Tuesday 6 December 2011

Flying the Flag in Paris

Thank you for all your well wishes - I'm feeling a lot more my normal self (who shouted grumpy?) today.  Eyeballs aren't so sore and my back and chest don't ache when I breathe in.  Always a good thing.


So I'm back from a flying visit to Paris where it snowed!


Okay - so it didn't actually snow at all but I can dream can't I? Thanks to the magic of picnik effects I can add snow to the Eiffel Tower!  The weather was in fact very wet...it precipitated down most of the weekend...look, even the postcard stands near Sacre Coeur are holding umbrellas!


No special rain effects needed here, but it's December after all and I like the rain.  I was in Paris visiting my very good friend Deborah and hand delivering the Union Jack quilt I made for her daughetr Elicia...only I forgot to take any more photos and only have sneeky peek photos.  Duh.  I can show you the top before it was basted and quilted - taken back in May (yes, that long ago) at my mum's.


and here is a peek at it quilted...


 This quilt has been way too long in the making but Deborah's daughter loved it.  The central flag part was made using Liberty lawn cottons, which are so so beautifully soft and the border is pink silk.  I straight line quilted it after taking hours to unpick the stipple quilting, which I just didn't like.  I didn't over quilt it as I wanted it to remain beautifully soft and fluid.

I also sold this quilt to Deborah's friend Margot for her daughter - yea!


On Saturday morning we headed to St.Piere area near Sacre Coeur  where all the fabric shops are based and spent a couple of hours rummaging.  These are not designer fabric shops but if you like rummaging (I don't particularly) there are fabrics to be found.  Here's a selfie of me.  At this point, my feet ached and I was starting to go down with the lurgy!


We bought lots of fabric (I mean lots) at 10 euros for 3 metres and will be turning sow's ears into silk purses....fingers crossed.

I hardly took any photos as it was dark and gloomy...



and I was feeling awful and the weather was like this as I left...


but I caught up with a great friend, belly laughed until I ached and got re-acquainted with a city I hadn't visited for probably 15 years.  All the anxiety of leaving the little guy (and the big one) behind was worth it and as Arnie would say, "I'll be back!"

It's Achoura today - the 10th day of the New Year when bonfires are lit in the evening, children play drums and people eat dried fruit and nuts - a special day of celebration for children. 

I'll leave you with a photo of Zaki pulling a silly camera face, complete with scratches on his nose, on his way to school this morning - in traditional dress (over his normal clothes) with his 'tam tam' (drum).


19 comments:

Debbie said...

Sounds like a wonderful trip - love the quilt(!) and what a precious pic of your little one.

Pat Merkle said...

Well it looks like you still had a great trip, even though it was rainy and you were under the weather. I would say that Paris sounds like an exotic trip, but you live in Morocco! It had to be good to get back to Zaki, because he sure is cute!

Leanne said...

It sounds like a lovely visit, despite feeling poorly. I love both those quilts and your son is so cute!

Sarah said...

That's great that you did have such a good time, despite the lurgy... Paris looks amazing. Wee man looks cute too, bet he's going to have a great time with that drum!

Toni said...

Glad to hear you are feeling better! Zaki is adorable and I may be slightly jealous of your Parisian weekend. Your quilts look fabulous and how fun to be able to share them with your friend!

Anonymous said...

beautiful quilts! Paris is a great place to visit, I love going there. Great that you are up and about, lurgy free.

Canadian Abroad said...

Zaki looks so full of cheek and those drums make soooo much noise. Bet he had the time of his life! I shall wait for photos of the sows ear fabric. I am sure it isn't all that bad! Sorry Paris wasn't all you hoped due to lurgy and all, but sounds like you still fit in some very good times.

Katy Cameron said...

What, being sick turned you NORMAL on your recovery? Oh, man, how boring...

Paris looks like fun, despite the constant precipitation, and the quilts exchanged look beautiful.

Zaki looks distinctly fired up by the day's celebrations, I'm sure he had loads of fun with that drum!

Sheila said...

Superb pics even if some are faked!! How cute is that one of Zaki.

Betty said...

Thank you so much for your wonderful posts! You take me to places I've not seen in a good while as well as to places I'm likely never to visit (but wish I could!). The Union Jack quilt is marvelous and I'm itching to make the Russian Shawl quilt - after the holidays. The book containing the latter is grand and YOU introduced me to it so thanks there as well. Glad you're back safely and feeling better!

Catherine said...

Awww, Zaki looks gorgeous . Sounds like you had a lovely weekend despite the weather, but what a bummer coming down with the lurgey whilst your away

Ellie said...

Oh your wee chap looks soooo cute with his cheeky grin :)
I'm glad you enjoyed your break in Paris even though you were poorly and the weather was pretty rotten. You know it's been doing nothing but precipitating here for days now lol.
Your quilts are lovely - as usual.

Mrs Flying Blind... said...

I don't know what to comment on first!
Shame your weather was crap and it infected you - the quilts look so gorgeous and Zaki looking handsome as usual!
Look forward to seeing what Parisian beauties you make x

leanne can blog said...

Love your Paris photos- especially the enhanced eiffel tower.

Archie The Wonder Dog said...

I'm with Hadley - don't know where to start! I'm glad you're feeling better but sorry that you got the lurgy in the first place, particularly as you were on holiday! Congratulations on selling the quilt, I bet it was hard to let it go! Oh, and Zaki is such a cutie! Looking forward to seeing the fabric you got and what you make with it!

www.randomthoughtsdoordi.com said...

The weather might have been terrible, but everything is better in Paris. How many chocolate croissant did you eat for me?
Zaki is adorable and look sso happy to be dressed in traditional dress for Achoura.
I'm sure your friends daughter was over the moon for her new quilt. I can't believe you sold the pink quilt! I loved it so much. Such vibrant colors!

Jennifer Mathis of Ellison Lane said...

Such a great post- loved the pictures- glad you are feeling better- Zaki is adorable!

Anonymous said...

Paris ... mon dieu, I'm not envious at all, not at all!!! Sounds like you had a wonderful trip ;-)

How cute is your boy in that photo, haha. Love it. And I'm glad to hear you're feeling better. I've been dealing with a cold and woke up with a sore throat but I'm feeling better; it's like this cold is more annoying during the night than the day.

Anonymous said...

That blanket is beautiful! I really would love to be able to make something like this! Even a scarf ;)
Paris still looks beautiful though :)

Zaki Is adorable!

x