Return from Paris!

Bonjour, mes amis! I just returned last night from my week in Paris and what a delightful whirlwind it was! This was my second visit to the City of Light (my previous trip was about eight years ago), so some of it felt familiar, while I also discovered many new (to me) sights and made observations I may not have been ready for last time.

As I'd promised (or threatened, as the case may be), I took lots and lots of photos, which I'll be sharing with you over the next few weeks or even months! I'll categorize them into posts which make sense (art, architecture, boutiques, cafes, gardens, etc.) so as not to overwhelm you or me. Today, I thought I'd start by just giving you a brief overview of my trip, so please stay tuned for many more detailed photos. And please feel free to comment or ask any questions along the way.


The above photo is of my family, with whom I spent the first four days. My brother-in-law (at left) is from St. Albans, England, so he and my sister (second from left) were primarily in Europe to visit his parents and sister-in-law and brother (at right). (By the way, both ladies are expecting in February!) When I heard they were planning to spend a few days in Paris I told them they couldn't go without me, so everyone invited me to join them! After they returned to England, I stayed on in Paris for a few days by myself.

Here I am also at the Place de St. Michel, a bustling area filled with shoppes, cafes and a Metro station near our hotel in the 5th Arrondisment.


I look a little tired after just getting off the plane from California, n'est pas?

An example of the streets in our district.



This is the view I woke up to from my hotel balcony every morning.


The Sorbonne University, a defining landmark in this area known for its college students.


And here I am overlooking the Seine River, one of my most favourite places in all of Paris.




The Louvre Museum, where I spent no less than five hours one afternoon!


Another favourite spot of mine is the Luxembourg Gardens, literally across the street from our hotel. The well-manicured lawns are so lush against the ancient architecture of this city.


Here is Notre Dame Cathedral, where I had the pleasure of exploring its interior for the first time. Breathtaking!


Now, I know this next photo appears a little random, but if you take a close look, it is none other than Claudia Strasser of The Paris Apartment fame! I have been such a big fan of her book and blog for a while now, and she was partly the inspiration for my trip! Seeing her interviewing a dealer at the Puce de Clignancourt (flea market) was thrilling! I was too shy to interrupt their conversation, so I snapped this candid photo from across the street. I'm considering sending it to Claudia, what do you think?


Have you ever seen so many delicious white shirts?


And my trip would not have been complete without a stop at this famous patisserie. The macaroons really are to die for.


I also had to take a trip to Versailles, since one of its former residents, Marie Antoinette, is my number one idol!


I can't wait to share much more of my trip with you - and would love to hear about your experiences in Paris as well. As always, merci beaucoup for stopping by! :) Robyn

Silly Girl

With my trip to Paris just around the corner, I've been too busy packing (and feeling a little anxious) to get much jewelry made. Instead, I opted to organize my studio so it will feel spic and span when I return. While going through my things, I noticed I had quite a few 'body parts' lying around and decided to have some fun and make a little lady out of them!






Isn't she sweet? And I did manage to get one pair of earrings made. I'm calling these 'ribbon candy' and they'll be available in my Etsy shoppe tomorrow.





So, this is it, mes amis! I promise to take lots of photos during my trip and will be posting them when I return at the end of the month. Until then, be happy and hugs to all of you! Au revoir for now! :)

Cherubs, Saints and... a Moose?

Bonjour, mes amis! I'll be leaving for Paris in less than a week, but have been busy in the studio, creating some new jewelry to tide you over while I'm away. I'm hoping to find lots of delicious French pieces at the flea markets there, but in the meantime, here's what I've been up to.


This necklace features an art deco-era gold-filled notepad that was probably originally used in a chatelaine! I imagine it was given to the members of a 'Moose' lodge club.




I don't think I will ever tire of looking at Victorian photographs, and this handsome couple makes a whimsical pair of earrings when teamed with mid-century floral findings, don'tcha think?






And now for something a little more serious, this gorgeous necklace features a sterling silver Catholic medal, brilliant flourite stones, and a vintage Paris souvenir bracelet. It's the kind of piece you can treasure forever.







Finally, I created this stunningly sweet cherub necklace, which I think would be perfect to wear at holiday time or even to the grocery store. Why not, after all?






Thank you for stopping by! I will try to write one more post before I leave for Paris! Bon soir! :)

Honour, Strength, Adventure

Well, mes amis, I'll be leaving for Paris in just over a week, and have been busy in my studio creating new jewelry before I go. As my blog's tag line states, I am perpetually '...a girl dreaming of Paris', but now I may be musing over the city's offerings more than usual. I'm fantasizing about visits to the flea markets and Laduree, but am also a bit nervous about spending some time there alone. I'll be meeting my sister and in-laws for the first few days, then will be on my own, and navigating around a foreign land is intimidating. To acknowledge these feelings, I created three new necklaces entitled, 'honour', 'strength' and 'adventure' - things I hope to have with me in equal parts throughout my journey. I've also sprinkled in three new pairs of earrings, all of which are currently available in my Etsy shoppe.
























If you have any suggestions of places I should visit during my trip, please let me know! And I'll be releasing my new Red Velvet Collection upon my return. Thank you for stopping by! Au revoir for now! :)