Four years ago, the living room in my newly-purchased apartment was empty and floored with cheap tile.
I set up what little furniture I had.
In December, I was delighted to discover traditional terracotta tomettes beneath the tiles, and started the long floor restoration project.
Once finished with the living room the following June, I had a little more furniture.
Early 2010, I created a reading nook, repainting the recessed area.
Near the end of 2010 I had finished repainting the main wall, and had the lovely Art Deco couch and chairs set.
I never photographed the PC area, planning for it to be temporary. I wanted to find a nice, good-quality, yet affordable multimedia center that could bring disparate elements together. I browsed every store I could think of, but nothing worked. So it was that I ended up living with a multimedia area looking like this for almost three years.
Then, this April, one of my favorite stores, Habitat, had a big sale on furniture. As always, I checked it out… and this time, found two pieces I liked. The first was a long black multimedia center with three drawers. I put it in the shopping cart, went to check out, and was told it was out of stock. So I went for my second choice, a similarly wide, but taller and, I thought, somewhat clunkier, solid oak piece with straight, squared lines, two doors, and an open shelf. It was half off, making it less expensive than similarly-sized Ikea pieces. Once I had finished putting it together and settled on the best reorganization of elements (I had wanted to put my PC on the shelf, but it was just too large, so I stood it to the side), I could hardly believe how well its color and simple styling went with the rest of the living room. It looks like it was meant to be there.
No more need to hide this side of the living room! You may have noticed that these two recent photos have different coloring than all the previous pictures – before, I used a flash with the kit lens on my Nikon D40 camera. Recently I started using my 30-year-old prime lenses, without flash. Thus the colors are warmer, since there’s no blue flash to override the yellower ambient light.
A little while ago, two Dutch friends suggested a visit to Le Corbusier’s cabanon, a log-sided cabin with a view of the Mediterranean in Roquebrune Cap Martin. I hadn’t heard of it before, and apparently it’s only mentioned as an aside in some travel guides. Yesterday was our visit date! It was worth the guided tour – we were shown not only the cabin, but the adjacent restaurant owned by Le Corbusier’s friend, Robert Rebutato, and the unité de camping bungalows that Le Corbusier also designed.
The cabin is quite small, at 3.66m x 3.66m x 2.66m – 14 square meters, or about 145 square feet. I found this floor plan in an aRoots article on Le Corbusier’s cabin, but it’s not credited. In any case it does reflect the cabin well enough, though it’s missing the small window in the back upper right corner. Le Corbusier wanted three of the windows to open onto different aspects of the cabin’s surroundings: the small one near the foot of the bed is about a meter from the floor, rectangular, and opens onto the rocks behind the cabin – l’aspect minéral. To the right, by the work area, is a square window with a folding painting and mirror cover, that opens onto a view of the agave tree outside – l’aspect végétal. Finally, the square window near the entry opens onto the Mediterranean – l’aspect aquatique.
There is a replica of the cabanon that tours different countries, with a video at that link (The Guardian) and some nice photos of it at IconEye. One detail that doesn’t come through in them, however, is how the main room is not truly broken up, not even by the sink column:
There’s also ingenious built-in overhead storage:
Le Corbusier used the basic principles of the cabin’s design when creating the smaller camping bungalows for the Rebutato family. Each bungalow measures 8 square meters, or about 80 square feet.
Each has a colorful ceiling that ties together their differently-painted doors and window frames:
For more photographs: Roquebrune – Le Corbusier. Below, Le Corbusier’s “Modulor”, whose measurements he used in his designs. This one is painted on the north end of the bungalows.
Things have been busy for me lately, meaning less frequent posts, as regulars probably have noticed! Last weekend I did do another walkabout video while in Vieux Nice, linked above.
I’m very happy to say that in June, I’ll be going on a 2-day hiking trip to the Vallée des Merveilles, the Mercantour National Park’s “Valley of Marvels”! Our comité d’entreprise, works council (organization of employees for employees, essentially), organized the trip and got us a 60% discount. I used to camp and hike overnight in the US pretty regularly with family and friends; this will be the first time since a 1998 trip through the Jura mountains that I’ve done more than a 3-hour hike in France. The Jura trip was lovely – with a group of friends, we spent 7 days and 6 nights hiking through the Jura mountain range. Unforgettable.
