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Irena Ashton

@irenabee9

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Day 11, Part 2: Our first magical evening in Khiva! 🇺🇿✨ I think Khiva might just be one of the most beautiful cities I’ve ever seen. Absolutely breathtaking! This ancient, double-walled fortress city, with its magnificent Itchan Kala old town, feels almost as though it has risen straight out of the earth. The colours, textures and architecture are all in these gorgeous sandy, sunbaked tones. It’s like stepping into another world, or another century! Our evening began with a fascinating introduction to traditional woodcarving. We saw the most extraordinary folding bookstand, intricately carved from a single piece of wood, with ten interconnected layers that unfold into different configurations. The ingenuity and craftsmanship were simply mind-blowing! We also learned about traditional carpet weaving, watching the incredible precision and skill required to create each rug, one tiny knot at a time. Such beautiful work, and so much patience! Then it was time for a little wander through the ancient streets, followed by dinner on a rooftop terrace as the sun set over this spectacular city. The golden evening light against those sandy walls was simply magical. 🌅❤️ I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I enjoyed the evening. Looking at them already brings back such wonderful memories. Khiva, you have completely stolen my heart! ❤️ #khiva #uzbekistan #silkroad #traditionalcrafts
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Day 9, Part 2: Suzani, Silk Threads & a Feast in Bukhara! 🇺🇿🪡✨ This afternoon was absolute heaven for a maker like me! We spent a wonderful few hours in the workshop of a Suzani master, learning the traditional art of Uzbek silk embroidery. Surrounded by the most extraordinary collection of Suzanis — hanging on every wall, stacked floor to ceiling, and filling seemingly every corner — I felt like a kid in a candy shop! The colours, patterns and craftsmanship were simply breathtaking. Under the guidance of the master and his talented family and colleagues, we learned some of the traditional embroidery techniques, including chain stitch and the distinctive Kukara stitch, working beautiful silk threads onto a cotton base. Such a privilege to learn these skills from the people who have devoted their lives to preserving them. And as if that weren’t enough, we also had a cooking lesson! This time we learned to prepare plov, Uzbekistan’s beloved rice dish, filled with tender beef, carrots, raisins, garlic and fragrant spices. And, of course, we had the great pleasure of eating our creation for dinner. Delicious! 😋 Dinner was made even more special by local musicians and a beautiful dancer performing traditional music and dance from the region. One final lovely touch: the Suzani master embroidered his own signature onto a piece purchased by one of my friends. Such a personal and meaningful finishing detail. What an extraordinary afternoon and evening — beautiful craftsmanship, wonderful people, delicious food and so much inspiration. I couldn’t have loved it more! ❤️ #bukhara #suzaniembroidery #uzbekistan #traditionalcrafts
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Day 9, Part 1: Exploring the Old City of Bukhara! 🇺🇿✨ What an absolutely wonderful day wandering through the ancient streets of this extraordinary Silk Road city! Bukhara is full of beautiful domed buildings, historic mosques, minarets and bustling bazaars. We explored the fascinating trading domes, known as Toki, where Silk Road merchants once gathered to buy and sell their wares, along with the old caravanserais that provided accommodation and shelter for travelling traders and their camels. One of the highlights was the magnificent Kalyan Minaret, dating all the way back to 1127! Imagine all the history that remarkable tower has witnessed over nearly 900 years. And between all that spectacular architecture, there was so much everyday life to enjoy. Colourful market stalls, interesting shops, wonderful people, and a lovely lunch beside a tranquil pond at Lyabi-Hauz, where an adorable little cat decided to join us. 🐈❤️ The sights, sounds, textures and atmosphere of Bukhara are simply magical. I absolutely love wandering through places where centuries of history are woven so beautifully into everyday life. What a fabulous day! ❤️ #bukhara #uzbekistan #silkroad #traveluzbekistan
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Day 7, Part 2: Our next stop was the extraordinary Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis in Samarkand, one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in Uzbekistan and all of Central Asia. 🇺🇿✨ What an incredible place! We climbed a long flight of steps and found ourselves wandering through what felt like a little village of magnificent historic mausoleums, mosques and shrines, all nestled along the hillside beside the cemetery. The architecture was breathtaking — intricate tilework, spectacular shades of blue and turquoise, beautiful geometric motifs and centuries of history around every corner. But what made this place especially moving was that it isn’t simply a historic monument. It remains a deeply important place of devotion, with local worshippers and pilgrims travelling from far and wide to visit. We entered one particularly sacred shrine, dedicated to Qutham ibn Abbas, traditionally believed to have been a cousin of the Prophet Muhammad. There, we witnessed an imam leading prayers with worshippers. Such a privilege to quietly observe this living tradition of faith. There was something quite extraordinary about the combination of magnificent architecture, centuries of history and genuine spiritual devotion. This wasn’t simply a museum or collection of historic buildings — it was a place very much alive with meaning for the people visiting. Another absolutely fascinating and memorable experience in Samarkand! ❤️ #shahizinda #samarkand #uzbekistan #silkroadhistory
