A Glimpse of Paris

January Eye Candy

2012-01-08T14:14:00.000+01:00

After spending Christmas in Canada, I am now back in Paris and enjoying my window shopping once again! I couldn't resist taking a stroll along Rue Saint-Honoré and taking a few photos of the fashions and jewelry in the windows of some of my favorite shops.
My first stop was Miu Miu where these sparkling heels caught my attention.

I also fell in love with the bags in the window!

I couldn't resist stopping by Place Vendome to see the left over decorations from the holidays. The white trees placed all around the area were beautiful, and the lights above the shops sparkled brightly.

Of course, my favorite shop windows are always the ones showing sparkling jewelry like Chopard and Pasquale Bruni. Hanging jewels and diamond watches were accompanied by huge cocktail rings with beautiful gemstones.

2011 Remembered

2012-01-04T18:32:00.000+01:00

As 2012 starts, I am filled with memories of the year past. I feel extremely lucky to be able to live the life that I have experienced over the past year. Starting out the year in Canada and being featured on CHCH Morning Live TV show was quite an adventure! You can see my "behind the scenes" video here!

After returning to Paris, Fashion Week was next on my timeline. I got invited to my first fashion shows and even found myself sitting front row at some of the venues! I got to mingle with celebrities, fashion writers and editors and loved every minute of it!

Spring time was filled with small trips in and around Paris. Monet's house in Giverny was one of the places I visited, and won't soon forget. It was beautiful and filled with spring flowers.

I spent my birthday eating cake at Laduree with my parents, then shopping in Chanel with my boyfriend!

The summer went by quickly spending 3 weeks in England, and small vacations to Venice and Ibiza with my boyfriend.

I wrote a series of articles for Canadian magazine, "A Needle Pulling Thread," and continued to make and sell jewelry from my website www.glimpsebeads.com

Before I knew it, Paris Fashion Week was here again and I was invited to some of the Spring/Summer 2012 collections. I was thrilled to be going to shows again, and enjoyed every minute of seeing the clothes come down the runway. I also love getting to see celebrities and famous editors at the shows! I photographed celebrities such as Uma Thurman, Jessica Biel, Leighton Meester and Jared Leto!

Attending fashion week, I was lucky to be featured in the Hamilton Spectator newspaper along with my jewelry inspired by the runway looks! During fashion week, I was also able to meet a couple of fashion icons! Anna Dello Russo and Rachel Zoe were kind enough to stop and talk and take a couple of pictures with me!

I spent Christmas in Canada with my family, but made it back in time for New Years Eve at the Eiffel Tower! It has been such a wonderful, adventure packed year! I can only hope that 2012 will be just as exciting!

New Years Eve

2012-01-02T13:01:00.000+01:00

Happy New Year from Paris! I rang in the New Year watching the lights sparkle on the Eiffel Tower! How did you spend yours!?

Seeing Double at Chanel

2011-12-21T16:44:00.000+01:00

At Paris Fashion Week, while I was outside of the Chanel SS/2012 show I was introduced to Sama and Haya Abu Khadra. The identical twins are 18-year-old sisters who are quickly becoming recognizable faces on sartorial blogs and fashion week front rows alike. Daughters of Rula Abu Khadra, founder of "The Art of Living" lifestyle boutique in Saudi Arabia, the girls currently live in Dubai.

They began generating buzz when they started buying for their mom’s store at international fashion weeks in 2008 at the young age of 15. Haya and Sama caused a fashion-blogger-frenzy when they showed up at events this year. With their beautiful cascading curls, model-like figures and, creative style choices, combining designer choices with colorful vintage picks, the two are definitely a show-stopping site.

Not only do the twins forecast trends for The Art of Living, they also occasionally hit the catwalks themselves. In 2009, they were personally invited to model for the Sonia Rykiel Spring collection in Dubai.

At such a young age, these girls are the image of stylish fashionistas, classy and sophisticated. There are definitely two stylish twins to keep an eye on for trend setting styles.

François Lesage 1929 - 2011

2011-12-12T15:50:00.000+01:00

December 1, 2011 was a sad day for those in the fashion industry. Master of Couture embroidery, François Lesage, aged 82 passed away after a long battle with illness. M. Lesage was a true visionary in the fashion industry.

Tucked away in the attic rooms of a five story building, overlooked by Sacre Coeur, you will find Lesage, Europe’s most celebrated beadwork and embroidery house. These tiny rooms hold drawers and boxes filled with more than 60 tons of beads, sequins, threads and 100 year old jet. Here, over 50 women are employed to create the intricate embroidery and beadwork seen on the haute couture gowns that line the Parisian runways.

Since taking over the family business in 1949, François had been the head of the world's most famous embroidery salon. Although he admitted that he could not thread a needle let alone sew a button, the Lesage atelier produced over 80% of all beadwork and embroidery seen on the couture runways. Under Lesage's leadership, the house had acquired such prestigious clients as Dior, Yves Saint Laruent, Givenchy, and Christian Lacroix.

When hard times hit Lesage in 2002, Chanel bought up the atelier along with four other atelier's of the industry’s key suppliers as part of its bid to ensure the survival of the "petites mains," or artisans. François still stayed on as head of Lesage and oversaw the daily productions of the house until his death.

With an embroiderer father and fashion colorist mother, Lesage joked that he was "born on a mound of pearls and glitter". Mr. Lesage was revered for maintaining the couture craft and its tradition of making every stitch and attaching every bead by hand. Unfortunately, hand beadwork and embroidery is a dying trade. The number of artisans is diminishing for a few reasons including, crafts workers retiring, a younger generation unwilling to carry on family tradition, and cheaper labor being available overseas. M. Lesage was a leader in trying to revive the craft and keep the tradition going when he opened Ecole Lesage.

Lesage founded his embroidery school, Ecole Lesage, in 1992 next to his Paris workshop to pass on the craft to the next generation. I attended Ecole Lesage in 2009 for the Professional Couture Embroidery and Beadwork course, and was truly lucky to meet M. Lesage a few times. There were two times when he walked through the classroom and personally checked my work and embroidery stitches. I feel honored to have been able to meet such legend. Inside the Lesage atelier, I had the opportunity to see hundreds of vintage embroidery samples originally made for designers such as Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Lacroix. It was a once in a lifetime experience that I will never forget.

Even though M. Lesage no longer owned the atelier, he was still very much involved in the designing and daily running of the atelier. I also saw him attending the past few Chanel runway shows in Paris where he was known for sharing insights with front-row neighbors on the craftsmanship in the clothes.

A week before his passing, Lesage was awarded the title of Maître d'Art, "art master" by the French culture ministry, giving him a chance to "say goodbye", said a spokeswoman for his workshop. He was also made an officer of the Légion d'Honneur in 2007.

I hope Lesage will continue to thrive as France's oldest and most well known embroidery atelier in honor of François Lesage. Couture beadwork and embroidery is one of the most beautiful and intricate art forms that transforms fashion into wearable pieces of art.

The atelier will continue on under the direction of Chanel, and continue to produce beautiful couture embroidery pieces for the fashion world.

Karl Lagerfeld Windows

2011-11-18T13:06:00.000+01:00

Parisian department store, Printemps, unveiled their Christmas window display last week with Karl Lagerfeld showing his wonderfully designed, Chanel themed displays. Once I heard that there were Chanel windows on display, naturally I had to go! Karl designed the windows consisting of marionette puppets that moved around. What could be better than mini-Karl puppets complete with his signature glasses and fingerless gloves!
I took some photos to share with those who cannot be in Paris to see these wonderful windows in person. Be sure to click on the videos to see the puppets move and dance around!

Another one of the Karl designed windows had a Russian Ballet with puppets that danced and twirled.

Wouldn't you want to fly with Chanel airlines!

Art Nouveau Apartment

2011-11-12T19:46:00.000+01:00

While wandering around Paris a couple of weeks ago, I came across this fabulous Art Nouveau building on Avenue Rapp, no. 29. I just love the look of this architecture and the character that it gives the building. Designed by Jules Lavirotte, this building was described by Salvador Dali as "the most erotic facade of Paris." Every inch of the facade is tiled with ceramic by Alexandre Bigot which adds to the unique look of the structure. Wouldn't it be fun to live in this building!?

Issey Miyake - Paris Fashion Week

2011-11-11T19:10:00.000+01:00

I can't believe I am still catching up with posts about the shows I attended at Paris Fashion Week! There was just so much inspiration to share and write about, that it is taking a while to go through all of it and get it posted!
One of the larger shows that I attended at Fashion Week was the Issey Miyake show held in the Jardin des Tuileries. After waiting in the hot sunshine for over 45 mins we were finally allowed into the massive tent where the show would be held. Thankfully there were cold water bottles and hand held fans waiting for us once inside the venue.
Once the show started, I quickly realized it was worth the wait! The theme of the collection was "Bloom Skin." It featured light, nude tone clothes with vivid colors symbolizing a woman who possesses both gentleness and strength.

