checking in before taking off
image via riptheskull on flickr
i know it’s early but i hit publish so what the heck, i’m getting ready to head out soon.
hey guys, just wanted to send good wishes for your holiday. i’m still at it and will keep adding to this post throughout the day with tidbits that are coming across my desk. really a bunch of non sequiturs but sometimes you need to defrag so here i go. anyway, hope you cut out early and have a magical, maniacal weekend where ever you are!
oh and by the by, this just in from fabulous stylist margot austin:
the credit to the top bath on the post from the other day: it’s eva lindh, stylist extraordinaire. check her out!
it’s all happening at once
hi mes amis. it feels good to be back in the saddle tonight but damn if you miss a minute you really miss a lot.and i blinked. i had to start with this pic cause it’s just so simple and sweet. i’m enjoying an uncomplicated life these days and know it will come to an end soon when everyone starts getting. back but for now, it’s pure bliss.
last night judy ebert of jbebert.blogspot.com awarded me the supposedly highly coveted in certain circles, Premio Meme Award!
judy is an incredible artist and jeweler who creates masterpieces we get to wear with semi precious stones. on this one alone there are coin pearls, ametrine and vermeil beads, pink amethysts, apatite, pistachio drops and green aventurine! the central jewel is a slice of glittering Brazilian amethyst stalactite. i mean come on, now! her work can be found on wonderful sites she lists on her blog so if you get a chance please stop over and say hey. as for le award, it entails a little homework. first, i have to list 7 things about myself and pass the award on to 7 blogs. since that’s the good part i’ll start there. these are actually blogs i don’t know but discovered just now through comments they’ve left. blog world is the most infinite and abundant place i’ve ever been. so nice to meet you all and everyone, enjoy!
zelda-domaindesign.blogspot.com (now zelda i do know and admire, she’s actually having some fun instead of working for a change)!
via mydesigndelights.blogspot.com i discovered anaserrano.com/ANA_SERRANO/cartonlandia.html and katie at the top of the page. need i say more?
amigadamoda.blogspot.com i think she makes cookies. anyway she’s obsessed with shoes and there’s some great eye candy. this just in: kinha is up for the top brazilian blog award! if you go to her site please vote for her in the upper right hand corner and thank you from her~
goldsnowdrops.blogspot.com via wide open spaces
ok as for the 7 things about me? let’s see
1. i love blogging and blogs and bloggers and the blogosphere! oh, and mostly, YoU!
2. i am a loner and crave silence. i haven’t turned on the tv or radio yet today.
3. usually i’m reading 6 books at a time and never finish any, this week i finished two.
4. in paring my life down i’m learning about what’s important. i’m not into getting worked up and having a frenzied energy anymore. (unless we’re playing, then it’s on)!
5. i’ve been thinking a lot about listening. the book i’m reading talks about how we all interrupt each other, waiting for our turn to talk. they say ‘listening is a magnificent art that regenerates and stimulates the beneficiary. he feels at peace, because, miraculously, someone is listening without wanting to grab the mircophone, or contest what he’s saying or say something smarter or change the subject. listening gives value to everything that is being said as well as to the person who says it. in true listening, we hear also what’s not patently said.’
6. i hope to foster and adopt dozens of kids
7. sometimes i wonder what it would be like unplug the laptop and do something completely different.
well that’s it. i think i will turn on some reality tv and chow now, bon nuit!
welcome naomi, guest blogger part deux
hi friends, carol told me to snap out of it, that i’ve been m.i.a. for the past couple of days. but they’ve been been filled with friends and summer fun and of course the endless schelping of furniture no matter how much i try to avoid it. liz moved out today and her new house is great. i’ll take some shots tomorrow at sunset when i go for a cocktail. till then, we have another post from guest blogger naomi cooper, so i have the night off which means i can come play at your place :p
Hello, Naomi here. Join me for a cup coffee and a French macaroon from my favorite coffee place, Macaron Cafe macaroncafe.com (an essential part of my Secauci commute-but when not commuting, the Coffee Inn on 1st Avenue has the best coffee. They steam the half and half.)
Thank you for all of your wonderful comments on the last entry. The event was a complete success. SRO, standing room at the party for flower designer Laura Dowling. Her husband hosted a lovely cocktail reception for us after the event. Laura’s talent and inviting demeanor captivated the guests.
