July knitting and crochet retreat at Knitting holidays in France

The last retreat of the summer has just finished, in this group we had three of our regular visitors and five new ones - including two lovely ladies who came all the way from Canada. As always after the first half an hour they were all chatting away like old friends.
On the first day we went to St Jean d'Angely to see the Fil en Fete exhibition. This is held every two years and is a lovely mix of old and contemporary patchwork, quilting and embroidery, displayed in all the old public buildings around the town.

After a coffee, it was home to relax in the sun with their projects and cool off in the swimming pool.

On Wednesday some of us braved the rain and thunderstorms for a trip to the yarn shop in Cognac, but it was shut!! (mental note to myself, must remember it is closed on Wednesday afternoons!) We made up for it in Tissus Mercerie buying fabric, buttons and trimmings.
On Thursday afternoon we went back to Cognac and spent lots of money in the yarn shop and listened to some of the music at the Blues Festival. Cognac Blues Passion is on every year in the first week of July.

On the last evening we had a show and tell of the projects, a gorgeous mix of shawls, vintage sweaters and crochet

And now the long awaited sunflowers have finally flowered

Knitting and crochet retreats at knitting holidays in France

June has been a busy month - the second retreat was another great week with a lovely bunch of ladies. This time it was a group who had all met at various workshops in the UK, but it was the first time they had all stayed together for a holiday. I have never seen so many projects!

We started the week with a show and tell of all the projects, I have never seen so many bags!

The weather was lovely so we were able to cook tagines outside and use the BBQ

And the gin fountain was in use

On Tuesday we had an afternoon in Cognac with a visit to Chateau Otard, the beautiful old Cognac distillery for a tour of the building and a tasting session

Then on to my favourite little yarn shop for some retail therapy

On Wednesday it was a trip to the market in St Jean d'Angely to buy a few baskets

Sunset at The Barn

The projects! Some were finished by the end of the week, some still WIP