Tales From a Vintage Wardrobe Give Away

Ah, those were the days. The days when traveling meant laying out several outfits for the maid to press and pack, suitcases with stickers on them of all the chic places you "already went", and a fast drive by a chauffeured car to the Airport. You, in your hat and new gloves (they cost a mint, but they are totally worth it!) were ready for adventure. (visiting your older sister in the "Big City")

Just before the day of take off, you went downtown and tried on several pairs of great shoes, careful not to snag your new stockings. Finally, after much thought, you purchased two new pairs, one for day, and one for evening wear. These days, if you still love those vintage fashions, it can be hard to find just the right thing. But, you lucky girl, Michelle has a lovely Vintage Wardrobe boutique open all the time at The Red Velvet Shoe .

Inside, she offers exquisite hats, like the Orignial "ROBERTA BERNAYS" Cocktail Hat, to wear to the next party in your circle. (Better watch those martinis this time!) With its beautiful velvet cut leaves in Mocha, Taupes, Brown Sage and Salmon, you will look very Audrey Hepburn~ tres chic!

Or this Black Velvet one, a stunning Black Pill Box Style with ornate Jet Beading and Silk Thread Embroidery.

There are stunning dresses and suits, like this 1950's Blood Orange Wool Suit with the rare 3/4 length Cape. Underneath, a slim sheath.

There are purses, everything from "day time" to elegant evening bags. I was particularly drawn to this bag, A DeLill Evening Bag with a Floral Engraved Frame. Look at those colors, Chartreuse, Ruby and Bronze, with Metallic Threads.

Shoes? Okay, I know every girl has a weakness for shoes like this. Love these Oxfords!

And these. TOO cute! Mary Janes, but vintage and all grown up, from Paris no less! Made by the famed ROBERT CLERGERIE.

Or these darling Gilded ones, Leather, perfect with Jeans and a sweater for a date...um, to a movie, maybe?

Okay, so don't push and try to trample each other to get to those goodies first. Remember, it is a sign of good breeding to always remain lady-like, even when shopping a crowded store.

If that wasn't enough for today's excitement, Michelle, the lovely proprietress of the Red Velvet Shoe is having a blog GIVE AWAY! She has been blogging for one year this month, and she has put together a darling Prize Package for the winner of her give away. Below are some of the things one lucky winner can look forward to:

You can visit Michelle here Tales from a Vintage Wardrobe ...sign up for the give away, and shop for a few "little" things like hats, purses and all those other swell things we girls can't live without!

*All Photos Copyright The Red Velvet Shoe*

Drive By

I love going on drive by's. No, I don't mean those garage sales you go to, and decide not to even get out of the car. Not that I ever go to garage sales, I get hopelessly lost, and can't drive and find them at the same time. I gave myself permission to not go to them long ago, after almost hitting a few trash cans and a tree while trying to find the right address.

I mean "window shopping" neighborhoods around yours, for new paint color ideas, or fence ideas, or garden ideas, you know what I mean. Last week I drove through a cute neighborhood, with lots of sweet homes. I'm looking for a paint color, and fencing ideas, I would love to put a picket fence in our front yard, and am still in the beginning planning stages. (Mr. FGH is still working on the overhang out back)

This one is still in my neighborhood. I love this garden, beyond the white picket fence is a fountain in the little courtyard. In their back yard, my neighbors have a sleeping porch for the grandkids, and a chicken palace!

This little house I loved for the blooming bushes. Don't they look like something you would see in Candy Land? I am keeping this picture in my art file, I just know there is an art project in there, somewhere!

This corner home has a fence that is completely covered by bushes. I do love the bricks, the topiaries you can just make out close to the house, and the white & black color scheme. But I think I want the actual fence to show when we do ours.

I love this one! The fence is great, White Roses all around, this is a contender for chez moi, for sure! I forgot to mention that I took these photos while actually driving in traffic, so some may be a little lopsided. You can tell this is an older town in Southern California by the overhead electrical wires. Because of earthquakes, the older homes hooked up to an outside electrical wire, instead of having the wiring underground.

See, here you can see the roof of my car, and the house is leaning a little. I love how this white fence and trim contrast with the Olive Green siding on this home. very cute. I don't know if I could convince my other half to go with Olive Green though.

This house has the fence half way, but it's a big fence. This makes it really, really private, but I think I still would like the house to show over the fence. I think I need to go on a few more "Drive By" shopping trips for fences, maybe with someone else driving, so I can take pictures without getting looks from people in the cars behind me. :)

Honk if you see me on a drive-by! Do you like to "shop" for ideas in your neighborhood?

