CHEZ FIFI

LOOKING BACK

You know how it is: with the end of the year nearing it's only natural to look back. And the older one gets the more one tends to look back further than the passed year. 

I was trying to figure out how many homes I have styled over the past 10 years (and before---going back when digital didn't even exist....where did all the years go and how did they go so fast!) but I lost count after 500. The thing is that I actually do remember each home and each gracious homeowner and each one holds a special place in my heart, and always will.

While attempting to classify the homes by locations and dates I felt overwhelmed by the gigantic task at hand and, instead, went back to some favorite details. 

Thank you to each of you would have allowed us in your homes and made us feel so welcome.

Thank you for making my work such a pleasure.

Thank you for making my life beautiful.

Thank you for making me feel useful.

Know that, though you are all far away, you are always in my heart.

I look forward to the opportunity of visiting more homes and making new friends.

Wishing you all the very best for 2013....and beyond!

 

    

IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT

While on a shoot in November I ended up with a big bunch of branches to use as props in one of the homes. I brought them back to my house and they sat in a corner until yesterday whenl I decided to spray paint them white and put them in an old copper pot next to the fireplace in the guest house. Needless to say it was an easy trasformation and a good fit not only for the holidays but anytime. The icone is painted on wood and came from a yard sale many moons ago.

The simple and lovely grey stockings come from the fairy fingers of artist

 DORE CALLAWAY

These one-of-a-kind Nordic-inspired stockings are available on

  DORE'S ETSY

They also come in white matelasse.

Either in grey canvas duck or white matelasse, they are equally beautiful.

It's not too late to get one (or more) for Christmas so treat yourself. You deserve it, right?

A Canadian friend made this little crochet doves for me. I love their symbol and simplicity. She uses a fabric softner to keep their shape. Their small size is just right for this tiny tree.

There is nothing more meaningful that handmade gifts.

JOYEUX NOEL.

SIMPLE DIY HOLIDAY WREATH

This is so easy to make!

All you need is:

*a wood gate (or door)

*2 garlands of greens and little pine cones (mine are fake and from Michaels). 

*nails

*Hammer

*florist wire (craft store)

 How-to:

1- tie one end of a garland to the other using florist wire. 

 2- To form the heart: hammer nails lightly in wood at equal distance on each side and secure garland to sides by hammering each nails at an angle to hold the garland tights.  

3- Gather the ends at the bottom with wire and hammer into wood.

**You might not want to do that on a front door but it works well on my old garden gate because it is made of thick rustic boards. I used nails that are thin but long enough to bend against the garland an hold it tight.

***The middle wreath is a store-bought twig wreath to which I added red berries branches by sticking them through the twigs then attached the wreath to the cherub door-knocker.

***I have had the cherub door-knocker for over 15 years but you can find it on line HERE and it's only $15

ENJOY!

BEAUTIFUL BOOK BY FABULOUS AUTHORS.............

I wish these books would be available right now as they would make perfect Christmas gifts but the good thing is that they are ideal presents to give anytime of the year so don't miss out on them!

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I have had the pleasure to work with Heather Cameron and have featured some of the yummy recipes she prepares with the help of her darling little daughter Lily (Romantic Country Winter 2012- Baking party).

You will be charmed by the lovely photos and most definitively seduced by the easy, healthy and delectable recipes in Heather's FARM FRESH RECIPES FORM THE MISSING GOAT FARM.

What a TREAT!!

Check out Heather's website, and her blog too:

http://www.missinggoat.com

http://heathercameronstylist.blogspot.com/

Pre-order Heather's YUMMY book HERE. 

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Selina Lake is one of those dreamy interior stylist you can't forget. Her books are pure visual treats and her latest

PRETTY PASTEL STYLE

is a complete delight. Her take on

vintage-meets-today is beautifully fresh and always inspiring. Debi Treloar's photography never disappoint either. And this book is no exception. 

Both Selina and Debi's works have also been featured in Romantic Country (winter 2012 and spring 2013).

For more about Selina go to

http://selinalake.blogspot.com

http://selinalake.carbonmade.com

for Debi Treloar

http://debitreloar.com/wordpress1

 You can preorder Selina's lovely

PRETTY PASTEL STYLE

on AMAZON right now.

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I have already mentioned my sweet friend Elyse Major's book

TINKERED TREASURES

but here it is again, just in case you missed it the first time.

Elyse is a little magician who can transform the most mundane items into treasures. This darling book is full of easy but beautiful projects that even I can accomplish. Recycling has NEVER look so gorgeous or be that much fun!

As with Heather, Selina and Debi, we have been very fortunate to feature Elyse's work in Romantic Country.

Make sure to check out Elyse's blog for updates

http://tinkeredtreasures.blogspot.com

Elyse's TINKERED TREASURES can also be pre-ordered HERE. A LOVELY GIFT JUST ON TIME FOR VALENTINE'S.

Wishing you and yours HAPPY READING and

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

THE LATEST HOMES

Recently, my favortie photographer Mark Lohman and I shot quite a few homes for various magazines and I will share some snippets from some of them (wish I could show you more but that's against the rules!)

As you will see they vary in styles from romantic to vintage, country and French, and beach cottages, each with its own charm.

ROMANTIC

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COTTAGE

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 VINTAGE

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Colorful little Tropical cottage 

 

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FRENCH COUNTRY (as you know this is my house redo)

with a loving American touch

 

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ROMANTIC AGAIN

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BEACH COTTAGE

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More next time..............