.... did you know?.....

So did you know that coming up in Paris this month (goodness, are we in March already!) is a small but delightful textile fair called Aiguille en Fete Pro situated at the Porte de Versaille?  Not as commercial as some of the larger exhibitions we may be used to in London or the big cities, but well worth a visit for that reason, especially if you fancy a jolly in Paris before the spring crowds arrive.  In the past, my favourite regular exhibitor has been Craftica - not the most hi-tech or sophisticated company in the world but come an exhibition and they throw off their gloves and have buckets of one-off fabrics, left-over rolls and general haberdashery to thrill the enthusiastic stitcher, whether you be a dressmaker or patchworker.  Booking my train ticket now....

The extraordinary (and sometimes unsettling) crochet work of Cecile Dachary will also be on display at Aiguille.  I have long been an admirer of her work, and hope to have her lead a workshop for us one day.

As some of you keen knitters may have noted, this October we will be hosting the first Åsa Tricosa workshop.  Åsa Soderman has a wonderful blog chock-a-block full of brilliant knitting tips, patterns, mixes of colour and news, all illustrated with her impressively clear and beautiful photographs;  her joie de vivrepractically jumps off the screen.  You can find her latest, exquisitely stylish design - Ma Non Troppo, which, I believe translates as "but not too much" - uses her specialist, top-down technique, and can be found on Ravelry.  Seamlessly Clever, her workshop with us, has steadily been filling up as aficionados of her work get word, but we still have a couple of places remaining if you move fast.

  

For those of you more interested in mixed textiles and stitching, a place on Janet Bolton's workshop, Narrative Stitches, has become available.  Janet's workshop is always very popular so do contact Susie as quickly as possible to find out what accommodation option is available if you are interested.  Janet's latest book, Fabric Pictures, has recently gone to print and can be pre-ordered on Amazon. We suggest you put it on your Wish List as copies run out very quickly and soon become collector's items.

On the subject of fabric, I came across an interesting Californian cooperative of young and exciting textile designers called Cotton and Steel whose designs are probably more accessible to purchase if you live in the States.  However, well worth a visit to their website to get an idea of their unusual cotton prints and feel sure they would export to Europe if postage and tax aren't too prohibitive.
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Happy March mending.

....cool winter light.....

When you can stop shivering for a moment, this cold weather definitely has it's charms.  Here are some photographs to lift your spirits and few suggestions on how to fill your time indoors.

Spend time tucked away sewing beautiful paper clothes.  These were made by 

Micheline of Betty and Bing.  And here is what she says.....

"I grew up loving paper, antiques and pretty things. I love paper because it carries ideas. Ideas about anything and everything shared through pictures or words or, in the best case scenario, both. Antiques because they hold stories. Without uttering a single word they talk of different times and different ways of thinking. And pretty things because I believe life is lived in the details. Surrounding yourself with things that appeal to your senses seems to be the easiest way to bring joy into your everyday life."

Paper and textiles, combined with stitched calligraphy, are also an integral part of our Rosalind Wyatt's, magic.    "My recent work is exploring ‘writing with a needle’ copying the handwriting of a letter into stitch onto a garment; handwritten letters reveal the personality of the letter writer in a most immediate manner, and often that document reveals part of a more complex ‘story’ of that person. By combining the lettering, stitch and garment, that story can be brought to life."  

We have a few places left on Rosalind's September Workshop with us which offers an opportunity to work intensively alongside this award-winning artist, sharing her unique creativity and learning how to combine the written and printed word using a playful approach whilst you progress from ideas towards stitch.  You'' be encouraged to think outside the box, developing a greater depth of individuality that will open up new creative opportunities.

  

Of course, it's never too cold to read a good book......   Our favourite writer at the moment is Ron Carlson.  Well, he would be wouldn't he as we've read everything he has in print and invited him to lead a workshop, The Inside Story, here at the end of July.  Carlson was born in Logan, Utah, and grew up in Salt Lake City. He received a masters degree in English from the University of Utah  and became professor of English at Arizona State University, and then director of its Creative Writing Programme. Carlson currently teaches at the University of California, Irvine. His last two novels, Five Skies and TheSignal have won international praise and we greatly look forward to hosting the first European workshop of this gentle artist of the written word.  

 You could go for a bicycle ride (not for the faint-hearted)....

Or simply have forty winks somewhere warm.

