Archive for the 'Polymer Clay' Category

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A Village Tradition

Published on August 11, 2011 in Polymer Clay. 0 Comments

Here in our small village of 300 there use to be lots of village parties. As people lives get busier (tho the pace of life here is a snail’s pace compared to the US) it’s harder to find those times to gather all together.  Recently tho the tradition has been revived!

Last Thursday night our dear friends (and the hearts of our village) Ann and Peter threw an apero for the village. An apero is short for aperitif- a gathering for conversation, wine or aperitifs(like kirs, muscats) and little nibblies- cheese, crackers, olives etc.  In front of Ann and Peter’s house is Place de Sol- a wide open spot surrounded by trees and a small pond.  The pond is part of our unique waterways that run down the center of our village street.  Beside looking beautiful- they served as part of the copper making process years ago when all these homes were copper studios.

Now this “pond” serves as a way to chill wine, beer and other drinks!  We had two table of gorgeous food contributed by the villagers- a feast, not just nibblies.  Peter had hired a local accordionist to play for the party and he and I danced a wild waltz.  French, British, American, Irish, all gathered to chat together in whatever language they could (including pantomime- my universal language).  Six of us got up to form an impromptu kazoo orchestra as the accordionist played When the Saints Come Marching In and Roll out the Barrell.

Everyone agreed the tradition of the village party must continue from now on.

Food Wine and Art!

Published on August 4, 2011 in Polymer Clay. 0 Comments

We had a most wonderful week shared by extraordinary women.  Nese, (our chef), Gwen, (who shares the magic of  La Cascade with us), Mary, Cynthia, Laurie, Lynda, Beverlee, Tricia and Joan.  My heartfelt “Merci’s”  for making this week really a special experience.

Our week was a great mix of making food, making art, making trips to special places, making new friends and making magic! We visited the Saturday market in Revel, each with 10E to spend on whatever called to us and then had a grand feast and picnic up at the lake.

Our vide grenier (flea market) excursion took us to the Maxi- Vide Grenier at Les Cammazes- a small village close to here, where I found an old large copper pot and a set of beautiful brass dessert forks and spoons adorned with carved roses.

In the kitchen we made an array of dishes- pates and other appetizers, fondant du chocolate, fresh pear cake, tagine, fresh brioche and other delights. And of course tried several ( and I do mean several) of the local wines!

In the studio we made a handmade menu book and several pieces of jewelry- pendants, earrings and brooches.

It was a grand week with special women and I hope we’ll all continue to be in touch and share our  cooking experiences with each other and I look forward to a reunion in the future! PS Thanks to Mary for the photo of Nese and myself!

Off again

Published on July 28, 2011 in Polymer Clay. 0 Comments

Off to the airport to welcome my last group of the summer.  The sunflowers are in high bloom and the festivals and flea markets are in high gear so we should have a great week. My mom (who is 87 and traveled here by herself!) has been here all week and we’ve had a fun time. Been to music concerts, markets, a French dinner party of 15!, and a day trip to Andorra. The wildflowers blooming in the Pyrenees were gorgeous.

I’ve been disciplined this summer with my “drawing a day” and have a journal full to use in some fashion when I get back into the studio.

After the workshop I plan to take my mom to the Amphora Museum near Narbonne. The shape of amphoras is something that attracts me in polymer clay work (pendants) and in a series of fabric collages. Here’s a couple.

Musee du Bois et Marquetry

Published on July 20, 2011 in Polymer Clay. 0 Comments

Last night we attended an open house and jazz concert at the Musee du Bois et Marquetry ( Museum of Wood and Marquetry) in nearby Revel.  Revel is five minutes away from our village Durfort and was built around a covered central square in 1342 at the foot of the Montagne Noire ( the Black Mountain).

Revel is laid out in an octagonal grid shape, emanating from the central square and is  a perfect example of a bastide town. The square is bordered by medieval houses and arcades and the covered central square itself is supported by ancient oak pillars and beams topped by a belfry.

A  Saturday market has been going on underneath and around this beautiful covered square since medieval times. It has been named one of France’s 100 Most Beautiful Markets and certainly lives up to that honor.

