Whimsical and elegant Christmas with Christine Grenier

For the 9th year, the entrepreneur and her workshop located in Montérégie are transformed with the coming of the end-of-year festivities. It is with rich fabrics, thoughtful designs and a love for couture that the sumptuous stockings of elves and elves are made that seamstress Christine Grenier markets her products via her website , in Signé Local boutiques and in certain craft markets. Why and how does the artist design his pieces with great chic? This is exactly what our telephone interview was about.

The instinct to create

A weft of fabrics in hand, a few trimmings and a sketch takes shape in Christine's head. “My creations are rather instinctive. I go there according to what I have in hand: embroidery, leather, knitting. The materials are a source of inspiration, this is what will give the bottom personality and style. Touching the textile stimulates my imagination and pushes me to shape it, to transform it.”

He sometimes happens to proceed in the opposite way, that is to say to draw the bottom without knowing the materials that will be used for its design. One way or another, it is always the search for harmony and balance that will guide the designer in her work. “Sometimes it happens that I need a whole day before finding the raw material that suits the creation.” Creativity, patience, meticulousness and of course passion, allow Christine to have fun at work.

Christine is particularly fond of personalized orders which allow her to use maximum creativity in her proposals. “Whether it's for collectors or customers wishing to obtain a unique piece, I will have great pleasure in translating wishes and desires into original sketches. For some, they will prefer to keep the surprise until the end, leaving me then all the confidence and the latitude to create.

Textile as a work of art

“It was a combination of circumstances that led me to interior design, rather than fashion design. Sewing has always been one of my interests. As a child, I gave handmade gifts, I made clothes for my dolls. I learned a lot from my grandmother, especially for crocheting and knitting.” Self-taught, the seamstress learned the basics of her art on TV.

Today a seamstress with a degree in haute couture, it is first by creating placemats, table runners, bedding and curtains that Christine skilfully transformed fabrics for the benefit of creativity and style. Gradually, she imported fabrics from France to create high-end artistic pieces.

Stimulate the imagination

“The Christmas stocking appeared with my desire to create different, festive, elegant and fun decorative objects. The whimsical universe that surrounds the holiday season is a creative stimulus. The response from people was very positive initially, which is what pushes me to continue.

The clientele is mainly made up of women who wish to offer themselves an original, timeless and high quality gift, a work that will come to life in their homes. The creations are also offered as gifts to children to stimulate the Christmas spirit. In addition to the Quebec and Canadian market, Christine Grenier receives orders for elves and elves stockings from the United States, France, England and New Zealand.

Obtaining one of the seamstress' creations is a unique way to add magic to Christmas traditions and embellish the household for New Year's Eve.

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Reviewed by Marie-Pascale