Eames

I'm sure most of you know these - at the moment immensely popular - Eames fiber glass shell chairs. I particularly like the ones with a wooden dowel base. They show up everywhere lately - online as well as in magazines, even in TV shows. The first time I saw one of these chairs, I fell in love - it took me a little while to figure out they were Eames, that the real vintage ones are quite pricey and that you can find replica's quite easily in different price ranges depending on the materials used (just Google Eames DAW - the list is long). For a while I considered buying a replica, but I decided to wait, not convinced the poly-i-don't-know-what material would look the way I wanted, and next, I completely forgot about it.

That was until a couple of weeks ago, when little H. and I went to a 'brocante' market a couple of blocks away from where we live. Little H. had already found a new addition to her little animal statues collection (a tiny porcelain penguin) and we were about to return back home when I suddenly spotted this chair. It looked suspiciously like an Eames, but I wasn't sure if it really was since the base didn't look familiar to me. I asked the seller - which is stupid, he could have told me anything and I probably would have believed him, since I'm by no means a Eames DAW expert. It was an Eames, he showed me the signature stamp on the bottom, and gave his price. Even with one screw missing, it was really cheap compared to the prices I'd seen online. Was it too cheap to be real? I decided to risk it, after little H. had tested it and assured me it sat really well and so, off we went, with an Eames under my arm! Back home I searched online for almost the entire afternoon - I couldn't find the base anywhere, and I started doubting about my purchase. Turns out this base is rare and that's why I couldn't find it at first. It's actually an original Herman Miller La Fonda base as shown here!
Initially, I was thinking of maybe keeping the shell but replacing the base with a wooden dowel base, which is what a lot of people do, check out Ebay or even Etsy, but now I think I will stick to my very rare but beautiful Herman Miller La Fonda chrome base!
I really got to like the sleek lines and the minimalistic look of this base and I think it combines beautifully with the black slightly weathered fiber glass. I did find the fiber glass shell a bit cold to sit on, however, so I made a linen with leather squares pillow for it and I figured that's probably why almost always you find these fiber glass chairs depicted with a sheep skin, a throw or pillows on them - but no one of course would ever admit...

Oh, I feel so totally smitten with my Eames Fiber glass Herman Miller rare La Fonda base chair.

A new bag...

... made with recycled leather, from an old pair of leather boots which belonged to M. a long time ago, a very nice heavy weight Japanese cotton, and of course, natural linen.

I still love my little signature squares...

Not giving up!

Hi everyone!

I'm back! - which means I'm not giving up! - but you sort of knew I wouldn't, didn't you!?

I need to thank all of you for the support, the nice comments (is this really about me and my blog?), the e-mails, ... I read them all several times - got all emotional. This more than compensated last week's anger and bad feelings. So, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to ALL of you!! What a strange thing it is, this (blogging) crafting community - even though most us have never met in person there are strong ties. That's a wonderful feeling. And isn't that's what it's all about?

So, what did I do? I sent a friendly and polite letter to the editor, asking to add credits to the article, like many of you suggested. I haven't had a response yet and I'm not sure I ever will. We'll see and I'll keep you posted.

But now, I just want to move on, because there are so many things I still want to share here with you.


Like this cutest moleskine notebook ever, the girls made for daddy's birthday last week. Isn't it lovely? The three of us were actually in a pretty bad mood that day - the girls had been fighting over things all day and I had been grumpy all day. And you know what? - that little notebook saved the day. By the time the girls were finished drawing we were all happy and cheerful again and couldn't wait for daddy to get home. And guess what?! Among all the presents he got he liked the little notebook best!!

I used the same method as for the other fabric covered notebooks, but before ironing the fabric onto the cover I let the girls draw on the fabric with a fine black liner (we used a regular one as I didn't have any fabric markers). Once they were done, I peeled off the Vliesofix's backing, positioned it onto the notebook and ironed it on. With small scissors I trimmed the edges and we had one very, very cute notebook.

I particularly like the frog on the lily pad by big girl M. and little H's cat. If you look carefully you can also see a drum (daddy's a former drummer), a bottle of wine and a glass, a hairy dog (that's a hint from big girl M. who's desperate about having a family dog one day), hiking boots and mountains, because that's what daddy likes to do, and many more things. And then the girls sweet little messages, of courses... Who wouldn't want a little notebook like that? Maybe an nice idea for Valentine's Day...

