Happy New Year!

I wish you all a Happy New Year, with Health, Love and Fun.

snowmen

Merry Christmas

I wish all my blog-friends a

Merry Christmas!

Animals

There is a new element in the Nativity...

No danger that someone steals my knitting...

Happy week to all!

weekend

It has been bitter cold here this week. The greatest part of France is under snow and ice. We had a few flakes on Friday, but it did not last. Instead, the Mistral wind has brought a bright blue sky, and very,very low temperature.
I went to Marseille to visit an outdoor designer market. I had my camera with me, but no, sorry, no pictures. I could not bring myself to take my gloves off. I felt so sorry for the sellers here, it was cold, and the items kept flying away...
I was glad to be back home, and not to have to go outside again. Instead, I did a little bit of sewing.
First I wanted to make a pyjama top. I had purchased some knit fabric and needed a pattern. I had also received a pattern fromVogue which I wanted to test. So the pyjama top would be my muslin as well. I just made it longer. I will had pants in a few days.
I like the unusual turtle neck. Easy to sew, but not everyone's :-) I'll make some more, well as soon as I find the time.

Pattern Description: 

Semi-fitted, pullover tops A, B, C have raw, unfinished edges, asymmetrical collar and long sleeves. Wrong side of fabric will show. A: contrast collar, one contrast sleeve and partial contrast hem band. C: top applied hem bands on sleeves and lower edges.
Pattern Sizing:
Y(XS-S-M), Z(L-XL), I made M. It fits perfectly without modifications.
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Yes. I just made it longer.
Were the instructions easy to follow?
Yes very easy, with useful preparation and sewing indications
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I like the unusual collar.
Fabric Used:
Light knit.
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
I made it longer. In fact, I was doing a muslin and a night gown at the same time... Otherwise the size is perfect and I'll probably use it as it for the "real" project
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
I'll certainly make several more.
Conclusion: 

Easy to sew, yet original with the neck and the possiblities of contrast and hems.

I also made a sarouel for me:

This is a sarouel as proposed by Valérie of Le Parfum du Ciel. Do visit her blog, she is very talented.

Mail

Received from Solange (Les Passions de Solange).
Isn't it beautiful?
Thank you very much Solange!

Cats

They like to spend as much time as possible with me, whenever possible in front of me.

Osiris waiting for me at the PC

Choupette on my lap. She hurt that leg a couple of months ago. She is always glad to stretch it this way.

and waiting for me at the PC...

The last picture was not taken today. In fact it is rainy and not warm at all. Snuggling is THE option of the day :-)
From here I can watch the birds in the garden. They are glad to find the feeder, even the new one, the one with peanuts. They are discovering it and are not yet sure that they like it...

Burda World of Fashion November 2000 - pattern 122

This is what I made yesterday afternoon. Very quick to do. The vaccuum that follows the cutting is the longest part of the process!

The original pattern has a sport look. I just kept the shape of the top, not the spirit...

And don't worry, this is faux fur!

Pattern Description: 
Comfort vest, made in3-layers fabric (nylon, polar fleece and fleece)

Pattern Sizing:
34-42 - I did 40

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Not at all, because I used faux fur instead.

Were the instructions easy to follow?
Did not follow them, in fact. I was interested in the shape only.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
Quick to sew, 5 seams+ Hems
Fabric Used:
Faux fur
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
No pocket, no apparent stitching
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
Yes, it is perfect for a "snuggle top"
Conclusion: 
Quick project, the fabric makes it all!

Creche - continued live

Provence Creches has posted pictures of last Sunday, where people gathered to relive the Provence of the past.
You can see the "santons" in live. Beautiful clothes, and beautiful pictures.

Marseille by night

Thank your for your comments on the bag. It was a great pleasure to make it, and even more to see that you like it. Its recipient too liked it :-)

I've been busy last week, going out twice. Hence the lack of posts...

One of the night out was a bit amazing. We had the visit of one collegue, from far away. He wanted to see a bit of our country, but his timetable was such that we did not manage to reach Marseille before 9:00pm one evening. Of course, the evening started with dinner, so it was very late when we started our tour. Here are some pictures:

La Bonne Mère, the church that protects all the fishermen in Marseille, (and even all the non-fishermen);

A monument on the sea front, in honnor of all the soldiers from our colonies who died to protect France.The lights behind are those of the jail of Monte-Christo.

Across from the monument is the prettiest village of fishermen, right in the middle of the city, very amazing

Talking of far away, have a look at Amandine's blog, she's got nice photos, daylight photos...

Bag - tutorial by Laura and Linda Kemshall

I'm in XMas mood. the weekend was perfect for that: 3 days at home, the weather from not that bad to completely insane.

I had seen this tutorial in Quilting Arts Gifts Winter 2008, and had wanted to make it, just had to find the time.

So it started with a square sandwich (lining, batting, support fabric, pieces and bits of fabrics, covered with chiffon.

I wanted to quilt it "kantha-like", with a fine yellow conton perlé. Ouch, it is pretty, but my fingers were a bit sore at the end :-)

Once the quilting was finished, I grabbed my machine to do a bit of embroidery:

Then folded the square into a triangle, kind of

for the trim, I used a bias, adorned with buit-in stitches.