…the best. And included sleep-ins, long-lazy breakfasts, sunshine, music, and a mojito.
Left: some gorgeous new page spreads from the latest issue of inside out, out now Right: a list of fab blogs mentioned in the latest issue…
While reading Ebony’s fab blog hello sandwich the other day, I was delighted to discover her post about Inside Out magazine mentioning a bunch of terrific blogs in their latest issue, and one of them was mine! I think this may be my very first magazine mention for my little (blog)house here. That’s special.
It was a great surprise to end my busy week, thank you Inside Out. Also, I can’t wait to see their magazine redesign, apparently there are all sort of handmade touches added, and new fonts, and oh, it sounds marvellous…
If you have never been into the offices of a magazine, above is a pic of what you would see – a wall of page spreads from the upcoming issue that the magazine team are working on. It’s one of my favourite sights – seeing the whole magazine on the wall like a work of art. This one above is from Inside Out, showing their page layout for the current issue. Cool non? Check out the Creative Director’s post about the magazine redesign here.
Well folks, after carting that cardboard creation across Northern Europe, I’m beat.
Thankfully it’s Friday and I think, for the first time in I don’t know how many weekends I am going to put my hand up and ‘just say no’. I am going to strive for a work-free weekend. I know, I know, there will be repercussions come Monday. But, I need the break. And also, I’m thinking “when in Rome, do as the Romans do” or in this case, the Northern Europeans – the Amsterdammers (and Parisians)(not to mention Italians) seem to just disappear for weeks on end in August – they shut up their shops, they leave their work, they leave all their responsibilities and just declare vacation. It’s something I find rather peculiar since these are two international cities but you know, whatever…
I will not be following suit and declaring vacation unfortunately as I have alot on and next week will be a killer, BUT, I think a work-free weekend is in order. What do you think?
Shall I don my summer dresses? Get out my straw hat? Put paper umbrellas in my ice tea and put my feet up?
I will still have to clean, sort, and tidy though as I have completely neglected my household duties over the last few weeks and the boat is unsightly, and barely livable.
Next week I want to tell you what I got up to in Paris each day I was there. I took lots of photos… some I will share here, some I will save for an upcoming project. I also bought something that I have been dying to show you, it’s been so inspiring for me.
I wonder what you will be doing this weekend? Any plans? Whatever you get up to mes chers amis, have a beautiful weekend.
xx
photograph by zoë yule
My (blog)guest Zoë has written a wonderful post about a trip she made to Kyoto visiting the shops and ateliers of this ancient city’s traditional crafts people.
I remember when Zoë first told me about this trip – she described the most incredible tiny shops which she had found in a little book called Old Kyoto. It was right at the time I had finished writing Paris: Made By Hand – needless to say I was completely enraptured by her fabulous adventure and I’m thrilled that she is sharing it with all of you.
Please click here to read Zoë’s post called “Of painted clouds and gravels seas”. Thank you Zoë!
Thank you for your fab comments about the window display! It means alot when I get such great feedback from you about my work.
As promised, here is a look at the behind the scenes of making the window display. It took me about 4 weeks from beginning to end, and for the last week and a half French Boy and I have been dodging this giant cardboard eiffel tower which was taking up alot of room here in le petit bateau. The boat is still in disarray – with cardboard piles here and there, paint jars, and brushes lying around, tape, glue and craft paper on the piano, table, daybed and floor…
So, here is how it started:
A couple of months or so ago, my publisher contacted me to let me know that WHSmith bookstore in Paris was interested in hosting an event of sorts for my book. I decided upon a window display as I love making things as you know, and I love to express myself through something creative. So, off to work I went, sketching, making notes, brainstorming ideas. I thought about Paris icons and decided the Eiffel Tower would be great inspiration for my window. Here is the sketch I made which became my chosen display…
I had been to the WHSmith store a number of times over the years (it was an institution when I was living there -the place to get my English fix as they have a fab collection of magazines, DVD’s, classics, and interior and photographic books) so I knew the windows rather well. I put together a moodboard of inspiration with the window in mind…
