What Do Charles Perrault, Miss Clara And Embroidery Have In Common? A Giveaway!

Dear readers,

On February 15th we celebrated Tristan's birthday for which I baked the grand sum of 45 cakes (some large some small) all inspired by the colours of this work from our artist in residence.  

I simply love the fact my one and only son was born the night after Valentine's Day and because at the grand age of eight he is already a romantic I am gifting him this treasure entitled The Birds' Wedding Day created by Celia Hart of Purple Podded Peas.  (He also got a shiny, new bicycle.) I have also decided to take heed of Monty Don who claims February 15th - his wife Sarah's birthday - to be the first day of Spring whatever the weather.  (For his beautifully penned words on this date please refer to The Ivington Diaries.)

I have drawn inspiration from this book (I was certain I would).

The yarn is Koigu KPPPM

and have drawn lessons from my children on the fabulous art of delaying tactics while I should have been embracing the challenge of casting on My Rosebud Cinnamon Girl instead.

The yarn is Madelinetosh DK in Sugar Plum

I have gently told myself that part of my delaying devices were pardonable as they were working towards my Very Exciting Project which will be unveiled on the first day of Spring and which you will all be awaiting with bated breath, right? 

All these Spring colours have made me hungry for more and so I turn to eighteenth-century Versailles fashion.  I have succumbed finally to acquiring this book which relates the life and work of Rose Bertin, Marie Antoinette's dressmaker. I wonder if somone knows of English publications on this fascinating lady?

I have also been concocting a giveaway for you.

There are so many treasures I would like to gift you but I think it is time to celebrate my French origins. Merci Maman! 

As a child I was raised on the seventeenth-century writer Charles Perrault's fairy tales and decades later had the immense joy of weaving some of his texts into my thesis writing.  (What a privilege to be able to touch and scour through his original manuscripts!)  Some of you may remember my post last year on the artist Miss Clara's version of Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen.  Many of you expressed your enthusiasm for her work and for this reason I have decided to offer you Perrault's disconcerting story Peau d'âne - Donkey Skin - illustrated by Miss Clara herself. (Click on the link and you will find a fascinating short clip of the artist in her atelier.  It's in French!)

Her illustrations are exquisite.

Of course not all of you may feel the urge to read this tale in French so I am also offering this recent translation of Charles Perrault's Fairy Tales which I find rather good.

My third gift moves into the realm of embroidery but also remains French in essence.  Are you familiar with the shop Les Brodeuses parisiennes?  It specialises in embroidery and cross stitch designs capturing the beauty of gardens, Paris and the aesthetic pleasures of French patisserie.  I have chosen for you a vintage style linen tea towel with a joyful parade of cakes and 1950's Parisian ladies to cross stitch (please note that the DMC embroidery thread references are provided but not the threads themselves).

So if you would like to win these gifts simply leave a comment choosing either the two Perrault books or the embroidery.  What a delicious dilemma!  Do not feel obliged to become a follower of Millefeuilles unless you want to.  Should you kindly add a beautiful and splendid link to this giveaway on your blog you will get two chances to win.  Just leave me another comment to let me know you have done so.  The Giveaway will close on March 3rd.

Bonne chance à tous!

Stephanie

ps Great news!  Mademoiselle Toadstool arrived in one piece at her destination!