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MIDNIGHT BLOOM <3
Happy Monday, darlings!
Writing you here feels like a breath of fresh air! I have so many things to tell you! So much has happened over the last few days! The pop-up store’s opening is like a fresh start for me. Getting to meet you, see you wear the new collection, see you go on your way, carrying the flower tote bag. What a sight! I’ll tell you more about the boutique in my next article with lots of pictures!
Today I’d like to show you pictures of the new collection that came out yesterday! By the way, I love all of these pictures so much, it was hard just to pick a few! Thank you, Laurence Revol, for capturing these moments! This article might get a little long, so sorry, but when it’s good, you’ve got to make it last... I’ll post the article I wrote for the Daily Lemonade that’s in all of your orders, and I’ll tell you more about the news below in the collection’s video!
Midnight Bloom, new chapter! Every time we come out with a new collection, I feel like it’s better than the last... I guess that’s a good sign! This time we wanted to go big! This collection has an important pattern: flowers. I didn’t want it to be too girly, I wanted it to be badass! Just think of a girl wearing a lace dress, with lots of tattoos on her arms, ready to take on the world without thinking of what others think, and who knows how to surround herself with good friends and love.
Laure is wearing the Sacha sweatshirt, embroidered like a tattooed arm. Lydie is wearing the white bloom Dita. Sarah is wearing the surprise shirt and the Julietta pants in white. Louise is wearing the Simona shirt with the removable lavallière in white bloom and the Pavone Julietta pants.
For me, it’s a little like I imagine femininity: full of contradictions, miles away from glossy paper and society’s fixed ideas. This woman can do whatever she wants and she doesn’t need anyone’s approval to get it done! You might think it’s a controversial subject... but things are changing. I think this generation of woman is thirsty for change, wants to break the mold and create a new kind of feminism. We’ve thought a lot about feminism at the Lemonade Studio and agreed that a woman is many things. Her description isn’t limited, she learns from each of life’s experiences and most of all, she makes up her own rules.
Louise is wearing the Simona shirt and the white Polka sweatshirt. Lydia is wearing the Simona nude colored shirt and the Pavone Julietta pants. Sarah is wearing white Julietta pants with a black cross-over body suit and the Pavone Thelma cape. Laurence is wearing the Dita dress and the black bloom Thalula kimono.
It’s rather ambitious to tell you all of this but this was how I wanted to handle this collection. This isn’t just another flower pattern, it’s a manifest to femininity... because a flower doesn’t have to be fragile and romantic... This pattern is a window to my current state of mind... I created it and recreated it since I was not 100% sure about it. One night, I woke up, anxious. Things weren’t okay, the flowers were tormenting me. I decided to go another direction, away from fragility and the ephemeral aspect of flowers and I was inspired by the outlines of tattoos for this pattern.
Louise is wearing the Simona blouse with a removable white bloom lavallière and Pavone Julietta pants. Lydie is wearing the white bloom Dita dress. Sarah is wearing the surprise shirt and white Julietta pants.
Peonies, dahlias, and other anemones kept me up all night until I was happy with and proud of myself, and I wanted to wear them! As for all of this collection’s clothes, I wanted comfortable pieces for every silhouette, while staying very feminine.
Louise is wearing a surprise coat and Julietta pants that didn’t last long on the website since you loved them so much. Sarah is wearing the Pavone Thelma cape and the white corduroy Julietta pants. Laurence is wearing the black velvet Dita dress and the anthracite grey Thelma cape, that has huge warm pockets!
For this new collection, we wanted to do things differently. You can shop the entire collection right away. New pieces are on their way, like shiny, floral stationery, zip-up pouches and most important of all, bed linens. (Yes, you read that right, BED LINENS!) And our wall paper... and at the end of the month of November, the Princess Tam Tam collection will also be available on our website! If you see clothing on this shoot that isn’t on the e-shop, it’s probably because they’re pieces form our collaboration with Princesse...
As for you sewing fans out there, don’t worry. There’ll still be a monthly PDF to keep your 10 fingers busy! The first pattern will be the Julietta pants that you loved. It’ll be available in a few days or so, as well as the Thelma cape pattern and the beautiful Simona blouse... We’ll keep you posted.
