photo gato azul
Sacha me demandait des nouvelles de Feliz et de mes préparatifs pour Noël. J'arrivais d'une journée à Montréal, la tête pleine de lumières de Noël mais curieusement, je n'y avais pas ressenti la fébrilité qu'on ressent habituellement à cette période de l'année. Je n'avais pas à réfléchir très longuement pour connaître la raison de ce calme inhabituel, de cette morosité.
Sacha was asking for news about Feliz and my preparations for Christmas. I had just come back from spending a day in Montreal, head full of Christmas lights but, curiously, I hadn't felt the trepidation one usually feels at this period of the year. I didn't have to think very long to know the reason for this unusual calm, a certain dampening of spirits.
Sacha was asking for news about Feliz and my preparations for Christmas. I had just come back from spending a day in Montreal, head full of Christmas lights but, curiously, I hadn't felt the trepidation one usually feels at this period of the year. I didn't have to think very long to know the reason for this unusual calm, a certain dampening of spirits.
photo gato azul
Ne nous inquiétons pas pour Feliz. Il se porte bien, quoiqu'il soit somnolent. C'est un ralentissement normal lorsqu'il est moins actif durant l'hiver.
Not to worry about Feliz. He is well, although quite sleepy. It's a normal slowing down that Winter brings.
Not to worry about Feliz. He is well, although quite sleepy. It's a normal slowing down that Winter brings.
photo gato azul
Sa principale occupation (mis à part la bouffe et le dodo), surveiller les allées et venues dans le lilas.
His principal activity (apart from eating and sleeping), is to check out comings and goings in the lilac tree.
His principal activity (apart from eating and sleeping), is to check out comings and goings in the lilac tree.
photo gato azul
Lorsque j'étais à Montréal, nous nous sommes arrêtés à une boutique que j'affectionne particulièrement... La Cache. En tout, il y a 110 boutiques qui vendent les produits d'April Cornell au Canada et aux États-Unis. Une entreprise établie depuis 30 ans, montée par une Montréalaise qui produit une ligne de vêtements et d'accessoires de maison qui étaient fabriqués en Inde.
While in Montreal, we stopped at a boutique I particularly like... La Cache. In all, there are 110 boutiques that distribute April Cornell's products in Canada and in the United States. Established since 30 years, built up by a Montreal-born designer who produces a line of clothing and home accessories that were fabricated in India.
While in Montreal, we stopped at a boutique I particularly like... La Cache. In all, there are 110 boutiques that distribute April Cornell's products in Canada and in the United States. Established since 30 years, built up by a Montreal-born designer who produces a line of clothing and home accessories that were fabricated in India.
photo gato azul
Fermeture des portes imminente. Il n'y aura plus de boutiques La Cache. Conséquences de la crise financière? Je parie que oui.
The stores are closing soon. There will be no more La Cache boutiques. Consequences of the financial crisis? I imagine so.
The stores are closing soon. There will be no more La Cache boutiques. Consequences of the financial crisis? I imagine so.
photo gato azul
Ces petites assiettes venaient de cette boutique.
These small plates came from this boutique.
photo gato azul
Ces assiettes-ci, le napperon...
These plates and the placemat...
photo gato azul
La nappe, le napperon...
The tablecloth, the placemat...
photo gato azul
Ce napperon aussi...
This placemat as well...
photo gato azul
Toutes mes robes de nuit provenaient de ces boutiques. On pouvait y trouver ces robes de nuit en coton si doux, brodées, si confortables et rassurantes.
All my nightware came from those stores. You could always find soft cotton nightdresses, with beautiful embroidery, so comforting and reassuring.
All my nightware came from those stores. You could always find soft cotton nightdresses, with beautiful embroidery, so comforting and reassuring.
photo gato azul
Une manière d'assembler les textures, les couleurs et les dessins.
A certain way of assembling textures, colours and designs.
photo gato azul
Des dessins inspirés, comme ceux de William Morris ou les dessins provencaux, des Indes.
Motifs inspired by India, like those of William Morris or those of Provence.
Motifs inspired by India, like those of William Morris or those of Provence.
photo gato azul
Comme ceux-ci.
Like these.
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Ou ceux-ci.
Or these.
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Ou encore...