And talking of warmth, I personally like to snuggle up in front of a roaring fire and knit. I've just finished one of these shawls in a beautiful grey cashmere - I cannot for the life of me remember where I found the pattern, but it's incredibly simple to knit, had oodles of compliments since completion and if anyone is interested I would be happy to send them a pdf of the instructions (or maybe you know where the pattern is from??).

Katie

...things to look forward to, summer 2013....

A few places left on the following workshops:

Patricia Roberts - Colourful Compositions

Ron Carlson - The Inside Story

Jone Hallmark - Sketchbook Thrillers

Julieann Worral Hood - Serendipitous Sculptures

Jessie Chorley - Stitched Narratives

Rosalind Wyatt - Text and Textiles

Marion Foale - Knitting - Chapter and Verse

....

This is the New Year!  You can pass through it coasting on cruise control; or you can step out of your comfort zone, trying things you have never done before, or fine-tuning skills you already have;  make this the year that you elevate from where you are & soar high....   Join us and make it happen!

with Les Soeurs Anglaises' very best wishes to all our past and future participants!

... a few days to cast off.....

Well, that's more like it!  Correct answers came flooding in for yesterday's question:  For what celebration was Rosalind Wyatt commissioned to stitch on pashmina with the quote from Anais Ninn, “And the day came when the risk to remain tight in bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom”.  The celebration was to commemorate a significant 25th wedding anniversary.  And what a lucky lady she was.

The name Marion Foale is instantly recognisable by style conscious knitters of a certain age.  Whilst still a student at the Royal College of Art, she achieved the honour of having one of her designs chosen for the Queen and more than thirty years on, she is still regularly zipping across the Atlantic to promote her hugely successful yarn and hand-knits businesses (Marion designs knits for Margaret Howell, amongst others, and her exquisite children's wear can currently be found in their shop in Central London).

So how flattered are we that Marion will be taking time out to run a workshop, Knitting Chapter and Verse,  for us next October!  A long way off you might think, but not surprisingly it is already filling up with knitting aficionados (and dilettantes) who appreciate a rare opportunity when they see it to learn from a master.  

So if you manage to be the first to answer correctly the question below, not only will you win one of Marion's exclusive scarves, but also a 10% reduction on her workshop with us - whilst places remain...

Question 10:

What was the name of Marion Foale’s partner in her famous fashion design business of the 1960s?  

Answer to:  katie@lessoeursanglaises.com

... autumn nearly upon us...

Whilst the mornings and evenings definitely have a touch of coolness about them, by midday we are out and about in sleeveless t-shirts, and a dip in the pool is on the agenda.  Last weekend saw the regular village brocante, which seems to be getting bigger and better every month - which is great news for our textile workshop participants.  Here are a few of my finds....!

a set of pure linen tea towels with "CM' hand embroidered on each

a divine 1920's doll's dress

with matching slip, both embroidered with the initial "J"

an original nurse's apron from the 1930's

some unfinished smocking

 red and white buttons on hand embroidery

a piece of perfect stitching on the edge of a pink linen sheet

and finally a pair of stitched leather gloves for someone I know can make a donkey's ear out of a silk purse.

Homeward bound with my purchases, on a perfect French September afternoon, I came across of flock of geese in the middle of the road, on their way.... who knows where.  I tried to herd them away from the possibility of on-coming traffic and they finally flew off.... yes, further down the road!  I watched as they finally made their way to the side and safety.

 

When life is good here, it is paradise enow.....

we love Billie-Jean.........

Last weekend at Les Soeurs Anglaises we were proud to host the opening of an exhibition of the recent work of local artist, American born Billie Jean Spille.  

Anyone who has attended one of our past workshops may well have had the opportunity to visit Billie and see her wonderful, unique work in the intimacy of her Rapunzel-like studio where she keeps all her current and bygone treasures; and if she was a a smidgeon younger we would invite her to lead a workshop here of her own because we just love her beautiful, unique art and style.

Billie's health hasn't been too wonderful over the last few years, but she continues to produce her art and is currently transferring some of her vintage designs onto larger canvases.  There were plenty of these to see at her show and a good turnout of visitors and admirers on the first afternoon of her exhibition.  Some of her work is still available though so please do contact us if you would like to purchase one.  Prices start a 300€ for her larger pieces.

Also available, in packs of 10, are her postcards (40€ + postage)

as well as the poster for her exhibition (20€ + postage)