Do You Wreath?

By Lidy | Published: December 14, 2012

Loving wreaths?Here are a few to inspire, if you aren’t quite done decorating.

I love traditional wreaths. Call me uninspired, but there is something about greens, fruit and pinecones that spell Holiday to me!  In this wreath, above, the addition of Pheasant feathers and Red sickle Pears make me especially happy.

This wreath made by Recaptured Charm is…well, charming! Love this, easy to make and a fun twist on traditional.

More traditional, this wreath loves fall all the way through the holidays.  Loving the artichokes, a favorite in France. {mostly to eat, but I’m sure it wouldn’t go against the French way of decorating with natural elements to place a few on their front door}

How about the wreath that is just a gathered bunch of greens with Ice Skates? Cute, right?

Finally my favorite of all, this bundle of different preserved Boxwood Wreaths. LOVE this one!

Still time to holiday up a door or gate, with all that’s been going on here with my Mom, I’m still decorating a little here and there. Happy Friday, I hope you enjoy the weekend. xo Lidy

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On My Nightstand This Month

By Lidy | Published: December 9, 2012

Reading is something I sneek into my days, after I wake up at 6:30,, coffee in hand, I get back under the covers to read a little bit before the day starts. At lunch time, while eating {I know! I know you are not supposed to do anything but e a t…but there is so little time, and so many great books to read} I’ll read another chapter or so.  On special {and unfortunately much rarer than I would want} days, I will sit in front of the fire in the living room and read some more.  Then, just before bed, again snuggled under the covers, more reading.

Here is this month’s stack on my bedside table, along with a great journal {just in case inspiration strikes in the middle of the night} and my devotional.

1.  Let’s Take the Long Way Home. A “can’t put down” book about women, friendship, joy and mourning.  Laugh, cry….I did it all throughout Gail Caldwell’s stunningly well written book.

2. French Essence. Written a few years ago by my virtual friend Vicki Archer, this truly is a glorious book. It’s a celebration of life in Provence, one of the most charming regions of France. I find that especially during the holidays, Vicki’s gorgeous home in France is an inspiration. A native Australian, who lives part time in England and part time in France, you can read Vicki’s Blog French Essence and fall in love with her as I did years ago!

3. Ina Garten’s Foolproof.

Just bought this for myself {told Mr. FgH I bought it for him to give me at Christmas since technically I’m not allowed to purchase anything for myself at this time of year} I am a huge fan of Ina’s, because I can pull any one of her cookbooks off the shelf in my kitchen and have a guaranteed easy to make and great to eat recipe. I have never been let down by any of her recipes, and this book is filled with great ideas. I am not that great of a cook. Not really. But making any of Ina’s recipes makes me look like I am!

4. I Had A Favorite Dress.

Written by Boni Ashburn, pictures by Julia Denos. I’m adding this book, although I don’t have this, but I want to buy it for my Linden and Liesel. A book that is not only wonderfully illustrated, but I adore the concept of re~using clothing in different ways once it’s become too small. Besides, having kids and grandkids is really just my excuse for buying and reading lots of children’s books! {not that I need one, I have a great little library filled with children’s books}

What are you reading right now?

ps.

I am so sorry! In my effort to clear my blog of over 2500 {yep! you read that right!} spam comments a day, I’ve accidentally erased each and every one of your kind comments until the June 2012 posts. I am sorry….I truly appreciate all of you taking the time not only to read this blog, but to leave me sweet, thoughtful comments.

Problem FIXED. I bought an online spam blocker for the blog, so that now only your nice comments come through. Thank you again for reading my ramblings, leaving comments and sending me emails etc. Please know that I truly cherish each and every one of them. xo Lidy

If you want to romance your Home and Garden with antique and vintage treasures to make you smile each time you come home, visit our shop FrenchGardenHouse.

