Off to Paris!

Detail of one of Monet’s waterlilies paintings (taken on a previous trip to Paris).

This year I have to go to Europe to “mystery destination” to do some research for the NEXT book (the one I have decided upon, but not started yet). I was thinking of tacking it onto the end of the needlework cruise from Sydney to Seattle that I’ll be doing (just a short hop across to Europe from North America). As the cruise is itself three weeks long, that was going to make it a very long time to be away from home.

I’ve had the opportunity to contribute to a French language book on whitework, which was planned to be ready in time for Aigulle en Fête in Paris (8-11 February). The reason why they’re doing a book on whitework is because the fete this year focuses on whitework. A craft fair focusing on whitework? In an ideal world, I have to be there!

And so, some months ago, I wondered if I might be able to put the research trip together with the Paris fair. I enquired of the curator that I’ll need to spend time with in “mystery destination”. Due to me missing an email around the time that my grandmother died (I know that’s why I missed it!) I didn’t realise that the curator had said ages ago that would be ok with her. When I found the email, a month or so later, I enquired again if it was *still* ok, but she was then on a break for Christmas/New Year.

When she returned, she confirmed that it would still be fine for me to visit. And so, I booked everything, combining the trip to Aiguille en Fête with a research trip to “mystery destination”.

I had another little plan too. My sister Prue lives in Germany, and she’s an embroiderer too. I wondered if it might be possible for her to join me in Paris for the craft fair. I didn’t tell her of this plan until I knew it was going ahead, because I didn’t want to disappoint her if it didn’t happen. But when it was confirmed, I asked her if she’d like a weekend in Paris with me as a gift from me to her? Er, yes!

So now, not only will I be going to Aiguille en Fête (exciting in itself!), I’ll be doing it with my twin sister! What fun!

As usual, I’ll be travelling light, but that shouldn’t be so hard, because I’ll only be gone for about 9 days. It’ll be winter (not like the hot temperatures we’re having here in Australia currently!) so I need to think winter wardrobe. It occurred to me that when I was in New Zealand this time last year, on a teaching tour, I purchased some possum merino wool to make a jumper (sweater) and started knitting it. Possum wool is incredibly light and warm – perfect for winter travel clothes! So, I’m now on a mission to finish the jumper before I go. It may not be a particularly pleasant experience as the weather is so hot!

I will be meeting up with a fellow stitcher, Anne, at the fête, which will be lovely. I’m looking forward to seeing all the lovely French stitching, including the Au ver a Soie booth. And Prue and I will squeeze in what Parisian sightseeing we can. I’m hoping to visit some needleworky, textiley type shops. Prue hasn’t been to Paris before, so we’ll go to see some Monet, and do some other touristy things.

I will then spend a few days at a museum, with the generous curator, in “mystery destination” to study my chosen style of embroidery for the next book.

So much to look forward to!