... a good yarn ahead.....

At the beginning of October we will be welcoming back the ebullient and irrepressible Marion Foale who will be here to lead a second knitting workshop for us (she only leads workshops for us!).  Such was the success of her first teaching event ever, that many participants from 2013 will be also be returning.  In the unlikely event that you haven't heard of Marion before, we thought you might like a little background on this vivacious, creative lady and her 1960s partner in crime, Sally Tuffin.

British fashion designers Marion Foale and Sally Tuffin were part of a movement known as “Youthquake”, a 1960s fashion, musical and cultural movement. It was the era of the Beatles, mini-skirts, trouser and jump suits (the world's first supermodel Twiggy who modelled some of their designs at the time, has been the subject of an exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery), and Foale and Tuffin were the inspiration of people like Mary Quant as well as 70s shops such as Biba and Bus Stop.

Marion and Sally met in 1955 while attending Walthamstow Art School . They subsequently studied together at the Royal College of Art under Professor Janey Ironside and in the 1960s, the pair established their own fashion company, “Foale & Tuffin”, located in Carnaby Street, in London's West End with a budget of less than £200. Together with their contemporaries, Ossie Clark, Zandra Rhodes and Bill Gibb, all graduates of the Royal College of Art, they had a massive impact on the fashion scene of the 'swinging sixties'.

Their dress philosophy strikes a chord with the current passion for home dressmaking and knitting, as well as well as our enthusiasm for recycling clothing and accessories whenever possible.  As Sally describes in the definitive book about them, Foale and Tuffin:The Sixties. A Decade in Fashion by Iain R. Webb
"We realised there was a gap in the market.  People would make their own clothes, dress and style themselves with bits and pieces, and we just sort of jumped in and made the bits and pieces for them."

Forty years on and Marion is still renowned for her highly fashionable, highly collectable, classic hand-knitted and feminine designs, though now they are often inspired by the glamour and chic of the forties with her own exquisite range of yarns some of which she will bring with her to the workshop in September.

Marion Foale current designs


Marion Foale Yarns

"What a fabulous week we had…it was so great to knit alongside such creative people and spend time doing exactly what we love in such a beautiful setting.  Marian was inspirational!  The experience will long live in my memory and I'm so looking forward to coming back to Les Soeurs Anglaises to enjoy their beautiful hospitality next year,  And of course to learn more, share our year's accomplishments and enjoy another incredible week!!"  Dianna K, USA

Our favourite photograph of Marion teaching last year (hope she wasn't laughing at Carol's scarf!!)

Marion's workshop for this year is currently full, but if you would like to go on the waiting list (or put your name down for next year), please get back to us.

...... open studio.......

Yes, we're all as busy as summer bees down here in the sun!  Designer and illustrator, Jone Hallmark, and bookbinder extraordinaire, Alison Kuller, flew in from the States last Saturday to head up a week of "Open Studio" in l'Espace.  

setting up the studio in a new configuration

This is a first for Les Soeurs and it's proving to be something quite special allowing participants an opportunity to experience thoroughly the life in this beautiful part of France.  Everyone has brought their own work (and dreams) and found themselves a perfect space in the huge, light infused studio in which to create. The hydraulic door stays open all day and there is always the possibility of a dip to cool down in one of the pools if a break from work is deemed necessary.  This morning everyone scooted off to a local brocante in search of treasures, but now it's noses back down to the grindstone for some more serious creativity.

 
sorting out tools and materials

Jone and Alison had originally planned to run a workshop for us at this time, but we decided to give the Open Studio a try this year instead.  It's a new idea which allows an intimate group of participants (no more than 8) to bring along their own work and create alongside wonderful crafter/teachers without having a set "programme".  Everyone is happy to pool their skills and support each other.  Meals and transport are not included but accommodation and essentials are, and there is a fully equipped kitchen where communal meals can be made and eaten together.  In fact this first group, who have flown across the Atlantic, and driven up from Spain, to be here have decided to set up a dining area within the studio to take full advantage of the stunning views from the terrace.  Essentials are provided, but food can be bought either at the local marche, the village grocery store or at a supermarket a little further away (we have bicycles if you decide not to hire a car).  There are also several moderately priced cafe's and bistros to eat out at.

      ready to start work

We'll be posting more about these events over the next few months and whilst dates haven't been decided yet for 2015 (that's usually in September/October for the following year) if you think you might be interested in joining us for an "Open Studio Event" next year, let us know and we'll keep you posted.

....thinking ahead...

