As promised I will start by letting people know about the workshops that
were held from the 13-16 August as part of the festival. As with all
lace events we had to register for workshops before were arrived. I
chose Valenciennes.
I chose to stay in a small hotel about 1.5km from the workshop venue,
quite deliberately so I would get a bit of exercise walking there and
back and my eyes would have to focus on distant objects during my walk.
I have had quite a bit of experience attending conferences both local
and overseas, but all were professional, so coming to a new city and
walking caused no issue for me. I also arrived 2 days before the start
of the workshop. Jet lag is something that takes me days to recover from
allowed me to work out how long it would take for my walk to the venue
etc.and I took this into account with my bookings. Exploring Brugge in
an unhurried way during the weekend.
Monday morning at opening time, I arrived at the workshop venue where a
line had already formed. We needed our registration numbers and those
who didn't have them waited in the 'naughty corner' while everyone else
was processed. I had my number and wlked straight through and into
class.The class requirements had been sent about 6 weeks before the
class which meant that I had all me equipment and bobbins all prewound,
ready to start. BUT I forgot my bits and pieces to make the pricking (I
had been spoilt by my favorite Paris lace teacher who always provides us
with a real pricking in class). Fortunately my friendly class mates
helped me out.
The class had 5 participants; 3 ladies from the US, a French lady and
me. Our tutor was Chantal Ferier who gave us 3 small projects;
Valenciennes grounds (yes there are 2 types of ground), a sample
bookmark and a round edging. The ground is basically plaited and uses no
pins. The pins are used as support for the footside and the picot edges
and later we learnt that pins are also used to support the 'pattern'.
Over the 4 days we worked, we chatted, we shared and Ann our French lady
had a wicked sense of humour that was politely translated by our
teacher. yes the class was bilingual; English and French. Our notes were
essentially diagrams and we filled out any further explanations as
Chantal went through each step. Our note books were fully utilised. I
would love to have Chantal do a workshop in Australia, she also teaches
Flanders at Kantcentrum.
The workshop day was broken up by morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea.
The coffee was great and there were a variety of herbal teas, so I ended
up bringing my own English breakfast, just in case I wanted tea instead
of coffee. Lunch consisted of small rolls and wraps with a huge variety
of delicious fillings. Afternoon tea incorporated left overs from lunch.
It was a good time for all of us to socialise and share our varied
experiences in class. Yes we all did tours of each others classes and
it was amazing to see the variety of lace being taught. I believe there
were 11 classes running simultaneously.
Classes ran from 9am to 4pm but we were allowed in from 8.30 am and many
of us stayed until 4.30. I left my pillow and lace equipment in the
class room since the whole building was locked at 5pm and not opened
until just before 8.30 am.
At the end of the 4 days I was only part way through my sample, but one
of the ladies from the US had completed hers; she was the only one who
finished the sample at the time. I've just got back to mine and it will
hopefully be finished today or tomorrow. Then I'll do the edge.
When I checked how far I walked, most days it turned out to be 5km.
After class I would wander around Brugge checking out needlework shops
and chocolate shops and working out where to eat my evening meal ( my
hotel provided breakfast). I must say a friend of mine was also staying
in the same hotel and she was doing Lier(?) Lace; an embroidered net
lace which is exquisite.
On Wednesday morning on my way to class I passed through the market
square and there was a real food market, fruit, vegetables, cheeses,
pastries, meats and sausages. Well the sight and smell of the peaches
was just too much and I bought a few. They reminded me of the peaches I
ate in Tuscany!!!
My walks through Brugge in the mornings showed me a beautiful town with
lovely locals. The tourists came by train and bus mid morning and well
the town changed.
My next report will be on the festival itself.
Anna in an overcast Sydney more rain on the way!
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