2011

As we wave goodbye to 2011 and look forward to the surprises 2012 has in store for us, I look back at some of last year's memories...and what a ride it's been!

A quiet month despite my birthday, when I had the best meal ever!

A lovely trip back home, with family meals and a couple of days in Paris on the way back. Oh, and my work load unexpectedly rose up when I got promoted out of the blue - all in all a nice surprise. 

Got my favourite cardigan of the year

First attempts at making Log Cabin, and a fabulous, mind-blowing trip to Vietnam and Cambodia.

Patchwork place mats

A few days in Barcelona, lots of happy kids. The end of year approaches...

Using all that free time to start my first quilt, and travelling to Paris a lot. I also had my first ever sewing lesson, comforting me that I was more or less doing the right thing already. Seeing Tree of Life to celebrate my first weekend on holidays was awesome too!

The best feeling ever when I finished my first quilt. Having a lovely time back in the French countryside, and one of the highlights was probably seeing Super 8 one afternoon in the local cinema.

Making yet more pouches, and more importantly finally getting engaged!

Visiting loads of people and venues for our wedding plans.

Quiet winter month

Christmas at home, just the two of us. Bliss.

***  A very happy new year to all of you  ***

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?