Durfort is the sweet village that La Cascade is located in.  The village has been making copperware since the Middle Ages and still continues to do so.  Behind the village square (which is lined with copper and other craft shops) are three streets of house.  I love the “human scale” of these streets with their lovely timbered fronts and flowers spilling out of boxes.  You can’t walk very far without seeing someone you know (or don’t know yet) who wants to say Bonjour and know who you are.  This is one of the most welcoming places I have ever been too!

If you would like to know more about this special part of France and the workshops I offer there, please email me! I’d love to share it with you.

Thanks to Mary Stickney for this picture!

My second group of artists (and fantastic adventurous ladies) has just left and La Cascade seems so very quiet right now.  We had a most wonderful week of art-making, markets, flea markets, artist studios and excursions to wonderful sights like Albi and the monastery of EnCalcat.

I want to send une grande MERCI to all of you that joined me for this summers workshops- I have had a most wonderful time with you all-  a joyous pleasure in exploration, adventure and inspiration and watching your amazing artwork come to life.  It couldn’t have been any better! You all embody the Languedoc region (the language of Yes!)

It’s the time of year here in the Languedoc (translates as the Language of Yes!) when the rolling fields are blooming with vibrantly colored  sunflowers.

My first workshop artists just left yesterday- we had a wonderful week of studio time, exploring the area for inspiration and treasure hunting/gathering, visits to local artist studios and galleries and wonderful meals and shared life stories around the dinner table at night.

Merci to all  my Mesdames for making the week such a joyful event.

I’m about to welcome the group of artists who will join me tomorrow and hope/plan to get right into the fields of flowers for pics and sketching.

I’ve been spending a wonderful week with my workshop ladies.  We’ve been in the studio making books and jewelry and off exploring the area for inspiration and treasure gathering.

Yesterday was the Vide Grenier (literally “empty the attic”) – flea markets. There were treasures to behold and great prices.

Saturday we went to Albi after the Saturday market.  Albi is magnificent and I never tire of exploring the awesome(literally) cathedral there.  Right around the corner is the newly renovated Toulouse Lautrec Museum and also a wonderful pedestrian only shopping area- very trendy fashions, hand crafted hats, cafes, bookstores and a store specializing in the original blue pastel dye (made from the woad plant and the only blue dye til indigo came).

I’m off to teach- more later!