Tea and cakes in the garden.

Tea and cakes in the garden.

Glamour camping? The perfect phrase for Quilt Camp. About the roughest activity was a walk in the countryside. Véronique Requenna , our camp leader, was a wonderful hostess. She greeted me as I left my car – “Barbara, I am so glad you are here!”   It sounds so lovely in French. We started our first afternoon with tea and homemade chocolate cake.  It was a nice time to relax, meet the other campers and discover who spoke what language. French, Spanish and English (me!) were represented and we all chattered away, usually all at once. Several of the girls could speak some English and I could understand some French. Véro’s home is a beautiful 18th century structure with a full English garden behind. Her home and her garden are her passion.  And in the very back of the garden she has Born to Quilt, a miniature tiny cottage that houses her quilt shop.

Our stitching headquarters turned out to be a converted stables, part of a beautiful B&B just down the road. Véro decorated the whole room with her quilts and tabliers (aprons).  We were each presented a hand painted box that contained the week’s project – a sweet sign for our Sewing Room. I decided to change the words to Tristan Brooks, perfect for my studio. The entire project was done in Véro’s new fabric line. I don’t think the woman ever sleeps.

We stayed up stitching until midnight the very first night. I was the first one to fade. Before snuggling into bed, I got to luxuriate in the biggest Victorian footed bath I had ever encountered.

The weather was perfect – many afternoons we stitched outside. And even if you couldn’t speak the same language there was always help around if you wanted to change things up.  One thing I noticed is that the words “Sewing Room” were in English and Vero’s company, Born to Quilt, was also in English. I asked her about that and she said it was the most recognizable language in quilting.

Next time I will tell you about the food. All I can say is YUM!

blog b&b

Our B&B

 

Quilts and tabliers decorated the stitching room.

Quilts and tabliers decorated the stitching room.

Our project!

Our project!

Sewing Room became Tristan Brooks for me.

Sewing Room became Tristan Brooks for me.

The tub was BIG!

The tub was BIG!

Stitching outside.

Stitching outside.

Vero helps her students.

Vero helps her students.

Finished!

Finished!

blog buttons fobs

The French button and fobs had English inscriptions.