January 12, 2011

13. Sous le Soleil de la Lune

Today's restarted WIP is Sous le Soleil de la Lune by Reflets de Soie. I'm stitching it on 40 count LL in maritime white, and it's working up so beautifully I can hardly believe I stopped stitching on it. I know what happened though: it is charted for Gloriana silks with AVAS and DMC as substitutions. I bought the AVAS, but I got a few of the Gloriana, which made the project come to a screeching halt, because the Gloriana colors were so much better, and really better suited to the project. (See the Glorianas on the bottom of the photo?) The problem was that I had already bought the AVAS and Gloriana fibers are about twice as expensive. What to do? While I mulled it over, I set the project aside, not wanting to stitch too much into the territory that I could cover with Gloriana silks. In the meantime, I started stitching on first one thing, then another, and before I knew it, SlSdlL was at the bottom of the project pile. Sad.


This photo doesn't do it justice. So I made a stitchy decision as I worked on the border this morning. I love the purples and the lavenders and I've already started the border and the cartouche in the middle. Those I'll leave alone, but where there are flowers with specialty stitches or large expanses of stitching (the roof of the house, the walls and the lawn), I'll add two or three of the Glorianas to my project bag. Solution!

Speaking of which, is anyone going to the l'aiguille en fete in Paris next month? During my last hiatus from work about five years ago, I went to Paris in February, not knowing that I could have gone to the show! I explored and toured and had an overall blast. I really should not be thinking about doing this, but I so badly want to go, and I've got my eye on the fares--this is a great, cheap time of year to go usually. I stay in a little inexpensive, very French hotel in the 6th, and I eat food from the grocery store (so much better than U.S. stores--my God, the yogurt, the cheese, the cold cuts) or inexpensive cafes and bakeries, and I get around on the Metro, so my expenses are minimal. So tempting to go to the show.... One should not use one's limited funds for frivolous travel, should one? On the other hand, life is short, and memory is long... [Edited to add, after researching ticket prices--nah. Not unless there are any last-minute deals. Ditto on the hotel. At the moment things are a bit pricey. So I'll wait and watch, and look at the weather and BF's own travel schedule, and we'll see. There are worse things than staying home to stitch, after all! But my two fondest memories, aside from visiting some wonderful needlework shops, eating fabulous meals and buying groceries at Bon Marche, were visiting the pet shops along the Seine, with the most amazing array of animals, including enormous pet rabbits and the open air fruit/vegetable/meat/seafood market I visited just as it began to snow huge lazy flakes.]


Elvis needs a haircut today!


See you tomorrow!

25 comments:

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri Malinovich) said...

Your WIP is beautiful and I think you've found the perfect solution. I hardly think a trip to a Paris Needlework show is frivolous! For you, and all the fantastic things you stitch, it's really a MUST DO! I wish I could tag along - that is one of my dreams.... I'll have to mull this over. Paris or New York in October... hmmmm....
Elvis is cute - I love a guy with long, shaggy locks!

gracie said...

You WIP is gorgeous! I think Elvis looks fabulous....

Melissa said...

Oh, gosh, you are a dangerous one! Another beautiful WIP and not only that, the idea of going to a needlework show in Paris! *sigh* If you got the time, you should go. You know, later, when you're too busy working then you'd wish you had time to go. It's the conundrum we all have - time or money.

Good luck. If it's meant to be then you'll find a cheap fare and the perfect place to stay!;-)

Margaret said...

I'm so glad Sous la Soleil is one of your WIPs. it's so pretty! And of course you inspired me to buy it myself. lol! I think you should go for it and go to Paris. Hey, if you're asking us, that means you should do it!

Deb said...

That is going to be another gorgeous sampler. I think you've found the perfect solution to your threads. And you know I think I have this one in my stash!! I can't tell you how many I've added to my list after seeing all your great pieces.

Anonymous said...

I'm stitching with Gloriana today too and I just may be sold to silks... aren't they gorgeous! Love your project!! Elvis looks sweet and funny.

Sylvia said...

Hi Glenna,
I am going to the show, but then I live in Germany, so I don't have to worry about airfare. Its my first time to go and I am very excited. My husband has a business trip to Normandy right before this, so I will tag along to Normandy and then we will stay in Paris for 2 1/2 days so I can hit the show. I am very excited!!

I read your blog faithfully, but have never commented. I love all the samplers you are working on. Love your little bunnies. Elvis is my fav.

Littlebit said...

Cracking up--life is short, memory is long--so true! OMG! I LOVE that sampler, and I wish I had every color of the Gloriana silks.

Sue said...

ANOTHER gorgeous sampler. Wow, it has started out beautifully.

Karen M said...

Elvis reminds me of the adorable "dust bunnies" on an old TV show my kids used to watch. They lived under a "big, comfy, couch". I bet he doesn't like the "h" word anymore than Ginny and Weasley do.

Beth said...

A lovely project - glad you are restarting it...and oh, I am so jealous of your Parisian Needlework show...interested and facinated too - you are welcome, no encouraged to blog about it further and in more detail!

Laurie in Iowa said...

That sampler is going to be gorgeous. I think you found a perfect solution to the Gloriana/AVAS dilemma. Keep an eye on those plane fares... if they dip a bit I think you should go for it. No one ever regrets going to Paris.

Cari said...

Oh my Glenna...this one is just simply over the top!! Beautiful. I love each and every one of your selections. And...go to Paris!! WOW oh WOW

Love to Stitch said...

LOVE this one. Gloriana is like no other, and besides, putting the AVAS aside, they wont go bad :) Keep it up, it is on my list too!

Paris, would love to go, anytime!!!!

Jan said...

I love love love the colors on this one. Beautiful.
I like the way Elvis looks. Maybe let him go a little longer?

Karen said...

This one is gorgeous! Will be great to see the progress on this one.

What's a short trip to Paris... you do only live once so you might as well as enjoy it!

happy stitching....and travels maybe??

RG said...

D O N ' T C L I P E L V I S! Yet.

The Seine, The Seine. When will I again? ... tra la la ...

Go. (BL made me say that!)

Annemarie said...

It's my fervent wish to go to Paris next year, and I think I just might do it. Who knows? Maybe you can make it too!
Your sampler is stunning and Elvis is adorable :o)

Giovanna said...

Absolutely love Sous le Soleil - it's in my stash too :-)
And yes, I'm going to the Paris show next month :-) - hope you manage to get there sometime.

Carol said...

What a stunning sampler, Glenna! And if you have the opportunity to go to the Paris show, I would certainly jump at it!

barbara said...

Frivolous travel is absolutely a necessity, IMHO. I am so very, very glad I made those trips I couldn't afford and didn't really "need". :D Drop the bunnies off here and I'll babysit while you're gone. (I am in a happy-to-be-home phase of life with no desire to wander further than the chicken coop. LOL)

Alice said...

Paris. Ahhh. That sounds wonderful. Baguettes and Brie and wine... I'd go.

Siobhán said...

Oh, what I would give to go to that show!! I intend to go... maybe some year. Have you thought about looking into fares elsewhere and then hopping one of the cheaper flights within Europe to get there? I'm thinking RyanAir or Easy Jet, etc.

Love the WIP!

Jennifer said...

That bunny is hilarious. Don't cut his hair!

Kate said...

Is her fur naturally like that or it is just molting? Well she is cute and I like its color and the Elvis like looks as mentioned by the first commenter. Hey Elvis you have to go back to your rabbit hutch because a huge number of fans is coming (lol).