Melodies Graphiques - Stationery and Calligraphy store in Paris

This is the type of store that makes my heart skip a beat. This year I finally made it through, and as the owner says in this short video, "this is a store for people who like to write." I do, I do!!

 You will fall in love with his entire wall of envelopes sent to him by his customers.

And the many, many types of inks and colors and bottles, nibs and holders, blotting paper, and well, the list goes on.

Apart from all the beautiful paper and calligraphy tools, you'll also find the owner's work. Did I tell you he is a master calligrapher? You could have guessed that right?

 You can try all the nibs available - just like my son did- every single one of them.

This is one more reason to go to Paris, as if you I needed more.

Melodies Graphiques
10, rue du Pont Louis Philippe
Paris 4e

Have a beautiful letter day!
Giova

Visiting Paris for a few days... with a teenager

Last year my husband left for a few weeks to Colombia, taking with him my little one. It was his first time there and first time meeting his grandfather. So I decided to go to Paris with my older one for a few days. Again this year my husband has gone to visit his family, so I thought,  Paris for a few days? Why not. And off we went.

My son is not yet a teenager (but acting like one in many ways) and I'm just… sort of trying to hold on to this precious time before he turns into a teenager. Just the two of us, with no distractions, and no one else. Building memories for myself I guess, only time will tell if he built them as well.

We did similar things as the previous year; like walking a lot, searching for street art and sitting in cafes (not something we can do when the little one is around). Only this year he found his favorite store in the whole wide world (his words, not mine), and he wanted to be in there every day.

Photo booths are the best and Paris is one of the few cities that has plenty of them. We always like doing this as a family or in this case, just the two of us. This is an excellent place to find a photo booth near you. Our favorite, is the one in Bon Ton because it has wigs, hats and glasses.

Even though I've been to Paris many times, I had never been inside Notre Dame (there was always an excuse, or a very big line). This time we finally went in after my son suggested that we go, and also there were no lines.

It was breathtaking. There was even a chorus the whole time we were there, elevating the experience to a different level.

We managed to visit the Pompidou to see Roy Lichtenstein's exhibition, which I think was just perfect, and my son was quite taken by it all as well.

We ate and ate the glorious french food. Of course the macaron was eaten outdoors because the weather couldn't have been any better.

After two nights and almost three days we headed back. I'm hoping we can continue this "ritual" of going to Paris for a few days.

As much as I love all the stores there and walking and eating, I wouldn't want to do this by myself. I enjoyed being with him again, -it is not as if we never cross words or anything like that at home- but traveling is a different kind of story. It is just us, and I like it very much.

Wishing you a most excellent start of the week.
Giova

Slowly but Surely

It felt I was so busy, but then I looked in my little box where I keep the things I've made, and it didn't look like much. It felt like I've been sitting for more hours than I could count, and my "behind" is not that very happy. Although I am. VERY.

This is why I like these words, that I keep embroidering. Quite simply, "it is what it is." I've put what I learned at the workshop to good use (I think).

The Etsy store is now open, with the few things I've made. Take a look and let me know what you think?

Today is a short post. I'm in Paris at the moment (only for 2 days), but it is Paris after all.

Have a wonderful weekend.
Giova.

Surprise Packages

It has been a while since I last posted about one of my favorite things; packages. This time I just couldn't pass the opportunity to show you what arrived at my door.

Remember a week or so that I showed you the heart I was making? It was for a swap that I was doing with the very inspiring and talented Mary Stanley.

I've been wanting a rug hooked heart for such a long time, to add to my heart collection. I was very nervous with mine, as I had never made a heart before, but it seemed like a good thing to make. A heart for a heart. I hope she likes mine as much as I did hers. I actually did a little dance when these arrived!

If you follow me on Instagram you probably saw when these arrived. My friend Ute Veya had made the loveliest package. I was so in love with everything that I needed to show it to you as well.

This "mini autumn memory bunting," as she called it, is just perfect, don't you agree?

