LinoHandMade

When I was young, my friend's mother had a little store - actually I cannot remember well the place, so I am still unsure whether if it was her house that had many things she made on sale, or an actual store so I apologize if I end up lying without knowing - where she sold tons of really pretty things that she hand made herself. It would go from simple knitted stuff to complicated house decorations made of different material. Being one that likes hand made detailed stuff, seeing the things she made always made me very happy. One day she stopped her store however, probably because while looking at nicely done hand made stuff, the price to pay for all those hours of work is often high enough so that in the end there are not enough buyers in a small town to keep a business like this.

I lost sight of my childhood friend for some ten years after this, so I don't really know what her mother had been up to meanwhile, but when I got in touch with her again, her mother mostly did seasonal hand work: some knit work in the winter and some hand made stuff in the summer, mostly as a hobby.

In the last years however, she started selling on ETSY. What started with the making of handbags, makeup pouches and wallets turned into crochet work key holders, knitted work and now fine jewelry. I really like her work a lot and whenever I have a crush on one of them I buy it from her. I did so with a hand knit neck warmer earlier this year, and last week I got a pair of earrings.

My childhood friend and I met up last week to grab breakfast in a restaurant and she brought me the earrings - instead of having to wait after the mail :P. The things her mother makes are always made with such care and even the wrapping is really pretty. I strongly encourage you guys to go see her work and let yourself be tempted if something in there gets your attention!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Linohandmade

There is a place in my hometown, a place we call "La Ressourcerie", where everyone can bring stuff they don't use anymore. Anything, I mean anything, is fine. Upon receiving the used stuff, the place picks out what is still fine and usable, cleans or restore it to the best they can, and sell them at really really cheap prices. This place is technically meant to be used by people without much money, but is open to anyone. When I left for Montreal for University, I got all my kitchen ware from there. I got a pretty white/cream set with light green and brown stripes. The wholes set included some 9 cups, 4-5 small plates, 8 large plates, 10 bowls all in good shape. All this for $11.

While most of the stuff they have is quite old, me and my mother really enjoy going there in the hope of finding some cute treasure. The other day, my mom brought back a baby size white wicker rocking chair matching the desk and chair I have in my bedroom and when I came back from work, I found out that my huge teddy bear now had a seat - I might upload a picture of the chair sometime later...

Last Wednesday thus, I found a really pretty milk holder in japanese porcelain with a very detailes drawing on the side and golden lines. Isn't it really pretty? I just love finding this kind of little surprise. It was $1 for the set with the little plate.

On our way back from the Ressourcerie, my mother and I stopped by a bookstore and I bought a book by Christian Dior. While I am biaised by all that concerns brands I like, what attracted me first was the book itself, an old style fabric covered neat grey book with a mirror and a bow engraved in silver color. I read a couple of lines and I was seduced by the author's pen: simple, straight forward with a knack of sarcasm. While the books is by no means great literature, it picked my curiosity so I got it, regardless if the price, that I judge a bit expensive for a non-translated work (about $40). When I am done I might do a review on it if it is worth it...

 While Christmas is over since a while already, we never had the time to open our new year surprise socks. Yesterday, after a supper with my brother and his little family, we all got our gifts and mine was a very detailed pretty Camée, in delicate pink tones and gold casting. It can either turn into a brooch, by folding the chain loop down, or into a pendant. I love it so much!!!!

 

Arts

People, stop looking down on art students; Lest they'll look down on your one day...

Screen shot taken from the screening <3 looks like a resume picture XD

Inscription period started for Cegeps all around Quebec, so my Cegep had had a promotion video - which was produced by my big brother. A few weeks ago they were looking for people from Arts program in cegep, mostly graduates, showing what they did and what the art's program did for them helping their careers. Bein on of the only language student from the art program that was in town at the moment of the filming, I felt compeled to go, even if I technically had no time. So basically I dropped by for 15 minutes on my way to work and helped out. I can't say I was not curious of my brother's work, so I suppose it had not been completely uninterested...

Anyways, the video finally got out so have a look. Oh, sorry, it's in French...

New wallpaper!

