La Minette Anglaise

Vente Noel

My friend Daniel (a very talented designer) and I decided to hold a little "Vente Noel" which started on Saturday and will run until the 23rd December, here in Paris.

By invitation only , you are invited to  peruse  fine contemporary Swiss  design in the form of a very clever and  neat storage system "Casier" by Daniel Baumann

Amusing "Origami" make-it-yourself objects by Samuel Perret and Joachaim Vogt

With a little English design thrown in too - Silver and enamel jewellery by me

Like a crazy lady, I spent two days drying slices of orange and apple to make sachets of Glühwein spices to sell, whilst Sonia, Daniel's beautiful and very organised wife, baked tons of Swiss Lemon Sablé biscuits. Both have been a great success!

Add metres and metres of home-made paper chains, the wonderful warming smell of Glühwein served in little china cups and it all makes for a wonderful atmosphere.

For an invitation, please leave me a message and I'll be happy to email you the details!

Little mirror box

Last year the kindest-man-in-the-world and I went to the Loire valley. We visited some beautiful chateaux including Château d'Ussé, said to have inspired 'Sleeping Beauty'

In between visiting amazing chateaux and eating fantastic food we went brocante hunting. The word 'brocante' gets me all in a fluster such is my love of rooting around in old junk.

We found one on a Sunday morning held in the grounds of Azay Le Rideau. At the bottom of a dusty cardboard box I found this little mirrored jewellery box in pieces.

After a little loving care, the outside is back in shape and I'm planning to re-line the drawer and inside with some pretty vintage material.

Too many little projects, too little time..

Needlepoint Cushion

Last year when I was looking for a job, I sent off a CV to a company I was really keen to work for. For good luck I drew a talisman on the back of the cover letter, sent it off and several months and one interview later I had a job!

This is a copy of the original drawing - I included lots of good luck symbols - shamrock, keys, wishbone, horseshoe and swallows.

Now I've started a needlepoint cushion using the same design, using black, white and red cotton. It's been nearly a year in the making mainly because I packed it away when we moved in June and only found it again at the beginning of this year.

So this is the work in progress. Hope to get it finished soon..