Cloth Stories

5th - 10th July 2026
at court house farm and gardens, portishead

About the Retreat

‘Cloth Stories’ is about connection—to materials, memories and each other. Ali Ferguson invites you into a gentle world of memory, hand-stitching, and storytelling. Over five days of slow making, you’ll work on up to three soulful textile projects that celebrate home, heritage, and the people who shape our lives.

Whether you’re an experienced maker or a complete beginner, this retreat is a space to slow down, connect, and create from the heart. You’ll be gently guided through a thoughtful making process, with a deep appreciation for materials, story, and time. Expect a nourishing balance of quiet focus, shared conversations, and creative joy in a truly special setting.

What’s Included?

• 5 nights' accommodation in our Tudor and Medieval manor houses

• All meals: seasonal, chef-prepared breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea & dinner with selected wines

• All tuition and materials for Ali’s workshops

• A talk by art historian

• Daily optional mindfulness / gentle yoga sessions

• Flower picking and arranging in our gardens

• A visit from a French textile trader with a curated collection for purchase

• Excursions to Clevedon Pier or Brunel’s Suspension Bridge

• Time to explore the local high street, marina and nearby estuary walks

• Small group size to ensure personal attention and connection

sample Itinerary*

*This is a sample from Ali’s previous retreat we will be updating for 2026

Day 1 – Arrival & Introductions
Settle into your room and join us for afternoon tea. Meet Ali and fellow guests, and ease into the retreat with an introduction to Ali’s process and creative approach.

Day 2 – Cloth Story Collages
Begin your first project using vintage fabrics, hand-stitching, and personal materials. Print handwritten text onto fabric and explore how words and memory can be sewn into cloth.

Day 3 – Patchwork Portraits
Ali will guide you through creating a unique 'wonky patchwork' portrait with a photo printed onto fabric as its centrepiece—celebrating someone special in your life.

Day 4 – Love Tokens & Studio Time
You’ll have the option to begin a third project: tiny stitched love tokens inspired by wartime letters and memories. Continue working on your main pieces with Ali’s support.

Day 5 – Studio Time, Reflections & Sharing
Complete your stitching and reflect on your progress. There will be a gentle show-and-tell session, time for photos, and a celebration of what’s been created.

Day 6 – Farewell Breakfast & Departures
One last breakfast together before you say goodbye to new friends, inspired and full of ideas to take home.

The retreat will be a celebration of slow hand-stitching. Don’t worry if you’re not an experienced stitcher—Ali will show you everything you need to know.

You won’t finish everything during the retreat—hand stitching is slow! But you’ll leave with a small collection of deeply personal pieces that you feel excited by, connected to, and inspired to keep working on at home. Ali believes that slow stitching should be just that: a thoughtful process added to day by day, where the joy of creating is as meaningful as the finished work itself.

A Little About Court House Farm

Court House Farm is a cluster of farm buildings and a medieval and Tudor manor, nestled in a remarkably secluded spot with beautiful country gardens on the high-street of the coastal town of Portishead, Somerset. While no longer a working farm, it’s a creative haven—rich in history, full of charm.

Our flower gardens, converted stables, and restored interiors offer a peaceful and inspiring setting for retreat guests. You’ll also have time to enjoy the gardens, potter through the independent shops on the high street, walk along the coast to watch the sunset, and visit nearby Clevedon with its much-loved Victorian pier.

testimonial from past guest