I hope everyone's still here, and that you didn't fall asleep when reading my answers yesterday, eheh ! Like for yesterday, I'm going to announce the name of the winner of tuesday's giveaway (earthy tones) right away, so that you won't wait till the end of the post.
Kirsten
congratulations, Kirsten !! yay for you ! I'll contact you ASAP for your personal infos.
thanks ! and good luck to everyone for the 3 other giveaways !
ready for a long list of questions / answers ? then, here we go again ! (I hope you have time behind you !)
What did you use to dye it ? what you'll make with the lovely grey !
... I used fresh eucalyptus leaves to dye the fabrics I showed last Tuesday, and the grey was obtained by leaving the fabrics in the dye in an iron bucket I don't know exactly what I'll use the dyed fabrics for, I'm still working on this, as these fabrics are rather light sensitive.
who was your favourite teacher is school ? What was she/he like ?
... well it depends in which school ! I've always been a serious & good little girl, and I kind of liked each of my teachers. This said, of course, when you grow up, there are some teachers you can't even bare LOL I admired a lot my English teacher (woman) when I was around 14 y-o, and really admired too my art teacher (man) when I was around 17/18. (no no, no crush, but he was an amazing person)
What food do you love so much that you would never get sick of eating it over & over again ?
... it has to be crisps. I know. Pathethic.
have you ever visited Asia ?
... no, I haven't, unfortunately.
what was the first handmade craft object that you remember making ?
... I think it must have been some kind of very simple dress for my Barbie.
Which blog is your very favourite ?
... this I can't answer, because I love too many ones, but my favorite ones are my friends' blogs.
What's your favorite fabric to use in your projects ?
... I love using linen & embroidering on linen. So, yes, I think it is linen.
what sort of natural materials are you planning on using for your next dyeing experiments ?
... well, I wanted to try dyeing with pine needles, but am not sure about it. I'd love to dye with something that is prolific during this season, so I'll have to think about it more before deciding.
if you had to live anywhere other than France, where would you live and why ?
... oooh tough question ... I really don't know. I haven't travelled enough to know in which country I'd love to live. One thing I know is that we (hubby & I, then, later, hubby + the boys + I) have been making efforts & travelled a lot around France, to be able to live again in our native region. And now we're settled, we're happy like that, and I wouldn't change a single thing, in fact. I'm very happy with my life right now. And can't imagine to be anywhere else but here.
if you could visit any place on the Universe, which would this place be ?
... wooozeee, I don't know ! There has to be a place where humans can live, first !!
where in Paris can someone buy fabrics ?
... I'll advice you to go to Montmartre area, where several big (and great) stores can be found.
what is kapok ?
...(OK, I'm quoting Wikipedia ...
Kapok (Ceiba pentandra) is a tropical tree of the order Malvales and the family Malvaceae, native to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, northern South America, and to tropical west Africa. The word is also used for the fibre obtained from its seed pods. The tree is also known as the Java cotton, Java kapok, or ceiba. It is a sacred symbol in Maya mythology. Adult trees produce several hundred 15 cm (6 in) seed pods. The pods contain seeds surrounded by a fluffy, yellowish fibre that is a mix of lignin and cellulose. The fibre is light, very buoyant, resilient and resistant to water. It is difficult to spin but is used as an alternative to down as filling in mattresses, pillows, upholstery, stuffed toys such as teddy bears, zafus and for insulation. It was previously much used in life jackets and similar devices. Man-made materials largely replaced the fibre, until recently. The seeds produce an oil used locally in soap and that can be used as fertilizer. The flowers are an important source of nectar and pollen for honeybees. This tree is the official national tree of Puerto Rico and Guatemala.
where is the one lesser-known-to-tourists city in France that I absolutely have to visit ?
... wow, lots of tough questions today ! if I had to advice anyone, I'd say to stay in small towns or villages, in the countryside. Unless you love big cities, but these are crowded & full of tourists. France is a VERY VERY touristic country, so it'll be tough to avoid them !
do you prefer to dye linen or silk ? Or other natural fabrics ?
