Oh, this has taken way too long to get on the website. I have a backlog of posts to write. Thank you for your patience!
Attending a French General craft workshop in the south of France has long been on my wish list. I can't remember where or how long ago I first heard about them.
This northern summer, I made it happen. It went beyond my expectations.
Kaari, Molly, Kik and friend, Kathy, from French General, are fabulous hosts. As are Lizzie and the staff at Chateau Dumas, in the village of Auty, where the workshops are held. Though to call it a craft workshop perhaps undersells it, so much more was included.
This is my recollection of a week which has become a highlight of my travels - for the amazing and inspiring women I met; for the fabulous chateau we were accommodated in; the food so beautifully prepared by Charlotte; the beautiful French countryside and villages; and the markets we visited...oh, and learning new crafts. So many of the things that I enjoy rolled into one busy week.
I'm still crafting my words skills. And Kari has plenty of posts about the goings on at the workshops on the French General blog. So, like all my posts, there are photos of my week on here, and fewer words.
I will add that it was an unseasonably cool week in the south of France. Umbrella and coat were constant companions, and those summer dresses lay in the bottom of the suitcase for the duration. [It was actually just like being home in the Ranges].
Attending a French General craft workshop in the south of France has long been on my wish list. I can't remember where or how long ago I first heard about them.
This northern summer, I made it happen. It went beyond my expectations.
Kaari, Molly, Kik and friend, Kathy, from French General, are fabulous hosts. As are Lizzie and the staff at Chateau Dumas, in the village of Auty, where the workshops are held. Though to call it a craft workshop perhaps undersells it, so much more was included.
This is my recollection of a week which has become a highlight of my travels - for the amazing and inspiring women I met; for the fabulous chateau we were accommodated in; the food so beautifully prepared by Charlotte; the beautiful French countryside and villages; and the markets we visited...oh, and learning new crafts. So many of the things that I enjoy rolled into one busy week.
I'm still crafting my words skills. And Kari has plenty of posts about the goings on at the workshops on the French General blog. So, like all my posts, there are photos of my week on here, and fewer words.
I will add that it was an unseasonably cool week in the south of France. Umbrella and coat were constant companions, and those summer dresses lay in the bottom of the suitcase for the duration. [It was actually just like being home in the Ranges].
[ABOVE - The Chateau Dumas
Perhaps it was surprising, perhaps not, that a dozen women, of varying ages - two Australian, the rest American - could all get on so well. We did share common interests in crafting, France, and markets. But, every woman I met that week was inspiring, enthusiastic, and just simply good company.
Our week did not begin with crafting in the studio. In fact it was not until the afternoon of Day Two that we began making. Day One it was up early and off to the weekly market at St Antonin Noble Val. There also happened to be a vide grenier [garage sale] in town. Some made a beeline for the vide and the brocante, others the food market. I love a food market. So, happily wandered the market looking at what was in season - all grown locally, eating so sweet strawberries, and cherries [so good to be able to extend my cherry season] and a snack of feta waffles with grilled courgette. Surprisingly, I met two groups of Australians who call this small French village home - lovely to chat and hear an Australian accent for a while, and discover what inspired them to live here.
Perhaps it was surprising, perhaps not, that a dozen women, of varying ages - two Australian, the rest American - could all get on so well. We did share common interests in crafting, France, and markets. But, every woman I met that week was inspiring, enthusiastic, and just simply good company.
Our week did not begin with crafting in the studio. In fact it was not until the afternoon of Day Two that we began making. Day One it was up early and off to the weekly market at St Antonin Noble Val. There also happened to be a vide grenier [garage sale] in town. Some made a beeline for the vide and the brocante, others the food market. I love a food market. So, happily wandered the market looking at what was in season - all grown locally, eating so sweet strawberries, and cherries [so good to be able to extend my cherry season] and a snack of feta waffles with grilled courgette. Surprisingly, I met two groups of Australians who call this small French village home - lovely to chat and hear an Australian accent for a while, and discover what inspired them to live here.
ABOVE - Saint Antonin Noble Val
Other outings included trips to brocantes and the weekly food markets in surrounding villages - Caussade and Cahors. Charlotte, our chef for the week, took us on a food tour of her local market at Caussade as she did her weekly shopping. We chatted to the local stall holders, were told the importance of eating seasonally and locally, and the rituals around seasonal food. Sounds like a lovely way to live to me. And exactly what I am trying to do on our little property in Victoria.
Food was a big part of life at Chateau Dumas. We were well fed, from flaky croissants and a changing hot dish at breakfast every morning to a three course dinner every night. The smell of croissants baking wafted up the stairs and throughout the chateau every morning. We had an evening of cheese and wine matching from a local sommelier. Though we did enjoy French cheeses and wine every evening as we sat in the salon, or on the terrace on the couple of warm evenings that we had.
Other outings included trips to brocantes and the weekly food markets in surrounding villages - Caussade and Cahors. Charlotte, our chef for the week, took us on a food tour of her local market at Caussade as she did her weekly shopping. We chatted to the local stall holders, were told the importance of eating seasonally and locally, and the rituals around seasonal food. Sounds like a lovely way to live to me. And exactly what I am trying to do on our little property in Victoria.
Food was a big part of life at Chateau Dumas. We were well fed, from flaky croissants and a changing hot dish at breakfast every morning to a three course dinner every night. The smell of croissants baking wafted up the stairs and throughout the chateau every morning. We had an evening of cheese and wine matching from a local sommelier. Though we did enjoy French cheeses and wine every evening as we sat in the salon, or on the terrace on the couple of warm evenings that we had.
ABOVE - Fabulous meals and cooking classes at Chateau Dumas
When not exploring the local villages and markets, or eating, we crafted. Embroidery in the Salon; jewellery making on the terrace, when the sun did shine; patchwork in the studio and woad dyeing in the woad field. Denyse Schmidt had us hand-piecing patchwork blocks form random fabrics. Lorraine, from Hettie's Patch, taught us paper piecing, Denise Lindsay explained the intricacies of woad dyeing, and we filled the clothes lines with blue fabrics. We made jewellery with Kaari Meng, and used vintage papers to create books with Molly Meng. Some of these I was familiar with, some were new to me, but it was fun to have a go at everything.
While I am happy to be a solo traveller, attending a workshop such as this is a lovely way to break up the time spent in my own company. So now, I am on the look out for more such experiences to punctuate the solo travel.
When not exploring the local villages and markets, or eating, we crafted. Embroidery in the Salon; jewellery making on the terrace, when the sun did shine; patchwork in the studio and woad dyeing in the woad field. Denyse Schmidt had us hand-piecing patchwork blocks form random fabrics. Lorraine, from Hettie's Patch, taught us paper piecing, Denise Lindsay explained the intricacies of woad dyeing, and we filled the clothes lines with blue fabrics. We made jewellery with Kaari Meng, and used vintage papers to create books with Molly Meng. Some of these I was familiar with, some were new to me, but it was fun to have a go at everything.
While I am happy to be a solo traveller, attending a workshop such as this is a lovely way to break up the time spent in my own company. So now, I am on the look out for more such experiences to punctuate the solo travel.
TOP - Crafting in the Chateau. Embroidery. Jewellery making.
BOTTOM - Patchwork with Denyse Schmidt. Woad Dyeing.
BOTTOM - Patchwork with Denyse Schmidt. Woad Dyeing.
ABOVE - The gardens at Chateau Dumas.
TOP - In the Brocantes
BELOW - The fields surrounding the Chateau
BELOW - The fields surrounding the Chateau