As seen in The Observer's "10 of the Best Creative Breaks" 20/10/19

Accommodation

Accommodation
My studio…

The purpose-built studio is accessed either from a staircase off the sitting room, or from the outside of the house – the house is built on…

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Accommodation Blog
“Trapunto” guest room

This double en-suite bedroom (“Trapunto”) with king-sized bed is on the ground floor (the guest apartment is on the ground floor, with stairs leading down to…

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Accommodation Blog
“Goldwork” guest room

This double en-suite bedroom (“Goldwork”) with king-sized bed is on the ground floor (the guest apartment is on the ground floor, with stairs leading down to…

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Accommodation Blog
“Sashiko” guest room

This double en-suite bedroom (“Sashiko”) is on the ground floor (the guest apartment is on the ground floor, with stairs leading down to the studio) on…

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Accommodation
A note on accommodation

The prices quoted (see under “Holidays”) are for a week’s sewing course/use of the Textiles studio (with or without tuition, depending on what type of holiday…

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Discover a new hobby while on holiday in Italy...

Hello... I'm Bronwen Kaja/Shepherd and I run sewing holidays and workshops in my lovely studio in the beautiful countryside of Umbria, close to Lake Trasimeno. The house is on the border between Umbria and Tuscany - so you look out onto the countryside of both regions including Monte Cetona, Lake Chiusi, Chiusi, and, in the distance, Citta della Pieve. There are olive groves, vineyards, cypress trees and pines as far as you can see - it's very inspiring for someone who likes to stitch landscapes! I've got a Textiles degree and a PGCE (post graduate teaching qualification) in Textiles, for teaching age 11 to 18 years - I've got 13 years teaching experience in UK schools, as a teacher and latterly as Head of Department, teaching mainly A level Textiles. I've also got 9 years experience of running textile classes and residential holidays/retreats in France and Italy. I gave up my teaching career especially to do that - we moved to France, renovated the house, built a textile studio, and started the business there. In 2020, we moved to Umbria, to the Trasimeno area, where I had bought a holiday home in 2007, and I re-established my creative business here. We moved again in 2024, to a larger house with (another) purpose built studio. Apart from teaching, I have 12 years experience as a designer/maker of Christening wear, something which I intend to start doing again, but I also have a few other creative ideas...