Freezer Paper coo

Getting supplies here in France can get a bit expensive and time consuming. I import freezer paper from the US but just made an amazing discovery. French delis wrap meats and cheese in the stuff. I discovered this while munching on a very ripe piece of brie over xmas whilst trying to get my head round foundation piecing.

So I went to my friendly deli man at our local supermarket (took Little Miss P with me cos he likes her) and asked him for a spare bit of paper with my brie de meaux. He ripped off a piece without even batting an eyelid (are there other crazy obsessed quilter in the 12th who do the same? Is it a french ritual?) and said 'avec plessuire'. I ran home put little Miss P in front of her latest obsession ... Sleeping Beauty DVD and tried it out! Wow it works!!

So, only problem now, how do I get more of the stuff? Do I go back to the same guy and ask for more? How many times could I do this without him thinking I'm a can short of a 6 pack? I wonder if friends and neighbours could ask for me too? Am I getting obsessed... yeah (but this is such a fantastic credit crunching opportunity).

Anyway, here's my first attempt at foundation piecing - check out the wonky corner.... I was determined to get it right so tried again and voila!!

More Dear Jane

I'm loving making these blocks.

I'm following the lessons on the Dear Jane CD, completing the blocks to learn new techniques. Some (like foundation piecing) have been a challenge and I've been pulling my hair out as to how to do it. Thankfully there are loads of fantastic people on-line who have posted tutorials, videos and their own Dear Jane journey which are smoothing the way for amateurs like me!

The first lesson was basic piecing. A6 Uncle Homer was the first (see previous post) the following 2 got trickier but not too difficult.

M-5 Mothers Point
J-7 Chicken Tracks


Lesson 2 was all about applique

Basic applique I've done before and D-3 Jasons Jacks was fairly straight forward



But reverse applique is new to me and so C-9 Jane's Tears was a good learning opportunity.




At this point I'm not really thinking about the bigger quilt so I'm just picking my fave scraps from the scrap bag and using what I think will look good for that block. I should look at the bigger picture at some point ...... but for now just learning is making me so so happy!

HAPPY NEW YEAR changes are afoot...

Whilst I try not to make new years resolutions I still try to focus on a couple of things every year. For example I've had 'year of change' when I've tried to focus on doing different things e.g. eating in a new restaurant every month. I've had year of travel and a year of staying sane! I've found that by having 1 or 2 things to focus on I've managed to achieve (you can take the girl out of business psychology but you can't take the pschology out of the girl!!).

So what about 2009!!
Firstly I want to spend time focused on what I love doing - sewing and creating. I'm going to use the time when little Miss P is at school to focus only on this... no housework.... no admin.... no washing.
This is to make sure I achive my second aim... to realise my ideas. I have so many things I want to make/create/try and I never feel I realise them, so, thats what I'm going to try and do!!

The third aim this year is change. I love Paris, but I'm craving the UK and Bristol, life as an expat has its ups and downs. I'm not ready to go back to blighty just yet but I need a change of scene. We've had 2 years of ups and downs and the downs have really tested us but we're still here so this year I'm going to make the most of that and make changes.....

what are these changes... dunno yet wait and see!

New Year new Project -Dear Jane Part 1

A long long time ago I discovered an amazing quilt created in 1863 by Jane Stickle. It inspired other quilt designers, specialists and lovers and one of these decided to re-create the blocks and replicate the whole thing. She wrote up these blocks and her journey and then created a computer programme to help others to re-create their own 'baby janes'.

I have always wanted to learn to quilt for as long as I can remember. I have also always done evening classes in some kind of art form however, since moving to Paris, for various reasons I've concentrated on dance, then I had a baby and started bebe bunting so have never found the time or courses. Dear Jane has changed all that and I'm starting my own Baby Jane. Bear in mind I have very very little quilt making experience, however what I now know after spending 3 years as a housewife and mum, is that I need to learn and to be achieving all the time. So, I'm using this process to learn how to quilt. I can't think of a better way to master the art of quilting. I'm starting with the lessons from the computer programme (cos I like doing things proper like!!).

Here is my first block - A6 - Uncle Homer!

Liberty Angel

This will be the last word on liberty (for a few days anyway).

I had an idea to make a series of angels with some of the gorgeous liberty fabrics I recently purchased from washed and worn. The design I had all figured out from this book

My only problem was I couldn't decide on a face and hair. I was and am still really struggling. I wanted to create a 'face' which reflected the beauty of the fabric, its origins and style. I really struggled. I went back and did lots of research on the period when Liberty was first set-up the syles in its hey dey etc etc and couldn't come up with the perfect face but I'll keep trying and hopefully between now and net christamas inspiration will strike. In the meantime heres where I'm at with the face and hair (delicious velevet ribbon). This little lady went off to Manchester for a little Miss V's christmas. I hear she arrived safely I hope she is keeping well in blighty!!

More Liberty Love

A belated Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!!

I promised myself I'd be a better blogger this year. I always have posts whirling around in my head and pics to go with these whirrings but I never seem to manage to get them into a post!!

You know how I said I love liberty..... weeeeell, Gallery Laffayette one of the major stores here in Paris has beautiful windows every year, and we take Little Miss P there every year. Sometimes shes scared of the 'tableaux' other times she loves them and we have to drag her kicking and screaming. Last year she did a poo right in front of them (oh yes crouching and grunting but fortunately into a nappy!!). This year liberty fabric was used as a springboard for some amazing and unique designs. If you're a fan of liberty and happen to be in Paris go check out the liberty fest!

I love liberty me!

I love, love Liberty fabric. So much so that I look at it, I stroke it and I dream about making things with it. My hands shake when I cut into it for fear that I make a mistake and a precious few cms go to waste.


I buy it mostly here is Paris its extortionately priced but if I'm missing England I pop over to the shop, gaze longingly at it, get a few strokes in (if a shop assistant isn't jealously guarding it) and pick up and put down (a lot of times), eventually willing myself out of the shop before I buy the lot.

Yesterday I was there and a couple were buying yards and yards of it. I nearly fainted in disbelief and was transfixed by the patterns they had picked. I wanted, oh how i wanted to go up to them and ask them what they planned to do with it, why buy so much, how do they fund their 'habit'.

Then dark thoughts entered my head. Can you be prosecuted for mugging someone of their liberty fabrics...... I think I need to get out more?

A good friend recently comissioned a present for a friend and this is what I came up with. I used a pattern but wasn't happy with buttons so came up with ties instead of ribbons. I added a bag and label with the baby's name and voila a new product was born for my shop (for when I knuckle down and fill it with goodies!).

I love liberty me!!