Day 2 - the Eiffel Tower

Today, Barb, Jimmila and I are off to see the Eiffel Tower.  Need to get our sightseeing done first before spending all my money on beads and trims.  Have done a little shopping. 
We found a great little shop where we buy 'daily' scarves. 
 We also go to a Pharmacy every day. 

Found these trinkets in an antique store.
Other things I found include antique buttons,
old coins, old keys and  'found objects'. 
Don't know what I'm  going to do with these.
Maybe I will be inspired by what we see today.

We're going to take the Metro -
which is an adventure in itself.
Stay tuned for our  'Subway Stories'.



The Tour Eiffel is just a block from the Metro.
When it was built for the 1889 World's Fair,
commemorating the French Revolution,
the Tour Eiffel faced massive opposition
from Paris' artistic and literary elite.
It is 1,063 feet high and was the tallest
building in the world at the time it was built.



View from the second level. 
High enough for me.



I see jewelry inspiration

 

Barb and Jimmila went all the way to the top. 
Doesn't it look cozy up there. The tower between them
is Montparnasse tower and 689 feet tall, 
one of Paris' first skyscrapers. 

View from the top. 
This photo makes me dizzy just looking at it.



They say that on a clear day
you can see a distance of 45 miles.



 

 The glass topped structure center left is the Grand Palais.
It started to rain in the late afternoon - so made our way back
to the apartment to decide on dinner.

Spent the evening beading the "Trio of Bangles". I know, I know it's only a Duo.   I was sick before I left home so didn't pack until a few hours before.  I had beads already packed for weeks but then I changed my mind on some projects.  So didn't have enough crystals to finish the third bangle which is going to be a mid-tone teal color.



Here shown with another bracelet made with Peyote Beaded Beads and Swarovski crystals.




A number of Spring 2013 fashion shows today including Nina Ricci, Balenciaga, Carven, Balmain, Lanvin and others.  The Nina Ricci show  was held at the jardin des Tuileries which spans the area from the Louvre Museum and the Place de la Concorde. Very pretty show with feminine, colorful fabrics,  compared to some of the other shows. First 10 minutes (that have been deleted)  started with falling rose petals making it look like falling snow. This video is about 5 minutes long. 

Parisian Inspiration

After our little walk, and since it is raining, we all decided to eat in tonight.  Which also means a time to bead.  I'd like to say this bracelet was inspired by some of the things we saw this day - like some of the Gothic, Baroque, Romanesque or (my favorite) Art Nouveau architecture, or the bling we saw in the great boutiques or the colorful Parisian street fashion.  But no, it was actually inspired by dinner.



Made with the Czech Super Duos with a Picasso finish
 - perfect for Paris



I'm not sure this is finished yet. 
 I may have to add another row or I may have to add
some scallops or picots to the outside edge. 

And here is the inspiration.   I had to use the beads I had brought with me - which of course,  was something teal.

We didn't buy this, partly because we didn't know
what it was and no one could tell us. 
 I thought I would ask Gloria Google later. 
 Unfortunately the sign is not for this vegetable.
Update: Andrea (a follower) said this is Romanesco
(a variety of cauliflower). See her blog Here Thanks!

This is part of  'what's for dinner tonight'.
Is this the biggest head of lettuce you have ever seen.

Barb is very much interested in French History and I love architecture in general.  If you are interested, here is an easy (and somewhat entertaining) read about both.  Paris Buildings

Paris Again

Bead Street Store Progress:  Although all the seed beads have been organized, when the truck arrived, the Czech glass boxes were unfortunately all placed on top of the seed beads.  Since there are no other tables to move this stuff to, the glass will have to be organized on the slat walls.  I would like to say it will take a few days to do this - particularly since it came down in an afternoon.  However, my guess is it will take at least a week before the seed beads see the light of day.  I will keep you informed on the progress.


Now back to Paris.  After our French Onion Soup lunch (still Day 1),  Barb and I headed to Ile' Saint-Louis - the second island in the River Seine - across from the Notre Dame.  No real sight seeing sites but it is home to the best sorbet in Paris.  Reason enough for Barb and I to go. 

Paris neighborhoods are all very different.  The Ile' Saint-Louis had fewer tourists, and was a very classy, quiet area.  The boutiques on the pricier side,  but they had very beautiful items to look at.  A lot of 'soutache' jewelry - as seen on the cover of Bead and Button magazine.  But these pieces were more refined, smaller in scale and absolutely beautiful.  Barb and I are now on the lookout for soutache cord to try our own version. 

Ladder stitched bracelets very popular here as well
 but Parisians like the single wraps better,
 then they stack a dozen of these on their arm.

