Places to go
Alive and very well in China. I have eaten eighteen kinds of dumplings in one meal, climbed the Great Wall and seen more umbrellas (parasols, maybe) in the last five days than in my entire life. And the trip isn’t quite half over.
Wonderful people (my fourteen traveling companions are all wonderful) and beautiful placess to see. But enough words-here are some pictures.
Seven Material Girls drove all the way to Chanhassen on March 12 to listen to Christopher Straub, a Shakopee resident, of Project Runway-Season 6 fame. He entertained about 30 of us with an informal question and answer format and had a great drawing for two of his handbag designs. None of the Material Girls won 😦
Christopher is now designing bags of all kinds and will also have a new line of garments to show at MN Fashion Week.
The Sampler will be hosting Valori Wells, a fabric designer for Free Spirit, on May 19th from 5-7 pm. Cost is $30 and they’re promising more great giveaways.
After riding in an airplane and a shuttle van, I was dropped off at an unassuming corner across from the Puyallup (pew wallop) Fairgrounds. As I began a weekend of people watching it seemed that quilters were in the majority and garment sewists the minority at the Sewing and Stitching Expo. To add fuel to the fire I saw a woman wearing a hat which made it look like she had a scissors stuck through her head. But then I kept looking and slowly but surely I started to see people wearing clothes that were handmade. On Saturday I spotted two young designers.
Friday I took a class from Marcy Tilton about Paris influences in her sewing. Some of her slides were from our trip in November. Saturday noon I sat outside eating a crepe filled with Nutella just like in Paris. The cherry trees are blooming.
And then there were the many, many vendors and their displays. So much like what I saw in Paris.
Although no one would call it the Eiffel Tower, the old bridge that we crossed on our trips between the motel and the Expo reminded me of it. The runway shows were full of creativity and ideas and people! There was gorgeous fabric and must-have notions everywhere. I WILL fit into my suitcase and I can’t wait to get home and sew!
The fairgrounds had great food-fresh raspberry scones, BBQ, gyros and crepes. People were wonderful-all manner of sewing sisters, best sewing buddies, mothers and daughters and even the occasional husband/wife team.
I’m thankful for my sewing buddies, especially Cheri, who has been a great driver, Kathy, Sandy and Marcy and Katherine, without whom I probably would never have dreamed of attending the Expo in Puyallup.
It was almost like Paris-OK-there were some similarities.
But Paris didn’t have Mt. Rainier.
Enjoy the pictures.
Yet another wonderful day in beautiful Paris. The day looked like yesterday, which was warm, but it was decidedly cooler.
We headed over to the Sunday flea markets-a great mix of antiques, junk and the button guy! I mixed and matched until I got what I wanted to have and matched my budget.
By then fingers and toes needed warming. The potty break included the first squatty potty but, oh, the chocolate was good!
The second flea market had fresh produce, seafood (sold by the fishermen that caught them) and scarves.
We took a bus back to the hotel to warm up and add layers. Then a bus to the Arch of Triumph. Parisiens, and all of us tourists, have a way of spending their Sundays. Everyone was out, the dogs, the kids and their scooters, the grandparents and teenagers. Many Christmas decorations are lit and the ferris wheel was taking passengers.
Four of us walked all the way back to our “neighborhood” stopping for croissants and sweets. I was feeling confident in my French and asked for “deux croissants”. The nice young man got a big smile on his face and said, “English?” I told him American. I guess I can’t fool anyone. He told me America was better than Paris anyway. I told him it was all beautiful. And it has been beautiful and the French people have been wonderful. I have made great new friends on this trip.
This “Paris Tilton” trip has been the perfect way to start the second half of my century here on this planet.
Almost forgot-we had dinner at the restaurant featured in “Something’s Got to Give” last night and they sang Happy Birthday” to me. Tres bien!
Home tomorrow.
Hopefully this will go better tonight but I’ve just been to the local wine shop and tasted a few plus having a glass with my purchases from today- goat cheese and a whole wheat pretzel looking bread with raisins. I’m finishing the glass of wine with chocolate.
Today was a perfect day for me. It started with a bus ride to the D’Orsey Museum. It’s got mostly Impressionist art. I discovered artists I didn’t know of before. It was a very alive place with many school groups.
We proceeded to the Bon Marche (yet another large shopping mall) where I joined up with my new friend, Brown, and proceeded to spend an hour in the amazing grocery area. Clothes I have a hard time shopping for but give me a grocery store and I have no problem. It’s such a great way to see how everyday people live. Of course, this grocery store was equivalent to nothing I’ve seen in the States. Think Kowalski’s times ten. Fresh seafood, poultry, bread, deli and gift items galore. My 10 euro gourmet grocery bag is my prized possession!
After today, I can really see why people love Paris. We sat and had a simple tuna on toast salad-sitting outside, yet again and getting typical Parisien service from our waiter. No one has been impatient or rude to us even tho we are a group of twelve or so. I have never felt unsafe although I think I’ve experienced most of the scam artist tricks by now. The day was very mild and the sun was out for most of it. We walked to Notre Dame and walked right in- no lines. Then walked along the Seine to Ile St. Louis and ate magnificent ice cream and drank tea. The island of St. Louis was noticeably more quiet. Beautiful, and the sun was setting.
A solid walk back via Rue de Rivoli and Opera, my own private wine tasting with my grocery purchases and I call it a magnificent day in Paris. Tres bien!
Sitting in the hotel lobby with my wine and chocolate. Tuesday was great trip to a flower making atelier. Such a wonderful place, family business with clients like Dior but the owner spoke like he was one of us-in French of course. And original petal cutting forms.
We have seen so many beautiful clothes and eaten great food. I went inside St. Paul’s church today-first church.
This blogging from my iPhone is proving a bit difficult or maybe I’m just tired. So here are a few pictures to tell the story.
A bientot!
So this wonderful trip has begun-it’s Tuesday morning and we’re up early to take in the Eiffel Tower. Sunday was a lovely boat ride on the Seine. My roommate is fun.
Monday was a trip to the Little Black Dress shop and a lecture from its classic French woman owner, shopping at Monmartre, an old notions and hat shop, French shoes and a wonderful dinner at a local’s favorite restaurant.
A bientot!
Material Girl Sewing 