… a conversation with claire wellesley smith…..

We are thrilled and excited that the delightful and multi-talented Claire Wellesley Smith will be joining us for the first time this year to lead SLOW COLOUR & STITCH .  Claire will be offering a skill new to our workshops, i.e. dyeing natural textiles and sewing threads with colors obtained from plants and flowers from the gardens of Les Soeurs Anglaises.  But that's not all she'll be teaching…. with the luxury of five days to share her talent and techniques, the idea is for participants to stitch their beautifully colored fabrics into intimate "collages" which can either be further developed as purses, cushion covers, clothing etc.  or simply framed and displayed as works of art in their own right
. 

Here, in her own words, is Claire's creative philosophy:

Why do you enjoy working with dyes and stitch?

The history of colour on cloth fascinates me, and the stories that go with it. Dyeing with local plants gives you a new relationship with the place that they grow, and it creates new connections. There is something magical about the transformation that occurs when cloth enters a dye bath.  The slow nature of plant dyeing and the plain sewing techniques I use mean that there is time to develop a strong connection to the piece of work made.

What do you enjoy about teaching?

The conversations that arise in a workshop environment are so enriching - shared experiences and knowledge that lead to exciting work. Teaching is a reciprocal experience for me - as much as I love to show and to share knowledge, I learn a phenomenal amount from my students. I love the way that so many ideas can develop from one simple technique, and the unique work that is produced by every participant.

What are ‘Slow Stitches’ – how is this approach different?

The pleasures to be had from slowing down processes can be many, with connections to sustainability, simplicity, and multi-cultural textile traditions. I see a slow approach as a celebration of process, work that has reflection at its heart, and skills that take time to develop.

What inspires you in your work?

I live in Yorkshire, a place with a rich textile heritage and a beautiful landscape.  Stories, memories and observations of place inform my work. The idea of ‘using what you have’ - be that repurposed textiles and clothing, or local plants gathered to make local colours - is a strong theme also and I am looking forward to leading a workshop at Les Soeurs Anglaises in South West France with it’s different flora and fauna.

Can you share a little more about what people can expect at the Slow Colour and Stitch workshop?

I am very much looking forward to sharing with participants in May the slow textile processes, using natural dyes and hand-stitch. The wonderful gardens around Les Soeurs Anglaises will be the perfect location for gathering a collection of local colour. We will be using these and other natural dyes to invoke a sense of place, and participants will create a harmonious palette of hand-dyed fabrics and threads. These fabrics - alongside plain sewing techniques - piecing, patching and darning will be used to begin a personal piece of work. I will bring examples of kantha and other stitched work, and hand-dyed textiles, some centuries old, as inspiration. We will also have a collection of vintage and repurposed fabrics for participants to use in their work and there will be an opportunity to visit a local brocante where it will be possible to find traditional French linens and textiles.  The techniques I use can be adapted easily to a domestic setting, so that new, personal, ‘slow’ projects can easily be created by participants when the workshop is completed.

Many thanks, Claire.

to book a place on Claire's Workshop, or if you have any questions, contact katie@lessoeursanglaises.com

…. results!…...

First of all a great big Christmassy thank you to all and every one who sent an answer to our Quiz.  It's been a massive hit and today we shall be taking a huge hat with all the successful names to our favorite local artist, Billie Jean Spille, to pick out the nine lucky winners.  We'll be sending out confirmations today, and listing the names here tomorrow - so watch this space - and we're hoping that at least some of the prizes will arrive before Christmas.  The answer to our final question, was of course, the sublime Janet Bolton who will be returning to Les Soeurs Anglaises next June to lead another of her hugely popular workshops for us next June.

Christmas Tree by Billie Jean Spille

We shall definitely miss opening your emails each morning, many with kind and entertaining messages, and we look forward to meeting some of entrants this coming year.  One or two of our 2014 events are already full, and others are getting that way, so if there is one that interests you don't delay too long.   You can book on-line or email us for an application form.

In the meantime, have a Merry Christmas!

Katie, Susu and Carol xx

…. christmas quiz LAST DAY!!...