... well, both are very interesting in their own way. But silk has to be amazing, really.
how do you manage to find time for crafting when your kids are about ?
... well, if they're being good (that happens ... um, sometimes !), then I can do what I want. But most of the time, I must get up every 5 mn to tell them to calm down, to stop fighting, to read a book, to make a drawing, to stop shouting ... arrrgh ... it's a really tough act of balancing.
which natural mixture makes your favorite color ?
... well, I don't use any mixture, I use only one part of the plant I'm dyeing with, may it be the leaves or the fruits. Ginkgo biloba gave me an awesome yellow that I want to try & try & try again next fall !
what is your earliest crafting memory that you can remember ?
... must be at school, at the age of 10 approx, when learning to do some kind of tapestry on a plastic grid
where do you find all your amazing fabric notions ?
... in my local notion store (haberdashery) or during my trips to Paris (3h45mn away from here, with the high speed train)
what part of crafting do you enjoy the most ?
... PROCESS !!! I enjoy tremendously the process itself ! I'm almost sad when a project is over ! (yes, that's weird, I know)
do you have a favourite dye plant ?
... I'm repeating but ... it's Ginkgo biloba, I think.
what do you grow in your garden ?
... we don't have a garden, boohoo ... we live right in the historical center of our town, with no garage, no balcony, no garden, no attic or spare room. You can't have everything.
what is the worst-smelling think you have used to dye fabric ?
... oh boy, I made a solar dyeing with Ginkgo biloba & when I decided to open & rince it, omg, I think hubby was going to faint LOL It really really stinks ! And worse than that, the fruits of Ginkgo biloba (when that tree bares fruits, that is ! and there's several in our botanical garden) really, REALLY stink, that's totally awful, I swear.
have you used a batch of oak leaves ?
... no I haven't but they're on my list, like many many other things !!
have you ever come to Italy ?
... yesss ! I went to Italy several times. I went to Piacenza, Bologna, Parma, Venezia ... and loved them all. Italy is really a lovely country.
if you were locked in a room for a week with no way out, what colour would you want it to be painted ?
... white. The best canvas for daydreaming or having ideas.
who is your favorite crafter from Brainerd, Minnesota ?
... ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah .... er .... can't remember her name, damn it !! Mwahahahah !!!!
if you could only do one type of craft for the rest of your life, what would it be ?
... free-hand-embroidery, no doubt about it
how do you make the time for sewing?
... well, I do my best, like everyone else. The thing is, I always want to make something. Sometimes it is for the shop, but most of the time it is for my friends. I love to spoil my friends with handmade goodness. Go ask them. :) Unfortunately, hours can't stretch.
Where did you learn such amazing English and why did you decide to blog in English instead of French ?
... I studied English at school/high school/university, for a total of 10 years. That was my "main" foreign language. I don't think I lost anything, I hope I did improve, which is NOT AT ALL the case with German & Italian ! LOL As much as I don't care about learning again German, I would love to dust my Italian.
... I started blogging a long time ago, around 2001 or something like that. I had learnt to use a computer in 1998 only, and discovered the internet in 1999 (if I remember clearly) I didn't know anyone on the net, at that time, and let alone French people !!! I was totally into country style websites, and had my first ones on Geocities. Then I switched to my own domain (which was first named "My French Corner") Can't remember how it happened, but I started blogging, I started making friends on the net. And these friends were NOT French, so I always always blogged & had websites in English exclusively. Now, I won't blog in French NOW, because it takes me long enough to blog in English, and typing/translating everything would take me twice time, which I don't have.
do you know a pattern for a kids suitcase made of fabric, closed with a zip... ?
... absolutely NOT. For the principal reason that I NEVER use patterns. (I think I have a problem with that)
what is your favorite craft? and how did you find it in your life ?
... I think it is (free-hand) embroidery ... when expecting my first son, I had a bit of interest in cross-stitching & did little things for him. Then after he was born, and after his little brother was born, I lost all interest for cross-stitch, but not for stitching. Two years ago, I discovered the existence of Etsy, and started making little things, which required hand stitching. I think it all started there.