In the Valley of Marvels, we’ll be staying at the foot of Mont Bégo, which anthropologists believe was considered a sacred mountain in prehistoric times, due to the large amount of rock carvings (petroglyphs) left in the area. In addition to deriving from the Indo-European root beg, meaning “divine”, Bégo’s rocky peak juts above all others and is the focal point of lightning strikes during summer and autumn thunderstorms. As we’ll be there in early summer, our group is hoping for a thunderstorm. Not your usual wish when hiking, but certainly understandable in this case!
Miss Susu the soot sprite, now almost 8 months old, still lives up to the mischief in her name. I’ve long kept my most-used sewing essentials in a handmade fabric box on a roll-out shelf beneath my sewing machine. Kanoko never thought to get into it, but once Susu noticed how the shelf pulled out and the top came off the box, well, she taught herself how to do the same. After coming home to pins and needles strewn about my living room, I put them into a tin, but still kept my small scissors and some thread cases in the fabric box. Susu kept getting into it and tossing everything around the apartment, so over the Easter weekend I decided I’d better find a kitten-proof solution.
Cheap plastic microwave containers are great for threads, so I found a set of those. But I use my scissors, thread cutter, needle threader and seam ripper often enough that it’s better when they’re easy to get at – a microwave container can be a little fussier than needed.
Thus this sewing “book” I designed and sewed by hand. Here’s the how-to:
1. Pick the tools you use most and measure them. Be sure to take your tools’ thicknesses into account. I used grid paper to make this step easier.
2. Play with layouts using the tool sizes. I decided on a “book” to be folded in thirds. Add enough spacing between tools for folds.
3. Add seam allowances to the drafted pieces that will hold each tool. I added a half-centimeter (about 1/4″) allowance since I knew I would be hemming the pieces by hand. Then cut out the pieces on your fabric. I chose a fun pink print with birds and birdhouses, and placed the pieces so that birdhouses would hold my longer tools, and birds for the wider ones. I also added a rectangular piece of black chirimen (silk) as a needle holder.
4. Add seam allowances to the main “book” pieces as well, then cut out the lining fabric and outer fabric. Here I used a Provençal print for the lining, and an upholstery-weight bird print on a brown background for the outside.
5. Hem pieces and attach them to your lining. For thick tools, remember to sew in some pleats on their fabric pieces so that the tools will slide in easily, rather than tugging on the lining. You can see two pleats for my seam ripper and smaller gathers for my needle threader in this finished photo. Handsewing is great for this sort of project, as you can hem first and then attach the pieces using appliqué techniques.
6. Attach the outer piece and lining as you prefer. I hemmed them first by hand for attractive stitching, then attached them with an invisible stitch. You could also put right sides together and stitch around the edges while leaving an opening to be able to turn the pieces right sides out. Once turned right sides out, you then make sure the edges are straight (ironing is usually needed) and close up the hole with an invisible hand-stitch.
7. Enjoy! Mine folds up small enough that I can hide it on my sewing machine, out of sight thanks to the machine cover when not in use. Kitten-safe!
I shot this little video today while visiting Cours Saleya. It goes quickly because as soon as you stop, the nearest seller will ask you what you’re looking for.
At this time last week, I was arriving in the 12ème arrondissement of Paris, home to the Gare de Lyon, Viaduc des arts, and the Bastille, among others. Like the last time I was there, it was for a three-day job training course, so I didn’t have much daylight to explore the city. I did very much enjoy my time there, though, since I got to catch up with two friends who introduced me to some great eateries, and also got to see some sights I hadn’t before.
The photo above is of a place I had already seen – this is a beautiful building across the street from Gare de Lyon, photographed just over a year ago in daylight here. It has a bit of everything: great art deco type on the brasserie signage, the Haussmanian architecture so typical of Paris, and striking colors. My first photo in the city was actually of place de la Bastille – when I got home, I was treated to the neat surprise of it being in bleu blanc rouge, “blue white red”, the colors of the French flag.
In all the times I’d been to Paris, I still hadn’t seen the Sacré Cœur basilica in Montmartre. It was quite a métro and walking trip to get there from Bastille, but I was treated to a gorgeous twilight setting with rare clear skies and the nearly-full moon gracing them. My Paris photos in this set include those of Montmartre; this one below is my favorite. The bright spot in the sky is not the moon, but something else (I quite like it, whatever it is). This is a purely Parisian shot, as I’d forgotten my monopod at home, so I used one of the wrought iron railings in front of Sacré Cœur to set my camera on.