Talk about the power of an endorsement! Laura arranged one of the pieces she demonstrated in one of our Anduze vases. She mentioned that the Anduze Vase or Urn was her favorite Pierre Deux item to arrange flowers in and the Anduzes went flying off the shelves, out the French doors, and into the cars of many DC and MD ladies. Can’t you just see the Anduze vase packed so nicely in its own box, and standing proudly in the back seat of the car, placed beside the groceries that are forced to travel en mass? We sold out of every Anduze in the store but you can still find the vases in various colors and styles online: pierredeux.com
I just got a couple of the images from the event and am happy to share them with you.
They were taken by photogapher Kevin Allen.
And this is a “How to” gift to you from Laura:
If you missed it, Pierre Deux will be hosting another event with Laura on July 15, 2009 in our Winnetka location. I’ll have Claudia post this invitation closer to the date for any of you who live in the Chicago and or surrounding area.
I must put down my virtual pen but I will leave you with the links to one of my favorite sites if you’re looking for vintage-inspired French cahiers and some chic and unique greeting cards.
And if your home is as haute as you are, you may let these butterfly pillows fly through your windows from fclstyle.com
Naomi Cooper
Pierre Deux
hey guys, claudia back again. here to say good night and thanks again naomi!
a change of scene
(sorry, i forget where this image came from)
hey guys, i just had to get out of the boudoir for a minute and get in to the bath. interesting when you focus so much on one niche then change your perspective.
via clarityinwonderland.blogspot.com
i have to work a bit and then head out but just wanted to check in with some fresh energy. where ever you i hope you’re right where you want to be.
(dang! i didn’t note this one either. if you know where it came from please let me know. i think it’s so important to credit sources. ok note to self: when i find a shot and save it i’ll rename it then and there with where it came from).
anyway hope your night’s just getting started whether you’re staying in blogging or headed out for a boogie night! ~happy weekend to us all~
it doesn’t have to be like this
(not that i don’t adore it cause i do)!
what’s your style? i’m still asking for your best shot. of your vanity that is. hi everybody! my day was spent with a mechanic so i’m stopping in for a creative fix and inspiration from friends.
as you know my girl bonnie has been doing a bit of r n d for the vanity project. these are some great photos she came up with today. she’s really incredible. please forgive me for not linking them individually yet but i will. i see that this is a project that if i don’t stay on will get out of hand quick! anyway her list is at the bottom of the post.
flickr is full of eye candy so of course i got lost too. thanks again bonnie! now my dearest blog friends old buddies old pals? how about yours? if you send one in i’ll send you a surprise package!
vanity for humanity
photo from viva cindy.com
hi guys and bon soir, i hope all’s well in your wonderland. i wish i had a rug for all of us but alas, there’s only one in the giveaway. the more i look the more i like the striped one. i’ll see if they can offer all of us a group rate!
anyway the lucky winner is cindy of vivacindy.com.
her name came up on the random generator, twice! (once more comments came in i did it again) but it was obviously meant to be! coincidentally, miss cindy just got back from a year in costa rica with habitat for humanity. she says she doesn’t have a thing yet for her home so this will get her off to a good start. congrats cindy, your life looks like a whirlwind of fun!
i’m happy to say the vanity project for habitat for humanity is underway, here are the first pics. this beautiful shot was sent in by a beach cottage. (not a vanity per se but a good start)
and another just in this afternoon taken by rita.
and this just in from jenny of myfavoriteandmybest.blogspot.com
and this from nina at http://houseoftempsperdu.blogspot.com
thank you beautiful ladies!
i found this during a quick trip to villaanna.blogspot.com, she always has vanity inspiration.
bonnie of love your place is one of my best blogging buds and a researcher extraordinaire. she found this pretty load today for the project and is going to help put it all together.
bijoukaleidoscope.blogspot.com.
but the truth is we need YoUrS! the vanity can be shot in full or as a closeup, it can be messy and edgy!
i’m excited to see your shots, sorry i didn’t give out an email address. you can send them to theparisapartment@yahoo.com. merci beaucoup
giving it all away
morewaystowastetime.blogspot.com
hey everybody, hope you’re winding down and enjoying some guilty pleasures. i’m blogging so you know i am :)
i know i said i wouldn’t take on any new projects till these others were out of the way but as an aries just can’t help but jump at new ideas. i’m putting together a candid look at the modern vanity top and would love to include a shot of yours. vanities are pretty much de rigeur today so if you have one, even if it’s makeshift, i’d love to use it and credit you. what excited me about the project is that it’s a look at blogger’s boudoirs. 100% the proceeds will go to habitat for humanity. we need to have 200 shots by August and i’d LoVe it if you were a part of it!
