France Sep - Oct 2010 Itinerary 
Helen Haberland BFA UTAS & CC RSN UK, with full support & encouragement of Franklin House, National Trust TAS are delighted to offer in 2010 two, 2-week annual embroidery tours in France & England. These events connect traditional and contemporary embroidery with antiques, art, gardens, history and intercontinental lifestyles.
For the French tour we work in collaboration with Val Holmes, a French Master (mostly by machine,) art/embroiderer. Val’s courses begin with visits to places for ideas (i.e. architecture or gardens) where participants are asked to draw or take photographs of scenes and objects that will inspire a piece of embroidery in contemporary or abstract design.
Participants are welcome to join either tour, or a discount for both.
We have done everything possible to ensure the itinerary stays on schedule; any changes will be dealt with to ensure the utmost convenience to participants.
DAY 1 Sunday – Sep 19, 2010
Individuals are responsible for their own travel arrangements. After clearance through French customs those of us travelling together and aim to meet at a pre-determined time in Nantes where we will be collected by Val or husband Claude Vallin for the approximate 1- hour drive to Luçon in a minibus. Contact Helen if you wish to join us for the final link to Val’s.
Reminder; if flying internal France 1 bag only is included in the flight cost (15kgs) Excess baggage is Euro15 per kilo. One item of cabin baggage per person, weighing no more than 10kgs dimensions of less than 55cm x 40cm X 20cm. Remember everyone - no sharp items in hand luggage.
Upon arrival at Val’s house, we shall be allocated our rooms to refresh before having our first introductory gathering & tour official start around a light lunch. Once there with Val we can discuss personally the purpose, aims & objectives of our visit. The rest of the day & evening will be free to rest and generally enjoy some leisure from our journey.
An evening talk by Val will discuss silk production and the silk fibres we will be using.
Two themes - Silk and Lace for the first week and Gardens for the second week. Val has our workbook(s) (Carnet de Voyage) & its cost is included. Dinner will be at 19.30 p.m. (aperitifs first evening)
Day 2 Monday – Sep 20: Silk and Lace
Continental breakfast of fresh bread, croissants or brioche, jam & cheese, orange juice and drinks to suit. Vegemite if Helen can bring some through customs. In dining room or on terrace if fine. For the first day we’ll make this between 9.00 a.m. and 10.00 a.m. to allow for a good nights sleep.
The first day is very easy, as some might need to rest. A local walk with Val as our guide to see the church & central Luçon & also visit a local antique place specialising in textiles.
Val has a wonderful studio & is very generous with her time, knowledge and materials. We use the sewing machine, an embellisher, heat guns plus many & varied fabric manipulation/lace techniques. Or, stitch by hand if you would rather. Numerous technical skills for colour enhancing & dying secrets are revealed. The first day we will be shown the joys of textile experimentation or exploration. We have a collection of watercolour pencils already there - especially for our use. Val has stated however, everyone will need to bring along their own small favourite portable art equipment, 3x3 size paintbrushes (small medium & large), drawing pencils etc, plus a digital camera and basic sewing gear – scissors, general sewing needles. Everything else is provided. We have put Val’s address on the base of this itinerary; posting your equipment will save carrying. Talk to Helen if you need information about this. Dinner will be at 19.30 p.m. (7.30 p.m.)
Day 3 Tuesday – Sep 21
Breakfast between 8.30 a.m. and 9.30 a.m.
We take a partial day out. We will discuss this according to the people who are coming – deciding after the talk on silk put on the first night, this should create enough ideas to start with.
The morning will be spent drawing, photographing and collecting – (about 25kms from here). Lunch in a well-known restaurant for the local treats (other food available). There won’t be a coffee break on this morning. Lunch is included in the cost. Afternoon: continue at the local Silk Museum if open. There is a bar for tea at one of the places (Val will choose, she will tend to see what the interests are after the morning and early afternoon work).
Dinner at 20.00 (7.30 / 8.00 p.m.) The studio will be open for anyone wishing to finish off something started during the day.
Day 4 Wednesday - Sep 22
Please note - Studio day routine
- Breakfast between 8.30 a.m. and 9.30 a.m. 9.30 a.m.
- Studio work from collections and images from previous day or overnight ideas. We may print and work with one or two chosen photos. There will be a short course on Photoshop for embroidery use.
- Coffee when someone reminds us it’s time!
- Light lunch at 12.30 p.m. to 13.45 (1.45 p.m.)
- Each day Val will show at least two techniques to the group.
- Tea break (as coffee break)
- Walk around the local Fable gardens in afternoon
In principal we stop work around 17.00 (5 p.m.) although this is rarely the case. Students can stop at this time, swim, go for a walk, shop, or keep on working through until dinner in the evening at around 19.30 (7.30 p.m.)
Day 5 Thursday – Sep 23
Day similar schedule to day 4
- Breakfast between 8.30 a.m. and 9.30 a.m.
- 9.30 a.m. Studio work continues with much individual help and guidance. Coffee, light lunch & afternoon tea break at appropriate times
- Reminder each day Val will assist us as & when needed.
- In principal, stop work around 17.00 (5 p.m.) own relaxation time before dinner in the evening at around 19.30 (7.30 p.m.)
N. B. During the course there is one surprise evening trip; it will probably be Wednesday or Thursday at around 18.00 (6.00 p.m.) Back in time for dinner – we usually skip the starter on this evening.
Day 6 Friday – Sep 24
Following breakfast - Similar routine to previous days
- 9.30 a.m. Studio work concludes with a look at each others' work and discussion on what we have discovered and where we could take the work further.
- Coffee when someone reminds us its time!
- A walk before we have the long trip to Bayeux
- Light Lunch at 12.30 p.m. to 13.45 (1.45 p.m.)
