First, winners from last week of the Caron L’Accord 119 – mary and cheesegan. Click on the Contact Us over there on the left, give me your address and remind me what you’ve won, and I’ll get it mailed out to you!
Th
e last half of this year has brought on some of the worst flibbertygibbet OCD I’ve had in a while. I’ve gone from stained glass (which I used to do) to fused glass to burning out material to researching perfume-making again to making spangly caftans – my lastest fascination, sorta like those on the left. Well, pretty much exactly like the Camilla Franks one on the left. I fell in love with caftans in Morocco and brought back a few of them, one of them this gorgeous nighttime jade green spangly thing that’s pretty amazing. I should have taken a picture. So then I find a couple of Antik Batik caftan shirts, and it dawns on me that these are the easiest thing in the world to make unless you get fancy with them. Found a vintage pattern that’s almost exactly like the Antik Batik one, found places on line for sparklies and how to get them on the fabric permanently, and now I just need to find some material that I love.
I’m guessing there’s about 3,000 steps I’m missing. It’s been decades since I sewed, and I’ll be working with silks and more sheer fabrics for this, which can be more difficult than doing a nice cotton dress or tea towel. Oh, I’m kidding, I did more complicated stuff than that. But I’m feeling vaguely like I might wind up bedazzling my caftans. But if the seamstresses out there – and I know there are some because our darling readers are incredibly talented at so many things – want to throw me a tip or two before I ruin expensie material, beading, crystals, etc, I’d be grateful! I do know how to sew, I swear, I’m just an impatient sewer.
Annick Goutal Mon Parfum Cheri, Par Camille. I’ve got the EDP version, which isn’t being distributed in the U.S. The non-blond goes over the differences in her post. I haven’t smelled the EDT, but now I want to.
The scent is patchouli, plum, iris, violet, heliotrope, and if you’re thinking you’ll be getting a darker Mandragore or Hadrien or one of the other Goutal scents, well. no. not at all. If you think more along the lines of Eau du Fier, you’ll be closer. It is rooty smoky plum. Iris root is there all the way through, giving the scent its depth, embedding itself into the earth. And, as Denyse says, it is purple. Given the mainstream public’s tastes, it would surprise me if this were a big seller.
I’d be surprised if even the perfumista crowd loved it in droves. It’s a highly individual perfume taste thing. I love it because it is different and unafraid and uncompromising. It is Film Noir Woman interesting – when women wore tight sweaters with pointy bras and pencil skirts and aprons and pearls over it – but not of that time, just glancing backwards at the scents women wore that were interesting.
It won’t be for everyone, and if you don’t like the edp, it sounds like the edt might work. I’m fully in support of it as an effort by a mainstream’s perfume line to go in the direction they want – following their own purple drumbeat.
Hey, let’s do a draw for 3 samples of this to 3 commenters – well, one sample apiece. And it’s my birthday! And my birthday present to myself is two tattoos, which I’ll unveil next week or the week after if they are healing slowly. So drop a comment to be entered in the drawing! You can talk about whatever you want – how you’re coping with the holiday season so far or the cold (brr! here after almost a week of off and on snow and frigid temps) or birthdays in general.
Hey there!
I’m a little late for birthday wishes, but I hope you had a nice one! I’m wishing you good luck on your sewing project. I don’t know how much effort has to go into that, but I know that beginning to do something is usually easier than getting to the final step!
Anyway, you really got me interested in that new Goutal! Looking forward to smell it :)
Delurking to wish you a happy birthday! As for coping with the holidays, I am in the midst of negotiating with my husband for a tree (he is Not a Christmas Person; it’s my favorite holiday) and planning cookies for a swap at work. Which sounds frighteningly domestic. I look forward to seeing your tattoos, as I’m determined to get one at some point, and love seeing other people’s tattoo stories!
I wish I could leave some sewing tips. It’s so cool you want to create something pretty yourself. That there is a vision and an opportunity, but how not to blow it.
Best wishes on your bday.
Would love the sample.
Happy Birthday Patty! good luck witht he tatoos. the caftan is awesome!
Purple is my favorite color…purple perfume…Hmmmm?
