflective ponds, terraces, and sweeping lawns offer an abundant array of seasonal blooms and foliage, perfect subjects for mindful embroidery study. Throughout the grounds, quiet corners invite slow wandering and focused observation, encouraging participants to gather inspiration and connect with the subtle shapes, colours, and textures of the natural world. With its historic house, tranquil atmosphere, and ever-changing interplay of light, colour, and scent, Goodnestone Park provides a nurturing landscape in which to pause, observe, and collect motifs, offering a setting that feels both timeless and deeply nourishing to the creative spirit.
Meet the artist: Cristina Rebeccani Coretti
Italian embroiderer Cristina Rebeccani Coretti draws deeply on the natural world, turning to plants as both subject and source for her meditative stitching. Inspired by live botanical specimens as well as the intricate illustrations found in antique herbals and vintage herbarium sheets, her work sits at the intersection of careful observation and artistic interpretation. At the heart of Cristina’s practice is a daily discipline of stitching, which she regards as essential to her creative and personal well-being. With a finely tuned sensitivity to colour, she often works with natural dyes, hand-dyeing antique linen to achieve tones and textures reminiscent of aged botanical pages. Guided by a deep curiosity for botany and herbalism, her embroidery is both precise and expressive, rooted in observation yet free in its interpretation. Her finished pieces, whether delicate bookmarks or small wearable works, echo the intimacy of miniature paintings and are often designed to be held close.
An extraordinary day: Creative moments to remember
Step inside a special highlight from our creative community. Discover how a single immersive day of art, mindful making, and shared inspiration can renew your passion and connect you with fellow makers.
Meditative Stitches at Goodnestone Park
A beautiful day of creativity, contemplation and connection
What a wonderful day we had at Goodnestone Park, welcoming Italian textile artist Cristina Rebeccani Coretti for her inspiring Meditative Stitches workshop.
Set against the glorious backdrop of Goodnestone's gardens, participants were invited to slow down, observe the natural world and explore the gentle, meditative art of hand embroidery.
Cristina shared her exquisite practice, inspired by wildflowers, botanical forms and the often-overlooked details of nature. With her thoughtful and generous guidance, everyone created their own beautiful, individual pieces, discovering how simple stitches can become a form of mindful expression.
There was a wonderful atmosphere of curiosity, conversation and quiet concentration throughout the day, with time to enjoy the gardens; a wonderful morning tour with head gardener Paul; a delicious lunch at the Old Dairy Café and the pleasure of making alongside others in the charming light-filled coach-house.
The work produced was extraordinary, and it was a joy to see so many different interpretations emerge.
A heartfelt thank you to Cristina for travelling from Italy to share her artistry with us, and to everyone who joined us and made the day so special.
The Quiet Art of Making Together: A Celebration of Stitch, Stillness and Connection
By the afternoon, the workshop space was filled with an inspiring showcase of expression. Each piece reflected the maker’s unique artistic vision and the thoughtful techniques developed throughout the day. Beyond the tangible creations brought home, the day left everyone with renewed confidence, fresh creative skills, and friendships formed over a mutual love for embroidery.
A little Introduction to the group from Crisitina:
Embroidery, for me, is not about complicated stitches... It's more about feeling free to express yourself with needle and thread... It's
"putting your soul into your stitches", adding your very own special touch to what you're doing... This is the "philosophy" behind my personal Embroidery Therapy.
Why do I feel the need to stitch humble and understated flowers? And why does it take me so long? It has nothing to do with achieving technical perfection: I'm very far from it and something I'm absolutely not interested in. The explanation can perhaps be found in these words, easily applicable to embroidery:
“You must study the life and growth of plants as well as the shapes and colours of leaves and blossoms; this will help you to draw them with love and understanding... And so, out of enthusiasm, knowledge will grow; for the humblest weed is a treasure-house of interest if looked at with a seeing eye..."
(Vera Temple, "How to draw wild flowers", 1942)
Stitching my humble flowers is trying to bring forth something that's been waiting for its chance to speak...
It's like holding someone's face and show them what they've walked past countless times before...
After all, being creative is just paying attention.
We are living in a masterpiece: to create is to simply take notes!
Browse our gallery to catch a glimpse of this wonderful experience the spirit of this unforgettable gathering.