The show featured a series of different looks all pertaining to flowers. It started out with a section titled "Bud," which symbolized an innocent bud waiting to bloom.

As the show went on, you could see the transformation of the flowers from a bud, growing stems into blossom, then full bloom. It was a beautiful show full of color and flowing fabrics. Using Japan's advanced weaving technology and Kyoto's traditional printing techniques, the silky soft fabrics showed delicate color gradations.

Semi transparent textures were created using a traditional dye house in Kyoto, which uses a special process on fabrics knit with two types of fibers. One fiber is dissolved, creating a sheer while the other maintains itself as a printed color.

The hat and head pieces in this show by, Christophe Coppens, were also a beautiful whimsical addition to the wonderful clothes. One reason why I liked this show is because they stayed true to the original Issey Miyake brand by manufacturing in cooperation with local craftspeople and creating pieces that are only made-in-Japan technology and ideas.

"A Needle Pulling Thread" Article Part 3 of 3

2011-10-29T16:44:00.000+02:00

Pick up a copy of "A Needle Pulling Thread" to read all about my jewelry! This month's magazine features a two page article with many photos of my work. This is the 3rd article in a series that I wrote about my life in Paris, and Couture embroidery. Pick up your copy today!

The Many Hats of Fashion Week

2011-10-24T17:02:00.000+02:00

From hats to fascinators and headbands, there were plenty of head adornments to be seen at Paris Fashion Week. I captured these street styles outside of the Chanel and Guy Laroche shows.

Models, Off The Clock

2011-10-19T00:50:00.000+02:00

Ever wonder what the models look like off the runways of Fashion Week? I took a few photos of the famous faces after some of the shows. You can see that some of them still have the hair and makeup fresh from the stage. From Ruby Aldridge to Freja Beha I captured some great shots of the models straight off the runway! These models were taken outside the Hermes, Valentino, Issey Miyake and Chanel shows.

Iris Couture Embroidery

2011-10-17T12:28:00.000+02:00

Just thought I would share a piece that I am currently working on! This is a couture embroidered piece that will soon be turned into a clutch purse. The hand embroidery is done with a Luneville hook which is the technique that I learned at Lesage, (an atelier house owned by Chanel). It is created with glass beads, sequins, threads and vintage silk.

This piece was inspired by the Monet Iris jacket that Lesage made for Yves Saint Laurent. This is such a wonderful piece, I really wanted to capture a essence of the original jacket in my embroidery.

Once I am finished the final product, I will post more pictures!

Hamilton Spectator Article!

2011-10-14T12:56:00.000+02:00

Thank you to the Hamilton Spectator for running a full page article about my adventures in Paris! It is so nice to be able to share my Paris experience with my Canadian friends. The article written by Carmelina Prete was featured in the Style section of the Hamilton Spectator on Wednesday Oct. 12 To read the full article, click here!

Celebrities at Paris Fashion Week!

2011-10-12T14:28:00.000+02:00

After spending the last two weeks running from show to show at Paris Fashion week, I am finally getting a chance to sit down and go through all my photos. This seasons fashion scene was a star studded event filled with celebrities. It seems designers have really taken an interest in filling their front rows with high profile editors and celebrities. From Lindsey Lohan, to the Olsen Twins, celebrities were out in full force to support their favorite designers. I thought I would share some photos of those I captured during the last couple of weeks.

Ciara arriving at Valentino

Carine Roitfeld at Valentino

Natalia Vodianova at Valentino

Nina Garcia at Valentino

Caroline Sieber at Valentino

Bernadette Chirac at Chanel

Rachel Zoe at Valentino

Fellow Canadian, Jeanne Becker at Chanel

Baptiste Giabiconi at Chanel

Alexa Chung at Chanel

Olivia Palermo at Dior

Uma Thurman at Chanel

Clemence Poesy at Chanel

Poppy Delevigne at Chanel

Jared Leto at Kanye West show

Leighton Meester at Dior

Bill Cunningham at Dior

Grace Coddington at Dior

Anna Dello Russo at Dior

Anna Wintour at Dior

Studio Rasa New Collections

2011-10-11T20:41:00.002+02:00

Rasa Jurenas is a multi award winning hairstylist and make-up artist, including the Canadian Hairstylist of the Year, 2006. She has just released her latest collections titled, "Golden Sun" and "Fashion Crimes," which feature jewelry by Glimpse Creations! Visit www.rasajurenas.com for more information about Studio Rasa. Her latest collection titled "Fashion Crimes" features a couture embroidered Swarovski necklace that I created specifically for Studio Rasa. For more information about my jewelry please visit www.glimpsebeads.com

I have previously posted about Studio Rasa, and jewelry I had created for her last year. Check out the post about it here! http://glimpsecreations.blogspot.com/2010/10/jewelry-for-studio-rasa.html

Photos by Paula Tizzard Photography

Talbot Runhof - Paris Fashion Week

2011-10-10T16:15:00.000+02:00

Such a wonderful collection shown at Paris Fashion Week! Before going to this show, I didn't know much about Talbot Runhof. Now that I have seen their collection, I want to know more! The show was filled with beautiful, feminine pieces that were completely wearable. Their use of color was strong, but not over powering. I would totally wear every piece in their collection!

I really enjoyed how the designers even considered the back of the outfits. There was always a nice surprise on the back of the clothes after the model walked by. It was a nice touch that left a lasting impression.

The shoes were also absolutely beautiful in all different shades of satin. This is one great way to add a little color in your wardrobe next season!

Fall Has Arrived

2011-10-08T18:04:00.000+02:00

Last week, the heat at Paris Fashion Week, now seems like an eternity ago. The weather has suddenly changed here in Paris, and it now definitely feels like fall. Today I took a little stroll along the Seine and felt the familiar crunch of leaves under my feet. I must admit that I am a little glad for the cooler weather since this means I can wear my new boots and Della Spiga (made in Italy) jacket!

Ingrid Vlasov - Paris Fashion Week

2011-10-07T17:12:00.000+02:00

Want to see what it is like to attend a Paris fashion show!? This is a little clip I filmed at the end of the Ingrid Vlasov show in the Intercontinental Le Grand Hôtel. This was a wonderful show filled with beautiful clothes! I will post some photos from the show soon!

Shoes of Paris Fashion Week

2011-10-07T15:27:00.000+02:00

There were plenty of fabulous shoes this season, both on and off the runway at Paris Fashion Week. Some fabulous finds included Louboutin and Giuseppe Zanotti. I took these photos at the various locations of shows around the city. I am in love with the gold glitter Miu Miu heels.... Which are your favorite?

Chanel Celebrities - Paris Fashion Week

2011-10-06T00:29:00.000+02:00

Yesterday morning I went over to the Grands Palais to watch for celebrities going to the Chanel show. Unfortunately I am not one of the lucky ones with a ticket to this show, so the next best thing is to watch the crowds attending the show. As I approached the building, I took my spot along with the other photographers. I wasn't there long when the first car pulled up with Uma Thurman! She looked wonderful, dressed in a Chanel jacket.

Next, Clemency Poesy and Leigh Lezark came walking in!

Poppy Delevigne stopped to pose for photos followed by Alexia Chung.

After spotting all these celebrities going through a side door, I decided to check out the front entrance. I ran into fellow Canadian, Jeanne Becker and got her to strike a pose for my camera.

Baptiste Giabiconi came out from the show surrounded by bodyguards and got swarmed by screaming girls. Baptiste is Karl Lagerfeld's muse and male model.

After getting home and being able to see the Chanel show online, I was not disappointed. Karl Lagerfeld is one of my favorite designers and always delivers a beautiful show. The show had an underwater theme and the clothes were delicate and beautiful.

Rachel Zoe at Valentino

2011-10-05T01:07:00.000+02:00

Today I got to meet and photograph Rachel Zoe! I was hoping to run into her at some point during Paris Fashion Week and it finally happened! I love Rachel Zoe, and am a huge fan of her show! It was so nice to be able to speak with her! She was heading into the Valentino show with her husband Rodger when I snapped these pictures.

Kayne West - Paris Fashion Week

2011-10-04T00:47:00.000+02:00

Saturday night, Kayne West showed his collection in an "off schedule" show in Paris. I didn't have a ticket this show, but I did go to the venue to check out the front row celebs who showed up. Most of the big names where somehow guided into the building away from the paparazzi. I did manage to get a few shots of some of the guests. Jared Leto showed up and walked out into street trying to hail a taxi after the show. He ended up being mobbed by fans, and walked off into the street of Paris.

