À ma maison and last days in Paris

All over Paris love is in the air

as are English phrases

on garments and fabrics

which is mildly disappointing

for those of us searching for something

quintessentially 'French'.

(Such a cliché...)

All shopped out

(hard to believe I know)

so we didn't go in

but you've gotta love the name...

I started noticing

couples who dress alike

(and in this case blend into their surroundings).

You might not know that Marcy and I

were dressed alike when we were little girls,

which might explain why we often 

come out of our respective bedrooms 

wearing the same colors top to bottom.

One of us usually goes back to change...

Then there was this sartorialist

standing on the busy corner by 

Saint Germain des Prés.

Looking good,

and you can't even see the red plaid

in his stylishly cropped pant.

He turned away when he noticed me and my camera.

Why one would choose to dress like this

and then be shy is a question

I cannot answer here.

Wise words on a hip chair at Merci.

Still one of my favorite places to lunch in Paris

and always a source of design inspiration

offbeat items and warm weirdness.

This season at Merci they are in the process

of yarn bombing the little car

that sits in the entry.

Fabric and textile arts have 

come a long way, baby.

~~~

Always such a pleasure

(small and large)

to sleep in my own bed

after 30 hours of travel

with little sleep,

eating tasteless processed salty snacks

and a few dry carrot sticks.

Good thing it was so uneventful and fluid

that I finished reading, Paris, the Novel

 which tells a story weaving history,

the growth of the city, some of its now familiar 

always charming locations

and an interesting cast of characters.

So much heat and rain here

that our lush garden seems as beautiful

as at Giverny.

More beautiful actually

because it's home.

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Please check out Marcy's and my new Craftsy Class

launching May 22.

Links will be posted on both our websites.

in the meantime click this link to

sign up for 'The Ultimate T-shirt' give-a-way.

ParisTilton Catch Up

Busy, busy, busy,

and fun, fun, fun,

describes the last few days of the tour.

Probably the most popular, identifiable and iconic

object in Paris, I love the Eiffel Tower

and was happy to visit there

with some of our group.

From the summit, the city of Paris

spreads out in miniature

providing views into courtyards and rooftop gardens.

(Only a moment of vertigo.)

We spent an hour and a half up top

with a glass of champagne,

watching the sun set behind clouds

and identifying monuments, churches and parks

from different vantage points.

The layout of Paris is majestic and graceful to view anytime

but especially on an evening with perfect weather.

Walking down the 1665 steps

as the twinkling lights came on was magic.

More majesty and beauty at Giverny

where blue appeared in the sky and was

reflected in the flowers and the pond.

A cacophony of squeals had everyone wondering

just what was making all that racket.

A large crowd gathered at one end of the pond

and enjoyed watching at least 30 bullfrogs

madly puffing cheeks and calling for a mate.

Some advances were rebuffed

and some not.

After visiting Giverny

we went to the Orangerie to sit in the serenity

of Monet's grand murals

depicting the waterlilies in the pond where yesterday

we sat under the willows

enjoying the frog's boisterous bellowing.

(The woman who took our photo added some extra style 

with the addition of the plant. Parisian polish.)

Walking through the Tuileries Garden

we chanced upon a model

strutting in a stunning suit

while maintaining her balance 

in some wicked heels.

She was quite friendly

and sent a couple of poses towards our cameras.

Then we had our photo taken

by a young woman from Argentina.

We continue to meet wonderful people

from all over the world

as we wander in Paris.

Betty and Carol at Notre Dame

where we caught the Ascension Thursday service.

Ritual in the midst of Holiday chaos.

Some of us managed a visit to Karl Lagerfeld's

new store on Boulevard Saint Germain

where we were served champagne

while we shopped, laughed,

tried things on

and emailed Karl.

His iconic ponytailed profile

with high collar and sunglasses

is printed or embossed on everything you could think of

and some things you couldn't.

Imagine a herringbone pattern.

Now imagine it tessellating with Karl's profile.

On jeans.

(It works).

Plus limited edition Karl dolls

with giant crocheted heads.

(Bizarre).

Marketing genius at its best.

Souffle for dinner and another for dessert.

Excess? Well it is Paris.

Au revoir to a marvelous group of women!

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Watch for the Tilton sisters new Craftsy Class

'The Ultimate T Shirt'

coming soon!

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Hooked on Paris

Sunday in Paris

means the Flea Market

and the Organic Market.

Interesting goods, great people watching

and a stunning array of produce, cheeses,

meats and flowers.

First off there was the Flea Market.

Some of the vendors have a good eye

and take the time to artfully arrange their products.

I picked up some of these vintage hooks

last year and now they hang in our new bathroom.

Nothing like a little Paris to perk things up.

 This booth always has a poker game going on

or they are having a tasty lunch

with a nice bottle of wine.

Living the good life.

The vendor does always break for a sale.

Juliette and Sally

Women with tools.

Everyone found something special

for themselves or as a gift.

It's great to meet for coffee afterwards

and share our purchases.

Rosemary, Margaret, Betty and Lorianne.

Waiting in line for galettes

(Well worth the wait

as they taste so good.)

Dessert galettes 

are at the other end of the market.

Street treats.

Sunday was the Russian Orthodox Easter.

(Not all of the eggs were in one basket...)

All decorated for the wedding couple

complete with covered seats

and baby's breath.

Ready to roll in front of the Hotel Lutetia.

Whenever the sun comes out

 so do the Parisiens, en masse.

The grass was covered

in the Place des Vosges.