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Advent Decorations

By Lidy | Published: December 7, 2012

Advent snuck up on me. I love having an Advent wreath with four candles to light, one for each Sunday before Christmas. Do you celebrate Advent at home? As a little girl growing up in Europe, we always had a hanging Advent Wreath, it was part of the anticipation and wonder of the Christmas Holiday. I found some lovely Advent Wreaths online, from a German website while I was waiting for my Mom to be done with her Doctor’s appointment yesterday. {So thankful for iPads!} I hope you will be inpsired, any and all of these will make a stunning centerpiece, too!

images:here

If you want to romance your Home and Garden with antique and vintage treasures to make you smile each time you come home, visit our shop FrenchGardenHouse.

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Blessings of the Ordinary

By Lidy | Published: December 3, 2012

I love Christmas. I love decorating.  There have been years where I spent lots of time, leasurely, enjoyable time, decorating our home from top to bottom.  This is most likely not going to be one of those years. 

Right now, my Mom, who has the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s, has taken a turn for the worse, {requiring two days in the hospital on Thanksgiving} and needs lots of care.  And Mr. FgH and I will need to be making some tough decisions about that care.  So, this year, I will do quite a lot less decorating, and leasurely probably won’t happen as much, if at all.

Over the last few days, I have come to appreciate the beauty of the ordinary.

Things that are beautiful all by themselves, without the need of tinsel, ribbons or other embellishment. 

Things that I had gotten used to, and didn’t really “see” in all their glory any more. Things that we have been blessed with as a family.

Things that bring beauty and warmth to our lives.  Our family. Our friends, whose love and support have meant more than they can imagine over the course of the last few days and weeks.

The same is true of decorating to celebrate Christmas.  The glow of our chandelier prisms, how beautiful they are when the light hits them “just so” and they sparkle and shine.  My little cement angel, who sits on a corbel next to our mantel in the living room, he looks so happy and beautiful just with a sprig of Juniper greens tucked behind him.

 

This is a shot from years ago of my kitchen, and my trusty Kitchen Aid, simply “decorated” with a clean, new Holiday Towel.  Looks festive, so easy to add to the bowl, and brings a little pop of color for the holidays.   

Sometimes it’s the little simple things that make rooms festive, in my kitchen it’s usually antique red towels, some holiday Teas and a few sprigs of greens.  Cookies in an antique French glass jar. Maybe some twinkling lights above the cabinets.  This year, I am so thankful for the small joys, and simple decorative touches that spell out C h r i s t m a s. 

It’s not necessary to have over the top decorations that take days and days to do to make your heart, and your home, a happy, loving warm place to be.  There is something about that “It’s a joy to be simple”  that I am embracing fully this year.  This is the season to celebrate, to gather those that you love, not the season to be stressed out.  I am going to spend purposeful time enjoying our home, the peace of a half hour by the fire, sipping tea, sharing time with my friends, laughing, and being with our family. 

 

I am fully embracing the beauty of this season, and I do intend to decorate our home.  But it will be on a simpler, smaller scale, I will still relish in the preparations of getting our home ready to celebrate Christmas in all its beauty. 

 

I wish you all joy as you decorate your homes for the holidays!  And a blessed Advent for those who celebrate that. 

 

XO   Lidy

 

 

If you want to romance your Home and Garden with antique and vintage treasures to make you smile each time you come home, visit our shop FrenchGardenHouse.

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Decorating with Christmas Greens

By Lidy | Published: November 27, 2012

Have you started decorating? If you have read my blog for a while then you know I love natural decorations. Greens! Displaying greens around our homes for Christmas is a tradition that goes back to the 16th Century, when greens and branches of Holly were used to bring some cheer into wintry homes, as well as “ward off evils”, whatever those were at the time! I just think greens bring such warmth and coziness to our decorated homes for the holidays.

It’s so simple to decorate with greens. Outside, fill your urns with either topiaries, or insert a smaller pot filled with oasis foam or even dry floral foam, then simple stick in brances of pine, juniper and all the other fresh greens you can find or purchase.  Fill in some spots with decorative twigs, pinecones and some fruit.  (I’ve used real fruit before, because it’s cold outside, they last for the season unless the birds find them!} but artificial fruit picks work great too.  Drape garlands around your door, bannisters and on your mantel.