Anna Dello Russo was standing on the street speaking with a friend after the show. Anna is the Editor for Vogue Japan and Style Icon. She was wearing a fabulous beaded gown, and sparkling shoes!

Nina Garcia was in a hurry walking along the street with friends, but I managed to get a quick shot as she hurried past. Nina has held the post of Fashion Director at both Elle and Marie Claire magazine and is currently also a judge on Project Runway.

Singer Ciara showed up and posed for some pictures for her screaming fans.

There were many more celebs that attended that hurried past by me too quickly to get a photo. Solange Knowles (Beyonce's sister), Anna Wintour, and designer Jeremy Scott were all just too quick for my camera! Also sitting front row was, Lindsay Lohan and the Olsen twins.

The vibe of the show was a strange one, quite different then the usual fashion shows. I couldn't wait to get home and see what the designs looked liked. Once I did get to see them, I realized that I didn't miss much in the show! Below are some of the pieces that Kanye showed.

Christian Lacroix Necklace

2011-10-02T12:01:00.000+02:00

Just in time for Paris Fashion Week, I have finished the first necklace in my Christian Lacroix collection!

This stunning necklace features a butterfly piece from the Christian Lacroix atelier. The butterfly features a hand painted ceramic wing and sparking Swarovski crystals. The main part of the necklace is created with Rhodium (Nickle Free) large link chain. Hanging around the front of the necklace is a mixture of semi precious stones and Swarovski crystals. The stones include Citrine, Amethyst, Aquamarine, Rose Quartz, and Peridot. This is a one of a kind beautiful necklace that will never be duplicated, and is your chance to own a piece of the Christian Lacroix legacy! This necklace measures 22" in length and is finished with an extra large toggle clasp.

Christian Lacroix was a french couture designer who unfortunately had to close its doors due to financial reasons in 2009. Subsequently, they sold off a lot of stock from the atelier ranging from beads to pieces left over from couture designs. I was lucky enough to find some of these extraordinary silver pieces which I am now including in some jewelry designs. Each pieces is stamped on the back with the Christian Lacroix logo.

If you are interested in more information or would like to purchase this piece please visit my website at www.glimpsebeads.com or my Etsy boutique http://www.etsy.com/listing/82797896/christian-lacroix-butterfly-piece

Anna Dello Russo at Paris Fashion Week

2011-10-02T11:13:00.000+02:00

Last night I went to the Kanye West show for Paris Fashion Week. It was a fabulous night, and I got to meet and have a photograph taken with Anna Dello Russo! She is so inspiring, I couldn't wait to share my photo with my readers! Anna is the editor and creative consultant for Vogue Japan, and is an influential style icon.

Dévastée SS/2012 - Paris Fashion Week

2011-10-01T14:44:00.000+02:00

Wednesday morning I attended the Dévastée show which was held under the pont Alexandre III bridge in a club called "Showcase." It was an amazing venue for the show, and I enjoyed the views of the Seine while waiting outside the show. Dévastée are known for their black and white designs. Once the show started, it was evident that they would be sticking to their black and white color scheme. There were beautiful flowing silk dresses with grey panels of photographs printed on them.

Their dresses and jumpsuits with prints were cute, yet chic.

They showed really nice classic pieces, along with their trademark funny little face prints. Overall a nice collection with a little bit of something for everyone!

Celebrities at Dior - Paris Fashion Week

2011-09-30T22:01:00.000+02:00

Today I went to the Dior show to photograph the celebrities! Hundreds of people came out to Dior hoping to either attend the show or get a glimpse of someone famous. After fighting my way to the front of the paparazzi, I was able to get some great shots!

I saw Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington fom Vogue.

I was very excited to see Leighton Meester from Gossip girl since this is one of my favorite shows!

Anna Dello Russo actually stopped to pose for a picture and starting laughing because she wanted to fix her hair before I took the photo.

Olivia Palermo from "The City," looked beautiful! She has the best style sense! After photographing her going into the show, I came across her walking down the street after the show! She was very kind and smiled as I called her name as she passed me by.

Bill Cunningham was there taking photos and was very pleased to pose for a picture for me. I don't think anyone else had recognized him! Bill is a well known fashion photographer for the New York Times!

Rachel Zoe was also at this show, but managed to sneak by me without getting a photo taken! Hopefully I will run into her at one of the other shows so I can get a shot!

Paris Fashion Week - Aganovich

2011-09-29T13:51:00.000+02:00

The second show of the day that I attended at Paris Fashion Week was Aganovich. I have never seen this show before, and I was looking forward to it. Coming from London, this was Aganovich's 5th time showing at Paris Fashion Week. This collection had definite British influence. They used colors from Francis Bacon's paintings and the distorted mirrors around the stage referred to Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" to show a realization that the world is more inverted than thought. The show opened with a clown speaking with a man in a business suit about a painting (the clown being Francis Bacon). Before the show, there was also a fake food truck set up with a British man yelling "Bacon Sandwiches for sale!" This was also a reference to Francis Bacon.

Once the clothes came out on stage, there were many 60's inspired pieces. Many were layered organza pieces with varying degrees of opacity. The hats created by J.Smith Esq were fabulous pieces made from different materials from leather to organza.

Sitting front row at this show was great as I got to see the pieces up close! Everyone sitting at this show also received a gift of a handmade metal mannequin dressed in a piece from the show. I thought it was a nice little souvenir from the show!

Paris Fashion Week - Moon Young Hee SS2012

2011-09-28T20:00:00.000+02:00

Paris Fashion Week started yesterday, and I was lucky enough to be invited to some shows again this season! The first show on my schedule was Moon Young Hee. I attended the show last season, and loved her use of fabrics. She is known for her meticulous layering of fabrics and subtle use of color. This season there were layered organza dresses, large frills and structural pieces. The frills were chunky, yet feminine and the structural pieces created unique silhouettes.

Suit jackets with bare shoulders created a different take on the "deconstructed" look. The clothes had an "inside out" look to them without looking too shabby.

In line with her subtle use of color, Moon Young Hee presented suits and dresses with strips of color organza sewn onto the pieces. She did increase the color as the show went on.

My favorite pieces in the show were beautiful, sparkling beaded tops. I was happy to see some glamor added into the show as evening wear.

Overall, a good range of interesting pieces that fringe the border of art as clothing.

Ibiza!

2011-09-25T14:00:00.000+02:00

One good thing about living in Paris is that the rest of Europe is not very far away! Just a couple of hours on a plane and you can be in Spain! Last week my boyfriend and I took a holiday to Ibiza, Spain. We had 8 days on the sunny island to lay on the beach and eat lots of food in the buffet. Our hotel was wonderful, and the beach was beautiful. Since it was after the summer rush, there were not too many people so we had our pick of spots on the beach, and there was hardly ever anyone actually swimming in the water.

Ibiza is known for its club scene, however we are not "clubbing" type of people, so we didn't venture into any. We just enjoyed a relaxing time, and took walks along the beachfront at night. One evening we came across a pirate themed market that had huge BBQ set up with a craft market. Everyone was dressed like pirates, with some people even having live parrots on their shoulder! There were booths selling everything from spices to glass art where they were demonstrating torch glass blowing! Overall, it was a nice relaxing vacation with lots of beach time.

It feels a little like the calm before the storm since Paris Fashion Week starts on Tuesday and I will be running around the city to the shows! Watch out for updates straight from the catwalks!

Christian Lacroix

2011-09-04T16:26:00.001+02:00

This morning I couldn't resist but go back to the Marche Puces Porte Vanves antique market. Last week I came across a lady who had bought up a lot of supplies from the Christian Lacroix atelier when it closed. I had to go back this week and have a better look through all her boxes of treasures! I must have spend about half an hour going though all of the beads, sequins, buttons, threads and metal pieces. I ended up purchasing a few pieces to incorporate into my jewelry designs! Each piece I got is stamped with the Christan Lacroix logo. I really liked how the butterfly and dragonfly each feature one beautiful hand painted ceramic wing. I can't wait to get designing!! If you are interested in a piece of jewelry incorporating any of these Christian Lacroix pieces, please contact me at glimpsecreations@yahoo.com or visit my website at www.glimpsebeads.com

Christian Lacroix is a french designer who was well known for his Haute Couture line which sadly closed in 2009. Personally I loved Christian Lacroix's Haute Couture designs. They were bold, fantasy creations, which is what Haute Couture is really all about! He was known for his theatrical style which came from his work while in the theater. Lacroix was also a great supporter of Paris atelier houses including Lesage who did many embroideries for the couture line. Below are some images from Christian Lacroix's collections from throughout his career.

