CHEZ FIFI

WINTER WARMTH.................

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Winter is settling in. It's time to make our cocoons cozy and warm and a little visit to some beautiful rooms and gorgeous creations can help us achieved that dreamy look we long for.......one great shop to visit for romantic inspirations is VINTAGE SOUL, a charming store in the heart of Historic Downtown St. Cloud, Florida, featuring a unique collection of Cotton, Poplin & Burlap bedding, pillows & slipcovers designed by shop owner Debbie...

VINTAGE SOUL

1020 New York, Avenue,  Saint Cloud, FL, 34769. Phone: 407-791-9847

Debbie can be reached at jmiller88@sprint.blackberry.net

I plan to feature Debbie's work in the next issue of Romantic Country and asked Kim (http://deardaisycottage.typepad.com/) if she would go take some photos for me. Kim lives about one hour from St. Cloud. She is an excellent photographer and her pictures are always a treat. All the photos of Debbie's work were taken by her but I cropped some of them to give you a closer version, not to mention I don't want to show you everything before publishing them in Romantic Country.....

Thank you KIM & DEBBIE!

THIS IS JUST A SMALL SAMPLING OF DEBBIE'S GOODIES. IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE IN THE ST. CLOUD AREA MAKE SURE TO GO VISIT HER BEAUTIFUL SHOP. SHE ALSO HAS GREAT FURNITURE AND ACCESSORIES.

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ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL SITE TO VISIT IS 

BELLA NOTTE LINENS (http://www.bellanottelinens.com)

Here are a few examples from their website. These warm and gorgeous color and texture combinations are sure to get you in the mood...............

  

    

Don't you just feel like snuggling?? 

The beauty is that even if we can't afford Bella Notte's glorious bedding we can create a similar feel with remnants of fabrics like velvet, silk and lace, and even with more rustic textiles like burlap and linen.

For instance, I bought yards of burlap (very inexpensive at $2.99 a yard) and dyed it a pearl gray (it was an off-white shade) then also dyed some lacy trim I cut off an old nightgown and added it to the burlap to create a unique look...............as you can clearly see the lace is just pinned on for now but that will be taken care of soon.....

You can also dye the burlap and the lace in contrasting hues if you like.............

...like gray and lavender.................

You can also apply the same principal for making pillow covers............

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I found some gorgeous glass tiles. I only bought 5 (may have to get a few more....but they were $15 each) and plan to use them on the fireplace surround. These will ad a lot of sparkle & glamour to the rustic mantle.............

 

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Thanksgiving is just a few days away so, before I take off again, I wanted to be sure to wish everyone a delicious day with family and friends.

I took the photos below at a wonderful press event held this past weekend at Moss Mountain Farm, outside Little Rock, Arkansas, the home of P. Allan Smith (www.pallensmith.com) the fabulous host of the PBS series: P. Allen Smith Gardens. More on this later.......

Meanwhie, these may give you some ideas for your Thanksgiving table setting..........

A lovely pastoral setting...................

Happy Thanksgiving!

IT'S A FRENCH THING

Coco, Catherine, Carla, and..... me. 

Of course, you all know "Coco" is the one and only................

                                      Coco Chanel

 

you probably suspect that "Catherine" is the beautiful actress 

                               Catherine Deneuve

and by now most are aware that former super model "Carla", is the president of France new wife

                                          Carla Bruni

So, you say: where does "Fifi" fit? What do I have in common with these accomplished women? Well, rest assured: I don't have the audacity to compare myself to them from the perspective of their respective skills and talents (or fame and beauty for that matter) BUT, what I do have in common with them, and millions of other French women, is a sense of self. 

And what prompted this post, you may wonder? 

WELL, 2 THINGS:

First:The many emails I get asking about my style. And, second: an article titled "The French Mystic" by Irene Lacher in the Los Angeles Times back in October 11, in which she often refers to the notions of  "accidental allure" and "seductive disarray" when speaking of French style. "Less is more. That's the essence of French style and the reason the little black dress is so iconic. Because, it's not about the dress, but the wearer. You have a little black dress and one accessory--a scarf, a bracelet."

It made me think about this French style "thing". This is something that little French girls grow up with as naturally as we grow up with croissants and baguettes.

I am often asked how I developed my style an how I define it. The truth is that it's the result of all the wonderful things I was exposed to as a child, as a young woman and, as an adult, and the way we were never asked to "conform" to any trends, may it be about home decor, fashion or beauty. 

