RETREAT UPDATE: Sewing Me Time and Christmas Decorations with Wendy Mansfield at Horsley Estate, November 2025

By Maggie Colpus, justhands-on.tv

Sewing Me Time and Christmas Decorations with Wendy Mansfield – 7 to 9 November 2025 – Horsley Estate

All roads led to the Horsley Estates – – be it from Northampton, Worcester, Essex, or even a little nearer to home – – for a wonderful weekend of Sewing Me Time and Christmas Decorations.

There was access to the sewing room on Friday afternoon which allowed everyone to set up their workstations and get started on those special unfinished projects that are the focus of many attending for Sewing Me Time. The Christmas decorations class did not officially start until Saturday morning but that didn’t stop ladies making mini stocking decorations.

By early evening, we headed to the bar for a quick social before enjoying our first, incredible meal. All food was served buffet style, with a large salad bar and dessert station. That doesn’t begin to do justify to the freshness, quality and choice of food on offer. See photos below for an idea. There really was something for everyone to enjoy.

Some headed off for an early night while others headed back to the sewing room for a little late night prep and sewing. One of the things that attendees enjoy most about our sewing weekends is the opportunity to sew late into the night if they like. No interruptions. Just sewing me time.

On Saturday morning, Wendy Mansfield kicked off the Christmas Decorations class which included goldwork, hand embroidery, and machine stitching. All the ladies in this group went away from the weekend with a Christmas tree decoration, wall hanging and table matt.

Those working on their own projects were able to dip in and out of Wendy’s decorations class, which, naturally, a few did. Afterall, it is their sewing time to enjoy as they wish!

In addition, there was a pop-up shop so everyone could pick up one of Wendy’s patterns or ‘stroke’ the fabrics! And by stroke the fabrics I mean buy some gorgeous fabrics.

Time passes quickly when you are having fun, not having to think about anything except yourself and you’re sewing. Before we knew it was 4 pm on Sunday and the weekend was winding down.

The De Vere Horsley Estates cannot be faulted. There are coffee stations everywhere, running 24/7. The sewing rooms are large, bright and airy. The bedrooms are comfortable and close to the sewing room and eating area. Staff are very helpful and polite. Everyone loved the flexibility of buffet dining allowing the choice to eat and run back to the sewing room, or eat and linger before getting back to projects. A number of the ladies enjoyed a swim and a walk around the grounds, too.

We received a lot of positive feedback about our blended, 2 for 1, format of Sewing Me Time and a lesson. We will look to offer more weekend sewing retreat along these lines in 2026.

Check out the pictures from the weekend in this post (below).

Here’s what the attendees said about the Retreat and the new 2 for 1 format:

“SMT gives me more time to concentrate without interruptions. I would only dip in and out of the lesson base on what is of interest to me.”

“I like to be helped and to complete and take home projects at end of weekend. That’s why I enjoyed Wendy’s workshop so much.”

“Thank you justhands-on.tv for all your hard work and looking after us. And in particular, finding space for me at the weekend retreat on short notice.

“I like that there are no time restrictions on the sewing room.”

“SMT + 1 other is good. I found the ‘xmas workshop’ good fun, especially the landscape wall hangings”

“Love SMT but I am always open to tutored weekends. Best hotel (Horsley Estate) justhands-on.tv has ever used. Please keep the weekends running.”

“I like the 2 for 1 format. You don’t always want to do specific things. I came for SMT then dipped in and out of Wendy’s lesson. Loved it. Lovely to have Wendy and her shop.”

“Having a choice of two classes is a very good idea especially if there is option to dip in and out. 2 for 1 gives you the chance to sew/see/try different things. My friends will be interested in this. March/November good months. Please stay at Horsley it’s excellent.”

“Thank you very much for a really enjoyable time.”