A Common Thread (Brodeuses)

2011-09-03T20:23:00.001+02:00

A Common Thread/Sequins, or Brodeuses as it is called in France is a fantastic, must see movie if you are interested in embroidery. The film is about a young pregnant girl who gets a job doing couture embroidery with a woman who does work for Lesage and Lacroix. You see them stretching the fabrics over the frames, use the Luneville hook and hand sew pieces for some of the main fashion houses. I really enjoyed seeing inside the atelier and the various eye candy of the beads and sequins shown while they are stitching. Although this is an old movie from 2004, I just watched it for the first time today. As I watched the film, I worked on one of my embroidery projects and felt like I was working away along with them!

Someone had recommended it to me when they heard that I had studied at Lesage. I am so glad that I took their advice and watched it, and I hope you take some time to see it as well! Below is the French trailer for the movie, but don't worry... it is available with English subtitles!

Lanvin Fall 2011 Campaign

2011-09-03T00:46:00.000+02:00

Have you seen the new Lanvin Fall 2011 collection!? I am in love with almost every piece! The large statement brooches and jewelry just add to how fabulous this collection already is! This season is showing a lot of chunky statement jewelry, and I can't wait to make some extreme jewelry for myself! Check out my jewelry website for chunky pieces coming soon!! www.glimpsebeads.com

Raquel Zimmermann and Karen Elson show off some cool moves to the song "I know you want me," in this campaign video. I kind of relate to the awkward dancing that the two girls do since this is how I feel like I look when I am dancing! Alber Elbaz, the mastermind behind the designs also gets in on the dancing at the end of the song. It is such a quirky way of advertising their new line, I think I like Lanvin even a little bit more than before!

A Trip to the Paris Antiques Flea Market

2011-08-29T21:39:00.000+02:00

Yesterday morning I woke up early to go to the Marche Puces Porte Vanves, Paris Antiques Flea Market. I was looking forward to going all week and was excited about what treasures I could find for my jewelry. This antique market stretches along two main streets and offers everything from vintage furniture to dishes and silverware.

After strolling along the first strip, I came upon one lady who was selling sewing and jewelry supplies. As I started looking through the boxes of supplies that she was selling, I realized that I had come upon something very special. The lady who owned the stall then explained that the supplies were from Christian Lacroix's atelier. She had bought a bunch of the supplies when the atelier had closed down after going bankrupt. After hearing this, I was in heaven. Christian Lacroix is easily one of my top three favorite Couture designers. As my boyfriend was with me, I couldn't spend hours going through all the boxes so I will be going back next weekend by myself! I did find a magnificent gold filigree round 16mm bead that the lady who owned the stall ended up giving to me for free! I think she realized how excited I was to find her treasures! Can't wait to return this weekend and spend some time going through all her boxes of supplies!

The market is very interesting for browsing and treasure hunting. There were vintage Hermes scarves, Chanel bags, and Lanvin shoes. The fabric stalls with old embroideries were also very interesting, and old textile sample squares that had been matted and framed ready to hang on my wall! If only I could win the lottery!!!

I found some sparkling old chandelier glass drops that would be great for Christmas decorations! There were interesting pieces everywhere I looked, including old stamping blocks and beautiful ribbons.

Overall, this market is a great way to spend your Sunday mornings. Some of the vendors do start packing up as early as 11:30am so make sure you get there early!

A Day in Montmartre

2011-08-25T20:25:00.000+02:00

Today I went for a little walk around Montmartre. I originally went to have a look in the fabric shops there, but once I got there I saw that they were all shut down and under construction. I am not sure if they are closed for good, or will re-open. As I couldn't get my fabrics I wanted, I decided to take a little walk around the area! I always love going to Montmartre, even though I get harassed by the many guys trying to sell bracelets and bags and get followed by the girls begging for money, it is still worth the trip!

I love walking around the little cobblestone streets behind Sacre Coeur that are full of life! Artists show their paintings and there are many galleries in the area that are also worth seeing. The Dali museum is a great one to see that is full of jewelry!

There are lots of picturesque places to stop for a bite to eat that sell crepes and baguettes. There is also a restaurant tucked away down a little street that has a huge tree growing right through the middle of it! It reminds me of a place that I once went to on Salt Spring Island in British Columbia! I will definitely have to go back for lunch with my boyfriend one day! Overall, today was a good "tourist" day even though I came home without fabric!

A Needle Pulling Thread Article #2

2011-08-12T18:36:00.001+02:00

Pick up your copy of "A Needle Pulling Thread Magazine" at your bookstore!! Below is a preview of my article in this month's publication all about couture embroidery. This is the second article in a series of three that I wrote for the magazine. What are you waiting for!?? Go get your copy today!!

The Secret Lives of Dresses

2011-08-10T17:57:00.000+02:00

Just finished reading this great book titled "The Secret Lives of Dresses," by Erin McKean. It is about a girl who goes back to her old town to take over her grandmother's vintage clothing shop while she is taken ill. She trades her boring clothes for vintage glamor sold at the shop, and soon discovers that her grandmother has been writing stories to accompany every dress she sells.

This book is an easy read, perfect to take along on a summer vacation. I loved the idea of each piece of clothing having its own story and memories. If your clothing could tell a story, what would it say???... and do you believe that the right dress could change your life?

Hussein Chalayan- Recits de Mode

2011-08-05T17:58:00.000+02:00

This week I decided to go over the the Musee Les Arts Decoratifs in Paris to check out the Hussein Chalayan exhibition. After waiting in a short line to get into the museum, I bought my ticket, climbed the stairs and opened the door into the exhibit. Walking into the space, I needed to take a moment to let my eyes get accustomed to the extremely low lighting. As I wandered into the exhibition, I saw glass boxes attached to the walls which housed the designs behind them.

Personally, I was a little disappointed in the exhibit since all of the garments were behind glass with very little lighting, it was hard to really see the pieces properly. Of course, some of the pieces needed to be in the dark as the patterns were projected onto the white fabrics of the dresses, and some had laser beams shooting out of the designs. The dresses that didn't need the dark should have been in a different space with more lighting! I am usually interested in seeing the textures and stitches in the fabrics, but there was no way I could get close enough to see them.... I should have brought a flashlight!

Born in Nicosia in 1970, Hussein moved to London as a child. He earned his degree from Central Saint Martins College in 1993 and began to develop his distinctive style. Chalayan stood out from the start of his career through his highly inventive uses of various mediums, including sculpture, furniture, video and special effects. He uses these processes in his fashion shows, drawing inspiration directly from the political, social and economic times of his era.

I did enjoy the way he manages to make the clothes transform into things other than what they seem. The clothes are mechanical and are able to move by remote control on the runway. It brings a whole new meaning to the saying "a change of clothes!"

The Hussein Chalayan exhibit is on until November 13. There is more information on the Les Arts Decorative website.

Daphne Guinness Couture

2011-08-05T13:03:00.000+02:00

Style icon, Daphne Guinness is set to open an exhibition of her couture collection this September. The museum at FIT will host Daphne's extraordinary collection of pieces from such designers as Alexander McQueen, Chanel and Nina Ricci. I was lucky enough to photograph Daphne a few times at Paris Couture Week, and her outfits never disappoint!

Daphne Gunniess' devotion to wearing couture, and being a muse to Karl Lagerfeld makes her a true style icon. She truly appreciates the work of the couture houses and the craft that goes into each handmade piece. She has famously said, “We need better things, not more. We should not pollute the world with meaningless, unused things when we can make and support things of rare and precious beauty.”

The exhibition will run from September 16 through January 7, 2012. You can find more details at the FIT website. The exhibition will feature approximately 100 garments and accessories from Guinness’s personal collection, plus films, videos, and images, of and by her. This is just yet another reason for me to visit New York! I guess I better go book my ticket... Paris to New York!!!

*photos courtesy of FIT

Air Raid

2011-08-03T14:04:00.000+02:00

In Paris, on the first Wednesday of every month you will hear the sounds of air raid sirens going. The first goes at noon, then another one is followed at 12:10pm They test these sirens every month to make sure they are in working order. France would use these sirens in an event to warn of dangers, like industrial spills, nuclear accidents or terrorist attacks. It is pretty scary to hear these if you don't know what or why they are going! The first time I heard them, I wondered what on earth was going on!! Today, the sirens went at exactly 12 noon, so I grabbed my camera and took a video looking out my window. This is just a small clip to show what the air raids sound like.

New Necklaces!

2011-07-29T14:31:00.000+02:00

Have you seen the new long necklace tend!!??? Models on the runways, celebrities and even stars on soap operas are embracing this new chic accessory trend! I have now included a range of these fabulous necklaces in my new "Monet" collection. Each of my necklaces are one of a kind, and handmade in Paris, France. I am currently gathering my collection together to send to my sales representative in Canada. If you are interested in purchasing one please message me at glimpsecreations@yahoo.com
Or visit my website http://glimpsebeads.com/item_52/Turquoise-Charm-Chain-Necklace.htm OR my Etsy boutique http://www.etsy.com/listing/78155161/turquoise-charm-chain-necklace

CHCH Morning Live Video

2011-07-27T17:33:00.000+02:00

Last February I was invited on CHCH Morning Live to speak about my time at Lesage, and my jewelry designs. You can read all about my adventures in the television studio in a post that I wrote by clicking here. I have finally just uploaded a behind the scenes look at my interview on YouTube. Sorry it took so long! Enjoy!

