CHEZ FIFI

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

WISHING EVERYONE A

JOYOUS CHRISTMAS

AND A

STELLAR 2012

MAY ALL YOUR DREAMS BECOME REALITY.

AND MAKE A LITTLE ANIMAL'S DREAM COME THROUGH TOO: GIVE ONE A LOVING HOME. 

COMING SOON...........ROMANTIC PRAIRIE MAGAZINE!!

Hello everyone!

I hope you all enjoyed a lovely Thanksgiving.

I know, I have been out of touch lately but I had good reasons: I finished THE ROMANTIC PRAIRIE COOKBOOK, started to put together the plan for book #3  and I have been working on a new magazine, which I think you will LOVE. So, here is the scoop........

 

A Few Examples.............

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NOW, I would love if you would email me photos of your home, edible garden, artisanal work and anything that fits the magazine's focus as described above.

If you do, PLEASE send ONLY low res and include your physical address and phone number. If your home, edible garden, business are a good fit for ROMANTIC PRAIRIE'S lifestyle we will schedule a photo shoot. 

The next round of shoots will start after the holidays.

GET READY!

By the way, locations can be anywhere in the country, including Hawaii, but our Canadian neighbors are welcome as well.

Here is a little recap of the type of HOMES I am looking for:

*rural retreats

*traditional to contemporary farmhouse

*rustic cabins

*historic cottages

*picturesque ranches

*barn revivals and conversions

*Country Inns and B&Bs

Gardens

vegetable/herb gardens (small and large)even food grown in pots will work.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ROMANTIC PRAIRIE will also have its own website,soon. I will put a link on my blog to let you know when it's ready.

NOW YOU KNOW! I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU, TO FEATURE YOUR HOMES, GARDENS AND ARTISANAL WORK AND MAKE NEW FRIENDS.

THANK YOU!

ABOUT THE ROMANTIC PRAIRIE STYLE COOKBOOK

So, first I got permission from my publisher to post the cover of my next book (will be released March 2012)

THE ROMANTIC PRAIRIE COOKBOOK

BUT, as I mentioned earlier that cover might change so don't be confused if the book shows up on

AMAZON

with a different cover

(where, by the way, it can be pre-ordered....)

A couple of days ago I received the layouts and it's such a thrill to see all the work come together visually. As much as I know every shots and recipes there is nothing like seeing them pulled together on the pages. That's when  all the endless travel, all the shoots, all the preparations for locations and recipes, and all the writing to go along with Mark's beautiful photos pay off. 

Now (YEAH!), I have also been given permission to post a few photos. I am happy to share them with you and there will be more in the future. Obviously I can't post recipes but hopefully the photos will make you "hungry" for more.

Here is a little collage but don't confuse that with the cover. These are but a few of the many photos you will find in the book. From food, children, animals and breathtaking scenery the book is no ordinary cookbook. I hope you will love them as much as I do. Please let me know what you think so far.

THANK YOU!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

While I am on the topic of food and books I also wanted to let you know (IN CASE YOU DON'T ALREADY KNOW) about 

WHERE WOMEN COOK:CELEBRATE

The wonderful book by the one and only 

JO PACKHAM

Jo is also the creative genius behind Where Women Create and Where Women Cook magazines.

Jo's wonderful cookbook is filled with great stories and recipes and makes a perfect hostess AND holiday gift.

Take a look. How can you resist??

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Another yet beautiful and very timely book is from the ALWAYS amazing

MATTHEW MEAD

Whether you are looking for holiday or everyday projects Matthew is your "go to" man and his book your "go to" source for endless brilliant ideas.

ALWAYS inspiring NEVER disappointing! 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And speaking of books, again, in case you missed it, I am having a book signing here in Sarasota at

POTTERY BARN

 

*******

As this little cup says I am

THINKING OF YOU

 

 

LITTLE UPDATE

 

BOO!! 

Ready for Halloween? I am not because, as usual, I have been working on the book and many articles. Wish I could come out to play but I hope you will have a fun time.

**********

In case you live in my neck of the woods, you might like to know that 

POTTERY BARN

 is hosting a book signing of

ROMANTIC PRAIRIE STYLE 

this coming Saturday. Come say hi. I would love to meet you.

It's at the store in the WESTFIELD Southgate shopping center.

They have plenty of wonderful fall and holiday items too SO YOU CAN SHOP AT THE SAME TIME!!

Hope to see you there.

HERE IS THE ANNOUNCEMENT

 

****************************

By now you know I have developed an addiction of sort for boots. It all started when we were shooting Romantic Prairie Style and I filled a pair with flowers. For me, boots are iconic of prairie.

A few weeks ago, I traded one of my great old leather bag (below)

for a pair of TAUSHA's cool boots (which I am wearing on this photo)

I was thrilled with the trade but that meant I had to replace the bag because it was the one I used for my laptop and Ipad. I searched high and low and couldn't find anything I liked until I decided to look on Ebay! And there it was. So, I bid and won. But, I almost got outbid. Had I not been working late last night I would have missed the email warning me that someone had increased their bid....WHEW, that was too close for comfort!! So, it does pay to be chained to the computer....I will receive it in a few day. Can't wait to see it in person but it looks pretty good to me. 

It's also a good match for the address book and journal I got from POTTERY BARN

 

My regular purse (Dooney & Burk at Macy's)......

and the soft-as-butter leather skirt my sister found for 10 Euros in a Provence flea market. Turned out it was too small for her so she sent it to me. How lucky !!

Meanwhile back to the boot thing. So, these were the first one I used as a prop.........then..........

I recieved the BALLARD DESIGNS holiday catalog and .....SURPRISE, SURPRISE... see what's on the cover!

They say "imitation is the greatest for of flattery". Well, I am, indeed, very flattered...........  

 

Since my first boot/prop idea, I have used a variety of other boots in a number of photo shoots, (which you have not yet seen)and they have become my trademark through the seasons. So here is a little preview............

              The very first ones were

SPRING

then SUMMMER

Followed by 2 FALL versions

 

and Christmas/holidays

and, THE LATEST:

HALLOWEEN/THANKSGIVING



WISHING A

HAPPY & SAFE HALLOWEEN TO ALL

P.S: I know you are going to ask, so here your go:

*The rain boots (the brown plaid and the red plaid) come from Ebay

*The leather (summer) and the red leather (fall) from Anthropologie.

*The little pumpkin branches (they are real) from WHOLE FOODS

*The little dried pumpkins next to the boots are from POTTERY BARN.

*The red berries and eucalyptus are from my garden.

Voila!Enjoy!!!!