I was fortunate to grow up in an era that promoted these traits. But France wasn't always like that. Long before my days growing up in PARIS, French society was all about traditions and public opinion, especially where women were concerned. By the time I came into the world women like Coco Chanel had paved the way for individuality, regardless of  "social standing". If you take a minute to watch the trailer for "COCO BEFORE CHANEL" you will understand what I mean. She defied conventions an paved the way for self-expression. Long after her death she remains a fashion icon and an inspiration for those of us who believe in originality, may it be about fashion or home decor. She had guts, gumption, and believed in herself.

Today, it's perfectly fine for a former super model (and singer) to be the wife of the French president......as you can see from the video below, the First Lady of France, Carla Bruni, is both beautiful and talented. What a refreshing change and beautiful representation of individuality!

The world as long had a love affair with all things French: food, fashion, art....and that uniquely French quality called "Je ne sais quoi", (that hard to define "little something"), which, is nothing more than a way of putting an outfit or a room together with a blithe spirit. 

So, for better or for worse, that's what I do too and what makes my lifestyle and personal style what they are: real, liberating and serene. Pretty yes but without all the trappings of conventional and predictable decorating rules. The only thing that comes to mind, as definitions go, is "SANS CHICHI CHIC" (without ostentation). And the same applies to the way I look and the clothes I wear.

You can do it too. The formula is simple: Make the most of what you have, improvise, take the best of what you like and put your own twist on it, trust your judgement, and DON'T let OTHERS influence your DECISIONS.

In the "immortal" words of Gracie Hart (aka Sandra Bullock in Miss Congeniality 2) 

"WE DON'T NEED TO CONFORM TO THE "BARBIE-DOLL" IMAGE !"

I HOPE THIS  MAKES SENSE! ALL I REALLY WANTED TO SAY IS : IT'S OK TO BE YOURSELF! 

BISOUS BISOUS.

AND THE WINNERS ARE...............................

IT TOOK 4 OF US AND MANY HOURS TO DETERMINE THE WINNERS OF THE OH LA LA CONTEST. AS YOU CAN TELL BY THE MANY BEAUTIFUL ENTRIES IT WASN'T AN EASY TASK. AND, BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE VARIOUS PROJECTS I ENDED UP DIVIDING THEM INTO 4 CATEGORIES: "FABRIC", "PAINT", "MOSAIC", AND, SINCE WE HAD 2 YOUNG LADIES PARTICIPATING, WE INCLUDED A "FIFI-GIRLS" CATEGORY.

AGAIN, A VERY BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR SHARING YOUR TALENTS AND MAKING THE CONTEST A SUCCESS. AND, TO THOSE WHO DIDN'T WIN, PLEASE KNOW THAT YOUR BEAUTIFUL WORK IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED AND YOU ARE WINNERS ANYWAY! 

SO, HERE YOU GO: THE WINNERS AND THE PRIZES THEY WON

FABRIC CATEGORY

1: DONNA POCHASKY-THOMAS: CHAISE

BEFORE

AFTER

DONNA WON: THE VINTAGE-INSPIRED OH LA LA BRACELET MADE ESPECIALLY FOR THE CONTEST BY MICHELLE RHODES (www.m1originals.com)

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2: DEBRA BARNY: SOFA

BEFORE

AFTER

DEBRA WON THE CABBAGES & ROSES PILLOW

                   

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ANDREA TARLING: CHAIR

BEFORE

AFTER

ANDREA WON THE RHINESTONE HEART (FROM http://www.catsmeowinc.com)

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JENNIFER RIZZON CHAIR

BEFORE

AFTER

JENNIFER WON THE APRIL CORNELL TOTE (WWW.APRILCORNELL.COM)

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PAINT CATEGORY

ONE: HEATHER MORSE: DRESSER

BEFORE

AFTER

HEATHER WON FIFI'S HEART

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2: JILL HARRIS: SIDEBOARD

BEFORE

AFTER

JILL WON THE BEAUTIFUL "X O" SHELL LETTERS MADE ESPECIALLY FOR THE OH LA LA CONTEST BY SHERRY LITCHFIELD (http://sherrysshellabrations.com)

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3:DEBBIE COULES: WINDOW

BEFORE                                                                 AFTER

DEBBIE WON THE  ONE OF KIND SILVERWARE CADDY BAG MADE FROM VINTAGE FRENCH FABRIC (SILVERWARE NOT INCLUDED)

