A Book of Days (2027)

Natalie Dupuis
Intermediate

Back by popular demand, this remarkable course with expert tutor Natalie Dupuis guides students step by step through the recreation of an exquisite 1895 embroidered book. Delivered across eight monthly four-hour classes, plus a specialist lecture, the programme offers an immersive introduction to silk and metal thread embroidery while building confidence in a wide range of historic techniques. Students will work in a luminous palette of summer shades using beautiful DeVere silk threads, gradually bringing this exceptional historic design to life.


The course is best suited to this with some experience with silk and also experience setting up a slate frame for silk embroidery.


Optional finishing tuition may also be added to your purchase, with the choice of creating either a removable chemisecover or a fixed cover in the style of the original book. Students may also choose to add specialist bookbinding tuition led by expert binder Dominic Riley. Dedicated materials packs accompany both the finishing and bookbinding tutorials, which take place at the conclusion of the embroidery process.

Waiting List Only Booking

8 classes + lecture + option to add finishing and book binding segment at the end

Silk & Metal Thread Embroidery

R 49,025.00
A Book of Days (2027)
About the Design

The Perfect Way to Record Special Days

This exquisite embroidered volume is a wonderful example of hand-embroidery that gloriously shows off the Victorian rage for posies, filigree, and floriography, whilst combining the newer aesthetic qualities of the English Arts and Crafts movement. Softly shining silk shaded flowers and leaves abound, each surrounded by various types of warm gold threads and covered by hundreds of antique metal sequins. Traditional flowers from the English countryside mirror each other throughout the design.

Titled Whisperings from the Great, this embroidered book binding from 1895, was printed in Guildford, England by Billing and Sons. Inside the book are wise quotations beside each day of the year where its owner would note the birthdays of family, friends, and important acquaintances.

About this course

During a series of classes spanning a 10 month period, Natalie will guide you through the process of closely recreating an exquisite 1895 book from the comfort of your own home.

  • You will also learn how to handle and embroider with silk threads, achieving a smooth and consistent finish.

  • Enjoy a group experience forming friendships with like-minded stitchers across the globe

  • The final outcome will be the creation of your own embroidered heirloom, just yours, to pass down to posterity.

  • Greater Confidence: You will gain a profound sense of freedom with your needle and the confidence to take on more advanced silk and goldwork designs.

  • Feel supported with our expert guidance throughout the course, and be inspired to develop your own creativity and complete an impressive design of your own.

  • Enjoy learning about the context behind the original embroidery and understand the styles and techniques popular at the time

Intermediate

Suitable for students with intermediate experience of silk embroidery

This course is designed for intermediates to silk and metal thread embroidery. Experience of framing up with a slate frame is also required.

Shop all Kits
Intermediate

Class Schedule

Group 1 Schedule - Monthly on Fridays

19 Feb 2027 - 7 Jan 2028

Group 1 classes take place on Fridays at 4–6pm and 7–9pm (UK time)
(NB: The clocks go forward in the UK on 28 March 2027 and back on 31 October 2027)

19 Feb 2027 - Preparation & Framing Up
Optional Session for both classes

19 March 2027 - Introduction
Introduction to the historical setting (the late Victorians & floriography, W. Morris & the English Arts and Crafts period), significance of birthday books, analysis of the design, preparing the silks, exploring the kit, metal thread discussion, colour exploration, begin work on couching the spine

16 April 2027 – Gold Outlines
Couching single strands of gold on the spine's filigree design, sequin/spangle/folien discussion & application, sinking & tying off

14 May 2027 - Posy
Front & back comparison, long and short stitch introduction, split stitch, stitching of posy including small leaves, french knots, fine gold enhancements

25 June 2027 - Border Flowers
Stitching the border flowers, stem stitch and outline, couching single strands of gold around posy and small leaves
Summer Break

7 August 2027 - Special Lecture with Jacqui Hyman

17 September 2027 – Inner gold borders & Remaining Silk Shading
Honeysuckle colour options, remaining border flowers. Couching double strands of gold

15 October 2027 – Acanthus Leaves and Outer Border
Acanthus leaf in design, Acanthus leaf silk shading, powdering, soft vs hard finish. Measuring and couching Grecian Twist.

Break to Complete Stitching

7 January 2028 - Follow up (3-5pm UK Time)
Catch up with Natalie for one final time to resolve any final doubts and spend a final session with your fellow students to complete any remaining areas

February onwards - Optional Finishing & Book Binding Tuition begins
Add on these optional extras to complete your masterpiece and learn adjacent crafts associated with embroidered book bindings

Group 2 Schedule - Monthly on Saturdays

20 Feb - 7 Jan 2028 (monthly on Saturdays)

Group 2 classes take place on Saturdays at 1–3pm and 4–6pm (UK time)
(NB: The clocks go forward in the UK on 28 March 2027 and back on 31 October 2027)

20 Feb 2027 - Preparation & Framing Up
Optional Session for both classes

20 March 2027 - Introduction
Introduction to the historical setting (the late Victorians & floriography, W. Morris & the English Arts and Crafts period), significance of birthday books, analysis of the design, preparing the silks, exploring the kit, metal thread discussion, colour exploration, begin work on couching the spine

17 April 2027 – Gold Outlines
Couching single strands of gold on the spine's filigree design, sequin/spangle/folien discussion & application, sinking & tying off

15 May 2027 - Posy
Front & back comparison, long and short stitch introduction, split stitch, stitching of posy including small leaves, french knots, fine gold enhancements

26 June 2027 - Border Flowers
Stitching the border flowers, stem stitch and outline, couching single strands of gold around posy and small leaves
Summer Break

7 August 2027 - Special Lecture with Jacqui Hyman

18 September 2027 – Inner gold borders & Remaining Silk Shading
Honeysuckle colour options, remaining border flowers. Couching double strands of gold

16 October 2027 – Acanthus Leaves and Outer Border
Acanthus leaf in design, Acanthus leaf silk shading, powdering, soft vs hard finish. Measuring and couching Grecian Twist.

