What an amazing mind-blowing experience the week with Stacey has been. I’ve been converted to seeing the world through a lens of ‘how can I translate that to weaving’, not literally, but to capture the essence and spirit of a scene, emotion, music and evoke that in thread bound together with pattern and design. This week has opened my heart, mind and soul to a world of creativity that will inspire me for the rest of my life.

Thank you so much for a truly wonderful week? You take such good care of us (with Graha’ms help in the kitchen, of course!), making sure we are learning, exploring, eating well, and having a holiday. Not an easy task, but you do it wonderfully!

Thank you also for challenging me to see the advantages of a (well-made!) table loom as an important addition to my weaving life – not only does it greatly aid in understanding, but it also encourages exploration.

If your dream is to return from France with a beautiful handwoven scarf or comparable project, this workshop isn’t for you.  If you want to explore the avenues, road ways and byways that your soul takes you down, then you definitely should place Stacey and Graham Brown on your itinerary.

Stacey is best known for her sculptural weavings, and she will certainly introduce you to several techniques for creating texture and dimensionality in your weaving.  However, Stacey also has an incredibly eclectic mind so she will help you explore all the dark alleys that pop into your mind as you weave. She will even help you to celebrate the dead ends–although I’m not sure there are many she can’t work around.  And since her classes are limited to three, she’s always there to help navigate those ‘what ifs’?

At the same time that you are meandering through the weaving world, you will be grounded in a perfectly planned holiday in Southern France.  Stacey met me at the train station in Agen, about an hour between Toulouse and Bordeaux and drove me to her 18th century farm home in rural France.  I was greeted by the affable dog, Bailey and her equally amiable husband Graham.  Graham had dinner waiting for us and continued to provide meals, local wine, his own craft beer and engaging conversation throughout the week.  My bedroom upstairs, complete with an ensuite, was perfect, with every need being met throughout the week.  Visits to market days, historic villages and a couple of meals out: these two have entertaining down to a fine art.

I didn’t make a scarf, but I returned home with about a dozen different weaving samples, and enough ideas to keep me busy for the foreseeable future.  More importantly, my experience changed my weaving trajectory away from the orderly path of structured weave patterns to a maze of possibility.

This was my second time at the Loom Room France and once again I enjoyed an amazing inspirational week getting back into my weaving. Stacey was as always very helpful with teaching me a new technique and pushing me to explore and go outside my boundaries when developing the design of my piece. The Loom Room is the most perfect place to be creative in a beautiful and peaceful environment. My partner joined this time and he too loved spending time exploring Nérac and the area around it and we both enjoyed Stacey and Graham’s hospitality which has no boundaries. Thank you from us both for a fabulous week!

This was my second time at the Loom Room France and once again I enjoyed an amazing inspirational week getting back into my weaving. Stacey was as always very helpful with teaching me a new technique and pushing me to explore and go outside my boundaries when developing the design of my piece. The Loom Room is the most perfect place to be creative in a beautiful and peaceful environment. My partner joined this time and he too loved spending time exploring Nérac and the area around it and we both enjoyed Stacey and Graham’s hospitality which has no boundaries. Thank you from us both for a fabulous week!

In a beautifully restored French farmhouse near Nérac, Stacey welcomes beginners and experts alike to learn, explore their creativity and have a relaxing weaving week. Everything was taken care of so I could focus on learning to weave, warping a loom and exploring pattern and colour. Lunch times and evenings were spent relaxing in the large garden surrounded by lovely views and enjoying the delicious meals prepared for us by Graham. Stacey took my fellow new weaver and I on several excursions to local villages and art galleries. We sampled French restaurants and even Roquefort sorbet.

My husband came along for the holiday and the excursions and was able to walk the nearby Pilgrim’s Trail and enjoy the peace (and the micro-brewery) whilst I wove.

I highly recommend The Loom Room France. Stacey and Graham gave us a memorable and relaxing time.