i started looking around for vanity tops and of course came across some great new places.
a-friend-to-knit-with.blogspot.com
it can be something really simple
froufroufashionista.blogspot.com
or just a vignette, you don’t have to be a stylist, just show some of your favorite things.
the only recurring theme is flowers…
this was shot at lynn’s of paris hotel boutique.
this was from a shoot years ago with danny piassick for dallas home.
anyway i hope you play. the less structured and more polaroid-y the better. send as many as you want to theparisapartment@yahoo.com.
in the meantime, i have another giveaway, this time from CSN Rugs! they’ve generously offered us a choice between two area rugs in the following styles. they were kind enough to let me choose a couple of my favorites for the giveaway but they have a great selection so take a look at their site for other options. i fell for these:
Colonial Mills – Ventura Alternating Stripe Taupe / Black Braided Rug Rectangle 2′ x 4′
Couristan 1583/7364 – Recife Veranda Black and White Indoor/Outdoor Rug 3′ 9″ x 5′ 5″
i haven’t seen them in person so you’ll have to let us know how you like it when you win :) if you’re interested just say so with a comment and we’ll have the drawing this week. bon chance et bon nuit!
happy father’s day, dads!
flickr.com/photos/82329524@N00
(this photo was found at a flea and i think it captures the father and child relationship to a tee. dad’s the man)!
hey guys i don’t know about you but i get emotional just thinking about my parents. they’ve both been such strong and united figures in my life that it’s hard to separate them sometimes. my dad worked for 30 years with air france and my brothers and i traveled with mom and dad everywhere from ireland to africa each year at easter break. my dad’s a foster kid who devoted his entire life to creating a stable family by creating a library in the house, having dinner together every night and being there for all of us at a moment’s notice. i love that i can pick up the phone and he can solve almost any problem i have and, l i’m getting misty, so dad, just know that i love you and wish i could be with you today!
he sent me this last week…when we’re together we always share our love of coffee and no one brews it like he does.
as you may know i’m back in miami beach, cleaning up my act and finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel. now that everything is close to sorted, moved and sifted i can see what’s left to tackle and the piles are actual projects! not bills, not laundry, not jiffy lube, not schleping! before i dive in i just wanted to share some sites i came across yesterday.
xyzoflife.wordpress.com/2009/06/11/the-dark-side/#more-76
it’s so easy to get lost in the net and even with blogging, so i’ve been laying low. but you know you can’t open your browser without discovering something pretty and pretty amazing so i just wanted to share a few new discoveries.
elizabethannedesigns.com/blog/2008/04/11/teal-and-gold
darkroastedblend.com/2008/07/abandoned-castles-of-russian.html
comesitbymyfire.blogspot.com/2009/06/simple-things.html
i promise to be back in full force this week and with an attitude adjustment. thanks for tolerating me while i went through my odgeda over all my angst. i spared you most of the gory details but am back and ready to forge ahead with glee instead of gloom. lots of it was thanks to you! i appreciate your constant support and by the by i sent out about 20 packages of the excess stuff so hope you like it! if you still want anything i have a couple packages left, just let me know!
the weight is over
hi guys! i’m sorry i haven’t been around much lately. as you know i’ve been trying to de-clutter my life and see what’s left once all the excess is gone.
i haven’t forgotten about the giveaway and have a ton of stuff to ship out to you!
i had to take a detour from my laser focus to go to nyc for a couple days and that threw me off a bit, but i did fill my suitcase from stuff i was hoarding there. i’ve been so controlled by my stuff, even now, i’m looking at it and it’s daunting.
it seems like i can find every excuse in the book to do anything but work on projects i’ve been putting off and i can’t seem to get out from under.
by the by, all these shots were taken in nyc this week. graffiti is so fleeting, i love to capture it.
even though i fight coming back to the city that was home for the past 20 years, there’s always something new to enchant.
if you haven’t been over to the meatpacking district, you may be surprised to see the new park that’s been built above the city using the old elevated railroad and subway tracks.
it’s a whole new dimension and ny’ers have taken to it like it’s always been there.
i feel like i know every nook and cranny of the city, so it’s great to see it from another angle.
it’s an incredible project, there’s even a sort of ampi-theater in the air with big glass walls hanging over the street.
anyway, back on the street it was biz as usual
indulging my passion for window boxes
and little surprises.
it was great to see ny in full bloom
how perfectly coordinated it can be
not to mention luscious. i didn’t want the little trip to go by with these photos just sitting in another folder. from now on it’s use em or lose ‘em. god, i’m getting brutal with excess on every level. what’s going on with me?
anyway i’m back in miami for as long as i can take it, and determined not to be deterred again. my only obligation is to do the work that i love and accomplish something, i don’t have a deadline or anything looming so i can just exhale and relax for once. i don’t know how you moms do it all. well, first things first is to send out this box of goodies. i’ll get your addresses from the comments you left. hope you like the stuff and put it to better use than i did! i’m glad to be home with some nights to myself. i really missed you guys! now, back to it!
please welcome my first guest blogger!
