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Showing posts with label market. Show all posts
Showing posts with label market. Show all posts

Tuesday, 6 May 2014

2014 Mystery Blanket workshop in France - day 1

The mystery blanket workshop with tutor Debbie Abrahams started on Sunday. The sun was shining as I picked up Pat, Shelley and Debbie from Bordeaux airport, we arrived home just as the other 9 guests arrived. All are repeat visitors except for Pat and Tracy, so after noisy greetings everyone settled in the garden for apero’s before supper.
drinks in the garden at La Nougerée
It was another sunny day on Monday morning, so to break everyone in gently with a little retail therapy we went into Saintes for the monthly market. 











The colourful market stalls stretch the full length of the main street in Saintes either side of the river Charente and sell everything from kitchen stuff to to buttons, fabric and clothing. We lost Debbie in Maison du Monde while we went for a coffee, everyone seemed to go home with a few purchases.
After lunch of courgette and feta cheese tart and salads, everyone settled in the garden for the first workshop. Debbie has brought along two little projects using intarsia and beading for Shelley and Pat who are the only two that aren’t members of the Mystery Blanket Club, the rest of the group are concentrating on their blanket squares and go through any problems with Debbie.



The afternoon seems to fly by and the temperature soars to 28c, so everyone has a healthy glow by the evening. After supper of pear, Roquefort and walnut salad, Mediterranean pasta bake and caramel meringues with strawberries we collapse in the large sitting room at La Nougeree with our knitting for a couple of hours of lively chatter. 

Monday, 25 November 2013

Christmas Open House

painting by Pamela Slater
Our Open Studio at the beginning of November went well with lots of new visitors. We had the usual disgusting weather on the Saturday, leaving the car park opposite a sea of mud, but plenty of people braved the elements and tea, coffee and cream teas were readily consumed.

kilims for sale

the gallery at La Verderie

On the Sunday in a moment of madness I decided to do Sunday Roast in two sittings, so we fed 8 at lunch time and 17 in the evening, in between making tea and coffee and keeping an eye on the gallery!

Sunday roast

Next Open Studio dates - Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th April, see details here
The gallery at La Verderie is now a greenhouse for the winter.
The following weekend we were at Le Logis de la Courade for a Christmas market. Culli and I had the use of a huge barn for our 'art gallery' which was fantastic.

the gallery at le logis de la Courade


There were some lovely stalls selling homemade cakes, chutneys, honey, Christmas decs, soaps, cards, brocante and clothing, plus a pamper session offering Indian head massage - a great day out. I possibly spent more than I took as I ended up buying three gorgeous Christmas baubles ranging in size from large to enormous.
Christmas baubles



Hoping to persuade Vicki to organise another event next year.

Monday, 28 October 2013

Christmas Open House

We are having an Open Studio at La Verderie the weekend of 9th and 10th November, open from 10 am to 4 pm on both days.





Come and stock up on your Christmas gifts - woodturning by Culli and Roger Slater, paintings by Suzanne Thorne, Pamela Slater, Doris Murray, Judith Ryde, Margaret Pearce and Don Thompson, textiles, knitwear, patchwork, embroidery, kilims, furniture, knitting accessories, Christmas cards and decorations.
For further details email sue


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