I just took a two-week Jacquard weaving class with Stacey Harvey-Brown at the Loom Room France in Nérac, and I can’t say enough good things about the experience.  The looms themselves are magnificent and the entire process of taking a design from concept to cloth, through the steps of creating a computer generated mise-en-carte, punching and lacing the cards, and learning the quirks of the individual looms, was fascinating to me. There were two of us in the class, and Stacey’s style of teaching suited us perfectly – guiding us when necessary and leaving us to work some things out ourselves.  This approach really enhanced our understanding of and appreciation for these machines and those who worked on them before us.  Stacey also shared some of her past and current work with us, as well as all kinds of weaving and other resources.  Her knowledge, artistry and curiosity are truly inspiring.

Stacey and Graham somehow have the ability to make you feel like a treasured guest and a member of the family at the same time.  Their home and the surroundings are beautiful and peaceful, and morning walks or just hanging with the chickens, the cats, and Bailey the dog offered a perfect balance to the weaving.  The excursions to local markets, shops, events and historical sites were a real treat, but meals at home with Graham’s great cooking were just as special, with lively discussions about a variety of topics and always full of laughter. 

I knew from reading other testimonials that I would thoroughly enjoy my stay at the Loom Room France, but it was even better than I’d imagined in every way.  I went to learn about Jacquard weaving and came away with so much more.  I think any weaver, from beginner to advanced, could benefit from a stay at the Loom Room France.  Bravo to Stacey and Graham for making their dreams come true and sharing them so generously with others!

Stacey is a fantastic teacher and an inspiring artist. She showed me a whole new world of weaving possibilities and encourached to better understand the logic of weaving instead of just following the drafts. Her studio is just amazing and fully equipped with looms, tools, samples and great books. The course was extremely well prepared and accompanied by delicious meals and great conversations. Thank you Stacey and Graham for being such a wonderful hosts, we loved everything about this stay.

Stacey has become one of my favorite instructors, from the moment you arrive until the minute you leave, she cultivates a wonderful weaving experience. I so deeply appreciate her guidance, which provides you with comprehensive technical knowledge as well as room to create and play, in your own way and style. She has both the patience and knowledge, to steer the beginner and advanced weaver into challenging themselves, into a new level of creativity. A mix of both a fiber workshop and a retreat, the accommodations are comfortable allowing for ample time to relax and move at your own pace. The meals are a wonderful bonus, of delicious locally sourced ingredients, and inspired dishes. Her husband Graham’s culinary creations wouldn’t be complete without his wonderful craft beer, brewed onsite! Both Stacey and Graham bring more to the experience with local outings and trips, giving time to really get a full experience in addition to the weaving immersion which takes up most of the day. In short, I can’t wait to return and continue my weaving journey.

When traditional weaving knowledge is combined with creativity, passion and dedication, something new and valuable is born into the world. This is what Stacey’s work and attitude represents for me. I was intrigued when signing up for a two week course and stay at The Loom Room France in Nérac. At the end of those two weeks, I am both impressed and enlightened by the endless possibilities that this approach brings. In addition to being a textile artist and a highly accomplished weaver, Stacey is also a teacher willing to generously share her knowledge and tailor her tuition to your individual needs and level of development. She encourages you to be curious and challenge yourself to test new techniques and expressions to broaden your horizons, whilst simultaneously having fun in the process.

And whilst you are exploring new ways of expression, all the other necessities of life – accommodation, food, drink and cultural excursions – are taken care of by Stacey and Graham. The Loom Room is a unique and unforgettable experience for both craft and soul.

The weaving course was a revelation and Stacey a great teacher. Learning to set up the warp was exacting but once I started to actually weave it became so rewarding. I’m amazed at what can be created and I love the idea of potentially being able to make my own textiles. We were royally looked after and fed very well by Graham and I so enjoyed meeting Stacey and Graham’s local friends, visiting beautiful villages and trying out the local cuisine. The accommodation was beautiful and Bailey their golden retriever a total delight. Overall a truly wonderful experience.