Keep in mind that I heard you and listened — 2017 is going to be crazy busy! Hugs and kisses, check out the Midnight Bloom collection on www.wearlemonade.com
Thank you, Elephant Paname, for welcoming us into your amazing place for this shoot. Thank you Louise, Sarah, Laurence, and Lydie for being this collection’s beautiful ambassadors. Thank you to Deliveroo for going along with us at the Lemonade Shop and for delivering delicious meals to the co-working space! Thank you to Asos for the shoes! Thanks to Julie Perrot for her help! Thank you to Stéphane Delahaye and Laurence Mastraello for beautifying the lemonade girlz. Thank you Anne, for your help and support. Thanks to the entire Lemonade Studio team for making this possible.
Translated by Whitney Bolin
WORKSHOP TICKETS ARE NOW ONLINE!![:]
The workshop tickets are online! Ready, set... go!
The tickets for the workshops that’ll take place all throughout the month of October in our pop-up store at 18 rue de Lancry, Paris are finally online! We’ve put together a crazy schedule for you, there are workshops EVERY DAY!
Explore the Midnight Bloom collection through decoration, paper art, sewing and embroidery classes, lettering lessons, and Print Van Paris screen printing, botanical workshops to make terrariums (with Mathilde!) and floral arrangements (with Bloom’s!), and even with The Crayoner tattoo artist! Better get moving, since we wanted to offer exclusive workshops with the Lemonade Team and other “good people”, there are NOT a lot of tickets!
Stay tuned for behind-the-scenes and pop-up news, don’t forget to signup for our Facebook event, we’ve got lots of surprises in store for you...
We’d love to see you all come and check out our new collection, chat while sipping a lemonade, and get your fingers movin’!
Lisa and the Lemon Team
Warning! Problems may occur while purchasing tickets due to heavy website traffic, please be patient!
Translated by Whitney Bolin[:]
AMAZING WOODEN BEAD CHANDELIER[:]
In between races against the clock, I sometimes take a break and do things that help me clear my mind like long, easy DIYs. I spent last weekend threading beads, literally! I’m also reorganizing at home (like now is a good time...). Plus, I’ve been looking around decoration stores and I can tell you that I’m very unsatisfied with their lights. Unsatisfied is a strong word, I’d say I’m frustrated because I have expensive taste. I’m sure you know what I’m saying, as soon as I enter a store, I’m always drawn to the most expensive thing, it’s a fact. But the truth is that this month has taken it’s toll on my bank account...
So DIYs and patience are my best friends! Patience for making tedious things but not for waiting for the exciting things in life! I went to a decoration boutique and I fell in love with a chandelier made out of turquoise terra cotta beads, super expensive even though it was a chain store that usually has affordable prices... It’s always the same. I thought to myself, I could make my own out of wooden beads! One season of Homeland and 2000 wooden beads later, I present to you my DIY chandelier for less than 50 euros!
You’ll need:
- A bobbin of thread
- 3 lamp shade rims, found at Rougié et Plé, 18cm diameter for the light bulb, 15cm and 40 cm
- Clear nail polish
- 2000 wooden beads. Oh yes, 2000 beads, 16mm big, found here,
- Glue
- Brass wire
- A pair of scissors
Take the rim measuring 18cm in diameter, this will hold the lightbulb. Attach the thread next to the three arms, making triple knots. Cut each thread so that they measure 1m50 long. Dip the end of the thread in clear nail polish to make it stiff. This will make it a lot easier to thread the beads.
Start threading the beads onto the first three threads, 35 beads each. Glue the knots at the end and cut off the extra thread.
Between two cabinets, or two bar stools, set a rod, a broomstick, etc... hang your chandelier and three threads of beads. Now attach the largest rim using the three threads of beads with a simple knot, each equally spaced out. Tighten each of your knots so that there isn’t any extra space on the thread between the first beads and the light bulb rim.
Keep in mind that it’s important to keep things even and equal, and always use the same size beads and keep the same number of beads on each thread. Now thread 25 beads on the three threads and attach them to the smallest rim with triple knots.
