...... summertime time

We've hosted two fab workshops since our last newsletter. The first was a Knitting Masterclass led by Åsa (pronounced Awsa) Söderman of Åsa Tricosa fame;  we - and I include myself as I was lucky enough to spend a few hours watching and learning - discovered new and exciting ways to knit pullovers and cardigans, in the round, and from the top down which makes sizing and shaping sooooo much easier.  Asa is an ebullient and thoughtful teacher and one we very much hope to have back next year for a longer stint.           The second event was with Julie Arkell, our perennial favourite. This year she was helping participants put together a bird table, demonstrating papier maché, knitting and stitching skills with her usual flair and enthusiasm. A smaller group than usual but even more fun, if that's possible.  The smaller group also gave Les Soeurs a better opportunity to get to know and enjoy, the participants and our view is that in future we will try to keep numbers to a minimum.  More time and attention for everyone.           This last photograph was taken by a young and very gifted photographer, Alexander Hamdy who was here at the beginning of Julie's workshop to take pictures of the property.  The weather was only periodically sunny during his visit, but Alex managed to produce an album of detailed beauty and we can't wait to see all the photographs together on our new website in September.   The next few months are going to be quiet ones at Les Soeurs Anglaises - unusual for us during the summer months, but not unwelcome.  2017 will be our 10th year offering workshops;  we were amongst the first in this part of the world but are one amongst many these days, and our plan for next year is to shake things up a bit (or slow them down).  We'll keep you posted, but in the meantime we have a couple of places available on both our remaining workshops in 2016. The first is for the Celia Pym's 5-day workshop, Knitting Darning and Mending at the end of September, followed closely by the gently remarkable Claire Wellesley Smith's Dyeing and Stitching weekend event in October.  Both are formidable talents well-researched in the art of recycling, repairing and using cloth, dye and stitch as carriers of the natural and social history of place, heritage and memory.  We are thrilled that they will both be joining us and look forward to inspirational teaching.        To book a place on either workshop go to our website booking pageor email me directly We generally only sell our aprons in the wee brocante we have on site, but if you're in the mood this summer to wear a pretty, comfortable and one-off apron, we currently have a few of our wrap-over linen aprons for sale in various colours and each trimmed with vintage fabric, on  Etsy.         All the best Katie   7 things to check out this month: Visit Chris Manning's Pinterest page and wonder at her exquisite quilts.  Chris has been a participant at several of our workshops and we are hoping one day she will join us to teach her own quilting workshop. There's still time to join us for Lizi Bolton's Silver Yoga this month (23rd to 29th June).  Come as our B&B guest and you'll get your yoga classes at half-price, bring a non-participating partner and enjoy a relaxing week away from the stresses of everyday life!  Contact Lizi directly for more information. If you're around North London during the third week of June, we recommend a visit to GROW, the brainchild of entrepreneur Will Ramsay, founder of the hugely successful Affordable Art Fair, which is now a global brand with fairs in 14 major cities around the world.  There will be a myriad selection of plants and other garden ephemera, and say hello to stall holders All the Fun of the Fair where you'll find everything from vintage buttons to knitted cacti. We have long admired the machine embroidery of Linda Miller if you can't make it to one of her very popular workshops, you will find her and her work at the Contemporary Craft Festival, Bovey Tracey, Devon UK this upcoming weekend (10th/12th June). We recently bought 4 skeins of Gotland 4ply yarn from The Little Grey Sheep mail order company and have already started knitting a Julie Arkell original cardigan pattern with this absolutely delicious soft wool which is hand sheared, spun with care and expertise, and finally hand-dyed in scrummy colours! Voices of Industry offer organically grown cotton yarn for weaving and crochet, spun by a family mill in North Carolina. Their credo is:  "We consider the farmers who grow our cotton and wool as co-conspirators and friends.  Our work is an extension of agriculture and we care deeply about that origin."

.... result!.....

Saturday was the closing date for our Ebay Auction and we are delighted to announce that our beautiful Textile Quilt of Words raised over £500 ($800) for the Cambodian Children's Fund.  The highest bidder was a  Les Soeurs Anglaises' past (and hopefully future) participant who had the advantage of seeing the quilt whilst she was at one of our workshops earlier in the year.  We are thrilled that it has gone to such a worthy home and thank you again to everyone who contributed. LSA's Calendar for 2015 is currently being uploaded onto our website, so it shouldn't be long before you can book on-line ( we promise to let you know the minute it's up).  We are delighted to be introducing two or three new workshop leaders to Les Soeurs Anglaises, as well as featuring our second Open Studio (with a yoga option this time).  And to add a little frisson to 2015, there'll be an amazing Fete de Boogie Woogie for those who just want a few days of brilliant live music, gourmet food and vintage wine in a spectacular part of France at the best time of the year.  A great  Christmas gift for that special someone. While you wait for the Calendar to go up, here are a few things that might keep you entertained: Well known stitcher and collagist, Cas Holmes is currently exhibiting at Memory Cloth at the  Lace Museum in the Netherlands. It opens on the 12th October and she will be giving a weekend workshop on 13th & 14th December.  The exhibition also features the work of  Cherilyn Martin, Els van Baarle and  Glenys Mann.   On the subject of quilts, read this one about quilter, Leslie Morgan.  The Textile Artist newsletter is also a great way to keep up to date with what's going on in the world of textiles. The enduringly kooky and gifted machine embroiderer, Linda Miller, is exhibiting Saturday 18th to Sunday 19th October at at the Festival of Crafts at Farnham Maltings, Farnham Surrey.  Don't miss It! There will another Clerkenwell Vintage Fair this weekend in Central London if you visiting the Big Smoke.  Really worth a visit if you love vintage clothes. Which is why it's good to hear that one of my all time favourite on-line shops, Donna Flower, has just opened a "proper", real-life, shop in Barnstaple, North Devon, UK.  Lucky Devonians can now pop in and rummage through her eclectic stock whenever they need a pick-me-up.   Our resident monoprinter and all-round wonderful artist, Emma Whigham (you'll see her new drawings on our updated website soon), has started making bright and beautiful jewellery in colourful, geometric designs, soon to be available on her Etsy shop.  As a one-time professional jeweller, she embraces the delicate, handmade techniques and is most happy involved in the slow process of making and designing; an antidote to the fast and hectic pace of our lives nowadays.   We love, love, love Kate Bowles' work!    Having recently had an Open Studio event here where the resident artists, Alison Kuller and Jone Hallmark, were both involved in the art of making books, our eyes have been opened to the painstakingly difficult but utterly satisfying work of creating and stitching a book together, whether it be a journal, sketch or memo pad.   Kate's work and colours are just gorgeous and we hope one day to get her down here to lead a workshop for us. Finally, if you feel you just can't let go of winter, we have a dear French vintage, sleeveless, fine cotton shirt for sale.  It is definitely a UK size 10 / Europe 38/ US size 8, and could be worn over a long-sleeved vest and would great with jeans or a full 50s skirt.   £30 / 38€ / $48 + postage

I'd like to buy it