April Knitting Retreat at La Verderie

We are into day 3 of the April knitting retreat at La Verderie and it is going brilliantly. Mum Sheelagh and daughter Fiona arrived at Bordeaux on Sunday to blue skies and a temperature of 27c, coming from Yorkshire this was understandably a bit of shock for them! It was warm enough to eat supper outside and sit there chatting until after dark.
Sheelagh has come with a plan to master crochet, starting with a simple dishcloth and then a striped cushion cover by Erika Knight, plus a knitted needle case and hot water bottle cover when the crochet gets too stressful. Fiona arrived with a suitcase full of yarn to knit a jacket for her brother, fairisle slipover for Dad and a hot water bottle cover, at the end of the week we will have a show and tell to see how much they have achieved!
On Monday we spent the day in the garden and the studio working on our various projects, I am coming close to finishing my crochet mini throw made from some of my stash of felted tweed. Sheelagh started on the dishcloth and is going great guns with straight sides and even tension. Fiona managed to knit most of the back of her jacket. In the evening after dinner of toulouse sausage and bean casserole, followed by chocolate brownies and raspberry coulis we spent an evening with our knitting and crochet in front of Star Wars IV (the original).

Coffee in Cognac

Tuesday was another lovely sunny day, after breakfast the three of us went into Cognac to visit Tissus Bonnet the fabric and yarn shop. After at least an hour of browsing we all came out clutching goodies, various fabric remnants, yarn, patterns, sewing machine accessories and a kit to make a sewing box, then on to the kitchen shop for a few gifts for Sheelagh and Fiona to take home. After a coffee in the sun we went back to La Verderie for alfresco lunch of salad, cheese and charcuterie. In the afternoon I finally finish my crochet, and at last feel confident enough to say that I can crochet! Fiona finished the back of her jacket and went on to the hottie cover for a bit of mindless relief and Sheelagh made a start on the cushion cover.


Chateau de Crazannes

Today our morning trip was to the beautiful Chateau de Crazannes. We were the only three on the guided tour and although our lovely young guide insisted she spoke no English, between my garbled translation, her very animated explanations in broken English and the written translation we learnt a lot about this amazing building and grounds. The original chateau was built in the 14th and 15th centuries and was the inspiration for Charles Perrault's tale of 'Puss in Boots'. It has been host to various royals over the centuries including the Black Prince and is now open to the public all through the year and is a Chambres d'hotes.

After lunch we settled back into our projects. Sheelagh now has four on the go, Fiona finished her hottie cover and has started the fairisle slipover and I have started a baby sweater. Tonight, Star Wars episode V!

Knitting and Crochet holiday in France with tutor Jane Crowfoot

Due to a cancellation we have one space available in a single room or two spaces available in a twin room. Join knitting and crochet guru Jane Crowfoot for this wonderful blend of workshops and relaxation from 9th - 15th June 2013 in the sunny Charente-Maritime department of France.
For further details of the workshop visit the knitting holidays in france website here, or email sueculligan@gmail.com

Jane and Debbie Abrahams have just produced a fantastic new book called Kaleidoscope (available to order from Monday 15th April here). The book has a selection of 24 knit and crochet projects for the home.

A sunny Easter at La Verderie

Spring is slow arriving even in sunny France, however we have had a lovely Easter weekend with some warm sunshine and visitors.

My Easter bouquet

Our friends Mike and Linda and Nash and Linda arrived for the weekend clutching, gorgeous flowers, simnel cake, delicious starters and sparkling wine from the Loire. Mike and Linda live in Arcais in the Marais Poitevin, a lovely part of France just a little way North West of here which we rudely refer to as swamp land, but is actually a beautiful area of marshes criss-crossed with small rivers canals and woodland, best explored by flat-bottomed boats called barques. Nash and Linda are the owners of our much loved workshop venue for the past 5 years, Chateau St Julien, they spend part of the year in the US, so it is good to be able to pin them down for a weekend.

Mike and Linda enjoying some sunshine

We spent the afternoon sitting in the sunshine eating Linda's delicious simnel cake and catching up on all the news followed by a gentle stroll around the lanes with BeBop. In the evening a huge feast with champagne and yummy starters provided by Linda, home made tapenade, garlicky bean dip, scallop ceviche, fresh prawns and goats cheese, followed by my favourite dinner party recipe - leg of lamb marinated in yoghurt and spices with dauphinoise potatoes, spinach and tomatoes, a cheese course then almond and orange gateau with caramelised oranges and just a couple of Easter eggs from Culli's most recently turned bowl....................

