Easter Came Early in Vence

I have been holding on to these egg cartons for about a year now, and I had this idea to create something with these for easter. The I visited Matabi's esty store adn found this great egg fabric.
I had some vintage ribbon I bought a while ago and some other goodies. I decided to put them all together to create a starter sewing kit.

Included in the kit: 1 felt egg pin cushion with 9 matching pins
1 egg cup linen needle holder
4 safety pins
4 sewing needles (various size)
6 white vintage buttons
1 yard of rick rack
1 yard of white 10 inch cotton vintage ribbon
1 yard of red and white bakers twine
9 heart candies
1 rocket

These cute kits will be available at my etsy store on saturday feb. 9

Video for Mom

I completely forgot about this video my sisters and I made for my mom's 60th Birthday. I got stuck wearing the wrestlers mask (have to see the video to understand). My mom use to sing this song to us when we were kids, so we just changed the lyrics a little and played it at her 60th birthday in October.

It was great fun to make, especially hanging out with my 2 sisters. Since i have moved to France we don't see a lot of each other, but when we do you can see we get really silly.

Everyone should have sisters to get silly with.

Is it Spring Yet?

I bought this bed sheet set (includes flat sheet, fitted sheet, pillow cases and duvet cover) for 2 euros at a brocante market. My husband thought I was crazy, worried I was not going to put all that orange on our bed (I think I would have a hard time sleeping way too much orange).
So, I decided to make my own garden tote.
The pattern is from a book by Lotta Jansdotter. I made a couple of adjustments... voila my own garden tote! The bag itself could hold lots of cuttings or fruit/veg depending on what type of garden you have.

We actually do not have a garden right now just a stairway, which I converted into an indoor garden, but the next place we move into will have a garden, so I thought why not start early.

There are lots of pockets for garden tools.

I added this little birdie applique to one of the pockets.

I was thinking of making a couple more (since I have sooo much of this fabric) and perhaps selling a couple on my store..what do you think?

Pay it forward...ready to go...

PIF

Finally... finished my PIF (pay it forward) gifts and they aready for shipping. Still waiting on one more address...

Just as I was getting ready to send out goodies, I also received this great package from db

Lots of great goodies in black and white and a really cute bag, perfect for a lunch tote.

Just in Time for Valentine's Day

I bought this great linen heart fabric a while ago from Namolio and I was saving it for just Valentine's Day. So I made a couple of goodies. I really love the texture and the simplicity of the two fabrics together.

The candy sac comes with a bag of conversation hearts and when you are finished up all the candy you can use it for make-up, change or a gift bag for someone else. All available at my store

Happy Early Valentine's Day!!!

More Bon Bon Bags

Just finished another batch of Bon Bon Bags filled with lots of crafty goodies. In each little bag there are vintage finds from the brocante market here in Vence, France. Lots of goodies perfect for sewing, scrap booking or other crafty projects.

Here's a sneak peek...

All bags can be purchased from my store .

J'adore Paris

Here it is...my first project(s) for the year 2008. My mother bought me a skirt with a Paris print...it was too big for me and I did not want to throw it out, so I decided to use this fabric to start a new line J'adore Paris.

Using black linen and some buttons, zippers and other little knik-knacksI have made some wallets...

Make-up cases...

and tissue holders. All are available at my etsy shop.

I still have a little bit of fabric left...what else can I make? any suggestions?

Happy Belated New Year!

Happy Belated New Year to All!

I have returned from Canada after a relaxing holiday with my family. It was a long flight back but I have returned back to France to get back into the swing of things.

Well what's new...

Some of my creations are being sold in Saya (in Antibes) and more info can be found on here and here . A great blog to read through with lots of great info and photos....thanks Maya!

More work for my website needs to be done, and I am also starting to work on some new items for my etsy shop, more bags, new and improved pencil crayon/marker/ crayon roll, bonbon bags, some more little pouches and other goodies (can't give away all my surprises). I will keep you posted!

Well that's all for now...but I will be back soon!

C'est FIni!

Yahoo!
Finally finished the custom made quilt for Julie.
It has taken me a while due to the many other projects on the go, but I am very happy with the result. It was a lot of fun playing around with different shapes and stitches. I especially love the fat little mouton below made from french knots.

I also embroidered (with machine) both her name and birth date on the quilt. If you look closely, you can see ruffles, buttons and collars from all the various baby clothes I used. Something Julie will now have forever.

Houses, houses everywhere

A little tote made from recycled jeans and maison fabric. I really do love this fabric and have started sewing a whole ensemble...bag, crayon roll, make-up bag, pencil case...the list goes on and on...

And for something non-related...it's my early spring tissue cover with a petit papillion (butterfly).
Perfect for traveling...esp. when I return back to Toronto...I heard that there is snow there now...EEEKS! I have been spoiled with this South of France sun.

