Enchanting France – Embellishing Fabric

Fit for Art Patterns invites you to refresh your creative spirit at La Cascade Artists Retreat in Durfort, an enchanting medieval artisan village in the Languedoc region of France. The one-week program is lead by textile artists and Fit for Art owners Rae Cumbie* and Carrie Emerson.** Together we will explore the local countryside and a variety of fabric embellishing and surface design techniques.

Our Activities

Our days will be split between artistic pursuits in the cozy third floor artist studio of our 17th century home and traveling around the region to experience life in southern France.

Explorations of neighboring Revel and the surrounding countryside will include historic sites and regional markets, tree lined thoroughfares, flower fields, peaceful vistas, and small villages. Rae’s bilingual daughter, Anna, who lives and works in Toulouse as an English teacher, will join us from time to time to enrich our French adventure.

Textile-related activities will include touring a museum with contemporary tapestries, visits with local artisans and collectors, a day pastel dyeing with an expert in the field, and time to shop for fabric.

In the studio, we will paint, stitch, collage and piece a variety of small fabric samples to spark our creative juices and create memories of our time at La Cascade. Stitchers of all skill levels and interests are welcome. We’ll find visual inspiration for our creative work in the ironwork details, copper works, blue pastel fabrics and notions, bountiful outdoor markets and fields, museum exhibits, and shops.

As we move through the week’s creative experiences and beautiful adventures, your work in the studio will come to life. You will be encouraged to move your samples forward with several options depending on your interest and abilities:

• Plan and craft samples to be included in an embellished garment.
• Embellish a garment brought from home for this purpose.
• Incorporate your samples into a useful memento such as a book cover, sleep mask or tool roll.
• Craft the samples into a wall hanging, table runner or tote bag.

Our Accommodations

Meals will be provided by La Cascade’s chef Nese using locally sourced seasonal foods and wines served on the terrace that overlooks a rushing mountain stream.

Included accommodations are double occupancy with shared baths. A limited number of single rooms are available for an additional fee of $800. We’ll travel in shared rental cars from the Toulouse airport to La Cascade and environs.

Please take note that this retreat is held in a charming but very old house in France; the only access to the 2nd floor bedroom accommodations and 3nd floor studio is by stairs. There is no air conditioning other than the natural air and cool stream running along side the premises; summer in Southern France can be quite warm.

Details and Fine Print

The retreat fee of $3,250 includes most materials, room, board, field trips and priceless experiences. Class size is limited to 9. A non-refundable registration fee of $750 is required to hold your space; the balance is due in two additional payments. Not included: your airfare to and from Toulouse, travel insurance (required), an occasional restaurant meal, and personal purchases. We welcome you to contact rae@fitforartpatterns.com with questions. 

Event Cancellation Policy: Retreat deposits are non-refundable if the registrant cancels. If the registrant cancels after April 15, the balance that has been paid will be refunded only if Fit for Art is able to fill the vacancy. If the event is cancelled due to circumstances beyond the control of Fit for Art Patterns, such as the host facility being closed or France closing its borders, we will offer the attendee the option to credit the full amount paid toward a future Fit For Art event or to receive a refund of the amount less a 10% service fee.

Event Organizers

 *Rae Cumbie is an award-winning wearable artist, sewing author, instructor and co-owner of Fit for Art Patterns. Read an extensive bio and see a listing of her published works at http://www.raecumbie.com/.

**Carrie Emerson is the managing director and co-owner of Fit for Art Patterns. Read her bio at fitforartpatterns.com.