Laura Dowling
hey everyone! i’m in nyc for the day and taking my place is guest blogger, Naomi Cooper of Pierre Deux and FCL. we found that we had quite a bit in common, not the least of which was our passion for gorgeous fabrics and accessories. so for the first time i’m turning my blog over to her to introduce some of her friends, events and general goings on. so please welcome naomi and i’ll be back soon!
A Special Delivery here from La Belle FCL, aka Naomi Cooper, to Claudia and her loyal Paris Apartment Blogettes, to say “Merci” for spreading the word about fclstyle.com. Claudia’s influence is apparent in the hundreds of site visits we received since her posting on June 3, 2009.
This post, along with a few others at a future date (my intention was to send this last weekend but the launch of the site, a store opening, and my sister’s visit from Toronto has pushed me back a bit), is a virtual thank you for your support.
You are cordially invited to attend Pierre Deux’s Intérieur et Fleur event in our Bethesda store. All the details are featured on the invitation seen here. Don’t worry about the RSVP By date. You’re my personal guest and introduce yourself as just that.
This event will be a vision in French Florals as Laura Dowling (www.lauradowling.com) demonstrates the Art of French Floral design. Laura Dowling is the principal of Intérieurs et Fleurs in Old Town Alexandria and an Instructeur Associé of L’Ecole des Fleurs in Paris. She writes and lectures frequently on flowers and her exquisite designs have been featured in several magazines. Her portfolio is breathtaking and her talent has been recognized on Capital Hill where Laura’s designs have transformed the White House into a Flower Garden.
On Monday, July 15, 2009 from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM, Laura Dowling will be demonstrating the art of French Floral Design.
The Bethesda store will be transformed into a green room. Laura has created several arrangements that will be integrated into Pierre Deux’s signature room vignettes. She has generously donated the bouquets from the event as raffle prizes for the guests.
I do realize that many of you do not live in Bethesda or the surrounding DC area and I have not forgotten about you. Laura’s friend, photographer Kevin Allen, (kevinallenphoto.com) will be snapping photos at tomorrow’s event. I will post the images on my next Guest Blog post when I continue my thank you note to you.
In the meantime, sit back, relax, pour yourself an Elderberry cocktail, and enjoy some of Laura’s other designs.
I will bid you adieu with one of my new favorite sources for inspiration.
photos by Heather Waraksa
Laura turned me on to stylemepretty.com, a chic blog for the style obsessed bride. Its author, Abby, who like all of us is forever in search of inspiration, turned me on to elsje.com.
I absolutely love how elsje styled this wedding. The décor is eclectic combining many different design styles and elements, yet it feels very light, exuding chic summer wedding bliss. Unfortunately, for both my parents and me :(
Yes, I am the daughter of a neurotic mother and a father with a relaxed demeanor (except when it comes to his oldest daughter’s string of unfit boyfriends). A wedding is not in the near future but that doesn’t mean some of these pieces can’t integrate into life.
I didn’t have to look far. I found the urns, bell jars, urns, cache pots both metal and white ceramic, and the glass candlesticks in fclstyle.com’s Crème Fraiche and Bohemian collections.
Tuscan Bell jar, fclstyle.com/tuscan-bell
Glass Candlestick, fclstyle.com/glass-candlestick
fclstyle.com/turquoise-tulip-vase-planter
hey guys, it’s me claudia back again! thank you to and from Naomi for taking the time to put this together. i won’t be able to make it to the flower bonanza but am looking forward to the pics, your next post and doing some fun things together. (she wants me to host an event in, you’re invited of course) more on that exciting prospect to come!
funny cause as you may know, i’ve been cleaning up shop and the only swatches i’ve been toting around are pierre deux. one’s a leopard to die for! anyway hope you all enjoyed your sub!
ps i have more stuff for the giveaway here in the city, (ribbons and textured swatches, and stuff). if you’re interested in just leave a comment and i’ll split it up and send it out tomorrow before i leave. bon nuit!
