I’ve got loads to show and tell about Paris and I want to do a complete report about the craft/sewing shops I visited. But, I’m jet-lagged and need to process it all and so this will be a picture post.
the dome inside the store-
Up on the roof-
And some other roof we saw during a walk along the Promenade Plantee.
wow- I just realized that I will have gone a month without posting a new doll. What a crazy month! It is not that I haven’t been working.
Sage (my intern) and I have been working on a big pile of girls. We’ve got ten going. When I get home from Paris, these are going to get finished up. I also was working on a project that is one of those fun things that I can’t tell you about quite yet… actually, just having a project that I can’t mention is a thrill in itself! And, of course, there has been all my Paris prep. I am making myself a few new skirts and shirts. Hopefully I will actually finish them before we leave tomorrow.
If you are interested, here is the google map I am making with all the interesting suggestions people have made. I sure I won’t get to everything, but I have a lot to choose from.
And the garden is thriving. I’ve got my tomatoes in, using my containers, but this year I tried lining them with corrugated cardboard before stretching the t-shirts. So far, so good.
I am growing Carbons, Pink Brandywine, Copia, Bonny Best, Opalka, and Isis Candy.
Well, see you in Paris!
I started out with a clear picture of what I wanted and “needed” (ha ha!)
I bought a variety of stripes.
And then I got distracted- fabric sensory overload! Who could resist???
paper dolls-
red ridinghood-
it was the embroidery on this one that drew me in-
don’t ask me what I will do with this- I just couldn’t leave without it!
The red and white polka dots probably fall into the sensible purchase category. The other 2, 60s/70s graphics, not so much.
and there is more, but these are the highlights. Some fabrics were in bags where there was something I couldn’t resist and other bits that I am not interested in. So, it might be a good thing if next year I had my OWN table at fabric-a-brac!
On an entirely different subject, I listened to this podcast on RadioLab about face blindness. I fond it fascinating, especially how these 2 intelligent and successful men have dealt with their disability in completely different ways. I think the discussion would be interesting for anyone who deals with learning disabilities and/or the people with them.
31 packages of rick rack plus 3 bundles that aren’t in packages. Mostly cotton, all vintage and antique. I love the old package graphics.
14 packages of cotton bias tape.
5 packages of cotton twill tape, 1/4″ and 1/2″ wide.
Some other misc. trims and embellieshments that I might use or else I have an idea of someone who might like it. And, what we think is a purse top, and a box of bobbins that look like they will fit my Bernina. I’m going to try them out later.
Some wonderful old cards of fasteners. You know, it causes me great distress to use fasteners that come from a card with a price above 25¢. And more fasteners in a wonderful old box. “Anti-Colic Nipples- the Sani-Tab. None Genuine without the Blue Band”
2 McCalls Needlecrafts magazines from the early ’70’s.
And then the fabric. I”ll put that in another post instead of drowning you with photos in this one. I forgot to take a photo of the room with all the tables, piled with goodies. I had a wonderful time!
Oops! I forgot to post about this earlier! My doll club has organized this stash clean-out. If you are anywhere near central Massachusetts, this looks to be great fun! Here is a link to the location. I will be attending as a shopper not a seller. See you there!
and some crochet.
I was putting all the winter blankets away today and decided to pull everything out of the blanket box to have a look. And give the box a once over with the vacuum before putting everything back, away for the summer. At the bottom were all the kid knits. Sigh.
Baby hats and a pair of mittens-
2 knit hats, 2 crochet hats.
Baby sweaters- Eleanor wore both of these and the boys probably did too.
and another- this one was Peter’s coat-
A little guernsey sweater (maybe size 4 yrs?) with an orange stain and some wool pants- all 3 wore these.
I made this skirt for Eleanor while she and Julian were sick with Chicken pox. I knew I’d be stuck at home with them so I wanted a fun project. Eleanor wore this skirt a lot.
2 vests. Peter was the only one who would wear them.
and 4 granny square blankets. The one on the left was Julian’s baby blanket. The other 3 were made by my husband’s grandmother (I think) who I never met. They are doll blankets- one is a rectangle, 2 are squares. The smallest one, on top, is about 16″ square. I always loved the old ones.
