Hot Textiles Holidays in France 2012


Phew! it's 34 degrees centigrade here in the Charente Maritime - too warm for the this English Rose! I am ensconced in Sue and John's lovely cool house. Teaching here September and October seems to be a very good idea - it should still be warm but not baking!!! 


There are fields upon fields of sunflowers and grapevines in this area of France, it is stunning and so peaceful, 3 cars have driven past the house today. There are plenty of places to walk - around the hamlet or out into the fields. The sloes are about to ripen and the walnuts are on their way. There is inspirational colour and texture every where you look from flowers to old distressed doorways and brick work - gorgeous.

The light through the grapevines is beautiful

the Campsis in Sue's colourful courtyard garden is fabulous this year
Hollyhocks self seed every where - it is SO frustrating, when I try to grow them they get rust!!!

So to the workshops and the main reason I nipped down here to see Sue. That and the amazing party I was invited to, I had to come for that as John's band Bedrock was playing. www.bedrockboogie.com  

These are the basic timetables for both workshops but they are liable to change. As the groups will be so small I am hoping to attract beginner level students. I will be able to give them plenty of help and encouragement and be able to teach virtually one to one most of the time.

Hot Textiles - Bondaweb for beginners 2012

 Bondaweb for Beginners, 26th September - 1st October 2012 with tutor Kim Thittichai.   
Learn how to use Bondaweb creatively in a relaxed and comfortable environment. This is designed for beginners or those who feel they need a little help. The workshop will cover all the basic bonding processes including how to paint and foil this wonderful product. Discover how to build up layers of hand stitch and embellishment. Learn about decorating wood, paper and card and about just how versatile Bondaweb is. Please note the deposit is non-refundable. Balance payable by 26th August 2012.
morning
afternoon
evening
Wednesday 26th

Students arrive
Social evening meet your fellow guests and tutor and introduction the course.
Thursday 27th
Painting and preparing products and demonstration.
Local outing
tbc
Relaxed evening
Friday 28th
Learning to apply painted and unpainted Bondaweb.
Play with gilding flake, jewel dots, fabrics . . . .
Discover what you can apply Bondaweb onto. Students decorate and varnish a sketchbook cover.
(provided)
Sit and hand stitch if you wish or just relax.
Saturday 29th
Trip to local market a wonderful source of inspiration.
Students start to develop their own ideas and paint up more product for the final day.
Sit and hand stitch if you wish or just relax.
Sunday 30th
Work on layered surfaces and experiment with more unusual fabrics and newspaper.
Stitch into samples or carry on with experiments.
Final round uo and show and tell.
Final evening
Monday 1st

Students depart





Hot Textiles - Luscious Layers 2012
Luscious Layers, 3rd - 8th October 2012 with tutor Kim Thittichai.  
Discover the delights of layering materials and techniques. This workshop is designed for beginners or those who feel they need a little help. We will be painting, layering and stitching Tyvek, Vilene Spunbond and newspaper to create amazing textured surfaces with heat guns and soldering irons. Learn how to use heat guns safely and confidently. There will be plenty of time to create some beautiful and well considered samples to take home. Please note the deposit is non-refundable. Balance payable by 3rd September 2012.
morning
afternoon
evening
Wednesday 26th

Students arrive
Social evening meet your fellow guests and tutor and introduction the course.
Thursday 27th
Painting and preparing products and demonstration.
Local outing
tbc
Relaxed evening
Friday 28th
Discover the benefits of layering products. Think about making book covers or vessels.
Start to build up layers with newspaper, Vilene Spunbond, Tyvek and Bondaweb.
An afternoon to experiment with all the products and get to know them.
Sit and hand stitch if you wish or just relax.
Saturday 29th
Trip to local market a wonderful source of inspiration.
Students start to develop their own ideas and paint up more product for the final day.
Sit and hand stitch if you wish or just relax.
Sunday 30th
Work on layered surfaces and experiment with making 3d samples if you wish.
Stitch into samples or carry on with experiments.
Final round up and show and tell.
Final evening
Monday 1st

Students depart


This is a rough guide to how the workshops will run and liable to change. Depending on the experience of the students we may have time to achieve more. The whole point of this workshop is to really understand how to use layers in your work creatively. With such a small group I will be able to adapt quickly to students needs. 

Cost £424 per head based on two sharing a twin room or £494 per head for a single room. A five night holiday in the beautiful Charente-Maritime department of FranceVerderie. With an intimate group of just 4/5 students this would be a great chance to take a break and discover a new way of working in textiles. to book go to www.knittingholidaysinfrance.com

I hope to run 2 or 3 courses a year in France so if you don't get the chance to book one of these workshops, there will be more in 2013. 

part of the courtyard garden where I was working until it got a weeeee bit too warm

This is where we will lounge about in the evenings gently hand stitching into samples if we are not in the garden.

As luck would have it my visit coincided with the Cognac Blues Festival so we paid a visit on Saturday afternoon. It was wonderful just lazing in the sun listening to live bands - Sigh!!!
These events are always better when shared with good friends.

 
Blues in the park

 . . . . and on street corners . . . !

So as you can see I have not been idle - I shall finish writing this then have supper with Sue and John, I shall then pack ready for tomorrows 5 - 6 hour drive up to Caen to catch the ferry. I was hoping my delivery of Layered Textiles would be arriving on Wednesday/Thursday but it looks as though if it may be delayed to next week - aaRRGHHH!!!!  I have customers waiting . . . . 
 I will let you all know when the books are due to be delivered!!!!


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