Cafe The Chocolate

For several days (I hope it wasn't weeks) after moving here, I thought this sign meant "Cafe: The Chocolat" i.e. a cafe named "The Chocolate."

Then I realized that THE meant "tea" - it just didn't have the accent mark above the E. So okay, it was a cafe that served tea and chocolate. Now a more observant person would have noticed there were no tables or seating, therefore it wasn't a cafe. Not me. Luckily my husband told me that "cafe" means coffee. Which I should have known anyway since I do drink Cafe Au Lait upon occasion. (Which always sounds like a spanish bullfighting drink to me: Cafe Ole!) So the real answer is "Richard's Coffees: coffee, tea, and chocolate." Pretty pathetic when even the easy stuff is hard.

I have been working on my pink cat. A very wonderful person commented on the positive aspects of my design in the last post. Thank you. I hope I didn't ruin it when I went to put my drawing into action. I slanted the cat's head so that the chin wouldn't be on the body. I wanted it to show up more. And when it came time to putting the tree in, I just didn't have enough room to put in four of the dandelions, only three. Believe me, I tried.

I used an Egyptian floss I have to stem stitch the tree. When I was at the little shop, the salesperson kept telling me it was silk. I was smart enough to know it couldn't really be silk, not at that price (a big bunch for less than a dollar). I think it's rayon - it has that glow. I also think it's what they use to embroider shirts, so it IS colorfast - I've got the washed shirts to prove it. Turns out the Egyptians use the word "silk" for cord. Or something like that. You can read how the silk cord is made in this great post by Jenny Bowker.

The cat has a face now. I stem stitched with regular quilting thread. I tried putting in pupils, but didn't like them. Do like the dandelions. They are large opaque beads held on with seed beads. One more to go. Then I'll have to decide if I want to add in more quilting. The initial stitches I did don't do anything for me - I won't be doing that particular method again.

The linen wasn't easy to applique - stiff and it frayed easily. Is that because I haven't washed it? (How unlike me, I know. It's just the cotton that I've pre-washed) I used running stitch applique which I suppose made it more difficult than it needed to be, but I like how it looks.

This little piece will be done soon. Then I'll go on to another little study. I still want to try appliqueing the silk (also unwashed) and playing with velvet.

And just to cover all the bases with this post, a kitty picture. Beautiful Lily.

My friend Will brought a quilting friend over to visit today. Unfortunately Joelle doesn't live in Paris, because she is a treat. She loves Gwen Marston and Freddy Moran, but just hasn't made that leap to liberation yet.

My sweet husband got an I-Pod for me. Partly because he loves me and partly to keep me entertained so I won't be bored and whine. Now I can sit on the sofa and quilt. I have one day's worth of podcats, so I'd better get listening.