Boutis Expo at Pierrefeu du var

As every year for the past 8 years at this time, the association Lei Roucas dou Barri held a boutis show this past weekend.  There were 24 individual exhibitors of boutis pieces, as well as two shops for supplies and a bookstore.  The show is organized by the wonderful and lively Henriette, and always includes either an exchange or a challenge on alternate years.  This year was a challenge to design a bag with the theme of the "sea" which should be all white and completely stuffed. The items were displayed in a "pointu" small boat - such a good idea.
Several ladies were able to take photos and have posted them on their blogs.  Here is a brief list -go and look at them, and enjoy the beautiful, traditional boutis - which I am pleased to say is alive and well in Provence.

Henriette

Lou

Boutis divins

Marie Silvestre

Lei roucas dou barri   for this one, look for the photo albums to the left of the page

Souvenirs from Caissargues

 I did very little shopping at the expo in France, and I am sure I could have bought many more things !  I did purchase a piece of Den Haan Dutch chintz, a 2 yard piece which I thought would make a pretty, small courtepointe with a plain color on the reverse.  The pattern is from the "Island Marken" design.
Isabelle made me a gift of the fabulous white linen batiste shown, it is so beautiful.  I am planning to use it for the vanne below as my personal souvenir of a memorable weekend spent with the ladies and Hubert.  Hubert also had the idea for the design of  the needles from Bohin, they are specially for stuffing the boutis, are longer and fine, and have a blunt tip.

 France Boutis offered this wonderful pattern for a small "vanne" as the pattern for the expo in full size.  Recently it had appeared in the Fil Blanc but not full size.  Again, I think this would make a wonderful courtepointe if it was enlarged a little.  This is the pattern I will use the fine linen batiste for.

And finally, I picked up Janet's and my pochettes that Lou had patiently looked after since the exchange in March at Pierrefeu.  Aren't the scissors wonderful ?  They are small and elegant, hand made in  Nogent, and have long, thin, sharp tips, perfect for applique.   The scissor and knife maker from Nogent was a vendor at the expo, and he had truly wonderful scissors, some (very expensive) ones real works of art, a once-in-a-lifetime purchase.   These are a gift from Lou, who  spoiled me the whole weekend.  Thank you so much, I will always remember it.

7th Annual Meeting around the Boutis, Pierrefeu du Var

Boutis exhibition at Pierrefeu du Var, sponsored by the association Lei Roucas dou Barri
Henriette has asked me to pass on this information in English to anyone who is lucky enough to be near Pierrefeu in March:
These two days will include 2 vendors selling boutis supplies, a bookshop selling boutis books exclusively, and 22 groups or independent boutis stitchers who will be demonstrating their expertise and working to promote the exchange of ideas.
This year we proposed making a small pouch or purse to exchange as a link between stitchers.  The works will be displayed for the 2 days of the show, and then will be exchanged by pulling names out of a hat.  Each pouch will leave with a different boutis stitcher, thus creating more pleasure and exchange of ideas.
Up to now 92 boutis stitchers have signed up for this exchange.

I wish I could attend, I think this will be wonderful yet again.  Nevertheless, Janet and I will be there in spirit, as we are working hard to finish our pouches in time to send.