What material do like to work with most ?
... linen, but I said it already :P
did you go to school for art/photography or are you self taught ?
... I am self taught. Photography is really thrilling !
What made you want to start this blog ?
... well, I think I wanted to share my thoughts, the details of my life with other persons. And then these persons did become my friends. Of course, I do not blog FOR my friends or FOR people. I blog for myself, it's like a diary, but that everyone's allowed to read ! LOL (and in which you don't write naughty things ahah) Really, even now, my main goal when blogging is SHARING. That's why I'm answering all these questions. :)
if you could meet fern the snail in person what would you say to him ?
... "hi Fern ! how you doing today ?!!" eheheh
riiiiight. I'm pretty sure your eyes did close longer & more often than you thought, when reading this novel, eheh.
I'll stop for today with a little photo from one year ago. Miss Caterpillar, in all her glory. I should check if lichen grew. She's still living right next to me, on my shelves, surrounded with a wooden squirrel wearing a hat & a scarf, and felted acorns. (you ladies will recognize yourself)
Kirsten
congratulations, Kirsten !! yay for you ! I'll contact you ASAP for your personal infos.
thanks ! and good luck to everyone for the 3 other giveaways !
ready for a long list of questions / answers ? then, here we go again ! (I hope you have time behind you !)
What did you use to dye it ? what you'll make with the lovely grey !
... I used fresh eucalyptus leaves to dye the fabrics I showed last Tuesday, and the grey was obtained by leaving the fabrics in the dye in an iron bucket I don't know exactly what I'll use the dyed fabrics for, I'm still working on this, as these fabrics are rather light sensitive.
who was your favourite teacher is school ? What was she/he like ?
... well it depends in which school ! I've always been a serious & good little girl, and I kind of liked each of my teachers. This said, of course, when you grow up, there are some teachers you can't even bare LOL I admired a lot my English teacher (woman) when I was around 14 y-o, and really admired too my art teacher (man) when I was around 17/18. (no no, no crush, but he was an amazing person)
What food do you love so much that you would never get sick of eating it over & over again ?
... it has to be crisps. I know. Pathethic.
have you ever visited Asia ?
... no, I haven't, unfortunately.
what was the first handmade craft object that you remember making ?
... I think it must have been some kind of very simple dress for my Barbie.
Which blog is your very favourite ?
... this I can't answer, because I love too many ones, but my favorite ones are my friends' blogs.
What's your favorite fabric to use in your projects ?
... I love using linen & embroidering on linen. So, yes, I think it is linen.
what sort of natural materials are you planning on using for your next dyeing experiments ?
... well, I wanted to try dyeing with pine needles, but am not sure about it. I'd love to dye with something that is prolific during this season, so I'll have to think about it more before deciding.
if you had to live anywhere other than France, where would you live and why ?
... oooh tough question ... I really don't know. I haven't travelled enough to know in which country I'd love to live. One thing I know is that we (hubby & I, then, later, hubby + the boys + I) have been making efforts & travelled a lot around France, to be able to live again in our native region. And now we're settled, we're happy like that, and I wouldn't change a single thing, in fact. I'm very happy with my life right now. And can't imagine to be anywhere else but here.
if you could visit any place on the Universe, which would this place be ?
... wooozeee, I don't know ! There has to be a place where humans can live, first !!
where in Paris can someone buy fabrics ?
... I'll advice you to go to Montmartre area, where several big (and great) stores can be found.
what is kapok ?
...(OK, I'm quoting Wikipedia ...