Not quite the same look as the Parisians - but works for me

From the Ile' Saint-Louis, we ventured west, thru the south side of the Marais, and made our way to the famous Hotel de Ville.  This is the Les Halles area and a lot of people - both tourists and locals partly because the George Pompidou Centre is two blocks north, and the Louvre and Grand Palais just to the southwest.  A large metropolitan downtown area with lots of department stores and lots of traffic and there was yet another tent being assembled for  another fashion show.

Hotel de Ville, now is the Paris City Hall and houses
108 statutes of famous Parisians
plus 30 more representing french cities. 
 Free tours but they are booked out a week.

We went south, back across the River Seine on Rue Dauphine.  The Saint Germain shopping area and more beautiful shops with fabulous items.  We found one little shop that had some crocheted jewelry that was to die for.  Think fine crochet that looks similar to  your Grandmother's doilys in miniature, using Nymo thread with size 15 seed beads added here and there.  I have no idea how this gal did this.

Since it started to rain, and we were without umbrellas, we headed back.   Through the Sorbonne area, by the Pantheon - we got our first look at the Eiffel Tower. 

Barb looks pretty miserable. 
And later we found two umbrellas at the apartment
that the owner had graciously left for us. 
Tomorrow we will check the weather before we venture out.
Districts covered today 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Paris

We arrived in Paris.  This is a photograph taken in 1991 by Peter Turnley that I purchased in Paris.  It spoke to me with everything that I think about the city.  The Eiffel Tower, the River Seine, the mystical quality (due to the fog), and the ancient buildings that  I find thrilling about European cities. 

Because of fashion week - which started the day we arrived, we had to go a little south to find an apartment which was a few blocks from the Pantheon and the Sorbonne in the Latin Quarter.  Our apartment was rented thru Vacation in Paris (that I highly recommend by the way) and was a block from one of the permanent pedestrian market streets called Rue Mouffetard.  

Rue Mouffetard is the remnant of an ancient Roman road.  Some buildings date from the 12th century and it is one of the oldest streets in Paris. After the market closes in the evening, cafes and creperies open up, offering a wide variety of ethnic and traditional French food.  We went multiple times every day.  We tried cheeses with names we couldn't pronounce, bought butter cut from a slab that looked like a hunk of clay, and of course breads and pastries.

Barb and I took off to explore while the rest of our group recovered from the trip.  We started walking north on Mouffetard towards Notre Dame and after we passed all the fromageries (cheese stores), and patisseries (pastry shops), we discovered quaint little boutiques filled with wonderful jewelry, lots and lots of scarves and a Pharmacy on every corner.



Lots of color in this town at the end of September





These fabulous designs are by Ayala Bar.
This memory wire bracelet has very colorful beads and
I'm excited because I now know how to make them.

We made our way to the Notre Dame which is on the
eastern half of the Ile' de La Cite'
- an island in the River Seine and the place where Paris began.
Construction was started in 1163 and wasn't completed till 1345.
This view is the backside of the cathedral from the gardens.



Our first official meal in Paris was French Onion Soup in a sidewalk cafe across from the Notre Dame.
The menus are on blackboards hung on the wall.
  As a souvenir, I'm going to use a version of this,
 embed it in a pendant and coat with resin.

There were at least a dozen fashion shows going on around Paris on this day. The Guy Laroche fashion show was at the jardin des Tuileries which is a few blocks west from where we are.  This video is about 5 minutes long.    

This next video is after the show - of people who actually had an invitation (not us) plus some tourists and others.  Have no idea who these people are but I think the colors they are wearing are very inspirational.  I think this video is much more interesting.  About 4 minutes long and gives you an idea of Paris street fashion.

Bead Street Store Events

A lot happening this month and last.  Our new location will hopefully be open by December 1st.   Still lots and lots to do.  For those interested in knowing why we have moved - see the last paragraph of this post.

So far we have also traveled from Boise to Portland to Seattle to Reykjavik to Charles de Gaulle airport  in Paris.  We were there during fashion week and a lot to see.   And we bought a lot of beads and buttons and trims.  

I have also learned three new beading patterns  that will become new classes this fall.



On the plane ride from Seattle to Reykjavik,
Barb and I each beaded a Super Duo bangle
and I beaded the Russian Spiral to match



 

This is a new pattern using the two-holed Super Duos or Twin beads along with size 11 seedbeads.  We have had a test class on this pattern and instructions are currently being edited.

Closeup of the Russian Spiral.
Pattern in October 2011 Bead and Button



My friend Barb beading at 35,000 feet.

More information about the fashion shows, bead stores (I should say the bead wholesale district), and some of the sights we saw in Paris coming in the next few days.

