Ann Beck's Tuscan Embroidery Retreat
Ann Beck's Tuscan Embroidery Retreat presented by Creative Experiences, will take place from May 12 - 19, 2026, and will feature The Nightbird Kit.
Nadine and Mark Roger, owners of Creative Experiences, have organized an extraordinary embroidery retreat at the elegant Hotel Villa La Principessa, a converted 13th century villa located in Tuscany, just outside the town of Lucca Italy.
Your stay will include 4.5 days of embroidery tuition (27 hours total), learning my advanced level Nightbird Kit, which is based on my larger embroidered artwork, Nightbirds. Some previous experience with silk shading and goldwork is recommended. The Nightbird Kit is stitched on sapphire blue silk taffeta and incorporates: Au Ver a Soie silk; Benton and Johnson goldwork elements; Austrian crystals and pearls; seed beads from Czechoslovakia and Japan; golden Caracolin cord from Spain; colored pearl purl from India; vintage 19th century metal sequins; and shimmering metallic threads from France and Germany. I have sourced these materials with love from all over the world, for their beauty and quality.
The workshop days will be comprised of 6 hours of instruction (3 hours on the half day) with a break for a delicious lunch, followed by a wonderful dinner later in the evening. There will also be 2 excursion days, including a full day trip to San Gimignano with specially curated events, and a separate afternoon visit to the walled city of Lucca ending with a delicious dinner in the magical Piazza dell'Anfiteatro.
I am so excited to be a part of this wonderful event. I look forward to seeing you there!— Ann
