Thankful

Sometimes you are having a bad day and it is dragging and suddenly someone sends you an email, and all the negativity of the day is gone and you are just really thankful. Yesterday, Betty thought I should receive The Versatile Blogger award. So here it is, in its full green glory - very cute. I have been thinking lately a lot about the blog, should I carry on, is it worth it? Does anyone care? And then an award given by a fellow blogger suddenly makes it all worth it.




With this award comes a couple of rules, including sharing 7 things about me. I already did the HUNDRED post, and there are quite a few bits and pieces about me there, but I thought it would be fun to talk about my 7 addictions.

1. I am a yarn and fabric addict. My hobby room is getting really full. But I love it.. One day, all of this stash will be making fabulous projects. Time is what I need - anyone has found out how to make days longer (48 hours would suit me).

2. I am a books addict. I have just signed up to our loval library, because I cannot actually have more books in the house.

3. I am crime TV series addict - I already referred to my Hercule Poirot obsession (not in any weird way), but I could add Midsommer murders, Lewis, Luther, Spooks, 24.. Perfect for knitting.

4. I am a sleep and food addict. It is quite simple I am in a real foul mood if I have not slept or had no food. I go quiet and cannot concentrate on anything else, and I get quite angry - basically you don't want to meet me when I am like that.

5. I am a skiing addict. I love it. Since I am 3, I only missed ONE skiing season. I have had a major accident 15 years ago, and it has not changed anything.

6. I am an email/internet/facebook/social network addict. I have friends in different countries, and this is the greatest way to keep in touch with them - or 'meet' like-minded people (through the blog for instance).

7. I am a chocolate addict. BUT not a fan of chocolate cake. I don't like it - don't know why. Currently in my drawer are awaiting some Lindt chocolate, dark chocolate and Chunky KitKat... Hmmm..

So I promised last week an outfit post. This has clearly not happened. There is a couple of VERY good reasons for this. First of all, we were super late for the party, and could not take picture before and then, well I was in no state to have my picture taken. Secondly, I am doing an interior design course (8. I am a learning addict) and module 4 was due today, I had to finish the drawings yesterday.

So will there or will not be any post about the outfit? There will be at some point this week. M needs to help out (ie take pictures), but for the time being here are the different bits and bobs composing the outfit.

Dress for Coast; Bag from Topshop;

Bangle from Oasis;

Scarf/Shawl by me -

jardin des plantes pattern La Droguerie

I LOVE the scarf. I am quite honest about the successes of some of my projects, and this one is a clear success. I was slightly peeved when I realised that PurlBee had a very similar pattern as the one from La Droguerie (for free) but then I would not have had that amazing yarn. More on the project to come this week.

So the next step is to spread the Versatile Blogger word - I am able in turn to award it to 15 of my favourite blogs... Expect some email to come guys!

Inspired by a Paris quarter (or an outfit progress)

I finally managed to go to La Droguerie. I keep reading French bloggers telling me they bought their yarn, patterns, fabric etc from La Droguerie (and seeing beautiful being created). But you cannot really buy their stuff online - arrghhh. It has frustrated me for a bit of time now. So I had to make a detout on my way back from today's conference - and I managed to find the shop and yarn for a shawl (to be worn at the Xmas party?). The pattern (name) jumped at me, Le Jardin des Plantes - or where my Dad stayed when he was a student in Paris, in my favourite part of Paris. It was a sign...

Je disais donc qu'à lire tous vos blogs me vanter les laines et autres projets de la Droguerie, il me faillait moi aussi y aller pour faire mes achats - ce que j'ai finalement fait ce soir après ma conférence. Il me fallait une étole pour la Xmas party (celle dont je ne fais que parler en ce moment) - et j'ai trouvé le modèle avec le nom idéal - l'étole en dentelle Jardin des Plantes. Le Jardin des Plantes étant où P'pa a fait ses études (enfin dans le coin) et mon endroit préféré à Paris.. C'était un signe.. et me voilà repartie toute contente avec un livre de la Droguerie - (au cas où je ne reviendrais pas à Paris de si tôt) - ma laine, et mes aiguilles..

La Droguerie has an 'interesting' system going on. You have to wait for someone to serve you, and then you buy your yarn by the weight (literally they weigh it while they make it into a cake) according to the pattern that you chose ... The pattern required a mix of alpaga and 'plumette' (like kid silk). You can see the yarn is a mix of pumkin orange (Garance) and cherry red (Cochenille) - which should hopefully give the illusion of burnt orange...

Vous connaissez sûrement le système de la Droguerie.. moi non. Mais je suis très contente avec mes pelotes, toutes prêtes, d'alpaga (en garance) et de plumette (cochenille) - le tout devant donner ma couleur 'burnt orange' pour ma tenue de soirée pour la Xmas party.


All in all a very successfull first trip to la Droguerie - and only 8 days to knit the shawl - and I am not a fast knitter.. Focus, I need focus... Can I make it? Any tips on knitting faster?

Bon ben voilà, il n'y a plus qu'à... en 8 jours.. Si vous avez quelques conseils pour tricoter plus rapidement, je suis preneuse..