Since the 1800’s Revel has also been a center of skilled woodworking, furniture making and marquetry and still continues on today as the capital of artistic furniture. The Musee du Bois celebrates this history.  There is a permanent exhibit of the history of Revel’s furniture making with many beautiful examples of the processes involved.  The exhibits on marquetry are worth the small price of admission alone .  There are also revolving exhibits of painting, ceramics and other mediums that use wood or are inspired by wood.  The third floor houses a library of wood samples from all around the world. Classes are also offered to all ages.

We had a lovely evening touring the museum to the sounds of Daniel Lucchese- a wonderful jazz pianist and singer. He then gave a 2- hour concert in the museum. At the end of the music room was a huge hearth. Daniel had his piano and several percussion instruments (made out of wood of course) set up inside the hearth! It wmade a small charming proscenium style stage and the acoustics were great. All this (and a glass of champagne) for the admission price to the Musee. Come visit!

A Full Week of Fun

Published on July 15, 2011 in Polymer Clay. 0 Comments

It was a full week of truly being part of a small village in France.  My new class of adventurous women artists (and men!) arrived this week.  We started off with a unique small village event.  Our village, Durfort, has been known for its copperware since the Middle Ages.  We have several copper shops and a copper museum.  A new book has been recently published- written by local villagers- and we had a party to celebrate that event.  I knew there would be wine and nibblies for all the villagers so on our first day here we walked down to the town square in search of the party!  We were invited into the museum where one of the copperworkers was introducing the book and a DVD on the arduous process of creating the beautiful hand-hammered copper pots.  He knew we were Americans and kindly translated every now and then especially for my group.

The two men in my group studied drawing and painting every morning with our local artist Peter Welsford, while I taught my ladies every morning the joys of polymer clay and mixed media book arts and jewelry.  One day we all studied silk painting with artist Ann Mason- also a village resident (and wife of Peter).  Last night we had the debut of the silks, drawings and paintings at Ann and Peter’s

Every days’ art- making was followed by a field trip to places for inspiration and treasure hunting and gathering- we found many goodies at a flea market deep in the Montagne Noir (the Black Mountain) and at the Antiques market in nearby Revel.  On the way back from Albi we were able to stop in a sunflower field that extended as far as the eye could see.

A full week- a joy to share it with these special, lovely, talented, inspirational, and fun people- Merci to Wendy, David, Marcia, Marie, Pat, Mary Joyce, Neala, Carl, Allyson and Nona! I will miss all the laughter and amazing important trivia you all know about so many things! You made my week a happy one!

Le Tournesol (the Sunflower)

Published on July 6, 2011 in Polymer Clay. 0 Comments

This weeks workshop has just flown by.  We had perfect weather- our one tiny bit of rain hit studio time so we were all snuggled that morning in the studio creating art. One of the highlights of our week was our meal at the restaurant Le Tournesol (Turn to the Sun , Sunflower).

Gigi has been the chef/owner of this exquisite restaurant in the village of Soreze for 40 years! I was stunned when I found this out. The restaurant’s stone  walls are covered by the art work of local artists that Gigi handpicks. Very inspiring and unusual art.

Our night out happened to fall on her birthday.  I wrapped up one of my brooches that I hoped she would like and my workshop gals, along with our friends Ann and Peter, practiced a famous French  song called Le Tournesol. Our  plan was to sing it to her in the  restaurant!  I have to say that even after just one brief rehearsal, we sounded pretty darn good.

We arrived at Le Tournesol all dressed and looking gorgeous and Gigi greeted us at the door.  She loved the brooch and offered us an aperitif – most of us chose “my  favorite new drink”, white port- Porto Blanc. Our meal was just wonderful.

Gigi came to the table after our dessert and we sang Bonne Anniversaire and Le Tournesol. She sat down with us and truly seemed to enjoy this small American celebration of her special day.  As she left she told us to wait as she had something special.  In a few minutes a tray was brought out with a small boule (ball) of rose basil sorbet for each of us- it was divine. A special and  fantastique night

Go here to see several pics of the restaurant and Gigi.

“Merci’s for a wonderful week” to Christie, Jeanne, Diane F., Diane S., Amy, Laura, Carol, Lois and Marianne.  I miss you all!

Les Vide Greniers

Published on July 1, 2011 in Polymer Clay. 0 Comments

Almost every village in our region has a yearly flea market- called a Vide Grenier (translates as Empty the Attic). The residents of the village set up tables in front of their houses and the event is fleshed out with professional antique dealers also.  It is a most wonderful place to find true French antique bargains. From what I hear, in comparison to the big Paris  flea markets, our flea markets are more reasonably priced with many authentic treasures.

