La vie en Rose

 My French Flower

My obsession with flowers continues to bloom!

I can now create beautiful silk flowers in the age-old technique of French flower making, thanks to my class yesterday with milliner artist  Jan Wutkowski. 

Jan flew all the way out from North Carolina to teach

French Flower Making at

 Lacis Museum of Lace and Textiles in Berkeley, California. 

 I always thought I would have to travel to  London or Australia to learn the secrets of traditional French flower making.  Thanks to Lacis and Jan's class, I now have the tools and secrets to create beautiful silk flowers in the French tradition. 

 French Flower Making

with Jan Wutkowski

Jan is an American milliner who trained at the Melbourne School of Millinery in 1995.  She has been designing and making hats since 1996.  Today she is not only is a milliner and teacher but also owns A Muse in Wilmington, North Carolina. 

Over lunch with Jan, I had the chance to get to know Jan the designer.  I was rather curious where her love for hats began and interestingly enough it began with her love for vintage jewelry.  Well, that makes perfect sense...vintage jewelry, hats, gloves all from other glamorous eras.   I loved hearing her stories about her brides and the one-of-a-kind hats she creates for the them. 

Of course, I couldn't wait to ask Jan if hats and fascinators are more popular today due to the Royal Wedding.  Jan quickly told me that fascinators can be many different things in millinery and they have been around a long time.  Yes, the Royal Wedding has made millinery more popular here in America but Jan is always busy with her clientele.  She not only designs beautiful bridal millinery but keeps very busy with her "Kentucky Derby ladies".

As a designer, Jan spends her calender year with the first half creating beautiful hats during the busy bridal, garden and Derby season.  The second half of the year, she travels around the country (and the world) as a milliner teacher. 

My Silk Fabrics

The French Flower Making class began with a nice introduction from Jan.  Next Jan asked us to introduce ourselves and talk about our interest with flower making.  It was so neat to hear every ones story.  Most students were from the Bay Area.  A few, like me, travelled a few hours for the class and one young lady came all way from Mexico!  Most of the students were involved in millinery and fashion and some students just loved hats.

For me, I am not quite sure where this path will lead me.  I am somewhat interested in trying to combine the flowers with my knitting.  Then again, I love hats and vintage so I might just end up embellishing hats and making brooches.

 French Flowers

To create our flowers, Jan taught us the process in the traditional French method using heat tools. 

 The first step was preparing our fabrics and then letting them dry during our lunch break.  After lunch we cut flower petals for creating beautiful roses.  Next we learned how to use our heat tools and shape our petals.  By the end of the day, Jan showed us how to assemble our flowers and everyone finished the class with a beautiful rose!

Jan had told us early on in the day, that even though we all started out with the same pattern and instructions, each of our flowers would be unique.  She was so right.  I was so amazed at every ones fabric combinations and their beautiful results. 

Lacis

I had so much fun taking this class. 

Thank you to Jules Kliot, the owner of Lacis for bringing Jan out to the west coast and for all your amazing supplies and resources! 

 Lacis has wonderful supplies for knitters, too.  I was so thrilled to find two handbag purse handles I've been searching for (even in England) and a hard to find Japanese crochet book.  Of course, I also came home with flower making books and supplies, too!

Lastly, Merci to Jan for sharing her knowledge of

French Flower Making

and for helping keep the craft alive!

Sew Crafty!

Feeling Crafty!

I haven't been knitting much but...

I have been crafty!

Lately, I'm obsessed with flowers
and
Liberty of London prints!

Sew Crafty

I was pretty excited when Liberty of London and Target teamed up last year.  Let's just say, with Liberty at  Target prices, I stocked up on a lot of scarves.  I'm so glad I did because now I'm getting "crafty" with them.

For my recent trip to London I put together a Liberty ensemble to wear to tea.   I jazzed up my Liberty for Target basic scarf with a cute pom-pom trim and now it looks like it came from a London high-street shop! 

I also upcycled  another Liberty for Target scarf into a big ruffled flower that I can wear as a hair pin or brooch.  I can even pin it on some ruffly tulle and it makes a darling fascinator! 

Ta Da!

I can tell you now, that nothing beats wearing Liberty of London in London!

Of course, I had to wear my Liberty ensemble the day I went shopping at Liberty of London.  The Liberty ladies on the Haberdashery Floor all recognized my accessories made from their famous Liberty prints. 

I also wore my Liberty ensemble to the adorable tea room High Tea of Highgate in Highgate Village (outside of London) and the owner Georgina noticed my Liberty of London accessories, too.  I loved that and loved the tea room, too!