I love surprise packages, I've said this many times before. But there is one thing that I love the most; the love and dedication that goes into a handmade piece and especially when it has been made just for you, is just... WOW!

Did I get that right? Sometimes the english language just doesn't cooperate with me.

I hope you like my treasures as much as I have.

Have a great day.
Giova

Short trips from Amsterdam - Haarlem

I don't think I need to tell you how beautiful Holland is, there are plenty of pictures everywhere to show how very picturesque it is.

In an attempt to see more of Holland, we started doing short trips from Amsterdam. Our first was to Haarlem, and it was during the summer when the weather was fabulous.

We walked around. Had lunch in any random place. We really didn't even read any guides or what to do lists before coming here. Pretty much go with the flow, except I knew which museum I wanted to visit.

We visited only one museum - there are plenty to choose from Frans Hals Museum,  Historical Museum, or the Het Dolhuys which is the national psychiatry museum.

We decided to visit the Teylers Museum, which is the "first and oldest museum open to the public since 1748." It is also a sort of "chamber of curiosities" which I always find fascinating.

Very, very worth it - the 20 minutes drive from Amsterdam- to finally be able to discover this museum. I mean, the city is beautiful, if the weather is good.  It is all very walkable like most cities here in Holland, but going to Haarlem and not seeing this place is defenitely a no, no in my book.

I was lucky to be able to see this exhibition ( I had never seen any of this early works before) which changed my perception of Andy Warhol entirely.

I'm glad we did this when the weather was nice. I would still go if it wasn't, but I really love those blue skies.  So if you are ever visiting Amsterdam, hop on the train to Haarlem, and take in the beautiful square and it's museums.

Have a great start of the week.
Giova

Notebook Keeper or Journal Maker?

I have so many notebooks that I sometimes forget what exactly goes in which one. I've had one ever since I can remember. Memories of Hello Kitty notebook's come to mind, as well as any plain notebook lying in our house.

I've always thought that notebooks are the cheapest therapy you can get anywhere, and I've just loved every single one.

The leather one (the only leather one I own) is where I write the funny things my children say. The apple one, I kept adding for the longest time, from 2007 to 2011. I thought it was endless. The other little ones are just "grateful" or "thankful" notebooks.  I always have a lot of thanking to do.

The pink one is for washi-tape collages, the green one is "blog notes," the flowery one is my summer 2012 one, followed by my address and stamps book, the chevron one is new (I'll think of something pretty soon).

These two are from my first trip to Japan in 2008. When I travel I keep every little paper, wrapping, ticket, cards, etc...

I like looking at them. I never just forget a notebook. I've lost quite a bunch of them, so the ones that I still have, I do cherish.

 My summer 2012. It was a pretty awesome summer!  The whole notebook got filled pretty quickly.

I felt compelled to embroider the gauze when my little one broke his finger in Italy. It seemed like the right thing to do with that gauze.

I used to write much more. I'm blaming this blog for the lack of writing. When I was a teenager I needed to vent a lot (which teenager doesn't?) and keeping a journal was the best thing in the world.

Now I don't need to vent that often (I have my husband's ears for that), that's why they're there right? But I still keep at least three around, and when I can't find one, it is not a good day!

My favorite? Format 15x20 no lines, thick paper. It needs to be able to withstand a lot of "stuff."

Recently I've found the ones I bought at Atelier Giannini & Kuwata to be of exceptional quality. So if you're ever in Florence make sure to stop by their shop.

Are you a notebook keeper? If so, which is the best notebook you've ever found?

Have a great weekend.
Giova

DIY - Make Coasters With Fall Leaves

I was seriously thinking about not doing any crafts with leaves. Guess what? I just couldn't keep myself from not doing one.

I mean, have you looked out of your window and seen all those amazing leaves just turning bright and making a beautiful mess of yellow? My sister would probably answer no to this question, but she does live in Miami after all.

I went in a fabric store this past monday and when I saw this wool/tweed stuff, I thought; "Wouldn't that make a nice leaf?"