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4: KIMBERLY RYAN: SIDE TABLE

BEFORE

AFTER

KIMBERLY WON THE FRENCH HANDMADE  CROSS STITCHED HEAD REST (ONE OF A KIND) 

             

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5: JENNIFER HAYLSIP: MANTEL

BEFORE

AFTER:

JENNIFER WON THE LOVELY FRAME FROM BITTERSWEET DESIGNS (WWW.BITTERSWEETDESIGNS.COM)

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6: SUZANNE McCRONE: SHEET MUSIC CABINET

BEFORE

AFTER:

SUZANNE WON THE HAND CROSS-STITCHED VIVE LA SIESTE PILLOW

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CHRISTINA HOOVER: DRESSER

BEFORE                                                  AFTER

 

CHRISTINA WON THE FRENCH LAVENDER SACHETS (INITIALS HAND-STITCHED ON FINE LINEN)

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MOSAIC

1: LAURA DELLAPORTA: MOSIAC WALL

BEFORE

AFTER

LAURA WON THE SEA SHELL CROWN MADE ESPECIALLY FOR THE OH LA LA CONTEST BY SHERRY LITCHFIELD (http://sherrysshellabrations.com)

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2: NANCY GEBHART: TABLE

AFTER

NANCY WON THE BASKET  WITH ALL FIVE OF THE FIFI'S FRENCH PRODUCTS: FRENCH MILLED SOAPS, 1 JAR SHEA BUTTER, 1 BODY LOTION, 1 BODY WASH & 1 ROOM FRAGRANCE--ALL WITH AN EXCLUSIVE LAVENDER VANILLA FRAGRANCE FROM www.clearlyfunsoap.com

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3: VICKI COTNOIR: SEWING CABINET

AFTER

 

VICKI WON THE APRIL CORNELL SCARF (WWW.APRILCORNELL.COM)

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AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST THE "FIFI-GIRLS", BECAUSE ENCOURAGING A NEW GENERATION OF CREATIVE YOUNG WOMEN IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. OUI?

HAILEY and MIA CAME UP WITH THEIR OWN CLEVER IDEA TO DRESS UP SIMPLE ITEMS

HAILEY'S BASKET:

BEFORE

AFTER

HAILEY:

MIA'S VASE

BEFORE

AFTER

MIA:

MIA & HAILEY BOTH (CAN'T LEAVE ONE LITTLE GIRL FEELING BLUE!) WON THE DARLING ROSE NECKLACE FROM http://verbenanestedtreasures.blogspot.com

WELL. THAT'S IT. NOW YOU KNOW EVERYTHING. I HOPE YOU WILL HAVE ENJOY THE CONTEST AND THAT THOSE OF YOU WHO DIDN'T WIN THIS TIME WILL NEXT TIME.

THANKS AGAIN TO ALL FOR YOUR TIME AND WONDERFUL SUBMISSIONS. AND MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO SO GENEROUSLY DONATED THEIR BEAUTIFUL GIFTS.

I AM OFF ON SHOOTS SO I WILL BE MAILING THE PRIZES TO YOU BY THE END OF THIS MONTH.

A BIENTOT.

ONE LAST LOOK

HERE ARE ALL THE ENTRIES FOR THE OH LA LA CONTEST. I THOUGH I WOULD PUT THEM ALL TOGETHER FOR ONE LAST LOOK (JUST IN CASE I HAD FORGOTTEN SOMEONE...) AND ALSO TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED EITHER TOMORROW, SATURDAY OR SUNDAY! THE WAIT IS ALMOST OVER. THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL THESE GREAT PROJECTS AND FOR BEING SO PATIENT WITH ME. SO, KEEP CHECKING OVER THE NEXT 3 DAYS!

MERCI AND BONNE CHANCE!!!!

OOPS! I missed one entry. Sorry! Here it is

Guest House Makeover

This is my first attempt to create a little video. SO, it obviously doesn't compare to the quality of the FifiTV film clip, which was produced by a highly professional crew, including Bruce Hsaio, director of photography, and Linda Iaderosa, producer. 

Mine is a FAR CRY from theirs but I hope I will get better with each new one I intend to make. I love slideshows but videos really take you "there." 

When you have a moment I would greatly appreciate your feedback regarding the guest house. Hope you enjoy this little tour in spite of the amateur aspect of the video itself.

Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!