WORKSHOPS

Retreat Dates

Workshop Outline

Your Hosts

Treat yourself to a relaxing week in S W France enjoying your favourite pastime. The programme for the retreat is flexible and geared to individual needs. There are four/five full days of workshops. A free day is optional. Within the large work room each guest will have their own dedicated work station and sewing machines are available if required. Other equipment and materials will also be available.

RETREAT DATES 2010

WORKSHOP OUTLINE

23 May - 29 May: Angela Madden: ‘Celtic Baskets’

My unique methods are guided by the following principles:-

All techniques used are accessible to everyone. No special skills are required. Projects can be completed using almost any sewing machine, new or old. My techniques are the fastest and most efficient I can find which guarantee success.
Final results should stand scrutiny, reaching the highest possible standards. I believe that anyone can learn to design and sew original quilts if they have a positive outlook and use simple methods.

Celtic Baskets
Creating your own original Celtic basket designs is not difficult, even if you have never tried designing before. They can be filled with appliquéd flowers to make stunning quilt blocks or hangings. Ideal for sampler quilts.

Visit www.angelamadden.com

30 May– 5 June: Dawn Cameron Dick: ‘Listen to the leaves singing’

A very traditional quilter, Dawn uses modern products to produce her ‘signature’ techniques, Invisible Machine Appliqué. Using a machine to achieve perfect appliqué that looks like hand work.

Visit www.morningstarquilts.com

6 June - 12 June: Anne Baxter: ‘Country house medallion’ , ‘Stacks of stars’ or Portobello Road

Her workshops are planned to be a fun experience, full of colour and inspiration. She has planned three projects—’Country house medallion’, a simple pieced house surrounded in true medallion style with three different borders, ‘Stacks of stars’ which has liberated piecing techniques, some stacking and stuffing and Portobello Road. Ann is also willing to discuss with individual guests if they wanted to do any of her other projects or to bring UFOs.

Portobello Road. Wallhanging 18" x 30"

Inspired by Peruvian sweaters I bought in the Portobello Road years ago, this has a very definate ethnic feel to it. Worked in hand dyed fabrics, it has appliqued Llamas, paper chain style dollies, and images from the Inca calendar; some piecing and Seminole patchwork. Covering a variety of techniques, it can be embellished with some embroidery stitches, and is fairly heavily machine quilted. (optional!).

3 June -19 June Patricia Mc Laughlin: Pictorial Picture

My specialties are:
• a personally devised hand appliqué technique;
• landscape quilts and historical record quilts;
• personally hand dyed fabrics;
• machine quilting and embroidery
• commissions.

Pictorial Pictures

Learn how to build up a sea or landscape design with strip piecing (Design provided) on which appliqué and decorative stitching can be added.

“Bright Eyes” - Pictorial Quilt Commission - Virginia, USA

Visit www.patriciapictorialquilts.btinternet.co.uk

12 September – 18 September Carolyn Forster:
Perkiomen Valley quilt /Split 9-Patch

Perkiomen Valley Quilt

A true quilt for scrap quilt lovers. Learn the history behind the quilt, it originates from the Perkiomen Valley area in Pennsylvania, and see how versatile this split 9-patch block and all its variations can be.
For the novice this great quilt offers the opportunity to cement basic sewing and rotary cutting skills and for the more advanced quilt maker the chance to experiment with design, colour, value and layout choices.
In class we rotary cut and machine piece for speed, but a more relaxing approach can be adopted for those who prefer templates and hand piecing.

Visit www.carolynforster.co.uk

19 September – 25 September Anja Townrow: A unique quilt

The aim for her workshops is to create a unique quilt from start to finish—Design, Foundation piecing, Pieced curves, Appliqué and Quilting. There will be lots of inspiration giving you the confidence and knowledge to turn your ideas into stunning quilts. You choose how much sewing and how much relaxing you do.

Some of Anja’s work

Visit www.anjatownrow.com

26 September – 2 October Jane Rollason: Log Cabin Pansies

Real pansies hammered on to the log cabin centres, a contemporary log cabin wall hanging. Original design. 1METRE SQUARE
This inspiring course is designed to extend the traditional concept of the well loved log cabin using real flower dye as the centre piece.
The students will be expertly guided through all the stages of this creation. They will be assisted with the initial design of the variable logs and shown the attractive and unusual technique of obtaining the natural dye from fresh flowers.
Finally the students will be aided in the construction of the wall hanging resulting in an end piece which will be both unique and creative.

Visit www.geocities.com

3 October -9 October: Penny Roberts
Patchwork for beginners. Fun with Jelly Roll, ‘Stars & Chequerboard’

Penny's programme is designed for people who want to learn about patchwork and others who would like to explore the world of Jelly Roll, which introduces you to many quick techniques which achieve some stunning results.
‘Stars and Chequerboard’ is a quick method of making stars and multi coloured squares. You can either use Jelly Roll or your own pre-cut fabric and Penny’s original design weaves two blocks together.

Visit www.lejardinducure.com

YOUR HOSTS

JOAN CROOKS



Joan is a qualified Interior Design/Soft Furnishing Consultant who now divides her time between U.K. & S.W. France. A keen patchworker for many years and a member of ‘Patchwork de France’. Her responsibilities will be to assist the tutor where necessary and to ensure that everyone is happy, having fun and the course runs smoothly.

Some of Joan’s work

BRIDGET WRIGHT



Bridget and Peter have lived at Hors des brumes for11 years renovating the property and running a successful gite business for ten years. Bridget is a trained Home Economist and is responsible for running the accommodation and catering. She has recently discovered patchwork and is an enthusiastic member of the local French patchwork club. She aims to provide a five star service with interesting, healthy meals and will cater for individual dietary requirements where possible.

Some of Bridget’s work