Holiday Craziness

So this is the week, the week I put on my elf~hat, with special prediction and E.s. P. Powers, and decide what Holiday {yes, that means the C word!} items we will be adding for our final buying for the 2009 Holiday offerings at FrenchGardenHouse. eek! Crazy, isn't it? Especially when you think that we ordered most of it in January, not two weeks after Christmas 2008 was over, and we were still sitting around by the fireplace drinking tea in our after Christmas glow.

I thought you might want to join me on a little tour of some of the trendy looks for this coming holiday season....put your elf hats on, so you can help me decide! {ps. Back in stock! Here}

One of the prettiest "trends" for this Holiday Season is the Winter Wonderland theme, with iced Branches, lots of Silver, Birds, Artic Animals, sparkling Whites and Glitter. It's been around for a few years, but still a strong look. The perfect combination of icy silver and snowy white. This shimmering Winter Wonderland brings the outside in by adding icy silver and white touches to your home and decorating. I love the owls...just not sure if my customers will...what do you think?



Timeless Grace is elegant. Dressed to dazzle, this includes a heavenly combination of Cream and Gold. I love the Champagne colors, the elegant glamour of this trend. It matches so beautifully with Gold and White~Cream tableware & Glasses with Gilt edges. This is a polished, "city" look. Glam at its best ~ graceful elegance that is both timeless and polished. I think this is a combination that will last, it's pretty much timeless. It's funny how for years and years Gold was "out" and now, it's the newly discovered "in".




Royal Splendor is another look I have fallen in love with in all the market showrooms. Jewel tones that glitter and sparkle transform your home into a palace. Together with Velvets and Brocades used for Stockings, Pillows and Tablecloths, this gives a truly grande feel to the holidays . And this is the perfect "theme" to use all those Crowns we love.



The colors in the above photograph are a bit subdued, but the ornaments below are bright, and regal, aren't they? Love those.


There are so many different themes for holiday decorations. Or variations on a theme. Like the one below, that's called "Nature Glows" featuring Gold and Silver mixed in with Nests, Twigs and Flowers. Then there is Romantic Decorating in palest pastels, with loads of angels, and lace. Traditional with the Reds, Greens and bright colors most of us grew up with. and on. and on. So...what's your favorite? What will make you want to change your "look" or buy a few new things? What ornaments or decorations make you heart leap? or flutter?



Let me know, okay? You can find me on my fainting couch {no worries, I won't be fainting, just resting after going from showroom to showroom and overloaded with waaayyyy too many Holiday Displays}

and wearing my comfy elf slippers.

Fille de Fleur

Yippee! All of us in blogland have just found a new friend! My friend, Kim, an artist, and all around fun and sweet girl, has a blog!

So that you don't miss a thing, you can click on her cute banner above, and add her to your blog list. I'm sure you won't be sorry ~ everything already looks beautiful. I have loved reading her posts, and I'm sure you will, too!

Kim loves all the things we love, vintage, lace, flowers....and, best part, she makes to die for Velvet and Organza Flowers. To. die. for. See the one below?

Carefully made by hand, by Kimberly herself, each and every one is a treasure.

{these she doesn't make, these she loves and collects} Some of Kimberly's collections were featured in Romantic Homes Magazine a while back.

These photos are from her etsy shop. You can visit Kimberly's shop here: Fille de Fleur on Etsy

All photos copyright and courtesy of KimberlyK.

I hope you will stop by and welcome Kim to blogging! You won't be sorry....she is a gem. Hope you all have a happy weekend. And please, if you know someone new to blogging, introduce us!

j'aime Paris

Sometimes a photograph is more than just a photo.
Sometimes, it is ART. With a big A.

These more than stunning photographs taken around Paris are by photographer Etienne Cazin.

Be sure to enlarge them.

Makes you fall in love with Paris all over again. And again.

Quai de Seine

La Villette

Notre Dame




Versailles




all photos copyrighted by Panoramas

Stunning, non? Makes you want to fly there, right now. Instead,
go see the work of Panoramas.

Chair Love

In the middle of a busy day, I suddenly got the urge. I couldn't stand it anymore, I had to do it right away! I recovered this chair quite a few years ago with a pretty, Cream Roses print, which at the time, I absolutely loved. {I have a thing for chairs, always picking up strays here and there, but that's for another post, at another time}

There really was nothing wrong with this chair the way it was, except, I don't know, I looked around the living room this week and just...well, hated it! Do you ever have that? When it looked perfectly wonderful the day before, but then, yikes....all of a sudden you feel that little "un satisfied" monster appearing? When you know you want to change a few things? And your budget is kind of at 0.00?

