... and the winner is.....

.... Lizz Harding and her composite March Hare!  

The diversity and skill demonstrated in the numerous submissions made it difficult for Billie Jean Spille, our judge, to make a decision (it tooke her a few days), but she finally chose Lizz's hare for her demonstration of an assortment of creative skills - papier mache, knitting, sewing, painting and much more - to produce a delightfully animated effort full of fun. 

But many thanks to all of you who sent in photographs of your personal March Hares;  they were all wonderful, no two the same.  Well done, Lizz, to win against such stiff competition and we all look forward to meeting you as a guest on one of our workshops next year.

Over the next few weeks we will be highlighting the numerous submissions and later in the year we may develop the theme of Les Soeurs Anglaises' mascot hare to offer another competition.  Watch this space.......

.... Prize for the March Hare with the Mostest....

We like to keep Les Soeurs Anglaises' enthusiasts busy, so here is our .....

Pre-season Competition..... 

We're enjoying the calm before the storm down here (enjoying rather better weather than most it would seem), and take great delight when, from time to time, we catch sight of our workshop motif, the  beautiful Brown Hare - lièvre - most commonly seen here during the lengthening evening hours in the spring, when their mating rituals of boxing and chasing each other, bring them into the open. Not long ago I caught sight of my first this year, when I glanced out of a bedroom window one stormy evening and caught sight of a large male hare sitting stock-still in the middle of our courtyard staring into the thunderclouds.  I blinked and he was gone - so perfect, so magical.

But back to our competition

We would like you to send us a picture of your hare.  He/she  can be real or imagined, photographed or knitted, sculpted or drawn, stitched or printed on fabric; whatever floats your boat, and as long as it looks vaguely like a hare.  At the end of April we will put together all the submissions and asking our local artist celebrity, Billie Jean Spille, to choose the most creative offering.  

 First Prize

The winner will be offered a free place on a Les Soeurs Anglaises' workshop of their choice, either this year (where we still have places) or one in 2014 ( excluding travel expenses).  There will also be a prize for the correct answer to a hare-related question in the final week of the competition, clues to which will be hidden amongst our blog, Facebook, website or Twitter between now and the closing date.  So if you don't feel like creating anything you can try your hand at something a little more esoteric.

original March Hare illustration by John for Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

felted hare by Ruthfully on Etsy

Charcoal drawing by Valerie Davide

A couple of interesting facts about hares:  they can move very fast when required - up to 70 kmh;  and the young of the hare are born with fur and vision, unlike the much smaller rabbit, which has neither.

Stuffed textile hares by Mr Finch

Wire hare by Julieann Worrall Hood who will be joining us to lead a workshop in August

Dark Hare by Peter Denness

We know how many talented Les Soeurs Anglaises followers there are out there and we're looking forward to seeing all your creations.  To help you along, we'll be posting more hares over the next few weeks, along with clues to the final Big Question.

Submitted photographs of your March Hare should be emailed  to reach us no later than noon on 30th April 2013.   

Have a Happy and Creative Easter.