The next day, the biting cold, windy weather got another addition: snow! I was delighted. Paris covered in a clean white dusting was an unforgettable sight and something I’d long hoped to see.
Here you have my Mister Furry-Britches, aka Kanoko, accompanied by Miss Soot Sprite, aka Susu. Filmed in 720p HD for your viewing pleasure. I’d just gotten the handheld camcorder, so hadn’t yet changed the settings to 1080p, but well, it’s cats. I hope to catch Susu doing her “throw my own toys” trick soon, and some of the funny shenanigans she and Kanoko get up to. As you can see even in this short video, they get along pretty well.
I also hope to film things in my part of the world – this is just a little camera, but I’m already impressed with how well it films. Plus, as it’s so small, it will be easy to put in my purse and take everywhere.
We’re in the middle of a cold snap in France, the Riviera included. A couple of days ago we had snow, though mainly in the back country. I walked up a nearby hill to photograph what I could from Nice.
A few weeks ago, an Italian officemate corrected someone talking about carbonara sauce with cream, saying that true carbonara sauce was from the Rome region, and she was pretty sure it used pecorino cheese – in any case, certainly not cream. In France, carbonara sauce is generally considered to be diced-up bacon (cooked), and a fresh egg mixed with cream. The hot bacon and pasta, when stirred with the sauce, cook the egg and cream just enough to thicken.
On a certain social site (which has been great for getting back in touch with friends around the world!), an Italian friend confirmed that the sauce used pecorino, and one of her friends mentioned that a dash of ground black pepper should be added too – that was where the “carbon” came from in the name. It all sounded delicious, so I was very much looking forward to finding some pecorino here in Nice. “Shouldn’t be too difficult, we’re near the border, I bet there will be some at the Libé market,” I thought.
I went there today, and sure enough, there was an Italian shop selling Italian hams and cheeses! With not one, but two types of pecorino: romano and tendre sardegna, which you can see in this blurry photo (taken with my cameraphone). The pecorino tendre sardegna is the cheese with black rind, two of them are stacked on the right. The pecorino romano is in the middle, marked 17.90€/kg. It also has a black crust, which isn’t visible here.
I asked for une tranche de pecorino romano (“a slice of pecorino romano”) in my own Niçois-ish accent, meaning what I said sounded more like “una transha de pecorino romano”. (French people who don’t know me first assume I’m from the area due to my accent… it’s a bit odd, knowing I picked up the accent because it’s actually easier for me to pronounce, being more rhythmic.) Also, having studied Italian at university, I used Italian “r” sounds, in the front of the mouth, not the French “r” rolled in the back of the mouth. “Romano??” the shopkeeper asked, seeming surprised. “Romano!” I nodded, smiling. “È italiano!” he smiled. I nodded, smiling again, happy to have found Italian cheeses.
Immediately after I’d nodded, I realized I’d misheard him: he had said “è italiana“, meaning he’d assumed I was Italian (“a” makes it feminine, me being a woman, whereas pecorino is masculine), and I had just said “yes” with my nod. English, French and Italian jumbled in my mind, I couldn’t say a word to correct the misunderstanding. “Italiani hanno molto buon gusto,” the man said cheerily. Again I understood right away (“Italians have very good taste”), so I chuckled and nodded, then mentally kicked myself for getting into a conversation in which I couldn’t participate. My hesitation made me too late to say anything in any language again: “Dopo?” the man asked. “Next?” literally – in French, market sellers often say “Autre chose?”, equivalent to our “anything else?” I motioned “no” and said “okay” for just the pecorino romano. (“OK” seems to work in 99% of Indo-European languages.) He rang me up, looking disappointed, and I left, feeling much the same way, wishing I’d been able to express myself.
Then again, it’s not exactly easy to explain: as simple a statement as “I’m American” may seem, those of us who live here know that it doesn’t conjure images of multilingualism or “good taste.” I am also “French”, though not born here, and being French does equate to ideas of “good taste” for some, but there’s friendly rivalry between Spain, France, and Italy as to whose taste is “better”, and depending on the person, you never quite know what stereotypes you’ll be running into. In any case, one thing is certain: I speak just enough Italian to embarrass myself. I still remember that stage of speaking French, too!