Kapok (Ceiba pentandra) is a tropical tree of the order Malvales and the family Malvaceae, native to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, northern South America, and to tropical west Africa. The word is also used for the fibre obtained from its seed pods. The tree is also known as the Java cotton, Java kapok, or ceiba. It is a sacred symbol in Maya mythology. Adult trees produce several hundred 15 cm (6 in) seed pods. The pods contain seeds surrounded by a fluffy, yellowish fibre that is a mix of lignin and cellulose. The fibre is light, very buoyant, resilient and resistant to water. It is difficult to spin but is used as an alternative to down as filling in mattresses, pillows, upholstery, stuffed toys such as teddy bears, zafus and for insulation. It was previously much used in life jackets and similar devices. Man-made materials largely replaced the fibre, until recently. The seeds produce an oil used locally in soap and that can be used as fertilizer. The flowers are an important source of nectar and pollen for honeybees. This tree is the official national tree of Puerto Rico and Guatemala.
where is the one lesser-known-to-tourists city in France that I absolutely have to visit ?
... wow, lots of tough questions today ! if I had to advice anyone, I'd say to stay in small towns or villages, in the countryside. Unless you love big cities, but these are crowded & full of tourists. France is a VERY VERY touristic country, so it'll be tough to avoid them !
do you prefer to dye linen or silk ? Or other natural fabrics ?
... well, both are very interesting in their own way. But silk has to be amazing, really.
how do you manage to find time for crafting when your kids are about ?
... well, if they're being good (that happens ... um, sometimes !), then I can do what I want. But most of the time, I must get up every 5 mn to tell them to calm down, to stop fighting, to read a book, to make a drawing, to stop shouting ... arrrgh ... it's a really tough act of balancing.
which natural mixture makes your favorite color ?
... well, I don't use any mixture, I use only one part of the plant I'm dyeing with, may it be the leaves or the fruits. Ginkgo biloba gave me an awesome yellow that I want to try & try & try again next fall !
what is your earliest crafting memory that you can remember ?
... must be at school, at the age of 10 approx, when learning to do some kind of tapestry on a plastic grid
where do you find all your amazing fabric notions ?
... in my local notion store (haberdashery) or during my trips to Paris (3h45mn away from here, with the high speed train)
what part of crafting do you enjoy the most ?
... PROCESS !!! I enjoy tremendously the process itself ! I'm almost sad when a project is over ! (yes, that's weird, I know)
do you have a favourite dye plant ?
... I'm repeating but ... it's Ginkgo biloba, I think.
what do you grow in your garden ?
... we don't have a garden, boohoo ... we live right in the historical center of our town, with no garage, no balcony, no garden, no attic or spare room. You can't have everything.
what is the worst-smelling think you have used to dye fabric ?
... oh boy, I made a solar dyeing with Ginkgo biloba & when I decided to open & rince it, omg, I think hubby was going to faint LOL It really really stinks ! And worse than that, the fruits of Ginkgo biloba (when that tree bares fruits, that is ! and there's several in our botanical garden) really, REALLY stink, that's totally awful, I swear.
have you used a batch of oak leaves ?
... no I haven't but they're on my list, like many many other things !!
have you ever come to Italy ?
... yesss ! I went to Italy several times. I went to Piacenza, Bologna, Parma, Venezia ... and loved them all. Italy is really a lovely country.
if you were locked in a room for a week with no way out, what colour would you want it to be painted ?
... white. The best canvas for daydreaming or having ideas.
who is your favorite crafter from Brainerd, Minnesota ?
... ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah .... er .... can't remember her name, damn it !! Mwahahahah !!!!
if you could only do one type of craft for the rest of your life, what would it be ?
... free-hand-embroidery, no doubt about it
how do you make the time for sewing?
... well, I do my best, like everyone else. The thing is, I always want to make something. Sometimes it is for the shop, but most of the time it is for my friends. I love to spoil my friends with handmade goodness. Go ask them. :) Unfortunately, hours can't stretch.
Where did you learn such amazing English and why did you decide to blog in English instead of French ?
... I studied English at school/high school/university, for a total of 10 years. That was my "main" foreign language. I don't think I lost anything, I hope I did improve, which is NOT AT ALL the case with German & Italian ! LOL As much as I don't care about learning again German, I would love to dust my Italian.
