LOCAL entrepreneur Sarah Ashford is hosting her first sewing retreat on the Blackdown Hills between March 11 and 15.
The retreat will help budding sewers learn more about sewing, knitting, and quilting, while relaxing in the countryside in an award-winning luxury country house.
Daily sewing and quilting demonstrations will take place in Otterhead House, near Otterhead Lakes, as well as specialised examples of walking foot quilting and the Japanese art of Boro stitching.
Ms Ashford, who lives in Wellington, has made it her mission to ‘educate and inspire everyone to sew, quilt, and create’.
She will give a talk on ‘The True Story of the Rajah Quilt’, offering her expertise as one of the evening’s activities.
Other activities include film nights, quizzes, and relaxing in the house’s luxury facilities, which include a sauna and hot tub.
Ms Ashford said: “The retreat is about relaxing and enjoying the time as you wish, whether that be watching my daily sewing demos, or working on your own projects by machine or hand.
“There will be a chance to experiment with new sewing techniques, and a short requirements list will be sent nearer the time, should you wish to make some samples.”
Ms Ashford said all food and produce for the retreat was locally sourced.
More information and booking opportunities can be found on Ms Ashford’s website here.