You probably wonder why I haven't been posting lately. The truth is I haven't been home much. And, when I was home all I did was working on the fall issue of ROMANTIC COUNTRY---will give you a little preview.Between shoots and a most interesting trip to Los Angeles (for work, of course) things have been keeping me running around like an hyperactive bunny.....
I finally made it back home Sunday at 4:00 AM. Now I am playing catch up. Never a dull moment.........
I went to L.A to work on a potential TV project. I say potential because until it's all said and done one never knows for sure. The thing is that I have never done anything related to TV so it was a whole new experience, which I did enjoy once I got over my apprehension. You know what I mean: you wonder how you are going to look and sound like...."are all my wrinkles going to show? Am I going to look 10 pounds heavier? Am I going to sound weird or, even worse, stupid? And on and on.."
Well, as it turned out, i was surprised when I looked at the takes and I was not as bad as I though I would be. Of course, I have not seen the final cuts but I think it will be decent.
We shot this in Ojai, about one and half hour from L.A. The area is just lovely. The landscape, with mountains, vineyards, cyprus and olive trees, and sunflower and lavender fields, is as close as you can get to Provence without having to fly there. And, the weather is also very similar: hot and dry.
We shot the first part at the 24-acre New Oak Ranch (www.newoakranch.com) a dreamy place where the owners Karen and Bill Evenden grow lavender and olive trees....
Karen and Bill were kind enough to allow us to film in their beautiful lavender fields. I don't have photos since I was on camera but look for a video coming to the blog soon...........
Karen also wrote a marvelous cookbook featuring recipes from travels to Croatia. ................
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While in Ojai we stayed at the darling LAVENDER IN & SPA (www.lavenderinn.com) Phone: 877.646.6635
...........................where we filmed part 2 of the project.
As they say "A picture is worth 1,000 words" so take a look and you will see for yourself how delightful this lovely B&B really is. And if you are going to be in Southern California you need to treat yourself to the Lavender Inn and the beauty of Ojai..............................................................................
Planning a romantic wedding? Take a look..............................
A typically scrumptious breakfast ...........................
Love the lavender-sugar-rimmed glass................
My favorite room is, of course, the "Lavender Room" with its lovely balcony over looking the gardens, which i will show you later........
You will also find some of the Inn's fragrant soaps waiting for you......................
You can enjoy breakfast in the main dining room, on the porch or in one of the charming alcoves in the garden where the humming birds will treat you to their flights of fancy......
You can also partake in refreshments on your own time....just step through the garden gate.......................
and enjoy the peaceful and beautiful setting...............................................
So, you ask, what did we shoot there? It was a fun and delicious Italian cooking class conducted by Chef Ellen Sherwood. Obviously I can't tell you much more than that but I do have a few photos to share..................
Here we are getting ready to film......The lady in the green t-shirt is Chef Ellen......don't look for me since I am the one taking these photos......
The crew, including Sunday Hendrickson, the Divine Art Director, who styled the set.......and (but not shown on the photo) LINDA IADEROSA the wonderful producer without whom none of this could have been possible.
Sunday--on the left, Kathy, the owner of the Lavender Inn---with the blue shirt, Chef Ellen---in the green t-shirt, and, in white, Beth, the manager........
Below, Susan, producer for Movie Guide Awards, Dale---the sound guy, and Sunday......
Editor Erika Kotite interviewed Kathy in the Lavender Inn's library for articles for several magazines.
BON APPETIT!!
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Now back to what's coming up in ROMANTIC COUNTRY
The HOME TOURS is going to feature some lovely homes, of course.....
Like this one in whites and creams....(photo: Michael Garland)
........and this one in pinks and greens..... (photo: Mark Lohman)
and also this one in taupes and pinks (photo: Philip Clayton Thompson)
....and 2 more:
one in blues and other pastels (photo by Dan Mayers)
.......and the last, but not least, a white dream with a few color accents (photo: Michael Garland.)
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What else do we have in store?
Stories about beautiful lace, pearls, and painted porcelain...............
(photo Mark Lohman)
(photo above: Michael Garland)
(poto below left: Dan Mayers)
Glittery Pumpkins (by Fifi)
a feature on garden accents..............
another on Icons of Romance...............(photo by Fifi)
yet another on Rachel Ashwell's gorgeous new book..................
...also, beautiful things to make in minutes..................like this flower-embellished mirror (photo by Fifi)
and NO-SEW (really!) Christmas stockings.................................
and also a story on beautiful shell work..............
Of course there is a lot more but this is just a little preview to wet your appetite.......
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Lastly, here are a few of my sister Sylvie's new cross-stitch and other creations.......
For information on Sylvie's items you can email her directly at shappy@wanadoo.fr
Voila! That's it for today.
Hope to have a chance to post soon again.
Thanks to all for all the lovely comments you so kindly take the time to write. Would not be the same without you!
OH! I almost forgot: Look for a great "FIFI CONTEST" coming on the blog in August......
It will be easy to participate and the prizes are
F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S....
just wait and see!
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Bisous bisous,
