The First Évora, Arraiolos + Lisbon Tour!

The first Arraiolos Évora + Lisbon retreat was a great success! We visited museums in Lisbon to provide context for our creative work for the week and then explored the Alentejo region with UNESCO World Heritage city Évora as our home base.

We spent time with a local weaver and her architect husband in their home studio and farm, viewed a temporary exhibition on Yves Saint Laurent’s Moroccan influences with work by contemporary Moroccan artists, visited a local weaving factory where large rugs are still woven by hand, and tasted wine at a vineyard where old clay vessels and local marble used in production stand under contemporary, minimalistic, architectural accents.

Yves Saint Laurent exhibition at the Palacio Cardaval.

Where traditional mantas, shepherds’ blankets now used as rugs, are made.

19th century Arraiolos carpet in a private museum collection, Lisbon: inspiration for our stitching!

Shopping for Portuguese goods.

Viewing the back of a 20th century tapestry in a museum in Portalegre.

One of many delicious meals! Cod and octopus along the Tagus River with Lisbon across the water.

As one participant said, the trip is “so much more than an embroidery retreat. It’s a tour of art, architecture, design, craft, and food…. It was the trip of a lifetime!”

In the soft twilight glow of Évora: participants Christy, Gretchen, me, Amy, and co-leader Antonio.

I am now finalizing the 2023 itinerary and will soon open registration! Email me for early notification or look for an announcement via my newsletter list and on Instagram.