Women Take Wing

I am honored to be featured on the Women Take Wing Blog this week. (WTW features one of their members on their blog at regular intervals, so that you can get to know more about their members) If you are not familiar with Women Take Wing, "it is an organization for women actively involved in the design, creation, and growth of their businesses." I love being a part of this wonderful group of women business owners.

The WTW blog is full of business tips, articles, as well as inspiring success stories. You can read it here . Please leave a comment, if you would like to.

*
Dreams come a size too big,

so that we can grow into them.

-Josie Bisset

*

When I started FrenchGardenHouse, it meant long long hours behind the computer, by myself. My friends in "real life" are lovely, supportive women, without whom I would not be the sort of sane person I am today :). Most of them do not have their own businesses, so when their eyes started to glaze over at the mention of accounting, marketing, product choice etc. etc., I knew it was time to find a group to "talk shop" with. So my sweet BFF's would still want to go out to lunch or a latte with me!

I was excited to find this group of women, who all have totally different businesses, both online as well as "brick & mortar". They are an inspiration as well as font of knowledge. If you are starting your business, or have one, I hope you will consider joining Women Take Wing.

A Doll For You

I had such a great day today! Relaxing, and very fun. Usually I take my camera everywhere (for blogging! hasn't it just changed your whole life?) but today I just wandered around enjoying myself, without a thought about any of you, so rude.

First thing this morning, I had the best pancake ever, with Strawberries and Cream, served in bed. yum. I read a whole chapter in my book at one time, which almost never happens.

Then, Mr. FGH and I went to Bellmont Shores, to wander around this tiny Beach town's streets for a while. No photos there, either. Not of the quaint shops, the flowerstalls, the cat adoption fair in the parking lot, nor the chocolate shop where we bought chocolates for my Mom. none. not one tiny photo for you. not even on the walk down the streets with cute beach homes.

To make up for my rudeness, I would like to share some of my old scraps. I bought them long ago at one of the antique Paper Fairs I talked about here and here .

I was sure I would be making some fabulous thing with them the minute I got home. So far, no fabulous thing has emerged. I haven't even taken them out of my paper treasure boxes until tonight.

If you click on them, they should enlarge slightly, so that you can copy them into your computer.

I hope some of you make something wonderful with these. That way I will feel less guilty about the money I spent on these two darling ladies (which was more than I should have, but you know how it is "in the moment" when you fall in love!) Let me know how they turn out, okay?

Happy Mother's Day!

You filled my days with rainbow lights,
fairytales and sweet dream nights,
A kiss to wipe away my tears,
Gingerbread to ease my fears.
You gave the gift of life to me,
And then in love, you set me free.

I thank you for your tender care,
for deep warm hugs and being there.
I hope that when you think of me,
A part of you, you'll always see
~author unknown~

Her love is like an island

In life's ocean, vast and wide

A peaceful, quiet shelter

From the wind, the rain, the tide.

'Tis bound on the north by Hope,

By Patience on the West,

By tender Counsel on the South

And on the East by Rest.

Above it like a beacon light

Shine Faith, and Truth, and Prayer;

And thro' the changing scenes of life

I find a haven there

~author unknown~

Happy Mother's Day! For all of you who have a wonderful Mother, how blessed you are. For those of you who didn't (or don't) ~ my prayer for you is that you will be that wonderful mother for your own children.

Outside My Window

The splendor of the rose and the whiteness of the lily do not rob

the little violet of it's scent nor the daisy of its simple charm.

If every tiny flower wanted to be a rose,

spring would lose its loveliness

T herese of Lisieux

our much beloved Eden Rose is blooming!

This is my view today outside my windows. Thanks to an unseasonally hot few weeks, all the roses are in bloom. Below is my Herb Garden Plot, which you saw here a few weeks ago. See how much difference a few weeks makes? The little herb plants are coming back to life. Soon I will be able to run into the garden to snip some parsley, or chives, or mint leaves for our dinners or iced-tea. You really don't need a big space to grow some fresh herbs. A few little pots will do! And you will so enjoy being able to use them fresh, from your own garden.

The Lavender Stainless Steel is blooming in huge clusters of flowers by the deck. They smell as good as they look. I love how they combine with the Lavender Trumpet Vine in the background.

A view of the deck (which needs to be repainted) on the shelf you can just see our "Kitty" (he's that black furry thing by the umbrella!) He loves to sit there and survey his kingdom. He thinks the yard next door belongs to him, as well, and runs off any cat or other animal who has the nerve to enter his domain.

