Fashion 2014

The first Tuesday of every month some of us bloggers get together, pick a topic and write about it.  This month it is the best and the worst of the runway fashions.  I chose Spring 2014.

In my opinion no one does prints better than ETRO.  It was very hard to pick just one dress out of the many gorgeous prints.  

Here is a little history of the Etro family.

 Paisley might originate in India, but the modern fashion world associates it with the Italian textile firm Etro. Founded in 1968 by Gerolamo “Gimmo”. 

Etro remains a family concern, with all four of Gimmo Etro’s children involved. Jacopo, the eldest, oversees the textiles, home, and accessories divisions; Kean handles menswear; Ippolito, the business end of things; and Veronica, the youngest, designs womenswear.

Kean once described the house’s approach to design as “poetic, not aggressive" and those words could well be applied to his sister’s ready-to-wear collection. No matter what Veronica’s touchstone is in a given season—maybe science fiction, or Dada, or Russia, or sixteenth-century armor—the end result is always bohemian, usually executed in a blithe mix of prints and patterns.

The dress with the yellow skirt......I would probably close the neckline a bit but this dress can be worn to one of the ladies lunches at the Dallas Country Club..... it would be perfect.

The flowing turquoise dress..... is perfect for dinner aboard a Monte Carlo yacht cruising the Mediterranean.

As for my least favorite, there were many but I chose this one by Stella McCartney  as I cannot imagine it looking good on anyone.

Friend and fellow blogger, Vicki Archer is giving away a week at beautiful Le Petit Bijou in Provence, click on this link to see how you might win this.

 http://vickiarcher.com/2013/09/would-you-like-to-spend-one-week-in-st-remy-de-provence-at-le-petit-bijou-its-french-essences-fifth-birthday-and-time-to-celebrate/

 Happy Shopping

A Bientôt

Audrey

Country weddings

Inspired by this photograph by Mozi photography, I am dedicating this blog to Country Weddings. 
I have been to a few and they are always so much fun and the attire is always unique.

So many weddings are held at destinations other than where the bride and groom live so how about renting a barn in a beautiful setting and having a wedding there.

Ilovefarmweddings.com

bloodyloud.com

weddingelation.com

juniperanddash.com

The idea of a country barn wedding works in both of my lives, Texas and country France.  Maybe that's why I love that idea so much.

From French Vintage Home is this gorgeous vintage cake board, perfect to hold your wedding cake.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/163896453/vintage-cake-board-hand-painted-wedding

Wishing you all much happiness, love and patience.

A Bientôt

Audrey

The good old Red, White and Blue

Traveling to Malibu this past weekend I passed Pepperdine University where 3000 flags were placed as a memorial to the 9/11 terrorist attack.
I loved that people were having a picnic and children were running through the flags to show that we did survive this attack and are living our lives as before. But, we will never forget.

photo by filmoregazette.com

These are some of my red, white and blue favorites

Cherry Red Bag

Cutest blue/white stripe bag

Gorgeous cable knit scarf

Chanel Rouge lipstick....gorgeous

Darling melamine plates

Cloth Dinner napkins on a roll.... lots of colors

Enjoy your day, bonne journée.

Audrey

Restaurants in plant nurseries

Eating at garden centres is becoming increasingly popular. I have had the most wonderful meals in nurseries around the world.

decor-medley.com

Sometimes it is just a burger bar and sandwiches and sometimes it is a full blown restaurant.  It you haven't tried eating at a nursery, I recommend it and I think you will be pleasantly surprised.  For sure it will be beautiful and have lots of plants and flowers all around.

The Petersham Nurseries Cafe – which isn't a cafe at all, but a restaurant with a Michelin star in Richmond, UK.
Skye Gyngell was awarded a Michelin star this year for her cooking at Petersham Nurseries in Richmond in the U.K.

Photograph by Almay

Tiny Boxwoods  Houston, Texas

 

photo by wondersnevercease.blogspot.com

We had brunch here this past weekend, it was fabulous.  I had their famous "Beet Burger".  Delicious.

This recipe and picture is from the Post Punk Kitchen

1 1/4 cups cooked, cooled brown rice

1 cup cooked brown or green lentils, cooled, drained well( you could substitute black beans as they do at Tiny Boxwoods)

1 cup shredded beets

1/2 teaspoon salt

Fresh black pepper

1 teaspoon thyme, rubbed between your fingers

1/2 teaspoon ground fennel (or finely crushed fennel seed)

1 teaspoon dry mustard

3 tablespoons very finely chopped onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons smooth almond butter

1/2 cup very fine breadcrumbs ( you can leave this out)

Olive oil for the pan

Peel beets and shred with the shredder attachment of your food processor, then set aside. Change the attachment to a metal blade. Pulse the brown rice, shredded beets and lentils about 15 to 20 times, until the mixture comes together, but still has texture. It should look a lot like ground meat. 

Grill until done.  Yummy!!!!!

High-Hand Conservatory in Loomis, California is the most beautiful of all.

Some of the cutest ideas for your gardening.

Just click on the blue writing to get more info on my favorite products.

Just for girls garden tote  

Laura Ashley kneeling pad, gloves and tools

Ultimate Garden swing

Enjoy!!!!!

A Bientôt

Paris brocantes

thehiddenlist.com

I love these old photos.  The brocantes have been going on for such a long time and never seem to run out of things to buy and
things to sell.

info-brocantes.com

Most Sundays I go to the Brocantes in Southwest France where I have a home.  This Sunday was different. 

Since I was on my way back to the States, I spent the weekend in Paris. I went to the brocante at La Porte de Vanves. It was fabulous, 350 exhibitors many with beautiful and unique items.  I have already put several of them on the French Vintage Home web sites so please check them out to see what is new. I hope you like what you see.
www.frenchvintagehome.com and https://www.etsy.com/shop/FrenchVintageHome

Now I am in beautiful Dallas, sunny and hot with no hint of Autumn in the air. It's good to be home to see family and friends.

Until next time.

A Bientôt

Audrey

Patina...La Patine

I am so excited to be doing this blog for By Invitation Only along with so many of my favorite bloggers.  It is positively thrilling to be in their company.  The subject this month is "Patina" and because it can be interpreted in so many ways, I hope you enjoy the way I have done it.

Patina is often thought of as only a thin greenish layer, usually basic copper sulfate, that forms on copper or copper alloys, such as bronze, as a result of corrosion, but it could be the sheen on any surface, produced by age and use.

This gorgeous table is at Jacqueline Adams Antiques in Atlanta, Georgia.

Living half the year in country France, I see patina almost every day.  I am not sure if it is deliberate or just the inability to change it for one reason or another. This beautiful door resides across the street from my home in La Tour Blanche.

Probably the one place where patina is most recognized is the Statue of Liberty. It's copper finish has the most beautiful vertigris finish on it. It is perfect.

It is also a  change in appearance produced by long-standing behavior, practice, or use: a face etched with a patina of fine lines and tiny wrinkles. We try hard not to let this happen to us but for many it is not a choice.  Working outdoors is the quickest way to get these lines and wrinkles.

One of my favorite shops is PATINA on beautiful Nantucket island.

They seek out smaller, independent designers who are known for their exceptionally crafted, timeless clothing.

Wishing you a wonderful new season, where the Patina colors are everywhere.... enjoy.

To read more about Patina and the bloggers of By invitation only go here

A Bientôt

Audrey