More about the macaroons blanket…

I meant to write more about this month’s blanket at the weekend but I got sidetracked by non-crochet related things…

So back to Paris, macaroons and obviously crochet!

I thought selecting the colors for my new blanket was going to be an easy task this time, as I have so many lovely pictures of macaroons to use as inspiration, but the reality is that having too much inspiration complicates things!

I  must have pulled out most of the yarn I have, to try an choose a reasonable but not too big selection of colors that give some justice to those amazing images that I have collected.  I ended up making several piles of different hues and tried different combinations and reluctantly restrict myself to just 15 colors, as I am well aware that if you want to crochet this blanket for yourself, I have to put some boundaries for the number of colors I am using.

I have a few pictures of macaroons that I am going to share with you. Those are the ones  I have used to guide me. The problem was, do I select macaroons that have pretty pastel colors or do I select the colors of the macaroons I  like to eat?

Macaroons come in pastels and more saturated hues it all depends on which baker makes them. The best-known purveyor of Macaroons, and the one you most likely are acquainted with is probably Laduree and their beautiful , iconic shops with pale greens, pinks, and lilacs which are in several cities around the world. In the photo my daughter Valentina is at their main door of their flagship store in Paris. 

But I m going to be a bit controversial here, and my choice for the best macaroon in Paris has to be the Cafe’ Pouchkine, named after the famous Russian poet and novelist Alexander Pushkin. The Cafe’is a concoction of Russian and French,  with dark boxes, incredibly colorful patisserie and delicious macaroons . Nothing is subtle in here. All their confectionery are as flamboyant as the decor.

Gosh, I am again going on a tangent…No more mouthwatering pictures but some yarn instead!

These are the 15 hues I selected this time its just Stylecraft special DK, but, as per usual, wait to get them if you are interested, as I might have some adjustments once I start to crochet the squares.

To the next time,

happy crocheting,

Lucia xxx

THE MARCH’s BLANKET IS ABOUT CELEBRATIONS AND MACAROONS…

So where to start with my March’s blanket…

I thought my March’s blanket is going to be about celebrations..and macaroons…

On the beginning of the week, I celebrated my 25th wedding anniversary! I have been married and also I have been living in Scotland for 25 years!

Now I bet you are wondering what macaroons got to do with it? Well, there is a little story behind it all.

I met my husband Michael in Paris in 1988; we got married four years later in 1992 on the 29th of February! A funny date I know, but it is not too bad as, in nonleap years, we celebrate our anniversary either on the 1st of March or the 28th of February.

Paris has a special place in my heart; it is a city I always felt very comfortable in,  it has been my home and my work place, and now is a regular destination for long weekends, holidays and shopping expeditions.

I met Michael in a French speaking course at the Sorbonne University, (that is my daughter Valentina in front of the main door ..)   where I attended while living in Paris in the summer of 1988.

More ‘memory lane’..

.the next picture is us then.I can’t believe that it was nearly 30 years ago!  Below our lovely class. We were a group of  18 different nationalities, a wide age range and many reasons why we were all in Paris improving our French.  Our teacher was called Elisabeth, and she was so lovely and friendly. She is the one sitting, I am just behind her with the black jacket and the cream trousers, and Michael is far left with the blue and white shell suit..( magical 80s! loads of shell suits!!!).

All those years later and that is ‘our group’ now!

I havent forgotten the macaroons.. It is just I  was wondering what reminds me best of Paris, there are loads of things that remind me of Paris, but one especially does… those little pastries called macaroons. I love them! So they are going to be my inspiration…

in the next entry, I tell you how and why for now have a lovely day xxx

lucia xxx

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