Had an acccident Nov. 3rd. Broke right foot…cannot drive…car is totalled anyhoo, so Chrismas shopping is going to be gift cards this year, except my 2 grandchildren, who get lots of toys from online(thank God for the internet for that!!!)
Have a wonderful holiday!!!
Have a wonderful birthday!!! It’s cold here but not unbearably so, in PA. I am off work today so I can get on the Christmas domestic goddessry and whip out cookies galore. I could totally use a sample of the EDP of Mon Parfum today to go with apron and pearls! :-). Thanks for the draw!
Hope you had good party food for your birthday!!! I`ve the EDT in both sizes – AG love to the max!! Trying to be patient on the Mon EDP purchase – FragranceNet just posted the charmed Hadrien bottles in BOTH strengths! This is after yt bought the charmed EDP from overseas, soooooo maybe the EDP in Mon will arrrive at FN!! Where did you buy your Mon EDP from, and how was the service??
Happy birthday, Patty!
The Goutal sounds pretty daring, which is good in my book!
Happy birthday to you, and happy tattoos, too.
Fall and winter are my favorite seasons, almost ruined by the holiday-type stressors. I’ve never been ready for Christmas, and I never will be ready. Nevertheless, here it comes.
If perfume smells purple, I need it.
Happy Birthday Patty!
Getting crafty is cool, I wish I were that handy at picking up new skills!
I’ve been coping with my recent birthday fairly well, even though I feel ‘the passing of the years’ fairly keenly.
Weather has been pretty warm and clear so I’ve been walking a lot. But then again I wear sweaters and boots a lot, so maybe warm is relative?
Please enter me, I’d love to try this!
Well I read your comments about Morocco and caftans and “Marrakesh Express” started playing in my head. Crosby Stills Nash and Young, early 70’s.
Please enter me in the drawing.
Melanie
It got cold here suddenly in NYC, so I’m wearing a purple perfume today: Talisman. Stewed fruits galore! Please enter me in the draw. Happy birthday.
Rednails, I was fascinated to see that Luca Turin had Talisman on his list of desert island perfumes! I immediately ordered a small bottle from ebay unsniffed – it IS really nice!
Happy Birthday, Patty! It’s sunny but cool here and DRY–my hands look like they belong to a hundred-year-old woman. :/
A very happy birthday! The cold already has me down, but looking at your fab caftan brings to mind warmer and happier times.
Sparkly caftans!!! – pictures please :) Please enter me in the drawing!
I can’t sew either but I admire someone who can. & Happy Birthday Perfume Diva Patty!
The Goutal sounds interesting because I love purple. Please enter me in the drawing.
Can’t sew to save my life – can’t even put a straight hem on a pair of pants – so I’m always envious of anybody who can construct something out of fabric and thread. The caftan will be gorgeous, I’m sure – it sounds like a great idea.
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy birthday! The caftan in the picture is beautiful, I hope you post some of your work. Also can’t wait to see the tats!
I’m from Minnesota. Cold is just cold…we just soldier on in these parts. Once in a while I do miss the milder winters we experienced living in VA though.
I just bought my mom a bottle of Chanel No.5 for Christmas. It’s always been her one splurge, although she doesn’t always allow herself that even so I try to give her a bottle every year. She grew up the daughter of poor farmers and hasn’t ever gotten over feeling guilty for wanting needless things.
Rooty, smokey, purple, film noir sounds like something I’d love to try. Please enter me in the draw!
Happy Birthday, Patty! My birthday is next week, and I think it’s particularly hard having a birthday in the winter, in the last weeks of the year because it always feels like an ending. I’m always relieved when it’s over. (This year I’m going to sneak out of town with my husband for one night in Calistoga, hot springs and the wine country.)
Happy birthday and I can’t wait to see your tattoos!!!
Happy Birthday, Patty! I hope you have had a wonderful day, full of lovely moments :)
And I’m looking forward to knowing what are your tatoos like.
In this part of the world (SouthEast of Spain) we are having a very warm December so far. Today it was 62.6ºF at 13pm.
I miss the cold winters of years ago.