And yes...

I wore my Liberty flower as a fascinator to tea! 

Searching for Sophie!

 That Scarf!

On my recent trip to Paris,  I went searching for French designer

Sophie Digard's exquisite crochet scarves. 

I was seriously ready to splurge on one but never had the chance. 

I did email the Sophie Digard website before my trip inquiring on Paris retailers but didn't receive a reply.  So I was left on my own searching for Sophie's scarves in Paris and came up empty handed.

I did have a Sophie sighting in London though before arriving in Paris.

I spotted a lady with a beautiful and colorful crochet scarf at London's Portobello Road Antique Market. 

I stopped her to compliment her and ask her if she made her scarf?  She was so thrilled to have her scarf admired and proudly told me "I bought it an expensive boutique in Sweden".
I knew immediatley it just had to be a Sophie Digard scarf...

and, of course, it was!

I Can do That!

So now my latest idea is to crochet my own scarf  inspired by a Sophie Digard scarf. 

I've been searching on Ravelry for pattern ideas and  now I'm obsessed with Japanese flower scarves. 

 My Ravelry friend Teresa in England is crocheting Japanese flower scarves and suggested I check out Lucy's Attic24 blog for inspiration.  Thank you, Teresa!  Lucy's blog is very inspiring...so inspiring, she has a fan club of over 4,000 members (including me now) on Ravelry in the We Love Lucy group. 

I'm hoping to go to Japantown in San Francisco soon to buy some Japanese crochet books.  In the mean time, I picked up this I Taught Myself Crochet kit to help get me started. It's been over 40 years since my Great Grandmother G.G. taught me how to crochet a granny square. 

Wish me luck! 

PS:  I've just discovered that my favorite yarn store in London, Loop is carrying Sophie Digard scarves and accessories in their online shop..so you don't have to go all the way to Paris, afterall.


(Top photo credit Sophie Digard Creations)

Mollie Makes

 Mollie Makes Issue Two

There's nothing I love better than a cup of tea

and a new magazine!

Mollie Makes is my favorite new British magazine.  This adorable magazine has taken the crafting and publishing world by storm.   

 Issue Two hasn't even hit the US stands yet but I already own it. I just couldn't wait...so I ordered Issue Two online from my favorite yarn store in London, Loop.  It was worth every penny spent on shipping to be ensured I received it and its cute little Flower Felt Kit, too. 

 Inspired!

I like Issue Two even better than Issue One. 

I love the sweet and vintage inspired cover project, Strawberry Pincushions by Eirlys Penn.  The magazine not only gives you clear directions on how to make them but also a neat little history  "The Story Behind The Strawberry".  Love that and can't wait to make them!

You can read more about EirlysPenn at her website http://www.scrapiana.com/. 

Issue Two is also filled with pages of inspiration for crafting, collecting and thrifting.  I love staying "in the know" with the wonderful blogs and cute shops that Mollie Makes shares with us.

 Feeling Crafty?

Everyone loves a "freebie" including me!

One of the neatest things about British magazines is that they often include a free gift!  On my trips to England, I've snagged British magazines with free gifts including an Anya Hindmarch change purse and Cath Kidston pouches and bags. 

Mollie Makes is including a free little-crafty kit with every issue.  Demand has exceeded supply so some issues have not include the free-gift.  I didn't want to miss out on the free-gift with Issue Two so that's why I ordered it from Loop.  I can't wait to get crafty now and make some felt flowers!

 Vintage Chic

The granny square is re-born! 

Another reason I'm excited about Issue Two is Jane Brocket's Starburst Flower Crochet Blanket.  Jane's pattern is from her new book The Gentle Art of Knitting and the pattern is included in the magazine.

I haven't made granny squares since my G.G. (great-grandmother) taught me how to make them when I was a little girl.  I love how they've made a comeback and I can't wait to try my hand at crochet again.   

Jane Brocket says  "This blanket made from "starburst flower" squares was inspired by the many granny square blankets I have seen on blogs and in magazines, as well as the actual crocheted blankets I saw as I was growing up".

I couldn't wait to have my Mom pull out my G.G.'s Granny Square Blanket (vintage 1960's) so I could use it for this photo shoot!

 How Does Your Garden Grow?

I used to do a little embroidery work as young girl, too.  My mom still has the flour-sack towel tucked away that my G.G. taught me my very first embroidery stitches. 

I haven't embroidered in ages except maybe for a few French knots here and there.  Seeing Charlotte Lyons beautiful embroidery work in this issue, just might change that. 

