Knitting Basics workshop

Find inspiration for textured knitting from your local surroundings

Nature is great for inspiration

Simple colour work

I still have two spaces available for the Knitting Basics workshop in April (11th - 16th), this holiday is perfect for novice knitters or anyone wanting to brush up on the basics. Discover how to work with colour and create simple textured patterns, we will aim to complete a small project during the course of the week using different techniques. The small group allows for the workshop to be tailored to individual needs with plenty of one-to-one tuition. More experienced knitters are welcome to come along with their own projects and just relax at this peaceful retreat. For further details visit Knitting Holidays in France

Basic beading

Programme for the knitting basics workshop

Weds 11th April	Transfer to La Verderie from your chosen airport/station. Relax with an apero and supper
Thurs 12th April	8-9 breakfast 9.30 – 1 morning workshop 1-2 lunch 2.30 – 5.00 afternoon workshop 7.30 supper
Friday 13th April	8-9 breakfast 9.30 – 1 trip to Cognac or Chateau Corbonne 2.30 – 5.00 afternoon workshop  7.30 supper
Sat 14th April	8-9 breakfast 9.30 – 1 trip to St Jean d’Angely market 1-2 lunch 2.30 – 5 afternoon workshop 7.30 supper
Sunday 15th April	8-9 breakfast 9.30 – 1 morning workshop 1-2 lunch 2.30 – 5.30 afternoon workshop 7.30 supper
Monday 16th April	Transfers back to your departure airport or railway station

It's snowing in La Verderie

I realise that most of the UK is covered in a blanket of snow, but it is quite a novelty at La Verderie. It's only the second time in 8 years that we have had snow that looks like it is here to stay and the last time was about 5 years ago which was the first time some of the younger children in our little hamlet had ever seen snow. Being snowed in could be good for the book, if I can't go anywhere I will have to sit and work on it, we have logs, wine and a freezer full of food.........

A day out in Norwich

Culli had to meet a client in Norwich last week, so I went along for the ride and knitted my way from La Verderie all the way to Norwich. It was a fairly frantic couple of days but good to see everyone and I love Norwich. It has a beautiful cathedral and fantastic shops, wish I could have spent more time there. Then back to Hove in the evening to help Ross celebrate his birthday with cheesecake made by Bash and Poppy.

Entrance to the Cathedral Close

Hot Textile workshops

We have revised the programme for the two textile workshops in the autumn, these are now open to all skill levels and promise to be really exciting courses.



26th September - 1st October 2012HOT TEXTILES - CREATIVE BONDAWEB (suitable for all skill levels)
AT LA VERDERIE
WITH TUTOR KIM THITTICHAI

The cost of the holiday is £425 per head based on two sharing a twin room or £495 per head for a single room this includes full board and wine with evening meals, all workshops, materials, outings to local towns and transfers from local airports or train stations. 

For further details or to make a booking email sueculligan@gmail.com 

Spend time learning new skills or improving your techniques in textile art in the quiet and relaxed atmosphere of La Verderie. With an intimate group of just 4/5 students this is a great chance of one-to-one tuition and learning new techniques for working in textiles. Learn how to use Bondaweb creatively in a relaxed and comfortable environment. This workshop is designed to cater for all skill levels, novices will be taught all the basic bonding processes including how to paint and foil this wonderful product. We will go on to discover how to build up layers of hand stitch and embellishment and learn about decorating wood, paper and card and about just how versatile Bondaweb is. Participants with more experience will be encouraged to experiment with new techniques and learn how to source inspiration from local surroundings. For further details and a full programme email sueculligan@gmail.com Please note a deposit of £75 is payable at the time of booking and is non-refundable unless we can resell the space. Balance payable by 26th August 2012. (4 spaces available)

DRAFT PROGRAMME 

	morning	afternoon	evening
Wednesday 26th		transfers to La Verderie from your chosen airport or station	Social evening meet your fellow guests and tutor and introduction the course.
Thursday 27th	Painting and preparing products and demonstration.	Local outing tbc	Relaxed evening
Friday 28th	Morning Workshop	Afternoon Workshop	Sit and hand stitch if you wish or just relax.
Saturday 29th	Trip to local market a wonderful source of inspiration.	Afternoon Workshop	Sit and hand stitch if you wish or just relax.
Sunday 30th	Morning Workshop	Complete projects. Show and tell.	Final evening
Monday 1st	return transfers

This is a rough guide as to how the workshops will run and can be changed to suit individual needs. Depending on the experience of the students we may have time to achieve more. The whole point of this workshop is to really understand how to use Bondaweb creatively. With such a small group the tutor will be able to adapt quickly to students needs.