Below is my favorite Fairy, reading a book in the garden. You may have seen her here a few weeks ago. Poor thing, she may have to move to higher ground, before she is totally hidden by the Mexican Sage, and the Mexican Mallow Poppy (a pest, note to self, never plant again, only in pots!)


I am sorry that the White Hydrangea proved impossible (for me, anyway) to photograph. I love hydrangeas, and happily buy loads of them at Trader Joe's, after they bloom inside, my European Gardener :) plants them in the garden, or in pots for the patio. They always bloom again, year after year.

The Bouganville, with its showy Hot Pink Flowers. Not totally my favorite, this climber needs to be kept under control all the time here in Southern California, otherwise it will just attack and cover the whole yard with its prickly vines. Okay, I admit, it is a pretty sight. (a much discussed subject around here between the gardener and myself. If it were up to me, we'd have another climber here.)

The view of the Little French Garden House right now. Those oranges on the table I picked for juice later on. You can just see my little Cecile Brunner Rose on the roof, she had her first flush of blooms already. The hanging baskets are just starting to come back, in a month they should be covered with beautiful colored flowers. Because the little house is under our huge Gingko Tree, everything blooms much later here than anywhere else in the garden.

One of the most tragic things I know about human nature

is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of

some magical rose garden over the horizon-instead of

enjoying the roses blooming outside our windows today.

Dale Carnegie

Anne Bonny Pirate Princess

Anne Bonny is the stuff legend is made of! One of the very few women Pirates recorded in history, sailing the seas on a pirate ship and fighting together with men, she led quite a colorful life. Her story was so sensational at the time, a woman, dressed as a man, sailing on a Pirate ship!

Disguised as a man, she sailed the seas around the Bahamas, capturing ships, looting and killing to get more and more treasure. According to legend, she stabbed a fellow pirate through the heart when he discovered her gender. (no weak lass, was she)

She was born in Ireland in 1698, and at 16 married a sailor and "part-time" Pirate (!) James Bonny. They soon sailed to the Bahamas, where young Anne loved to mingle in the bars, drinking ale and rum with the pirates. Here she met the debonair and flamboyantly handsome "Calico Jack", or Captain Jack Rackham. They ran away together, and sailed the Pirate Seas on their pirate ship. Later another female Pirate, Mary Read, joined their crew, also disguised as a man.

My "Anne" is a purely imaginary Pirate Princess. Wearing her short Gunnister's Jacket (her Justaucorp is at the cleaners right now) with stand up color, she is carrying several Dragoons (pistols), one a French pistol, the other Dutch. (she stole it off a Dutch Captain going to the Indies) Her map is rolled up and tied to her belt, she is on the track of the biggest treasure ever! A waxed declaration to the left of that, is a handwritten list of all the booty from the latest plunder.

Underneath it all, she is still a girl. Hidden under her Pirate's Garb, is her delicate, more femine side. Lace and Roses, even a bustle make this Anne a Pirate Princess. She loves to collect Silver and Gold, but her favorite of all is loads and loads of glittering Diamonds, and Tiaras.

For lots more Pirate fun, join my friend Donna at her Pirate's Swashbuckler Soiree ......

Just click on those darling Silver Boots and set sail to the Soiree, Damsels in all their finery, handsome and roguish Pirates, Treasure, Maps, and of course, a few peg-legged rascals and lots of fun!

******NEWS FLASH*******

Did you know there are still PIRATES doing dasterdly deeds today?? See
This on April 20th,2008!

"The fishermen said they feared for their lives for much of the time, pirates pointing assault rifles at the 26-member crew and making throat cutting gestures when they were slow to follow orders."

Happy First of May!

photo by shuku

Happy May Day! ~Fête du Travail ~

May Day traditions go back almost to the beginning of time. In the ancient world, it was the date when it was safe for sailors to go back to sea. In the middle ages, May was the month when betrothals were made. May Day is also called International Worker’s Day. Today is an official government holiday in most countries, with mass demonstrations, rallies and marches being held to express labor solidarity and celebrate worker’s rights. Here in the US. it isn't an official holiday, although the celebration actually started here.

Lily-of-the-valley, or Muguet des Bois, is a wonderful part of May Day in France. Sweet little bundles are sold at stands and florists everywhere to give to friends and family. Lilly of the Valley is also known as Our Lady's tears since, according to Christian legend, the tears Mary shed at the cross turned to Lilies of the Valley.

The world's favorite season is the spring.

All things seem possible in May.