I was looking for a facebook banner to put on the new facebook timeline, and what did I not fall upon? I found on a website, a super good quality picture of the wallpaper I put in my bedroom! It was too good to be true! So here I am, with a new nice looking wallpaper. 

Teh eh <3

I made many attempts making nice looking nails lately, and failed miserably. Once, I made something that looked like some frog warts nails. The thing is, I realized lately that shining utensils at work - with a cloth wet with vinegar - pretty much fucked up my nails pretty bad, so I really wanted to do some nice looking nail art so it would somehow protect them. Having a few days off in a row last weekend, I took some time to do these, going step by step. 

The first day I put a layer of protector polish,

The second day I put some flowers and transparent polish,

The third day I put another layer of transparent polish,

The fourth day I added the shiny tips plus transparent polish,

And finally, today I aded a last transparent polish layer. 

Now I just hope they will hold for a few more days, so I don't have to crush my brain, trying to find a new pattern to do new nails...

Anyways, don't you think I should have gotten a pink or a white stone for my graduation ring instead of my birthstone? I feel like the dark purple of my birthstone sucks, I keep on having it everywhere, without matching my style in any way... so lame.

I had been looking for a case or any kind of box to put my nail art stuff this past few weeks without much success, so I was quite surprised to find a decent one for a cheap price right in Geant Tiger, where we often go my mother and I, so find random stuff when the other stores are closed. I originally wanted to put my nail polish into it, but most of the nail polish handle/brushes I have were actually too tall to fit in vertical position - any other making the result looking quite messy - so I put all my decodens in it instead. Still, as both my decoden and nail polish material were put messily in different cookie boxes - you know, the metal cookie boxes they sell at Christmas time, that have different shapes and filling, but somehow all taste the same? yes, those ones - I feel I made a good bought. Now I just need to find something a tad higher to put away my polish stuff... oh well.

R.I.P. Amélie

I have had many things I wanted to blog about this week, 

and I ended up keeping them for the weekend.

However, something came up today, and I find myself no way to go around it.

One of my oldest childhood friend died in a car accident this morning, 

crashing with another car driven by a 18 years old girl. 

My friend died, I hope instantly - I don't have details on this, but I don't need to know -

and the other young lady is in the hospital, severely injured.

While I had not seen her since high school, she had been one of my close childhood friend, 

as we used to live close to another.

This is so weird, life that is.

I mean, this could have happened to me, why not?

We were the same age too, why is it that she left and I am still here?

May you Rest in Peace, dear friend, as many around you are mourning. They will all always remember you, and you will always be part of them in their sweet sweet memories. 

January Shopping

The other day I had an awesome dessert <3 My aunty made some hm.... how would I call this. It's like a pickled apple recipe, save that it's a bit like apple jelly... but with whole baby apples. Basically it's got nothing to do with pickles. Save the fact they're put in similar pots. Oh well. 

We had those with Coaticook's maple ice cream - a delightful ice cream, one of the only brand of ice cream we can buy that is actually made with 'milk' and 'cream' instead of powdered milk and water (IMO, we are stupid to make ice cream with the transformed product of the milk we sell to the US, and that they sell it back to us in powder, for cheaper: I mean, where's the logic in that? I don't blame the US for this, especially if Canadian companies are too stupid to take advantage of our rich milk production right here in our own country... really, some tings really don't make sense).

The mix of sweetened apples with the maple ice cream was quite too sweet, so we ate it with a delicious old cheddar. Really, people should all know about the bliss of mixing sweet and salty things. Not trying it is, IMO, missing out on an important blissful pleasure of the senses.

My boss is, with two other people, starting to build a food catering (?) - I'll need some feed-back on this term, I do not know if this one is accurate. It is basically what we call "Traiteur d'alimentation" in French, meaning we provide prepared meals to events and special occasions. We had a very busy Christmas time at Bistro Jezz, so the preparation took long enough to put itself together, but now the restaurant has its own food catering cart, with images of the awesomeness of our food on it. It's all shiny and really well made - refrigerated compartments, drawers and very easy to use to transport the various plates 

 I love how much energy my boss has, putting in place all sorts of projects. She is full of ideas and I respect her straightforwardness - is that a word? Anyways. I am happy of all the things she brings to my hometown, we really had a need for this kind of business. Plus, the food she makes is pure bliss. Do I use this word too much?

