Today was a slightly earlier start than usual so that we had time to go to the Bergere de France shop on the outskirts of Saintes, and then into the town to visit the market and have a
wander round before coming back to Le Vieux Monastere for lunch. I enjoyed looking at all the yarns in the Bergere de France shop but didn’t buy anything this year, although several of our group did take good advantage of their summer sale. Saintes is a town with a lot of Roman remains, here is a view of the cathedral as seen through the triumphal arch:

The market is alongside the cathedral and is mostly food, with some very good looking fruit and veg and lots of interesting cheeses.

After the market we wandered along to the Abbey aux Dames (I think I have remembered the name right) and found these lovely flowers growing at the base of one of the walls.

On the way back to base we stopped to take some photos of where we were staying from across the fields. So here is my attempt at being artistic.

In the afternoon we were back in the workshop, working on whichever project we wanted to from the week. I finished my first Knit One Below mitten:

Joanne finished her Entrelac cowl to match her beret.

Nicole finished her coffee pot cover with some lovely buttons she bought in Saintes.

I finished my Entrelac cowl – I am looking forward to wearing it this winter.

And Sue finished her beret.

At the end of the afternoon everyone laid out the pieces they had been working on through the week, so that we could go round and admire them with a glass of fizz in hand. It was a wonderful opportunity to see all the beautiful things everyone had created, and to thank Graham and Christine for being such great hosts.

Here is everyone’s work:

Mine:

Myra’s:

Celia’s:

Pat’s:

Maggie’s:

Joanne’s:

Elisabeth’s:

Nicole’s:

Fiona’s:

Sue’s:

Ruth’s:

Val’s:

Ursula’s:

Avril’s:

I love seeing the diversity and creativity. Everyone has started from the same ingredients but has brought their own personality to their knitting. What a lot of gorgeous things!

I had a wonderful time, a lovely week with such talented and interesting students. There are still some places available on the French Treats holiday this September. Fiona will be teaching broadly the same programme as we have been doing this week. Also there will be another holiday next June. The dates and subjects to be covered haven’t been finalised yet but it will probably be the
second week in June. I am very biased, but would encourage you to sign up, partly because it is great fun! And partly because if there are enough participants I can go again as teaching assistant 🙂

Today has been a day with lots of knitting, and some exciting weather!

The workshop topic for today was Entrelac. These are Fiona’s samples:

It has also been a good day for finishing things. Here is my coffee pot cover (I still need to find some nice buttons for the closure, and am thinking of trying to make some out of Fimo).

Here is the inside showing the crocheted steek.

Joanne finished her beret. Beautifully knitted, I love the colour combination, and it looks great on her.

I made some good progress on my Entrelac. I have decided to make the smaller cowl in stocking stitch, using the alternating colours.

The weather has definitely turned today. We went for a swim before dinner, and only just managed it before it started to rain! We have also had thunder and lightning and a power cut which meant a candle-lit shower after the swim!

Today was a full day of knitting, noses to the grindstone!

The new subject for today was knit one below, but people were of
course free to continue with projects from earlier in the week if
they preferred. Here are the two mitten patterns that Fiona
designed using this technique.

As you can see we have accumulated quite a lot of
paper and knitting on the work table, but fun was had along with
the learning.

We went for a lovely dip in the pool before dinner. The weather has been gorgeous and sunny, and the wind has dropped. It was great to drift in the pool looking up at the sky.

Joanne finished her first mitten already.

I have made good progress on mine (you may recognise the neon yarn from the other day!)

This evening we went for a meal at the Auberge des Glycines at Taillebourg, on the banks of the river Charente. He is the view from the front of the restaurant.

The food was delicious and the setting delightful. I have eaten so much good food I shall be spherical by the time I go home!

Today we gave our brains a rest and our wallets a workout with a trip to La Rochelle.

Unfortunately one of the yarn shops we visited last year has since shut down, but we did visit the other two, along with a chocolate shop, and an ice-cream shop.

The weather has been hot and sunny, and when we got back several of us did a few laps of the pool. It is a great size, big enough to actually swim properly, but not unmanageable.

This evening was Show and Tell. We saw lots of lovely things! Myra has finished her mug hug.

And here is the inside to see the finished steek.

Last night we had a lovely walk up the road from Le Vieux Monastere, here is the view back. Totally beautiful. It is a very restful and peaceful place.

Today we flew out to La Rochelle for the start of this years French Treats knitting holiday. As with last year I am being Fiona’s little helper.

In very apt fashion the airplane had a City and Guilds logo on the side (did they know that several of us are studying City and Guilds knitting with Fiona?!)

As you can see it also had an energy certificate on the side which made it look a little like a fridge or a washing machine!

We arrived in time to enjoy our slightly squashed sandwiches for lunch. Then helped to organise the goody bags of yarn for everyone this afternoon.

The weather is a little breezy but still sunny, and this evening we have been sitting outside and knitting. This is the life!

Tomorrow we knuckle down to the hard work of serious knitting! Then a trip to Cognac in the afternoon.

I am still catching up on my sleep / emails / washing / etc, after dropping Mummy off at a friend’s yesterday so they can all head off on the next holiday this morning. It seems that the best antidote to coming back from holiday is to go straight off on the next one 🙂

Anyway, just to let you know if you would like to join us for the French Treats holiday in 2013 it will be 2nd – 9th June 2013, and booking is open already. The info isn’t up on the website yet, but if you would like to book, or would like more information, contact Graham and Christine and they will be very happy to help. The knitting program is not finalised yet, but if you would like to come and there is something particular you would like covered, contact Fiona and let her know, and she can bear it in mind when she is creating the program.

I look forward to seeing you then!