Continue doing this. You’ll need thirty rows of beaded threads for this chandelier. Be careful, when you attach the next row, I suggest putting them around the chandelier, next to your first three rows. When you’ve attached 7 rows next to the first 3 rows that were used to start, thread 20 beads and attach to the smallest rim. This will add an elegant, drapery effect!
Now wrap the brass wire around the biggest circle. Thread on a bead and wrap it around the rim, every three beads, interleave a row of beads in in the brass loop and do this around your chandelier. You can add rows of beads to your chandelier, threading the brass wire through the previously attached beads, the style is up to you. It could look nice to play with different size beads!
Glue all the knots on the ends of the rows of beads, let dry several minutes. Then cut and TADA!
Translated by Whitney Bolin
[:]HAPPY FRIDAY #95
My darlings, summer’s over.
Thank you for your kind words when we announced our first pop-up shop, they made me so happy! If you only know how they inspire us... My nights are getting shorter and I’m trying to think of everything down to the last detail: the playlists, the lighting, the size of the store... is the furniture going to be ridiculously small? What about the hangers? And the payment system? And most important of all, are we going to get our merchandise in time?! Say a little prayer, light a candle on your desk for us, surround us with good vibes, please! I know they’ll go a long way. The big challenge for us is that we’re going to get the keys to the store just two short days before opening day. I really thought that the hard stuff was over and behind us! Well you know what? It’s not, we’re dealing with it right now! But I think that it’s a habit, getting into difficult situations, and it won’t happen again!
Yesterday I went to the opening of “l’appartement Simone”. It’s an awesome place, located at 140 rue de Rivoli, meant to do you good with yoga and athletic classes, a healthy café, and a co-working zone. Everything is very tastefully done, with lots of Paper Mint wall paper everywhere, which helps of course... And well, I started to feel the pressure. Not bad pressure, but the pressure to succeed. I want everyone to feel good at our place too. I would like it to be beautiful, so that everyone wants to take pictures, and take a little piece of it to go with them! Our excitement is at an all time high!
The hardest part is keeping everything going, taking care of accounting, meeting clients, turning in projects, getting posts ready when all I want to do is put on my overalls and go paint the furniture and make paper flowers... You know, at the end of college, I knew that getting an entire collection ready and presenting it to professionals was a huge opportunity. I wanted everything to be perfect so I wouldn’t regret anything. Well, right now I feel the same way, it’s great! I wish you a happy Friday! Just so you know, tonight I’m at Nantes with Birchbox, come by and see us. You can find info here, but hurry since tickets are limited! Monday, I’ll be back at the Lemonade Studio to do some work and on Tuesday I’ll be in Lyon at the OKKO hotel!
Today I’m wearing flowy Julyen Carcy pants found on the website L’exception, a Maison LaBiche t-shirt, an amazing Indira Paris scarf, a vintage braided bag, and my favorite shoes by Robert Clergerie. Ok, well you can’t really see them but this isn’t the last of them, also available on L’exception! I put this Happy Friday shoot together with L’exception, the help of the talented Charlotte Navio, and my makeup was done by the lovely Ophélie Secq.
Translated by Whitney Bolin.
WEAR LEMONADE STATIONARY[:]
Hello all!
I could have called this article, “I Love Paper” or “Paper Forever”. You may not know it since I’m more of a ‘digital’ girl but despite the fact that the Internet, USB cables, dropbox, and wifi run in my veins, I deeply love paper. ‘Despite’ might be too strong of a word, since I wouldn’t have met you without it, however I love paper, all types of paper! I spend quite a lot on ‘nice’ books and as soon as I travel, I have to check out all the local stationary shops. My friends are divided into two groups: those who ‘share’ and understand this obsession, and those that roll their eyes, saying “it doesn’t do any good, you aren’t going to write anything in them and you already have a ton of notebooks”. Yeah, but all the same, let me collect them. For me, stationery is something that lives and breathes, it’s food for the imagination... anyways, today I’m writing an ode to my love of stationery today.