Sunday mornings are devoted to treasure hunting, and since every week there is a different flea market, it is a way to explore the many charming villages in the countryside.  About 9AM we take off through the rolling hills of hay, corn and endless sunflowers to hit one, if not two or three vide greniers.

We arrive, scramble for parking and then walk into the village. From there it’s a slow dash (you don’t want to miss anything but want to find the best treasures!)  So far I haven’t seen any fights break out between my workshop participants! When we get home we each set up a little “shop” in the salon (living room) and show each other what we found. “I didn’t see those!”  “Where did you find that?” “Ohhhhh I am so envious of that!”

Many of our treasures find their way into the art we are making this week.

A Week Flies By

Published on June 24, 2011 in Polymer Clay. 0 Comments

It was a week ago that I waited at the airport for my group to arrive. The fates allowed everyone to get to France  safely and even on time. We drove thru the rolling hills of the Lauragais to our home for the week, La Cascade.

On arrival day after settling in, we took a short walk thru our charming, human- scale village ending with a snack of cafe au lait, quiche and frites at le Cyrano- the village cafe. From this relaxed beginning the week tumbled forward.

Saturday was the Revel market ending with a delicious lunch made of market goodies- fresh roasted chicken, olives, cheese, fruit, bread, lovely smothered onions, pickled garlic(sweet and crunchy), blueberries with creme fraiche. YUM!

Sunday was one of my favorite flea markets in Lautrec- the village where the Toulouse Lautrec family had a large manor house. We all found fabulous treasures there. For me- a lovely toile tablecloth, beautiful old tins for coffee and sugar, a sweet evening shawl with bells and bangles sewn on.

Ann and Peter, two artists here in the village, joined us for a dinner out at Le Tournesol (The Sunflower) and the food was magnifique- duck confit, cassoulet, salad with warm goat chees or foie grass, warm and melty chocolate cake or profiterolles for dessert.

And I have not yet told you of the wonderful art created each day in the studio. Morning studio sessions with me everyday and Open Studio at night. We created a bounty of personal Art Journals and a lovely selection of jewelry.

A full week of joy- my love to Ana, Geri, Diana, Tim, Susi, Margaret, Benice, Elna and Rosemary.  What pure delight the week has been. Merci beaucoup.

I’ll write soon about the weekly village flea markets.

Waiting!

Published on June 16, 2011 in Polymer Clay. 0 Comments

I’ve got the studio set up and am excitedly waiting for the first workshop- they arrive tomorrow!

We’ll meet at the Toulouse airport and then piggyback thru the beautiful Lauragais countryside of rolling hills and fields. The poppies are still blooming and if it is a clear day we will be able to see the Pyrenees to the south of us. I’ll be writing about what we see and do during this week so do please check in.

And I’m also thrilled to find out I will be teaching at Artfest 2012. I’ve been away from teaching at this superb event for a few years so it is an honor to be back and part of the Artfest family. The workshop and info will be posted August 1st and usually completely fills in a matter of days, so please do make your way here on August 1st and join us for a great adventure in Port Townshend!

This is my favorite fountain in Revel near the market.

Fabulous Market

Published on June 10, 2011 in Polymer Clay. 0 Comments

Next week my first workshop participants will arrive here in France.  I’m really looking forward to sharing the charms of this area of France.  One of the first things we will do is go to the Saturday Market in Revel (5 minutes from us).

Revel’s lovely central covered square was built in the 1300’s and there has been a Saturday market going on ever since.

This market has been named one of the 100 Most Beautiful Markets in France and certainly lives up to the honor. Under and around the central covered square  are vendors from the region selling gorgeous mounds of fresh produce, olives, breads, spices, cheeses, pastries,  meats,  rotisserie chickens and roasted potatoes, huge plates of bouillabaisse and paella, flowers,  plants and more and more – a feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds.


The market continues down the streets that “spoke” off the central square and continue out onto the ring road that circles Revel. Here are the vendors with everything else you could want.  Clothes, baskets, fabric, linens, jewelry, purses, shoes- even a hardware store vendor and a man selling new sewing machines.

The crowd is filled with energy, greeting friends old and new and gathering at the cafes that line the central square for a cafe au lait and a pastry.

Another fabric collage from a drawing done at the cafe.