Playtime Paris

This Flea Market poster

perfectly expresses the joy

of play time in Paris.

Another amazing accomplished group of women
having fun together.
Wallowing in the wonder that Paris provides.

Sully's garden splashes autumn's bursts of color.

Cloistered arches lure the eye to a restful infinity.
(and some window shopping).

Always the Seine reminds me to stay in the flow.

Marcy's at the market.

Marcie, Carol and Madeline enjoying cafe life
(after a day of fabric shopping).

Sonia Delaunay's work emits pure joy.

Such strong use of plane and color.

A genius across many genres.
Seeing her exhibit at the
Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris
even twice wasn't enough!

I guess this napping guard has seen enough...

I can never get enough of the Eiffel Tower.

I love spotting various views and glimpses
day into night as I move about the city.

It was wonderful to have Marissa and Madeline,
two of our nieces, join Marcy and I.

We four Tilton's had fun!

I think Sue had fun too!

I hope you are enjoying life whatever you're doing.

The Sweet Life in Paris

Such a gift just to be in Paris.

Then there's all the fun

and exploring

and playing

to do.

Filling profiteroles with deliciousness at La Maison du Chou.

Sweets abound in Paris
and these little three bite treats
melted in my mouth.

L'effet-bulles in Passage Choiseul.

L'effet-bulles is the nicest 'concept' store 

I've encountered in my travels.

Original and packed with treasures old and new

its tiny footprint holds a delight of goods.

Great pants from a shop down the street. (I want them...)

Matching shirt?

Some of what I'm noticing 

is that my favorite things

are quite pricey wabi-sabi items

that could be replicated with a bit of

dumpster diving and some handwork.

Well, maybe that's it...

 There's a bit of bravado

along with the soul.

Refreshing.

Welcome to Giverny.

KC and Suzanne.

With Sally, Kathleen, Kathy and Vicky.

Les Nymphes.

Still magnificent.

Visiting Giverny is so good for the soul.

Even in the last days before closing

the overgrown and often faded blossoms

share their glory and their decline in equal measure.

Clouds in water.

I am always renewed by sitting under the willows 

watching clouds roll by across the still pond.

Another group of marvelous accomplished women

to play with in Paris.

Sweet.

October in Paris Musings

Extraordinary weather.

A blue-sky-75-degree weekend.

Paris,
raison d’être.

The Pyramid at Musée du Louvre.

Le Café Marly at the Louvre.

Nothing better than
fabulous surroundings and
the company of great good friends.

Paris is for noticing.

Noticing,
absorbing,
observing.

Allowing.

Transformation

rearranges

and the new space

lets more light in.

Whitewashed window.

Beautiful images
and textures
appearing everywhere.

Expect the unexpected.

Classic form
cunning execution
(but not enough to actually consider wearing a suit).

Stella does zippers.

Is more really more?

Dries nails bold.

Large and more.

Rebel without a cause.

Paris just
be cause.

Amsterdam Design

Traveling is such a gift.

Allowing me to come face to face with all my foibles,

likes, dislikes and comfort levels.

Being lost.

Not knowing where to go.

Wandering and then

discovery.

Meeting lovely people,

cranky people,

different people.

Noticing when I'm the cranky people.

My first visit to Amsterdam,

(the Venice of the North it is,

though I've not been to Venice),

where the canals dazzle and calm,

and heaps of bicycles create static pattern

or energetic flow.

One really does have to watch out for those cyclists

and finding a break to move through them

isn't always easy.

Exploring with long time friends,

celebrating (tardily) the 19th anniversary 

of a milestone birthday.

No idea how to top this next year!

Extremely hip concept store Sukha

was filled with so many immense

cozy knitted, crocheted and padded nests 

I wanted to snuggle in and stay all day.

Rowers on the canal reminded me of

my dear granddaughter Bridget

who rows on the Mississippi.

Beautiful artist's paintbox in the Rijksmuseum.

Wouldn't be complete without the pipe. 

Ancient mariner's hat is still stylin'.

So many beautiful and not before seen works

by Van Gogh in his museum.

 

 

His words touched my heart.

