Sunday and Monday

Sunday morning and no rain so we head into Saintes for the huge brocante in the Hyper U car park. Loads of stalls but nothing (affordable) that leaps out saying 'buy me', so we all leave empty handed. After a quick stop at the Sunday morning market to buy prawns, vegetables and strawberries we go home for lunch and more knitting.

On Monday we spend a quiet morning at home working on our projects and in the afternoon my craft group come along for a knit'n'natter, lots of gossip, tea and cakes.

It is the last day of the holiday and we have achieved a huge amount. Stephanie has persevered with her beautiful lace scarf and two hats, Juliet has made some lovely crochet flowers and jewellery, experimented with crochet trims and finished a pair of bootees and some Easter chicks. I have finished a Debbie Bliss Ballerina bunny and my project for Knit Now mag.

The 2014 knitting and crochet retreats have started

Wonderful, a whole two weeks of knitting, and a bit of cooking. Spring has finally sprung and we have had nearly two weeks of glorious weather and the cowslips are out.

Guests Juliet and Stephanie arrived on Thursday in glorious sunshine, soon to change to pouring rain on Friday morning! However, after breakfast we made a quick dash into Saintes to the yarn and fabric shop for a few emergency supplies, yarn for all of us and a new crochet book for me then back home for lunch and an afternoon knitting.

Stephanie has made a start on an entrelac hat and lacy shawl (a brave move on the concentration levels but has been saved a few times by the lifelines), Juliet finished off a pair of moss stitch bootees and has moved onto experimenting with different crochet edgings, I have finally completed a project for Knit Now magazine that has been hanging over me for weeks and have started on some Easter bunnies.

Today we had more rain in the morning but the sun appeared in the afternoon so we went to Cognac for a wander around the shops, more fabric and ribbon purchases for me, and a couple of albums for Stephanie from the vinyl record shop. After coffee in the square and a quick photo session in the church and down by the river it was back home for more knitting.

Knitting holidays in France - spaces still available

Enjoy an early Spring in the Charente-Maritime we still have a few spaces available on the following three knitting and crochet holidays -

Thursday 20th March - tuesday 25th March 2014 - knitting and crochet holiday with optional workshops on various knitting techniques and basic crochet. For further details click here.

Thursday 27th March - tuesday 1st April 2014 - knitting and crochet holiday with optional workshops on various knitting techniques and basic crochet. For further details click here.

Thursday 24th April - tuesday 29th April 2014 - knitting and crochet holiday with optional workshops on various knitting techniques and basic crochet. For further details click here.

Come on your own to enjoy the company of fellow knitters or bring along a partner or friend (we can also arrange woodturning or painting classes on the same holiday if wanted). The holidays are open to all skill levels.

Christmas in France

Christmas started with a trip to the Christmas market in Bordeaux and of course Ikea...

No Christmas tree at la Verderie this year, I am fed up with clearing up pine needles which the dogs spread all over the house, so have gone for a couple of branches from the old walnut tree around the corner and my vintage glass baubles.

Buddy our new rescue dog is settling in well and he and BeBop have become inseparable.

The weather was fantastic for most of December, cold and frosty at night with blue skies and warm sunshine during the day, perfect.

But our luck ran out for Christmas with the tail end of the UK storm,the weather turned to mild, wet and windy.

A quick last minute shopping trip to the market in St Jean on Christmas Eve, then a few drinks in the bar which is packed with French and English (wearing their Christmas sweaters) all tucking into oysters, cakes, mince pies and chocolates.

Back home to walk the dogs, make the turkey stuffing and slump in front of the Christmas films.
Christmas day was lovely, just 6 of us for lunch (and 5 dogs), lots of eating, drinking and relaxing.
On Boxing Day we went for a walk on the beach, perfectly timed in brilliant sunshine between the showers.

Somewhat Grey, La Rochefoucauld, France

We have been introduced to this gorgeous new shop, more from a point of view of selling than buying, however I could easily be led astray.............

Owners Deborah and Jane opened Somewhat Grey in the main shopping street at La Rochefoucauld just 5 weeks ago and it is looking great.

They stock the beautiful Autentico chalk paints, which come in a stunning range of colours and are perfect for furniture painting.

The shop is crammed full of painted furniture, colourful cushions, rag rugs, kilims, Christmas decorations and gifts, also as from today a few of my knitted knick knacks and a nice order for some of Culli's woodturning in the spring.

Somewhat Grey is open Tuesday - Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm and will be launching their new website soon.