I admired a boater like this 

on a man at the Flea Market.

I was happy to find one under the arches

in the Place des Vosges arcade.

Sunday in Paris.

Paris Mind

The number above the door jumped out at me yesterday.

Third of May, third blog this trip,

walking to get my third haircut in Paris...

The mind is such a strange and marvelous mechanism.

Making connections and stories,

delighting and entertaining (mostly) me with 

the infinite variety of visuals it processes.

For instance

these boldly striped pants caught my eye.

And then, the mind immediately jumped to an image

of George Clooney

in 'Oh Brother Where Art Thou'.

(He is just so cute...)

The stairs I've been walking up

to get to our apartment on the 5th floor.

(I know this view is looking down but the light was better.)

The last few days I've been challenging myself

to walk the stairs rather than take the elevator.

When I went up them for the 3d time yesterday 

I finally managed to get to the top

and still have some breath left!

(All this walking is paying off the mind says...)

Pigeon party in the park

in Paris.

(My mind loves alliteration -- mots merveilleux.)

St Sulpice and its fountain last night.

Can you hear the water 

roaring over the lips of the fountain?

As happens sometimes in Paris,

the mind quiets

and just sits with beauty.

Walk Paris

Wish I'd had wings on my feet

sometimes these past few days.

Paris is such a wonderful walking city

with new beauty 

constantly gifting the eye with delight.

Lilies of the Valley have been my favorite spring flower

since I was a little girl and found a small patch

in a hidden corner of the yard.

In Paris it's tradition to give them as gifts on May 1

so they were everywhere.

The Avenue de l'Opera was nearly empty

on this Holiday

and Paris pleasantly quiet 

for a moment.

Tourists filled the parks, sidewalks 

and restaurants later

with families, lots of strollers

and much photo taking.

Just like me

(except the stroller part).

The sun finally peeked out yesterday afternoon

and everyone seemed to be happier.

Love the splashes of color on this summer shift

by an Italian designer. 

This photo is for my friend Jude.

What to do with that extra hay.

Quite cool actually...

soeur = sister

Such fun to be here with mine!

April in Paris

'Why, oh why, do I love Paris?'

I love how the Parisians apologize for the weather when it rains.

I mean how often does it rain in Paris? Lots

is my sense. And they seem so sincere in their apologies.

As if they are personally responsible.

(Actually the weather has been quite good but

a few drops of rain and the apologies start.)

I take no responsibility for the rain in Oregon.

How many Minnesotans took any responsibility or apologized

for all that snow? In April after all. Really!

(My guess is there was lots more complaining

than apologizing for that extra long winter.)

I love Paris for the happy people

who are having so much fun.

All dressed up with somewhere to go.

Laughing all the way...

I love Paris for its beautiful graffiti.

Its great wine.

Playing in the maison martin margiela 6 shop with Alice

who speaks 6 languages.

Standing by the Seine.

I love Paris for Bresse chicken with roasted potatoes
and rockette (arugula) salad for dinner. Yum!

You are here.
(I am here.)

Amen!

Butterick 5891 Revisited

B5891 Version B 

Although it looks like it, a simple sleeveless shirt, 
it’s not.

(Frankly describing any pattern with 15 pieces

as ‘easy’ seems a stretch.)

This vest/top appears to be causing problems

for some sewers.

Admittedly, it is more difficult than it might look
but if you can sew a straight line you'll be fine. 

Asymmetry

             is just that.

                                                       More coMplicAteD.     

Some of the 15 pattern pieces have been known to stretch

so stay-stitching is helpful.

(As I had no problem with this I’m guessing

it might have something to do with the fabric used.)

Be sure to keep those pattern pieces handy

so you know what is what and where it goes.


Remember, 
you have to be smart to sew.

Butterick 5891

Note that the underside (‘wrong’ side/back side) of the fabric

is going to show when either the vest/top or jacket/shirt

are open at the neck. 

Be forewarned so you can plan ahead.

I have made versions of this pattern

so many times 

that I feared perhaps I had lost sight of 

what might cause a problem 

for someone making it for the first time.

So, I made it again,

with as much innocence as I could muster.

Discharged a lovely black stretch Poplin,

'Blackbird', from marcytilton.com.

‘Honeycomb’ and ‘Veil’ silkscreens with Jacquard discharge paste on 'Blackbird' poplin

I used the pattern pieces

straight from the envelope

and cut it out exactly as instructed.
(Be sure the readable side of the pattern piece is
'right' side up on the fabric when you cut.)

Then, I followed the directions

for stitching it together step by step,

doing my best to forget anything I knew before 
(which is not so difficult these days ).

All the pieces fit together
perfectly

like an easy puzzle.

The only pattern change I made

was to make the pocket a bit smaller on the lower edge.
I like to tack the pocket down at a spot on the peplum
where it won't show so it doesn't flop.

At step #23, I finished the lower edge of the collar
before I stitched it down.
I pressed the collar 'hem' to the 'right' side of the collar
so that edge would be finished as it is visible
when the vest/shirt collar is open.

B5891 Version C

Someone contacted me with concerns about

the rather acute concave curve

on the jacket/shirt collar.

I have made this jacket/shirt version in

linen, denim and some other heavyweight wovens

navigating this curve with no problem. 

You must be bold with your iron.

Stay-stitch the edge

just inside the seam line and press. 

Use a clapper with the iron if necessary to flatten.

Then fold it under again, back in on itself and topstitch.

See illustration #15 in C/D version pattern directions.

Please don't let any of this keep you
from making this great vest/top
and/or the versatile shirt/jacket.
You will love it and wear it all Summer.


Happy stitching!