Am I an idiot?

the original, as published here in March, 2010

Since I saw this picture this afternoon in my reader (via Sewing Craftgossip) I have been feeling slightly upset and miserable. Really: I couldn't believe my eyes. I was yelling at my screen. Did my Quick Fix Grocery Bag become an Eco-chic Shopping Bag without me knowing? I'm not sure what to think of this. Should I give this the benefit of doubt and just consider it a coincidence or are there too many similarities for this to be even possible and has someone at Good Housekeeping who was short of ideas and looking against a deadline simply copied my idea?

This particular tutorial is one I am really proud of. The idea is genuinely mine - it happened while I was putting away grapes we had earlier that day and I saw the bag they came in lying on the counter - a plastic bag with cuts.  This particular tutorial has been a big hit in the craft community ever since it was published and it still is, with referrals and links showing up everywhere.  This particular tutorial made it even to Design*Sponge. And now, apparently, to Good Housekeeping too, only did they forget to credit or put up a proper link!

It makes me wonder if I'm an idiot and incredible naive by posting tutorials and pictures of things I made just like that, for free, accessible to everyone, everywhere, assuming - or, as of now, hoping - everyone will stick to the rules when it comes to copyright and intellectual property rights. It also makes me wonder whether I should continue doing so the way I do. You see, there goes a lot of time and effort in everything I make, in every tutorial I write. I know, that's a personal choice - no one ever forced or even asked me to do so.
So far, I kept my blog deliberately commercial-free, add-free, sponsor-free - there's no financial gain or whatsoever for me in this entire blogging business - that's a choice too. My reward is in your comments, your encouragements, seeing a traffic increase or a steady increase in the number of followers and subscribers, a referral here and there...
All of this was a choice.
But maybe the wrong one...

So I'm asking you, am I an idiot or should I be happy it happened just this once - that I know of...
__________________________________________

Comments are closed now - Good Housekeeping has acknowledged its mistake and credits and a link to the original post have been added.

Thank you for your comments, e-mails and support!

xo, P.

Red and white

I got in the mood for a Valentine's Day craft the other night and this is the result. Another notebook, this time with a needle felted heart, some doodle embroidery and a button bookmark...
I'm not sure yet what I'll do with it - we'll see... It's actually pretty easy to needle felt onto fabric, in case you want to give it a try.

Apparently, I'm thinking in white and red, lately. Today, I went to the Marché Saint-Pierre here in Paris as I needed a particular type of fabric for my stash.  I made a list before I left and except for the zipper on my list, I came home with totally different things. Not because I didn't find what I was looking for but because I found something much better: I found the yummiest ever red and white (well it's more cream) striped fabric. Two different sorts, but they marry so well together. Oh, I can't wait to get started - I got plenty of ideas already...
It's going to be another difficult night to fall asleep...
Does that happen to you too - sleepless nights because of all the ideas swarming around in your head? Any remedies for that except starting on a project in the wee hours...

The first tutorial of 2011!

The mild temperatures of the last couple of days got me all energized and in an early Spring mood. This was  especially true at the beginning of the week when we had a lovely sun on top. I have been cleaning out closets, laundering sheets and blankets, doing lots of ironing, ... and a  couple of  early Spring crafts, one of which even resulted in this tutorial - the first one of  2011!

So, yesterday when my hands were itching to make something I came up with this very simple, whimsical fabric sausage necklace. I got the idea for this necklace while shopping at COS, one of my new favorite stores - and as it turns out this store might become a favorite of K. too. He found himself a couple of really nice things there last week, but this is totally besides today's topic. The necklaces I saw were at the kids' section and simply lovely - but for kids, in size, I mean. In the woman's section they had similar ones made out of leather - very stylish, very simple, simply  l o v e l y!

I decided to give the fabric ones a try. I'll be honest - it takes a bit of patience to get the wool (or poly-fiber fill) down the tube but I think it is totally worth the effort. You won't need a lot of fabric, this is yet another craft you could use fabric scraps for. Since I have something with gingham lately, I combined two different gingham fabrics, a Japanese flower print and  some stripes. You can go totally crazy combining different colors and prints, or keep it really simple and use only one color. Instead of knotting in between "beads", I combined knots and colorful ribbon ties. You might also use embroidery floss in between beads.


