Toulouse

 My lack of French language skills has been a real challenge for me this year.  The first couple times I visited, it didn't matter.  The city was new to me, I didn't expect to understand, I never studied French.

But this is my fourth visit.  I know some places, I feel a little at home here.  But without the language I can see how much I miss.  And it's not like people don't make every effort to communicate with me.  They are lovely that way.  But I actually think it's a bit unfair that I make them do all that work, when it is their country I am visiting!

If I return I vow to bring a French-English dictionary, at least.  But I may actually have to make an effort, check out Rosetta Stone from the library and learn rudimentary French.

That said, I have had a wonderful time exploring areas both new and old to me and I still love this city!

Toulouse is not just one thing.  It is an old city, a university town, the home of Airbus, full of fascinating history and so many more things I may never know.   I will do my posts about some of the things that I have found -- mostly through getting lost, but then Toulouse is a wonderful city to get lost in!

This is the delightful shop

Au Bonheur Des Dames 

The owner is a textile artist.

She covers all her mannequins with vintage and antique lace and linen.

As well as make 1920's style headbands.

Finding this shop was such a gift.  It was a grey day and cold.  I had chanced out after lunch was served, so there was no where to eat, which made me a bit cranky.  Walking in was lovely, made me smile.  I was able to converse about the lovely work the owner did and left with a beautiful piece of linen and lace.  The day went so much better after this!

Back to the Chateau

Chateau Dumas

When I went to France as part of my birthday year celebration in 2011, I thought that would be it.  I had been to Aix and Paris with my brother years before and it was nice, but I didn't think I would return.

I was much more of an anglophile.

When my dad offered each of his adult children a trip anywhere in the world, I chose England.

I knew English horse racing from reading Dick Frances, and Regenecy history from reading Georgette Heyer, and the geography from hundreds of cosy English mysteries.  It was a world I felt comfortable in.

Then my birthday year happened and different artists I admired were part of two separate week long workshops in rural France.  I had to go!

In between the workshops I spent 10 days with my husband, mostly in the Langedoc Roussillon region -- Carcassone, Collioure, Ceret.  I love that it's also known as the Spanish Frontier!


The Fauve Walk in Collioure

We discovered a double-walled medieval castle; a town dedicated to "wild" artists and the views that inspired them; two museums featuring the amazing work of Josep Reira I Arago; a full set of Picasso ceramics; amazing food.
My husband, who told me before we married that he didn't like to travel, was bitten by the travel bug!





France is a beautiful country.  But there are a lot of beautiful countries.  What touched my heart were the people.  I speak no French (tho apparently I can say that sentence in French with an acceptable accent!)  Sometimes the people I met spoke no English, like lots of the flea market vendors or the deli owner who sold us wonderful take away food.  It was a surprise to discover I know the words for different meats (as a cook, I'm a vegetarian, so that ability is odd).  Sometimes they knew English, but  weren't comfortable speaking it.  I'd ask combien (how much)? And then have to ask them to write the numbers. . . I got good at charades!

What I found were people genuinely helpful, and kind.  They made me feel at home.
I love the climate and know a lot of the plant names (interesting how similar those aspects are to where I grew up)! Oh and have I mentioned the brocantes and flea markets?

So since the 2011 trip I have been to France and the Chateau twice more.
Paper/mixed media art workshops two years ago and last year Shibori.




 Shibori at the Chateau

So it is with a great deal of joy that I will return to France next week.
I'll spend 2 weeks at the Chateau assisting my teacher friend . . . 

. . . and about 5 days in Toulouse

Walking around, paying attention to art & architecture, taking in a yoga class (the teacher is from Australia -- I'm adventurous, but yoga in French is prob too much for me!), and hanging out at my favorite flea market on as many Saturdays as I can manage! 

I have never found the chateau's internet particularly robust!  Still it is my goal to document this trip as I am on it, so come back every couple of days and see what I'm seeing and doing!

International Women's Day

Today is International Women's Day

click here to see behind the scenes

I know some amazing women -- women who have traveled around the globe or who have never left their hometown.

Every one of these women has a story to tell and accomplishments to smile about.

My guess is you do too!

Today and everyday, celebrate the amazing women in your life!

It turns out I have way more photos of architecture and plants than I do of my friends,
so here are just a few ~

Provence 2014

Tennis Partners 1968

I've known both these women since Jr High School

 one of my besties

On a New Adventure without reliable Internet

I am having a fabulous time.  But the internet service is only available in certain rooms of the Chateau.  Mine doesn't seem to be one of them.  It means hanging out in the foyer with all the bits that allow me to upload photos, etc.  It's before breakfast and I wasn't quite ready for blogging on the fly.  I can adapt.  But not before breakfast!

Today is a full day of sewing and binding and scrunching of fabric for my Shibori class!  Back to you when I can!

Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val

Every Sunday there is a market in Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val, a town near Chateau Dumas.  It's often a stop for workshop participants, whatever the theme of the workshop.  There are fabulous fruits & vegetables; street musicians; people watching and brocantes (antique shops).

 View of the church, with my friend in the foreground.

 Narrow courtyards

are magical to me!

 This is probably someone's front window.

Not a shop, but a lovely display all the same!

This group was putting on some sort of pageant.
History related certainly, full of charming costumes.
My favorites are the little boy in the beret and these adorable girls ~

Next to a lovely antique shop.
I will add photos of my purchases later.

These pretties have given me ideas for kits for my next sale.

Chateau Dumas

This is where the Shibori Workshop is taking place.
We will spend 7 hours a day in the studio, but always these views beckon ~

Toulouse Flea Market

Saint-Sernin Basilica

Every Saturday there is a flea market at this lovely church in Toulouse.

You never know what you will find.

Treasures:

And jumbled stuff:

This visit I found a beautiful linen sheet, a monogrammed gift for a friend who loves French linens, and hand-written ledgers from the 19th century.  All beautiful items, all heavy, all make me wonder how I am going to get them home. . . I will worry about that all later!