Vancouver has had amazing weather this November, with a lot more sunny days than usual. It’s even sunny today. Usually it takes a lot of effort to get through November here, but not this year.
Birthday wishes — will try the little monkey emoticon again: :(|)
Happy Birthday!!! I got my first tattoo when I turned 50. I would love to be in the drawing. Thanks.
OOOOOOOOO,Patty,tattoos are a wonderful birthday gift…can’t wait for pics!….This AG sounds WONDERFUL….thank you for the drawing…..hugs on your birthday!:x
Hope you’re having a wonderful birthday! It is sooooo cold in Jersey today. I was very much getting used to 60 degrees, even if it was raining buckets. I have so many comments for your post but I’ll keep it brief.
1. I’m not a seamstress AT ALL, so I wish you lots of luck with those caftans. Sounds lovely and an interesting project. I love wearing spangly, indian style clothing although I just order through Etsy. lol Seriously, there’s a lovely mother in law/daughter team that make the most gorgeous skirts. They ship them in such interesting packaging from India…
2. The Goutal sounds DIVINE!!! Please enter me in the draw. I love purple.
3. I sat in a tattoo parlor on my 18th birthday (sooooo many years ago) incredibly anxious to FINALLY be getting my first tattoo. I got addicted (natch) and still get yummy butterflies in my stomach when I hear the buzzing of the needles. Great present to oneself and can’t wait to see your new ones.
Enjoy every part of your special day and here’s to another year of love, laughter, and growth!
Happy Birthday, Patty!! From one Kansas girl to another, more power to you for getting the birthday gift you wanted. I hope your day is fabulous!
The caftan is gorgeous. Good luck with that venture.:-)
The Goutal sounded scrumptious from the first review I read and I would love to try the edp. Thank you for the drawing.
Happy Birthday!
I’m anxious to sniff this one, please enter me in the draw. Thanks!
Oooh, LOVE that caftan! Gorgeous colors, and blinged out, you say? I’d wear it in a heartbeat.
I’m a quilter myself, but the idea of working with more ephemeral fabrics than cotton scares the crap out of me – I made a wizard robe for Thing2 on Halloween several years ago that was shiny and velour-like, and there was much in the way of yelling and cursing wafting down from my sewing loft at late hours on October 30th.
Have a fabulous birthday. :)
Happy Birthday, Patty!
I think it’s fabulous that you are giving yourself a gift. We so often worry about everyone else that we don’t care of ourselves! Looking forward to seeing your ink…
Thanks for the draw- this AG definitely intrigues me so I would love to try it!
Happy birthday, Patty! Looking forward to seeing your uniqueness as it heals up.
An idea on your caftans – even though the pattern is simple, buy some cheap muslin and do a mock up of the pattern. It may seem like an extra step, but sometimes working out an unexpected difficulty in a fabric that sells for $3/yd is much less frustrating than a silk that can be upwards of $18/yd! Also, trim off a piece of your silk or whatever (or use a scrap piece) and try to attach some sparklies to that first. If you’re gluing them, you can get a sense of how much glue it takes – without having a spreading glue spot behind the sparkley – and if you’re sewing, it’ll give you an idea as to whether or not the fabric may pull funny, how the sparklies weight the fabric, etc.
A happy and fragrant birthday! I’ve read a lot of love for Mon Parfum Cheri in the blogs, and have added it to my must-try list. The notes are among my favorites. With that plum, is there any similarity to Poison (which I can carry off well)?
Happy Bday. You have inspired me to make our next vacay more exotic; Im torn between Morocco and Instanbul.
Happy Birthday! Enjoy your day. Working with sparkle is lots of fun; need good light working with small things. Good dose of patience helps too! Good luck.
Gah. The cold. It hurts my nose to smell when it’s cold. How do you guys keep your nose from drying out?
It’s pretty dry here in San Diego and even worse now that we’ve had to use a heater (it’s been in the 30’s at night! I know that’s not that cold, but it sure is when your house in uninsulated and doesn’t have central heat!), so I often use a neti-pot or just a saline nose spray from the drugstore if I’m feeling lazy. Makes a huge difference!
what the hell is going on over there? :-w Isn’t it illegal for SD to be that cold? 😕
xo >-)
No draw for me – nothing but Very Happiest of Birthday wishes to my fellow Sagimattarius! :d I would get you a present – but you already have everything you need! Health and Wealth of the finest kind – an omnivorous love of Life!!!
xo >-)
I just turned 29! That was interesting. Sort of looking forward to 30, the 20s were not a great decade for me.
Hope you have a birthday full of love and good cheer. You are such a talented individual. I don’t know how you fit everything into your very busy schedule.
My birthday is on the 19th and I have very strong OCD tendencies. That’s what we have in common. (And yoga, too. And Denver.) So please enter me in the draw; I’ve earned my keep! :o)
Happy Birthday! Please enter me in the draw. Smoky plum sounds interesting. I’m relatively new to this so maybe you guys can tell me what else has plum besdes Mary Greenwell Plum (duh!), a sample of which is on its way to me!
BK Liaisons Dangereuses is a lovely rose plum scent, perfect for autumn, but the plum is tart rather than smoky. Worth sampling!
Happy Birthday Patty! I am horrible at sewing and can be of no help, am trying to get brave enough to attempt a simple pair of curtains. Also can’t wait to see your tattoos, and we seem to be having the same weather :(
Happy Birthday and happy tattoo (and happy sewing)!
Happy Birthday Patty & I hope you have your best year SO FAR! :-)
Happy Birthday! Its nice to know that other people flit from interest to interest (perfume-making and botanical drawing at the moment for me). Would love to try a sample of the perfume.
Please enter me into the drawing for the Goutal – thanks! The weather hasn’t been too bad here in NC so far, but we are getting some cold weather after a stretch of mild.
The Goutal sounds interesting. I like to smell after you review. It helps me to calibrate to your nose. Oh, and Happy Birthday! I’m longing for a tatoo myself.
Happy Birthday! My own birthday is in a few weeks. Have 4 tattoos, would like more. Can’t wait to see what you end up with.
Would love to be in the draw for the perfume!
Happy Birthday!!! Can’t wait to see your tattoos.
happy birthday, Patty !
would like to see what you choose
and best wishes to all for the season!
rainy and cold and dark in here too…
Whoa, tattoos! Way to celebrate your birthday. Hope it’s a very happy one, Patty.
Happy birthday, Sister Sag! I’ve always wanted a tattoo, but am not brave enough to get one. Plus, I am perplexed as to what ink rendering I would choose. It would probably be something related to the Beatles or John Lennon.
Just read about a guy who had our Governor Felon Blagojevich tattooed on his thigh. Idjit.
This sample draw is awesome.
Happy Birthday Patty! Hope it’s a great one. No tattoos myself but I have always admired beautiful and meaingful ones on other people. It’s pretty mild here on the coast so not too cold.
I’m excited to hopefully try this one as many of the Goutals of tried (Mio, Matin) have a weird high screechiness I can’t bear.
Happy Birthday!!!
I am amazed how multi-talanted you are:d
I would love to try it-sounds intriguing!
Freezing here in England,brrrrrr
Happy Birthday! Hope it’s a wonderful one ;)
I’ve only tried Goutal’s Gardenia Passion–pretty, but very light (but then my skin could have been eating it up); I’d be interested in a “rooty smoky plum,” as that sounds right up my alley!
So far, hot tea, merino sweaters, and my itty bitty decant of Chanel No. 5 EDP are keeping me warm (somehow the three have turned out to be a very comforting pre-bedtime ritual!).
Nice bedtime ritual! I’m doing honey infusions with ginger and lemon so now I can easily add it to hot water and have my most favorite winter drink in the world
I love honey infusions and will definitely try the ginger and lemon variation (don’t know why I haven’t before, but it’s a natural combo!), it sounds amazing :d
Happy Birthday, Patty! I know that you look and smell beautiful!
I tried the edt version a couple of months ago. And since I love Eau du Fier, I would love to try the edp version . So, please enter me in the draw. Thanks!
Have a great birthday, and an even better year!
Hugs!
Did you like the EDt or no? And thanks!
Yes, I did, but I do tend to like an edp formulation better, lol! I am such a snob!
Hope your special day is fantastic!
EDP Duh.
Happy Birthday Patty!
I would love to smell the Goutal EPP.
No comment on the tattoos though.
Happy Birthday Patty! Love your two tattoos birthday present to yourself and look forward to seeing the results.
Please enter me into the draw. I’d love to try the AG Mon Parfum Cheri EDP — your description of the “rooty smoky plum” and the iris root all the way, as well as “different and unafraid and uncompromising” are irresistible. I agree it would be great to compare it to the EDT — I’m intrigued by the bitter note that Gaia mentions for the EDT.
yheah, I need to try the edt now. I love the EDP, but I get where it is pretty fierce or could be. It behaves itself on me and maintains a beautiful iris-plum-smoke balance that works and lasts and lasts!
Happy Birthday! Every few years I get inspired to start sewing again, with mixed results. But working with really nice fabrics and silks sounds so tempting. Please do share photos!
I’ve been wanting to try the new AG and have a sample of the EdT on the way, so would love to compare them.
i will! I tried to take up sewing a few years ago again, but I borrowed my sister’s old machine, and it was just tragic. I went ahead and got a reasonably priced one with excellent reviews, and it sews like a dream.
I think the right tools make a huge difference, especially sewing with expensive fabrics. I want to make pillows too with bling and beaded pearl fringes. I’m pretty jacked about this.
My whole wardrobe may wind up bedazzled. :)
Happy Birthday and Yeah! for trying to sew your own caftans. I’m an intermediate level sewer, I guess, and my one tip is to not get fooled by pattern sizing. Patterns never did the vanity sizing thing like the rest of garment-manufacturing America, so I find that I take a ghastly large numerical size when it comes to getting a pattern. Just get out your tape measure, and go by your own true body measurements. And if you want to get out a black Sharpie and cross out that horrible number on the pattern envelope, we won’t tell! ;-) Are you going to hand-bead the caftans with bugle beads and sequins, or glue on your sparkles? I’ve never tried something like that, though I have made many a costume. Have fun! I want to see photos when you’re done! :-)
I would be interested in trying the new AG. Please enter me in the drawing. Thanks!
Yeah, I remember that about patterns and especially vintage patterns, no vanity anything, so I’ll measure and pin on me in muslin first, make the adjustments on that so I know where to cut and sew, I think that will work great!
I’ve got some options on the sparklies. I’ve found a great place that has tons of beaded trim and fringe, plus the swarovski crystals, and you can either get them flat to sew on or hot-set, I think they call it. Then you just get the tool, which heats up, put the crystal in it, wait a second, put it on the fabric, and it adheres permanently. I’ll test it on the fabric before I go very far with it to make sure it holds up okay and doesn’ weight it down so much to make it unusable.
If I ever finish one, I’ll absolutely put up pictures!
OMG YES! On scratching out the pattern size! I remember being a solid size 8 in store-bought….and was 😮 and :(( to find I was about a size 227 in PatternWorld. :-w
xo >-)
Happy birthday, Patty….may you enjoy many, many more.
Happy Birthday! and congrats on the new tats! I can’t wait to see your tattoos!! I’ve always wanted one but could never decide on something I liked enough to make it permanent, well, except my husband, though he’s not imprinted on my arse!
Thanks for the giveaway opportunity. I need to expand my Goutal knowledge. And I too love caftans. It seems that the ones l like most are always incredibly expensive. Maybe the key is to bedazzle my own. Hmm.
That was me. I’ve never had one before, never thought I wanted one, but thought there should be just one thing I eventually decided I wanted, so it was cool that I finally found it!
yes, bedazzle your own! Find a pattern or plain one you like or in a simple silk or charmeuse, then get some beaded trim/braid and the heat-on swarovski thingies with the little tool that puts them on, and you can bling it up beyond belief, or just add a little around the neck or hem or sleeve to make it not plain. That’s my plan!!!
Hey Patty, I just saw your comment to me. What did you finally choose for a tattoo? I’m ever so curious! Did you post a photo? And did you ever post who won the Goutal? I’m sorry to ask, I did search through your blog but just couldn’t find your tats or the winner. ?
I meant to put a ;) there but it didn’t work..oops
Happy Birthday Patty!!! I hope you have many, many more. I’ll be 50 next year and it’s kinda freakin me out, but hey it is what it is!!! I secretly think I don’t look a day over 45 ;-)
I would love to try the new Goutal EdP. I tried the Edt at Bergdorf’s a while ago and really really liked it. I would be interested to see if difference. Thanks for the draw!!
Don’t worry about the 50. I passed that two years ago, and I hated it at the time, but I’ve totally embraced my old lady spirit!
and you don’t look a day over 40!
And Fifty is the New Thirty anyway, so who cares! 😉
xo >-)
Happy birthday! How coincidental, I just ordered a decant of the EDT.
No cold at all here, living in the tropics. :(
No need to enter me in the draw – just piping up to say that after seeing Octavian and Denyse’s reviews, I ordered samps from ebay, and liked it so much that I just ordered EDP from the Netherlands. The iris-peach combo is reminding me of Iris Gris (what little I know of it – from a few hours with an Osmotheque scent strip, and more time with the recreation that TS rags on, but which I enjoy), but, as Denyse describes it, a couture gown turned inside out and recast by a daring modern hand. I love this edgy take on iris!
Caftans are so ideal – all clothing should be this beautiful, flattering and comfortable. Perhaps you could make caftans inspired by your favorite perfumes?
Oh, Noz, I’m so glad you were able to order the EDP after all. Hope the postage wasn’t a killer!
Faylene, thanks to your tip regarding Celeste Parfums, the AG MPC EDP is winging its way across the Atlantic, together with some Knize Ten EDT, which is out of stock at LuckyScent. The shipping IS steep, but once I make up my make up my mind it doesn’t stop me.
I noticed that Celeste Parfums also has a dream assortment of AG in special bottles, such as the beautiful Mandragore Pourpre butterfly bottle, AND they still seem to have the much praised and discontinued Institut Tres Bien Cologne a la Francaise. It’s great to know about them.
Noz, you sound like a charter member of the Faylene School of Rationalization! :)) Hope these scents exceed your wildest expectations!
There is a little iris gris vibe to it. It’s not as sunny as iris gris is, it’s like the dark side of the moon version of ig.
Agree on caftans. Once I figured out they don’t have to be this voluminous muumuu thingie, and you sew the lines closer to the body so it’s not shapeless, a whole new world opened up. But it’s impossible to find the ones I like the most – maybe one here or there – so I figured making my own was the next best way to go. If I get good at it, I’ll make more than I need. :)
Happy birthday! Great gift to give your self-tatoos. Good choice.
A good holiday to you and may the nest year bring much joy and crafting.
Happy Birthday ! The constant rain in Ohio is just killing me and have yet to even contemplate what I am going to do with my Christmas shopping!
My birthday is 12/13 and with all your traveling, Patty, is comes as no surprise to learn that you are a sister Sagittarius. I have not been to Morocco since the early 70s and wish I still had some of the gorgeous caftans I brought back.
Happy birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to yet another Sagimattarius! I’m a month older than Jesus, so I’m just on the cusp – but all my signs, save one, are Fire, so I’m pretty much full-blooded Sag.
Can you imagine if we all had the great stuff we had back in the day? 😕 Could we even get into our homes now? 😮
xo >-)
Ah, a fellow sag!!! I would happily be meandering the planet about 1 week out of four if I could afford it and my dogs wouldn’t have a meltdown every time I leave, along with the cats. I have decided that once my current crop of pets expire, I’m not getting more. I love them, but they put a crimp on my wanderlust
Happy, happy birthday to you, Patty!! Hope you have a wonderful day filled with all the things you love.
I bow to your sparkly talent and can’t wait to see what you come up with. And that artsy photo of you is fabulous!
you are so sweet. I love purple, so I thought a purple photo of me would be the bee’s knees. Plus I’m playing with my macbook air, which is so much fun on screwing around with photos!