L'aiguille en fete Paris, Feb 2010

2 weeks ago I went to Paris for my God daughter's first communion. It was on the Saturday, and I was very lucky because this french show was happening at the same time. I left home a day early, on the Thursday, and spent Friday looking at quilts, embroidery, knitting...kits, fabric, ribbons, patterns, books.

Although books are more expensive in France than in England, because of some protection laws that are supposed to give more money to the authors, but then they sell less books because of their prices being so high !

I didn't buy much : some Liberty fabric that we couldn't name, some japanese jelly roll..

I got some ideas for things I want to make, just need the time.

There was also a speed knittng competition, very relaxed. Everybody could take part, including a teenager who had just learnt.

And there was some massive needles. On the photo below the pieces are on a sofa. The wooden needles would have been the size of my wrist roughly. Knitting becomes a workout.

There were 2 women from the Toft Alpaca with some beautiful alpaca wool. It made me want to start a hat.

I also saw a very interesting demonstration of painting on fabric with some stencils from The Stencil Store

I would like to make some bags using transat toile like the Cabana Creations people did.

And I discovered a man who makes beautiful buttons or pendants in ceramic called Rouge Petit Coeur. I bought a beautiful P on a heart, that I will use on a wallhanging.

Of course there were many more shops, these are just a bit different.

And I did a workshop, but more about this later as I have not finished the embroidery started that day. Isn't that typical.

Visit to Bath

On Saturday, DH, DD3 DD4 and myself spent the day in Bath, in England of course. The first objective of the day was to drop my sewing machine to be serviced in the Husqvarna shop. I must say I was very satisfied with the service. We left it in the morning and I had it back at 3 pm. It is now so much quieter.

The bits of thread and fluff that get under the bobbin and feed dogs can't be stopped, sadly. I shall try to clean that part of the machine more often,otherwise my empty bobbin indicator doesn't work anymore, until the next service of course.

We were hoping to visit the Fashion Museum, and the Asian Museum, but the shopping won.

Second stop was the patchwork shop "Country Threads" in Pierrepont Place. It's Alibaba's cavern, you could spend hours there...except the girls wouldn't have any of that. I managed to buy some fabric, admire some quilts, pick up some ideas for future projects.

Here are some photos taken on DH's phone.

There was a lot more shopping. Some tea and coffee in a shop were the girls were offered to smell the lid of jars: vanilla tea, chocolate coffee.. I thought it was a really good idea, as it got them interested at 11 and 8 years old.

And then we saw the windows of the All Saints shop, full of old sewing machines. I wasn't the only one dribbling in front. Sadly the photos are not so good because of the reflections.

Lots of shopping in California

Sorry I haven't posted last week, I was on holidays in the US. How cheap the fabric is there, about a third of what I pay here. Ibought another jelly roll and some fabric, several meters, for the price of the first item here.

And the shops are overwhelming in a way, if they provide all kinds of fabrics. But I didn't find really new books, except one I will show you later when I have done something from it.

So I visited at least 3 shops, with the girls moaning a bit in the background...they know me I'm not fast when there is fabric to be seen. I discovered the chain shops Jo Ann, with fat quarters at $1, that's 50p in England.

First there was "Stonemountain and daughter Fabric" in Berkeley. That's the overwhelming one, with 3 big rooms full of fabric, but not only for patchwork, as there is dressmaking material, dressing up, tablecloth, etc...

And here is a photo of the inside of the shop.

They have a lot of things, but as they are not specialised you might not find the notion you were looking for.

I bought some fabric and notions like these cute thimbles in plastic, some much needed curved safety pins to prepare my quilting, and a thread cutter.

I intend to make a skirt with the green fabric, so I bought 3 yards, no metres.

And here is "New Pieces" in Berkeley again. A patchwork shop this time, and very friendly too. There was going to be a class in the evening, and the lady running it showed me her latest work. Lots of fabric as well, and I succumbed.

There are 25 members of staff, and I guess it is a way to bring more interesting projects and classes to the shop. Amazing isn't it.

I particularly love the green with brown spots, and bought a matching brown fabric that you can hardly see in the back.

There are more patchwork shops in Berkeley, but we didn't visit them all, too many other things to do.

And then in Jo Ann I bought these.

The pink at the back was chosen by Daughter 2 for some clothing, to be decided later.

I found some japanese fabric remnants in Berkeley as well in "Thousand Crane", a futon shop with all kind of things japanese, and some fabric.