I love the mantel above, sprinkled with “snow” for a white effect.  Just a swag of greens you can buy is pretty too, above, isn’t it?  Or how about making the greens advent circles tied with red ribbons?  Those are simply straw wreaths, with greens attached with pins that you can purchase in the floral dept. 

Of all the decorations I have at Christmas time, I love the way fresh greens fill our home with the scent of the holidays.  There is nothing like the way greens smell, they fill up our home with the beauty of nature and Christmas.  I haven’t really started decorating for Christmas yet, as right now my Mom is staying here to recoup from a fall and hospital stay….but when I do start, I will be going for the green!

{The simple mantel above was one we had a few years ago here at home, it was featured in Romantic Homes Magazine, and was such a simple mantel.  I layered a few mirrors, added antique candlesticks, votives, and paper doves I made…beautiful at night. }

 

If you want to romance your Home and Garden with antique and vintage treasures to make you smile each time you come home, visit our shop FrenchGardenHouse.

images:google/MStewart

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Our Antique & Vintage SALE is ON!

By Lidy | Published: November 24, 2012

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Thanksgiving Tablescapes and Decor

By Lidy | Published: November 15, 2012

Thanksgiving is almost here and we all have so much to be thankful for! Sorry about the blog break, between FrenchGardenHouse, a new grandbaby boy in the family, the most adorable Luca, and my Mom who has Alzheimer’s now, it’s been a little crazy around the edges, that’s for sure! I am so grateful to be able to sit around our table once again this year with our growing family, and giving thanks.

I love this time of year, and decorating the house with natural twigs, flowers and fruits and vegetables is so my style! I love this welcoming vignette, above, made with simple things, tarnished silver urns, a few pumpkins, fruit, branches and a chalkboard. High on imagination, low on cost since you probably can do this with things you have around the house.

Setting a pretty table is easy too, if you use natural elements…which I so love. Shopping the garden and grocery store for decorations is what I’m all about during this busy time. All of these are so charming, it’s difficult to choose a favorite…you could incorporate one, or all of them at your table this year.

Napkins or a simple miniature Pumpkin on plates….sorry, I see that I added the give thanks napkin twice in the photo collages, I will probably do a variation of that here at home, since I love it so! Cloth napkins are great at Thanksgiving, I usually use my ruffled Linen napkins, but a square of fabric in a great color works too, or antique linen napkins, thrift store linens, what ever you have.

Great ideas, each and every one! Even the glass candle vase filled with dried corn is beautiful, an I’m totally loving the hollowed out squash with olives….so pretty lined up in a row for an appetizer.

More easy, but beautiful ideas! I really love the pumpkin trees above. I am going to do a variation of this with my grandchildren (2 and 4) we’ll cut out paper leaves, then have everyone write two things they are grateful for during dinner, and as they share those, we’ll hang the leaves on the “trees” we made out of branches from the garden planted in pots or glass vases like the ones shown.

Don’t think that you can’t change it up color wise for Thanksgiving! We have had some of our clients purchase our newest line of European dishes to set their holiday tables, the light blue and khaki colors work just as well for Fall an with pumpkins as the browns and darker colors we associate with tablesettings this time of year.

Another beautiful centerpiece, this one floral, in an old pottery container. This is a mix of fresh roses, with preserved leaves, fresh sunflowers and “faux” berry stems with dried wheat. so lovely, and a clean contemporary look. The pears are the just right pop of color, don’t you think?

Wishing you and your family the most wonderful, warm holiday! I am so thankful for each of you who take the time to share parts of my life, are my most loved and loyal customers at FrenchGardenHouse, blog readers, and online friends. Thank you for you encouragement, time, and all your emails with well wishes for our family.
Happy Thanksgiving!

images:Martha Stewart, BHG, HGTV

If you want to romance your Home and Garden with antique and vintage treasures to make you smile each time you come home, visit our shop FrenchGardenHouse.