- Preparations of baggage (just enough for the weekend please)
- Good idea to bring a small, easy to carry bag for this weekend, we can use it to post goodies home before we leave France.
- Depart for Bayeux 14.30 (2.30 p.m.) at the latest. We take the A83 north to Nantes / Rennes then towards Caen and turn off for Bayeux. Short break for coffee or tea after 2.30 hours. Journey time just over four hours.
Bayeux - stay with www.lajoiesaintbenoit.com. Individual rooms with own shower and WC. (Shower facilities are like a boat, very small but adequate.) Breakfast for both Friday and Saturday morning included in the cost. Although not at convent!!
Day 7 Saturday - Sep 25
Photographing and learning about Bayeux including visiting the famous tapestry – includes entry fee.
Saturday lunch is included in cost we will organise when there. Friday & Saturday evening dinner not at convent, or included in cost we thought to treat ourselves this time.
This area is known for its lace. There is also a museum in Bayeux that we can visit and the church is beautiful too. There is delightful shopping in Bayeux, especially for lace souvenirs.
Day 8 Sunday – Sep 26
Early start for Giverny & Monet’s garden, light picnic lunch included in cost. We can stop and buy sandwiches on the motorway on the way to Giverny.
Leave Bayeux at 9.30 a.m. and should arrive at garden for 12 Noon. Entry into Monet’s garden included.
This midday arrival is a good plan as the French visitors will be less in evidence around lunchtime. Val suggests that everyone discreetly packs their lunch to take into the garden - or eat in the minibus before arrival - so that we can get the most out of our visit. We cannot reserve in advance. The house can also be visited. After our visit to the garden we can visit the American art museum nearby, although their proposals for 2010 aren’t on their website yet. Websites: www.Giverny.org and www.maag.org
We envisage 12 noon to 15.30 (3.30 p.m.) in Giverny and 16.00 (4.00 p.m.) to 17.00 (5.00 p.m.) in the museum. Leave at 17.30 (5.30 p.m.) for Villandry.
Reservation demi-pension (bed, breakfast and evening meal) in individual ensuite bedrooms. As we may arrive quite late (around 20.00 (8.00 p.m.) The evening meal is part of our accommodation package. www.hotel-villandry.com
Day 9 Monday – Sep 27
Morning visit the gardens of Villandry. Fantastic place!! Drawing, photographs of garden or just admiring. Lunch in a restaurant included, as is a visit through the château.
Continue along the Loire to Angers. Maybe lace exhibition – will see. We’ll try to find something, if only the apocalypse tapestry, or if not their gardens. Return home at about 17.30 (5.30 p.m.) to arrive for dinner in the evening.
Day 10 Tuesday – Sep 28: Gardens
- Breakfast between 8.30 a.m. and 9.30 a.m.
- Please note – Return to studio & usual routine
- Printing is fun. Yes! Workshop routine and more experimenting
- Ideas from the gardens we visited
Day 11 Wednesday – Sep 29
- Breakfast between 8.30 a.m. and 9.30 a.m.
- 9.30 a.m. Studio work from collections and images from previous two days. We may print and work with one or two chosen photos. There will be a short course on Photoshop for embroidery use. Or use drawings from the last two days.
- Coffee when someone reminds us it’s time!
- Light Lunch at 12.30 p.m. to 13.45 (1.45 p.m.)
- Each day Val will show at least two different techniques to the group.
- Tea break (as coffee break)
In principal Val stops work around 17.00 (5.00 p.m.) although this is rarely the case. Students can stop at this time, swim, go for a walk, shop, or keep on working through to dinner in the evening at around 19.30 (7.30 p.m.).
We will have a short evening drive/or see what's on at the pictures.
Day 12 Thursday – Sep 30
- Breakfast between 8.30 a.m. and 9.30 a.m.
- Workshop routine: Yes we will visit another garden or gallery after our studio work.
Day 13 Friday– Oct 1
- After breakfast - 9.30 a.m. studio work concludes with completion of our work & discussion on where we can take the work from here.
- Coffee when someone reminds us it’s time!
- Light Lunch at 12.30 p.m. to 13.45 (1.45 p.m.)
- Installation of an exhibition in gallery. This is a treat and we are very privileged to be able to have the opportunity.
Exhibition: Note from Val: There are four regular embroidery groups (once a month) about 25 people, the suggestion would be to have these two groups put up their work in the dining room part of the gallery for when we arrive. (Val will have some of her work displayed while we are there in the lounge). On Thursday afternoon we could put up our work in the lounge on the two themes. This is the best venue for an impromptu exhibition as the walls can be pinned into.
We can invite the four groups to come and see and anyone else locally involved in the arts for a “Vernissage” preview. Rest of day shopping, farewell dinner in evening
Day 14 Saturday– Oct 2
- Breakfast between 8.30 a.m. and 9.30 a.m.
- A long walk/shopping to unwind then a late morning celebration meal/drive before tour end negotiate to leave from airport for those heading back to England or elsewhere
Contact
Helen Haberland (please note new address for Helen)
Australian School of Needlework
PO Box 340 Newstead TAS 7250
0419137176
0363 842136
E-mail metal-tiger@hotkey.net.au
Hilary Keeley
Franklin House
413 Hobart Road, Franklin Village (Near Launceston)
(03) 6344 7824
E-mail franklin@nationaltrusttas.org.au
Val Holmes et Claude Vallin,
Villa des Roses,
43 rue de Président de Gaulle,
Luçon 85400
Tél: (0033) 02 51 27 43 39 Mobile : 0687848495
Siteweb: www.gitesvendee.com
www.textile-art-centre.com
E-mail: Gallery43@aol.com