My mother and I are still waiting for the missing material we need to make frills, so while waiting for a call from the store we put together a piece of cork to practice basic points and get aquainted with the concept of working with those small bobbins. It's interesting how you pin up the thread all along the work. I still cannot picture how to use these to make flowers, fruits, and detailes frills, but I feel like I am on the right way teh he...

Talking about warm drinks I'll talk about coffee. Coffee is a monster. Coffee will, in time rule the world, I am sure. Coffee is probably worse than most drugs and addictions, for it is a recognized 'necessary good', and people don't see it as what it really is: a monster. 

Try not to take coffee for a day when you are used to drinking it everyday. You know what I mean. You know, that stupid headache you don't know where it's from? Yeah, exactly. Get my drift? 

Coffee is evil. 

Now that we are clear on this point... I went to have a cappuccino with my mommy this afternoon at a bakery close to my place. In the cold weather, the bakery was a good compromise between the really close Abstracto - where I think there is not enough light to go during the day - and the Chocolaterie le Gisement - much farther away, and full of too sweet stuff for the line :P. So we went to have a coffee, bringing a book, but in the end we just talked and the reading period that was planned did not happen. There will be other times.

La Pâtisserie Saint-Honoré has been open here for quite some time now, and it has awesome fresh breads and cute small cake, plus a variety of sweet delicacies and home-made jams. The owner of the bakery, a French guy from Alsace, earned the title of 'Sir' from the French Embassy last fall, for the extent of his work here and what he brought from his country to Quebec.

I love the colors of the Bakery/restaurant - here is a little screenshot of the place, sadly enough,
they did not have many cakes in the display today, as they don't make too many of them in advance

I went to do some shopping today, to look for small gifts to send to some friends living away from here - like, everyone I know, basically - but whose birthday are close, or who I'd told I'd send them gifts for Xmas and the like. I stopped at a kid toy shop I love particularly, owned my a friend of my brother. I am a big baby basically. But there is this one brand of dolls that I love, that has scented dolls, with different ethnicities - they even have read-heads :3... I think they did not need to... ha ha, but that must be why they got so many prices: they show love where other people show hatred :). I love the middle one <3 so cuuuuute the baby asian :)

So here is my accomplishment of the day! I put all the things together and will go post them tomorrow. I still have to Xmas cards to answer as well. But my mom has some as well so I'll write them when she does, so we can have tea together at the same time. Me loves spending time with mommy. Right now she is putting up wallpaper upstairs in the room beside my bedroom with my daddy. I'll take some pictures when we finish it and put the decoration altogether.

Immaculée-Conception

My mom and I recently found a frill and lace book and we decided that we'd try to make some nice stuff with it as soon as we get our hands on a good pattern to follow. When she was my age, my mother had bought a nice kit fo make frills and laces, but never ended up using it and so, the kit is still intact. I can't wait to try to make some stuff. I think it's going to be a lot of work and time, but don't we all love laces? 

I mean, don't I? 

I think the time and pain is worth trying anyways. Plus, if I succeed in making nice stuff, I'll be able to make frills exactly the way I want and decorate stuff I like around me <3 

Today I had my first class of the semester at the university of Quebec. the university recently bought old buildings to make new classrooms, as the programs were all expending quite a lot. Among the new acquisition, they bought my old elementary school, that had closed for lack of kids - we used to have tons of children in my hometown, and we had tons of elementary schools, but lately, as they all grew up and people my age did not have many kids, some of those schools, like mine, closed their doors.

What was not my surprise to actually figure out that I was going to have a class in my old school! So here I was, getting back in my memories, listening to a boring university lecture introduction in a local that used to be my 6th grade classroom. I loved the idea.

Immaculée-Conception, the building that used to be my elementary school. I was such a monster at this time too....

Before my class started, I went around the school to look at how much it had changed. I remembered this school to be such a big one that I found it really hard to believe that  it was so small. I mean, I had been really small when I went there I guess. But it is always weird to find oneself face to face with one's childhood memories, and discover that they were all a matter of a kid's perception. you following? Anyways, I found out that the basement, where there used to be a gymnasium, is now hosting the material for some random forestry class - i suppose, since there are all sorts of wooden models in one part of it. 