The windows of Ave. Montaigne

2011-07-26T22:52:00.000+02:00

After watching the Tour de France, I decided to take the long way home so I could walk down one of my favorite streets in Paris. Ave. Montaigne is home to all the luxury brands you could ever want! Valentino, Prada, Dior to name a few! This is my favorite street to window shop and day dream of all the clothes I would buy if I were a millionaire!

Dior's windows had a different style today as the models were adorned in plaid dresses and knee high socks. Paired with the plaid were lots of fur vests, shrugs and jackets. Of course, the chunky layered jewelry also caught my attention!

Prada had some fabulous 60's inspired dresses paired with great clutch bags.

There was orange all over the windows at Emanuel Ungaro.

At Nina Ricci, I drooled over the red dresses! I would love one of these!

Happy shopping everyone!

Tour de France 2011

2011-07-25T00:14:00.000+02:00

Today, I went to Champs Elysees to see the finishing of the Tour de France. One of the many perks to living right in the city of Paris is being able to walk to many events around the city. My boyfriend and I tracked the progress of the riders on the internet so that we would know when they arrived in Paris. We learned to do this after spending a couple of hours last year waiting for them to arrive. We found a spot along the cycling fans and waited until the group of bikes rode by us. It is really amazing how fast they go! If you don't have a quick response with your camera, then you are out of luck! Congratulations to Cadel Evans who one first place!

Italian Window Shopping

2011-07-16T23:23:00.000+02:00

While in Italy a couple of weeks ago, I was strolling around the streets of Venice doing one of my favorite past times... window shopping!

The jewelry in Venice was amazing. There were many different styles and designs that I had never seem before. The glass beads from Murano were fabulous and the flower necklaces were beautiful.

The shoes in Venice were amazing, but expensive. They had sparkles galore and were very feminine and delicate.

The Italians know how to dress! They have a certain sophisticated style that just seems effortless for them. The clothes in this shop were beautiful and colorful!

Imagine serving your wine this holder!

The food in Italy was also amazing. The pasta and pizza was amazing, and the cappuccino was delicious. The bakery windows were filled with pastries, and marzipan shaped fruit. I definitely didn't go hungry on this vacation!

Paris Couture Week

2011-07-08T17:10:00.000+02:00

Unfortunately, I am in England this week and have missed Paris Couture Week. That means I am not able to attend any shows or blog about street style. I can however still gush over the beautiful creations that were shown on the catwalks of a few of my favorite designers.

Karl never disappoints me with Chanel. The designs were stunning as usual. This season's show had a theme of Place Vendome complete with street lamps even large Coco Chanel statue which replaced Napoleon at the top of the central obelisk.

Chanel certainly kept its atelier busy with this collection, showing dresses dripping in crystals and sequins. Form fitting gowns with exposed backs and shoulders were paired with high necklines to create unusual shapes.

Another of my favorites Armani Privé, was inspired by Japan for this collection and showed the usual grace and chic style that the brand is known for. Feminine and graceful, this collection showed pieces that were alive with color and floral motifs. Beautiful silhouettes were created and topped with Philip Treacy’s architectural head pieces.

I must say that I was totally disappointed in Dior this season. This being the first couture show without John Galliano, all eyes were on the collection. Bill Gaytten, Galliano's assistant for 23 years stepped in and tried to continue Dior's legendary couture show. Personally, I think he really missed the mark. The designs for this season were like something out of "Bozo the clown's" closet. It was certainly a trip to the circus that I did not enjoy! What did you think of the collection?

Another favorite of mine is Elie Saab. The feminine, graceful designs that the Lebanese designer shows, always seems to win me over every time. The flowing gowns drenched in crystals are quickly becoming a favorite for Hollywood stars on the red carpet. If only my bank balance would allow me to afford one of these stunning gowns!

Italy Mini Break

2011-07-07T21:01:00.000+02:00

Last week my boyfriend and I took a trip over to Italy for a long weekend. We landed in Venice and made our way over to Saint Marks Square to find our hotel. While walking through the tiny streets and over the bridges, I was in awe of the breathtaking scenery. The different colored buildings and little bridges over the canals were inspiring. An entire city without cars left us wondering such things as, how deliveries were made, or how people moved homes.

Venice is such a romantic city filled with Gondolas sailing down the canal and little Italian restaurants that serve delicious al dente pasta! We spent quite a few evenings in one of the many squares that fill with people who are relaxing and enjoying dinner at the numerous outdoor restaurants. If we were not sitting on a patio drinking wine, we were enjoying scoops of gelato, while we were people watching in the center of the square.

The masks and costume shops in Venice were amazing. Venice is known for their masks and there are numerous shops that feature artists creating the masks right in the store. I couldn't resist buying a silver and black mask covered in sparkles!

We took a train for a day trip to Verona to visit Juliet's balcony. Supposedly the location of the famous balcony love scene from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, the tiny courtyard was packed with lovestruck tourists photographing each other on the famous balcony. We also visited the arena, an enormous, spectacular Roman amphitheater from the 1st Century AD, crumbling on the outside but still functioning today!

Another day trip we took was over to Murano. I have always wanted to visit Murano to see the glass blowers and buy beads. I found the most beautiful glass beads to include into my jewelry designs. The island of Murano took us about half an hour to reach by water taxi from Venice. There are glass shops on every corner and glass sculptures scattered around the island. I can't wait to design some new pieces of jewelry with the new beads I got there!

Madame Grès

2011-07-02T14:26:00.000+02:00

Last week, I went to see the Madame Grès exhibition at Musée Bourdelle. It is an amazing showcase of the designers collection's throughout her career. Madame Grès launched her Haute Couture design house in 1942 in Paris. She was known for her use of jersey and draping (thanks to her incredible technique a width of jersey of 280 cm would end up as only just 7cm wide). Having the dresses shown amongst sculptures is a perfect combination as Madame Grès once stated, “I wanted to be a sculptor. For me, it’s the same thing to work the fabric or the stone.”

Inspiring, modern and beautiful, on display are 80 dresses, over 100 sketches and 50 original pictures from photographers such as Richard Avedon or Guy Bourdin. I thought the collection of pleated and draped dresses was stunning, and began to wish that I owned one of the beautiful pieces!

So, if you are in Paris I highly recommend going to see this wonderful exhibition. It runs until July 24 and you can find more information on the website here www.Bourdelle.paris.fr

There was even a dress that had a belt made by the famous embroidery house "Lesage!"

Ehud S/S 2012

2011-06-23T13:36:00.000+02:00

Last night I attended the Ehud show for Men's Fashion Week here in Paris. As I waited outside the venue for the crowd to be let in, I noticed the ever presence color choice of clothing in Paris. Black and grey were all that could be seen. I hoped that once inside, the models would be a little more daring in the colored clothing department. I was not disappointed. Inside, the guests took their seats, including Diane Pernet from "A Shaded View On Fashion."

Once the show started, models came down the runway sporting bright yellow lips and matching outfits. This season, designers seem to be in love with bright yellow. There were suits made entirely of the bright color or some with just a little yellow accent color. There were also beautiful crisp white suits that seemed perfect for a summer day in St. Tropez. Overall, a nice bright show with punches of color just in time for the summer season!

Royal Ascot Hats

2011-06-23T13:09:00.000+02:00

Ever since the Royal Wedding, I have been more interested in hats and fascinators more than ever before. This past weekend was the Royal Ascot in England where women get the chance to show off their most precious head toppers!

There was a collection of sophisticated and chic hats along with some wacky and over the top creations. Sadly, I was not there in person to celebrate. (my invitation must have gotten lost in the mail!) However, I have found some of the most interesting pieces that were photographed and thought I would share with my readers. Enjoy!

New Monet Earrings!

2011-06-17T18:23:00.000+02:00

Over the past few days, I have been working away on my new line titled "Monet." These are a few pairs of earrings from the collection that you can find here at www.glimpsebeads.com or in my Etsy bouique here http://www.etsy.com/shop/GlimpseCreations

This collection is inspired by a recent trip to Giverny where I visited Monet's gardens. The colors, textures and delicate beauty found in his gardens were truly inspiring.