I had a fantastic 4 days with you and learnt so much. I can still see those funky chickens!!  The best birthday gift I could give myself!  You are such an inspirational teacher – it all comes from the heart.  I just learnt so much, even things I was sure I would never get my head around like reading a design on a piece of fabric and understanding how to make the draft for it! Your patience, encouragement and confidence in my ability to achieve what I wanted to do on the 4 shaft has just got me so fired up it’s hard to keep a lid on the ideas in my head I now want to weave. Maybe it’s a good job time is the lacking factor at the moment!!
Not only did I have such fun weaving and challenging my brain but the luxury of staying in your wonderful old house with great company -what more could a girl want! I have already recommended you to friends but I will definitely be back for more!

I spent a weekend with Stacey learning the ins and outs of warping up using a sectional warp beam on her 24 shaft AVL loom. Stacey not only provided hands-on help continuously but had also gone to the bother of writing all the instructions up and binding them into a short manual to take away. In the weekend, I managed to wind on a 5 m silk warp at 60 ends per inch and 12 inches wide using this method and also to weave a sample length in silk to take away. Stacey was very encouraging and I have taken the plunge and gone onto sectional warping on my own loom – using Stacey’s helpful manual to guide me.

I just want to say thank so very much for fabulous weekend.  I enjoyed myself thoroughly and found the whole subject fascinating.  I am now looking at for a loom.  I am now looking at images in a completely different light, thinking how could I weave those shapes, colours etc?  Cannot wait to have a go again, and no doubt I will be seeing you again for further instructions.

I first met Stacey the Weaver seven years ago when I attended a weaving weekend at her and Graham’s lovely house in Staffordshire. Her knowledge and passion for weaving is infectious and she awakened in me a spark that, despite not being able to weave again due to work and travel, remained lit. Both now living on the continent, it seemed we were destined to meet again.
In a gorgeous house just outside Nérac, Stacey and Graham have created a weaving workshop, a kitchen producing three yummy meals a day, a home with comfy rooms, with pool and menagerie (and microbrewery!). Myself and another student got to work in the workshop, where Stacey’s almost 360 degree library provided ample inspiration. We quickly got ourselves into an easy flow of work, and when the weather became hotter as the week progressed, we spent some afternoons exploring the countryside – don’t forgot this is Musketeer and Armagnac country! I brought my non-weaving partner along for the week and any concerns I had about whether he might get bored were completely unfounded – whilst I was weaving he proved a willing apprentice in beer making and otherwise relaxed in the beautiful garden.
We left restored and with my weaving spark rekindled. Thank you both for a fantastic week.

The weaving course stay was really wonderful. Having four of us was so much fun. From the moment you picked us up to our drop off, you and Graham were wonderful hosts. It takes a lot of energy to “be on” for 4+ days. The rooms were very nice and the weather was for the most part agreeable. The outings were unexpected and really a value-added. Having lunch out and medieval castles were a great way to explore the area. I am sorry we brought that dreaded cough/fever with us. The class was really perfect for the other two students. Both came away with some real excitement. I loved talking about art theory resources as a bonus. I would highly recommend that people come and enjoy your knowledgable fun approach to weaving.

Jacquard Course

I thoroughly enjoyed my workshop with you, it was a dream come true! The way you have the workshop setup is brilliant, learning how to “read” how each one of the ‘babies’ is set up, doing the sett samples, designing my one design, fixing and correcting the mise-en-carte, punching all those cards and then finally weaving my sample gave me a huge understanding of Jacquard weaving as it was done in the olden age and also makes me appreciate those wonderful pieces of weaving one sees in museums a lot more. Your workshop gave me a good grounding and whatever loom I might acquire in the future, it will be of great benefit to me.

We did enjoy our stay with Stacey and Graham at La Tuilerie. They provided everything to ensure we had a relaxing and enjoyable holiday as well as a learning experience. The rare orchids in their meadow were an unexpected bonus. Graham’s meals were delicious. The trips to nearby villages and the glassblower, escorted by Stacey, ensured we got to know something of the history of the area and fitted in some sightseeing. One evening Stacey and Graham took us to a fete in the nearby town of Nerac and we were able to glimpse something of the life of people in this part of rural France. The Honeycomb Hybrids course taught by Stacey went well and we have her booklet and the samples we wove ready to study further at home. It was lovely to be able to concentrate on weaving for a whole day or half a day and then be greeted by a tray of apéros and a glass of wine before a delicious meal. It was helpful to be able to look at Stacey’s many samples and her inspiring library too. 

