A pochette to wait for Spring

Hello everyone!

Thank you so much for your lovely comments on yesterday's entries. I'm glad you think the bag is pretty, it certainly sets my mind at rest.

I also completed the Couleurs Croisées "pochette à petits ouvrages" this weekend.

Inside:


Back:

This pochette should be very handy for small to medium projects, especially when I travel to Northern France. I'm glad it's all done and ready to use! It always seemed like a faraway finish, and I didn't think I'd have it done by the end of the weekend. I must confess I did take shortcuts though, and I sewed it all by machine.
I would like to keep the sewing instructions as I really like that pattern and will probably want to reuse it in the future; but if anyone among you wants the Marquoir aux Oiseaux chart (which is stitched on the front of the case), you are welcome to it.

Watching these light, floral colours, I realize this pochette might well have been an unconscious attempt to make up for the defective Spring we're been having in Paris so far this year. Each day is feeling more and more like November instead of like May... Can it really be that June is upon us? What if June is just as dreary and cold?
Mmmm... Do you think Summer would come faster if I started sewing light dresses and skirts?

Monochrome

I decided to take a break in my work on Saturday and Sunday (I realized I would go crazy otherwise), and accordingly managed to get a few projects finished. I was happy with my achievements despite a headache on Sunday (which came back on Monday afternoon in the heat of the examination room, and hasn't left since.)

Since time is short this week (I collected 100 exams yesterday, to grade this week on top of my own research work), and since computer time only makes a migraine worse, I'll only show you one finish every day instead of throwing it all together today.

Today, here is the tote I finished for a French Bag Swap. We may show as much or as little of the bag that we like. I'll just show a teaser on the French side, but I really don't think my secret Bag Pal ever visits my English blog... So here it is for you:

I created several pleats to jazz the shape up a little.

It is lined with natural linen and has three pockets (two larger pockets and a mobile-sized pocket, which you can't see here).

I wish to address special thanks to Vicki from turkey feathers - I had been wanting to make a yo-yoed button ever since I'd seen her fabulous totes (especially this one). Thank you for your wonderful and ever-renewed inspiration, Vicki! And thank you for sweetly allowing me to use your idea.

I would never have made such a monochromatic bag for myself, but I wished to match my secret pal's tastes (she likes black and dark or deep colours). Now it's finished, though, I do think this colour combination is pretty classy! My little sister saw it on Sunday and she told me she wanted it.

I wish you all a lovely week!

Meeting Shashi

Hello friends,

I hope you all had a nice weekend; it looks like it was a long weekend for many of you across the Channel and the Atlantic... Which is why Shashi had the great idea to come to Paris.
Yesterday morning Shashi and I met in front of the Opéra for breakfast and then fabric shopping. I confess I was so excited that I hardly slept the night before. I had even made a cute little skirt on Sunday evening to wear in Shashi's honour, as the weather forecast didn't seem too awful; but it was finally raining cats and dogs in the morning... No weather for a light skirt.

It was really wonderful to meet Shashi. Her outer beauty matches the inner beauty I was already aware of... And it was nice to meet a lady who was as small as me for a change. Maybe this was nice for you as well, Shashi

Over breakfast, Shashi gave me two boxes: a box of chocolates (we're now waiting for a special occasion and guests to open it!) and a box of marvels - or merveilles, for I feel the French word may be better suited here.

I didn't expect anything - Shashi had just sent me lovely doilies for my birthday - and I would never, ever have dreamed that Shashi would give me one of her dolls. If you don't know Shashi's art, you really have to check out her website and blog. Her dolls are sheer works of art.

So here is Twig:

I still haven't fully realized that this doll will actually be staying in our flat. I really don't know how Shashi managed to part with her!

As if this wasn't enough (!!) Shashi made this little gem in her hotel room in Paris.

It is less than 4 cms in diameter.
You really have to click to see the details.
I really don't know how you can draw such fine faces, Sashi!
And this is a lesson in eye make-up. Shashi even added some glitter.

Oh, Sébastien is just as enraptured with the dolls as I am, Shashi. And we both don't know how to properly thank you...

