Cup of Tea

If you knew me, you would know that I love the cooler days of October. The Canadian fall is perfect for me. On days like today you can put a sweater on and sit outside in the sunshine. I never feel cold. In fact, I am relieved not to be hot! Naturally, you would find me sitting in a classic wooden muskoka chair.
But here is a spot I would love to have a cup of tea at.
The table and chairs are found in a tiny garden at the front door of an antique store in the big Paris antique market. I bet if I was there this weekend it would look exactly the same. Perhaps the shrubbery would be a little less green and the unuusal wall of bamboo might not have leaves. But I would sit here and enjoy some much needed downtime.

Monday Blues

Another great door in Paris. Isn't the blue beautiful?

When I see a door ajar I always want to peak in.

Paulina the artist in the antique market in her blue suit.

I think she paints from memory.

Blue candles. I need to light some this week.

Oh! Great Paris Themed Fabrics!

This is such pretty Paris themed fabric! I found it here today.

Brilliant Decorating Idea

This looks like fabulous paper from a distance.

Little did I know that a Paris decorator had figured out an even better way to show off this fantastic wall paper. They added the wooden frame to the wall and then embellished the flowers captured in the frame. Love it!

Window Shopping In Paris

There are certain pictures I take in Paris that I know are meant to inspire me when I get home. With thousands to choose from...there is a lot of inspiration! I love these hand painted bags. But I am especially interested in the patch work style and the ribbon attachments.


Five years ago I took a picture of these paper covered tins. Also a patchwork. I think that this theme will inspire a card series this week. Then perhaps this winter I will have time to make one bag and one set of tins. My "to-do" list gets longer and longer.

The Door I Would Love

This is just one a hundreds of interesting door embellishments I see everywhere in Paris. I love how in the middle of a huge and busy city someone decided that this would represent them at street level. Who lives behind this door? Are they funny, grumpy or mean? Some day I will live behind a door that will make my UPS driver laugh.

New art I created with the original image.

What To Do With An Impulse Buy

This is an altered book I created using six doll heads. They were an impulse buy. One Euro each and I felt like they needed a home. These "dolls of the world" were probably the number one souvenir back in the 60's and 70's. Each doll was dressed in the style of dress most associated with their country...hence the beret on the little french doll.
They came back to the apartment with me after a day at the big Paris antique market. This is a typical bag of goodies I accumulate if I go antiquing. If I was in France today, I would at a market for sure. Reports from Paris blogs say they are having unseasonable warm weather. A few more weeks to walk around in just a sweater. Wish I was there.

Caviar and Rubies

Two great bags spotted through a window in Paris.

For hours I kept thinking "caviar and rubies."
Now I know these are both expensive items to both wear and eat. But what made this designer choose these two words for the bags? I love the letters sewn individually in place. I want to make a bag with a word on it...but can't possibly select one great word. I think I would want "Paris" but that would be so unoriginal. I think the point of these bags is to pick a word you would not ordinarily see as the focal point on a purse. So I am thinking about things I love that are pricey that might be cool on a bag. Words in the running:
Peridot
Antique
Leather
Inkjet
I'll happily take suggestions!

croque-madame

This is the meal I could eat every day of the week.
In Paris it is served everywhere. I can have it on pretty plates in the Louvre. I can have it "to go" and eat it in the park behind Notre Dame.
But the only way to have it in North America is to make it myself. Which isn't going to happen.
So, instead I'll pop a bagel into the toaster.

Just Happiness

I bought this small cotton zippered pouch on a whim. I found it while wandering through the shops at the Louvre.
I love embroidery and I thought all these sewn hearts were beautiful. I have always wanted to add embroidery designs to some of my fabrics. This will give me the inspiration.
Love
Joy
Peace
Prosperity
Luck.

Ribbon Inspiration

Ribbon is something I have been collecting all my life.
In Paris, I see so many fantastic ways to use it. I come home looking for classes and books that will help me make use of my huge ribbon collection. This is just one window I photographed in Paris. I want to make ribbon roses before 2010 is over and the multicolored yo yo is giving me all sorts of ideas!

Morning Antiquing

It is cool and overcast here today. If I was in Paris I would love to be at an outdoor market. I pulled up this photo this morning and it sums up everything I love to look for when I go to a market. Antique mannequin, old keys, vintage linens and baking tins. Anywhere I can see all these things is where I am happiest.