high atlas traditions

Roadtrip to the Atlas Mountains. Destination Kasbah Bab Ourika. Cool crochet project on a higher level, literly.

After arrival we first have a super delicious lunch with an amazing view on the red valley. Actually, you're not going to get it any better and later on you just want to relax in the beautiful garden or to swim, laze and crochet...

According to a cc workshop tradition, we bring the big wool baskets on our roadtrip to the mountains, to make a cover for the xs woodwoolstools. Better known as suitcase size stool, because everyone can bring it home in the suitcase 'easily'.

At the end of the day I'm always amazed, how different all the handmade stool covers turned out. Love to see how every stool has it's own style in whatever way, using the same pattern. However, we completely forgot to take a group photo with our covered mini stools.

Kasbah Bab Ourika days are simply the best to end a wonderful workshop week full of adventures with cheerful, creative and lovely women.  

moroccan cafe crochet

Moroccan crochet masterclass by the sweetest and most patient Aisha on Place des Epices.

While Aisha teaches a small group how to make a moroccan beanie under the umbrella on the market, the others are making matching mittens in my favorite atmospheric Cafe des Epices. The crochet class is enjoying music and tasty drinks and the mittens progress steadily. Mille grazie @cafedesepices for the hospitality and great service!

For lunch we move to La Famille, where everyone enjoys the most delicious dishes in the beautiful quiet courtyard in the middle of the medina. After a long lunch, the program is free and most girls are using their free afternoon to go into the souks for some serious shopping. Some prefer to take a relaxing siesta in the shade on the roof terrace of Chambres d'Amis...

slow mo

New day, new project, new destinations. Above all today's theme is slow.

Early rise to visit Jardin Majorelle and enjoy the magical Yves Saint Laurent garden in beautiful morning light and besides, to be there before the tourist crowd enters...

After a walk through the garden, we met in the Majorelle cafe, to enjoy a tea and start with our day project. A slow project; a tortoise, a common (domestic) animal in Marrakech.

By the time everyone worked the tortoise tail, we continued our journey to the desert.

On the way to our camp, we came across a film set with a long staircase to a white house on the desert hill (we could not figure out which film...)

Right after arrival at our desert camp, we enjoyed a truly delicious lunch in the shade of the Berber tent. La Pause, an appropriate name for this place into a completely different world, in the middle of nature and without wifi.

This oasis in the desert is also the perfect place also for a siesta. For the 'sporty types' a swim in the pool at the olive orchard, for some of us a beauty nap and the fanatics continued the s l o w day-project.

At the end of the day, somehow we all ended on the highest desert hill to enjoy the magnificent view.

Around sunset we saw an approaching storm coming from afar, a true nature spectacle! The huge dog stayed very quietly on his pouf and the staff put down the berber tents at ease, so we were not 'worried' at all about the sudden strong desert wind. Actually it was a special experience and we had another wine and made silly waving hair group photos.

After sunset we went back home towards Marrakech. What a day! It frankly feels great to slow down from time to time...

cool crochet october 2018

Accompanied by a great group of enthusiasts, we went into the medina on day one.

During our morning walk to the wool warehouse, we made everyone familiar with the medina-maze. Especially when it's the first time in the Red City it's truly overwhelming, with thousands of influences on all your senses.

Packed with our supplemented wool stock, we landed at lunchtime on the panorama terrace of the Maison de la Photographie, starting with the first project; straw hat with application! I made a palm tree strawhat as example and obviously everyone was free to create their own design.

The CC TEAM* worked diligently in between the delicious lunch dishes and we continued our medina tour to the Secret Garden, to enjoy the incredible green oasis until sunset.


* among the participants no less than 3 mother-daughter couples;

Lisa & Kendall from Stafford, UK
Jen & Marie from Sheffield, UK
Ine & Inge from Hamburg, Germany

4 dear workfellows/friends;
Annie, Gunver, Helle, Jeanette from Copenhagen, Denmark
(Annie originally from the Faroer Islands, which makes her 'leader' on our worldwide workshop participation list)

and 2 best friends forever;
Donna & Jean from Manchester, UK