So here was the chair, thinking to itself it was pretty cool, probably. Everyone else thought it was cute. Mr. FgH, poor guy, said "huh? What's wrong with it? It's just fine." {the kiss of death, as far as I'm concerned...just fine? not what I had in mind, at all. And a sure~fire way to make me want to change it}

So I looked at my fabric stash, and found a half of an antique French Grainsack. perfect! I put a little pillow form underneath, got out my trusty staple gun, and about ten minutes later, it was love at first sight, again. {"Kitty" our cat, being the most nosy cat in the universe, had to come see it right away. After putting the chair back in its regular place, he promptly jumped up, and fell asleep on the "new" chair.}

I bought some White flowers, re arranged some stuff on the coffee table, and thank goodness, all is well. for now. What do you do to change your home around when you aren't feeling happy about the way it looks? Let me know....I'm always interested in your ideas!

Waterside Cottages

Isn't this the prettiest Summer Book Cover? This beautiful book is one I look forward to reading and drooling over. I can't wait 'til it's available. You can pre-order it Here from the author, Barbara Jacksier.

Barbara also has a Website just full of sea side inspiration! How fun are those little striped cabana covers? A pina colada, a big hat, a great mystery novel, and even I, not~so~much~a~sun~worshipper could lounge around here for a week or two.

photo courtesy of Rosemary Beach.

Yep, now this looks like fun! I think Mr. FgH could go for that right about now! {Instead, he'll be spending his free time re~painting the bathroom, so I'm not sharing these photos with him}

We do live near the ocean, so he does get to do his running by the beach. {in case you were already feeling sorry for him}

Anyway, let's get back to the book. Filled with inspiring shots like these. But there's so much more. Those of you who love Barbara will have read the updates on her Blog

Who doesn't dream of having their own private dock? With a little boat, ready to cruise on the water at any given notice.

Photo by Dan Mayers

It's the interior shots that really make our beachy hearts flutter, though. Even this bowl filled with shells is stunning! And what a simple, beautiful way to announce Summer.

Hearts. Made by you~know~who......available soon for sale at the Waterside Cottages Website. So wonderful for your own beach~side cottage, or as a gift. Even if you just dream of a beach~side cottage. Perfect.



Photo by Dan Mayers

Directions to make fun, sea~side projects like this Shell Candle Holder can be found on the site, too.

Photo by Dan Mayers

And then more shots of the book. All wonderful spaces to live. I love the soft, natural colors in this small vignette, the variety of hues from the dark Brown Wicker Chair to the Light Cream Table. Note the "Florida" Flamingo print and the Boat!

Photo by Dan Mayers
Another of my favorites. The light colors, the Starfish. This shot makes me just want to knock on their door and ask if they will adopt me. How relaxing to come home to this room, and there are so many interesting things and textures to see. I love the two Wood pieces over the French Doors.

Photo by Dan Mayers

Soft, vintage chenille Pillows to curl up on. On a hot summer afternoon, if you are lucky, to read, or take a nap. A glass of cool Lemonaide next to you. Are you loving this yet?

All photos by Dan Mayers

Then, at the end of the day......this. Clean, crisp, and beautiful colors! Sweet dreams really are made of this. I love the color combination, and especially the Gingham Dust Ruffle. This makes me want to summer~up my own little home with some shells, and a cleaner look.

How do you get your home ready for summer? Let me know, I am always looking for a great idea.

Decor Medley Interview

I want to thank Giorgina Devereaux of Decor Medley for taking the time to interview me about FrenchGardenHouse, and LittleFrenchGardenHouse, too! Decor Medley is a wildly popular website, just filled with all sorts of decorating and design advice.

I was honored to join the talented women Giorgina has showcased in the past. She was so kind and really took the time to ask some informed, well thought~out questions. Sometimes I wish we could all just meet in person...don't you? I'd love to sit and talk with her, one on one, in the garden.

My two favorite guys were happy about it too! {or just happy to be going out in the red car on a sunny day....}

New Bistro Ware

On warm nice night like this, it's the perfect time to walk down some Rue in Paris, to have dinner at one of the hundreds of Bistros.

You can sit outside, on little chairs like the ones above, or sweet traditional woven sets like the Red ones {that I love!} below.

Bistro food is generally simple, good food. Chicken. Steak. Frites. {with mayonaise...sigh...to die for!} Often the chef has his or her own blend of special herbs, to sprinkle on meats, poultry and potatoes.

