I was so irked when I couldn't find my sewing-materials vendor at the flea market this morning, but I still found some good finds, I believe.  A brown cotton dress (that is wrinkled already so I'll try to get a photo later because it's so sweet), a stack of embroidery-ready hankies (slightly stained but I think that gives them character), some paisley and squirrel fabric, AND a stack of vintage French playing cards!  The whole set!  I even have extra! (they're pictured at the bottom)

The cards at the top of this post are beyond me.  There are 21, and they're all numbered, and they all have 2 different scenes on them that I can't find any particular pattern to--tarot cards I thought but now I have no clue.  Anyone?

(Oh, and everything for 8 euros)

Yesterday I spent the afternoon sketching and finally was confident enough with a new pattern idea to fetch the supplies and stiched up this little guy.  Although I don't usually like showing the FIRST product from a pattern before I make adjustments, I think the roughness of him is kind of charming.  A friend thinks that his pink stitches on his brown fur gives him character.  Also he is important because I believe this is the basic pattern that I'll be sticking with for future Creep Mice generations, with a few minor improvements and some wonderful fabrics.... I'm thinking some lovely rich caramel velvet?  Well, we'll just have to wait and see!

There's not a cloud in the sky today (I have to say, I think I prefer some clouds to none), but the sun is wonderful and the temp is perfect.  To celebrate the weather Melissa and I had a little picnic on my balcony.  Baguette, chevre cheese, and I picked up a pack of raspberries (framboise) today for 1 euro!  They're in season over here, somewhere....

This past Wednesday I had a conversation with my phonetics professor about crafts in France.  She was talking about how it used to be very à la mode to tricote (tricoter = knitting).  I mentioned that it was still in style, at least at home, then she became nostalgic and told me how Montpellier used to be full of yarn shops but now there's hardly 2 or 3, and that crafts are such an expensive hobby in France.  Which of course has been quite frustrating for me in my search for affordable supplies just to play around with, but also I was glad to hear that I hadn't been looking at only the super fancy craft stores--where polyester stuffing costs 13 euros for a bag I can get in the states for $3.50. 

Anyway!  I've recently been saved!  Yesterday I received almost my own weight in fabric from home (thanks so much, Mom!) and also ventured out and treated myself to a new, recycled-paper sketch book, some smooth-writing pens, and also a wooden embroidery hoop... as you can see.

My doodle (since it was actually during a class I don't think I can call it a sketch necessarily), and final product are pretty elementary but it was very rewarding to just MAKE something.

Due to a lousy stomach (+ lots of fabric) I'm going to spend the day lounging and sewing so more to be seen here soon! 

Bon week-end!

First I want to give credit to this great "stamp print" done by Clearly Constructed Art Stamps, of a mad tea party.

Second, I'd like to share a fact I learned today about doilies.  They're little lacy code breakers!  Apparently there are two types : lace and linen.  A lace doily between a teacup and a saucer indicates that the coffee is regular, whereas a linen doily indicates decaf.  This way, servers knew which the customer took and could refill without interrupting table conversation.  Most important thing I learned all day.

This past Friday, we spent a bit of time in Palavas, a beach about half an hour bus ride from Montpellier.  It's too bad it was cloudy and windy, but we did get to see some flamingos, and the sea is always nice.

Saturday we woke up early to catch our 7:20 train to Paris, where we spent the day walking the Seine river, getting hailed on (only for like 5 minutes but that's even more bizarre!), and taking photos of Adam in front of important Paris monuments. 

So, I realize there's a lack of craft and toys news for an alleged "toy store" website... but I'm expecting an important package filled with materials, and have been thinking up so many ideas--I just can't act on any of them until I get home in May!  Oh well.  It's going to be good, and I promise some sort of crafty-related excitement this week.

Happy Easter!

(Oh, and today France has this Monday after Easter off, so if you're wondering why I suddenly have enough free time on a Monday to make 3 posts, that's why!)

Two Friday's ago I spent about 4 hours wandering through the seemingly hundred of rooms in Paris' museum of modern/contemporary art, Centre Pompidou.  It was probably one of the best museums I've ever been to, ever.  I tried to keep my photo taking to a minimum, because I think it's annoying too, but when there were toy or plush-related pieces I had to so that I could share!

This guy above is a giant dinosaur sculpture made of little toys himself.

The next two are by Louise Bourgeois (this wikipedia article isn't very good...the French one is better!), who not only had a few permanent pieces (like these ones), but a special exhibit in the top gallery... no photography was allowed up there, but I recommend doing some google-image searches if you're interested.  Unfortunately a lot of the pieces were so amazing because they were so huge and involved interaction (you could walk through them and look through peep-holes, etc).  But you can get a good idea, especially her soft sculptures of the human form.

This last photo reminded me of a gnome-addict I know and I thought it was charming enough--though probably not all that cozy.

Saw Adam off at the airport yesterday.  I woke up this morning--and with my eyes still closed--decided that today would be a great day to try and make acorn cookies.  Then I opened my eyes and realized I'd forgotten I was in Montpellier, without an oven.  Boo.

But I did see these little plush Eiffel Towers at the train station in Paris yesterday.  Excuse the blur, I took it while I was in motion since I felt funny (and perhaps like I was breaking some rule?) stopping and taking a photo inside the store....

I have a few more planned updates, including some highlights from the Centre Pompidou Museum of Art, and some pictures of the beach (with flamingos!).

Yesterday Adam and I just bummed around Montpellier.  Although it was windy, we went up to the roof of the Corum building and enjoyed some golden plums (or prunes in French), and enjoyed the view.  I also enjoyed the little love notes that were written in white-out all over the stone :

"Guilhem if you pass by here, you will know that I love you" - Chloé

Man, I've had quite a busy few past days traveling both the cities and country sides of France.  Friday and Saturday were spent in Paris.  Saturday and Sunday in Arles.  Sunday and Monday back in Montpellier for class, then last night and today in Lyon for an autechre concert. 

I only took a few photos and they're still not even uploaded yet so I'll share a few relevant videos.  First, in Lyon this morning we went to the "Musee Freres Lumieres" or the Lumiere Brothers' Museum.  These boys were by-definition inventors and also created cinema in Lyon.  Here's the first film EVER filmed by them :

The black and white, and Frenchiness of that reminded me of this little edited piece that I enjoy a lot and it's one of my goals, before I leave this country, to do this dance, somewhere!

Hello!

Unfortunately my lack of posts is consistent with the lack of aesthetically pleasing things happening in my life the past few days...

I've kind of fallen into the mind-numbing loop that is school, apparently even in France it can turn me into a zombie and my days into simply pages in my planner.

My internship at Radio FM+ has been really amazing lately though.  I've been doing a lot of "technique" or technical things, and even did the boards for the live music show on Tuesday morning which was great.  Hopefully they get a livestream up while I'm here so people (who are interested) can listen to my 100% in French show that airs twice a week here locally!

As you can see it was beautiful today!  This is a shot of the esplanade downtown which is notorious amongst my friends for being a wonderful place to people watch.... and snipe photos of sweet little French ladies :

Sometimes it's almost too much...