You can find out more about Charlotte at her website http://www.charlottelyons.com/. 

Bath

Lastly, I love the article Why You Should Visit Bath!  Trust me...one does not need a reason to visit Bath.  It is one of my favorite cities in all of England to visit!  

On my recent trip to Bath in May, I visited Wool, the wonderful knitting emporium.   Wool's owner Laura referred me to The Makery where I picked up the premier issue of Mollie Makes. 

Here's a list of some of my other favorite places in Bath:

Jane Austen Center & The Regency Tea Room, The Pump Room, Sally Lunns, Cath Kidston, The Royal Crescent, Roman Baths, Bath Abbey, Pulteney Bridge, Brora, Rossiters of Bath, Jamie Oliver's Italian, Whittard of Chelsea, Tilleys Bistro and HRH Highgrove Shop.

Now that I've discovered Mollie Makes I bet I'll be adding even more places that I'll want to visit on my next trip across the pond! 

Issue Three of Mollie Makes is now out in the UK.  It typically gets to the US about a month later...
I'm not sure I can wait that long!

British Wool

Cotswold Sheep

(I walked amongst the sheep on a Cotswold foot path!)

It's an American knitters dream "come true"
to spend any time in Great Britain. 

I was fortunate to spend 10 days last month travelling through England and Edinburgh, Scotland.  Besides having tea nearly everyday (my other passion) I also filled my time with British wool and shopping. 

Many have asked about my trip. I will certainly be writing about my travels and sharing my shopping secrets with you through out the year.

For now, here are a few of my favorite photos...

I call British Wool.

Little Man

Adorable little man in his "little wool suit" spotted at Portobello Road antiques market in London. 

Why, oh why, didn't I bring him home? 

Wool

Adorable yarn shop Wool in Bath, England. 

The gracious owner Laura even told me where to get my hands on
the Premier Issue of Mollie Makes .
 Thank you, Laura!

Classic British Wool

Never tire of the British classics....

cardigans and cables were everywhere!

Shetland Wool

Shetland Wool spotted at the hip yarn shop K1 Yarns 

in Edinburgh, Scotland.  Loved this shop and will write about it soon.

Fabulous Fair Isle!

There's nothing better than shopping for fabulous Fair Isle

on Edinburgh's Royal Mile.  Yes, I brought home a few scarves!

Yorkshire Wool

Since I have Pontefract, Yorkshire roots,

this local Yorkshire yarn came home with me.

Purchased at Ramshambles "in the Shambles", York, England. 

It was so fun to "talk shop" with Katey, the owner.  She had recently been to a trade show in Warwick and was seated next to Debbie Bliss at dinner!  Talk about true-bliss!

Lambs-Wool

And lastly, there were even adorable lamb mugs spotted at the

Emma Bridgewater factory in Stoke-on-Trent, England.

I had the most delightful day at the Emma Bridgewater factory.  I even met Matthew Rice (owner, designer, author, artist and husband of Emma Bridgewater).

Matthew was so kind to take time to chat with me.  I seized the opportunity and told Matthew to please put in a word with Emma about "knitting theme" mugs.  I know there is a Campaign for British Wool and I think it would be fabulous to see some Emma Bridgewater mug designs promoting British Wool and knitting. 

And here's the best part....I asked Matthew if Emma knits.  Matthew told me that Emma was in the knitting industry years ago and worked for the company that did Lady Diana Spencer's famous jumper (sweater) during her engagement to Prince Charles.  Oh my gosh...love this story!

So, maybe there's a chance that Emma will design a mug for us knitters someday! 

Parlez-vous francais?

 le magazine

(the magazine) 

 I brought home from Paris,

the Mai-Juin (May-June) issue of Marie Claire Idees.

I found out on my trip to Paris last month
that the French are very crafty! 

Oui, I do have a French name but je ne parle pas francais
(I don't speak French)  let alone read it.  When it comes to this beautiful magazine though, you don't have to be able to read French to enjoy it. 

Just like everything in Paris, this magazine is filled with beautiful images and inspiration. 

Here's a look inside...

and please pardon my French! 

Effet couture

Creation pour une table gourmande!

I love this pretty ribbon embellished table cloth project and loved seeing my favorite patisserie
 Le Saint-Honore de Laduree in the photograph!

Throughout le magazine the photo stylists have used patisseries
and macaroons from Laduree.  Love that!

 les macaroons

 Idee Broderie = Idea Embroidery

I discovered while shopping at the Paris department stores that the French love needlework.  Along side the yarn departments were always embroidery and needlepoint departments. 