The morning passed but too quickly, as I had to leave around one to go have my students take their final exams... But we were both happy in the fabric neighbourhood just below Montmartre (the wet weather at least had discouraged most shoppers, and I'd never seen the Marché Saint Pierre so quiet); and we both found what we were looking for: Shashi found trims and interesting fabrics for her dolls, including suede to make shoes. I found all three fabrics I was looking for: a warm-coloured fluid fabric to make a blouse for my older sister (I got some broadcloth with tiny pink flowers); a fabric to finally finish my round robin piece; and a pretty blue fabric to make myself a dress.

I really hope we can go to London soon; and I hope that next time Shashi and her husband come to Paris, they can stop at our flat for a nice, unhurried chat. I feel so incredibly lucky to know you, Shashi!

This week's (litte) stitching

Hello everyone. I hope you all had a nice week.

It was a very, very busy week here, which is why I haven't got that much to show in matter of stitching... But here it is.

(click for a larger pic)

I stitched most of the accessories that will make up the interior of the Couleurs Croisées needlework pochette (pockets and holders).
And Carol will probably gasp when she sees my new start - yes, I have finally started Shepherd's Bush The Orchard, whose chart Carol sent me a year ago. I so love that quaint design and those soft, muted colours!

I usually photograph my pieces separately, but while laying them on the table I thought they made up a lovely harmony together. You could almost believe Spring is there, isn't it? It isn't though... I don't think March has ever ended here.

Thank you for all the lovely comments on the pants and on Violette. Lena-Lou, you are right, she is a big cat as she has some Siamese in her. She is very long when she stretches!

I'd better leave you now... I'm seething because of a professional/financial problem which has nothing to do with this blog and I don't want to vent to all of you... I'll come back to that blog when I'm feeling calmer and happier.

I do have good news though: my friend Shashi is spending a few days in Paris and we'll meet on Monday morning before I go give my exams to my students. I really can't wait to meet this wonderful lady in person.

I wish you all a lovely weekend.

This and that

Hello friends,

Sorry for the lack of update lately. This is the end of the year for my students (but not for me... my students' holidays will only mean I can focus better on my own work! ) and I've been busy getting the final exams ready for next Monday, on top of the usual classes to prepare, and my own research of course. I haven't touched a needle this whole weekend, and I really missed it. Sometimes I do feel addicted to my needle and thread - I feel so less serene if I haven't had a chance to stitch or sew for more than a day...

I did finish the back of my Couleurs Croisées sewing case last week, with my initial:

Here are the back and the front of the case:

I started stitching the inside accessories yesterday evening (but not enough to justify a picture, I'm afraid).

I also received a package from dear sweet Jenna yesterday...

Fascinating marbled, mottled and metallics fabrics; a long linen band that shall be lovely to make lavender sachets (as I was thinking only last week!); some of Jenna's and her DH's favourite teas; and an adorable kitty fob chart, with the cutest cat button imaginable. Everything is so well thought of! Thank you so much my friend... You are so special and you really made my week.

To make up for the lack of stitching/sewing pics, I'm showing you a pair of chocolate milleraies pants that I sewed up several months ago... I made them with autumn and winter in mind, but Seb never got around to taking pictures until this evening (he was too busy, or forgot, or just wasn't in the mood ); but I put on my sweetest smile tonight and asked him again - and he said yes straight away! Since we're enjoying a bit of sun for once... it was the perfect occasion.

It was the first time I made pants and I really like those. I used a scrap from a fabric I used for Katrina kits to add my own personal touch - a yoke - as the pants were a bit too low-rise for my taste. The trousers have a side zipper.

And since we never grab the camera without photographing Violette...

Here is my sweet love!

Hope you're all having a good week!

My Marquoir aux Oiseaux

Hi everyone!

My Marquoir aux Oiseaux (Bird Sampler) by Couleurs Croisées is all finished...


I even started stitching the back of the sewing case. This is also stitched with Pois de Senteur (Sweet Pea) thread from L'Atelier du Pic-Vert.

The fabric colour is more accurate on this picture than on the first - although it is a tad warmer in real life (it's still very grey in Paris). I chose a cream fabric instead of the recommended natural tone, as I thought the thread colours didn't come out too well on the model picture (which you can see here). A French fellow blogger (who does amazing work) stitched it on the recommended fabric and she seemed to think so as well.

I hope you're all having a beautiful day!

