Ribbon, Sequins, and Patchwork...Oh My!

I don't know what it is about this year....maybe I'm just actually "living" in Paris instead of "being" here, maybe my friends are more active and social, or maybe I'm working more?  But I am constantly busy.  I miss sleeping in and laying around until 2 on Fridays.  ha!  

Thursday after school I met up with Didou at Parc des Expositions at Porte de Versailles.  Its a HUGE, meeting/conference/exposition building.  We were going to a loisirs et créatifs salon sponsored by Marie-Claire magazine and I had no idea what I was in for.  We walked in and were immediately greeted by 10,000 or so little old French ladies with tote bags and suitcases to carry around their goods.  It was set up like Christmas in the Country, or any exhibit space would be, except it went on as far as the eye could see.  

We could have stayed for a solid week in there and I would have been content.  Think a giant upscale Hobby Lobby with European prices.  

The room was abuzz with women asking questions about every art project under the sun and then in turn telling about what they have done and are so proud of.  We stopped at talked to a very nice lady who was helping about 3 people at a time.  One of them happened to be a slightly older lady, about 80, with no teeth and looked like she had been through a lot in her life.  Didou mentioned I was American and she immediately turned and said, "Qu'est-ce que tu fais ici?  Les Américans, ils ne font pas de jolies choses à la main."  (What are you doing here?  The Americans, they don't make pretty things by hand.)  I quickly moved on to tell her that my Granny has made far more quilts  and won more awards than she (that lady) will ever see in her lifetime and my Papaw is the best woodworker in Tennessee.  Although looking back on it, I should never disrespect an elderly French lady, that goes without saying....but I come from a particularly crafty family so I felt I should defend us.  

There were ateliers where you could enroll and learn how to use a certain product, such as these monogramming sewing machines.  

Aren't these little birdies cute?? 

I was particularly fascinated by the French "broderie" and picked myself up a cross stitch kit with a citron.  It's a kit which means the thread and needle are included, I just bought cross stitch frame.  I also got one from the most famous Les Brodeuses Parisiennes of some beautiful fraises, but that will come after I have a hold on what I'm doing again.  I haven't done it since I cross stitched a potholder with my Granny when I was 10 or so.  I gotta tell you, the pre-printed design on the fabric is a lot easier than reading the chart....

Isn't this cute?!  Cross stitch!

There were also design rooms for your inspiration and to let your creativity flow.  

There were sequins, buttons, scrapbooking stuff out your ears, "patchwork", fabrics, knitting, cooking, anything you could ever want to satisfy your hearts desires in the creative world.  It was lovely spending an afternoon with Didou, and I could tell it made her very happy to have me there.  I was glad she told me about it.  So glad, in fact, I went back on Friday by myself! :)

Have I mentioned to you guys that I'm going to Disneyland again tomorrow?  Yep, going to see the Christmas decorations with Laura and Rozy.  Not necessarily to ride rides, but to see Disney at Christmas with full on lights and ice skating and Christmas trees everywhere!  SO excited!