A Book of Days

Natalie Dupuis
Beginner

Join Natalie Dupuis for an 10 month embroidery journey to create an exquisite 19th Century embroidered book. This program guides students through the silk and metal thread techniques in a remarkable 1895 artefact, culminating in a finishing experience with a historic book binding expert. This course is perfect for those seeking to blend historic embroidery with modern craftsmanship, offering a unique artistic journey in silk.

Starts: Sep 12, 2025

10 Months + Finishing

Silk & Metal Thread Embroidery

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A Book of Days
About the Design

The Perfect Way to Record Special Days

This exquisite embroidered volume is 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 replicating an exquisite 1895 book from the comfort of your own home.

  • Learn how to handle and embroider with silk threads, achieving a smooth and consistent finish

  • Enjoy a group experience and develop friendships with like-minded stitchers

  • Be able to create your own embroidered heirloom, with a tangible use, to pass down the generations

  • Gain a profound sense of freedom with your needle and gain 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

Beginner

Suitable for Beginners to Silk Embroidery

This course is designed for beginners to silk embroidery. Students need to have some experience in hand embroidery.

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Beginner

The Details

Group 1 - Times & Dates

12 Sept 2025 - 20 June 2026 + Book Binding

Group 1 classes will take place on the following dates (Fridays) at 3-5pm and 6-8pm UK time
(NB: The clocks go back in the UK on 26th October 2025 and forward again on 29 March 2026)

12 September 2025 - Introduction
10 October 2024-Gold Outlines
14 November 2025 - Posy

WINTER BREAK

09 January 2026 - Border Flowers
13 February 2026 - Acanthus leaves
27 March 2026 - Enhancing and Stabilising Your Design

SPRING BREAK

20 June 2026 - Follow up

BREAK TO COMPLETE STITCHING

Book Binding Tuition Begins
Date TBC - Book Binding Live Introduction
In your own time - Book Binding Recorded Sessions
Date TBC - Book binding Live Follow Up

Group 2 - Dates & Times

13 Sept 2025 - 21 June 2026 + Book Binding

Group 2 classes will take place on the following dates (Saturday) at 1-3pm and 4-6pm UK time
(NB: The clocks go back in the UK on 26th October 2025 and forward again on 29 March 2026)

13 September 2025 - Introduction
11 October 2024 - Gold Outlines
15 November 2025 - Posy

WINTER BREAK

10 January 2026 - Border Flowers
14 February 2026 - Acanthus leaves
28 March 2026 - Enhancing and Stabilising Your Design

SPRING BREAK

21 June 2026 - Follow up

BREAK TO COMPLETE STITCHING

Book Binding Tuition Begins
Date TBC - Book Binding Live Introduction
In your own time - Book Binding Recorded Sessions
Date TBC - Book binding Live Follow Up

What's Included

26 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 7 sessions, Natalie will guide you to create your own embroidered book, true 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, 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 and supplier has been selected with quality and longevity in mind, and to be as true to the original embroidery as possible. In your kit, you will receive:

  • A set of silks & metal threads. 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
  • You will also receive a book binding materials pack later in the course

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 or 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.”

Begin Your Journey in Silk

Starts: Sep 12, 2025

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:
24.5 cm x 17.4 cm (9 ½ x 6 ¾ in.)

What stitches are featured in the design?

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

What else will I need?

You will need a slate frame of around 16 or 18 inches (TBC).

How long will it take me?

This course takes place over 10 months 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.

Delivery & Returns

Packages will be sent by express delivery and shipping is included.

Unfortunately we cannot offer a refund on this course once a deposit has been placed.