What’s been happening lately is like a childhood dream coming true. Wear Lemonade’s clothing, sewing supplies, patterns, fabric, and recently it’s also become stationary. Just imagine how happy I am getting samples, touching each little piece of paper, testing colors, bringing the season’s pattern to life in different way! I’m thrilled to see our world getting a little bit bigger! I’ve always collected notebooks, little ones, note pads. I have a box, a drawer, and a cardboard box that I call “my little papers”. I think that each notebook holds a promise: new, lovely projects and resolutions. Even if I rarely finish them, they’re witnesses to what goes on in my head. They’re precious to me, like relics.
I have notebooks for daily projects. Notebooks for my wedding that I keep as a souvenir. Notebooks for jotting down my dreams, for my craziest projects. Notebooks for vacation ideas. Notebooks for my mistakes. Notebooks for what’s on my mind. I even have a black book, where I write the names of the people that ruined my day — the post office can be considered a person you know. It let’s me get it all out, and writing has something personal and special about it... So yes, despite the fact that our lives are more and more digitalized, I won’t get rid of my little papers.
Besides notebooks, I have a thing for to do lists... Not too long ago I was telling you about my ways to get organized and I swear by my two-column to do lists. In the evening I make my dream list and the next day, something always comes up and I put that in the ‘shit happens’ column. I’m so happy with it, I made the ‘super hero’s to do list’... and my daily goal is to finish at least one of the two columns! Crossing out a line from each column just makes you feel so good. Maybe I should get professional help but all the messy people on earth will tell you that crossing out a to do list is a big step towards healing and organisation!
And the last products that I hold near and dear (I mean it, you’ll see why), are the correspondence cards. I love the idea of writing little notes to the people we love. Before going on vacation, I write little notes to the entire team, I like to say thank you at the end of a great project, to write on birthdays. And I think that saying something on paper is more meaningful than in a simple text. Anyways, I’m sure this isn’t news to you. THE tiny detail that makes my heart melt: we were able to print little hearts on the envelopes... voilà! All of our stationery is made and printed in the south of France, by passionate people, lovers of paper, like me or rather all of us at the Lemonade Studio!
Translated by Whitney Bolin
WEAR LEMONADE, THE MARIA JACKET[:]
It’s officially time to go back to school and work!
This collection’s latest piece is finally available! I love it and hate this moment that comes around every month! I love it because it’s exciting, like a monthly renaissance, the time when things get moving, when I look out for reactions on social media, your opinion on the cut, the color, the pattern, etc... When I get to know you. I hate it because it means time is moving on... it’s just scary! I always think that I can get ahead but it’s practically impossible for us. We’re the oven, the mill, and the bakery too! Even if we are getting better at anticipating... but what do you know, I can’t write on command or ahead of time. I need to see how I’m feeling on that certain day.
Anyways, writing may be difficult but I don’t have to force it when it comes to Wear Lemonade. I think that it’s thanks to the lemonade that’s been running in my veins for a while now! Today Maria is available, the latest from this collection. I love it a lot because Maria is fun and chic. It can dress up a blouse and jeans look! It adds elegance to a summery dress! It’s the must-have piece for your wardrobe because it goes with everything. It’s short but not too short and collarless... this is our timeless jacket that I hope will become one of your classics!
Since it’s back-to-school time, we’ve decided to spoil you! For every Maria jacket ordered, you’ll get a free September Birchbox full of mini products and our scarf... don’t forget the promo code KISSME that’ll give you 20 euros off every purchase of 100 euros or more on the website! I almost want to order too!
I absolutely love the pink version, I think it works as blush and lipstick at the same time, it just brightens up your face so much. With new or worn jeans, a pair of white sneakers and a printed t-shirt (for those days lacking inspiration), it’ll make you unforgettable and bubbly, promise! The navy blue version is so elegant and the lining is incredible! Throughout the collections, I realise that the color choices and patterns all kind of go together! I love it! I’ve gotta go, I have an important meeting and I think I’m going to go with the navy blue jacket right away! Hugs and kisses, see you tomorrow for Maria’s pattern and a big surprise in the article!
[:]
HAPPY FRIDAY #94[:]
Happy Friday guys!
