Monday was the first day we were all together. We spent most of the day around town with a little sewing in the afternoon. We all met for breakfast then walked the cobblestone roads to the Duomo, Orvieto's cathedral which is Italy's best gothic church. 
What wonderful inspiration the mosaics and images on the front of the building were great resources for our quilt project.
The rose window was magical from the inside of the cathedral.
The interior of the cathedral was stunning. There were two small chapels one the San Brizio Chapel entirely covered with frescos by Fra Angelico , Gozzoli and Luca Signorelli from Cortona.
We were treated to a wholesome lunch at the convent before class stated.
I have 12 enthusiastic students in my class nine from the United States but also three international students. Angela from Dublin Ireland, Elizabeth from Sydney Australia and Baukje a Dutch student who now lives in the country in central France.
Orvieto is a city of layers. Each student started the afternoon making a background for their piece using layers of textural fabric, stitching and ribbons. Lynne got stuck in using linens and cotton fabrics for her layering.
Angela made herself comfortable om the floor piecing and cutting.
We have a lovely room with access to the patio.
Later that afternoon we were treated to a wine and olive oil tasting. Many wines are made in this area and it was very interesting to learn how the different wines affect your taste and what snacks to pair them with.
We finished the afternoon with a walk around the older part of town before heading to dinner.
This is the wonderful view off the rock. Orvieto was built on volcanic rock so the center of the city sits very high and overlooks the countyside below for 360 degrees.
Creative Stitching Sue
lovely tiled floors in Italy - but visit st Marks in Venice!
ReplyDeleteThank you for all these fabulous pictures! I sure wish I was there!
ReplyDeleteI think Italy is more romantic than Paris, actually. And holy cats - that uneven spiral. I had to know how big it was, where it was, so I enlarged your first shot and found it in all those arch niches. Such detail - such massive amounts of detail. Work like that now would cost more money than China has. The old motifs are so fascinating. When we were in Harringdon, a ways from London, we found a 14th century Norman church, and in it was stil the orignal tile work. Some thoughtful soul had taken one each of the tile motifs and made a display on the way (the display itself probably hundreds of years old). The amazing thing about that place were the brass plaques on the wall - written in northern dialect middle English. I'd never seen the language outside of my textbooks before that moment. But how lovely to be able to translate for the others -
ReplyDeleteWhat beauty for inspiration!!! The mosaic over the Madonna picture looks juts like your flowers on Ginger Grove!!
ReplyDeleteHi guys hope you're having a wonderful time. I am an Australian who lives in Italy. I love Sue's work and have her book. Am just collecting fabrics before I start something. One day i hope to do a course with her somewhere in the world!! Enjoy yourselves girls and lucky you!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Sue, for the wonderful pictures. I'll never get to visit this place so your pictures are a great substitute. Hope you continue to have a fun time ~~ and keep posting pictures.
ReplyDeleteItaly is on my short list of places I still want to spend some time in...not vacationing, but spending some time. Maybe a class with Sue and then a vacation....
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