Most everyone guessed correctly that the beautiful hand-embroidered dress of Question Eight was the work of the delightfully talented Jessie Chorley.  Jessie is returning to lead another five-day workshop for us, Usable Treasures, at the beginning of September next year and we can hardly wait.  She is such a pleasure to be around, and a huge inspiration to stitchers of all levels.  Meanwhile her shop in Columbia Road, London is chock-a-block full of Christmas goodies so if you are in the area, we thoroughly recommend a visit.

Which takes us up to our last Christmas Competition quiz and we thought you should have something festive and easy.  This lady has been on the Crafts Council's list of makers since 1985 and her work has been exhibited all over the world (in fact she is just back from Japan!).

So whose Christmas stitchery is this?

Don't forget you can still enter all the previous days' questions as long as you make it clear on your emails to us  which day you are entering.  Winners' names will be plucked from our now enormous hat and we'll let them know by email.  We'll also post a list on this blog within the next few days.

….christmas quiz day eight…..

Well, despite some protestations that yesterday's competition questions was too hard, nearly all of you got the answer right - it was, of course the beautiful illustrative work of Jone Hallmark; a consummate artist, designer and crafter (and born teacher!) and she will be joining forces with bookbinder extraordinaire, Alison Kuller, for the workshop Stitched and Bound here in July next year.  Together they will show participants not only how to make a simple book in several ways, but also how to decorate its cover and inside pages with divine cut-outs, block prints and numerous other methods.  It promises to be a fabulous hands-on explosion of techniques and definitely not one to be missed by anyone interested in paper, journals and illustration techniques.

Meanwhile, here is 

What is the name of this little lady whose raison d'être seems to be creating (and re-creating) beautiful things that you can wear or hang on your wall.  Julie Arkell is one of her biggest fan!

….. christmas quiz day seven…..

The days seem to be speeding up and so do your answers to our competition questions.   Literally dozens of you guessed - correctly - that yesterday's fab little squares are the handiwork of super-knitter and designer, Marion Foale who will be leading her second workshop (due to popular demand!), Knitted Jewels, next October.  

Maybe Sunday's puzzle won't be so easy, though the workshop leader whose work is featured below has led a hugely successful event for us in the past, and will be returning next year with something a little different.   

In fact, she is so multi-talented that it's almost impossible to pigeon-hole her with one illustration; we're hoping you'll need to do your homework to find the answer to

Who drew these wonderful festive birds and symbols?

…. christmas quiz day six…..

Yesterday's questions was easy peasy - or so it would seems from the huge number of correct answers we received.  

Those lovely feet all belonged to the divine creatures made by the effervescent Julie Arkell.  So you might find todays question a teensy weensy bit more difficult for those who like a challenge - let us just say, the answer is not quite as obvious as it might at first appear

Whose perfect four inch squares, made with her own super-delicious yarn for the ultimately stylish fit, are these?

….christmas quiz day four…….

Congratulations all those of you who guessed that yesterday's beautiful book cover, stitched with her own dyed threads, was made by Claire Wellesley-Smith.   You can see much more of the exquisite colours she dyes her found and re-found fabrics - which she then uses to create intricate hand-stitched collages - in the equally beautiful photographs taken of her work and posted regularly on her blog. 

We are so looking forward to Claire leading her first workshop for us in May of next year, Slow Colour and Stitch.  It's going to be a cracker.

But as we push on to Christmas, here is

This workshop leader has more energy and talent than there are squares in this gorgeous quilt.  She'll tell you that her greatest passion when assembling fabrics is colour, but her checkered career in the arts has given her an especially infectious delight in re-inventing  textiles of all shades - both beloved and neglected - and then sharing her multifarious skills with all those who love stitch. 

…christmas quiz day three….

Onwards and upwards.  Answers have been pouring in, and our hat is getting fuller by the day.  But leave your worries on the doorstep and get your thinking caps on for

Now this multi-talented workshop leader really doesn't mind getting her hands dirty.  And when you see the results she gets when she does,you might want to give it a go yourself.  You'll need to search quite thoroughly through the various blogs, Facebook pages and websites to find the answer to today's question, but on the way you'll see some fantastic work..  So have fun.

