Walk In Père Lachaise Cemetary With Celia

This morning I finally found the courage to go back to the Père Lachaise Cemetary in Paris to take more pictures (I'm having the hardest time getting out of bed lately). I went there a month ago and took a bunch of pictures with my Zenit EM. It was the first time I was using it and I wanted to do a test roll. But last week end, I wanted to unload the film but I broke it while rewinding it. Apparently this is a common problem with the Zenit.

I finished the second roll today and looked at the manual before rewinding the film and finally manage to do it. Victory!

It's kind of cool because I shot the broken roll in a hurry in order to drop it as quick as possible at the photo shop to see if the camera was still working. So I shot pretty much anything. Today with the new roll I took my time. Blessing in disguise I guess.

I took Celia with me. I figured she would be happy to get some fresh air. ;)

I got Celia through an Instagram giveaway. She's a little orphan from Dark Manor Dolls and I'm very happy to have her with me. 

I love it when mausoleums are made or part made of glass, it's always so dainty.

Last time I came to le Père Lachaise I was looking for this tomb. It's my favorite. I've been coming to the cemetary to see it for about 10 years now. But last time, I couldn't find it. I spent hours there and I just couldn't remember where it was. This morning I just walked straight to it by chance. I was so happy to see it again. I hadn't for years.

The funny thing is I walked past it last time. I took pictures of the statues that were right next to it and didn't see the Angel. It was just a few feet away. 

The statue must have so beautiful in the past. It still is. A few years ago the angel still had an eye, a very realistic one too. I saw that they redid the glass roof, probably because they buried someone in 2013. I thought this tomb was not used anymore because it's so old and the last person to have been put to rest there died ages ago. It's pretty tragic too, the family buried four little girls there, from age 11yo to 7months old, four sisters. Marie Louise, Uma, Emma and Elvina .It's always very moving to come here. The tomb said that their mother would probably not survive these events, and that we should pray for her.

Celia making friends.

Pretty flowers growing in between graves.

This guy scared the hell out of me.

I finally found a spot where Celia could stand and pose for me. :)

I really had a blast. I spent three hours walikng around and I wish I could have stayed longer but I was pretty hungry and out of film in the Zenit. As always I cannot wait to get my film pictures back. I need to drop them at the shop first maybe. :p

I'm glad I found the Angel tomb I was looking for, and I'm glad I brought Celia. Now I need to plan our next adventure.

Celia is Here!

After a month long waiting, I finally received Celia!!! I won her from an Instagram giveaway by Dark Manor Dolls. My first giveaway ever and I win!

I've been tracking her for weeks! She had been in Paris for two weeks and the USPS site showed they couldn't find the addressee (according to the tracking number). I was getting really nervous! But here she is!

I had a blast taking her to the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and the Champs Elysée! Well, I didn't take pictures at the Champs Elysée, all I wanted to do was buy a bottle of water, so Celia stayed in my backpack :/ But she's been there! :p

This is Celia at the Louvre. It was pretty windy so she had to lose the hat.

 I love dolls! I have six Blythe dolls and they have been my favorite things to take pictures of for a while. I kind of lost interest in them for a while though but Celia reminded me of those times when my favorite models were dolls and how fun it was! The perfect model! No complaining, no whining, no need for make up... Always perfect!! :) Celia is even better! 

This hair!!! Celia's hair is so soft and light!!! Sheer joy!

Celia by the Seine.I can't wait to send Rose (the nice woman behind Dark Manor Dolls) a bunch of pictures from this day! I love taking pictures of people. Unfortunately people don't like to have their picture taken that much... Another reason why I love taking pictures of dolls.

Celia by the Eiffel tower. I used to come there every saturday when I was in college... 

Ha... Paris.... The love hate relationship I have with it... I was born in Paris. And for years(from age 2 to 18) I would be in Paris at least once a month to get my eyes checked (I had eyes surgery when I was 3).

I would also spend the Toussaint holidays (a couple of weeks in October celebrating our deads here in France) at my grand parents' in Paris. My father's parents. Real Parisians.

When I was in college I used to come to Paris every Saturday to shop for CDs. In Saint Michel. Probably my favorite area in Paris even now. I would buy my books for college there as well.

By the age of 25, I found a job in Paris. I was living quite far away and had to take a 1h30 commute every morning and every night. But that was fine. I loved living in the country every night and going to the big city every day. At one point I even thought about getting an Eiffel tower tattoo on my back or wrist.

I've been living in paris for 2 years and  half now. I still have mixed feeling about it. But I feel much better than I used to. This city used to scare me. Mostly because I don't live here because of the night life or the 'culture' (I picture the typical parisian as being a very sophisticated person, going to museums and concerts all the time and drinking beers at bars all over the city, I'm the opposite. I stay home all the time.)

I made my peace with the fact that I'm not a 20 something French person coming from anywhere in France to live in THE big city. Paris has always been in my life. I thought for a while I was afraid of it but I'm only afraid of people who live here( but only for a while and then go back most of the time to their home town or else). I don't want to be this cliché of a parisian French girl, all dolled up, drinking Starbucks coffee. It's just not me. I dress the same as I did in highschool. And all I want is do my thing, in my corner.

I also went to the movies to see Mad Max: Fury Road. Pretty cool movie!

And if you want to check out Rose's work, go to her shop. Her Instagram is pretty cool too! :)

Making things and Winning Things

Shop

Ever since I came back from my vacation I've been feeling great! Rather inspired and I'm finally crossing things off my to-do list.

I also decided to make completely new brooches for my Etsy shop. I've been neglecting it for so long now. For some reason what I make for the French market doesn't sell at all anywhere else. So I made these way more personnal brooches. They are all free hand embroidered which I'm rather proud of :p I don't draw the pattern on the felt first, 

Shop

I made this one this morning :) Boobs and hairy armpit! It's funny because I don't think those broches would sell in France, and I already sold one uterus brooch to the US. 

Well, I'm not sure at all I'll make more sales on Etsy but at least I feel confortable putting those up for all the American customers. I didn't put them in my french shop. Not quite yet.

I also made yet another boeuf bourguignon with my julia Child's cookbook. :) And what's cooking without drinking wine at the same time I ask you? 

I haven't had a chance to share the last vacation pictures from my phone yet. So here we go! I bought this cute little dress in Quiberon. I'm so in love with it! I can't wait to wear it more! I might need to wash it though :p

Saturday night in the trailer, tea, sewing and the Simpsons...It doesn't get any better than this!

Sleeping time in the trailer in my Spongebob T-shirt.

Laundry day! I didn't bring enough panties so I had to wash a few. there were a nice decorative touch to the trailer.

With Biffy, my best friend's dog.

My Grand Pa and another ice cream cone... More pictures from the trip to come when I get back my rolls on paper from the shop. :)

Dark Manor Dolls

In other news I won this adorable little girl on Instagram! I never participate to giveaways, but this time, I don't know, I just wanted to be in on the fun. I love her eyes. I've been following the making of this doll on Dark Manor Dolls'Instagram and her eyes really won my heart! When Rose, the lovely girl behind Dark Manor Dolls launched the giveaway I knew I had to give it a shot!

I can't wait to have her! As soon as I receive the package I'll take her around Paris and take pictures everywhere! :)

You can find Rose's dolls here on Etsy.

And just because, here are a bunch of pictures of this little bugger. I swear he must have been a model in another life, he's always posing for the camera. I must say that all the time...

Time to get back to work now. ;)