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Day 3, Part 3: after pottery and ikat weaving, we headed to a woodblock printing studio to learn the basics of the craft — and then try it ourselves. 🇺🇿🧵✨ We were each given a lovely piece of cotton, perfectly sized to become a scarf, and then let loose in a room full of beautifully carved printing blocks. From there, it was simply a case of choosing our motifs, playing with placement and letting our imaginations run wild. It was SO much fun! I think everyone had an absolute blast, and the best part was seeing how completely different all of our finished pieces were. Every scarf was unique, personal and genuinely beautiful. Such a joyful way to experience another traditional textile craft of the Fergana Valley — and this one came with the perfect handmade souvenir too. ❤️ #ferghanavalley #woodblockprinting #textileart #uzbekistan @rowantreetravel
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Day 1 — final stop: a visit to a family-run pottery studio and school, and what a lovely way to end the day. 🎨🇺🇿 Here we learned about the history of local Tashkent pottery while visiting a workshop that has been passed down through generations. It was started years ago by the current owner’s grandfather and continues today with the family still very much involved in the work. There is so much history and skill in this place. The grandfather even wrote what became a definitive book on Tashkent pottery, and his designs and research are still studied and explored today. Best of all, we got to try our own hands at painting a plate! I took my inspiration from the pomegranates growing just outside the classroom in the courtyard. 🍎✨ Everyone’s creations were completely different and absolutely wonderful — such a fun experience, and the perfect souvenir from an already fantastic first day in Tashkent. #tashkent #uzbekistan #pottery #travelmemories @rowantreetravel
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Day 1 in Tashkent: lunch came with a cooking lesson… followed by an absolute feast! 🇺🇿🥟✨ We learned how to make traditional Uzbek samsa, with lots of attention paid to getting the dough just right before filling them with a delicious savoury squash mixture. But the samsa were only the beginning. What followed was a wonderfully lavish lunch with salads, little plates of fresh and dried fruit, soup, home-baked breads and biscuits, cooked meats and vegetables, and even a sweet treat to finish. It was such a beautiful presentation of a traditional local feast, all served in the most lush and welcoming setting. Needless to say, dinner was definitely not required later that day. 😉😂 #uzbekistan #tashkent #uzbekfood #travelthroughfood @rowantreetravel
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After a fabulous flight on Uzbekistan Airways, we had a lovely quiet afternoon to catch up on some much-needed rest before our first full day in Tashkent — and what an eventful day it was! Our first stop was the Hazrati Imam Complex, one of Tashkent’s most important historic and religious sites, with its beautiful collection of mosques, madrasas and mausoleums. The complex is also now home to the impressive new Center of Islamic Civilization, a major museum devoted to the history, science, art and culture of Islamic civilization in Central Asia. We didn’t go inside on this visit, but the building itself is certainly striking and adds another layer to this fascinating area. Such a beautiful and memorable introduction to Uzbekistan. 🇺🇿✨ #tashkent #uzbekistan #hazratiimam #traveluzbekistan @rowantreetravel
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New Spring Term offerings! Classes, workshops, and open studios are now online and open for registration. This term, our offerings include charcoal drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpting, ceramics, embroidery, and more - sign up now as courses are selling out fast! Visit our website through the link in our bio and reserve your spot today, or gift a workshop to someone who’d love the opportunity to learn a new craft or skill!
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Join us every Wednesday for Fibre Lounge open studio. Bring your own knitting, crocheting, felting, embroidery, cross-stitch - whatever project you're currently working on - and enjoy the company of fellow fibre crafters. Join in by purchasing a 6-session punch card or a drop-in pass – available on our website through the link in our bio!
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We have lots in store over the next couple of months! From painting, collaging, felting, knitting, woodworking, natural dying, and printmaking, there's something for everyone (and all skill levels!). We are always expanding and building out our offerings, so if something you like is sold out, check back in for a similar opportunity in the upcoming months! Spots fill up fast, but you can sign up today through the link in our bio.
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UPCOMING WORKSHOP - 4-week series meeting every Tuesday from Feb 18 - Mar 11, 6-8pm. Dive into the rewarding world of fibre arts with Irena Ashton! This beginner’s knitting class will guide you through the basics, from casting on stitches to creating simple patterns. You’ll learn essential techniques like the knit and purl stitches, how to read a basic pattern, as well as tips for fixing common mistakes. Walk away with your very first handmade project, such as a scarf or coaster. All materials provided including yarn and needles. Learn more and sign up today through the link in our bio!
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