Handmade gifts

Now they have safely been delivered by Santa, I can show you the gifts I made this year :o)

Patterns from Biloba

Pattern from Judith Baines

December BJP in progress

At last I've started my December BJP page... Don't know if I'll have time to finish it before we travel to see family...

3'50" of activism - we can change the World

Winter Solstice

"Le Soleil a rendez-vous avec la Lune/Happy solstice"

This is my new Spirit Doll, that has arrived in her new home today. She's called "Le Soleil a rendez-vous avec la Lune/Happy solstice".

"Le Soleil a rendez-vous avec la Lune" is a famous song by Charles Trenet which you hear here (hear, hear). While stitching and beading, many songs came to me.

A classic French nursery song :

Bonsoir madame la Lune Good evening Mrs Moon
Que faites-vous donc là ? What are you doing now ?
J'fais mûrir des prunes I am ripening plums
Pour tous ces enfants-là. For all these little children
Bonjour monsieur le Soleil Good morning Mr sun
Que faites-vous donc là ? What are you doing now ?
J'fais mûrir des groseilles I am ripening redcurrants
Pour tous ces enfants-là. For all these little children

A Bruce springsteen interpretation of a Martin Luther King text, We Shall Overcome.

Music from the film Devdas. Not my favourite Bollywood film (I hate sad endings) but great music and great singers.

The person who received this gift seemed very pleased.

Magpie preparing her nest

In France, at 14, all the kids are asked by school to have a compulsory work experience which lasts a week. My daughter's teacher asked the kids not to go through their parents but rather try and find a workplace on their own. My daughter contacted her favorite video game store and was accepted. For a few days now she's been going to work every day. She manages to wake up every morning on her own, she accepts to take something for breakfast, she takes a shower everyday and hasn't been wearing her trainers for days. She does everything from helping customers to sweeping the floor ! It's the first time I've seen her so happy since she started school 11 years ago, she radiates energy and charm. I'm amazed and soo proud. But I'm beginning to feel old and humbled, beginning to foresee the day when she'll spread her wings to fly out of our little nest... Obviously, we parents are there for that, to prepare them to fly on their own, but I can feel our bond moving. It seems only yesterday that we felt anxious for her first day in school :o)

Spirit of Christmas

I know many people feel sad or uncomfortable at this time of year. I love Christmas but feel pessimistic about mankind in general.

Christmas is also the time of year when we celebrate the longest night in the year, and the return of light. Therefore it is a time when we can concentrate on our inner lights... just like Dalaï Lama.

May you and your loved ones experience serenity, love and warmth during the Holidays !

Flea Market and trolls

I went to a flea market with a friend today, and I found these extraordinary things, I love them although I have no idea what they were meant for in the first place - my youngest daughter thinks they are molds...

I have also discovered a wonderful blog today, dedicated to trolls, TrollMoon. This is in relation with an idea I have for my December BJP (adapting an Elsa Beskow picture) - check out the great illustrations !

"Take it further"

Following her "Take a Stitch Tuesday" challenge that ran in 2007 and gave many stitchers around the World the opportunity to learn dozens of embroidery stitches, Sharon B is launching the "Take it Further" 2008 Challenge.

You can read more about it here.

Having admired everybody's work on the "Take a Stitch Tuedsay" for the last 6 months, I have decided to join the 2008 challenge.

Er, well, back to my December BJP page then and my christmas presents... :o)

Nice quote

Sometimes you have to play a long time
to be able to play like yourself.
– Miles Davis