Women at Work

One of the really rewarding, long-term results for Les Soeurs Anglaises is the new friendships that participants develop during their stay with us and which endure long after their departure. We are always delighted when individuals have enjoyed their break with us so much that they return to repeat a workshop or try a new one, but there is something particularly gratifying when a few movers and shakers put together their own community blog to keep in touch and keep up the inspiration.  

 

The Pantry Violets  is just such a case;  the blog was set up three years ago by some 10 of these women and it now has a quickly growing group of followers, many of whom have been introduced via the Les Soeurs Anglaises' network, by a friend or colleague who may have been on one of our workshops, or serendipitously arrived at the site through a link and simply decided they would like to join this hugely creative (and entertaining) "community" from all over the world and all walks of life; from housewives in Sidney to judges in Seattle,  food store owners in Washington to illustrators in Stockholm, GP's in Durham to professional ballet dancers in Korea.  


The latest project organized by the Pantry Violets is called the inchies. Those volunteers  involved each decorate (knit, sew, weave etc.) a set of identical 1" linen squares to match the number of participants;  one is then sent out to every other member of the inchies, who then can sew them together to produce a blanket or textile picture or whatever inspires them.   Nobody sees what anyone else is doing until they arrive on their doorstep and the results are always unexpected and  always beautiful.


Being unable to say no to a creative challenge we  joined in the latest fun and now, six months later, anticipate with pleasure what might be delivered in the post every day.  Here are just three of the inches that have already reached us.

And once they have all been collected, the next creative challenge will be how to put them all together.  Who says the life of the needlewoman is easy? 

Speaking of needlewomen, do you have a sublime piece of needlework that an ancestor of yours made?  If so, do email us a photograph of it and your name will be entered into our COMPETITION for a free place on one of our 2012 workshops! (travel not included). 

Pictures need to be with us before Easter, 6th April 2012 and the prize place will depend upon availability on the workshops.  We would also like permission to publish the photograph on this blog.

Picture Perfect........

Our first workshop, The Fabric of  Photography, is only two and half months off and we are so looking forward to introducing for the first time Jasprit Singh, a curator from the VandA museum, London, our charming and enthusiastic workshop leader.  We had an opportunity to catch up with him during a recent visit to The Big Smoke and question him about his views on photography:

Felice Beato

What is your first memory of taking a photograph?  At the young age of six.  The image was of my grandfather in his garden picking plums.

What was your first camera and how old were you?  My father owned a PentaxME Super which is the first camera I learnt to use.

Who are your all-time favorite photographers?  Bill Brandt, Felice Beato, Ragu Rai and Bourne and Shepherd.

Bill Brandt

Which photographer has had the most influence on your work?  During my academic life I spent most of my days looking at Beato's work on Amritsar.  Since then I have had a number of influences, including colleagues, Justina Burnett and Simran Kaur.

Justina Burnett

Where do you think the future of photography lies?    Sadly, the digital SLR camera seems to be becoming more of a fashion statement than as an apparatus for creating images.  My greatest fear is that quantity will win over quality, so my golden rule in teaching is to, "capture an image with your mind not your eye".

Ragu Rai

What is it that you enjoy most about teaching photography?  Every student has a subtly different agenda.  I take great pleasure helping each individual master their cameras in order to produce the results they are looking for, and at the same time demonstrate the infinitely flexible and creative possibilities of DSLR photography.

Why are you particularly interested in Macro photography?  There are many reason for my interest, but the main one would have to be the obvious one of its ability to reproduce subject matter in minute detail.  Apart from images generally being incredibly beautiful, the Macro invariably allows us to further understand the subject's construction and mechanics. 

What single piece of photographic equipment would you recommend as a useful addition to the DSLR?  A 50mm 1:8 Legend lens reproduces precisely what the human eye sees.  I have taken some of my favorite images with my 50mm, and the best part of it is that it is the cheapest lens I own.

