A Finish!!

I’ve heard from Vickie that my package have arrived safe and sound, so it is ok for me to show you my finish on Souvenir de France. After debating for a little bit on how should I finish this piece, I decided to make it into a flatfold~ Using Vonna’s flatfold tutorial as my guide, I finished it with a breeze, and I LOVE how it turned out!!! In fact, I love it so much that I might make another one just for myself~

Pattern: Blackbird Designs freebie “Souvenir de France” 
Thread: Gentle Art Cotton Floss – Garden Gate
Fabric: 32 ct Belfest Linen color Flex 
Finished Size: 4.375”x 6.625”  
Finishing Date: 04-18-2012

I chose a pink backing fabric for this piece, cause I thought Vickie would like it. Plus I think it would be a perfect match~ I also used a black sheer ribbon as the trim and top.

Absolutely love it!!!

Here is the whole package I sent to Vickie~ I’m so glad that she liked it!! Can you see there’s a theme going on here? ^^

Have a great week!!!

Souvenir de France~

I can’t believe it has been almost two weeks since I was in Paris!!! Some nights, I still dream about it. Paris was that good!!! To remember this wonderful trip, I’ve been stitching Blackbird Design’s “Souvenir de France”. Just finished it today, and I’m still thinking about what I should finish it into. I’m going to throw the finished product into my Paris souvenir giveaway, so if you would like to be included for the draw please leave a comment in my previous post saying so, there are still a few days left until I close the entry on Easter Sunday~

Pattern: Blackbird Designs freebie “Souvenir de France” 
Fabric: 32 ct Belfest Linen color Flex
Stitch Size: 3.875”x 6” 
Completion Date: 04-05-2012

Since we are talking about souvenirs here, might as well show you some of my souvenirs beside the stitching stash I showed in my last post. All of these besides the three dolls were from Paris~ I bought some tea, a few cups from Starbucks, cup holders, truffle salt and foie gras paste, and the white thing is actually a fragranced stone that you can hang in the closet~ I found the three dolls at London Heathrow airport while waiting for my connection, they are just too cute to pass by!!

While I was going through my photos from the trip, I came across this photo which I took at the Grand Trianon in Versailles. This beautiful scroll frame was in the room that once belonged to Napoleon’s mother, and later Empress Marie-Louise. I’m not sure who exactly that it belonged to since all the introductions were in French, but I could imagine them sitting here in that room stitching and chatting away~

Nina asked to see more photos of the city, well, here is a small collection of it. I had so many wonderful memories from this trip, and I know it will stay with me forever!!!

(click on photo to enlarge)

Thanks for visiting, and Happy Easter!!!!

I’m Back with Something Fun!!!

Hello my darling friends~ I’m back from Paris!!!! It was amazing!!!! There is soooo much to see in Paris, the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Musee d’Orsay, Notre-Dame, and Versailles were just a few. Our legs were so sore from all the walking, but it was totally worth it!!! I can see why so many people love going to Paris, it is a city full of culture and so alive, and their food is amazingly delicious~

While I was planning the trip, I discovered that the tapestries of “The Lady and the Unicorn” (French: La Dame à la licorne) is on display in the Musée de Cluny. I first known these tapestries from the novel “The Lady and the Unicorn” by Tracy Chevalier, and it is one of my favorite novels, so I had to go see these tapestries in person. Let me tell you, they are magnificent!!! I was so moved by them. It made me want to read the novel all over again~

Thanks to Jennifer for her tips and a book I found that had a list of craft stores in Paris, I even managed to visit some local needlepoint shops. It was a wonderful treasure hunt, I found so many wonderful charms and ribbons and trims, and of course I had to get a pair of Sajou scissors!!! I did not get as much charts as I expect. It’s not that I didn’t find things I like, in the contrary, I fell in love with so many of them!!! But because most of the shops carry kits instead of just charts, the cost is quite expansive. I had to cut back but still managed to take home with me two charts, a kit and a wonderful book~

Here’s a list of the shops I went just in case anyone is planning to go to Paris in the future. A note to remember, all stores are closed on Sunday, and most of them open late and close early, so be sure to check the hours before you go:

• Des Fils et Une Aiguille ♥♥♥♥♥
  1 rue Chabanais 75002 Paris
  Metro: Pyramides (M7, M14); close to Palais Royal
  Hours: 11am~7pm; closed Sun., 12/31, 3 weeks in August
  Web: www.desfilsetuneaiguille.com
  
  This is an awesome needlepoint/craft shop~ It is very much like a needlepoint shop in the US, filled with lots of kits, trims, ribbons, threads, fabrics and charms. It also carries a variety of Sajou products. The staff are extremely friendly and helpful. Totally worth a visit if you are in the area!!