You can purchase this as an apron kit at Maire Claire Idees online. 

 Terrain de jeux

Idee Tricot = Idea Knitting

Since I'm a knitter...I adore this bebe (baby) blanket! 

I love how it's edged with de bias (bias trim). 

The pattern is in the magazine and its supplies are available at
 La Droguerie.  I loved this store and will tell you more about it soon. 

I can tell you that French crafters love
de bias Liberty (Liberty bias trim)
 and I stocked up for some French inspired projects
that I saw at La Droguerie!

 Atouts coeur

bebe= baby

coeur = heart

Trop chou, cette idee de layette!

Ooh, la, la, a bebe (baby) layette knit in
 fils a tricoter de La Droguerie qualite Alpaga (Alpaca). 

The pattern is also in the magazine and supplies available
at La Droguerie.

Mauve nacre

Devant la fantaisie d'un collier, le plus ouvert des decolletes peut redoubler de mystere.

I'm in love with French bijoux (jewelery)!

 collier = necklace

Supplies:  Rubans (Ribbons) from Mokuba (a Paris store on my list that I didn't get to) and perles, apprets, fleurs (flowers) broderie and  appliques available at La Droguerie. 

I picked up some pretty velvet butterflies (see top left of photo) at La Droguerie to embellish a craft project or beret, perhaps?

 Choux a la creme

patissiere parfumee

choux a al creme = cream puffs

Le magazine also has recipes, beauty tips and more. 
Everything a "wanna-be French girl" could want!

Le Gateau

d'Anne-Claire Petit 

What an adorable gateau (cake) for
Marie Claire Idees 20th Birthday issue! 

crochetee coton = crochet cotton

Oui, the pattern by la designer Anne-Claire Petit is in the magazine.  I would love to whip one up....
guess I better sign up for French lessons after all!

Bon Anniversaire
(Happy Birthday # 20)
Marie Claire Idees!

Ooh, I Could Do That!

Idees

(Ideas)

I am so inspired! 

I just returned home from the most wonderful holiday (vacation) in

England, Edinburgh, Scotland and Paris, France. 

Let me tell you...I saw so many cute shops and came home with so many crafty ideas! 

I took lots of notes and photographs that I will be able to share with you.

For now, I must tell you about the most adorable new craft magazine in the UK...

Mollie Makes!

Feeling Crafty

Mollie Makes premiered in the U.K. on May 12th and is flying off the shelves.  I know why. 

This magazine has a modern "fresh-look" and "vintage-charm" to appeal to "hip" crafters all over the world. 

 Mollie's motto...

Living & Loving Handmade. 

Mollie Makes is all about:  making, thrifting, collecting and crafting.  Right up my alley!

Here is a peak inside the magazine:

 Apple Jackets

How d'you like them apples?

Aren't these crochet apple jackets adorable?  I love their sweet vintage colors.  They are crocheted in Cotton DK yarn.

Mollie says " this is a very simple pattern using the most basic of crochet stitches". 

Being more of a knitter, I think even I could crochet these.  How about you?

 Dress Guard

I love to wear skirts

so how cute it this dress guard for riding your bike in your favorite summer skirt!

This is actually a crochet product featured in the magazine

by a Netherlands company, Simeli. 

There is no country in the world which pays so much attention to dress guards as the Netherlands does. 

I would love to see this trend take off in America...
I think my knitting friend Sheila could start it
since she rides her bike everywhere!

Knitted Bunting

I spotted buntings (banners) all over England. 

With the Royal Wedding still a buzz, there were Union Jack buntings everywhere.  I almost bought one until I read the label and saw that is was outsourced and made in China. 

I would rather have a hand-made bunting...hey, there are plenty on Etsy.  Or better yet, I can knit one like this adorable knitted bunting idea from Jane Brocket's new book The Gentle Art of Knitting. 

Mollie Makes is set to arrive in the US on June 9th in limited supply.  The first two issues appear to be sold out since new subscriptions begin now with Issue 3.  I think I better go sign up for a subscription.

Thank you, Laura!

I must say "thank you" to Laura the owner of the adorable yarn shop Wool in Bath, England. 

Thanks to Laura, I discovered Mollie Makes with a copy she had in her shop.

I went to the local book store in Bath and it was already sold out.  I went back to Wool and Laura referred me to another adorable shop in Bath, The Makery which had a few copies left.

I wish I could have stayed longer in Bath, England...

both shops were delightful.