image © Ruth Black

Les événements Jelly dans le sud de la France ont commencé il y a presque un an – en avril 2012, Languedoc Jelly célèbre son 1er anniversaire.

Etant donné les origines, beaucoup d’informations ont été fournies en anglais, nos événements ont cependant été populaires, avec différentes nationalités et langues représentées, cela a aidé au développement du concept « Jelly » en France. (Terme d’origine Anglophone!).

Languedoc Jelly est, et sera toujours, libre et ouverte à tous.  Nous allons bientôt lancer un nouveau site web – avec plus d’informations et de nouveaux liens sur le« free Co-working » dans le Languedoc et en France en général.

by Anna Walmsley

Leila País de Miranda based in Brazil, has been actively involved in JellyWeek 2012 through promoting and collecting the necessary artwork to make ‘The Jellyweek 2012 Quilt’.   In late December, Leila posted an open invitation on Facebook for any JellyWeek participants to contribute and collaborate on the project.

The focus is to co-work and co-create a quilt, a piece of e-textile, with patches collected and from all over the world. Leila wanted to demonstrate just what people are capable of doing when working on something they enjoy, and working alongside like-minded people – in fact just like working at Jelly!

Co-creation around the globe for JellyWeek 2012

The Languedoc patch is number J#061 LOVE – for the Languedoc Jelly events in 66, Pyrénées-Orientales.

Once Leila receives the patches the idea is to program the patterns (electronically) so they shine or include messages on the quilt via the Internet. The sparkles will be matched according to what each patch participant would prefer. The cut off date will be in June. Leila will, together with her friends in the meantime, sew the patches together to make the real quilt and the sparkles will be applied at this point too.

I am hopeless at sewing so my initial thought was to ask a very dear friend of mine Sarah Dillon, who lives in the 66, whether she’d be interested in putting one together for us. The answer was yes of course! So this is our patch contribution towards ‘The JellyWeek 2012 Quilt’

A great reminder of where it all began …

What is Jelly? from Amit Gupta on Vimeo.

Jelly is the semi-weekly informal coworking session I run. We open up our apartment to anyone who wants to bring some work and work around other interesting people.

Join up, or start your own Jelly -> www.workatjelly.com

It’s a lot of fun! Here’s a few of the people that came last Thursday.

Not sure about taking part in Jelly, read on !

Since we started Languedoc Jelly in Spring 2011, here a few answers to commonly asked questions …

Why is it called “Jelly!”?
Simply because the American guys that created the first Jelly event in 2006 were eating Jelly Beans at the time!

Is Coworking anything to do with cows?
No!  There is a global movement to define the concept and independent movement of ‘coworking’ as opposed to ‘co-working’. You can read more about this in the 2011 article from Deskmag www.deskmag.com/en/coworking-or-co-working-with-hyphen-252

What do people do at a Jelly?
Work and chat. Just bring whatever you would like to work on, (laptop, ipad, sketchbook, filing tray …), settle in and get on with it. You’ll find yourself in the company of new and interesting people,  plenty of new faces or perhaps familiar old ones.

Does it cost me anything?
Jelly as an event is always free. Refreshments or lunches may be (understandably) charged-for by the venue.

Do I need a laptop?
No.  Jelly events always offer free wifi but if you don’t work on a laptop it doesn’t matter. Jelly is open to all – jewellers and artists can just as easily work at Jelly.

Is Languedoc Jelly just for expats?
Not at all! People attending a Languedoc Jelly usually speak English and French, and the event is open to every nationality. Jelly events attract a dynamic group of people, and every Jelly is different.

How long is a Jelly?
The start and finish times are given on Eventbrite but you don’t have to stay all day – you can arrive and leave when you wish. The longer you stay, the more chance you have to chat and (importantly) get some work done!

What should I bring?
An open mind and something to work on.

What should I leave at home?
Your sales pitch!

Want to know more about Jelly events  in Languedoc?
Email contact@languedocjelly.org or visit  www.languedocjelly.eventbrite.com

What have other people said about Jelly?
You can read a few comments from participants and hosts of Languedoc Jelly here.

Languedoc Jelly, en partenariat avec Les Jardins de Saint Benoît, invite nos amis dans l’Aude pour un événement «Jelly» le 18 janvier 2012 à partir du 09h30.

Inscription, wifi et parking sont gratuit.

Réservez vos places en ligne avec Eventbrite - www.jellyweekaude11.eventbrite.com

For anyone living or working from home near Nîmes, why not come and join the first “Jelly” event near Aubais on 17 January?

Jelly is an informal get together for people to get a change of scene and work somewhere different.  Participation, wifi and parking are free and you will have the chance to meet an interesting group of new people.

Come and join us at the lovely Villa Vicha from 09h30 – please make a reservation in advance via www.jellyweekgard30-eorg.eventbrite.com

Le centre de ressources de POLeN, s’associe à la semaine mondiale du Coworking (WorldWide Jelly Week) qui aura lieu du 16 au 22 janvier 2011, en proposant en partenariat avec « Languedoc Jelly » un Jelly est organisé le 16 janvier 2012 de 9 heures à 12 heures & 14 heures a 17 heures.

Pour participer, il suffit d’apporter son équipement de travail et de la bonne humeur. Les horaires sont libres.
La connexion Wi-Fi et le café sont mis à disposition.

Les réservations sont gratuit par www.jellyweeklozere.eventbrite.com

Jelly est le nom donné par ses fondateurs à un concept novateur de travail en commun. Ces initiatives permettent à des travailleurs indépendants ou des salariés télétravailleurs de se réunir ponctuellement pour exercer leur activité normale mais dans un cadre différent, propice à l’échange et à l’entraide.

Ces rendez-vous sont l’occasion, pour les créateurs d’entreprises, les indépendants, les salariés autonomes, les dirigeants en exercice, de se rencontrer et de s’extraire de leur cadre de travail habituel.

Un Jelly est un mélange de travail, de discussion, de comparaisons d’idées, de partage de connaissances, d’entraide, qui peut mener à l’élaboration de nouveaux projets ou à des collaborations. Il peut aussi ne servir à rien d’autre qu’à rompre un certain isolement tout en maintenant son activité professionnelle classique.

Château Ventenac is a large gite near Narbonne.  Languedoc Jelly will be holding the first coworking event in the Aude at Château Ventenac on 1 December 09h30-12h30.  Free wifi and refreshments will be provided.   Jelly participates may wish to stay for a lunch which will be reserved at a nearby restaurant.    Places are Château Ventenac Jelly are free but reservations much be made in advance via Eventbrite.com

The Colunching concept aims to bring back a bit of conviviality to the lunch break, to give the perfect excuse for a real meal and good company in order to develop a social or professional network.

Languedoc Jelly will be joining FABPO business group for a light informal networking lunch Thursday 17 November in Thuir.  For further details visit www.colunching.fr/colunch/advise/420 

Sandie Walpole of LovetheLanguedoc holidays is organising and hosting a Jelly on 24 November at a stately Maison de Maitre that has been in the hands of an important, well-known family for decades.

This Jelly will be taking place on 24 November 09h30 – 15h00 where free wifi and refreshments will be on offer.   Take your own lunch or visit a nearby restaurant in Magalas (10 mins drive or a 20 minute walk) where they do a standard daily menu for 10.50 € (3 courses) .

Places for Puissalicon Jelly are free but must be reserved via Eventbrite.com