- Edwin Way Teale

Romantic Homes Feature

Finally, after running to the mailbox day after day, it's here! The June Issue of Romantic Homes! Sigh, I'm sure my postman thought he was becoming the highlight of my day. :) Despite the fact that the editorial offices for Romantic Homes are right here in Southern California, it takes forever for us California romantic girls to get our copy.

I am so honored to be featured along with two other fabulous bloggers in Tara Frey's column blog on. Tara wrote such a wonderful article, the other two blogs are by some of my very favorite bloggers, Lisa , who makes everything and anything expertly, and makes it look even better than Martha you-know-who, and Chris , a garden designer, webstore owner, and just all around great girl! Please visit them, you will love their blogs, and them. So inpiring!

This month's issue also features two of Frenchgardenhouse's wonderful customers, both fabulous in their own right. Donald Kirkby's guest cottage is so inviting, I can only imagine that once his guests stay there, they will not want to leave.

Photo by Jaimee Itagaki for Romantic Homes

And Lorraine Spenle's shop on Cape Cod, well, sigh....divine! Thank goodness there are eight pages of glorious photographs of Lorraine's shop. Wish I could go there right now, and stay a few days or weeks. Love it! If you don't subscribe to Romantic Homes, you are missing out. But run, now, to the store to buy this copy. You won't be sorry.

Photos by Lorraine Spenle & Liz Davis

Lastly, I want to thank all of you, for continually stopping by with your kind comments, your oh so nice emails and gifts, and to thank you for sharing this blog adventure. I love this new way of sharing the spirit of friendship, you all inspire me every time I visit your blog, with ideas and images that nurture my soul. Sounds a bit ladeeda, but seriously, I mean it. xo

Sweet Thoughts

What will you be doing this weekend? Here at home, we are a whirlwind of activity this weekend. Next Saturday, we're having a Birthday Party for one of my BFF's husband. About 35 guests or so. Never mind that my Mr. FGH ripped the patio cover off a while back, and now has the basic structure up. smiles. See that naked wood pole behind the Cherub Urn? That's what I mean. I'm talking about bare wood, beams and crossbeams. Nothing else.

And I cropped out the 20 bags of gravel laying next to the deck that needs to be spread out. And the mess in the bbq area...and..oh, sorry, got a little carried away.

The climbing roses are still leaning against strange things, tied on with ropes here and there. Somehow, this weekend, we will need to transform our yard (read mess) into a lovely, charming party place. So, I have nicely suggested to Mr. FGH that maybe he better just paint what's up of his fabulous new structure White, and we'll fake it all somehow. (I haven't told him yet that we need to plant a few little plants here and there, and "fluff" things up~ why give the poor guy a heart attack on a Friday night!)

I wish real life was like a magazine shoot, you can crop and stage to your heart's content. And it all looks fabulous. Oh well, if you need me, I'll be running around, and probably bossing my poor guy a little. Hope you all have a great weekend!

"Let us be grateful

to people who make us

happy; they are the

charming gardeners

who make our souls blossom."

~Marcel Proust

Newport Beach Bliss

This weekend I gave up my monthly trek to the Fleamarket to go to the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach. (it wasn't a hard choice, really!) One of my friends decided to take one of our other BFF's and me to brunch there, just for fun! :)

The Balboa Bay Club is the only four star "full service" Hotel in Newport Beach, Ca. It is "set on 15 stunning bay-front acres in the heart of Newport Beach." It's been known as the Host of the Coast since 1948. It's gorgeous, if you are ever in this area, it's the perfect place to stay if you just won the lottery. Above, the lobby, with this killer Orchid arrangement.

A little peek into the Library, I took this while walking to the restaurant, it was such a gorgeous day there was no one in there.

The entrance to the First Cabin Restaurant. Loved this beautiful flower arrangement, those colors really p*o*p! I think I will file this away in my "party book" for a future flower arrangement idea for an event at our home.

Tulips, Snowballs and Hydrangeas, how can this not be drop~dead gorgeous?

photo from BalboaBayClub.com

This is an official photo from their website, of the First Cabin Restaurant. I'm sorry I didn't take a photo of the booth we were in, the back of the booth had a wonderful curve, and it was upholstered in Gold Paisley Fabric. Loved that! We had so many choices for brunch, I had a small Eggs Benedict, Apple-smoked Bacon, a tiny bit of the best Scrambled Eggs ever (hope my Mr.FGH isn't reading this!), a tiny Croissant, Fruit, one tiny Cheese Blintz, and cups and cups of the best coffee! There was much much more, and it all looked wonderful. I'm completely proud of myself that I had restraint. (it wasn't easy, believe me)

The wall of celebrities in the hallway. Lots of famous faces, from ZsaZsa Gabor to Ronald Reagan, everyone has stayed at the BayClub at one time. And no wonder! It's the Riviera of California.