Or again...
photo gato azul
Une connaissance de l'histoire des textiles imprimés... comment ils ont voyagé des Indes jusqu'à Marseilles. Comment Marseilles a développé cette industrie pour faire blocus aux importations de textiles des Indes mais comment les motifs, les techniques, les piqués, les imprimés se sont perpétués.
A knowledge of the history of printed textiles... how they traveled from India to Marseilles. How Marseilles developed its own industry to blockade imports. And how motifs, techniques, quilting, prints were perpetuated.
A knowledge of the history of printed textiles... how they traveled from India to Marseilles. How Marseilles developed its own industry to blockade imports. And how motifs, techniques, quilting, prints were perpetuated.
photo gato azul
C'est une véritable perte, que la fermeture de ces boutiques.
The closing of these stores is a considerable loss.
photo gato azul
Sans compter la perte d'emplois qui s'ensuivra. Des gens qui perdent leur emploi à la veille des célébrations de Noël. Et personne ne s'inquiète ou ne parle de ces tragédies tandis que notre gouvernement central nie la réalité économique, entrave le fonctionnement établi de la démocratie en empêchant les représentants élus de loger un vote de non-confiance. Savez-vous que 50% de la clientèle des banques alimentaires est composé de personnes qui ont un emploi? Avez-vous remarqué qu'il n'y a pas (ou peu) de points de collecte pour les banques alimentaires dans les épiceries cette année? En arrivant à Montréal, le jour de la grande guignolée, j'étais à la recherche de ces bénévoles qui devaient amasser des dons. Je n'en ai pas vu un seul.
Without mentioning the loss of jobs that will ensue. People losing their livelihood a few days before Christmas. And no one seems worried or talks about these tragedies while our central government denies the economic reality, hinders the established rules of democracy while stopping elected representatives from making a non-confidence vote. Did you know that half of the people who go to food banks already have a job? Have you noticed that there are no (or few) collection points for gifts to food banks in the grocery stores this year? When I arrived in Montreal, on the day of the big drive for La guignolée (a drive to finance food banks), I was looking for the volunteers who were supposed to receive money. I found none.
Without mentioning the loss of jobs that will ensue. People losing their livelihood a few days before Christmas. And no one seems worried or talks about these tragedies while our central government denies the economic reality, hinders the established rules of democracy while stopping elected representatives from making a non-confidence vote. Did you know that half of the people who go to food banks already have a job? Have you noticed that there are no (or few) collection points for gifts to food banks in the grocery stores this year? When I arrived in Montreal, on the day of the big drive for La guignolée (a drive to finance food banks), I was looking for the volunteers who were supposed to receive money. I found none.
photo gato azul
J'ai pris ce livre - le dernier qui restait - pour tenter de préserver toute cette connaissance des couleurs, des dessins et des textures qui disparaît.
I took this book - the last one left - to try to capture some of this knowledge of colours, motifs and textures that is disappearing.
photo gato azul
Un peu de la fantaisie et de l'émerveillement...
A bit of the whimsy and wonder...
photo gato azul
Une manière de regarder le monde...
A way of looking at the world...
photo gato azul
C'est vraiment l'Avent, Sacha... le temps de préparer Noël, le temps de réfléchir sur l'abondance et la richesse que nous prenons pour acquis, que nous affichons sans pudeur sur nos blogues culinaires, et de prendre conscience que des forces que nous nions façonnent notre vie et notre monde de demain sans que nous protestions le moindrement du monde. Peut-être serait-il temps que nous comprenions que l'État Providence est un mythe et que notre salut tient à nous, à ce que nous portons en nous et comment nous traduisons ce qui nous habite dans le monde?
It's really Advent, Sacha... time to prepare for Christmas, time to reflect on the abundance and the riches that we take for granted, that we flaunt without retenue on our culinary blogs, and to realize that forces we deny are shaping our lives and tomorrow's world and that we are not protesting in the least. Is it perhaps time to understand that the Welfare State does is a myth and that we must fashion our own salvation, that it depends on what inhabits us and how we translate it into our universe?
It's really Advent, Sacha... time to prepare for Christmas, time to reflect on the abundance and the riches that we take for granted, that we flaunt without retenue on our culinary blogs, and to realize that forces we deny are shaping our lives and tomorrow's world and that we are not protesting in the least. Is it perhaps time to understand that the Welfare State does is a myth and that we must fashion our own salvation, that it depends on what inhabits us and how we translate it into our universe?
photo gato azul