The story behind this photo shoot is actually kind of funny. It all started one afternoon at the Lemonade Studio. I was running around Paris trying to find clothes in different press offices to get ready for a big photoshoot. It was August and since the majority of Parisians had left for summer break, open press offices are rare. I’ll tell you another time about the joys of working in August for a series that’ll be out soon and I needed winter clothes. I was able to find some brands that were still working and that were up for loaning me a few pieces. Usually, when the clothes arrive at the Lemonade Studio and everything is there, I try them on... I like to take advantage of the opportunity to pick some clothes that could help us make up outfits for the blog! It always gets a little wild when I’m putting an outfit together, but I love it.
I remember that that day, it was snack time. The Lemonade Team was camped out on the couch, baffled watching me try on colorful clothes made for models that haven’t snacked since 2002 (that’s another story...). And then, I tried on this amazing skirt, I didn’t realize how beautiful it was, its’ pleats, fabric, color. Simply magnificent. I was in sneakers, a skirt, and bra, it was 4 pm at the office in the middle of August.
It was great, but what are you supposed to wear with such an amazing skirt... that’s the question! I tried some things, which isn’t like me, and as usual, I tried to balance the skirt’s fullness, to wear its’ opposite... what’s story is it trying to tell? It says “yes, I’m beautiful, I’m extraordinary, I’m so pretty, thanks for treating me with respect or for being crazy enough to wear me with something completely different”. The skirt knows how to put someone under pressure. So, speaking of messages, I was thinking that I needed a t-shirt that had something to say, a metal band t-shirt, or something like a Coca Cola ad...
And then it hit me! Sitting across from me was Simoné, alias Olitax, our Picture Prince, eating a Saint-Môret toast in his NASA t-shirt for snack time. Simoné, my favorite Italian, took off his t-shirt, hot in the office, and voilà, it worked, a jean jacket and pair of pink Adidas Gazelles and we were ready. When I think back, August was such a good month at the office...
Meanwhile, Simoné put on a t-shirt and we went to take some pictures at the Tuileries fair. We had big plans for this look, the ferris wheel, the turning swings... I think that we had vertigo that day! Between laughing like crazy and being embarrassed, we finally got to shoot this Happy Friday on the ground, where we’re much more comfortable!
I’m sending hugs and kisses your way! For this Happy Friday I wore a Tara Jarmon skirt, a vintage NASA t-shirt but I’m sure you can find one on Amazon, pink Adidas Gazelles, and an Asos jean jacket. See you very, very soon! Photos were taken by the talented man of good taste, Olitax. No beautiful skirt suffered any harm while taking these pictures, the Tuileries dust came right off...
Translated by Whitney Bolin
GOOD PEOPLE : THE FRENCH VIKINGS[:]
Almost a year ago, we met The French Viking for the first time, thanks to lovely Aurélie F. (who by the way hasn’t been written about yet in this column, that has to change soon)! Last November, we all went to a concrete workshop as a team building exercise. Honesty, everyone at the Lemonade Studio fell in love with these guys. Billy and Nadir are the dynamic duo: the French Vikings! They make concrete objects at their workshops, custom orders for construction, and ready-to-order products available on Etsy. Simple concrete, pretty like marble, rare and solid as a rock... with our love for DIY’s, challenges, and ambitious projects, we couldn’t help but be charmed by the boys!
Together, we made a concrete DIY flower pot a few months ago. Today, The French Vikings are here to tell us a little bit more about their adventures... The French Vikings are working on a big project- completely re-doing their place at Aubervilliers where they can set up their huge workshop, teach concrete lessons, and offer young entrepreneurs a work space and valuable advice for 6 months! I love and admire their entrepreneurial efforts and how no project is too big for them!
Photos: Genaro Bardy. Aren’t they so cute!?
In order to achieve their dreams, they need us and especially you. They started the ‘concrete revolution’: a Ulule campaign that’ll be over soon, with lots of nice goodies for contributors so that they can open up their workshop soon: the Drakkar! The Drakkar will be a nursery for helping up and coming entrepreneurs and will be a place to work on their dreams and workshops! The Lemons from the Lemonade Studio went to give them a hand on their construction site. Check out a sneak peek on their website and take a look at all of their work! Anyways, I’ll leave it to Billy and Nadir, hugs and kisses! Just between us, since I married a Danish, I’m a French Viking too more than ever!Vidéo : Olitax
- Guidance Counselor’ Question: Guys, tell us about your careers...
