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.

Birds of Life cushion

 

I have finished my crochet cushion from Jane's book 'Homespun Vintage'. I changed the background to ecru because that's what was in my stash and worked the background in double crochet instead of knitting as I need the practice! But am really pleased with how it has turned out.

We have another retreat starting today, sadly the weather is still very changeable, I just caught this little lizard desperately seeking a few rays of sunshine!

Onwards with the housework..............
Knitting and crochet retreats in France

Knitting and crochet workshop in France - full day workshop

a rainy day in the studio

Thursday morning it was pouring with rain, luckily we had already decided to spend the whole day working on our projects. Sue and I went for a very short and wet walk with BeBop, listening to the rumble of thunder in the distance. After breakfast we all settled in the studio. Jane showed us how to make Dorset buttons and a variety of crochet flowers to use as embellishment.

Christine's dorset buttons

Christine's cushion

Hannah's crochet holder

Sue's dorset button

Hannah's flower embellishments

my birds of life cushion

My flower embellishment to go on a fabric cushion

Sue's cushion cover

Jane's new project

Christine and Sue are making cushions, inspired by Jane and Debbie's book Kaleidoscope, I am making the 'Birds of Life' cushion from Jane's book Homespun Vintage and Hannah is making a roll to store her crochet hooks using some of the techniques from Kaleidoscope and has also started on a pillow cover based on Gabrielle in Homespun Vintage that she is going to embellish with multi-coloured flowers.

Cognac tasting at Egreteau

The rain stopped in the evening so we went on an outing to Egreteau, our local Cognac producer for a tour of the distillery and a little tasting session of Cognac and Pineau, everyone bought some Pineau and Jane and Hannah bought some Cognac for Father's day pressies.

June Crochet workshop in France

The walk this morning with Sue and BeBop was cloudy but warm.

After breakfast we all bundled into the car and went in to St Jean d'Angely for the Wednesday morning market. Hannah bought a hat and a  basket at the first stall we came to, Jane bought some honey to take home and I bought seafood and veg for supper.

By mid morning it was hot and sunny, so we sat in the square drinking coffee and watching the world go by. Wandering through the lovely, narrow old streets we came across an amazing exhibition of hand made models showing the construction of Egyptian pyramids.

After lunch of fresh oysters, cheese and salad we spent the afternoon in the sunshine with our crochet.   All the projects are progressing well, Hannah thinks she will finish her project by the end of the week, I have started a second project (before finishing the first) inspired by a lovely book that Sue bought yesterday, making a crochet rose to attach to a fabric cushion. Sue and Christine are working hard on their projects but not convinced they will finish by Friday.

Jane, Sue and I took BeBop for a walk, then I cooked supper of paella followed by Pavlova with strawberries from the garden. It was warm enough to sit in the garden for supper and stay out there talking with our crochet until long after dark.

Winter is here at last

We have had the first real frosts of the winter the last few nights, with some great results for images. I want to make a series of cushion covers using textures from the surrounding countryside. I should be working on the book, but there always seems to be something better to do!