Art and Leisure in the Garden

(What? sewing outdoors on 1 April?)

This is NOT an April fool's joke. New Directions did actually have an outdoor event with demonstrations of various courses they provide. And I DID actually sit in a VERY windy garden-type gazebo doing Free Motion Embroidery demonstrations with gloves on and several layers of clothing!

However, in spite of being chilled to the very bone, the heavy rain didn't start til about 3pm. We had high winds, but it was sunny even at 8:30 am when I got there to set up. It clouded over and we had a shower somewhere between 12 and 1. But we did have alot more visitors than you would think. And hopefully enough interest for my 5 week Machine Embroidery class to run in May.

The event was held in the newly refurnished Caversham Court, a public garden located on the north bank of the River Thames in Caversham, North Reading. The gardens are included in the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest as a Grade II landscape.

I had never been to the gardens, but found out that a private garden has been on the site since the 12th century when the rectory of St Peter’s Church was built, and many of its remaining features date from the 17th century. The house (now demolished) and garden were connected with some of Reading’s more distinguished citizens, like the Simonds family, as well as with some of England’s most significant historical events, like the Civil War and the Gunpowder Plot.

I think I will go back and explore someday...when it is warmer!