Goodness from all over the world

Friends, I don't think I ever had packages come from so different places in a single day. There was one from Carol in poor flooded New Hampshire; one from Zalita in Malaysia; and my order from Country Stitch in New Zealand!

Carol sent me a cute beanie May bear - adorable! - along with a pretty Shepherd's Bush kit, Sweet Pea, and her chart and remaining fibers & beads for Drawn Thread's Winter into Spring! Wow! All those goodies are laid onto the gorgeous 28-count evenweave that she sent me as well: "Mermaid Garden" by Hidden Treasures. I didn't even know that company, but this fabric is stunning... And would be just great for Celtic Summer!

The funny thing is, I also received the Eden fabric which I'd ordered for Celtic Summer. It came in very quickly from New Zealand! Linda at Country Stitch is simply wonderful. She sent me a friendly email straight after my order to tell me she'd be dyeing the fabric over the next few days; I had also ordered a couple of hand-dyed threads, and it turned out she didn't have them - so I asked her to simply send deep reds or blues, and she sent me 2 complimentary threads on top of the 2 I'd paid for! She made a lovely choice too :) I'm not showing them as they are to be gifts ;)
The fabric she dyed is truly vibrant (you can see what the fabric looks like here), and it would be really lovely for Celtic Summer... Just as Carol's. Tough choice! I'll need Seb's advice on this.

Now here is what sweet Zalita sent for my Birthday...

She included two sewing fabrics - poppies, my fav flower, and a natural-colored one (on which the rest is laid). Zalita knows I love the cute little buttons they sell in Malaysia, and she included a whole bunch of them. There's also a pretty little frame - which would be perfect for Carol's Shepherd's Bush kit! And a cute Shepherd's Bush chart, The Herb Garden. Lovely...
Now I think I have to stop sleeping - this way I'll manage to stitch all those wonderful charts my friends send me!!

~*~

I am bowled over by the kindness and generosity you friends have all been showing on my birthday... Notes, comments, emails, incredibly thoughtful and personal gifts... Please, please friends, don't send anything anymore... I'm starting to feel quite bad as it is. Incredibly elated and grateful, but also, truly embarrassed - there is no way I deserve all this.
Thinking of everyone's kindness truly brings tears to my eyes and makes my head spin. Thank you so much everyone!

Meet my new flatmate!

My parents' birthday gift finally arrived! We had ordered it weeks and weeks ago, but a delivery mistake on the part of the supplier caused a two-week delay.

This should become a very handy twin - it should spare me many a pin prick, and save me lots of time whenever I do the fitting on a new garment.
(you also get a very untidy view of some of my soft toys... one of Violette's favourite games is to rush on a chair near the shelves, push one or two on the floor, then dash to the other end of the appartment).

I also wanted to show you our new dresser, in which my sewing fabrics can finally ALL be neatly stored away. There's even a drawer or two left for future stash However, I didn't mean to show you so much the dresser as its top...

This dresser was also that perfect spot which I'd been looking for to display the gorgeous embroidered gifts that some friends sent me. I'm sure you can recognized some of them?

Besides gifts from Becky, Sylvie, Jo and Doris, the delicate blue doily is a gift from Shashi. It is all the more precious as she brought it all the way back from her native India... I am overwhelmed at the thought that she actually thought of me and chose something for my birthday while she was staying there last month. There were also two smaller round doilies, which are displayed in the other room (this is the bedroom).

Shashi's doily inspired me the little white doily next to it (very modest, I confess, when compared to the model!). This is my first contribution to the Virades de l'Espoir, which are to take place in September to support children with mucovicidosis, and during which a charity bazaar is to be held. I plan to create an average of one item a week until July at least (I can't plan ahead of July as I'm not sure what I'll be doing then).

(The thuja box is my coup de coeur from Morocco... It is originally a jewelry box, but I'll be using it for stitched items as well! I'll show it to you when it becomes fuller...)

~*~

I also received a big surprise box from Bernadette, whom I met during the Katrina Kits operation last Autumn. We've stayed in touch through emails since then. Bernadette keeps knitting and sewing for charity... She is a constant inspiration. Her generosity touches not only newborns and hospitals, but friends too... Just look at this.