• Le Bonheur des Dames ♥♥♥♥♥
  Le Viaduc des Arts - 17, Avenue Daumesnil 75012 Paris
  

  Métro: Ledru Rollin (M8); close to the Place de la Bastille and the Marais
  R.E.R: Gare de Lyon
  Hours: 10:30AM ~ 7PM; closed Sun. 
  Web: www.bonheur-des-dames.biz/boutique_us/liste_rayons.cfm?code_lg=lg_us
  
  This is a wonderful cross stitch shop with a lot of patterns, kits, fabric, threads, and books. They also have all kinds of linen and Aida strip fabrics for bell pulls and such. This is the biggest shop I’ve been to while I was in Paris, and their own Le Bonheur des Dames patterns are all so gorgeous!!!! Almost all their patterns are in complete kits, so it includes all the threads, fabric, charms and needle. Although the staff do not speak much English (as of most of the  other shops here in Paris), they are really friendly. This is a must see if you ever go to Paris~
  

• Le Bonheur des Dames 2 ♥♥♥
  8 Passage Verdeau 75009 Paris
  Metro: Grands Boulevards (M8, M9)
  Hours: Mon. 11:30AM ~ 2:00PM and 2:00PM ~ 7:00 PM;Tue. to Sat. 10:30AM ~ 2:00PM and 2:30PM ~ 7:00PM; closed Sun.
  Web: www.bonheur-des-dames.biz/boutique_us/liste_rayons.cfm?code_lg=lg_us
  
  This is a small branch located in Passage Verdeau, and is much smaller then the Viaduct shop, carries mainly Le Bonheur des Dames kits. Our hotel was only 3 minutes walk away, so even though I have been to the  Viaduct already, I couldn’t resist to stop by this one as well~

• Au Fil des Jours ♥♥♥♥
  2 rue Fremicourt 75015 Paris
  Metro: Ave. Emile Zola (M10)
  Hours: Tue. Fri. Sat. 10am~7pm; Wed. Thu. 2:30pm~7pm; closed Sun. Mon., second week in August
  
  This small shop is located right across the street of the Metro station. Although it’s small, it carries all the necessities to stitch~ Trims, buttons, charms, charts, you name it, they have it. This shop also carries a small amount of Sajou products.
  
• La Croix et la Maniere ♥♥
  36 rue Faidherbe 75011 Paris
  Merto: Charonne (M9) is closer, or Faidherbe-Chaligny (M8)
  Hours: 12pm~7pm; closed Sun., Mon., and August
  Web: www.lacroixetlamaniere.com/
  
  This is the shop of Monique Lyonnet. Many linen products can be found here, and a wide variety of linen kits, interesting buttons and trims. It is a bit more expansive then other shops, but the quality is undeniable.
  
• Entrée des Fournisseurs ♥♥♥♥
  8 rue des Francs Bourgeois 75003 Paris
  Metro: St. Paul (M1)
  Hours: Mon. 2pm~7pm; Tue~Sat. 10:30am~7pm; closed Sun, and third week of August
  Web: www.entreedesfournisseurs.fr
  
  This is a wonderful craft shop is located in the courtyard of #8 rue des Francs Bourgeois. It is filled with an incredible array of ribbons, trims, buttons, and fabrics!!! There are so many things to choose from that you definitely won’t  leave empty handed~ The staff speak a little English and are extremely helpful~

• La Droguerie ♥♥♥
  9 et 11 rue du Jour 75001 Paris
  Metro: Les Halles (M4)
  Hours: Mon. 2pm~6:45pm; Tue~Sat 10:30am~6:45pm; closed Sun
  Web: www.ladroguerie.com
  
  This is another wonderful craft shop that is locaed right next to Eglise St. Eustache. The minute you step into the shop, you are drawn to the colorful yarns, ribbons, buttons, beads, fabrics… you name it, they have it!!! This shop is sooo busy that you’ll have to wait for a while for someone to help you, so be sure to grab a staff to help you while you can.
  

• Le Comptoir ♥♥
  26 reu Cadet 75009 Paris
  Metro: Cadet (M7)
  Hours: Mon 12pm~7pm; Tue.~Sat. 11am~7pm; closed sun.
  Web: lecomptoir.canalblog.com/
  This is a little shop filled from floor to ceiling with tons of yarn!!! It is a knitter’s haven~ It also carries a small amount of stitching/sewing goods.

I did not have a chance to go to the following stores Jennifer recommended, but I still would like to list it here for your information:

• le Bon Marche Department Store
  24 Rue de Sèvres, 75007 Paris, France
  Hours: Mon-Wed & Fri 10am ~ 8pm , Thu & Sat 10am ~ 9pm, closed Sun.
  Metro: Sevres Babylone (M10,M12), nearest to the Musee D'orsay
  Web: www.lebonmarche.fr
  According to Jennifer, this is an upscale department store with a sewing department on the second floor (double check). It has a fabulous variety of Sajou products, Liberty of London fabric, yarn department, cross stitch fabric and charts. She also found DMC thread on a spool here, which was really interesting.

• BHV Department Store
  52 Rue de Rivoli, 75004 Paris, France
  Hours: Mon., Tue., Thu., Fri. 9:30 am ~ 7:30 p.m. Wed. 9:30 am ~ 9:00 pm, Sat. 9:30 am ~ 8:00 pm; closed Sun.
  Metro: Hotel de Ville (M1,M11), right across from Hotel de Ville de Paris
  Web: http://www.bhv.fr/
  This is a huge department store that has a much of everything in it.The second floor has a huge craft/art section, as well as a book department. There are excellent books here with cross stitch and embroidery patterns, as well as quilting books.They also have a huge inventory of Japanese craft books.

Thank you for reading this long post this far, and now for something fun~ If you would like some of the treasures I brought back from Paris, please say so in the comment of this post. I will put together a package and pick a winner on Easter Day April 8. Good luck, and thanks for visiting~~~