Knitting and Crochet holidays in France

The dates for the next two knitting and crochet retreats at La Verderie are -

Thursday 20th - Tuesday 25th March 2014

and 

Thursday 27th March - Tuesday 1st April 2014

Cost for 5 nights: £325 per head (based on two people sharing a twin room) and £395 per head for a single room.

For further details email Sue

Come and join designer Sue Culligan at her home in the Charente-Maritime for a relaxing holiday, in some (hopefully!) warm spring weather.

The cost of the holidays includes transfers from Angouleme or La Rochelle to La Verderie, (£20 supplement for transfers from Bordeaux), full board, wine with meals, optional workshops and outings to local towns. All you pay for is your travel to France and any expenses incurred on outings.

You are welcomed into Sue and Culli's home as house guests, the comfortable old farmhouse can provide accommodation for up to 5 guests at a time in three single rooms and one twin room. There is a light and airy studio for workshops, a courtyard garden for enjoying the sunshine and comfortable old sofas to relax on in front of an open fire.

The delicious home cooked meals use fresh local produce and dietary requirements can be catered for.

The holiday is open to all skill levels, workshops are optional but if there is a particular technique you would like to learn or improve it is a good opportunity to try it out. Sue has a large library of knitting and crochet books and a stash of yarn oddments to play around with. If you are already competent at knitting and crochet you can share your skill and ideas with other guests. If you have a problem with a project bring it along for some help and advice.

Itinerary (can be changed to suit guests requirements)

Thursday - arrival

Friday - workshop on chosen subject in the morning, shopping and sightseeing trip to Saintes or Cognac in the afternoon

Saturday - visit to the market at St Jean d'Angely in the morning, optional workshop in the afternoon or just relax with your knitting and crochet project

Sunday - visit to a Brocante in the morning and a bit of sightseeing, optional workshop in the afternoon

Monday - day to finish off projects and go over any final techniques

Tuesday - departure

relaxing in the garden at La Verderie

the river at Saintes

Paella supper

the yarn shop in Royan

knitting and crochet sample

Christmas Open House

We are having an Open Studio at La Verderie the weekend of 9th and 10th November, open from 10 am to 4 pm on both days.

Come and stock up on your Christmas gifts - woodturning by Culli and Roger Slater, paintings by Suzanne Thorne, Pamela Slater, Doris Murray, Judith Ryde, Margaret Pearce and Don Thompson, textiles, knitwear, patchwork, embroidery, kilims, furniture, knitting accessories, Christmas cards and decorations.
For further details email sue

Supporting the Poppy Appeal

The last two days of the October knitting retreat in France

Yesterday the sun was shining again, we stopped at St Jean d'Angely for a quick visit to the market and of course the yarn shop.

Franziska bought a new project bag for her sewing and knitting, we wandered around the market with the colourful pumpkins and flower stalls, then all bundled back into the car and on to La Rochelle.

First stop was a coffee, then a wander through the town to the Cafe de la Paix for lunch.

Then we hit the shops, I think everyone bought something ranging from Cognac, Pineau, beautiful hand made soap, chocolates and a collapsible tray from one of the gorgeous kitchen shops.

The day seemed to fly by, we drove home through torrential rain and a complete rainbow in time to fit in a bit more knitting before supper.
On Thursday we had the final mini workshop with Angela working on her first piece of intarsia from one of Debbie Abrahams lovely designs in 'Blankets and Throws', then this afternoon the ladies from my craft group arrived for and afternoon of knitting, sewing and swapping ideas and of course eating cake and drinking tea.
We had a show and tell of what everyone had achieved through the week, I think they have all gained something and will now be confident to tackle almost anything!

Angela's first attempt at intarsia

Jennifer's first adult sized cardigan

Angela's practice sampler for cable, fairisle, buttonholes and intarsia

Franziska's ipad cover

Verna's hat

Verna's sampler practicing fairisle, cable, intarsia and beading

Friday morning was an early start for Angouleme. Jennifer, Verna and Angela were on the early train for Paris so we dropped them off then Franziska and I went into the centre of Angouleme for a coffee and a final bit of retail therapy. It is years since I have been into the city centre and had forgotten how lovely it is with a huge cathedral and pretty pedestrianised shopping areas.

I want these sheep.......

Angouleme cathedral

yarn bombing

We will definitely be back, especially as I discovered no less than three yarn shops! plus lots of lovely interiors shops, choccie shops and a fantastic shop selling artist materials.
I waved Franziska goodbye on her train to Paris then back home to a quiet and empty house.