Lots of sewing material... including a lovely blue jersey fabric (this is incredibly expensive in Paris), AND the pattern to make it into a t-shirt! Lots of lovely, thoughtful gifts... I plan to use the golden thread to make lace Christmas ornaments on my e-maching - which could be a good idea for the Virades bazaar as well!

~*~

I hope you are all having a lovely week. Thank you for all your comments regarding the baby bunting! Barbara, I am waiting to hear back from the organizing lady to see if I can share the instructions with you, as she designed the bunting... I don't want to infringe copyrights

This week's sewing

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a good week.

Since I finally found some time last Tuesday to go fabric shopping, I spent a few evenings sewing a bunting bag for a neonatology service (I had to look online for a translation for the French nid d'ange (literally, "angel's nest"), but I believe this is the correct translation, since this is exactly what you can see here). This is for preemie babies in isolettes, not so much to keep them warm as to keep them "contained". It therefore had to be lightweight and not too warm. The fabric had to be 100% cotton, and the batting 100% polyester. The inside had to be white. I preshrunk/prewashed the fabrics at 90° C (200°F), since I guess this is how the bag will be washed at the hospital. I just finished quilting it this morning.

Here's the outside:

the inside:

And here it is all folded and tied up:

I was so afraid the seams might not be sturdy enough (what with the repetitive washing this should go through in a hospital) that I finally sewed all the seams twice.

Crafting for charity is not a habit in France, so I was glad to find this demand from a hospital. I first read about it on the France Patchwork website. I hope they'll renew this kind of action, and I so wish hospital would think more along those terms. My brother is a pediatrician and is always very puzzled when I ask him whether hospitals need handmade blankets or toys. This is just usually not done in France... What a pity!

I also made some progress on my Marquoir aux Oiseaux over the last two evenings
(when I was too tired to go on sewing the blanket bag!)

Oh, and I started sewing for another charity project, les Virades de l'Espoir (during which a charity sale will be held to help children with mucovicidosis)... I'll show you next time, along with a beautiful gift that I received from my friend Shashi - Shashi, your gift actually inspired me to start this project. Thank you so much! But I want to wait for a truly sunny day to take pictures...

Everyone have a great weekend! Thank you for all your kind and warm comments... I always treasure them!

Birthday goodness is not over!

Oh dear, oh dear! It still feels like my Birthday today!

My sweet mailman brought me two wonderful parcels... They came very late because of strikes, as he told me... I'm very sorry for my two friends, who were worried! One was from dear Karen in the UK, and the other was from my friend Doris in Alsace, and totally unexpected.

Doris sent me a pretty pendouille
(this is her specialty, and she invented the name! We don't have a word for stitched ornaments in French)

Stitched over one, on this pretty checkered linen which is all the rage in France this year.
And in my favourite colour too

And lots of other goodies:

A big chocolate cicada... some luscious fruit tea, with a handy clip (or clasp?) to fix it on the cup. Yum... I'm such a tea addict! There are also Alsacian monogrammed paper towels ... And a little bunny for Violette, to make up for the loss of Lapinette. And a very kind letter! Thank you so much, Doris! I was very touched by your sweet and generous gifts... We haven't known each other that long, and your gifts were all the more incredibly sweet

And here are Karen's gifts...

Have you ever seen a sweeter, cuter little bag? And in my favourite colour range too... Oh my. It makes me smile every time I look at it! Karen had shown it on her blog, but how could I have dreamed she'd knit and felted it for me? Aw, I so love everything that cute and small! Fancy me prancing in the streets of Paris with that little gem? (mmm, I'm not sure I'd dare to take it out though... I'm thinking of displaying it rather, in a special spot. It is sooo pretty!)

Karen also sent me lovely fabrics, in beautiful muted tones. Just what I love!
And she included an adorable card! Love it! I love it all Karen, thank you so much!
I am in awe of your talent at knitting and felting.

This makes me think I should show you Becky's and Sylvie's card as well... Oh, and the quilting fabrics Becky sent me too... Oh my, I've been so spoilt. I feel bad! Honestly.

After all those emotions, I went back to work...

With some of Doris' fine tea!
(and my favourite cup, it's old and chipped but it used to belong to Seb's mother, and I love its quaintness!)

And Violette slept all afternoon with her little bunny...

Thank you so much, my friends!