Someone asked me recently how
it happened that I ended up making my career in the world of knitting and
crochet, my answer was that I have been extremely lucky and relied on fateful
meetings with amazing people and many incidences of luck that have proved
beneficial. No big plan, no calculated decisions, just pure simple LUCK!
I didn’t set out with the aim
to be a textile designer; the only subject I was any good at at school was art,
so I did an art foundation course after my A levels; the only thing I was any
good at at college was textiles, so I went to art School and the only thing I
was any good at at Art School was knitted textiles. Decisions all made for me!
When I saw an advert for a job as a Rowan Design Consultant in the Evening Standard
and had my subsequent interview, it was a lucky coincidence that Kate Buller,
who interviewed me, had been to the same Art School as me so we immediately had
something in common. When working as a Rowan Design Consultant it was another
stroke of luck that Debbie Bliss needed help in her shop, the fact that I had
just had my second child and so was really ‘tuned in’ to all things to do with
babies and small children was fantastically beneficial. Another couple of
decisions and career progressions made for me!
I first met Sue Culligan
about 6 years ago when she approached Rowan looking for a workshop tutor to
teach on a residential workshop in France and since then I have been lucky
enough to have been invited back to teach there a further 5 times. Sue started
her business selling knitwear and children’s fashions from her shop called
Kangaroo in Lewes in Sussex, she went on to own one of the biggest internet yarn
stockists and more recently, after her permanent move to France a few years
ago, now runs residential knitting and crochet workshops and retreats. Sue is a
recognised author herself and has written at least 3 books including Techno
Cozies and Vintage Knit Knacks, her new book will be published early 2013.
Sue has a list of workshops
and retreats on her web site ‘Knitting Holidays In France’. There are quite a
few to choose from such as ‘mystery blanket’ knitting with Debbie Abrahams and a
knitting and crochet workshop with the lovely Carol Meldrum. Alternatively – if
you simply want to get away from it all and have a less structured break in the
company of other knitters then you could book a retreat. These weeklong ‘time
outs’ have less structure than a workshop and tend to be timetabled according
to what the small group wish to do. The maximum number on a retreat is 5, which
means there is plenty of time for chilling out and less ‘pressure’ than a usual
workshop. Depending upon the number of participants involved, Sue runs the
holidays from either her home (which is also a B&B) in La Verderie, which
is close to Cognac is south West France, or using a local ‘gite’ type complex
nearby as a base.
I didn’t set out with the aim
to be a textile designer; the only subject I was any good at at school was art,
so I did an art foundation course after my A levels; the only thing I was any
good at at college was textiles, so I went to art School and the only thing I
was any good at at Art School was knitted textiles. Decisions all made for me!
When I saw an advert for a job as a Rowan Design Consultant in the Evening Standard
and had my subsequent interview, it was a lucky coincidence that Kate Buller,
who interviewed me, had been to the same Art School as me so we immediately had
something in common. When working as a Rowan Design Consultant it was another
stroke of luck that Debbie Bliss needed help in her shop, the fact that I had
just had my second child and so was really ‘tuned in’ to all things to do with
babies and small children was fantastically beneficial. Another couple of
decisions and career progressions made for me!
I am a big believer in fate -
as some things have come to an end, other opportunities have opened themselves
up to me. Not many conscious decisions have been made along the way – perhaps
the biggest decision was to launch JANIE CROW a few years ago, but all in all I
would have to say that I have been extremely lucky and, although the likelihood
of ever being a millionaire is non existent, I have managed to carve out a
really nice satisfying career. And, what makes my lovely, lucky little job even
nicer is the fact that I get invited to go to lots of lovely places and meet
lots of lovely people….
I first met Sue Culligan
about 6 years ago when she approached Rowan looking for a workshop tutor to
teach on a residential workshop in France and since then I have been lucky
enough to have been invited back to teach there a further 5 times. Sue started
her business selling knitwear and children’s fashions from her shop called
Kangaroo in Lewes in Sussex, she went on to own one of the biggest internet yarn
stockists and more recently, after her permanent move to France a few years
ago, now runs residential knitting and crochet workshops and retreats. Sue is a
recognised author herself and has written at least 3 books including Techno
Cozies and Vintage Knit Knacks, her new book will be published early 2013.
Sue has a list of workshops
and retreats on her web site ‘Knitting Holidays In France’. There are quite a
few to choose from such as ‘mystery blanket’ knitting with Debbie Abrahams and a
knitting and crochet workshop with the lovely Carol Meldrum. Alternatively – if
you simply want to get away from it all and have a less structured break in the
company of other knitters then you could book a retreat. These weeklong ‘time
outs’ have less structure than a workshop and tend to be timetabled according
to what the small group wish to do. The maximum number on a retreat is 5, which
means there is plenty of time for chilling out and less ‘pressure’ than a usual
workshop. Depending upon the number of participants involved, Sue runs the
holidays from either her home (which is also a B&B) in La Verderie, which
is close to Cognac is south West France, or using a local ‘gite’ type complex
nearby as a base.
Last week I was lucky enough
to spend a really lovely week in the company of Sue and just 2 other crocheters
in the surroundings of her home (this is where the whole preamble about being
lucky fits in) where we spent the week on a crochet retreat. Sue wrote a daily blog
that you could read here
She has included some lovely
images, not only of the crochet that was achieved, but also the lovely
surrounding countryside and the local towns and of course us crocheters looking
very relaxed and well looked after. We had a really smashing week, the
hospitality of Sue and her husband Culli was exceptional, the food was to die
for (I put on a kilo), we worked some great crochet and all completed a Coronet
rose cushion cover, we got a taste of local life by visiting towns and markets
where we made some lovely little purchases, we did dog walks and even sat on
the beach, oh and of course there was the occasional (!) glass of wine.
I ask you - just how lucky am I?
Check out Sue’s web site here
for a calendar of the trips and events she is running.