Jul 22, 2010

A little bit of paradise!

Another world?

I was right! Life at Chateau Dumas is paradise! The house is beautiful – 300 years old and picture perfect. We have a classically trained French chef for every meal and the meals are so beautiful, we have to wait for the camera flashes to cease before eating. My fellow travelers and I have been touring the countryside’s “brocantes,” which translates as junk shops. But French junk shops are full of vintage linens and other fine pieces, and our group has found many treasures.

We went to Cordes Sur Ciel to visit with Rowena, a block printing textile artist yesterday morning. Today we dyed textiles on the property with woad dye, this beautiful shade of blue – a true French blue. As you can see from the photos below, the area was awash in blue! (Some of us sort of got carried away, and in addition to dying the fine old linens and lace, we started pulling clothes out of our suitcases to have something else to dye!

After experiencing an authentic English high tea in the garden, an expert in French textiles showed us (and sold to us!) a few of her purchases from a recent buying trip.

Tomorrow’s events include a walk through fields of sunflowers, to see a 700-year-old church which houses a 700-year-old tapestry. (Everything is at least 700 years old)

There is so much more to share, but for now I just wanted to say, I wish you were all here! Maybe we can gather a group together for next summer! Want to come with me? I am serious, think about it!

Au revoir,

Susan