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.