Hi! So I just want to do a mini blog post of my 3rd week in confinement in Paris. I’m sure the whole world is feeling the effect of the Corona virus pandemic, the quarantine, confinement or lockdown, however, you call it.
For me, I am in Paris, I’m okay, I have everything I need, the only complaint I have is that I’m supposed to see my parents the week of the start of confinement and it was supposed to be my graduation day for my MBA in Mod’art. But all of that was postponed. I know I know, some people have it worse. But I was just really looking forward to seeing my parents again, more than the graduation.
At week 3, I can’t say I’m super bored yet, as I found a lot of things to do. I did those free online lessons and I haven’t even finished them. I was studying French and diligently reading and answering my workbook. I thought my level is B2 and C1 so I got that book, but I’m really just B1.
Oh and I wanted to practice my drawing, my photoshop, my illustrator and maybe update on Indesign which I barely used. But I didn’t have time for any of that.
What I did manage though is to keep my place tidy everyday. Wash my clothes every morning. Sit out at my balcony. And just appreciate I’m still alive today. I know we’ve been seeing numbers all day everyday. But each one of those numbers are someone’s family member, someone’s love one, someone’s friend. I can’t even imagine. I am just happy and thankful my family is safe but of course, being away from them makes me worry still.
Another part of my brilliant plan is to make patterns of my dream clothes and start sewing them with the extra fabrics that I have. In my head, I thought I have a lot of fabrics. But luckily I have been using them up for sewing lessons, for practice, for blogs that I barely have enough. So I started making masks out of the scraps that I have.
As you know, during the lockdown, we don’t work. While my company says we will be partially paid…I still worry because I do have so many side jobs like teaching sewing lessons. And more often that not, I get my income from those too. I don’t have the heart to offer anything online, as I feel it’s not the same energy.
One day, I was thinking sigh, how to earn money during lockdown? I could try cooking and selling them lol. But I don’t have any packaging contents, and also, I don’t trust my cooking skills.
People told me to make masks to sell, again the guilt part, no I can’t, I’d rather donate them. I did make for some neighbors and friends but that’s about it.
You know, sewing is like yoga or meditation for me, as I have to focus on what I’m sewing, I forget everything else. So I told myself, just sew! Then a few hours later, one of my colleagues from China asked me if I could make masks for her family here in Paris. She’s in another european country and it’s amazing how she’s looking for solutions for her family here. I guess families do what they have to do right. I did need it so I finally agreed. In my head, 4 masks wouldn’t take so much time. Oh boy, they ordered 18 pieces. Are you kidding me??? Luckily, there was enough fabrics for them! The only thing, I don’t have elastics with me, so I had to make the straps using bias tapes that I made myself and that took so long. But now, after 18 masks, those bias tapes are so easy to do now. I mean, I don’t tug or stretch on them as I sew. I’m finally doing what I told my students all the time, just hold the fabric while sewing but don’t tug on it.
Here are some of the ones I’ve finished. Those fabrics were left over from old projects I have, but I’m so glad I always buy 100% cotton. They make the perfect material for masks. I even made cute little ones for the kids.
Speaking of kids, one little girl I used to babysit, sent me a message and asked me how old i’ll be as my birthday is coming soon, April 17. I can’t lie to her. She’s my baby. I just told her, remember, Beyoncé is the same age and she’s so cool. Ok. She just sent me an LOL.
So for the last couple of days, my life turned to mask, mask and mask. I would just stop sewing at night when I feel that my neighbors would complain of the sewing machine noise. Actually, I’m soooo lucky my neighbors are so quiet, so considerate. I’m probably the odd one, but I do my best not to disturb them. I have some theories about my neighbors based on the time they leave the house and come back lol…but maybe for another post.
Oh, I also used tiktoks. It’s fascinating for me because I’m not really good at editing videos or doing this and that…so editing them takes so much time. I do miss doing tiktoks but for now, it’s mask, mask and mask.
The thing with me, I like planning in advance and finding things I needed in my home even before I needed them. Huh??? Ok, so if I could do a rewind and I had known I’m gonna spend my next few months in lockdown what would I do?
- I would celebrate my birthday in advance and throw a party! Or at least buy my present in advance. Lol. I always give myself a present for special occasions. I know that sounds sad lol. But now I’m sad i didn’t do it! I was planning to buy that janome sewing machine from darty that my student has. It’s sooo smooth and quiet and fast. I can probably sew till midnight and my neighbors won’t hear it. Singer, while I love it tends to get noisier as it gets older.
- I would buy books. This confinement is perfect for reading books. And I love the smell of new books. I’ve always wanted to finish the Sherlock Homes series. I’ve only read The Hound of Baskerville.
- I would get ink for my printer and download those coloring pages. Now is the perfect time to color stuff.
- I would buy fabrics, 5 rolls of pattern paper and maybe thread and elastics!!!
- I would get a yoga mat and some mini dumb bells so I can at least pretend I would do some exercise. LOL.
- I would have spent lesser time at home and go out more. Maybe I’m such a loner, I miss going to WH Smith and browsing through their books.
- I would have bought a mini oven and practice cooking. I do still have Chrissy Teigen’s Cravings book on my laptop.
- I would get more makeup stuff and clothes for my tiktok videos lol.
- I would stock up on more food, lol not toilet paper.
- I would buy drawing materials.
Actually, it seems like I should have shopped more before all this happened. But actually, I have no regrets. I did enjoy my life before the lockdown. I went to work, I met friends when I could, I went out when I could. I called my family just as often. I didn’t travel that much well, it’s not in my priority that time.
My friends in Shanghai are somehow getting their lives back and I can see them going to eat at restaurants, going out. I’m sure we will get there soon enough and hopefully with no more victims of this virus.
I learned that life is short, and that we should not waste our time on stuff or even people that is not in alignment to what we want for ourselves. And that every day is a gift and we should show our appreciation to it by living and enjoying our best life everyday. I will translate this text in French tomorrow. Good night.