... I started blogging a long time ago, around 2001 or something like that. I had learnt to use a computer in 1998 only, and discovered the internet in 1999 (if I remember clearly) I didn't know anyone on the net, at that time, and let alone French people !!! I was totally into country style websites, and had my first ones on Geocities. Then I switched to my own domain (which was first named "My French Corner") Can't remember how it happened, but I started blogging, I started making friends on the net. And these friends were NOT French, so I always always blogged & had websites in English exclusively. Now, I won't blog in French NOW, because it takes me long enough to blog in English, and typing/translating everything would take me twice time, which I don't have.
do you know a pattern for a kids suitcase made of fabric, closed with a zip... ?
... absolutely NOT. For the principal reason that I NEVER use patterns. (I think I have a problem with that)
what is your favorite craft? and how did you find it in your life ?
... I think it is (free-hand) embroidery ... when expecting my first son, I had a bit of interest in cross-stitching & did little things for him. Then after he was born, and after his little brother was born, I lost all interest for cross-stitch, but not for stitching. Two years ago, I discovered the existence of Etsy, and started making little things, which required hand stitching. I think it all started there.
What material do like to work with most ?
... linen, but I said it already :P
did you go to school for art/photography or are you self taught ?
... I am self taught. Photography is really thrilling !
What made you want to start this blog ?
... well, I think I wanted to share my thoughts, the details of my life with other persons. And then these persons did become my friends. Of course, I do not blog FOR my friends or FOR people. I blog for myself, it's like a diary, but that everyone's allowed to read ! LOL (and in which you don't write naughty things ahah) Really, even now, my main goal when blogging is SHARING. That's why I'm answering all these questions. :)
if you could meet fern the snail in person what would you say to him ?
... "hi Fern ! how you doing today ?!!" eheheh
riiiiight. I'm pretty sure your eyes did close longer & more often than you thought, when reading this novel, eheh.
I'll stop for today with a little photo from one year ago. Miss Caterpillar, in all her glory. I should check if lichen grew. She's still living right next to me, on my shelves, surrounded with a wooden squirrel wearing a hat & a scarf, and felted acorns. (you ladies will recognize yourself)
oxox
Sonia
I've always been really impressed with your use of the English language Sonia. Even the times when you say you don't know how to translate and write something that you think will get the word across, you always get it right. Even if slightly mis spelled, it's always the right word and in the right context. That impresses me as English isn't your first language and I admire that you write so well in it. :o)
ReplyDeleteI can't use patterns. I get into such a pickle. I prefer to just try and make things up as i go along. I will happily follow a tutorial, because they're written clearly and show photos, but measurements and patterns .. urgh! No thanks!
love your caterpillar. It is so charming.
Gosh, I remember ' My French Corner' so well! I still have many of your orginal graphics stashed away on the computer.
Time I was off. Plotting a crafty day today again, I can't stop making flowers at the moment and plan to make as many as I can before I run out of fabric!
have a lovely day, gorgeously rainy here. Last night the rain was thrashing down. So cosy!
xxx
p.s forgot to say that I'm enjoying reading your question answers xx
ReplyDeletehad to come back and share a site I've just found. You may know it, but if not, it's one that might give you some great ideas. The kites on the home page look like something you would make, they're lovely.
ReplyDelete:o)
http://cheepideas.com/
xx
I'm really enjoying reading your answers to these questions too Sonia :o) I remember finding My French Corner so many years ago now....so fun to think back. (and so amazing at how much time I had then!!)
ReplyDeleteI've always been impressed at how you are able to use Engish too Sonia. I took French well into high school here (Canada's a bilingual nation so it's required) and even a bit in uni and there's no way I could blog in French! You're amazing :o)
Raining here today too and chilly. (only 5C right now at 6:30 am) Spring seems to have arrived only to slip back into early winter. Off to make lunch for C and get breakfast ready for the troops. Take care! xoxo
yay! i had fun reading all of your answers!
ReplyDeleteHello Sonia, I love the new look of your blog & enjoyed reading your answers to questions. I should try to only write in Italian so it would help you get yours fully back :o) I would have lost mine without Italian friends calling & emailing me. It sure helped. I hope you're have a lovely rainy day, hugs
ReplyDelete