This morning I had errands to run in Le Ray, a quartier in the northern part of Nice. There are several businesses and buildings with neat typography on them in the area – I had photographed a few with my cameraphone last year, but it doesn’t take very good quality pictures. I thought to take my DSLR along with me on my errands today. You can see all the photos in my new set on Flickr: Signage in Nice.
1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?
- Became a French citizen (dual US citizenship)
- Finished my Masters degree in comparative literature at the Université de Nice… with honors! (I still can hardly believe I managed it)
- Started sewing seriously, for my own wardrobe, rather than just one or two pieces a year
- Subscribed to the opera in Monaco Monte-Carlo
2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don’t make New Year’s resolutions, I decide things as I go.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, a childhood friend! Also, more colleagues had babies. All are happy and in good health, though one delivery was a bit scary.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
A grade school classmate early in the year, yes.
5. What countries did you visit?
Italy, but only briefly, and only Ventimiglia, which is on the border with France.
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
Last year I answered “peace”, which was abundant in 2011, I’m happy to say. Right now I’m at a place where I genuinely don’t feel I’m lacking anything important. I do hope that others missing that peace could experience it.
7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
The day I freed myself from a man who turned out to have been dishonest all along. As happens with that sort, his false self fell apart all at once. Having experienced that before (not in such a close relationship, though), I knew to just let him drop and move on. I’ve been terrifically relieved since then, thankful for friends and happy for my independence.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Clearly, finishing my Masters degree with honors, in French, while working full time. I was so nose-to-the-grindstone that three months after my thesis defense, I’m still cleaning up piles that formed in my apartment!
9. What was your biggest failure?
Due to school expenses, again I didn’t manage to get my bathroom water damage repaired. This is a priority for 2012.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
2011 was remarkably healthy for me.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Sewing patterns and fabric. I’m set for the next few years. Also, my new cycling shoes. They’re so great, it’s like having a new bike.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Definitely, without a doubt, the same as last year: my friends’. Their presence, sincerity and kindness meant a great deal to me. I feel blessed to know so many neat people, who value empathy and trust.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Appalled – he knows who he is and why. Depressed – not for very long, paradoxically. It reassured me of the value of honesty, responsibility, and empathy. Seeing people who are so fundamentally dishonest that they can convince you of sincerity for a short while (with a well-practiced false self), is more depressing for their own account. They’ll never know what it is to trust another, nor what it is to trust themselves, even. Any joy and attachment they may display are naught but a camouflage for profound alienation.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage, food, and books.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Finishing my degree and riding my bike!
16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
This one, posted by a friend in response to a joke I made about being a cannibal (my Oregon university’s mascot is the Duck, and I baked a free-range duck for Christmas):
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Much happier.
b) thinner or thicker? Same.
c) richer or poorer? Richer, again, though that’s not saying much :)
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Bicycling and playing my digital piano, but that would have meant spending less time on my studies.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
I’m thinking about this and can’t come up with anything. Everything contributed to healthy growth, even the negative.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
At home alone, but surrounded by Christmas cards and well-wishes from friends :) And not entirely alone, thanks to my two feline sweethearts.
21. Did you fall in love in 2011?
I thought I was falling for a bit, but nope. Instead I learned to better appreciate trustworthy friendships; the love that already exists in life.
22. How many one-night stands?
I’ve never had a one-night stand and dare say I never will. I think I’ll delete this question next year, it’s kind of pointless.
23. What was your favorite TV program?
“Sense and Sensibility” (the BBC miniseries, which I only just watched this year, and loved).
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
1980s punk rock. I missed a lot of it as a kid.
26. What did you want and get?
An excellent graduate education.
27. What did you want and not get?
I suppose this could have an obvious answer, but it doesn’t, really. Sometimes, when you don’t “get” something that you thought you wanted, you discover that you’re surrounded by things that are just as wonderful, in different ways.
28. What was your favorite film of this year?
I didn’t really pay attention to movies, what with my studies.
29. What did you do on your birthday?
Relaxed a bit from work and studies.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
The year was immeasurably satisfying as it was; I’m happy with it.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
Independent
32. What kept you sane?
Friends and creativity, as well as Kanoko and Susu (my cats).
33. What political issue stirred you the most?
The Occupy movement.
34. Who did you miss?
Faraway friends
35. Who was the best new person you met?
Sue! We need to meet IRL too :)
36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011:
Being responsible, compassionate and assertive is very invigorating.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Who needs lyrics when you have rock, a muscle car chase, explosions, and CATS? (There is also a dog.)