Eiffel Tower Bread at Poilâne

2011-06-17T00:23:00.000+02:00

Today as I was on my way to the grocery store, I passed by a bakery on Blvd de Grenelle called Poilâne. This bakery is not like the usual Parisian bakeries that you will find on almost every street corner. This chain of shops first opened in 1932 when a young baker from Normandy came to Paris to open his first shop. The first one was in the Saint- Germain des Prés district. Today, there are 2 shops in Paris and 1 in London.

What makes this bakery special from the others? They are famous for their large round off-white crumb sourdough loaves that are baked in wood fired ovens. Most Parisians are known to eat baguettes, but before these were available, the sourdough loaves were the bread of France. The breads are even customizable, allowing up to 26 characters to be crafted out of bread and placed on top of your loaf.

If you happen to pass by this bakery on a regular basis, you will notice that they often have sculptures in the windows of the bakery. The reason for this leads back to 1969 when Salvador Dali met the owner of the bakery, Lionel Poilâne. He soon began to order objects and sculptures made out of bread. In 1971, he even ordered a whole bedroom made out of bread. He apparently wanted to find out if he had mice in his house!

This week, there is a bread Eiffel Tower scene in the windows of the famous bakery. You can get more information about the shops and history from their website here http://www.poilane.fr/index.php?passer=1

French Cliché

2011-06-16T12:36:00.000+02:00

I came across this movie that about stereotypes of France and frenchmen seen from abroad. It made me laugh and I hope it puts a smile on your face too!

Midnight in Paris

2011-06-11T20:11:00.001+02:00

Today I went to see Woody Allen's new movie, " Midnight in Paris." Venturing out to Montparnasse, my boyfriend and I took our seats for the 11am movie. Morning movies in Paris are much cheaper and there are a lot less people, so we prefer to go to the early shows.

After sitting through 20 mins of previews, the movie started and we were presented with images of areas around Paris. There was Place Vendome, Les Invalides, Sacré Cœur, and of course the Eiffel Tower. My boyfriend and I had to control ourselves after about the first 5 times we leaned over to each other whispering "look that is Saint Michel!" or "Our apartment is right over there!!" I realized this was probably very annoying to the others in the movie theater with us.

I don't want to say too much about the movie so I don't spoil it for others, but I definitely recommend this movie for those who want to take a little trip to the city of lights. It is a light, easy watchable movie that takes you through Paris past and present with some cameos from characters such as Salvador Dali (played by Adrien Brody) and Gertrude Stein (Kathy Bates). I loved the costumes in the Paris 20's scenes and wondered if I could get away with wearing a flapper dress today!?

Overall, both my boyfriend and I really enjoyed this movie and give it two Parisian thumbs up! I just wish that the "real" Paris was as clean and uncrowded as it was portrayed in the movie! I would love to sit in the gardens of Notre Dame with only one or two other people around me!... maybe if I go around 5am!

Window Shopping

2011-06-07T16:32:00.000+02:00

I found myself window shopping yet again this weekend. I love the window displays here in Paris because they change so often and because they are done so well. First I checked out Hermes and their windows.

Next stop, Lanvin where the models were striking quite the crazy poses!

A quick stop at Dior...

And then I saw these Chanel shoes! I LOVE them!! So sparkly!!!

Air de Paris balloon

2011-06-06T11:21:00.000+02:00

This weekend, I came across this giant air balloon in one of the parks here in Paris. In the middle of André Citroën park this huge balloon sits on the lawn waiting for tourists to take a ride.

Other then offering rides, this balloon tests and provides air quality in Paris. The day that I was there, it was flashing red which means "poor quality."

The balloon is 150 meters high and has 6000 cubic meters of helium. Paris is always full of surprises, and this was yet another. I never would have imagined that I would have come across a giant air balloon when walking through a park!
Unfortunately, the balloon was closed due to high winds the day I found it. I will have to go back sometime and take a ride!

Metal People By The Seine

2011-06-04T00:38:00.000+02:00

Yesterday my boyfriend and I decided to go for a walk along the Seine to enjoy the nice weather. We decided to go a different way then usual and explore a pathway that we had not taken before. We headed away from the Eiffel Tower and found ourselves at the Statue of Liberty near the Grenelle bridge on the Île aux Cygnes.

As we continued along the river, we came upon this great little restaurant overlooking the water. We will definitely be coming here for dinner one night!

Next, we came upon a statue of a vegetable seller.

Thinking it was very interesting I took a few photos only to see some more statues in the distance. After walking a little farther on, I was delighted to find a collection of them!
Outside of Parc André Citroën there is a temporary exhibition of these rusted metal statues created by Edgardo Carmona. They are fun, quirky and I thought they were interesting since they are not what you would expect to find along the Seine! Overall, I great walk along the river ending with a few metal people who mad me smile!

Shopping along Champs Elysees and l'avenue Montaigne

2011-06-01T22:16:00.000+02:00

Today I decided to take a break from my jewelry making and hit the Paris streets to do a little shopping. What better place to go for shopping then Champs Elysees! Truthfully, I usually just end up window shopping especially along l'avenue Montaigne... a girl can dream right!? Starting at the Arc de Triophme I headed down the street and first stopped at Cartier. They have beautiful sparkling jewelry and diamond, rose gold watches in the windows.

Next, it was over to Louis Vuitton. There window displays are always very imaginative and this time was no exception. The theme was a circus and there were small ferris wheels rotating with bags attached to them.

After checking out all my favorite shops along Champs Elysees, it was time to turn down l'avenue Montaigne. I fist came to this street at Couture week when Dior was holding their show here. (You can see my blog post about that by clicking here) This street is full of designer boutiques and it is my favorite spot for window shopping!

Of course, Chanel is my first stop.

I LOVE the bracelets stacked together! Maybe I will have to save up for these!

In the Chanel fine jewelry boutique, I found a watch and some brooches that I also would love to take home!

This Chanel shop is all shoes!

Passing by Emilio Pucci I snapped this shot of a beautiful dress that I liked.

Next, onto Dior I went. I love this Dior location. It is home of Dior Couture and some of their offices. They also have the best window displays.

This fabulous pink dress caught my attention with beadwork done on the front. I had to take a closer look!

Beside Dior was Baby Dior! So cute!!!

I have decided that I need something yellow this season after seeing these outfits from Prada and Chloe.

After all this window shopping I had to buy something, so I treated myself in H&M!!

Bois de Boulogne

2011-05-24T12:37:00.000+02:00

Since the weather here in Paris has been so nice lately it has been a perfect opportunity to get out to some of the beautiful parks that Paris has to offer. So, last weekend my boyfriend and I walked over to Bois de Boulogne to spend a lovely afternoon in this huge park. Bois de Boulogne is located on the western side of Paris, and luckily we are able to walk there from where we live near the Eiffel Tower. There are canoes that you can rent to row along the river that runs through the middle of the park. You could rent a bike and ride on the paths through the wooded areas, walk around the parameter of the park and enjoy the nature or just sit and relax while eating an ice cream from one of the many vendors.

We decided to walk around the water and enjoy the nature away from the bustle of the city. We came upon these turtles sunbathing on a little log while about 10 other turtles relaxed nearby in the water.

As we walked further, we found these adorable baby swans!! The mother was close by watching her little ones while she bathed in the water.

More babies, this time little ducks were swimming past us in the water!

After walking a while we sat alongside the water and relaxed in the warm spring sunshine!

One of the many great things about Paris is the many parks that offer a little glimpse of nature while still being in the city. Hopefully the warm weather will stay around all summer so I can enjoy these beautiful parks in the sunshine!

Birthday at Laduree

2011-05-20T13:47:00.000+02:00

Last month I was lucky to have my parents in town for my birthday! It was a beautiful April day, the sun was shining and we went to the Champs Elysee for a little shopping. Well, my mom and I went shopping and my dad went up the arc de triomphe for a little sight seeing. After buying a dress in Naf Naf and meeting back up with my dad, we headed over to the famous Laduree for birthday celebration cakes. Laduree is a luxury cake and pastry brand that is best known for making the best macarons in the world.

I was a little worried that we didn't have reservations, but we didn't have to wait long. We were directed upstairs through a little room with a fireplace to be placed at our table under a beautiful chandelier. The restaurant is beautiful separated into many different rooms and decorated in luxury wallpapers, and fancy chairs. I have gone to Laduree in the past, but only to buy macarons to take away. You may remember my last post about it here.

Trying to decide what to have is the main problem with Laduree. There are so many choices of pastries, cakes, macarons and tarts!

I finally decided on one that had raspberries and rose flavored cream. It was delicious!

My mom and I tried to eat them slowly and savor them, but they were just too good and ended up disappearing quickly from our plates.

What a fabulous way to spend a birthday in Paris!!

The Story of Isabella Blow

2011-05-11T18:15:00.000+02:00

In the spirit of the Alexander McQueen Show at the Met I just finished reading "Blow By Blow." This is the story of Isabella Blow, McQueen's mentor and muse. Blow by Blow written by Tom Sykes and Isabella's husband Detmar who tells the interesting and tragic story of the fashion icon.

