Things I have loved this December

Y Riding in the first carriage in the Parisian metro. If you stand behing the driver's window, you can just make out the tracks, tunnels, and approaching stations. An eerie and lovely feeling.
Y Paris, generally. I was lucky enough to go twice this month, and loved it both times! The Christmas market at the Sacré-Coeur was beautiful.
Y Making my own presents for colleagues - a real nice, rewarding thing to do!
Y Staying in a lot for the last 10 days. It's so good to be home, read, and recharge the batteries whilst simply watching the Christmas tree.
Y Finding unexpected bargains in the sales in the last couple of days. Is it me, or is it really worth it this year? Driving past a Lush shop today, I couldn't believe it, they also seem to have sales on, which I think they never did before...might have to go!

Y Anticipating the start of 2012, a big year to come...

Season's greetings from Paris

A small gift to you all: enchanting pictures from Paris earlier this week. I hope everyone has a fabulous Christmas.

This year the Galeries Lafayette went for a rock 'n mode theme, as reflected in their windows.

I felt like a child watching them for ages! The Galeries were fabulous, but nothing came close to Le Printemps, with not only their still windows but also their automated ones dedicated to Chanel in general, and to Karl Lagerfeld in particular...beautiful!

I really like this last one, with its blurry impressions between real and fake Paris. The christmas market on the Champs-Elysees was pretty too...shame about the rain!

A twist on traditional lavender bags

You have to hate winter for the poor light you get in the house this time of year! But these little birds and bags have been a pleasure to make over the last fortnight - not to mention I finally got rid of scraps of fabric I just couldn't bear seeing anymore. I left them in a little basket at work with an honesty box. Most were gone in a couple of hours, with colleagues telling me how very nice they were. Now that's a warming feeling when it's starting to snow outside ;) 

Christmas pouches

Only a few days of work left before the big break - can't wait! I bet you are all waiting for the holidays too, no? This year, due to a serious lack of time and organisation, I have only had time to sew together a few bits and bobs for my esteemed colleagues. Nothing fancy, just a selection of chocolates and nougats from France in a red Cath Kidston fabric bag. They looked cute together that I couldn't resist snapping a quick picture of them. But I wonder, what does everyone do for Christmas for their colleagues? It is the only time of year I do something, and I kind of feel a responsibility to "produce" something in certain people's pigeon holes, but finding the right thing to give is not always easy. What do you all think?

Little pouch bags

Here's some of the things I've been up to in the last few weeks. I have to say that I've not been anywhere near as productive as I meant to be. But to break the routine we've had people over every weekend for the last three weeks, so there's not been much time available.
Not to mention that we bought the Millenium movies after hearing so much good about the adaptations. To be honest, they are quite entertaining but, as always, not too faithful to the original story. And who on earth decided to cast that woman as Erika B? I pictured a sexy woman with my big blond hair and a killer dress sense. Bit disappointed on this one. Then there's Mikke himself, supposed to be this Adonis whom no lady can resist...and all we get is this not-so energetic man. Charming, granted, but not irresistible.
Anyway, back to business now: I have completed a handful of pretty pocket pouches, who are awaiting a new home for January 2012. There are still two on the way, and a couple of extra things I haven't quite finished yet.

Cutest poodle fabric from Toto in France

If you are lucky enought to have a beautiful Advent calendar, I really REALLY envy you. This year I have been through and through London trying to find a pretty one like in Berlin, but it was not to be. Snifff. Oh well, I guess it's all for the good cause of trying not to get obese before I fit into Ya certain dressY next year...can't wait to share that with you in a few months' time!

blue monday

Today I read the saddest blog entry ever. Alicia from posie gets cozy has found the most beautiful and poignant words to tell us her story. I had been waiting, like hundreds of her regular readers, to hear about her big baby news. She had us hanging on the edge of our seats, when today the much awaited post came. Beware ladies, this is one very sad story, but so beautifully told, it makes you wonder how some people manage to find so much love in their hearts.

Today for the first time, I dedicate my post to someone, and hope (as I have always believed), that things really DO happen for a reason.

simple breakfast

Blueberries to make you happy, Blue of London tea from Le Palais des Thés, pumpernickel, peppered ham and Innocent smoothies

Innocent are running a campaign to get more money for Age UK. Their bottles have adorned a mini wooly hat at the moment, and even though I think they're really quite dear, I could not resist getting a couple for last weekend's breakfast.

Years ago I was teaching French for Age Concern in Ashton, near Manchester. I used to take me forever to get there for a two-hour lesson, and I remember having to wait for trains for ages at the sad Ashton-under-Lyne station.

Saying that, I have very very fond memories of that gig. The people at Age Concern were lovely, probably some of my best behaved students, and they would often stop the lesson to teach ME something about French history, or to tell me an anecdote of the time in France in the 1940s and 50s.

So it makes me quite happy to somehow contribute a little to Age UK...and the smoothies are really nice too! 

Vintage sewing fair

It really feels like ages since I was here...time flies so quickly! After four weeks of not being able to phone or use the Internet at home, Mr Yummy and I left for a well-deserved break for a few days in the country. Slowly but surely, routine starts all over again, and it feels sooooo good to be home, I can't even tell you.
I got to meet a vintage sewing fan, and took pictures of her stall : it was so impressive! Here are my favourite bits of her collection. She says she goes to every car boot sale in the area...I can believe her!

The same curious object I was showing you a little while ago. It turns out to be called a "festonneur". Does anyone know what it might be in English?

The tiniest sewing machine

Quite  a collection, isn't it? I loved seeing all those lovelies in one place, and had a great time meeting that lady. She also showed me the two books below - the encyclopedia of vintage habberdashery...I feel this is going straight on my Christmas wish list!

work in progress

This month...

--> -->♥ I loved - loved - loved the Indian summer, but not so much the drastic change of temperatures we've been experiencing in the past few days. Strapless dress to furry coat within days = big cold! -->♥  seeing a whole chunk of my family unexpectedly has been really quite emotional...even more so as we were celebrating the life of a beloved who passed away. Funerals are always bizarre situations, aren't they? -->♥  I found out just how addicted I am to the Internet at home. Not having a working phone nor a web connection has not brought out the best in me at first, and then i sort of re-discovered the joys of being free from it all. Now it's back, and so is my sanity.♥ Still loving the weird and wonderful world of Rock'n Roll bride. Added Un beau jour to my daily browsing too. Are you sensing a theme?
♥ Still busy making some lovely pocket using Keyka Lou's patterns, as you can see. They're a pleasure to work with. My lounge turns into a real factory at the weekend!

 
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things I love right now

Things I absolutely love at the moment...

♥  spending hours watching Rock'n'roll bride's decadent and magnificent weddings
♥  the heat wave - it's not too late to wear summer gear once more, yeah!
♥  seeing happy bloggers on every continent, with a special thought for Alicia. If you haven't read her blog before, run to it, and I swear you will get addicted!
♥   preparing for Christmas (you know it's just around the corner)
♥   Bliss Cocotte's before and after pictures - so cute!
♥   making loads of those lovely pouches