I want this chair!

Bundled clothing, yours or theirs,

creates this marvelous piece at Hotel Droog.

Beautifully delicious amuse bouche

at Spelt.

Nothing speaks like Amsterdam design!

The American Sewing Expo -- Go Michigan!

Cosplayers added a lighthearted creative spark! Though this mouse does look a bit serious...

 Perfect weather.

Fabulous fans.

Grand booth mates.

Scoring cool new buttons.

Connecting with friends --

new friends, Facebook friends and long-time friends --

made The American Sewing Expo

a treat to teach at and experience.

Such an odd juxtaposition of interests sharing signage and Showplex space.

 

Nobody confuses the participants.

McCall's designer Melissa Watson gives a customer a tote bag.

The McCall's booth was hopping

 with celebrity guests, the bosses and happy sewers;

all enjoying meeting, greeting, gabbing,
getting to know each other

and buying patterns at a bargain price.

McCall's designer Khaliah Ali and Kathy Wiktor, Director of Retail and Consumer Relations.

McCall's designer Khaliah Ali
is as warmhearted and lovely in person
as she is beautiful in photos.
A fun new experience
to get to be one of the 'celebrities'.

Super-fan Jan Crews drove 3-1/2 hours from Ohio to visit!

As you may be able to tell,

I thoroughly enjoyed myself!

Chandra Worman working on her 'Under the Sea' dress.

ASE "Passion for Fashion" contestants

worked long hours on Friday and Saturday

preparing what they hoped were winning entries.

I focused in on fellow Oregonian Chandra Worman
working on her design Friday afternoon.

Each designer had a specific theme to inspire their creation
using fabric and notions donated by show vendors and
David Tutera's Social Occasion Collection.

Frank Rizzo, McCall's President and CEO with Leslie and Bridget.

Saturday afternoon Frank
Pied-Pipered a passel of people with posies
to purchase always pleasurable ice cream cones.

The experience: priceless.
The ice cream: forgettable.
The alliteration: irresistible.

Gertie signs Rickey's new copy of Gertie Sews Vintage Casual.

Gretchen Hirsch (aka Gertie) was great fun to hang out with!
We met for the first time in person in the hotel lobby
as she returned from a ride on her pink bicycle.
Handily enough the bike folds up and fits in a suitcase
providing transportation and exercise
while looking super-hip and cool.

Gretchen's got it all!

Chic in raw edges.

I can't remember this creative's name
(I forgot to write it down)
but I spotted her wearing
this great vest as she arrived in my class.

Simple and stylin'
she really knows how to make those denim scraps work!

Close up of Jasmine's hat.

She's got it happening.

Friday afternoon I found myself following Jasmine's fabulous hat
and she happily let me take a photo.
She is currently working on a knitting certification.

Jasmine's jacket front.

Jasmine's jacket back.

Jasmine showed up Saturday in her prizewinning
red leather moto jacket with chain mail inserts.

At the McCall's booth she was surrounded
by multiple mature sewing fans who were in awe
of her pattern drafting and sewing skills!
She is only 18 so we will surely
be delighted with her creations for many years to come.

Award winners Mari and Ezekiel.

Clearly it runs in the family
as Jasmine's siblings,
10 year old Mari and 8 year old Ezekiel
won awards in their ages groups as well.
Mari made her tunic and pants;
Ezekiel made his vest, bow tie and pants.

Needless to say their proud parents had big smiles!

McCall's designer Melissa Watson with celebrity wedding planner David Tutera.

Melissa Watson did a fabulous job
as commentator at Saturday afternoon's
McCall/Butterick/Vogue Fashion Show.

And the winner is...

Fancy fabrics were the perfect prize
at the McCall/Butterick/Vogue Fashion Show
This lucky lady walked off with the Grand Prize.
She won so much fabric she needed help
carrying the bolts home!
It will be great if she comes back next year
wearing what she makes with it.

Ruth modeling Butterick 5960.

Ruth found an amazing fabric
to make her version of my coat.
What a great model she is.

I sure hope she sends me a photo when she completes it!
(hint hint)

Happy stitching everyone!