---

3rd - 8th October 2012
HOT TEXTILES - LUSCIOUS LAYERS (suitable for all skill levels)

AT LA VERDERIE
TUTOR KIM THITTICHAI

The cost of the holiday is £425 per head based on two sharing a twin room or £495 per head for a single room. This includes full board and wine with evening meals, all workshops, materials, outings to local towns and transfers from local airports or train stations. 

For further details or to make a booking email sueculligan@gmail.com 

Spend time learning new skills or improving your techniques in textile art in the quiet and relaxed atmosphere of La Verderie. With an intimate group of just 4/5 students this is a great chance of one-to-one tuition and learning new techniques for working in textiles. Discover the delights of layering materials to create stunning textile art. This workshop is designed for all skill levels, beginners will be led through the basics and more experienced participants will be encouraged to experiment with new techniques and source their own inspiration. We will be painting, layering and stitching Tyvek, Vilene Spunbond and newspaper to create amazing textured surfaces with heat guns and soldering irons. Learn how to use heat guns safely and confidently. There will be plenty of time to create some beautiful and well considered samples to take home. Please note a deposit of £75 is payable at the time of booking and is non-refundable unless we can resell the space. Balance payable by 3rd September 2012. (3 spaces remaining)

DRAFT PROGRAMME

	morning	afternoon	evening
Wednesday 3rd		transfers to La Verderie from your chosen airport or station	Social evening meet your fellow guests and tutor and introduction the course.
Thursday 4th	Painting and preparing products and demonstration.	Local outing tbc	Relaxed evening
Friday 5th	Discover the benefits of layering products. Think about making book covers or vessels. Start to build up layers with newspaper, Vilene Spunbond, Tyvek and Bondaweb.	An afternoon to experiment with all the products and get to know them.	Sit and hand stitch if you wish or just relax.
Saturday 6th	Trip to local market a wonderful source of inspiration.	Students start to develop their own ideas and paint up more products for the final day.	Sit and hand stitch if you wish or just relax.
Sunday 7th	Work on layered surfaces and experiment with making 3d samples if you wish.	Stitch into samples or carry on with experiments. Final round up and show and tell.	Final evening
Monday 8th	return transfers

This is a rough guide to how the workshops will run and can be changed to suit individual needs. Depending on the experience of the students we may have time to achieve more. The whole point of this workshop is to really understand how to use layers in your work creatively. With such a small group the tutor will be able to adapt quickly to students needs.

More frosty images

Another frosty walk this morning. Having just watched a preview of the David Hockney exhibition I am feeling inspired to pick up my pastels again. I am planning another Open House at La Verderie over Easter, hopefully in the barn if we have it cleared by then........!

Be Bop at full pelt

Winter is here at last

We have had the first real frosts of the winter the last few nights, with some great results for images. I want to make a series of cushion covers using textures from the surrounding countryside. I should be working on the book, but there always seems to be something better to do!

Crochet Design workshop with tutor Jane Crowfoot May 2012

We have a new crochet workshop in May 2012

Crochet Design with tutor Jane Crowfoot

Sturday 5th - Saturday 12th May 2012

La Verderie, Brizambourg, France

Following the success of the October workshop Jane (see more of her wonderful work here) is coming back to La Verderie in May to tutor another glorious week of crochet. We already have one booking so there are just 3/4 spaces available in either one single and one twin room or two twin rooms.
The workshop will cover all aspects of crochet and caters for different skill levels, the small group ensures that each guest receives dedicated tuition.
For further details visit www.knittingholidaysinfrance.com or email sueculligan@gmail.com