A New Look for a New Year

Before the holidays I was starting to think that things could and should be a little easier to read here, so I've changed the look of things a bit for the new year. And while I was making the changes earlier today, you may have happened across a very strange-looking page with content disappearing and reappearing all over the place -- if so, I apologize for the confusion (I ran into a few small obstacles along the way).

Best wishes and happy new year to you!

Happy Holidays & Bonnes Fêtes

This is a little crèche that I bought at a flea market a number of years ago. When I saw it, a couple was about to buy it so I went on my way. But for some reason I went back a few minutes later, and there it was. They had had second thoughts and had decided not to buy it, after all. The paint is chipped and faded, but its imperfections somehow make it all the more endearing.

On a separate note, I'm taking a break from blogging until after Christmas, so Merry Christmas and Joyeux Noël!

A Favorite Find

A favorite flea market find -- a linen pillow case with this hand-embroidered monogram (which already made a partial appearance here). BC...beautifully crafted.

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Thank you so much for your comments. Sometimes, when I wonder whether or not I can keep this blog going, your comments encourage me to keep on posting. Bon week-end !

Racing Around

Things have gotten so busy this past week and I've been racing around from one thing to the next (aagghh!). Needless to say, I've had little time to devote to blogging or crafting.

Hopefully things will calm down soon and I'll have something possibly pretty to show you or especially interesting to tell you. In the meantime, I wish I could be like these miniature cyclistes who one day not so long ago travelled into our hearts and our home -- they never seem to run out of energy. :)

:-: Hope all is well with you :-:

A Glimpse of Paris

Rue St. Louis en l'Île

Last weekend I had to run an errand in Paris and ended up meandering through l'Île de la Cité and its neighbor l'Île St.-Louis, the city's two islands in the Seine. It's that place all its own in the heart (and the oldest part) of Paris where you can walk down the middle of narrow streets without having to share them with many, if any, cars. There's so much to say about it and I have so much to learn about Paris--my words or photos could never do it justice. This is just a glimpse...

l'Architecture parisienne

Une fromagerie

La Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris

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:-: A bientot :-:

A Crafty Pencil Holder

Here's a pencil holder (oh, there's a ruler in there, too!) that originally appeared in Marie Claire Idées magazine. I discovered it, along with a tutorial, here (the instructions are in French, while the photos alone show really well how to sew it).

It could be made to hold so many different things -- silverware, knitting needles...and the list goes on. This one is made with vintage fabric and the monogram on the inside is from an old table napkin.