Isabella Blow was no stranger to the fashion world and was best friends with Alexander McQueen for years before business differences got in the way. She was also friends with Philip Treacy and was famous for wearing many of his outrageous hats. She was an assistant to Vogue's Anna Wintour and Andre Leon Talley before becoming Fashion Director at Tatler. Pictured below is Isabella with Alexander McQueen from a shoot for Vanity Fair. Also pictured is Isabella in one of Pilip Treacy's hats named "Arrows of Love."

Such an interesting person, I wish I could have met Isabella! I definitely recommend reading "Blow by Blow" to get an inside view of what it was like for Isabella in the world of fashion. Tragically Isabella suffered from depression and ended her life in 2007.

Famous Graves at Le Père Lachaise

2011-05-10T12:24:00.000+02:00

Le Père Lachaise is the largest cemetery in Paris and is the final resting place for many famous people, therefore making it a bit of a tourist attraction. A couple of weeks ago, some friends and I set out to visit the cemetery. We bought a map at the entrance to be able to find the famous graves among the 105 acres of land. Once inside, we made our way over to perhaps the most visited grave, Jim Morrison. I had been to see it once before, and this time was just the same. The site was full of flowers, graffiti, candles and other items that fans have left behind.

There was a tree in front of the grave which was covered in writing from fans leaving their mark for Jim.

As we continued through the cemetery, we came across the grave of Oscar Wilde. The large grave stone was covered in graffiti with words for the late writer and poet.

Edith Piaf was one site that I had wanted to see. Edith's songs are just so "Parisian" to me that I remember playing "La Vie en Rose" as I was thinking of moving to France a few years ago.

Chopin's grave was also surrounded by tourists bringing flowers and taking pictures.

Other than the graves, Le Père Lachaise also offers a large park, beautiful gardens and lots of architecture. It was a nice outing on a sunny day with good friends!

Sparkling Studio

2011-05-09T11:07:00.005+02:00

A busy day in my studio today! There are sparkles and beads everywhere as I am working on custom Swarovski cuff bracelets!

I also stopped by my supplier last week and got some beautiful new semi precious stones. Today's post just offers a little eye candy to help brighten your Monday!

The Smallest Street in Paris

2011-05-08T10:36:00.004+02:00

Rue du Chat qui Péche is considered the narrowest street in Paris at only 1.80m wide and 29m in length. It is in the 5th arrondissement, just near the Seine. I happened to find this miniature street just by chance while strolling around the Latin quarter with some friends.

The name Rue du Chat qui Péche means Street of the fishing cat and was named after a picture on a shop sign. It was built in 1540, and is a pedestrian only street. At the end of the small street is this cute graffiti of a cat being sheltered with an umbrella.

Just a cute little find in Paris that I though I would share!

Pont des Arts

2011-04-30T19:13:00.007+02:00

Paris is known for being a romantic city. Just look around and see the architecture and glimmering lights on the Eiffel Tower as it sparkles at night. There are many "kiss worthy" locations around the city, but how about professing your love in a different way?

Pont des Arts bridge has become a spot for many lovers to come and declare their affection for each other by attaching a lock to the side of the bridge and throwing the key into the river below. This is meant to symbolize the strength of their everlasting love.

Some people find it rather charming, while others see it as another type of graffiti taking away from the beauty of the city. Either way, you can also come to this bridge and encounter many street artists singing, playing guitar, or painting as this has become a great spot to earn a little money. At sundown this bridge also becomes a very popular for picnics and parties that often last into the early hours of morning.

Personally, I like to stroll along in the daytime and listen to the various artists performing along bridge. I also like to read the locks that are along the bridge. There are so many different kinds with many that are actually engraved with sayings on them. It is just a little bit of fun for an afternoon outing.

Royal Wedding Millinery

2011-04-29T19:30:00.010+02:00

There were feathers and bows galore as the Royal elite took their seats at the most anticipated Royal gathering since Diana and Charles wedding. For me, the best part of the Royal Wedding today were the hats and fascinators worn by the guests.

Philip Treacy reportedly designed over 60 hats for the wedding guests. Two of my favorites were princesses Beatrice and Eugenie who looked like they had just stepped out of a scene in Alice in Wonderland. The hats they wore were young, and fun with a little bit of whimsy. Let's be honest... only princesses at a Royal Wedding could get away with wearing such extravagant hats.

There seemed to be a new trend of wearing the hats more toward the front of the head rather than tilted on the side. Victoria Beckham was one who sported this new look along with Tara Palmer Tomkinson who wore a bight royal blue one designed by Philip Treacy.

Also on show were many "flying saucer" type hats. Lady Sophie Windsor wore a chic navy blue one while Princess Michael of Kent looked amazing in a Sophia Loren picture hat. Zara Philips went the extra step wearing one that was tilted on the side adorned with large bows.

The Queen wore a nice yellow traditional style hat with little flowers on the side. Others at the wedding either kept with the traditional look or went all out in the name of fashion. Here are a look at some of the other guests and their choice of hats for this special day.

Monet's House in Giverny

2011-04-12T09:46:00.010+02:00

Last Saturday, I had family in town visiting so we decided to get out of the busy city for the day and visit Giverny. We caught a train headed for Vernon were we then got a connecting bus that took us into the town of Giverny, famous for Claude Monet's house and gardens. Walking around the tiny streets of the village seemed like time had stood still. You could imagine Monet walking the cobblestone streets and sitting in a little cafe in the town.

Once inside Monet's house, there were many pieces of his artwork on show in the fist main room you enter. Looking out the window at his gardens, you see the his inspiration for his paintings. Through the house are some of his belongings, his bedroom and kitchen set up as it would have been years ago, and even a little sewing room!

After going through the house and stepping out into the gardens, you are met by the most amazing view of tree blossoms and flowers blooming. The colors are a true inspiration. Since it is early April, there were tulips galore. The garden is set out in rows of flowers leading down from the house. (Don't forget to click on the picture to enlarge it and see the beautiful flowers up close!)

At the end of the main garden, if you go down under the little bridge you will come across his famous water lily garden which was the inspiration for many of his paintings. Water surrounded by flowers, bamboo trees and beautiful twine covered bridges create a romantic feel to this part of the garden.

I even got a picture taken with the famous bridge from one of his paintings in the background! Does it look like the painting!?

Boats were floating in the water similar to those Monet used to sit and paint in.

After visiting these beautiful gardens, I couldn't help but be inspired by the colors! I came home and have started making some jewelry pieces that are inspired by Monet's gardens. Watch for them soon on www.glimpsebeads.com

Beads From Long Ago

2011-04-07T10:29:00.009+02:00

While in England last week, I visited the British Museum. My sister, the history enthusiast, dragged me to see the Rosetta Stone. After much complaining about how I would rather be shopping in Harrods, I gave in and went to the museum. Don't get me wrong. I do enjoy going to museums, but as we only had one day in London, I just wanted to shop, shop and shop some more! Below is a picture of the Rosetta Stone.

Once we were in the museum, I was happily surprised to find how much jewelry, and textiles they had on display there. Once we made our stop to see the Rosetta stone, we started to look through the various other rooms in the museum and I came across these wonderful old beads! Strands of Lapis Lazuli, Carnelian and Gold were strung together to create these wonderful necklaces. These beads were found in a tomb from 2500 BC. The beads were found scattered and have been restrung. The Lapis would have come from Afghanistan, the Carnelian and Gold from India, Turkey, Iran or Egypt.

This reconstructed head suggests the original arrangement of the jewelry worn by the Sumerian women in the Royal graves.

In the next room, we came across this stunning gold cape from the Early Bronze Age about 1900 - 1600BC. The cape was crushed and pieced back together by the museum. This cape was very unique, so the owner must have been someone of very high status.

This picture shows how the cape would have been worn.

Next, I came across these stunning gold Torcs. What is a Torc you ask??? It is a large ornament made from precious metals or bronze and worn around the neck. They were common across Britain and Europe during the Iron Age.

In the last room of the museum we stumbled across traditional dresses. This one with all the embroidery caught my attention. These dresses are worn by Omani women living in the Capital Area around Muscat.

Overall, the British Museum had quite a large number of jewelry and textile pieces that were very interesting. I guess I will have to thank my sister for dragging me along to see the Rosetta Stone afterall!

Kathy Lagoli Scam

2011-04-07T09:33:00.003+02:00

Just a quick note to warm fellow bloggers about emails from Kathy Lagoli. Yesterday I received an email from someone named Kathy Lagoli asking "Would you be available to discuss this on the phone ?" I then got another one this morning saying "Hey didn't hear back from you, are you still in business ?"
I found this a little strange since they were from two different emails, and when I Googled the email address it said that it was set up the previous day. After searching the name Kathy Lagoli, I have found that many other bloggers have also been contacted by her. Not sure what kind of spam/scam this is, but if you receive the email from her, do not open it or send your phone number to her!!
Has anyone else received these emails from her??

