Crochet workshop in France - days 4, 5 and 6

Wednesday starts off damp and cloudy, Cath goes for an early morning run on her own and I take the dogs out on my own, however after breakfast the clouds begin to clear.

A bar at Le Vieux Port in La Rochelle

We continue with our crochet project until late morning then all bundle in the car for a visit to La Rochelle.
The sun is shining and the first visit is to a bar in Le Vieux Port for a refreshing drink, followed by a wander around the beautiful shops hidden in shady cloisters in the ancient town.

The Patisserie

The window displays are fantastic, whether it is shoes, cakes, clothes or kitchen gadgets, but amazingly no purchases were made.

Shopping in La Rochelle

A trip to the beach for Cath to swim, however the tide was out and the long walk across the sand was not appealing, we sit at the cafe with ice creams and coffee watching the sun worshippers.

The beach at La Rochelle

Back to La Verderie for the compulsory evening dog walk, and as it is such a warm balmy evening supper of chicken kebabs and couscous in the garden.

Walking through the woods

Thursday promises to be hot and sunny so Cath, Sue and I take Bix and Be Bop out for an early walk then a whole day of crochet in the garden, the pressure is on to finish the cushions by Friday evening. Another beautiful warm evening so we have supper of roasted red peppers and seafood pies in the garden and sit there for ages watching the moths flit around the lights.

The woods at La Verderie

A shady corner

Roasted red pepper with cherry tomatoes and anchovy

Friday is the last day, it is hard to believe how fast the week has gone by. After the early morning walk and breakfast we go into Saintes for a little retail therapy, starting at the yarn shop then into the lovely little shop a few doors along which sells gorgeous clothing, bags, quilts, jewellery and homewares.

Salad Nicoise

Back to La Verderie for lunch of Salad Nicoise then the race is on to finish the projects. Sue completes her cushion cover first, closely followed by Jane then Cath. I have failed miserably with half a back to complete, my only excuse being the time spent in the kitchen preparing meals, however, it has been the most brilliant workshop and I can finally say that I think I have at last mastered the art of crochet. Jane has been very patient and helpful to all three of us.

Sue's cushion - back

Sue's cushion - front

Jane's cushion - back

Jane's cushion - front

Cath's cushion - back

Cath's cushion - front

There is a threat of thunderstorms but we have the final supper in the garden, paella followed by cherries in cognac with chocolate brownies and ice cream. An early start tomorrow for the return trips from Angouleme and Bordeaux.

Crochet workshop in France - day 3

The cushion fronts ready to be blocked and pressed

It is a Public holiday today so there is a Brocante in Brizambourg, however, we wake up to steady rain with no sign of a break. Cath and I brave the elements and take the dogs out for a short and soggy walk after breakfast. The weather doesn't really matter as we are all desperate to get on with our crochet, after a morning of hard concentration and little conversation we have all finished the front of the cushion covers, now all I need is for my new iron that we ordered on-line last week to arrive!

Brizambourg brocante

There is a brief respite in the rain so after lunch of French onion soup we go into Brizambourg to check out the Brocante, understandably only three stalls have put up with the weather. I buy some more geraniums for my new window boxes that Culli has just finished painting and we have a laugh at the bottom half of a shop mannequin that is for sale on one of the stalls then back to start on the back of our cushions.

Sue's start on a fairisle cushion from an old Debbie Bliss mag

Sue has a good rummage through my remaining yarn stock and comes out with some lovely shades to knit a fairisle cushion which she starts after supper.

Crochet workshop in France with Jane Crowfoot - day two

Yarn shop in Saintes

It's a lovely sunny morning so Cath, Sue and I take the dogs for a walk through the woods then back for breakfast and a trip to Saintes for the monthly market. Saintes is an old Roman town with a long straight high street and the market stretches from one end of the town to the other.

The street market in Saintes

Many of the stalls are repeated but there is plenty to see with lovely fabrics, buttons, shopping baskets and colourful clothing. Being Monday morning not many of the shops are open, but we all make a few purchases in Maison du Monde, pretty tea light holders, colourful plastic glasses and some silk flowers.

Window display of cup cakes in the opticians window

The yarn shop is closed, but maybe another visit later in the week. We have a coffee and do a bit of people watching for a while then home for lunch of Greek salad, bread and cheese in the garden.

lunch in the garden

In the afternoon we continue with our crochet cushions, the air is thick with concentration but the cushion covers are growing fast.

The crochet projects so far

After completing the most complicated round we go for a walk around the vineyard and come back for apero's and supper - Culli's (or perhaps I should say Rick Stein's) famous seafood ragout and tagliatelle, followed by lemon curdy pudding.

Crochet workshop in France

Brocante in Bordeaux

Saturday morning and it's off to Bordeaux to pick up tutor Jane and guest Sue. Jane arrives on the early flight from Luton, we make a dash to the car in torrential rain and head into Bordeaux for a bit of retail therapy, another visit to Le Droguerie then a wander around the shops, back to the spring market I visited last week with the amazing brocante and a sandwich and coffee in the sun.

