You know you live in an old building when........

Happy Thursday.  

I have wanted to replace the lighting in our living room for years now.  I found the chandelier a long time ago.  But just recently I purchased it and had it installed.  Well....partially installed.  Here are a few before pics.  

Can you imagine why I wanted to replace this?

Here are the "in the process pics".

I understand that this building is old enough that the lighting used to be provided by gas lamps.

Here is the problem.  As you can see below, it could not be put in flush with the ceiling because there is a 4 inch gas pipe which extends down from it.  Due to the weight of the chandy, there is also a 4 inch long mounting plate.  This prohibits the use of a canopy to cover the space and wires because they are tapered and not that wide. I may be able to go to a vintage lighting store and find a pretty simple fix.  

I was given the option of cutting the pipe.  I chose not to do that. :) I will either have a custom medallion made which will have some depth to it.  Or, a friend suggested recently that I have a circular molding made to match what already adorns the room.  

I will update you when I have remedied the problem.  

Thanks for visiting

Michele

French Grain Sack Body Pillows....and a few linen napkins

I hope that you are all enjoying your summer!  

As it is a typical July here, it is misty, grey, and foggy.  I am looking forward to fall when we will see the sun and feel some warmth.  I visited our new farmer's market this weekend and had on jeans, long sleeved tee, and a down jacket.... I was still shivering :)

I am either hot or cold though when it comes to my Etsy shop.  The sewing machine is either out for weeks or tucked away for months at a time.  I am happy to say that the former has been the case this last week or so.  Here are some of my creations.  

I like making these grain sack body pillows.  You don't see them too often.  And since each sack is unique they feel special.  

I love those with patches as feel very authentic and like they have a long history.  

I also made some more of the Italian linen napkins.  This fabric is special because it is a very fine weave and is imported from Rome. 

Enjoy your summer.  Thanks for visiting.  

Michele

Above items available at Maison de Michele

Mother's Day Reflection

The focus in this blog is on French style, rustic farmhouse flair, the old, and well loved.  I feel sometimes, though, that it gets a bit stale.  It's funny because I do not think that of others' blogs.  Just mine.  So today, for Mother's day, I am going to branch out a bit and write about something a little deeper....vulnerability can be a good thing.

I pray every day, asking for the guidance, strength, and courage to be the best mom I can be.  It is my most fervent endeavor.  I know in my heart that I can be too strict and even humorless under the weight of schedules, sibling rivalry, etc.  I am easily bogged down by work, bills, stress.  That being said, during spring break, I made a conscious decision that this was the kids' time, and vowed to make it fun and enjoyable.  I was going to let go for a few days.

I took a day off work and we invited my friend's son to come with us to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.  I promised myself (and quietly prayed for help) that I would not worry about money, health, work, the aging process :), how clean my apt was or how I am going to pay for college......I could go on.  I have said several times since, that it was one of the best days I can remember.  And one of the reasons for that is that I was....so.... truly.... present.  This is what it yielded.

I am aware that the seemingly life threatening rides are a big part of creating these smiles.  But I do believe strongly that kids feel our stress as well as lack thereof. 

When I was growing up I remember our family vacations very fondly.   I come from a family where our dinner plates always featured protein, vegetables, and a starch.  We were the kids with apples instead of oreos in our lunches and who went to bed at 7:30 instead of 9:00 like the other kids.  Don't get me wrong.  I had a fantastic childhood, but it was structured.  Then came the week or two when my parents took time off from work and we would go to the beach.  Things were a bit different there.  I feel like the most common word out of my parents' mouthes was "yes".  We would ask for pancakes for dinner and they would say with a smile, "why not?"  I remember being stunned at first.  How fun!!  We got whatever we wanted (within reason :)) and it made these times very special.

I have adopted this view when it is vacation time with my girls.  They love it and know just where it comes from.  I am grateful to my wonderful parents.  I am fortunate.  As a result of their hard work and dedication I can say that I had a happy childhood.  Now, if I can just pass that on to my kids.  

Happy Mother's Day to you all

Michele

ps   this small amusement park is on the beach in Santa Cruz, CA.  It is a beautiful spot.  It is very fun and easy.  Not much waiting for the rides and plenty to keep you busy for a full day.

Le Gateau

There are times when I find myself in a creative lull.  I cannot manage to use thread and a needle in order to satisfy that need to artistically express myself.  During the last year or so I have turned to baking in those moments.  I love the process, the quest to make them beautiful as well as tasty, and of course the visual gratification when I am finished.  

Enjoy your Sunday!

Michele

Vintage French Baskets

Happy Sunday!  

I thought I would share a few of my recent finds.  I have been looking for a nice old French basket lately.  

I saw this one and instantly liked it.  

What do you think of this olive basket?  I wish I had a small lemon tree or myrtle topiary to place in it.  

 I could not pass up this lovely oyster basket because of the beautiful blue patina on it

The piece de resistance, though, is the pernod sign I found.  The memory of drinking pastis at a cafe in France is one of my happiest.  

Tough as it is, I have listed these new treasures in my Etsy store.  

Thanks for visiting

Michele

Vintage French Body Pitchers

Happy Friday

I hope that this finds you all well and ready to relax this weekend.  

 I found both of these pitchers from my vendor who imports from the Brittany region of France.  They are available in my Etsy store.

These zinc ones are not easy to find these days.

 I really like the hue of this one.  A real French blue.  

It has some enamel loss, commensurate with its age.  But isn't that what draws us all to vintage treasures?  I also am drawn to the rusty band at the bottom.  Don't see that often.

 I could not help but add a few photos of my tulips.   My daughter says that they look like Easter eggs on sticks. ;)

I love how they are all going their own way.  

Thank you for visiting.  

Enjoy your weekend

Michele

Spring flowers and a zinc body pitcher

One of the best parts of spring, in my opinion, are the gorgeous flowers.  The constant sneezing and scratching my eyes until they are the color of beets is almost offset by the beauty of snowballs, tulips, daffodils, peonies....etc.  

I really like these zinc body pitchers and am thrilled to be adding two to my etsy shop on Friday.  

My sister in law, Cheryl, of Fresh Vanilla for C, gave me the mercury C for my birthday.  I love it!

As I say often, I love the contrast between the old and beat up and the fragile and lovely. The snowballs feel as though they could barely withstand the drive home.  Whereas the pitcher is decades old and very rugged looking.  

Today is my friend Kristy's bday.  I decided to make her a little arrangement.  

And, so typical me, I make the effort to hand emboss the card.  But I neglect to remake it when I stamp the "d" backwards.  I am going to say that it adds to the charm.  ;)

I hope that you are all enjoying a lovely week.  I am very grateful today for everything that I have been blessed with.  

xo

Michele