Nadir: I was in law school for five years after high school. At the end of my studies, I worked as a computer programmer (my dream) for a while before starting to work with concrete with my dad.
Billy: I have a degree in engineering as well as one in finances. I worked as an auditor for a few years before everything changed!
- ‘Career Change’ Question: Isn’t there a big different between law/finance and concrete?
Oh yes, it happened so fast. We met two years ago and found out that we were passionate about the same thing: building and making things. We decided very quickly to leave our jobs and start The French Vikings. We started out making little things (flower pots, platters...) then we improved our techniques and started working on bigger projects (Milan Lunetier, La Cabane...).
- ‘What’s Next’ Question: Today you’re working on building an amazing workshop, lots of custom orders, what are your next steps?
We’ll be finishing up our first crowdfunding campaign in a few days, #RevolutionBeton (Concrete Revolution), to help us move into our new DRAKKAR workshop. We have great projects in store for The French Vikings, we’re being contacted by more and more architects. We’ve been working for months on a project for the city of Paris that’ll happen in August 2017. We’re having a hard time keeping the secret. Most of all, we really want to get involved in a jump-start program for creative entrepreneurs that’ll open in October 2016. It’s a free program that aims to welcome and help out 6 creative entrepreneurs for 6 months. A program to encourage each person endowed with a talent to get started on their business. We’ll have part of our workspace open for them, offering advice and encouragement. We really want each person to come out of the program ready to start their own artisanal trade.
A sneak peak of the new DRAKKAR layout!
- ‘Master Yoda’ Question: What are three pieces of advice for someone wanting to change careers and start their own business?
1- Don’t question yourself and believe in yourself. Don’t give up.
2- You can do anything, take anything on, and live your dream. You just have to get started and give yourself the tools to succeed.
3- Surround yourself with people that know how to support you and who can give you an outsider’s view of your project.
- Experience Question: What’s your favorite thing about being an entrepreneur?
Our monthly meetings with the accountant ?:)
- “In Search of Lost Time” Question: What was your first Proust Madeleine?
The first lamp we made together. Far from being a masterpiece, it was wobbly, ill proportioned, and way too heavy to move. This kind of painful memory reminds us to never give up.
- ‘Throwback’ Question: What did you want to do when you were little?
Nadir: I always wanted to work with computers (seriously)!
Billy: I wanted to be a fighter pilot, at least I always promised myself to say that in an interview ?;)
Translated by Whitney Bolin[:]
BIRCHBOX X WEAR LEMONADE BOUM KISS[:]
Happy Monday,
It seems like the weather has decided be normal again! Don’t worry, starting on Wednesday, summer’ll be back! There you have it folks, this week’s weather forecast... Today I’d like to tell you about a project that’s got all of us at the office excited... after months of secrets, I’m thrilled to get to tell you about our new collaboration : Birchbox x Wear Lemonade! About nine months ago, Birchbox got in touch with us to see about decorating their September box and to pick out its’ contents!
At that time, I was busy creating the July/August/September collection. I wasn’t sure at first, but in the end, like always, I thought it would be a great opportunity to design something! I thought the letter ‘S’ we made out of lipstick for our Etsy alphabet turned out well. All of a sudden it came to me, it made sense to mix up beauty and fashion for Birchbox by using the lipstick as a way to make the collection’s pattern!
We also added a special Lemonade touch by choosing the products that you’ll find inside the box! Usually the different designers’ collaborations leave me wanting more. I didn’t want to just design the box or slip in a tote bag, I really wanted to give you something you could carry everywhere...
Inside the KISS Box is a small version of our beloved polkadotted, super soft, and summery Dalida scarf! We also picked out the three Peonies lipstick colors to go with our pattern. Quick tip: put one color on your upper lip and a different one on the bottom lip, blot with a kleenex and TaDa! There are of course my three musthave products too, perfectly travelsized: a Rituals cream and perfume, a Codage cream, and a Furterer hair mask!
And the good news doesn’t stop there we’re giving 20€ off every Wear Lemonade order more than 100€ with the code “KISSME”!
