It is time again to encourage you to consider joining us this year’s retreat in France, our home away from home and an annual celebration of creativity. We are so pleased to tell you that we have a guest instructor this year, Barbie McCormick. Perhaps you already know about Barbie: couture expert, tailor supreme, busy sewing professional and educator located in Boise ID.
Barbie has visited us at La Cascade twice; enjoy this Testimonial from her first France retreat. We have been cooking up a little couture sewing “a la Coco” for a couple of years and now we are ready for you to share in the fun. Come chase Coco in Enchanting France with us!
This means we are branching out from our usual practice of small sample creation at the Embellishing Fabric workshops and planning to sew either a vest or a bag in the Chanel Style. We have a fabulous schedule planned for you including resources to find fabrics and trims and a bit of fabric history at a wonderful Textile Museum not far from our home in Durfort.
As always we will taste the delights of the area, visiting Barbie’s favorite, the Revel Saturday Market, in addition to all the tasty meals Nese, our host and chef, will serve. There will be visits to exhibits and other sites in the area, too, but each day we will be working on our terrific boucle creations in the studio at La Cascade.
Wrapping up the week, Rae and Barbie will introduce ideas for embellishing the boucle vests and bags you have made to make them truly your own.
Bring your own boucle and silk lining, choose some from Fit for Art’s limited choices, or purchase something special at the Andre Calvet Fabric Shop, which stocks some lovely choices for your first or future projects. Rae purchased this black boucle and sumptuous silk lining at Andre Calvet last summer and is busy planning for a vest and tunic with leather appliques.
Registration for the July 22-29 week opens tomorrow, October 21, 2026 at noon. Follow this link to read more details and save your spot by registering. Our hostess Nese and the sunflowers will welcome you with open arms!
Be sure, if you are interested, to grab one of the week’s 9 student spots before the retreat is full. Come chase Coco in Enchanting France with us!
