"Paris Made by Hand" - cut, glue and stitch
Thursday, August 06, 2009 Posted by Nirit Sumeruk
What I love about creating Paris Popcorn is that it leads me to little treasures, secrets, tips and people that are slightly hidden from the mainstream.A few weeks ago I was sent a book titled Paris: Made By Hand. At first glace I thought 'sweet' - at second glance after reading through the beautifully composed pages, I realized that this book was more than sweet - it was succulent!
Written by Australian Pia Jane Bijkerk who lives between Amsterdam, Paris and Sydney and works as a stylist, set-designer and photographer, she managed to uncover what she calls 'a real community' of artists and artisans that keep the spirit of old Paris alive.
I met up with Pia just after she finished dressing the window display for the launch of her book at WHSmith on rue de Rivoli.
Paris: Made By Hand is a square shaped book that fits perfectly into a handbag and highlights around 50 of Paris' finest and much loved ateliers (artists' workroom/studio) - those well-known and others from Pia's private little black book!
A little taste of what's in the book - artisans that Pia mentions are the likes of Estelle Lemaitre who creates exquisite lampshades which are like 'lingerie of lighting'; Legeron who creates fabric flowers for the grand couturiers like YSL, Lacroix and Dior; Gerladine Valluet who has been making jewelry for the haut couture catwalks for nearly 2 decades and Alexandra Sojfer who continues the family tradition of creating the froufrou style umbrellas...
After our wonderful encounter at the café, I said goodbye with a dramatic face-down fall on the prestigious rue Saint Honoré side-walk, yes very Carry Bradshaw of me I know, but I left feeling not only a scrape on my left shin, but also that this little book with its fabulous insight on Paris' hand-made opulence may just be something I would like to pass onto my kids one day!
Pia and me having tea...
For more info on the book and to purchase a copy click here.
For more on Pia Jane Bijkerk, you must visit her stunning blog.
Written by Australian Pia Jane Bijkerk who lives between Amsterdam, Paris and Sydney and works as a stylist, set-designer and photographer, she managed to uncover what she calls 'a real community' of artists and artisans that keep the spirit of old Paris alive.I met up with Pia just after she finished dressing the window display for the launch of her book at WHSmith on rue de Rivoli.
She re-created a version of the Eiffel Tower - hand-made of course with excerpts from her book lining it "I just hope it stays upright or else it may end up looking like the Leaning Tower of Pisa" she jokes.
We took a walk to café le Castiglione on rue Saint Honoré while Pia carrying a bag with all the bits-and bobs, ribbons, paper and tape which she had just used to build the showcase for her book - yeah, she's totally genuine and it's clearly reflected in her creations!
One of the most seductive elements of Paris is how much the French cherish and love quality, especially if it's fait-main (hand-made) be it in clothes, jewelry and accessories. "I realized that things made by hand are very much in the French culture making them more exclusive, regarded as quite special and which keep on going for hundreds of years" says Pia about what she learnt while doing her research. And as for where her inspiration came from, she says in her soft spoken Ozzie accent "Paris is so old and this is what makes it so exciting, it's not like Australia where everything is still so young. Paris is time-layered and the streets all have history."
She then goes on to describe "what excited me most was the behind the scenes - Paris is like a big performance and the book is like the backstage where one can meet the actual artists and artisans that are behind the show" - yes I find this simile very befitting.
We took a walk to café le Castiglione on rue Saint Honoré while Pia carrying a bag with all the bits-and bobs, ribbons, paper and tape which she had just used to build the showcase for her book - yeah, she's totally genuine and it's clearly reflected in her creations!
One of the most seductive elements of Paris is how much the French cherish and love quality, especially if it's fait-main (hand-made) be it in clothes, jewelry and accessories. "I realized that things made by hand are very much in the French culture making them more exclusive, regarded as quite special and which keep on going for hundreds of years" says Pia about what she learnt while doing her research. And as for where her inspiration came from, she says in her soft spoken Ozzie accent "Paris is so old and this is what makes it so exciting, it's not like Australia where everything is still so young. Paris is time-layered and the streets all have history."
She then goes on to describe "what excited me most was the behind the scenes - Paris is like a big performance and the book is like the backstage where one can meet the actual artists and artisans that are behind the show" - yes I find this simile very befitting.Paris: Made By Hand is a square shaped book that fits perfectly into a handbag and highlights around 50 of Paris' finest and much loved ateliers (artists' workroom/studio) - those well-known and others from Pia's private little black book!
A little taste of what's in the book - artisans that Pia mentions are the likes of Estelle Lemaitre who creates exquisite lampshades which are like 'lingerie of lighting'; Legeron who creates fabric flowers for the grand couturiers like YSL, Lacroix and Dior; Gerladine Valluet who has been making jewelry for the haut couture catwalks for nearly 2 decades and Alexandra Sojfer who continues the family tradition of creating the froufrou style umbrellas...After our wonderful encounter at the café, I said goodbye with a dramatic face-down fall on the prestigious rue Saint Honoré side-walk, yes very Carry Bradshaw of me I know, but I left feeling not only a scrape on my left shin, but also that this little book with its fabulous insight on Paris' hand-made opulence may just be something I would like to pass onto my kids one day!
Pia and me having tea...For more info on the book and to purchase a copy click here.
For more on Pia Jane Bijkerk, you must visit her stunning blog.
Thursday, August 06, 2009 8:55:00 PM
Love Pia, love her creation, and love this interview! :)
PS Lovely pics!!!
Friday, August 07, 2009 12:08:00 PM
lucky paris: for having such artists.
and lucky vous: for having its muse.
Friday, August 07, 2009 1:57:00 PM
o nirit ! super cool interview !
Thats why i love and miss Paris so much ! filled with such creative cool people always creating things that are unique and special ! well done !
candy x x x
Friday, August 07, 2009 3:12:00 PM
hey nirirt ! awesome interview !!
thats one of the many things i miss and love about Paris - the uniqueness , pure love and creativity that they put into anything they do !
think i will buy one ! x x x
Saturday, August 08, 2009 11:17:00 PM
just lovely - pia's so very talented. thanks for sharing this!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010 11:26:00 AM
So glad you told me about this fabulous book, I absolutely love it. Great interview with the author, and wonderful to see the creative window display at WH Smith's. Thank you!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010 5:01:00 PM
niiiiiiiiiiiiiice!!!