There you have it, the KISS* Box, *Keep It Simple, Smile. Take time to enjoy the little things, keep things simple, and stay relaxed! I promise you that the Lemonade Studio is bustling with lots of neat new projects to come, we’ll be sure to keep you posted!
Translated by Whitney Bolin
DIY BOWLING BAG[:]
Hello, hello!
Here are the stepbystep instructions to make the bowling bag we came up for our last workshop, just like we promised! Don’t panic, although it may not look like it, it’s really easy. If you’re patient, you can make it in an afternoon. You can even finish up the last step while watching your favorite TV show. You can make it however you like, with two inside pockets, shorten the handles, play around with different fabrics... have fun!
For this DIY you’ll need:
- The bag’s pattern that you can download here
- 1m of sturdy fabric
- 1m of lining
- 2x1m30 of a strip of cotton fabric 3cm wide, for the handles (you can use grosgrain)
- A 45 cm zipper, but you can use a longer one too
- Scissors or thread cutters,
- A pencil or erasable pen
- Thread and a needle
Let’s start with the bag’s main section (piece 1). We’re going to attach the handles. You may follow the notches that are already marked or shorten them if you want them to be shorter.
Do the same thing on the other side. Lay the handles in place and pin them while folding inwards the rough edge by 1 cm.
Stitch in a cross pattern to hold it in place. So that it’s prettier, but most of all sturdier, you can make a second cross a little bit higher near the stitch closest to the edge.
Let’s move on to the side pocket. You can make one or two depending on what you want. Use piece 3, cut out of the fabric and of the lining. Lay the lining on the fabric, right sides together, and stitch the top at 1 cm. Turn over and iron.
Lay the pocket on the side of the bag (piece 2) cut out of the fabric. The lines should match up. Stitch at 0,5 cm all around it except at the opening, so that the two pieces stay together.
Lay the side on piece 1, paying attention to the notches. Cut diagonally on the corner as shown in the picture, a little less than 1 cm. Pin.
Pin the side’s curves with the lines of the main section (piece 1). Here’s what it should look like. Stitch at 1 cm all around the edges to hold together.
Your bag should start to take shape! Let’s move on to the lining. Grab piece 4. Fold 2 x 1 cm on top and 1 x 1 cm on the sides with an iron. Stitch the top at 0.75 cm or 0.5 cm.
Position the pocket on the piece 1’s lining however you like. Stitch at 0.5 cm the edge of the pocket except for the opening.
Pin the 2 pieces cut out of the lining to piece 1 also cut out of the lining. This step should remind you of something! Stitch at 1 cm. Now your lining and the bag’s “body” is finished.
Turn the bag rightsideout. Put the lining inside so you can get a better idea of what comes next.
Pin one side of the zipper to the bag’s opening, right sides together. Pin on top again, the edge of the lining should line up with zipper’s fabric part. Stitch as close as possible to the zipper’s teeth. Turn over.
On the other side, you can pin the zipper’s fabric part to the bag and stitch on a sewing machine, but we suggest attaching the other side of the lining by hand. And TADA! Your carryall bowling bag is ready to be your best friend!
Translated by Whitney Bolin[:]
Make My Sephora #2
Hello my darlings!
While doing some fall cleaning, tidying up everything from the office to the studio’s Dropbox, I realized that I didn’t even tell you about the second Sephora workshop we did earlier this summer. The workshop took us on a journey, showcasing the brand’s mini products that I always keep on hand in my purse... It was a great sewing class, we made a fantastic bowler bag (the tutorial will be up soon) with doublechainstitch embroidery! Speaking of the workshop, we’ve come up with an amazing schedule in honor of our popup store with workshops everyday, oh yes, you got that right, EVERY day! We’re going to have a great DIY month this October at 16 rue Lancry at République! I’ll keep you posted for tickets!
For the second Sephora workshop, after making a box for holding all your manicure things, we taught participants how to make the ultimate accessory for sewing for beginners that can be carried everywhere with you all year long: the bowler bag, for the gym, or a classy version for using everyday! Not too big, not too small, with pockets inside and out for holding your entire life... we thought it over long and hard so that it wouldn’t be too hard for beginners yet still have that ‘wow factor’... the stepbystep DIY will be available soon, I promise. Laure will be in charge, since it’s been awhile since she last wrote you!