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New Magazine: FRENCH COUNTRY STYLE

By Lidy | Published: October 29, 2012

So excited about a glorious new magazine coming out in February : French Country. Edited by the fabulous (& French!) Fifi O’Neill, published by Harris, it promises to be a stunning publication filled to the brim with everything French and gorgeous. We are thrilled to have our Petite Maison featured in it as well.

Click on the link for a fun preview.  {it takes a few seconds to load}  Look for it at markets, booksellers and anywhere else you can find your favorite magazines!

FRENCH COUNTRY STYLE

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Weekly Favorite: Antique French Opera Glasses & Binoculars

By Lidy | Published: October 10, 2012

Antique French Opera Glasses and Binoculars fascinate collectors all over the world.

The first Opera Glasses ever mentioned were in a London advertisement in 1730. These were monoculars; small Galilean telescopes. They were decorated with gems, enamel, ivory and hand painting, so lovely! But it wasn’t until 1823 in Vienna, that the first binocular opera glasses were invented.

Two cylinders connected with a bridge, each eye-tube extended independently for focusing. Two years later in Paris, Pierre Lemiere improved on these, and invented the center focus wheel, which allowed the focusing of both eyes together.

Kiln Fired Enamel Opera Glasses with Jewels and handpainted portraits. { Sold.}

The beautiful fine opera glasses were made by many craftsmen, not only opticians. Each one was worked on by painters, goldsmiths and other artists. By the second half of the 19th century they had become essential fashion accessories for elegant theatre goers. Given as gifts for holidays and birthdays, there is such a range of elegant, stunning opera glasses still for sale.

Exquisite pair of antique French Opera Glasses, above, made by Chevalier, Paris. This gorgeous pair of opera binoculars is unusual in that the barrels are decorated with embossed aesthetic scenes of Birds and Cherry branches, with the influence of the Victorian’s love of all things from the natural world.

I love the old Opera Glasses, but collect the more “every day” binculars as well. Covered in a range of materials from finest leather, to brass, to silver plate, to repousse metals, each one is a small piece of art, and a treasure from the past.

A fun antique to collect, they come in all price ranges, if you are lucky, you will find some still have their original leather cases, like the ones shown above! We have a range of opera and antique binoculars from France at FrenchGardenHouse….they are a favorite with our clients.

If you want to romance your Home and Garden with antique and vintage treasures to make you smile each time you come home, visit our shop FrenchGardenHouse.

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Autumn French Country Soup & Table Setting

By Lidy | Published: October 5, 2012

Nothing says Autumn like a comforting bowl of soup! I love Autumn, and I love soup. This is my newest favorite, French Vegetable Soup from the Alsace region. Try it and let me know if you love it as much as I do.

Set a glorious table this season with our new indispensable pieces, they are the building blocks of comfortable, stylish Country French entertaining year round. All it takes are a few seasonal accents to make every gathering around your table special and unique. Click on the photograph below to see them…then mix and match these, they look great paired with your basic whites.


Country French Vegetable Soup Alsace
Serves 4 ~ 6

Ingredients:
4 tablespoons butter
1 onion, chopped
shallot, chopped
1 cup sliced celery
½ lb. mushrooms, sliced
1 medium potato, peeled and diced
2 medium turnips, peeled and diced
28 oz. chicken stock
1/8 teaspoon marjoram leaves
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/3 cup half and half or milk
Sea salt
Freshly ground pepper
Chopped fresh parsley or chives

1. Melt the butter in a 3 quart pan placed over medium heat. Add the onion, shallot, celery, and mushrooms and sauté until onion is tender. Remove half the mushrooms with a slotted spoon; set aside.

2. Add the potato, turnip, stock, and marjoram. Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat, simmering about 20 minutes, or until turnip and potatoes are tender.

3. Add lemon juice, reserved mushrooms, and the half and half or milk. Season with salt & pepper to taste. Garnish with chives or parsley.

Enjoy! {in your new FrenchGardenHouse French Country Bowls}

If you want to romance your Home and Garden with antique and vintage treasures to make you smile each time you come home, visit our shop FrenchGardenHouse.

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