Easter eggs in a Culli bowl

On Monday morning Nash, the two Linda's and I went to the brocante in Crazanne. There were plenty of stalls with some lovely things but being early in the season the prices are high, I found a lovely haberdashery stall and bought some buttons and a basket and we all hit the plant stall, so I now have 10 strawberry plants for my new planter.

The plant stall at Crazanne brocante

We got back home to discover that Mike and Culli had been busy designing a hand-turned wooden chess set, Mike full of enthusiasm to build a website in Russian to sell the chess sets! We had a lovely, leisurely lunch of left overs in the warm sunnshine, then everyone departed leaving us to have a quick snooze in the sun.

Knitting and Crochet workshop with Jane Crowfoot

My first attempt at home made Hot X buns, just need to perfect the X...........!

Happy Easter from Knitting Holidays in France

We have a new workshop date for 2014.
8th -14th June Knitting and Crochet workshop with tutor Jane Crowfoot. Spaces are limited to a maximum of 5 so please book early. The workshop will be tailored to suit individual needs and is suitable for all skill levels. Choose to work on a project that combines knitting and crochet or stick to just knitting or just crochet.
For further details about the venue or to book a space visit www.knittingholidaysinfrance.com or email sueculligan@gmail.com

Mystery Blanket workshop final day

Wednesday is departure day. An early start for Mary and Debbie at 6.30 am (ouch), I get up to wave goodbye and Culli drives them down to Bordeaux airport.
Slightly more leisurely departures for the rest, Chris is next to leave from Angouleme and I take Clare, Wendy, Elizabeth and Viviane to Bordeaux, the final five go off to Angouleme with Culli.
Time to collapse in a heap. Tomorrow I need to firm up dates with Debbie for next year, it looks like nearly everyone wants to come back!

Mystery Blanket Workshop day 6

Tuesday is the last full day of the holiday. The morning is spent knitting, a few are up to date with their squares and I think everyone is happy with what they have achieved, although the week seems to have flown by.

On the loose in Saintes

In the afternoon we go into Saintes for the final shopping trip. The first stop is the fabric and yarn shop to make up for yesterday. There are some beautiful fabrics that make me want to replace all my curtains and cushions, but after looking at the price maybe just an a photo or two for knitting inspiration.

Debbie buys some amazing oil cloth fabric featuring the covers of Vogue magazine, (the one that leaps out is a pic of Daniel Craig). Next over the river to the stationery shop and Maison du Monde, we split up and some make it down to the yarn shop but I stay with Debbie so we don't get any further than the first three shops and a coffee.

On the way home we stop at our local Cognac producer Egreteau. The lovely owner gives us a guided tour of the distillery (translation by Culli), followed by tastings of Pineau and Cognac and a few purchases.

The last supper of antipasto starters, chicken tagine followed by chocolate pots, then Wendy's famous Russian sauna story reduces everyone to hysterical laughter. Debbie, Culli and I are thoroughly spoilt with some lovely gifts.

Elizabeth models her T-shirt purchased in Cognac yesterday featuring the slogan 'I am a rare pearl' (in French) which she certainly is and Katherine models her slightly naff (sorry Katherine!) scarf knitted from the nylon ribbon purchased in the market on Saturday.

It has been a wonderful week with some lovely ladies, the new venue at La Nougeree has worked well for us and I really hope that everyone has enjoyed it as much we did.

Mystery Blanket workshop Day 5

It;s raining again! Clare, Wendy, Debbie and I remember the workshop this time last year at La Verderie when it was sunny and warm enough to have lunch in the garden every day.
Never mind, I am sure this is better for the knitting.
The morning is spent working on the blankets, after lunch a trip to Cognac. We manage to dodge the showers with a quick trip to the supermarket, then wander down the pedestrianised shopping streets.

I am pleased to see that Cognac's answer to Specsavers is still featuring knitting yarn heavily in the window display. Sadly being Monday, most of the shops are shut, we mange to find a couple of clothes shops that are open but Mercerie Bonnet the fabric and yarn shop is shut, everyone peers forlornly through the windows, I promise them a visit to the Saintes branch tomorrow.

Back home for a warming supper of chilli con carne followed by plum crumble. Culli is starting to look like the pressure of looking after 11 women is getting to him..............