Visiting Des Fils et une Aiguille

While in Paris, I got the opportunity to visit a wonderful needlework shop, Des Fils et une Aiguille. 

Elodie is the shop owner.  She is so sweet, and I certainly enjoyed meeting her. 

Elodie told me that Florent and Thierry first opened the shop in March, 1995.  Then, in 2001, Marie and Chantal bought it.  And then, on February 4, 2011, a week before the big needlework show in Paris, Elodie bought the shop. 

Des Fils et une Aiguille is fantastic!   Every nook and cranny is full of wonderful goodies.  Elodie has lots and lots of charts, ribbons, fibers, linen, buttons, books, scissors, and more!  I was particularly taken with the many different linen bandings.  I've never seen such a wide variety.

Here is Elodie with her lovely smile, standing behind the counter.  Look at the array of fibers behind her!

Here is a glimpse of just some of Elodie's many ribbons and linen bandings.  Some items from Sajou are in the foreground of the first photo.

Of course, I had to check out all the wonderful goodies.

Look at all the linens!

How about the scissors?

And then there were the books!

Look what was in one of the shop's display cases--A Hornbook Examplar!  It was so exciting to see a completed With My Needle project on display in a Paris shop.  The stitcher certainly did a wonderful job.  I particularly like what she did on the inside with the red wool needlepages--so striking, don't you think?

Elodie, I certainly enjoyed meeting you and seeing your fantastic shop!!  I hope our paths will cross again soon!



If you're ever in Paris, make sure you visit Des Fils et une Aiguille at 1 rue Chabanais.  The shop is very easy to find--just a short walk from the Opera House, which is one of the most luxurious and beautiful places I've ever visited!

Welcome to the first posting at the With My Needle blog.

I am using this format to share news from With My Needle and also photos from stitchers. Please email me your photos.

The first photo is from Anna of San Antonio, Texas who stitched the Family Record Sampler to commemorate the birth of her grandson, Paul. This sampler will surely become a family heirloom. I love the way Anna added the names of Paul's two sisters.

Anna wrote, "My daughter, Nicole, really was so pleased with the sampler and I loved stitching. Thank you so much for your design and sharing with us stitchers."

Thanks, Anna, for sharing your beautiful work! The frame you chose is exquisite!

Also this week I received a note and photos from Marcia of the Mississippi River Sampler Guild where I taught two classes August 2008.

Marcia wrote, "In August, 2008 you instructed many members of the Mississippi River Sampler Guild, located in Dubuque, Iowa. Our projects were your Long May She Wave needlecase and A Needleworker’s Sampler Huswif. One member has completed and assembled the needlecase and several are still diligently stitching on the huswif. While at our event, many of us purchased your Hornbook Examplar intending to do it as a group guild project.

As you can see from the attached photos, nine members have completed the hornbook. What an enjoyable project. The instructions were clear and easy to follow. We just loved working on them! Thank you!"

Thank you for sharing the photos with me. I so enjoy seeing what stitchers do with my designs!!

This week I also heard from Janet Edwards from Great Britain who stitched Be Ye Always Kind and True for her daughter, Lucy, and her fiance, Dave. The happy couple will be married in July at Williamson Park in Lancaster. Best wishes Lucy and Dave for a long and happy marriage, and thank you, Janet, for sharing a photo of your lovely work and a special wedding gift.