The correct answer for yesterday's questions, by the way, was Rosalind Wyatt, our stitched calligraphy workshop leader whom we're thrilled will be teaching Grafted Words for us again next September.

…. christmas quizday 2….

The answer to yesterday's competition question was, of course, Patricia Roberts whose timeless designs and fabulously colored knitting patterns have made her garments family heirlooms (we know women whose grand-daughters are now wearing PR sweaters that were knitted in the the seventies!).  Well done all of you who got it right;  your names will now go into a hat.

Let's see how you do today…..

You'll need to search a little harder for the creator of this wonderful work.  Although this workshop leader is well known for her beautiful stitching (Fortnum and Mason were recently decorated with some of her needlework), she is also an aficionado of traditional Japanese brushwork.  As participants discovered this year, a few days working alongside her can literally change your life.  

….day one…..

To kick this competition into court, let's start with a piece of work with a seasonal element by someone who most of you know either by her International reputation for color and composition, or are lucky enough to count amongst your possessions something she has designed (or maybe you have even made yourself) …….

Just email us with who you think designed this piece and, if you're correct, we'll put your name in our Christmas hat.

Don't forget to check out this blog every day for more questions (and prizes!).

Meanwhile, if you're living or visiting Wales in the next couple of months,  we recommend a visit to the newest exhibition "On My Mother's Knee", at Llantarnam Grange Arts Gallery, Cwmbran, which opened on Saturday and will run until 11 January 2014. Artists include two of our most popular workshop leaders, Julie Arkell  and Jessie Chorley.

Many makers grow up surrounded by materials and sewing paraphernalia, taught by their mothers and grandmothers to sew, knit, embroider, quilt and crochet.  Techniques learnt on their mother’s knee give these makers a unique identity and a shared past. Their pieces speak of  women’s work and domestic heritage as well as friendship, love and joy. The concept and execution of this show is an inspiration.

You can find more information on their website and there is a beautiful catalogue available which you might like to add to your arts and crafts library.

(please note this illustration is not part of Les Soeurs Anglaises' competition)

.... five days of knitting bliss.......

Our first workshop of the season, Patricia Roberts':  Colour and Composition, has just come to an end and we have waved goodbye to a wonderful group of talented knitters.  Despite the rain (and it rained!), everyone made the most of having Patricia and her yarns around and with her help and guidance challenged themselves with patterns and yarns that perhaps they would never have thought themselves capable of using before.  The results were truly spectacular, and whilst the ladies might look a little serious in the pictures the ambience was full of laughter, support and new friendship.

Hot on Patricia's heels is the lovely Julie Arkell; her workshop is only two weeks away and so much to be sorted to make Les Soeurs perfect for the new group of participants.  Let's hope the weather is a little more clement......

.... making a mint......

Despite the unseasonably cold weather we're experiencing (yes, even down here in sunny south west France!), we have been working on our herbs for the new herb garden.  We always enjoy offering to participants our tea with fresh mint from the garden and have been taking cuttings from the new growth for several weeks now .  We have a very full and busy season this year, but hopefully we won't run out....

So easy to propagate, we are now onto third generation of cuttings this season, which we have rooted in a cool spot in the hall of the Maison de Maitre. If you want to give it a go buy a small pot of mint from the supermarket, then just take several 10cm new shoots from the new growth, remove all the lower leaves and leave together to root in a jar of cool water (refresh the water every few days).

When you have a nice clusters of healthy looking roots, plant up each shoot individually or three to a small pot, leave for a few weeks until the weather is little warmer (yes, it will be warmer one day), and then plant out where you have lots of space to cover.  As mint can be a bit of a thug if uncontrolled, we personally like to pot the rooted cuttings up into a much larger pot which we then place in the earth up to the rim; this curtails its unruly behavior somewhat giving other herbs room to breath.

Apart from the mint-steeped tea, it is, of course, quite delicious in salads and eastern cooking.  Chop it or leave the leaves whole depending on your taste.

Pea, asparagus and fresh mint tarts

The up side of mint's profligacy is that we don't mind in the least if our friendly hares take a bite or two for hors d'eouvres.  There's always plenty more and in fact the "pruning" may very well encourage the rate of growth.

etsy felted hare

Bonne chance!