I'm not one of those people who collect Eiffel Tower tchochka's. After all, I love the view when I drive across the Golden Gate Bridge - the panorama of San Francisco Bay on one side and the Marin Headlands and Pacific Ocean on the other side - but can't imagine accumulating bridge paraphernalia. Yet now I find myself making a Paris quilt.
The design is simple: large squares of fabric imprinted with a map of Paris and triangles of contrasting colors surrounding the squares. No funny Eiffel Towers. No French poodles. Check it out!
I'm looking forward to quilting my way down the boulevards and across the rues. And then I can sleep in (or at least under) Paris every night. Stay tuned for a photo of the quilt when it's completed.
It surprises me that quilting is not more popular in France. Knitting and embroidery, yes. And of course Paris is the cathedral of couture. But on last year's trip I was unable to find even one quilt store in Paris. However, I did make it to Marché St. Pierre link which reminded me of stores in NYC's garment district with its stacks of fabric bolts. Beautiful silks and wools and velvets, but scarcely any quilting cottons. I expected to at least see Asian prints and metallics. I do like French toile, though. link And through French google link I found Association French Patchwork link which has quilting terms en français on their lexique page. The French patchwork and quilting webring has some charming personal quilting sites. link
If you know of any quilt stores in Paris, let me know.