It was a little breezy to sit out here, but this area has a gorgeous view of the many yachts moored here.

More boats, it's a great place to walk by the harbor here on this path. You can see lots of boats, yachts and sailboats, too!

I took this shot waiting for our car to come back from the valet. It looks pretty, doesn't it? You can't tell from the photos, but there was actually a nippy wind blowing, that's why there are no people in this picture.

photo from BalboaBayClub.com

We had such a great time! It's always fun to get together with my BFF's, but this was a very special time. You can visit the Balboa Bay Club Website here . Back to the real world. I am blessed to live close to all of this beautiful scenery. And best part, I don't have to be rich to enjoy it for a day! :)

Inspiring

Yesterday, I had the great fortune to be invited to a birthday luncheon for an elegant lady who was celebrating her 101st Birthday. I can't begin to tell you what an inspiring few hours that was. The birthday girl was born in 1907. Think about that, she was 20 in the roaring twenties, in her forties during WWII, 60 in the 1960's.

These are the balloons in her entry way. I have never been to a party with those, have you? What's even more amazing, this birthday girl lives in her own (beautiful) home, with the cutest dog. She was such a hip 101, wearing a totally "in" outfit of a long gypsy skirt, a colorful top, and lots of long Pearl necklaces. Sparkling big earrings too! She wore a hat for the occasion, and on top of that the tiara she got as a gift that day.

She had some lovely things, of course, having been around for over one hundred years. Like the elegant Silver Tea Set, above, with the Teapot on the stand. (sorry, I think I accidentally had my camera on the wrong setting, everything is a bit blurry)

These Cranberry Glass Lustres were beautiful, in her dining room. Those crystals were amazingly heavy.

I loved her wallpaper! This home had vintage wallpaper, with colors you wouldn't believe. The Dining Room paper above, was on a Silvered Silk Background, it was hard to capture because of the flash. (love the cherubs with the dogs & lambs)

This Orange and Gold paper in the guest bathroom was just gorgeous too.

The table was set with great care. Beautiful Flowered plates, a Lace Tablecloth, Candles, this lady was ready to entertain. The most amazing thing about this celebration, though, was the Birthday Hostess herself. She was charming, interesting, as well as interested. She wanted to know all about us, and listened with great care to what each of us said. She told me some of the most interesting things about some of the objects she had in her home, each one had a memory attached to it of a person she had loved. To her, it was the memories and the people that mattered, never the thing itself.

Amazingly creative, our hostess began painting in her late 50's ("so you see, dear, you have plenty of time to do anything you want!") She had her only child when she was 40, which may be sort of normal now, but in the 1940's, it was a huge deal. huge. She said the whole neighborhood talked about it and her for quite some time. But it was a good thing, she said, winking at me, because now her son is in his 60's and can still help her with things. And who knows how he would have been at 80! :)

Above is a self-portrait of herself in her Edwardian Whites as a little girl. I was so much more interested in what she had to say on the tour she gave me of her home, that the photos are blurry, but you get the idea. She still teaches art and painting in her home! Her eyesight is not what it used to be, so some things are getting harder. She had to give up driving a few months ago, and she can't really go online anymore, either, which she really misses. (she obviously kept up!) She knits the most amazing bags, the felted kind that are currently popular, now that her eyes are failing, she counts the stitches instead.

Above, another painting by this artist. I forgot to ask if this was a self portrait, too, but most likely this is her. She has paintings in lots of styles ("you should push your envelope, experiment and change things, always changing and don't get stuck in a rut because it's what you do and are comfortable with")

She was a delight to speak with. She asked a thousand questions about me, and only talked about herself when I asked her questions. She told me she is happy with each day the good Lord gives her. She told me to cherish each day, each one has special wonderful minutes, and hours. She told me to make sure I develop friendships with younger women, because not only does this keep you young, and helps keep your finger on the pulse of today, at a certain time, your circle of friends gets smaller and smaller, and friendships and relationships are the only thing that matter.

Happy Birthday, dear! I can't thank you enough for the time you spent with us, the things I learned from you in those few hours. I hope to be able to see you again, maybe come to your next birthday party, too. What a blessing. I am completely inspired to live each day to the fullest, and push my envelope!