... here it comes again.......

We are only a heartbeat away from another festive season and no doubt your shopping lists have become heavy with ink.  We at Les Soeurs Anglaises try hard to use the event to steer clear of the present-giving roller-coaster (although the occasional home-made offering is always gratefully received) but rather use the season as an opportunity to relax, reboot and enjoy the company of those people we love but whom we may have neglected a tad over the year.  Everyone is expected to help in some way, whether it's cooking the goose or clearing away the Scrabble board, and we've found that at the first sign of tension there's nothing like a bracing walk in the beautiful, surrounding, wintry countryside to diffuse the situation.

If you have time on your hands during these crazy Christmassy days, here are a few things you might enjoy and that you don't have to check your list for:

• Visit our favourite men's clothing shop's website, Albam, for some beautiful photography and a great new take on photographic collages by John Spinks.   You dont have to buy anything to enjoy Albam's style and attitude.

• Listen to any tracks by the incredibly cool and talented, young, virtuoso pianist Luca Sestak. We are thrilled Luca will be performing alongside other top musicians, at our Boogie Woogie Weekend at the beginning of July.  His latest CD, New Way, has some foot-stompingly good tracks to help with the Christmas cheer.

• Spend some time with a small friend or relative making the perfect paper airplane..  We've started practicing already for a Christmas competition!

• Time in front of the TV needn't necessarily be wasted.  Learn a few clever knitting techniques from the ever creative Asa Soderman's website (we're getting a few under our belt before she arrives to lead her first workshop for us, Seamlessly Clever, next October).   Her website is chock-a-block full of concise and helpful tricks with clear enough photographs for even a needle-novice.

• Read all about Adele Stafford who in 2013 launched a project in the US called Voices of Industry  By investing in the independent grower, the biodynamic alchemist and the punk rock shepherdess they care deeply about the origin of materials in the firm belief that the best work comes from shared expertise.  The   process is intensely time-consuming and choreographic and the results can be seen in their meticulous production. 

• And before we go a little reminder, if you haven't had time yet to consider whether you would like to join us next summer, please note that workshops are filling up fast, so don't leave it too late.  

Janet Bolton:  NARRATIVE STITCHES  6th-12th May
Julie Arkell:  TOYS  3rd-9th June
India Flint:  BEING (T)HERE  23rd-29th August
Ray Stitch: Dressmaking Retreat 6th-12 September
Asa Soderman of Asa Tricosa:  SEAMLESSLY CLEVER  14th-20th October

MERRY CHRISTMAS
Katie
Susie
Carol