At chez FgH, we use our own blend of herbs for our Herbes de Provence. I use it for just about everything and anything...tonight it's on the chicken that will go on the barbeque. It is so easy to make your own!

I keep it in this old pot of Herbes that I bought long ago. It's seen better days, but it's the perfect place to store the mixture, dry, cool and within reach of the stove. {it's a little scary showing all of you this pot, in the picture it looks, well, dirty, but it isn't!}

Herbes de Provence Recipe:

4 tablespoons dried thyme
4 tablespoons dried basil
4 tablespoons dried rosemary, crushed
4 tablespoons dried tarragon
4 tablespoons dried savory
4 teaspoons dried marjoram
4 teaspoons dried oregano
4 teaspoons dried lavender {be sure to get culinary lavender}
4 bay leaves, crushed

Mix together, and store in a dry, airtight place. Mix with Olive Oil and brush on fish, chicken or beef before baking, rub on a turkey before roasting, or whisk into homemade salad dressing. I sprinkle this over potatoes, in my Spaghetti sauce, it really goes in most things and makes everything taste so great. The perfect gift with a bottle of French extra-virgin Olive Oil for your favorite hostess.

I was inspired for this Bistro post by the new St. Germain Bistro ware we just got in. How cute are these? White Porcelain, accented with Red & Black. Like eating in a French Bistro.

Just as happy serving up breakfast, with cafe au lait and croissants.

I love the mugs, too. It's not easy to find a great sized mug, this one is not too big, not too small, just right.

Dinner is ready! Hope you enjoy the outside as much as possible, eating outside, at a French Bistro or in your own back yard, has its own charms. Bon Appetit!

Roses & Cherubs

Our bags are unpacked, and the garden is offering a beautiful spot to rest a little after unpacking all of our purchases from the buying trip. Our website server was attacked {who does stuff like that?} but thank goodness everything is back to normal again. Tomorrow the "real life" starts again after our little break.

I have a love {okay, sort of an obsession!} with Cherubs and Roses. Like the ones here. The Roses {the ones I used for these shots are mostly Edens} and the Hydrangeas are in full bloom, my favorites! I piled some of them in the Cherub Urns for the photos...aren't they glorious?

I love the urns, they were quite a find, since there are two of them! Perfect for a shabby chic lover. I picture them ending up on either side of a fireplace, or flanking French Doors.

The little Putti, or Cherubs, are so cute. Anything with Cherubs kind of captures my heart!



I hope all of are enjoying the outdoors. Sun. Flowers. Weekend. Life is good, especially in the sunshine!

Home

Home. It's so nice to be home. No matter where I go, I love home best, don't you? We had such a wonderful trip, first of all because we got to see our darling Grandbaby girl {she really is the cutest baby in the universe!} and because we found some great antique treasures, too. But home, that's where I love it best.

What makes your home, Home, to you? Is it the people? The special memories of fun times there? The wonderful little treasures you have collected over the years? Or the beautiful things you surround yourself with to make your rooms be ones you love?

FgH

The little French Style Pots in the garden for your plants? Or special Roses that bloom each year?

Photo courtesy of the furniture manufacturer.

Antique Tables and Vintage Reproduction French Chairs in your dining room? A special place for a cup of cafe~au~lait in the morning, or a salad with a friend for lunch? Even take~out is an elegant meal at a table like this, isn't it? All furniture shown in this post are from the fabulous line of French Reproduction Furniture I told you about in this post a month ago, and will be available soon. {sorry, my server is having a problem, so I am so behind in putting these pieces on the site, by next week they will all be on!}

photo courtesy of the furniture manufacturer

A wonderful, over the top bed? So French and feminine, that you just can't wait to go to sleep each and every night?

A special Bench at the foot of your bed, to sit and take your shoes off, or put your purse and wrap, before heading out the door for a date night dinner?

photo courtesy of the linen manufacturer

Gorgeous European Linen Duvet covers, with ruffles and embroidery, to sleep under each night?{These are my new passion, I don't think we will ever sleep under anything else again at our home} available at Frenchgardenhouse.com

Darling pillows to toss around on your bed, with a few Roses, to remind you of the garden when you are inside? All these things make me love my home, but mostly, it's being surrounded by my family, friends, dog and kitty, and breathing in that scent of h o m e.

This is not my home. But I do totally adore this look, and someday, maybe, will use this as the inspiration for the outside of my dream house. I dream of this home, I love the weathered facade, the plants growing on the house, the gravel, the little bistro set, and the cute little person, too! What dreams do you have for your home? I'd love to know!