What are you looking forward to most about your workshop at Les Soeurs Anglaises?  From a purely selfish point of view, I am anticipating meeting interesting and creative people who are serious about learning how to make the best use of their DSLRs.  I expect to be exposed to new and challenging attitudes to the various arts and crafts whilst in the supportive ambiance of Les Soeurs Anglaises, cradled in the inspirational landscape of S W France.

Thank you, Jasprit for sharing your views.

Cover Story

A new friend of mine sent me this Brief History of the Apron from Australia.  Thought it would make a few people smile.  (Thank you Jan!)

I don't think kids today 
know what an apron is.  

The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath because she only had a few.  

It was also because it was easier to wash aprons than dresses, and aprons used less material.  

But along with that, it served as a potholder for removing 
hot pans from the oven. 


It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.


From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.


When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids.


And when the weather was cold, Grandma wrapped it around her arms.


Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, 
bent over the hot wood stove.



Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.


From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. 
After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.


In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.


When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.  


When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron and the men folk knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner. 


It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes.

And can't you just think of a hundred more good reasons for wearing a pretty apron?  Even if it's just a fashion statement.......

as shown by our lovely Julie Arkell - aprons don't get any more stylish.

If you're ever in Hyderabad....

There's nothing like travel to broaden your mind and make you realize what difficult lives most people in the world have just trying to keep body and soul together.  


Les Soeurs are always interested to see what's going on locally on a textile level and during a recent trip to India we had the great good fortune to meet the remarkable and inspirational  octogenarian, Suraiya Hassan, who has given up her comfortable life in a wealthy Muslim family to live amongst, support and train the impoverished, unskilled widows of Hyderabad.

Suraiya Hassan

 By teaching them how to produce historical North Indian patterns on original-style looms - a skill generally lost or forgotten in the wake of modern technology - she has provided, over the last eight years, a much needed source of income for their families whilst re-introducing the traditional skills of spinning and weaving.  And, as if that wasn't enough she has also provided - and helps run - a small school for their children.  All this at an age when most people are enjoying the a well-earned rest.

The textiles are woven in both silk and cotton (or both) and a length of five meters can take two women, working together on a loom, anywhere upwards of three months to produce (only 3 inches a day).  Suraiya sources all the old patterns and motifs from original items of clothing that she collects and very often just small scraps, all that remains of a ceremonial jacket or sari.

This is not a charity (Suraiya is quiet adamant she will not take contributions) but if you would like to support this worthy venture and are interested in purchasing a length of these frankly gorgeous reproductions (a minimum length of 10m as it takes two days to set up the loom for each new colourway), Suraiya will take orders and can arrange to send you photographs and details via email from which to choose.

All I can add is that these fabrics are ridiculously well-priced considering the work that goes into them, though import tax would most probably bring the costs up to a more reasonable level.


suraiyas2009@gmail.com

Just a thought......

If you are wildly thrashing around in a pre-Christmas frenzy, trying to think of something original and relevant to ask your best-beloved to give you for Christmas, below you'll find our literally life-affirming suggestions.


For 2012 Les Soeurs Anglaises have chosen our favourite teachers to lead five amazing creative workshops.  You'll find many more details on our website, but when you've decided which one's for you, you need only send a deposit of £250/$392 and we'll  confirm a place (you can let us know your choice of accommodation, at leisure, after the Christmas madness).  


To maintain a welcoming, intimate atmosphere and a high level of attention to detail, we keep our workshop numbers to less than one a month between May and October, and our participant numbers to between 12 and 15.  As a result places on one or two are now full or running low; but we've listed the ones where there is still availability.  2012 looks like our busiest year so far and if you think you might like to join us we suggest you don't leave it too long.  


It's as simple a pinging the button below to pay through PayPal with one of the cards below, but if you would like more information about the various events or accommodation options, do contact us and we'd be happy to answer any questions. 