Since we had the chance to spend an entire afternoon together, we decided to do a little embroidery workshop that’s always fun: an easy, beginner’s doublechainstitch... And being a special occasion, participants had the opportunity to embroider a pastel colored panty! It’s always fun to see what you like to write on your underwear! While waiting their turn at the sewing machines, the girls were able to relax their fingers on embroidery frames. It was a great time in the studio, basking in the summer light... it was lovely. Oh how we love this studio!
Going back to the bag, we made it out of white and yellow striped fabric that’ll remind you of something (oh yeah, remember our Lolita dress), red polka dotted lining and colorful cotton handles. I must admit, Laure blew us away. Seriously. Every participant was able to make their project, even though some had never used a sewing machine in their entire life! From hand embroidery to stitching on the machine, which requires a lot of concentration, everyone did a great job. Well done, ladies! I can’t describe my joy, seeing them leave at the end of the day with their bag practically finished and filled up!
Of course, in order to make all that, we needed some snacks. Thank goodness we were spoiled with treats from Fauchon (oh la la, the pink flamingo eclairs, pina colada flavor!) The talented Laurence Maestrello was there too and she did everyone’s makeup with Sephora’s mini products, everyone left looking lovely! Thank you, Laure, for sharing your knowledge and teaching us!
Thank you to the entire Sephora team, to the boys at Musicalist for the music, to our Olitax for the video, to Fauchon for the todiefor eclairs and macarons, and to all the participants, beautiful and talented! Sending you lots of kisses and see you soon for the striped bag DIY, perfect for adding a splash of color to your life!
Translated by Whitney Bolin
HAPPY MONDAY[:]
“Hello, you’ve reached the Lemonade Studio, how may I help you? – Summer’s over... – Impossible! I still have as many circles under my eyes as in May...”
No, it can’t be true! If I have bags under my eyes, it’s because of this stupid heatwave! It was freezing until July, and then when summer finally came around, it was like baking in an oven. I don’t want to complain... well, maybe just a little bit? Everyone wanted nice weather, but ended up with sticky legs glued to our vinyl desk chairs. Be careful what you wish for. Let’s be more reasonable and ask for more... temperate... weather, rather than wishing too much for it to be hot! Be careful what you ask for, because you might just get it...
What if we pushed back summer vacation in August and in September? And what if we opened Christmas presents January 24th, would that be more appropriate? I’m perfectly fine with that, I’d love to keep doing summer looks for another month. I’d like to share a look with you this Monday, a summer dress that can be dressed down with a silk scarf in your hair, with a pink bomber jacket over your shoulder and a pair of blue pastel espadrilles. Nice n’ sweet, hey, I told you I wanted to take it easy...
Today’s the day to go back to school and work for some of you, others may still have a some more time. Over the past month, even if our brains were a bit slow, I’m sure that you’ve been thinking things over between two glasses of rosé. You probably thought that you should make more tomato salads, leave the kids with the sitter at least once a week, take some time off for yourself, go away for the weekends from time to time, read one book a week, walk more etc... right? Well, don’t lose sight of your goals under those 1436 unread emails you got while you were away. Stay calm, it’s just the end of summer.
I have goals that are easy to keep: go to the gym more often, have a day to myself on the weekend, go out and try out new places at least once a week with my other half. I’m not setting the bar too high. What’s good about September resolutions is that they only last four months, until you make new ones in January... So let’s get right to it, it’s still nice and (way too) hot out, everything will be okay! Rather than jumping out the window at the thought of making coffee at the office, do something different than last year and have fun! Smile, it’s time to get back to work!
A big thanks to the Panache Hotel for having Olitax and me for this look. I’m wearing Castaner espadrilles, a Show Me Your Mumu lace dress (I know it’s a really weird brand name, don’t ask me where I got it!), a pink Do It Myself bomber jacket made with the Rosa Wear Lemonade pattern (the pattern will be back in stock soon, you can sign up for restocking alerts)... and a Chanel silk scarf that I got during this amazing trip!
Translated by Whitney Bolin