One of the things I found interesting in Paris was, of course, the jewelry.  One show had a lot of chains hanging everywhere.  Another show - showing a lot of 'cuff' necklaces - large, Swarovski embellished pieces.  Another show - beaded bracelets - one for each arm and both identical.  We couldn't get into the shows but did see a lot of fabulous street fashion and were inspired by the vibrant colors of the clothes and jewelry we saw.

For those interested in the Paris fashion shows, this video is sort of a recap.  Paris 2013 Ready To Wear Highlights


For anyone interested in why we are moving:  Our European buying trip had been scheduled since early spring.  Two months ago we got word that because of safety issues with the sprinkler system and  insulation falling down, some major repairs needed to be done which would require us to be closed for awhile.  We asked if these repairs could be done while we were gone.  Two weeks before leaving, we were told that most all of our inventory  and store fixtures would have to be removed to do the repairs. 

So, we chose to not move back in and instead open at a new location. Because this all happened very fast, our new location is not yet ready and we have moved part of the inventory to our warehouse and part to a temporary location. Right now I'm told that painting is being done, the Gemstone slat wall has been installed, painted, and most of the gemstones and pearls have been hung up. In a couple of weeks, all seedbeads and Czech glass will be available to purchase. I really appreciate your patience and all the offers to help with the move. 

Bead Street Customer Work

Haven't been able to post as often as I would like - still traveling -and a little tired.  Typing on a Tablet (even with an attached keyboard) is NOT one of my favorite things to do. 

Have learned two new beading patterns so far.  Have plenty of photos, and would love to show you, but have not been able to download them.  So will have to wait till next week.  I will say, Soutache jewelry and all things bright and blingy are very big in France.  However, 'Fashion Week' is currently happening in Paris so even the word 'blingy' is a mild understatement right now.

The following photos are of completed projects that for whatever reason never got posted.  I think these are very interesting, great color choices and hopefully, all of you think these are fabulous as well.  Enjoy.

Joy created this beautiful bracelet from a pattern 
published in Beadwork magazine.



A Tila / Czechmate Tile and Rivoli
 bracelet beaded by Joy.
 A beautiful pattern and a beautiful
 finished bracelet as well.

Beaded beads by Irene from a 
Diane Fitzgerald pattern 

This 'cabachon was created by Gay.
  She told me how it was made but 
I can't remember what she said. 
 I do remember saying that your deepest,
 darkest secrets are safe with me because 
I wouldn't be able to remember them. 
 I guess that also applies to artistic 
techniques as well. 
 Stunning piece in person.

Irene beaded this beautiful necklace for her Mom, 
from a pattern in a beading magazine. 
 Mom loved the necklace - she just didn't 
love her face in the photo.
  Photoshop to the rescue again.








Cellini Spiral Bracelet

In 2010, at the Puget Sound Bead Show, everywhere I went I kept seeing these wonderful crocheted bracelets.  So, after the show, I spent the entire summer trying to learn how to crochet so I could make one.  Well, it seemed I did okay until I went to bed and then I forgot everything I learned.  So I tried again, and again, and again, and yet again.

Finally, I realized that I could do almost the identical look in tubular peyote.  Then, if I used different size seed beads ... oh my gosh ... I could make these fabulous undulating, crochet looking things, and I didn't  even have to know how to crochet.  It wasn't until later that I discovered that this technique was called a Cellini Spiral and it has become one of my favorite stitches.  

When Barb and I traveled to Florence, Italy in 2011, we ran across the bust of Benvenuto Cellini on the  Ponte Vecchio bridge.  Cellini was a great jewelry artist and sculptor.  Barb does not have fond memories of this bracelet.  In fact, for some reason the mere sight of this statue  brought tears to her eyes.

 I, on the other hand, love this stitch and even like beading them on trips. I only need to take 3 or 4 tubes of beads, a needle and thread and - since it's the same stitch over and over - long plane trips become much more tolerable.  So here are some of my favorite completed projects (as well as examples from others).

This one beaded with 6/0 seed beads in burgundy,
 a size 8/0,  two size 11/0's (all in pink tones),
 and a 15/0 in metallic blue

Here I used 4mm Czech fire polish,
 a size 8/0, and two colors 
of size 11/0 seed beads.

I love blacks, so had to make two.

I love teal and turquoise even more - 
so actually have three but didn't
 have photos of the third one.

This one belongs to Jennifer and she made
 her's thinner with a size 8/0 as the largest bead.
  Notice she used a clasp instead of creating a bangle.

If you would like to try this, here is a great pattern by Elena Nazarchuk.  I couldn't get the link to work on my tablet (remember I'm traveling) so am just putting this here for now,  I also have a video - with same problem - so will not add that now but will fix both of these later.  


A pattern  by Elena Nazarchuk



U need seed beads: