Assemble pieces of fabric to create little dolls that are as expressive as they are endearing. Welcome to Claudine's magical world.
A charming pavilion surrounded by greenery, in a peaceful housing estate to the west of the city dear to Diderot. There, at the end of the corridor, a small room exits the sound of a sewing machine. This is the world of Claudine Joly!
Surrounded by a qincredible quantity of fabric couponscountless buttons, many balls of wool and colored cords, sparkling eye-shaped pastilles… the hostess displays a big smile, visibly happy to indulge in her lifelong passion, sewing .
“Each piece is made and sewn by hand”
Leaving her work for a moment, she returns to her already long journey and above all on the universe that it creates over the reels… of thread. Originally from Normandy, she arrived in Langres around forty years ago to follow her husband, who was transferred to a local grocery store.
Then, after raising her children, she did home knitting work for stores selling wool, before joining Nadine Valette's fabric storein rue Jean-Roussat. An establishment in which she fully flourished by carrying out sewing and tailoring work… A real confirmation and a logical continuation for the one who, since her youngest years, really loved sewing.
Fabric…
But above all, for Claudine, an autodidact who owed her skill only to techniques gleaned here and there, it was a real godsend tofollow the wise advice of Madame Valettewho taught sewing.
So, obviously, at retirement age, the children having become independent, no question of abandoning fabrics, threads, needles and other supplies. So, for almost fifteen years, Claudine has been patterning, cutting, assembling, sewing… for her greatest pleasure and of course for that of her clients.
“I mainly make rag dolls and teddy bears, all intended for decoration. Each piece is made and sewn by hand, or by machine when possible. In addition, my husband designs systems that allow me to 'articulate certain dolls, particularly at the level of the arms and legs'underlines Claudine. From its lair emerges a whole shimmering range, of all sizes, of all shapes.
…to the dolls
A work that she carries out occasionally, as soon as his schedule allows. However, needless to say, Claudine devotes many hours to her passion because “each piece requires between ten and fifteen hours of work.”
Dolls and teddy bears that she takes immense pleasure in to present at local craft marketsespecially during Christmas time. Great opportunities for Claudine to “talk rags” with enthusiasts like her. Meetings which sometimes lead to long discussions and loyalty.
Indeed, each model being unique, if not in terms of shape, at least in terms of clothes and colorssome customers like to build up a small, very decorative collection.
And as Claudine never lacks imagination, you can bet that she will still give birth to many little beings who will soon be enthroned with graceon a sofa, on a bed, in a window…
Practical Claudine's sewing corner. Such. : 06 13 35 20 39 [email protected] www.lecoincouturedeclaudine.fr