The rest of the gymnasium is still not completed and it made me feel sad to see it in such a dirty state. I mean, I remember our strict P.E. teacher, that was a bit of an OCD: he was probably one of the only teacher in the region who'd actually scold us if we did not change from the classroom indoor shoes to the gymnasium indoor shoes. He really hated having pebbles all over the ground, and insisted that we keep it clean at all times. Now that I look at what this cherished floor looks like, I feel like he'd go crazy... ha ha

I went to work tonight as a helper at the restaurant with my brother and we finished quite late, though it did not end up being such a busy evening. the last two tables ended up staying until 11h30pm so we had to wait until they were done. They left up almost half a bottle of expensive wine however, that we split with the kid who washes dishes. Oh sweet sweet wine. It was not such a bad evening afterall.

 

DayCare.... Church?

My dad had to relocate a Kid Center Care a while ago, in order to rent the space they were using in one of his buildings, and him and his partner ended up buying an old church that was closing - poor churches, they have no more meaning for most quebecers - and turn in into a daycare center. While the place was the only place they could find and basically HAD to buy the church, I think this could not have been a better choice. the church itself, for most of people in their 40s, held a very sentimental value, so turning it into a place where their kids will be taken care of sounds sweet. Moreover, the church is situated in the middle of a residential area where many families with kids have moved over the last 5 years. Finally, the building is right on the opposite side of an elementary school: it could not have been better. In the building there will eventually be room for 2 CPE (French naming for Child Daycare) of 70 children, and the front part of the church will accomodate a kid's "park"called Ouistiti, where parents can bring their kids to play in games similar to the ones in big McDonald parks. The latter is going to be independent from the to daycare centers.

I've been wanting to buy a Doll house for sometime. Lika a wooden old-style dollhouse,
so now everytime I see one, whatever the material, I long for my very own. One day........

My dad had to go take picture for the government to approve of the project and issue the permits to open the daycare center so I accompanied him and took a bit of my very own pictures, trying to get the best angles I could. It is very hard to get a feel of a 3D construction from the inside when taking pictures, so I apologize since the images don't look half as nice as the real thing. The construction  really makes a nice contrast.

On the picture above, we can see the unfinished side of the church, one of the two futur daycare. I took this picture to show from the outside, how peculiar the construction will be. My dad's plan were drawn so that the original roof will be maintained as it was, and while each kid's room has its own roof, we can see the original church ceiling when stepping outside, in the corridors. The whole construction has the feel of a Lego house built inside a church. I think it looks awesome. On the picture, this obviously look unfinished however, so whenever it'll be done I'll try to get a nicer view.

I love how the big cross was kept. Not because of the religious feel to it - even though I believe it adds to the magic of the place - but more because of the mixture of old and new, the feel of tradition kept up. It is weird how everything seems to fit, even though the colors are so different from the original and the plan so out of the blues.

View of the interior of one room, still messed up, as the daycare will not open til next week

I really love this staircase. 

This staircase will eventually be the way up to an office, that will have a nice overview of the whole building - well, the two DayCare Centers at least - since there is no proper 'roof' over the top of the corridors. I can't wait until they build this part! They haven't begun the construction of that place yet, as it is not mandatory to the well-functioning of the daycare center. The construction had to be rushed in order to have the permits from the government, so only the essential got done.

Daddy looking weird <3

The only thing that bothers the view now, is this metal pole, within which are hidden some electric cables. They had to go through the room, and they haven't found another way to do it as of now. Finding a better place is one of my daddy's current headache-giving-mission.

Second floor, rooms for the newly born <3 I just love the color choice. They look a bit more intense
than in reality. What we see in real is quite much more like too many greatly closer to pastel colors :)

 On Sunday there will be a sort of 'opening brunch' at the daycare, when everything will be done, cleaned and ready to start. I can't wait to go and see what everything will be like! Makes me want to work there, even if I greatly doubt my ability to stand kids for such long periods of time... oh well.

Again, my favorite part of the place, on another angle. We can see on the right, the metal bar I was talking about earlier

Original doors with cross-shaped windows.

I love how the old building was preserved, while making it anew in a cute way. Two of the three confessional rooms were actually kept intact, while the third one was turned into the electric control chamber (no clue how you call this in English). So there is a feel of tradition kept up.

Week end Synthesis...

Last weekend (well on Friday actually) we had the King's day.... have no clue on how you English peop call this day, but that's the day the Arab kings came upon the lil Jesus' bed after his birth. The celebrations we have for Christmas are all christianity-related, so let's embrace it. Whatever. While I am not a believer, I like this day a lot, since we used to bake a cake at home, and put a dry bean or something, in the mix before baking it. The person who'd get the piece of cake with it would become the 'king/queen' of the day. Dunno if it was my parents' doing, or just me being lucky, but I actually have good memories of getting quite often the said bean. then people'd have to oblige to my every wish for the day. I guess this is why we always had this cake close to going to bed... ha ha parent's cunning ways should never be underestimated. 

Well. I personally would never put up with myself as a queen for a day, especially as a kid. 

I was a monster.

A few years ago I learned that in French bakeries they actually use fine porcelain figurines that they put inside their almond paste pastries. It's much more interesting to keep those than to keep beans, if you want my opinion. When I was living in Montreal I bought one, and ate the whole thing with my best friend, just to have the thing, and it ended up being the leg/arm-less top half of a woman body wearing a corset. That was quite depressing... I personally had hoped I'd get a cute strawberry cupcake, like they had as display figures in the store. My bad. 

Anyways, point is that this year, we ordered 4 of those tarts in Bistro Jezz for the occasion, and had three couples in a row getting the figurines. We gave them golden paper crowns to wear - looking back now, I wish I had taken a picture of those people with the figurine and the crown. that would have been a nice memory - and let them keep the figurine. Sadly, a couple forgot it, so we kept it at the restaurant. A cute baker-lady and her fresh bread. 

I add up also, two desserts of the week, a chocolate génoise with chocolate mousse, maple and strawberry sauces and a cheesecake with a raspberry mousse and mint leaves. The first, I tried, it was delicious. the latter, I missed the opportunity to taste. I am sure it must have been great... *sobs*

This weekend was the last few days my parents were away, so I took most of my time cleaning the second floor - where my bedroom is - and did it like a bauss :) I actually hung curtains I had made last year for my apartment, and it helped a great deal with the look of the bathroom. I am quite happy with what I ended up, even in this very old-school in-need-of-retuning-bathroom. 

My mother and I took hours to make three curtains similar to this one. I am very picky you know, so just choosing the colors and patterns to use was quite a big deal ha ha. But I love the result. It's cute, without being too over the top.

 On Monday, my boss had an awesome menu for the lunch. Lacquered turkey - Quebec turkey - in maple sirup sauce, sweet potato chips, pecan confits, veggies and sour cream. Bliss. Literally. Now you know why I did not take the cheese cake. There was no more space in my stomac after this, especially since, waking up pretty late, this had been my breakfast...

Macha

I made myself some Macha today and I realized that my tea brush cracked because of the dry season here T___T so sad. Luckily I'll get to buy a new one in Japan when I go this winter :)

Sims Social

Short blog, just to show the extent of my doing next to nothing these days... here is my Sims house for now. I love the alice in wonderland stuff they just added, I ended up redoing my house much more than I thought.... whatever XD

La Rose des Vents

Picture with Santa <3

I had my Christmas Staff Party yesterday, with 10 people from my workplace. Some 2 or 3 of them could not come, and the kids washing dishes did not come either. We went to bowling around 3P.M. and had quite a lot of fun, being the only ones - plus one little family - in the entire place. I usually suck at this sort of stuff, lacking quite the strength to throw the balls like people normally do - I basically aims the best I can, and let the ball roll slowly and happily down the alley. My usual score is around 80-90. Probably the most I can ever get in bowling. We were not really good anyways, so I was actually in the high average. 

What was funny enough is that on the television showing the scores, there was also something that calculated the km/hr of each throw, which I had never had the occasion of using. The average speed was arouns, I would say, 17km/hr, which is quite fast IMO. One of the girl cooks had easy 25km/hr, beating the guys often by far.