And as we went to Sonoma, in the Nappa Valley, I discovered a quilt shop by accident, and really enjoyed myself. It is called "Quilted Cottage"and they have so much fabric, and quilts on display, and nooks and corners with offers and ideas. Beautiful, I couldn't resist, and here is the result, although the photo doesn't give the true colors.

After that I stopped buying fabric, a bit worried about the weight of our suitcases, but we were fine.

I am a bit jet lagged, but I am dying to do some sewing now I'm back and there is food in the fridge.

Shopping in Bovey Tracey, Devon

During Easter week-end we went away to a cottage in Devon and had a very nice 4 days, although the weather wasn't perfect, far from it.

We went to Bovey Tracey, as I remembered a patchwork shop there (I have a selective memory as DH could tell you). It is called "Serendipity", and is very well furnished and welcoming.

As you can see I bought a few fat quarters, how to resist,

And then some bits of wool from "Blankits", and a bigger piece of fabric, there are so many things I can do with this... They also do some small kits for a wool heart, or bird, etc...

And some fat quarters of flannel,

And also a yoyo maker in the shape of a flower. It is amazing how small they turn up, compared to the original size of the fabric.

A few doors away is a wool shop "Spin a Yarn", with so many things again. I bought more sock knitting wool, to start a new pair as soon as I have finished the second sock of my current project.

The owner is a very nice lady, happy to help and to accomodate customers who need a bit of reflexion in front of her enormous choice.

And then a minute away on the other side of the road, along the river, is the craft centre, where artists can display and sell their products, be it jewellery, painting, sculpture, glass making, wood carving, ...and fabric crafts. Very inspirational.

So if you go down to South Devon, have a look at the town of Bovey Tracey.

And if you have the children with you, or not, you can visit the House of Marbles, with its amazing Marble runs.

Children and adults are fascinated.

Cheltenham Craft Show

On Friday 15th February I went to the Stitch & Creative Craft Show – at Cheltenham Racecourse .


I had been 2 years ago with my girls, it was then half term holidays, and bought some nice fabric, threads and seen demonstrations of spinning and weaving.


This Friday my 2 eldest had a teacher training day, so no school and I thought it would be a nice girly day out, as there was a lot for cardmaking, which they enjoy. But it's never that simple.


First they had to decide if they'd rather come with me or go ice skating or shopping with their friends. There was a point when they agreed one of them would come with me, it felt like they were going to be sacrificed.


At the end they both came, and we all enjoyed ourselves.


But I realised they got more attention than me when men, and especially young men were working in some of the shops. They are 13 and 12, nearly as tall as me, and I'm not getting younger I suppose.


Anyway back to the show, there was no fabric at all, apart from one shop. there was only one place that sold a bit of silk embroidery thread. There was a few knitting shops, and I did buy some balls to make more fun scarfs. All the rest was for cardmaking, and there was a few odd shops that sold a brush for hairy pets!!, a broom!!.

We shared the car with 2 friends who were interested in specific items for cardmaking, and they didn't find what they were looking for. They were also a bit disappointed.


There was still the weavers guild, patchwork and quilting guilds, knitting guild, and that was nice.


The only discovery was that there was a dried flower guild, and my 2 daughters made some key rings with dried flowers inside. They adore them.


So the only nice shop was Five Valleys Design. The lady had fabric, books and patterns from Amy Butler ( so nice but I resisted so far, but might go back to her website), and she had, between other things, Rowan knitting yarns and patterns. I bought 2 balls and have started my first sock...and I need to do a pair.


I am not sure the top will be very tight around the leg. We will see. I enjoy doing this.
The thread changes colour randomly creating the stripes. No thinking on my part, that's a bonus, I can knit in front of the TV, up to the point when I will have to do my first heel.

I'll keep you posted.

Quilting Bee shop, near San Francisco

While in America, dear Husband bought me some fabric in a shop, and he also took some photos for my blog.

Why are US shops so big, and our shops in Europe so small, be it France or England. Even the oldest shop in the centre of Paris would be tiny in comparison.

It means we get less choice as well for the fabric, and the prices are higher. Would bigger shops be better for their own business or have they no chance of surviving here.

I must say that I know a few people who will spend many hours working on a project, but will not invest in nice fabric. The result is not
as nice, but they don't want to pay the price of the fabric.

Look at this place, there are hidden corners with more fabric everywhere. It's paradise...

And at the end DH paid half of what I would have paid in Europe.

As we are going with all the family at Easter, I will have to make sure half my suitcase is empty on the way, and full when we come back.