Still in progress...

Playing around with buttons.
I'm not sure yet whether or not to attach a strap.
There's no real plan - I'm shaping it as I go.
I think I like it...

Work in progress :: hand sewing leather

Something I'm currently working on.

I finally found the courage to start cutting in one the many hides I own - I'm literally sitting on a mountain of leather, enough to pave a room.

Too worried to damage my precious sewing machine (and leather), I recently turned to hand sewing my leather projects.
I spent the better part of yesterday afternoon sewing, sitting on the floor in front of the window for better light, the leather in my lap.

Soothing...

To be continued today, I hope...

Paris, je t'aime :: the day after

Random pictures from a random walk the day after the French presidential elections.


Blue Blanc Rouge



Ariane 




Superheroes
Hollande - Sarkozy :: le rassemblement 




Riverin Hollande

Tree tops

 








 







All pictures taken on Easter Monday...
Spring at different paces.

Snowscapes

and snowstracts...
We woke up early this morning and went for a walk in the snow.
Our favorite park was so peaceful and quiet...

Spools and bobbins

Don't you just hate it when in the middle of sewing you run out of thread on the bobbin, or worse you run out of thread on the spool or can't seem to find the right color, preferably at 9:00 in the evening when all stores are closed. I find it so disruptive, having to wind a new bobbin while in the midst of a seam or having to run to the store when you were about to start on your freshly cut fabric. I try to anticipate, but it does not always work out that way.

Anyway, in an attempt to 'organize' my bobbin and spool collection, I use these plastic containers and boxes now. I'm not a big fan of plastic containers in general. I find them highly unattractive. But in this case there's something about them I like. The bobbin holder, for instance, I believe, is really cool. It's abstract art almost. The different colors arranged randomly in neat rows - pieces of thread sticking out stubbornly, capriciously, trying to reach out, to tangle up with the other ones. The box wins however, with every single one of the bobbins stuck in their very own spot.

And I moved my spools of thread to this plastic tub, which came with a new laundry detergent I tried. Before, I kept them in a tin can and little boxes and baskets here and there. It would take forever to find the right shade. With this tub, no longer. All it takes to see what's on display is a little shake. It's not as nice as these lovely wooden peg spool holders you put against the wall, but it works for me and it doesn't take up as much space. I have another one of these tubs almost empty, which I'll probably use to keep my bias tape and ribbon collection.

So, how about you? How do you keep your bobbins and spools organized?

50% Eiffel Tower

This picture was shot on 11.11.11 but it might as well have been today.
Grey and foggy weather but still very mild.

I wonder what the lines look like right now, under the Eiffel Tower at the ticket boots, as visibility is pretty shallow...
Like this it looks like it's still under construction -
as if the fog took us back into time.
If it weren't for the satellite dishes, that is...

Echafaudage

or scaffolding: a temporary structure used to support people and material in the construction or repair of buildings and other large structures. (Wikipedia)

And they make a great subject for the abstract or not so abstract photograph...

An afternoon through the lens

When I asked M. what she'd liked to do for the afternoon yesterday while little sis was gone to a birthday party, she said "I want you to teach me how to use the camera". She was referring to my old camera, my Nikon D40, the first DSLR I ever bought. I use a D90 now, but held on to the the much lighter D40 for special purposes and to teach my kids one day. Well it seems like that day has come.

M. new exactly what she wanted to do - walk around the neighborhood and take pictures. So, off we went, both equipped with a camera. The afternoon flew by. It was fun and interesting at the same time, in the sense that even though you walk on the same street, you see different things or the same things differently. I really liked our little photographic experiment and I hope there will be more to follow.

As for now, I'm really proud to show you a couple of the shots my eleven year old made.

She's got talent and a good eye, if you ask me...

Wishing you a happy Monday,

P.

ELEVEN!

Today!  

Really!? 

When did that happen? 

Overnight, it feels like...

She's growing up fast, our sweet baby M. ...

Wishing you a splendid birthday, my dearest big girl M. ... 

 

xo, Mommy

Lotus :: ctd

Remember the lotus seed pods from a while back?
That's what they look like now.
I can't tell which version I prefer, but there's certainly something about them right now...

Old and crumpled, a bit stubborn but proud.

I hope I can grow old like that...

Lotus seed pods

I bought these lotus seed pods earlier today as a reward for a day of hard working. It wasn't until I put them in a vase that I realized the incredibly photogenic nature of these pods. There wasn't time for an extensive photo shoot, but I do like my snap shots.

I hope I'll find a little bit more time though, this week, to take pictures of small projects I've been working on.
But first I need to make sure big girl M. has everything ready for her upcoming school trip...

Wishing you a great and productive week,

xo, P.