And lastly, out came an old vest of mine. I wore this a lot and really liked it. I am not sure why I saved it though- it is full of holes. I am going to try felting it to see if it is worth trying to use for something else.
I don’t knit much anymore. It makes my hands sore. On to other adventures. Sorry about the bad photos- I was snapping them on the bed so little bits of floor and quilt seemed impossible to keep out of the photos.
So I mentioned back here that I am going to Paris- less then 2 weeks now! My life has gone into warp speed. Crazy!
I’m getting psyched. I borrowed some cds from the library to see if I could remind myself of some basic French. The conversation that I am learning seems to lean heavily toward picking up the mademoiselle. Hmm. I might have to see if they have Conversation for Middle-aged Lady who likes Needlework. I took out these movies too. I just find it difficult to make time to actually watch them.
I’d love to meet up with any like-minded people if you are near Paris during the last week of June. I’d love any suggestions for fun places to go, especially related to what I do. And I speak virtually no French and will be on my own for the weekdays. I know there are lists of a sewers guide to New York- is there something similar for Paris?
And on the life front- I feel like I am just settling down from Renegade. There is so much to think about. I continue to be amazed at how fantastic it was. Travel plans always make me feel like I need a new wardrobe, so I’ve got a pile of fabric and maybe it will turn into some shirts and skirts in the next 1 1/2 weeks. The garden needs me- the weeds are taking over and I still haven’t got all my dahlias in the ground. The tomatoes are looking very happy though. And, my intern has started- 2 days a week. I have the projects that she can help me with and the other projects. I’m going to do dolls with her and my other projects when she isn’t here. That means the dolls will get finished slower but hopefully everything will move forward. Yes, it is busy around here.
Brooklyn was amazing!
I’ve collected some links to other Renegade reports- the ones that mention me… yeah, because that is why I found them!
The baby stuff at coos and ahhs, a great post including a link to the fantastic marching band, here at 13th Street Studio, and my wonderful booth neighbors- Skylark Studio, Melanie Linder Design, and chez sucre chez who has also posted an excellent report. Thanks for making it such a fun neighborhood!
I saw BoBo Babushka, but missed so many fantastic people who were also exhibiting. Mostly I stayed very busy in my booth the whole 2 days. My husband ran to the local market for water and iced coffee to keep us hydrated. It was very hot both days and some crazy exciting weather on Sunday, but we survived and had a wonderful time.
I met so many nice people who came to my booth- blog readers (THANK YOU!!!), so many people from Etsy, old friends, friends of friends,and new friends. The lovely Floresita of Feeling Stitchy came by. I was so very happy to meet her. I’ve admired the fantastic job she does, keeping us fed on interesting/unusual/contempory embroidery. Richard Saja introduced himself to me, saying- We have been mentioned in the same articles. Wow- he is way more Art then me- His work is awesome.
A few funny things I remember-
toddler points at tattoo man doll and says- look! Somebody made Daddy!
Lady say- these are too expensive. I say- they are not too expensive. You just don’t want to pay that much.
Man says to me as he is walking out of the booth- Excellent business model! ( I think my mouth probably dropped in surprise)
And, there was a FREE photo booth.
Now, time to get back to the studio!
I’m leaving for Brooklyn tomorrow. Renegade, here I come!
I get all kinds of crazy stuff done when I am getting ready for a show.
I made some decorations for my booth-
I love the dots so much, I might have to make a ton more when I get back.
Earrings-
I’ve been wondering what to do with those charms for a LONG time.
An apron from my Spoonflower fabric.
I wanted to make a shirt but couldn’t come up with a good idea for how to use the fabric. And then I ran out of time.
I’ve also got 8 new sets of magnets and some of the old ones too, all put together and packaged up. And postcards from photos of my dolls. I am hoping to have hard copies of the patterns- we’ll see where I am tomorrow morning before we leave. Every step of the way has ended up being a “challenge”. Much more frustration then you would think possible. Insert scream here.
And a new tent. I am very excited!
He will be the last for a while, I expect.
No rickrack this time. I made him a belt of antique and vintage buttons.
It is June- wow! Happy June!