This is what you'll need:

• fabric for the leaves, for the front and back part
• thin felt for the middle
• leaves that you've picked up on your walks, they are free!!
• thread, needle, pins, scissors
• pencil and paper

Trace your chosen leaf. Cut the template. Pin it to your fabric of choice. Cut the leaf, and stitch to the top fabric.

Cut the felt and back fabric to fit your front. Iron the back fabric to cover the felt, and then stitch the coaster using any stitch you like. I used the blanket stitch and back stitch. For really amazing sources on stitches go here or here.

Then just marvel at your hard work (ahem!) and don't forget to include one on your next letter to your pen pal. Maybe add a tea bag or two?

Or maybe just give them all to a friend who invited you to their house for dinner? OK, you get my drift. Just make some and give it away, because handmade presents are the best, don't you agree?

Have a great day and as Dottie Angel says;"Do feel a little crafty at least twice a day."
Giova

Magazine Roundup #5

**I was just going through my "archives" and found this never got published. I really don't understand why, it was almost a year ago. So it is perfect for today's grey day, and for the fact that I have nothing to post today. Not fun when the little one is sick. 

I think women have all the fun when it comes to magazines (other things too, but I don't want to drift away from the topic). So I went searching for cool magazines just for men, and this is what I found; CODE (large format magazine published in the Netherlands, but in english), The Heritage Post (published in Germany), The Chap (small format-16x23cms, published in the UK), and Men's File (published in the UK).

I've never seen my husband so into magazines as in the week these magazines were brought. He revised them from beginning to end, and then he started again, from the end all the way to the beginning. His favorite? He can't choose between the CODE and The Heritage post one.

All these magazines have their new issues out, and fortunately my husband only got stuck to one. See pic above!

Happy reading!
Giova

Embroidered hearts, and other things.

Apart from the flu/cold/virus that I've had for the past 3 weeks, I've also seem to be bitten by the embroidery bug.

Some how the crafts that I was supposed to do for today, didn't get done. But I haven't been lying in bed, reading books, or resting. No siree!!!

I've been working on some hearts, and other things.  I'm hoping to be able to swap this unfinished heart (soon to be finished) for another one.

Or maybe this other one, which is very unfinished.

I've also been working on these little brooches that will go on the Etsy store very soon.

And this needle book for my friend Ute.

So yes I've been sitting in the sofa for much longer than usual, but I've been "sort of" productive (at least my brain is totally convinced about that).

I'm hoping this bug will go away really soon (not the embroidery bug, the other one), so I can feel "normal" again.

In the meantime I wish you a marvelous weekend.
Giova

Apple Picking near Amsterdam

This past saturday we ventured out on an adventure, our first time ever picking apples!! I know, I should have at least picked an apple in my life, but no. I've picked mangos, avocados, papayas, even pineapples, but no apples or pears. Everyone seems to do that every year, and I always wanted to, but for some strange reason never did.

So this past weekend we finally did. When I was explaining to my little one that we were going to pick apples from the trees, he said; "so we're going to buy the apples from the trees?" Yes, sort of I answered.

As soon as we arrived (only 25 minutes from Amsterdam) he was speechless, and so happy. He thought it was an all you can eat.

Finally, after 40 years I got my apple from a tree, and it was delicious! For some reason I always thought I would steal it from a random tree, but I guess this comes in as a good second.

There were more apples than we could carry. We did get carried away on the self picking, and I'm already looking for recipes. And no, the picture above is not our load, but the farm's.

It was a beautiful autumn day, we couldn't imagine a better day for apple picking. The kids loved it and so did we.

The little one ate 4 apples and 1 pear. I'm not kidding!

I hope we are able to go back. I said the same thing with the tulips and we only managed to go only once per season, you can see it here and here. So if the weather permits we'll be back.

De Olmenhorst Landgoed
Lisserweg 481
Lisserbroek

Have a wonderful day!
Giova.