Summer Dreams
Registration is now open for:
Tina Jensen’s LITTLE BOOK OF FRAGMENTS
Chris Grimes’ LAUGHTER LAB 4
Apologies for the long silence, it’s been while since our last newsletter, but things have been hot and hectic at Les Soeurs since the spring. We feel like we hit the ground running after the long, enforced retreat from the world.
The first event, in May, was our annual Laughter Lab “experience” led by Chris Grimes of InstantWit. Always an uniquely, uplifting and joyful week for everyone concerned, and soooo creative ; and we are delighted to be currently fixing a date in May/June2023. (Not to be missed, Chris’s “Good Listening Podcast” is a great example of his positive attitude to life).
Following hard on the heels of the Laughter Lab came the talented designer and needleworker, Ekta Kaul, who specialises in embroidered maps and whose inspirational work and calm creativity delighted us all. We hope very much to have Ekta return in the not too distant future and you can follow our progress in the upcoming newsletters.
Almost half of all fruit produced per year is wasted. Much of this waste comes from the desire of wanting only “perfect” fruit. Looking at ways to use this fruit can help to not only create less waste, but it also means we will have better material options that are compostable and require no virgin materials. An example of this is textile designer Youyang Song’s material made from fruit peels and algae.
The project began by asking local fruit juice suppliers for leftover banana and orange peel and after a long process the final outcome includes bags, bowls, buttons, and other fashion accessories. And the final material is completely circular, as it can be remanufactured using a closed-loop system and can be refashioned into other products before it biodegrades.
The website also offers delicious looking skincare products, presented in entirely home compostable packaging
Somewhere in the middle of lock-down I came across the painter and teacher, Nicholas Wilton. With over 20 years experience as a working artist and educator, Nicholas has developed a systematic approach that brings authenticity, spontaneity and joy back into the creative process. His website Art4Life offers a number of different on-line workshops and whilst I haven’t had the time to follow any of them, I do subscribe to his informative newsletters, with a regular video of his creative thoughts and suggestions.
It’s most likely the child in me, but I am utterly delighted by Tatsuya Tanaka’s charming depiction of everyday life in miniature. Born in Kumamoto Prefecture, Tanaka began by creating everyday things in miniature form which he uploaded on his website. He now updates the content on an almost daily basis and currently boasts over 3,200,000 followers on Instagram. Some of his works include “MINIATURE LIFE“, “MINIATURE LIFE 2“, “Small Wonders“,”MINIATURE TRIP IN JAPAN“, and “MINIATURE LIFE at HOME
If one of the reasons you love summer is because of the colour that sunshine brings to life after the greyness of the colder months, you might enjoy the work of Asheville-based artist Judit Just who transforms twisted ropes, skeins of cotton, and plush, carpet-like tufts into roving, abstract, super-colourful tapestries. Suspended from skinny wooden dowels painted to match their hanging counterparts, the sculptural textiles tend to swell in amorphous patches and curved lines before falling into thick patches of fringe. Just’s colour palettes parallel the contrast in textures, with soft, pastel tones alongside bright, neon-like hues.
Gluten free readers may already be familiar with the author ,author, food stylist, and photographer, Aran Goyoaga. Originally from Portugal she moved to the US as an adult where she worked in professional kitchens for years. After suffering from debilitating autoimmune disorders, she and her son were diagnosed with gluten intolerance and she made it her mission to elevate the world of alternative baking by transforming recipes to make them gluten-free in the hope that everyone could have access to delicious breads and pastries. Her latest book, Canelle et Vanille Bakes Simple is now available in hardback.
A few weeks ago we were hosts to a group of friends who asked me to organise a suitable “creative” to lead a little workshop during their week-long stay. Luckily, my first choice was the talented collagist and book maker, Tina Jensen from Denmark whose contribution to the Collage Card Connect last year was one of my personal favourites. The workshop was a great success, we fell in love with Tina, and she agreed to return here next year to lead
LITTLE BOOK OF FRAGMENTS; LOST AND FOUND MEMORIES
2nd - 8th June 2023
5-days workshop / 6 nights
Let us know as soon as possible if you are interested as we are deliberately keeping workshops small next year to maintain the intimacy and comfort that our venue offers.
Have I not become more and more aware latterly that the things I deeply desire come without struggle? … All the struggle, then, is phantom play. The fighting with shadows. This I know.
Henry Miller
