All levels of experience will enjoy the workshops, from beginners to advanced!

Hand-stitching and embroidery are the primary focus. But paper cutting is an important craft in Denmark. And so we added paper workshops and our focus is on the "fiber arts."

Janine Pope

"...how exciting your retreats look.

There would be nothing more I would love than to teach a retreat in Copenhagen."

My mother was Danish and I had a very Danish upbringing in England so the traditions, particularly Christmas, have alway been so important to me.

Danish Christmas Fairytales

Talented teacher and textile artist Janine Pope designs and creates figures with Danish influences.

"I particularly enjoy my Christmas workshops as there is always lots of chat about all the different traditions we have grown up with as well as the new ones we have learned about as our families embrace different cultures."

Day 1 - Make that adorable and fascinating book!

Day 2 - Embroider a Danish Christmas design Janine will create just for us!

Torben Jarlstrøm Clausen

"It would be a great pleasure for me to do a paper cut workshop with you."

The Paper Cut People

At all my workshops I share the many exciting experiences I have had in service of the scissors over the years.

My goal is to spread awareness that something as simple as a pair of scissors and a piece of paper can be used for reflection, meaningful connection—and to create imaginative and creative paper cuts.

Since launching as a practicing paper artist in 2004, I have exhibited in more than 110 venues across Denmark, the USA, and Japan. I have also led over 100 physical and online paper cut workshops with nearly 2,000 participants in the same three countries.

Paper cut artist Torben Jarlstrøm Clausen (1).jpg

JarlstroemPaperArt. Artist Torben Jarlstrøm Clausen. Cut 3.jpg

Through my paper cuts, I’m telling the story of the paper cut people, who are trapped deep inside the paper, before I start cutting and creating their shapes and sizes.

I can sense that the paper cut people are caught in their sadness within the paper. They are unfulfilled and have something in their lives that weighs them down. After I start cutting, they are all cut free and given the freedom to travel around in this wonderful and diverse world we live in.

It’s a universal story about us as human beings and how we must take care of our own lives in order to figure out what makes us unhappy – and how we can find happiness. That’s why all my paper cut people smile and are happy.

Paper cutting holds significant cultural importance in Denmark as a deeply ingrained folk art tradition, storytelling medium and iconic national craft.

The most famous enthusiast of paper cutting was the renowned 19th-century fairy-tale author Hans Christian Andersen. He would simultaneously cut intricate paper designs (called a "whole cut fairytale") while improvising stories, unfolding the finished piece dramatically at the end to the delight of his audience. His work cemented paper cutting as a distinctive art form related to storytelling in Denmark.

Kari Bender

"I'm excited to go to Denmark again. The people are extremely friendly and warm. The custom of hygge creates an atmosphere unlike anything I have experienced."

Woven Heart Scarf

Make a quintessential Danish wardrobe addition - a cozy embroidered scarf. We'll start by weaving a traditional Danish paper art heart, only we are using felted wool. It will be stitched to your scarf, then trailing vines will accent the heart. When finished it will be the perfect "hygge" addition to wear while exploring the Christmas markets.

The Danish woven heart is a deep symbolism of love, togetherness and shared tradition, especially during Christmas. Often used as handmade ornaments and filled with treats that represent connection and family joy, it is a cherished Danish heritage craft.

Greve Museum

At Greve Museum, a group of women discovered the secrets of old Hedebo textiles and recreated them in their own work. The museum offers classes where students can try their hand at these traditional forms of embroidery.

Hedebo Embroidery

"We will arrange a special day for your group, combining a workshop, guided tour, talk, as well as lunch and afternoon coffee, tea, and cake."

Greve Museum is an old farm with exhibitions on rural life from 1800-1900, local history, art and craftsmanship including embroidery. Hedebo Embroidery is the common name of seven different embroidery variations which were developed sequentially and used in Denmark from the end of the 1700s to the mid 1900-century. Hedebo embroidery is something quite special in Denmark and is internationally mentioned in connection with other white embroideries such as Venetian embroidery and Hardanger embroidery. These types of embroidery are done on white linen using white linen or cotton thread.

We will have a very experienced teacher of Hedebo embroidery, who can lead a workshop in English. Each participant will be able to take home embroidery materials and a written English guide.

Sew & Sew Retreats brings together people with a similar interest and then offers the opportunity to spend memorable moments creating, learning, exploring, relaxing and laughing with like-minded people. I hope you will join us!

Linda Sweek dba/Sew and Sew Retreats

Sew and Sew Retreats

Sew and Sew Retreats, LLC