Whilst catching up with Les Soeurs Anglaises' emails in-between workshops I found myself absentmindedly surfing through various websites looking for yarns for winter projects and I came across a website shop called Quince and Co.  Sadly, it doesn't make sense for me to order yarn from the US, but I have downloaded several of their patterns - not free, I hasten to add, but not expensive either - and I'm particularly smitten by their shawls.  It was Julie Arkell who converted me (along with countless others), to the eponymous shawl and I have so many now that I've started knitting them for friends and relatives - how desperate is that?.  There's something very forgiving and satisfying about not having to worry if sleeves fit or seams are perfect (there aren't any),  and it's a pleasure to sit and knit these scarves and shawls.  Yes, you have to concentrate sometimes, but it really doesn't matter if they turn out smaller or larger than expected, you use the recommended yarn or needles; they work whatever size they end up.   Here are some of my current favourites:

 
Crescent by Quince and Co 


Mainline by Quince and Co


Guernsey Wrap by Brooklyn Tweed

And if you're looking for beautiful yarns with which to knit your chosen shawl, look no further than the fantabulous Isager Yarns.  I can personally recommend their Spinney and Tweed, though the Silk Mohair is also to die for....

p.s. Since posting this blog I have had several kind people email me with information where I can find the very yarns I mention above in the Uk and France so I thought I should pass the information along.   

Loisive The / France
Loop

If you're still thinking that maybe you could join us for Jessie Chorley's workshop, Usable Treasures, at the beginning of September, we recently sent out her workshop description to existing participants and it sounded so exciting we wanted to share from it with you.
  
"I am very much looking forward to returning to France for another workshop in the inspiring studio and surroundings of LSA.  This year my workshop will focus on creating pieces from discarded and found papers and combining these with embroidery and found objects. During your time at LSA we will also have trips out to source vintage finds, books fabrics etc."

We feel so fortunate to be hosting workshops with only those artists and teachers whose work we really admire and who are also a joy to work alongside.  Jessie comes high on that list and whilst she does the occasional one or two day event in the UK (she led a taster  today at John Lewis, London) the opportunity to share five full days of her creativity is a whole different experience.  

.. still time to be creative

At the beginning of September, the delightful Jessie Chorley will be leading another of her popular workshops with us, this year entitled,Usable Treasures, and we thought you might be interested to know that a couple of places have recently become available. 

Jessie teaching at Les Soeurs Anglaises last year

Early Autumn can be a wonderful time of year down here in south west France.  The pools are still open and the weather generally fine - in fact it is often the best time of year.  School holidays are over and the crowds have left but there is still  lots going on locally in the way of brocantes and markets;  our studio doors can be kept open on good days and the amazing indoor/outdoor ambience continues in the studio.  

 

                                        Last year's Jessie Chorley Workshop at Les Soeurs Anglaises

We'd love to welcome you back (or meet you for the first time!) and if Jessie's workshop last year is anything to go by, a break with such a charming teacher might be just what's needed before winter sets in again.


Contact us  directly for more information or book on-line before the places are snapped up.

.... new news.....

Since our last message, we've heard back from many of our followers to say they will sorely miss our newsletters and would like to continue receiving them through their emails. We really don't want to lose you.....so we've spent a lot of time and effort going through all our lists of the last eight years, as well as re-designing the newsletter and, for the time being at least, it's back to the newsletter system in the hope that a lot more of you will now be able to open our emails and be kept appraised of all the goings on atLes Soeurs Anglaises.

Our apologies to all those of your who have gone to the trouble of subscribing to our blog and any confusion that may have caused, and we quite understand if you no longer wish to subscribe to either or both.  If that is the case (or if you have already unsubscribed and somehow managed to find yourself back on our mailing list!!) you should find an "unsubscribe" option at the bottom of both this message and the blog; we will then make every effort to see you no longer receive messages from us.  

As a little incentive to open our newsletter, from time to time in future we will be uploading a picture of something from our real-life shop that we have sourced from local brocantes or antiquités and which you you will be able to buy on-line.    Our first, below, is a beautiful French vintage, fine cotton shirt.

Meanwhile, you might like to know that because of a few last minute cancellations we now have places available on Jessie Chorley's Usable Treasures workshop and Rosaliind Wyatt's Grafted Words workshop this September, as well as one on Marion Foales' Knitting Jewels workshop in October.  If you would like to step into one of these places you can book on-line or download our application form to print, fill out and email back to us.  

French vintage fine cotton shirt with asymmetrical neck-line and two patch pockets. 

3/4 sleeved
Size 12/14
£45 plus £8 P&P

I'D LIKE TO BUY THIS NOW