The Fabric of Photography 

to be led by Jasprit Singh

3rd to 9th May (5 days/6 nights)

Places still available

 

Knitting with Colour and Clarity

to be led by Patricia Roberts

31st May to 6th June (5 days/6 nights)

2 places still available

 

Summer Fetes & Puppet Shows

to be led by Julie Arkell

July 

NOW FULL

Botanical Collage

to be led by Catherine Girardeau Willis

5th to 11th September (5 days/6 nights)

Places still available

 

Woven and Sew Sculpture

to be led by Julieann Worral Hood

3rd to 9th October (5 days/6 nights)

Places still available

 

Lin et Vin

But if you and you better half simply want to be surrounded by beautiful vintage linens and spectacular French antiques, consider joining us for a very special weekend in July when we will be putting together a gastronomic extravaganza catered by a top chef and with vintage wines supplied from our own substantial cellars (Mike used to be the president of the Interesting Wine Club, in London).  

The meal will be followed by an opportunity to buy from celebrated collectors/vendors of all that is stylishly French, and the whole event is by invitation only for a limited number of guests.  If this sounds like something you might like to be part of, let us know ASAP and we will make sure your name is at the top of our list of invitees and the first to know exact dates, the name of the chef and experts, together with price(s).

Les Soeurs Anglaises is a supporter of the Cambodian Childrens Fund and all profits to them from this event will be donated.

Country Living Christmas Fair

Another brilliant photograph by one of our regular participants, Rebecka Ryberg Skott

Yes, we may have told you already, but in case you missed it we thought you might like to know that we'll be at the Country Living Christmas Fair in Islington from

9th to 13th November.

Auditorium Stand T53

It's the first time we've attended this event, but doubtless lots of you have visited previous CL fairs and know what fun it is. Great for working through that gift list all at once and in one place. And, of course, there are endless delicious alternatives to decking the hall with boughs of holly. Check out Country Living's website to get an idea of what's on offer.

If you like what you see and you can make it to the Big Smoke next month, perhaps we can entice you to visit our stand, with complimentary entrance tickets for the day of your choice. It would be great to meet again friends of Les Soeurs Anglaises, but also to introduce ourselves to those of you who are simply curious about what goes on here in South West France. All you have to do is write COUNTRY LIVING CHRISTMAS FAIR on the comments menu of our website booking information page. Don't worry if you are already on our mailing list, and don't forget to give us your address details and we'll pop a ticket in the post to the first 6 people who apply.

The Fair is mostly an opportunity for potential new participants to get a feel for what Les Soeurs Anglaises' workshops have to offer, but we will be selling a few items made by some of our 2012 workshop leaders and this is also a chance to see their amzing work:

Photographer, Justina Burnett

Knitter, Patricia Roberts

Folk Artist, Julie Arkell

Botanical Collagist, Catherine Girardeau Willis

and Sculptress, Julieann Worral Hood

They will all be popping in from time to time, so you might well have an opportunity to meet one or two of them to discuss their work and workshops with us next year!

Hope to see you there!

Another Year Another JA Special

Sincere apologies to all you Julie Arkell fans whom we couldn't quite squeeze onto her workshop this year. We really would have loved to have had you all here as it is always such a fun event. From Day One, everyone seemed to gel - not so difficult with Julie around to get the ball rolling, but a joy nevertheless.

As usual Julie arrived with a well defined project to set the pace, though there was no pressure for anyone to do more or less than they wanted; and it wasn't long before participants were stuck-in on a myriad of divine creations.

Some of the practice flower broaches on display in LSA's garden one sunny afternoon.....

Some advice offered to those not quite sure what to use where .......

....and some buttons bought at the brocante to add a little colour & texture perhaps?

Meanwhile, back at the maison de maitre, lunch is prepared, by special cooks, Billy and Jane

The finished spread for lunch

...... whilst Cinderella Susu sorts out the laundry. Les Soeurs work hard to keep everyone happy and everything running smoothly; and from all the wonderful feedback we get it seems to work.