I’m in the process of warping up my loom with a honeycomb inspired deflected doubleweave sampler. Your course has definitely re-energised my weaving. 

I had the pleasure of staying at La Tuilerie. A lovely comfortable home. Stacey and Graham made me feel so welcome, and nothing was too much trouble. The weaving course was tailored to my needs and I was able to try new things on a different loom. Stacey provided me with some comprehensive notes to support my learning. She was so patient and helped me overcome my mistakes and even completed my unfinished piece when we ran out of time. I would thoroughly recommend a stay here either as a tourist or student.

We really enjoyed our time with you and Graham. We were well fed and watered and very relaxed. I enjoyed spending time in your studio. It was interesting to try tie ups on different looms and to study your lovely woven samples. I came home with some good workshop notes feeling enthused to continue with honeycomb hybrids. The outings were good, particularly the glass blowers studio and the night market.

After a ten-year hiatus from weaving, rekindling my love affair with the loom was long overdue. Finding that perfect refresher course could have been a challenge as I was determined to combine an intensive review course with a supportive professional instructor where hands on weaving lessons would take place in a unique setting. A tall order but as it turns out not unrealistic… thanks to the Loom Room France.

It was an unforgettable 5-day weaving holiday that met all my expectations and beyond… Located near Nérac, France in rural Gascony, The Loom Room was the perfect weaving experience with its weaving studio in an 18^th century stone barn. The sleeping accommodations overlook a large garden and orchard where chickens roam, cats play and lunch is served outside under the shade trees.

With Master Weaver, Stacey Harvey-Brown guiding the lessons in warp, weft, twills, balanced weave, the cross and all the loom accoutrements, her experience and expertise made this an outstanding weaving refresher course. Her instructional style was to ensure the student completely understood the principals and could produce a project step by step as well as problem solve any issues. The lessons were tailored to polishing up forgotten skills and honing new ones maximizing my weaving time with her.

Although weaving is the centerpiece of the experience, each day is layered into a whole host of complementary activities. Fresh regional food and wine are served and meals are tastily prepared by Graham, Stacey’s husband and resident craft beer brewer! Excursions to local medieval villages, street festivals, shops, restaurants, farmers market and artisans’ studios round out the total encounter.

If you are looking for that special weaving experience, excellent local food, cozy accommodations, a cultural adventure wrapped up in handwoven fiber, this is it! I highly recommend it.

Jacquard Course

I’m a bit of a loom-geek, and was looking for weaving classes to take while on an extended stay in France. I was delighted to find out about Stacey and her 140 year old jacquard looms. I’ve woven most of my life, but this was a complete turn-around from the shaft loom weaving I’ve been doing. I loved the mental exercises of figuring out the jacquard heads and how they relate to how the finished fabric looks, learning new muscle memory in the weaving sequences and the punch card machine, the discipline of cutting and lacing 200 jacquard cards, and the dance of these old looms. I imagine that over the years so many weavers hands have passed over them, and it was delightful to be one of them. The setting is beautiful, Stacey and Graham are wonderful hosts, and even the roosters, Casserole and Tarquin, are fun to be around.

Thanks so much for the information. Most of all, thanks so much for the wonderful experience of meeting you and being opened up to all the amazing possibilities of fiber arts. I am truly inspired by the pieces you have created and can’t wait to get moving on my loom once again. I don’t know if my mind will ever wrap itself around all the technical aspects of weaving you showed me, but it was sure nice to have a peek into all those little rooms. I hope to devote more time to “playing” and seeing where that takes me.   I am thankful for your family’s hospitality and felt warm and cozy in your home. You have created a wonderful atmosphere for learning.