You'll need:

- a couple of fabric strips of different length but same width - I used 4cm wide strips - enough to total (at least) 1m50
- matching thread, sewing machine
- chopstick
- wool roving or fiber fill ( I recommend using wool roving here as it's easier to manipulate down the tube and you'll probably need less to form a firm bead - trust me, I've tried both!)
- optional: narrow ribbon, embroidery floss




Instructions:

1. Sew fabric strips together to make one long strip (pic.2).
2. Attach a safety pin near top on the right side of the fabric - you'll need it for turning the fabric (pic.3).
3. Fold strip in half lengthwise and sew side-seam ( the safety pin will be on the inside), leaving an opening at the bottom  (pic.4).
Note: depending on the length and width you chose you may find it easier to leave an additional opening somewhere halfway the sideseam - this will save you time while stuffing the fabric tube.
4. Turn the tube you obtained inside out by pushing the safety pin all the way down the fabric tube (pic.6). Shape the tube.
5. Using small pieces of wool roving at a time, make the beads, by pushing the filling through the tube with a chopstick (No need to form the beads before you stuff them inside - the chopstick will do that for you). Tie a knot  before and after each bead or use ribbon, embroidery floss to the same effect (pic.8).
6. Close the remaining opening(s) with a whip stitch. Shape and pull and finally tie a knot - Done!

Isn't it lovely!? Pair it up with a simple T-shirt, tank top (I'm thinking Summer here) or a simple white shirt...

Please note, this tutorial is intended for personal use only. Therefore, do not reproduce, sell or commercialize in any form.  Thanks for understanding!

If you made something using a tutorial found on this blog or if you got inspired by something you found here, make sure to post your pictures here.

Sales

Today, winter sales start in Paris. Officially, I should immediately add. For the past week or so there were 'ventes privées' everywhere already with discounted prices for people holding fidelity cards - which most people do.

I hardly ever make it to the sales on the very first day. I try to avoid the big crowds, the hysterics, the long lines. Which doesn't mean I don't like sales. But I prefer to be surprised. Like when we were in Belgium over the holidays and we found out about a big sale at one of our favorite shoe stores. They were closing for renovation. M. and I each found a nice pair of high leather boots and little H. chose something, well, very little H. like. Read: shiny, sparkling, a bit glamorous... And since it were sales and these Mary Janes were extremely cheap for a fully leather shoe, I couldn't say no. The weather hasn't been any good for wearing them outside, but this doesn't mean she can't break them in inside, right? With a pair of tights in a totally off color and skirts her legs grew too long for, she looks totally adorable...

As for today's sales - I think we might spend the day inside as it is pouring outside, unless... We'll see...

Shop update

As of tonight some of my fabric covered hand-embroidered moleskine notebooks are available here.

Cheers,

P.

Doodling...

... with needle and thread.



These one of a kind fabric covered Moleskine notebooks will be available in the shop as of next week. The cover is from unbleached cotton and has been hand-embroidered by me. Every notebook is unique.
Some of them have buttons and/ or a button and thread bookmark.
The notebook measures 3 1/2'' x 5 1/2'' - 9 cm x 14 cm.
Pages are plain, squared or lined. 

And now, I'm just waiting for good light to take pictures of these little treasures...

Work in progress

Little H's knit work in progress...

I didn't start the year with  resolutions - except for maybe one: stop procrastinating.  
What needs to be done, needs to be done, so why not do it now!
So that's why the last couple of days I've been working hard on getting things done. Administrative stuff mainly, like paying bills, answering long over-due e-mails, ordering catalogs for summer camps for the girls, making an appointment with the garage to have our car fixed which got broken into over the Christmas weekend (fun!),  catching up with laundry (where does it keep coming from - sometimes it feels like I have 5 kids running around instead of just 2...).
All this while fighting off the first migraine of the year...

But in between I did find time for a small craft or two. Variations on the fabric covered Moleskine notebooks. If all goes well they may end up in my Etsy shop, as I want to revive it now that all except for this has gone (Besides on notebooks, I plan on having new bags as well!) .
Wait a minute - Does that make two New Year's resolutions?
And how about three: a stress free life and having more fun?!

What are your resolutions for 2011?

// Happy 2011 //

We're still recovering from not enough sleep and too much magret de canard with this homemade chutney.
The fortune cookies we made were fun and the chocolate chip cookies served with vanilla ice cream yummy as always. We were in good company and had fun at playing the Wii and Pictionary.
We made it to the Eiffel Tower in time for the count down and fire works, and left almost immediately after the countdown because of some idiots firing off their own crackers and scaring off the kids. Seeing the Eiffel Tower light up and hearing the crowd cheer was magic, though!

We're ready for a new beginning and hope you are too!
Wishing you a happy and creative 2011!

xo, Pascale