Sew, Sew Tired....

Well what can I say? Last week was CrAzY!!! I was ill, we had a flood in our bedroom and our Christmas party was cancelled (thank goodness).
So back to normal right?
Normal?
What's normal?
You mean sewing everyday for 9 hours? Eeks!
I have been so busy with Christmas orders for other people, I don't even know what I want for Christmas. What should I ask Santa for? Perhaps he could lend me some of his elves? I could pay them with cookies and milk...any takers?

Anywhooo, I thought I would post some of the other things I have been working on. I have had many requests for the personalized pencil crayon rolls so here are a few...

I have also made a couple fo Maquillage (Make-up) Bags for Saya and my etsy store. Perfect for storing all your feminine trinkets. Well back to the grind...again...cookies...milk...anyone?

Bibs and Hangers For Saya

I wanted to make some bibs for Saya (the store), but normally I custom make them with the babies names. Because these bibs will be in a store and the names of the babies I will not know, I thought of another idea....patchwork with French sayings, after all we are in France.

And why stop there...lets add some hangers too!

Voila! Comes in Pink, Blue or White hangers!

Artist Roll Addiction

I just can't stop sewing these little rolls. I get this great satisfaction of seeing all the different colours being sewn together...putting together a little rainbow. I am thinking of expanding my repertoire to crayons and markers...what else can I sew? Paint rolls?This one (above) is reserved for a lady who asked for this particular fabric. She is going to give this to her daughter for Christmas. Thinking about Christmas morning and her daughter opening up her special package (that I made) really gives me the warm and fuzzies. How exciting! So honoured to be a part of that moment!

All of these are available at my shop...and look out for more...

Cough, Cough...

I must apologize for neglecting you all, as I have been ill with the flu (yes...even here in the South of France you can get a cold). I have decided after a couple of days of doing absolutely nothing that it was time to get up and start sewing. So, with tissue in hand (and nose), I have started to sew again.

I have been frantically sewing for Saya (as you already know) and also have a custom order I am trying to finish before I go back to Canada for the holidays.

It's a custom ordered quilt made from baby clothes. I asked the client to drop off some old baby clothes (t-shirts, dresses, bibs) that I could encorporate into the quilt. A great way to preserve all those special clothes that would normally end up in a box somewhere.

I still have a lot to do as you can see. Some embroidery and applique, but I think it is coming along. Below is a close up of a bib that I cut up and included as a little patch on the quilt.

It's a slow process but I think it will look great when finished...I hope!

Pour un Artiste

Many artists resided here in the South of France. Matisse, Chagall, Picasso and many more...if only they had the pencil crayon roll (okay not very creative name I know).

This pencil crayon roll holds 12 coloured pencils and is made from linen and cotton. I love the outside fabric ...ABCDEFG... you know the rest...
Perfect for any Petit Picasso.

OOOO the colours....if only I could draw...

Pour Le Nez

More and more stuff for the shoppe!

Yesterday for my birthday, I received Yet Another package from superbuzzy (their timing was perfect, how did they know?) So, I decided to make these little tissue holders (yes, even on my birthday I am busy sewing...can you say addiction?)

Each of these little guys are made from linen and cotton and have little holiday bells attached, which you can ring if ever you are sick in bed (let's hope that doesn't happen) and need some chicken soup.

They are all wrapped up and ready to go to Antibes and my etsy store...

POur les Vetement

(picture a little blurry, I know)

Last month I had this weird addiction to fabric with hanging laundry. Don't know why since doing laundry is my least favourite thing to do, but I love the fabric just the same. I had no idea what I was going to do with this laundry patterned fabric...and then I though why not make something for laundry?

So here is a laundry bag that I made with cotton and linen for loads (...and loads) of laundry. I really love the hanging clothes line print, almost inspires me to do my own laundry (well, okay not really).
And this little bag is made from another clothes line print. It's alot smaller then the Linge bag, so it is perfect for storing all your private personals. I love this bag, especially for traveling. Keeps the undies separate.
All these are going to the Saya (in Antibes) and I will also eventually post these goodies on my etsy store as well (for those of you who can't get to the South of France for some shopping).

trois petits arbres

so So SOOOOOO excited, where do I begin?

I have been so busy sewing up a storm for a shop in Antibe, France called Saya. I have been asked to feature many of my creations there by an awesome gal Maya (hi Maya! if your reading).

We have been throwing ideas back and forth on things to sell for the holidayy season...if only my hands could work as fast as my brain...

So, here are a couple of little ornament trees I made from a tablecloth I purchased last year. Never used the table cloth but I really liked the pattern. So we will see how they do in the store.
I have made lots (and lots) of other things, but I will post gradually...just little sneak peaks for you all.
Cheers!