Here, though, I must have broken records. My average was around 6km/hr :) Ain't I a sweet weak little person? Now I do not wonder why I never beat anyone with strength, there is no way I can.

After the bowling, that was more like a get together and chilling in the afternoon without the stress of work, we went to a Fine Cuisine restaurant calles La Rose des Vents to get a Christmas dinner. It was my first time going so I'll take the time to make a review. Ever since I tried The Bistro Jezz, I felt like all the other 'fine' restaurants around town were not going to be much impressive (Afterall, the place I work at actually has me saying it makes the best Western food I ever ate in my life, and I believe I've tried quite my lot of different places). I had heard of La Rose des Vents a couple of time without having gone, since it could be classified as more or less equal in quality with Bistro Jezz food-wise. At least that's what people say about it. The very fact that the Rose des Vent actually chose to have it's Christmas party at our place, and us at theirs could explain that we both have around the same standards. Anyways, yesterday, I got to try it myself. 

God it feels so good, in restauration, to actually be the ones to be served!!!

First impression: a cozy little restaurant, with probably a capacity of 20 people maximum, nice floral pattern on an old school wooden bar, big wooden chairs and white table cloth. The decoration is really sweet, much more my style than Bistro Jezz, that has more of a modern look (you can see the picture on the website I liked to, as mine did not turn out quite as well in the feeble lighting of yesterday night). We were the only customers, most people having already had their Christmas party before the Holidays, and the fact that the place is quite small. There is a big blackboard on the side of the room, with a listing of the day's menu, starters, main dishes, and Trou Normand.

After we settle down with alcohol, the chef (judging from the accent, French, but I did not get to ask where from) explains us everything in the menu in detail, from the ingredients, to the cooking methods not forgetting to mention why he chose one ingredient instead of another, and the intention of each of them. Just listening to the explanation had me gain 3 pounds I am sure. Everything seemed really good, especially the starters. There were two of them that got my attention in particular: Duo de Foie Gras and a Pâte feuilletée of regional goat cheese. I hesitated for a long time whether if I should not actually take two appetizers, then the onion soup offered before the main dish comes, and end up with a dessert - the latter being written on a separate little blackboard on the other side of the room. I ended up choosing a cranberry goose main dish, served with mashed potatoes seasoned with chestnuts. 

Verdict:

After the first impression, we had an awesome red wine Les Charmes - I'll have to look up for the whole name later... - and I took the Foie Gras Starter. It was pure bliss. Served with a Spice Bread - like those gingerbread men - each bite was like an explosion of flavor. People who took my second choice, the goat cheese one, said about the same thing. I can say I was anticipating the main dish more and more.

Goat Cheese Starter - I apologize for the bad quality of the picture, iPhone is not meant to take pictures underexposed
Ironically, I haven't taken a picture of my Foie Gras starter, I was too busy eating it.... Shame on me I suppose...

Thing is, the main dish was really insipid. The meat was cooked quite fine, the plates looked good and the ingredients were all nice and all, but there was literally no taste. I was really sad I did not stick to my first ideas, the two appetizers. A coworker and I had planned on sharing our plates, which we did (she got a beef tenderloin), with the same sad result. We had to come face to face with reality, the food was tasteless. 

Goose mean with Cranberry sauce and chestnuts potatoes

This is why I ended up taking a dessert. I felt like I had to finish with a positive overview of the place so I wanted to give it a last chance. My boss ordered three big plates of various cheeses, that were really good. Among them one of my personal favorite, the Cendrillon, which we had at Christmas at my brother's. I took a chocolate mousse and praline on a layer of crispy cookie served with red berry sauce. The dessert was just as blissful as the starters, luckily. This, IMO, saved the day. 

The quality of this picture got surprisingly much better than the other photos. lucky

So my suggestion is, if one needs to go at La Rose des Vents - and don't misunderstand, I absolutely recommend it - he should take the starters that appeal to him most, maybe two of them, instead of getting the more expensive and not tasty enough main dish. To end the evening in fashion, let him take the Trou Normand, of which there is a good selection, my personal favorite being the one with apple sherbet (really tasty, with little peel of apples in it), cheese and a dessert. They have a very big and good selection of wine, alcohol and cocktails for amateurs too. 

Having fun in between services....