Those crafty French

Well Paris was fabulous but you'd expect me to say that wouldn't you? One of the great things about the French is their fearlessness I think when it comes to trying something new. A few years ago when I first visited the Palace of Versailles there was an amazing Jeff Koons exhibition in the rooms of the main chateau. It was controversial at the time but it made a big impression on me.

Not to be beaten this time, there was a series of amazing installations by the Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos. Her work is pro feminist and uses many of my favourite techniques such as knitting and crochet, as well as materials I love like old doilies and tray mats. Here's a couple of snaps of some of my favourite pieces- crafty no?

There's a marble lion underneath all that lace!

I spent a good bit of Saturday trawling the flea market at Clignancourt, coming home with a 1937 and 1940 edition of French Marie Claire which I plan to re-craft into something else shortly. Here's a couple of snaps from the markets, well worth a visit if you ever get a chance.

Child's chair covered with Louis Vuitton fabric

Happy Monday everyone!
xx

Bons baisers de Paris

Bonjour mon bissums. That's the extent of my French so I'll just stop that carry on right now. Tomorrow I'll be leaving on a jet plane for a few days in Paris. I can only hope the grey skies and thunder storms of Edinburgh will give way to sun shine and general loveliness in the city of love.

Paris is a favourite destination of mine because even with only a few days, it's possible to feel like you've been on a true adventure and there will always be something wonderful to come back to next time. On my hit list this time are Chateau Versailles mainly for the gardens which should be looking super at this time of year. The other favourite haunt is the famous Les Puces at Clignancourt. This is the largest market in Paris and I've no doubt I'll be wiling away a good few hours there on Saturday. This market has proved a little overwhelming in the past but I'm going in with a renewed sense of purpose this time and hope to come away with some interesting little bits and bobs that the Bissums can put to good use back home.

The rest of the time is really up for grabs. There's no end of fantastic places to go in Paris but one of things I like best about it is just wandering around soaking it all in - coolness by osmosis? Perhaps not, but I intend to have a good time anyway! I always make a point of visiting Colette when I'm there but it's really just to have a sticky beak at all the impossibly cool and usually useless things they stock (fabric marker pens 'designed' by Stella McCartney anyone?). The other unmissable destination has to be the Art Nouveau rooms in the Musee d'Orsay. Some of my favourite objects in the whole world are contained in these rooms. I'm yet to figure out how I can smuggle an oak bed frame out of there unnoticed but I'll keep working on it.

So mon amis, here's wishing you a lovely weekend when it arrives and good crafting whatever you may be putting your hand to.
xx

Reckon I can get away with this get up for a trip to the flea market?