A Great Yarn

Well, the first of our 2011 workshops has just ended and what a time we all had! A fantastic group of women came from as far afield as Vancouver and Stockholm, Leicester and Melbourne to glean some of Patricia Roberts' knitting magic and share their own inspirational skills with colour, texture and design. A truly great start to our season of events!

Patricia's husband, John, joined us for the five days of the workshop and the 12 participants enjoyed a mixture of sunny and cool days. Luckily there was enough of the former to allow an occassional dip in the heated pool and numerous meals outside on the terrace of the Maison de Matire, whilst the less warm days encouraged hard work and longer hours in the studio many of which stretched into the early evenings, with a little extra help and guidance from Patricia.

Meanwhile, back at the barn it was all hands to the needle in order to finish the "glove project" that Patricia had handed out on the first day - each knitter encouraged to design on their individual pair a motif inspired by their stay at Les Soeurs Anglaises. The results were cracking.....

Half way through the workshop we organised a visit to the local marche and brocante (the whereabouts of which is a closely guarded secret) where various items of colour and delight were purchased to take home or use as inspiration for their projects.

On the final afternoon high tea was served on the terrace outside the studio

after which each of the participants was invited in turn to talk a little about their knitting history, favourite knitted items and finished gloves - another perspective on each knitter's personal "creative journey" .

On departure day contact details were exchanged and a few tears shed. As one of the participants wrote to us later: "I am still trying to hold onto the warm, happy bubble that I felt when staying with you. I can honestly say it has been one of my happiest weeks ever!"

A Stitch in Town

If you've been very busy in the garden preparing for the warmer weather and haven't had a chance to read your emails you might not yet have heard about Selvedge Magazine's Spring Fair to be held at their regular venue in Highgate, London on Saturday, 2nd April just down the road from their offices and shop. As usual, it promises to be full of fun ideas and great things to buy, and for the first time Les Soeurs Anglaises will be manning a stall.

So if you do make it to Town, try to squeeze your way through the crowds to our stand to say hello. If we're old friends it would be lovely to catch up, and if we haven't yet met then this will be an opportunity for you to find out a little bit more about our workshops, and to get a better feel for LSA's venue, location and hospitality.

Our events this year are pretty booked up by now, however Susie Cowie, who is leading our Embroidery workshop in June, and Rachel Hazell our super-creative Book Art teacher, will both be spending time with us at the Fair. This is a perfect opportunity to see and talk to them about their work, ideas and the sort of things they love to teach; and if there isn't room for your to join us this year, there is always 2012.

We've lived in this area of France for almost ten years and we thought we knew all the English there were to know round here by now; but then, a few months ago, we came across Jane Bedford, who until recently was running a delightful tea room called "Cupcakes" in Brantome a local beauty spot. Jane's baking and cake decorating skills are a revelation! She doesn't just produce sublime, bespoke wedding cakes. Her tea cakes, biscuits and pastries are to die for and we're discussing with her the possibility of her designing and producing speciality Les Soeurs Anglaises bakes for the workshops.

There's no time like tea time.

*Photograph of Surry Puffs by Rebecka Ryberg Skött

Keep on Building

photograph by Rae Willow

Back on French soil, and we have hit the ground running. So much to organise, so little time.... or so it seems. Work commences afresh on the extension to l'Espace (two new bedrooms, four new bathrooms and more) with our favourite architect in the whole world, Jeremy Harris, in charge once again. The days start below zero here, but by lunchtime it's T-shirt weather, the place is buzzing with workmen and the birds have come out to see what's cooking.

Meanwhile, there are textile fairs to visit and Carol and I are off to Paris on Friday for Aiguille en Fete. More of this later, but if you have time on your hands, take a look at one or two of the websites and blogs I have come across in the last couple of months. I am sure you will find them of interest:

The first is Entree des Fournisseurs, a great little site, recommended by our very own book artist, Rachel Hazell, where you can buy all sorts of interesting haberdashery items that you didn't even know you needed.

Another is Di Overton's blog Designers Block, with enough fabulous photos and fashion, information and ideas to fill a girl's heart full to bursting. Take a look at her website Ghost Furniture and you'll get a glimpse of the sort of things inspired by her eclectic and buzzy interests. We are currently discussing the possibility of her leading a five day workshop here on painted furniture in 2012; if it pans out I'm going to be sitting on the sidelines soaking up some of her creative secrets.