Join us in April 2025 for an unforgettable experience with the Creative Experiences team and world-class embroiderer Ann Beck in the UNESCO world heritage city of Provins near Paris. Spend four days immersed in the art of embroidery, with an optional 3-night stay in Paris for incredible textile tours led by Rebecca Devaney and a visit to the magnificent palace of Versailles.
Ann Beck, a retired theatrical costume designer turned hand embroidery artist, is thrilled to host this embroidery workshop with Creative Experiences. Participants will receive an exclusive kit inspired by her intricate Nightbirds embroidery, suitable for high intermediate to advanced skill levels (Kit not included). Ann's passion for teaching and sharing her embroidery expertise promises an enriching experience for all attendees.
During the workshop, Ann will provide 24 hours of instruction over 4 intensive days, split into morning and afternoon sessions. Your accommodation will be at the charming 4-star "Hôtel Aux Vieux Remparts" in the medieval heart of Provins, offering comfortable rooms, a newly renovated spa, and attentive service.
Our stitching studio within the hotel will be fully equipped with magnifying lamps, trestle stands, and a variety of stitching accessories for your convenience. Enjoy complimentary tea, coffee, soft drinks, and snacks during your creative sessions, and savor delightful buffet breakfasts, 3-course lunches, and dinners at the hotel.
For those opting for the Paris tour, we will journey from Provins to Paris gare de l’Est for a stay at "Ibis Styles Paris Gare de l'est Magenta." Explore the city with a textile tour led by Rebecca Devaney, culminating in a private visit to "Au Ver à Soie." Discover Parisian haberdasheries, shop, and unwind on a cruise along the Seine with dinner amid the enchanting lights of Paris.
On the final day, venture to Versailles for a cultural excursion visiting the Musée de la Toile de Jouy and Maison Sajou for all your equipment needs. Delight in a leisurely lunch and a tour of the opulent Palace of Versailles before returning to the hotel.
Your journey concludes the following morning with check-out.
Experience the magic of embroidery, textile tours, and cultural exploration with us in Provins and Paris.
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Ann Beck
My name is Ann Beck. I’m an embroidery artist, former theatrical costume designer, and textile artist.
I worked as a costume designer from 1993 - 2007 and owned a costume shop in San Francisco which constructed stage costumes for dance companies and professional figure skaters across the United States and internationally, including costumes for more than 30 productions at San Francisco Ballet.
During my career, I designed costumes for some of the top figure skaters in the world, including Olympic and World Champions Brian Boitano, Kristi Yamaguchi, Dorothy Hamill, Katarina Witt, and Tara Lipinski. I designed and made costumes for numerous ballet companies, television figure skating specials, theater companies, singers and acrobats.
I worked with Tony Award winning designers and choreographers, and world class ballet dancers. My costume designs were seen many times on the Stars on Ice and Champions on Ice tours, both live and on television, and costumes constructed at my shop were featured on the cover of Dance Magazine.
I retired from costume design 17 years ago. I have continued to work as an artist, designing and creating fine hand embroideries. As a costume designer, I was known for my use of intricate appliqué embroideries, brilliant color, and hand painted and dyed textiles. I continue to use glorious colors in my embroidery designs, and enjoy creating textural interest with multiple techniques, including silk shading, goldwork and beading.
I am so excited to share my artwork with you in this embroidery workshop for Creative Experiences. I have designed an exclusive kit for the workshop based on a portion of one of my larger embroideries, Nightbirds, which I have been working on for several years. For now, the kit will be available only to the participants in this workshop.
I have loved embroidery since I was a young girl and was never happier than when I had my head buried in a French fashion magazine studying beautiful couture embroideries. I am passionate about teaching and passing my knowledge of embroidery on to others, and look forward to meeting you all soon and exchanging stories about our shared love of this incredible art form. — Ann