Spring Sparkles

2011-03-25T12:03:00.003+01:00

Since this beautiful spring weather has hit Paris, I have been full of inspiration. The bright days, and vibrant flowers in bloom make me want to create! So, I just thought I would share a sneak peak of what sparkles are currently on my desk. I just finished three more hand embroidered Swarovski cuff bracelets. These will look beautiful when worn outside in the bright sunshine to catch their sparkle!
Each cuff is hand stitched with Swarovski crystals, vintage sequins, and glass beads on vintage Parisian silk. They are backed with Ultrasuede and finished with ribbon to tie around your wrist. These are currently made to order, so if you are interested, please send me an email with your color choices to glimpsecreations@yahoo.com Each bracelet is priced at $250 Canadian each.

Also on my work table are these beautiful sparkling sterling silver and crystal bracelets. These bracelets are going to my Canadian customers, but there will be more available soon on www.glimpsebeads.com Otherwise, you can contact me to special order one!

Models, After The Show

2011-03-19T18:23:00.007+01:00

After attending each show at Paris Fashion Week, I usually hang out for a little while after the show is done. Once the show is over and all of the fashion elite have left the building, the workers from behind the scenes of the shows start coming out. There are makeup artists wheeling their cases full of makeup behind them, hair stylists with bags full of sprays, straighteners and curlers and then there are the models. They are usually rushing to their next show to be back on the catwalk within the hour, yet they always find time stop and pose for the paparazzi waiting outside the venue. The following pictures were taken after different shows at various venues around Paris. Some models are still sporting hair and makeup from the show that they have just walked for.

Paris Street Style

2011-03-18T00:34:00.011+01:00

One of my favorite parts of going to Paris Fashion Week is getting to see the street styles outside of the shows. Everyone puts their best fashion foot forward and dresses in their most fabulous outfits to be seen at Paris Fashion Week. There are many types of people that attend the fashion shows, from editors and writers to stylists and buyers. They all have their own sense of style and I have tried to capture some of them that I spotted throughout the week. Some are beautiful and elegant while some are quirky and outrageous. Either way, I enjoy the parade of looks that I am able to see during Fashion Week.

J'adore Dior at Bon Marche

2011-03-16T20:22:00.005+01:00

Earlier in the week I had seen advertisements in the Paris Metro for a Dior exhibit at Bon Marche. Bon Marche is a large luxury department store in Paris that you may remember from an earlier post where I wrote about it! Today I decided to check out the exhibition, and I am so glad I did! This exhibition showcases the difference between the elegant designs that Christian Dior produced in the 1940's and 1950's and the more flamboyant style that John Galliano brought to the house.

Photos courtesy of Eternellement Dior

A few of the couture pieces on show were heavily decorated with beadwork and embroidery. This renewed my love for the work of couture. Each bead and stitch done by hand, to create a beautiful image on the clothing. Once piece stood out to me the most. It was a stunning pink piece that was folded and pleated to create an Asian influence. Sparkling beads and sequins created patterns of leaves and organic flowers all over the skirt suit.

Christian Dior - Haute couture 2007 - Paris - P. OReilly

The house of Dior will be going through a lot of changes with the recent departure of John Galliano. I am excited to see what is in store next for the iconic brand!

Elie Saab F/W 2011 - 2012

2011-03-09T21:11:00.008+01:00

Elie Saab's show this year was in a huge tent set up in the Jardin des Tuileries. As I walked through the ornate gates from Place de la Concord, I could see that the fashion elite had come out for this show. There were paparazzi everywhere snapping photos of well dressed people hurrying into the venue.
The show started out with a few nice black pieces comprised of high waisted black pencil skirts and tight little back dresses paired with a skinny patent black belt (this years must have accessory).

Deep plum colored pieces and floral flowing dresses then made their way down the catwalk. Wool suits made in the beautiful rich plum color were beautiful paired with Mary Jane inspired heels. The collection took a turn in direction with all red pieces including dresses with high front slits, deep V necks, wrap tops and dresses. Again, most of which were finished with a skinny belt.

This is when the show really started to get exciting, in my opinion. Beautiful, sparkling sequined dresses made their way down the catwalk flowing along the floor behind the model as she walked. A beautiful plum color sparkled in the stage lights followed by cream and black sequined pieces. The sequin dresses were elegant, and sophisticated.

The show continued on with beautiful classic pieces in cream and black. Wool suits paired with little clutch bags were modern with a classic touch. Overall, Elie Saab showed a beautiful collection full of sparkle and elegance.

Classic and elegant are best best words to describe Elie Saab's collection shown at Paris Fashion Week. When my invitation to the Elie Saab show arrived in the mail, I couldn't believe that I was lucky enough to be attending this show. I have admired Elie Saab's collections ever since I came across his Haute Couture collection a few years ago. There is always a timeless elegance to his creations, and this show was no exception.

Celebrities sitting front row at Elie Saab drawing lots of paparazzi attention included, Daisy Lowe, Elodie Navarre and Chinese actress Fan Bing Bing.

YSL Manifesto Tote Bags

2011-03-05T19:08:00.004+01:00

Yves Saint Laurent Spring/Summer 2011 Manifesto distribution is happening today!! If you live in NY, Paris, London, Milan, Tokyo, Hong Kong or LA then you are in luck! The company will be hitting the streets today to hand out free tote bags with their Spring Summer catalog inside! I was lucky enough get mine at the corner of rue Saint-Honoré in Paris! Just look for the YSL reps wearing black Manifesto jackets and a large crowd of people.
The tote bag was designed by Creative Director Stefano Pilati. It has the iconic YSL logo on one side, and a silk screen version of a photo from their collection on the other side.
To see the list of distribution areas, check out their Facebook page for a list of where they will be.

Amaya Arzuaga F/W 2011-2012

2011-03-04T20:02:00.008+01:00

I was extremely pleased to receive an invite to the Amaya Arzuaga show at the Grand Palais for Paris Fashion Week. I had previously been there only to stand outside and take photos of the fashion elite as they went in for the Chanel show. This magnificent building is a historic building that was built in 1897 and showcases an impressive glass vault.

Once inside, I climbed the huge marble staircase and found my spot among the crowd. The show started with a beautiful beige pantsuit with structured jacket which made the model's legs look like they went on forever.

The show then went on with a collection of pleated and folded dresses in a variety of bright colors. The silhouette created with the folds of the fabric were unique, yet wearable. Geometric dresses that accentuated the hips were a little futuristic, without being over the top.

The collection then switched into long flowing, dresses that trailed along the floor stirring up white dust as the models walked along the runway. Most dresses were black, with one large line of color circling around the dress as a reference back to the geometric feel of the previous dresses. The last piece that was shown was a beautiful long blue dress with pleated fabric to create another unique silhouette in the back of the dress. It was a nice way to end the show, as the audience was looking at the back of the model walking away and was left wanting more.

Manish Arora F/W 2011 - 2012

2011-03-04T17:20:00.008+01:00

Today I fell in love with Manish Arora. Held at Garage Turenne, this show was exciting from the moment I stepped inside the venue. Vibrant colors adorned just about every person that came to see this famous designers collection. Looking around the crowd, the excitement of the show was obvious. The staple black outfit that is usually the uniform at fashion shows was traded in for bright, energetic colored attire. When looking through the crowd, I noticed Kayne West sitting opposite me, also in a brightly colored leather jacket. Sitting beside him was the famous fashion icon, Diane Pernet of "A Shaded View on Fashion" website! I was so excited to be at the same show as them!

The show began with Magician Benjamin Dukhan wheeling an empty metal cage into the middle of the catwalk, covering it with a cape and, with a tap of a flaming torch, a model appeared inside. As the models made their way down the runway, I was in awe of the amount of Swarovski crystals that adorned the pieces. Each outfit had an impressive amount of Swarovski crystals, rich embroidery and mirrorwork. Embellishment combinations of lamé fabrics and crazy patchwork prints paired with crystal body armor created an almost magical presence in the clothes themselves.

This stunning floor-length ballgown looked as if it was made out of stiff colored paper and cut like a paper snowflake. The same pattern was then seen coming down the runway, printed on a full body catsuit.

I was also just dying over the shoes and boots that were covered in Swarovski crystals that were just about the most sparkle I have ever seen!

The collection from Arora was overall magical with undertones of stylized interpretations to Indian and Asian cultures. Manish Arora was recently appointed artistic director at Paco Rabanne. Fashion industry leaders are anxious to see what the over-the-top designer has in store for this iconic brand.