Vintage linen at the brocante

Sue's flight is early afternoon so we head back to the airport to meet her than return to La Verderie. Culli picks up Cath from Angouleme and they are back in time for apero's and supper.

Gearing up for the workshop

Sunday morning, Sue, Cath and I take the dogs for an early morning walk. After breakfast we have a basic session reminding us of crochet stitches, I admit to the fact that I have hardly picked up a crochet hook since last October and I think Cath is not far behind me, Sue is a member of Jane's Crochet Club and has brought along her current piece for a bit of advice.

lunch al fresco

We brave the elements and have lunch in the sun, between the clouds and the wind. After lunch we all start on the project that Jane has brought along for her Coronet Rose Cushion an exclusive pattern from the Crochet Club. This is fantastic, Cath and I are both so excited to realise that we can actually read a crochet pattern at last...........

The centre pieces for our cushion covers after one afternoon

We have all reached the same stage on the cushion and are feeling the strain of the concentration so head off for a bit of fresh air with the dogs, it is a lovely clear but blustery afternoon, but very soggy underfoot as I lead them on a muddy trail through the woods. Culli has been busy building more window boxes to put along the front of the house and the planters are finished and filled with tomatoes, lettuce, rhubarb, beans, spring onions and chillies.

my new vegetable patch!

Apero's in the garden then supper of lamb with mojette beans followed by pavlova. An evening of lively discussion ranging from the Royal family to walking on the moon..........
Tomorrow morning it is the first Monday of the month and the huge street market in Saintes.

Knitting Retreat in France, final day

The frenzied rummage for yarn purchases

Sunday morning brings more rain, after a late breakfast everyone has a rummage through my remaining stock, with boxes of yarn spread out all over the floor. A few bargain purchases are made with fingers crossed that it will all cram into the suitcases, Jane has just about cleaned me out of Rowan pure wool DK and Hannah goes for more cotton.

Flower stall at Saintes market

Suddenly, a brief glimmer of sunshine so the two Jane's, Hannah and I make a dash into Saintes to the Sunday morning market which is bustling with people taking advantage of a dry morning. The strong wind makes stallholders hang on to their hats and canopies, but there is a good atmosphere and a lot of noise.

Hannah buys more cheese for Maureen to take home and I buy fresh prawns and vanilla pods. Nearly got carried away on the plant stall, but think I need to wait until we source some earth for the new planters.

Home for lunch and a lazy afternoon finishing off projects, followed by supper of antipasto, paella and golden croissant pudding. Everyone heads off for an early night as we have to be up at the crack of dawn on Monday.

Hannah's completed project a Debbie Bliss design

Maureen's scarves

A 6.30 am start on Monday morning to take Jane, Hannah and Jane back to Bordeaux airport, Culli has a more leisurely start to take Maureen to Angouleme, then it is back home to strip all the beds and tidy up before the next workshop starts on Saturday..........

French knitting retreat days 3 and 4

My new garden planters

Friday morning brought more rain so we settled in with the knitting, Hannah is going well on her first attempt at fairisle, Jane is steaming along with the baby knit from her new pattern book, Maureen is cursing her crochet pattern for a toy duck and Jane G has finished her toy Kiwi.
Friday afternoon the weather was a bit brighter so we left Maureen relaxing at home and headed off for Cognac. A wander around the town and visit to the yarn shop followed by a trip to Auchan which seemed to be the highlight of the day for Hannah who was in food heaven clutching bags of cheese and spicy sausages to take home.

The Kiwi with a Gin and tonic!

Saturday morning and the weather was getting worse, torrential rain looked like it was set in for the day so non-stop knit'n'natter. Culli braved the elements to build me some new planters for the garden, wishing the rain would stop now so that I can fill them. No trip to the market today.
I made banana cake for tea then Jane G and I took the dogs for a quick walk along the lane in the afternoon and got soaked to the skin, the ditches are overflowing and lakes forming everywhere. Everyone seems very happy though and knitting projects are getting finished, Hannah has finished her little fairisle, Maureen has finished two scarves and Jane has finished her little cardi (apart from the dreaded sewing up).
Supper of Charentaise melon salad followed by Provencal beef stew and pasta bake topped up with lemon cheesecake, I think we need to go somewhere tomorrow for a bit of exercise.

Day two of the knitting retreat

A morning of knitting and chatter at home, homemade soup for lunch and then a trip across to the Charente to visit Farrlacey Alpacas

The shop at Farrlacey

It was a lovely drive through the rolling countryside to meet these beautiful animals and welcoming owners Trevor and Dick. The five of us squeezed into their little shop which is packed with gorgeous knitted and woven scarves, shawls and throws, yarn, alpaca duvets and pillows and even alpaca insoles for toasty feet.

Merino lamb

We were all tempted by the goodies, as I have a cupboard bursting with yarn in every room in the house I managed to restrict myself to just one ball of the beautiful rose grey shade for now, I feel a pair of lace mittens coming on, but am also inspired to do some designs using these beautiful yarns, so will probably be paying another visit soon, maybe the crochet group would like to go at the beginning of May....

Farrlacey products are for sale through their website and if you happen to be in the Charente the shop is open Thursday and Saturday afternoons.