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

Supporting the Poppy Appeal

Open Studio in the Charente-Maritime

Yesterday was the first day of our summer Open Studio, we are open again next Sunday 25th August so come and join us and sample a lovely cream tea! Details here.

paintings by Pamela Slater and Doris Murray

It was a great day with plenty of visitors and some wonderful demonstrations of painting by Pam and Judith, woodturning by Roger and Culli and embroidery by Katrina.

the gorgeous ABC quilt made by Katrina Haigh

Open Studio and workshops in France

Chambord

We have just come back from a hectic few days in the UK. The return trip was very long with a detour to see some puppies (which was a wasted journey), then a lovely drive back down the Loire past some of the beautiful Chateaux, through a massive thunderstorm at Poitiers which nearly brought the traffic to a halt. We came back with a car loaded full of Kilims for the gallery (if they make it that far!)

Kilims for sale

I now have a month to tidy, re-arrange and make stuff to fill the gallery in time for the two day Open Studio at La Verderie in August (Sunday 18th and Sunday 25th August). There will also be paintings by local artist's Pamela Slater and Doris Murray, woodturning by Roger Slater and Culli and woodturning demo's. For further details visit the Art in France website here.

Stag in the sunflowers

The sunflowers are finally out and looking very beautiful, BeBop and I have been going for very early morning walks and came across a stag in the sunflowers this morning, sadly too far away for a good image!

House for sale in the Charente-Maritime, France

My friend Gill is selling her house.
It is in a quiet hamlet 15km from the towns of St Jean d'Angely, Saintes and Cognac.
The house is partly renovated but needs more work to make it into a home.
The main house has a large kitchen/dining room, study, shower room, sitting room and two upstairs bedrooms and a new roof.
It is attached to two large barns and a hanger. There is also a large detached barn which could be turned into a separate house and a pig-sty and bread oven.
The large garden surrounds the house on three sides, there is also a mature orchard with cherry, plums, apples and pears and a large field which is currently meadow.
For further details and to arrange a viewing click here.

Hanger and pig-sty

detached barn

study

first floor bedroom

orchard

kitchen

view from the kitchen

front of house
 

Sale of handknitted samples

I have a few ready made garments that were shop samples and are now available at bargain prices on KnitKits, so pick up something for less than the cost of the yarn here!

Addi circular knitting needles at a bargain price

I have started up-dating the KnitKits website and have some addi premium circular needles at the bargain price of £4.00 a set and with FREE postage to the UK. CLICK HERE to order.
I have also set myself a target to finish a design for a new knitting kit every two days, which means plenty of time watching Wimbledon while I knit up the samples! Finally finished the smocked jacket I was knitting at the Chateau and this will be available to order from today either as a knitting kit or PDF pattern. ORDER HERE

Happy New Year!

Emma a knitting kit using Fleece Artist yarn

The yarn sale at Kangaroo is in full swing - I am back to the UK tomorrow to get all the Christmas orders out and change all the prices for the VAT increase (groan..) However, to make up for this there are further reductions on many of the sale yarns. Bargain of the day - Fleece Artist knitting kit Emma is reduced from £36 to £22.
My book is nearly finished, I thought I would never get to the day when I could say that, but only 2 projects to finish off today and get to the pattern checkers, then just the remaining text to write..........

Christmas at La Verderie

The alternative Christmas Tree

I have just had four whole days of relaxing with nothing to do but eat, drink and be merry (and cook Christmas dinner for 7), the first break since the beginning of October and it has been wonderful. The trip back to France was fine, with none of the travel problems I was expecting. I had one whole day to get the shopping in for Christmas, our village shop had sold out of Christmas trees, so I grabbed a branch from the side of the road for a last minute decoration. Still didn't manage to get any Christmas cards sent or emailed so will have to go for the French version of the New Year card!

Christmas Dinner

Christmas day was great, just us and mates, Gill, Merv, David, Yvonne and Huw plus Bix and Be Bop's mate Joe who is staying 'til Tuesday.

Joe, Bix and Be Bop waiting for Father Christmas

Boxing Day on the beach

Boxing Day was a chilly but sunny walk on the beach at Royan (so chilly that the sea had frozen at the edges!) And today is back to work with the last few projects to go on the book, newsletters to send out and more additions to the sale at Kangaroo.

Snowed in again!

I am stuck in snowy Sussex and Culli is stuck in France. He was meant to be on a flight here yesterday so that we could have an early Christmas Day with the family, but all flights have been cancelled - what a pain. I really hope I can get back to France next week! The only good news is more time to finish the book, but I can't get out to Kangaroo at the moment, so no Open Day today, hopefully will get there for Monday. There are lots more bargains in the yarn clearance sale and I will be making more changes to the website over Christmas.

Sale of knitting books

We have lots of great pattern books on offer, including Rowan magazines, Rowan Studio pattern books and sock knitting books. Snap up a bargain here!

Special Offers

We have lots of special offers for October. Go to the home page at Kangaroo for the latest reductions on Debbie Bliss Amalfi and Eco Cotton Aran. There is a new Addi delivery due this week and we should have the full range in stock again by the end of November.

August offers - knitting needles and yarn

We have up to 50% discount on some of the current stock of Prym knitting needles, River John Knitting needles, Kaalund knitting yarns and patterns and BARGAIN OF THE MONTH  - the last of the Appleton's tapestry wool is reduced to just 11 pence per skein!

Stock checking - huge discount on knitting yarns

My least favourite job, but I have come to the end of another financial year so it has to be done. To make my life easier we are offering 25% discount on all items currently in stock at Kangaroo (offer ends at midnight on Sunday 1st August 2010). To claim the discount enter the code 25DISCOUNT when prompted at the checkout. PLEASE NOTE offer does not apply to workshops and knitting holidays.

Sale of knitting yarns

The summer sale finishes next week, we still have offers on plenty of yarns so snap up the bargains now at http://www.kangaroo.uk.com/

Knitting yarn bargains

We have further reductions on the special offers page, plus some newly discontinued shades in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Chunky, Noro Blossom, Noro Silk Garden Lite and Noro Silk Garden Chunky - build up your stash here!

The last day of June

It is the end of another month and summer is finally in full swing, hot and sunny with a temperature of 35 in our courtyard, the photo is of the hollyhocks that grow all around the little hamlets here like weeds.

Culli and I have just spent a busy week in the UK, a hectic mix of work and pleasure with not a spare moment for up-dating the blog. We finally got to meet Martha our newest grand-daughter and at the other end of the scale went to my uncle Martin's 100th birthday party! He still lives on his own, does his Tesco's shopping on-line and what do you think we gave a 100 year old for a birthday present? - a webcam!

I also met up with Kay the Rowan rep and got to see all the new autumn/winter range, difficult to think of in soaring temperatures, but the new magazine no. 48 is due out in just over 2 weeks.
The summer sale is still going at Kangaroo for a few more days to make room for all the new stock, so snap up the bargains now.

Sale of Hanne Falkenberg Knitting Kits

We currently have a sale on selected Hanne Falkenberg knitting kits with up to 25% off, see here.

Hanne has also brought out two lovely new kits, Duet a diagonal striped cardigan with short kimono sleeves, available in a range of shades and Polo is a lovely cosy snood.