Knitting and crochet workshop in France with tutor Carol Meldrum - File en fete

We had four residential guests for Carol's workshop at La Verderie, Jan, Wendy, Sonia and Cath and day girls Gill, Natasha and Lorraine. We started the first day with a morning workshop to find out what everyone wanted to do. For the main project Carol brought along a calico bag for everyone to embellish in their chosen design. In the afternoon we went to St Jean d'Angely for the Fil en Fete exhibition. This amazing exhibition was spread around the town in 9 different venues with displays of old and contemporary patchwork quilts, textile art, beautiful vintage Chinese costumes and a whole building of stalls selling fabric, yarn, needlepoint, X stitch and much more - a great afternoon with masses of inspiration in a riot of colour and texture. Check out these websites to see more of the artists' work SegoLaine Schweitzer, Cosabeth Parriaud, France Brechignac

After a coffee in the square and a demo of Sonia's new i-cord machine we went back home exhausted but brimming with ideas.

June knitting retreat in France

The June retreat was a reunion of 9 of our past guests, Caroline, Felicity, Sandra, Rhona, Mary, Toril, Astrid, Wendy, Pippa and new girl Olwyn. It started with a rail strike in France, but after lots of text messages we managed to get the five who were arriving by train here for a late supper on the Sunday evening. As it is a large group we are using the house at La Nougerée so have the swimming pool, which is now heated to a balmy 30 degrees.

We started the week with coffee in the sun at the local bar in Burie, Rhona is modelling her nearly finished fairisle beret.

The completed beret blocking over a plate.

A visit to the Donkey Sanctuary to see the lovely Poitou Donkey's. These beautiful animals were bred as working animals but are now very few and far between. They are huge animals with amazing dreadlocks.

cute enough to take home

two liberated donkey's

a quick stop at the fish stall in the market to buy fresh sardines and brandade for lunch

coffee in St Jean d'Angely

We didn't spend all our time shopping, drinking coffee and visiting donkeys, everyone managed to produce vast amounts of knitting and crochet, we even managed a little jewellery making workshop with Toril and Astrid. 

It was a fabulous week, with lots of sunshine, swimming, laughter and friendship, looking forward to everyone returning in 2015.