Figurines kits by Helene Le Berre for the French Needle

I have wanted to work up my own kits for a while. it is a bit difficult to find small hand embroidery kits in my experience.

Of course, I grossly underestimated the amount of work and detail involved in such an endeavor.

It was fun, though. First I found a young graphic artist in France named Helene Le Berre. She has done several books I love…her work is fresh and retro-chic.

Helene drew a whole set of what she calls “figurines” ….a pastry chef, a teacher,a ballerina, about a dozen in all little figures.

I took over from that point and worked on the stitching and colors, presentation and printing of the fabric. I ended up in France for that as I could not find anyone in the U.S. and know they still do it in France.

My kits include printed fabric, needle, instructions and floss. I have used the most basic of stitches and I consider these little kits totally suitable for beginners.

la couturiere

a bicylette

the ballerina

the city girl - la citadine

the shepherdess la bergere

Anyway, I am a great packer. After so many long hauls I have honed my  minimalist packing skills to the Nth degree.

I can live three days off the contents of a small purse.  And even though I do usually check a bag ( I can’t stand to carry stuff),  everything will be worn. Twice. Whether it goes together. Or not.

I actually like it when the suitcase is lost as long as it is delivered within a few days to my door.

Lots of thought goes into the tiny soap, mini hostess gifts and pajamas which can double as outerwear. In fact, I pack so well that  when traveling with girlfriends I usually end up carrying half their stuff, which at some point will be a reason for me to change friends…

The one and only time I regretted my minimalist strategy was on an all night flight where I had not counted on Baby being tummy sick. She blew through her allotted diaper ration before the first drinks were served… Not good.

But now the kids are big, I am traveling alone to Paris and my main worry is that I NOT take anything I don’t need.  I am off to three back to back trade shows looking for  French Needle treasures….I am sure I will find many, but thank goodness for FedEx…..

September anemones

Surfing around the net these days I have discovered my newest and perhaps lamest obsession so far: Crowns and Tiaras…. I really do not care much about the British Royal family but find myself oddly obsessing  over which tiara is on whose head and for what occasion… Some of the papers report that the crowns are “loaned” and others say “given”…I do hope  at least the Royals are straight on it.

And the crowns  have names. The Halo Tiara, The Meander Tiara, The Russian Fringe Tiara…they are mostly very, very, lovely but for the odd, overdone colored stone one …not that I have anything against rubies or emeralds.  I just imagine wandering into the vault to choose the perfect one for the evening’s festivities…or perhaps to “loan” to the DIL..

Not  a chance in a million I will be near any diamond crown in the near future…. I think the closest I will get is something of my own devices… which brings us to the latest chart from Rouge du Rhin: Fiche Royal. Imagine my delight when the designer sent me a copy of this new chart filled with dozens of crowns, and fleur de lys… maybe there is a crown, or two, in my future…

Rouge du rhin Fiche royal chart and trousseau kitchen towel

Above is a “trousseau” kitchen towel stitched designs from the Rouge du Rhin Royal Chart.

11 pm june 26

Well something really fun about my life is I never know when I will end up in France….that was the case for an unexpected ten days zigging and zagging through Champagne, Provence, Normandy and Paris. And it all happily corresponded with the longest days of the year…The trip was for family business, business business, and plain family. It was fun, productive, and, of course, delicious. When I get my wits about me I will be sharing some of the new treasures, in the meantime, let’s chill, it’s summer.

nogent

bonnieux

la Croix Saint Leufroy

detail of soleil rose sophie digard scarf

No matter how many times I receive orders from Sophie Digard, when a new one arrives my heart beats faster.

Although I know Sophie designs flawless collections, many of the items I have ordered I have not actually seen made up before.

Sophie Digard accessories are custom made.

We choose design and color palettes and then they are crocheted on a custom order basis. There are so many many colors and designs that the selection is quite overwhelming.

And then they arrive… they are so beautiful that tears come to my eyes.  I remind myself : they are not all for me…but then I  have fun photographing them and  now and again adding to my little personal collection!

Anyway, some new ones came today and I hope you have as much fun admiring them as I do!

sophie digard geranium purse

macaron necklace

pastille minus pop detail

Gotham linen scarf

See the rest of the Sophie Digard items at the French Needle.

sajou box

The French  must have all been squirrels in their past lives.  They love packing things, putting little things into other little things, arranging things and generally squirreling their possessions.

And like everything else, they like to do so stylishly. Forget designer handbags; the french have specific pouches, pockets or cases intended for everything imaginable.  They even have special envelopes for their cloth napkins ( also a way to avoid washing them but that is for another post.)

Sajou needlework boxes are great for storing treasures.

Featured below are some little boxes made for socking away more little objects: pins, buttons, clips, you name it.

These come as kits, from Maison Sajou, and  include the little box and fabric and pattern. The floss is not included, but the amount needed is quite small. Best of all, they are very quick to stitch and then just glue and snap together. So fun to have pretty ways to squirrel!

sajou box kit

sajou boxes

To see more versions of these Sajou Needlework kits at the French Needle, click here.

I remember it like it was yesterday…we were on our way to visit some friends and I dressed myself in a glorious ensemble and completed the look with a snappy white wicker purse shaped like a turkey.

As I strutted  my four year old self to the door, I was met with blank stares from my mom and my Nana. It was  then suggested that I rethink some part of my outfit because Pink and Red do Not Go Together. And worst of all,  I was apparently  the last and only person  not to know this.

I was stunned, embarrassed , flummoxed…not only was it the prettiest color combination ever, but what were these elusive Color Rules no one had clued me in on?

Just last year, and mostly for convenience sake, I deemed that Navy and Black  together are downright chic. Can we all agree to abandon these silly rules which are keeping us from our authentic  color selves? All but the one about planting red and yellow tulips together, now that really is a crime.

pink and red roses

pink and red stitchery items

When I started the French Needle nine or so years ago it was all about needlework supplies.

Over the years it has morphed into something even closer to my heart. In my attempt to sniff out really beautiful materials for people to use in their projects, I have come across some amazing crafters who realize their products soup to nuts.

To make something beautiful with your hands is a really big and joyful part of life, no? For some it is musical notes, for some it’s words, for some it’s just thread or felt! It’s all good.

Here are a few photos of some of the handcrafted items from thefrenchneedle.com …

A man who spends his life making exquisite scissors, (more about him, later) a bevy of women in Madagascar who crochet like fairies, my son who patiently turns and polishes his little wood needle boxes. How fun is my job??

nogent scissors

Sophie Digard scarf detail

wooden needlecases

stamp quilt detail

I was so excited to get my “new” quilt in the mail today. This one has been eighty years in the making.

My mom grew up in a small village on the western slopes of Colorado. Her neighbor made this “stamp” quilt top for my grandmother when the neighbor was 91 (born circa 1860?!). I am not sure why it was never quilted.

My mom gave it to me recently and I sent it off to Mary, an amazing Amish lady, who has been finishing quilts for me for many years. (some things are better left  to the pros.)

The design, colors and workmanship of the quilt are fresh as I imagine they were in the 1930′s.

stamp quilt from 1930's

I wonder what  an archeological dig into my stash will uncover eighty years down the road…now that’s a scary prospect.

interloper at quilt photo shoot