Break to Complete Stitching

7 January 2028 - Follow up (3-5pm UK Time)
Catch up with Natalie for one final time to resolve any final doubts and spend a final session with your fellow students to complete any remaining areas

February onwards - Optional Finishing & Book Binding Tuition begins
Add on these optional extras to complete your masterpiece and learn adjacent crafts associated with embroidered book bindings

Framing Requirements

For framing you have two options:

If you prefer a smaller frame, you can use an 18 inch Slate Frame. However you MUST ensure that your arms are a minimum of 24 inches.

Alternatively, if you are happy to work with a larger frame, a standard 24 inch slate frame is also suitable.

Download Frame Set Up Diagram

Optional Extras

At the end of this course you also have the chance to add tutorials to learn both book finishing and book binding, plus the opportunity to purchase a hand made book and box for your embroidery.

What's Included

24 Hours of Embroidery Tuition with Natalie

Natalie Dupuis holds a Masters Degree in Education and taught as a classroom teacher and a teacher trainer in Toronto, Paris, and London. After having children Natalie combined her professional teaching experience with her love of hand embroidery and became a full-time embroidery tutor gaining international experience as her career evolved.

We invited Natalie to teach this book due to her attention to detail, both in her research and execution of hand embroidery, and her exceptional teaching skills. Natalie puts everything in to her courses and students leave with a wealth of knowledge at the end.

Over 8 sessions, Natalie will guide you to create your own embroidered book, as close as possible to the original 1895 artifact. You will learn how to handle silk threads and achieve a smooth, consistent finish with your materials. Between classes you will have access to Natalie through out community platform, and have the time to complete large sections of work before moving on to the next lesson.

The Kit

In your kit you will receive all the materials you need to complete your book cover. Each material is sourced in Britain and the supplier has been selected with historic integrity, quality and longevity in mind. In your kit, you will receive:

  • A set of silk threads & metal threads from our long-term UK based suppliers. If you run out you will be able to request more during the course at no additional cost
  • Printed silk fabric (a practice piece and a final piece)
  • Needles for silk and metal thread embroidery
  • Paillettes Langlois-Martin sequins
  • A mellor, scissors for silk thread, and scissors for metal threads
  • Workshop notes and stitch charts

A Shared Experience

A wonderful outcome of our long courses is the connection that evolves between students. During this course, you will have access to our new private community space, which is accessible directly from your dashboard.

On this platform, you will be able to:

  • Ask questions and troubleshoot with your tutor
  • Chat with fellow students and share progress
  • Access the live sessions and subsequent recordings
  • Check for updates from the tutor and the CWC team
“The quality of the materials and the live classes is astounding. Worth every penny. It feels like you are creating an heirloom.”

Join the Embroidered Book Community!

Starts: Feb 19, 2027

Meet Your Tutor

Natalie Dupuis

Embroidery Tutor and Professional Educator

Canada 🇨🇦

Holding a Masters in Education, Natalie Dupuis turned her experience in education to hand embroidery after having children, transforming passion for needlework into a thriving career, with a particular focus on the traditional art of or nué.
Learn More About Natalie Dupuis

You might be wondering

What size is the design?

The dimensions of the book (laid flat) are:
24.2 cm x 17 cm (9½ × 6¾ in.)

What stitches are featured in the design?

🔹 Directional/natural silk shading
🔹 French knots
🔹 Couching
🔹 Outline stitch
🔹 Spangle/sequin attachment

What else will I need?

For framing you have two options:
If you prefer a smaller frame, you can use an 18 inch Slate Frame. However you MUST ensure that your arms are a minimum of 24 inches.

Alternatively, if you are happy to work with a larger frame, a standard 24 inch slate frame is also suitable.

How long will it take me?

This course takes place over 10 months (8 stitching sessions and a special lecture) with time to stitch between each session. You are not expected to have finished your design by the time the course ends but you may find that you are very nearly there!

How do I join the live classes?

All classes will take place on Zoom, which can be accessed directly via our Community space, which can be accessed directly from your dashboard. You will also be sent a reminder email with the Zoom link and a follow up email with a reminder of any homework plus the recording link.

Optional Extras

Optional finishing (as a fixed cover or a chemise) and Book Binding will be available towards the end of this course for an additional fee.

Delivery & Returns

Packages will be sent by tracked and signed delivery for a small fee of £12.95 (approx. USD$19). Please note that packages will be shipped a month before the start of this course.

You may cancel your place up to 6 months before the start of the course. Unfortunately after that time, we cannot refund your payment.