French Inspired and Handmade

Just completed these little French Inspired Lavender Pillows.

Perfect for a gift to a special French-loving friend.

I decided I didn't want to use up all of my antique French Mangle cloth. It is just too precious in my stash...

So I made my own!...Well sort of...

 It doesn't make it French or Antique... more like an original take on my favourite fabric I guess.

I used up some beautiful left over natural linen that I bought from Thea and originally used for another project.

I love this linen!

Stencils, masking tape and fabric paint and there you have it!

Handmade and hand painted lavender pillows.

.

I love intentionally fraying the edges natural linen. There is just something about it!

Oh yes, another important part...

Stuff them full of freshly dried lavender buds.

The scent is divine.

Give them a squeeze and the scent

 permeates even more so...

DIVINE.



Easy peasy and a very quick project for 'time poor for craft' people like me.

Have a fabulous day on this very sunny  and very warm Brisbane morning.

Pam x

A Piece of French Whimsy

A small package arrived from Fifi Flowers this morning. I am not a calendar girl, if you know what I mean,:) :)... but this small calendar caught my eye and are perfect for a tiny space next to my laptop so I don't have to flip through my diary. I bought them from her ETSY store.


Fifi Flowers describes herself as a painter of Whimsy and Fun with a Parisian Flair. That's why I like them, they are bright, they are fun to look at and they do remind me of Paris!

 The roses that I bought at the markets yesterday and posted about here are in full bloom this morning. Not only do they look fabulous they are so fragrant and the scent is divine.

Have a fabulous day today!

 

Re-purposing a Thrifty Find

An old wooden box. Yes, that's all it is, but I love the colour and the size. A very kind young lady was getting rid of it in her garage sale down the road for $2.00. I can see this as a new sewing box for me. I am going to line it somehow and keep all my bits in.

This box has been very well made and it looks like it carried some sort of medical equipment in a previous life. Well, I am giving it a new life - re purposing it's previous purpose, so to speak. At 42 x 28 x 16 it will be a large sewing box but then I have lots of stuff! I will keep you posted.

Have a wonderful day today.

My Sunday

My Sunday so far has consisted of an early morning at Chandler Markets, and cleaning out the garage! I did come across these vintage inspired French postcards I had tucked away and forgotten about though. Aren't they delightful?

I love the second one in particular as it reminds me of my sister-in-law who loves to clean. She has been known to confess on one occasion,after a couple of wines, that 'she is at her happiest whilst cleaning.' 

 When I am cleaning, I certainly don't have the happy vibes going on like the young lady in the second postcard. Maybe a heart shaped mop like hers may make the difference!

How about you?

France at Southbank today..

An absolutely gorgeous day in Southbank today, just the right type of weather for mingling at festivals. The French Festival was very packed with an amazing number of people - I am sure the organisers and the stall holders would have been extremely happy.

We had to walk through the arbours to get to the festival, something I can never tire of. The stunning bougainvillea is out in full bloom and against the background of the clear blue sky - well you can see for yourself. Love to know how many photos have been taken here!

Here are a few pics as we strolled, or rather pushed our way through the crowds.

This lovely fellow was posing as a French Doctor from the 1800's. He had the instruments on the table and a sign up to say that he would help with piles and fallen women..what can I say!

For overseas readers, you can see the Brisbane River in the background.

There was plenty of entertainment.

There was a lovely atmosphere here today, fine food, fine wine and other french goodies to buy.  People signing up to rent french houses while on holidays there...it was hugely popular and I would definately go again.

French Festival in Brisbane

The Brisbane French Festival  is on tomorrow ( Saturday, July 17) from 10am - 10pm at the Southbank Parklands for any Brisbane bloggers who may be interested in all things French.

If you want to find out about French Culture, Products and Business in Brisbane check it out...I am, along with my camera of course, oh and Mr P.

These photos were taken in France by me.

Je t'aime...

 Just wanted to share some pics of the Royal Limoges Factory and Shop that I escaped to while in France this year. Just being there was enough for me as I love Limoges porcelain and to see it in this setting was amazing. There are so many places like this to visit in Limoges it's rather gleefully overwhelming.

This was the quite dramatic 'plate' front entrance.

Inside the shop was all forms of exquisite china in all patterns, shapes and sizes...

...and found some roses!!!..

The old kiln has been kept intact and now houses a museum. The cobbled floors were so old and worn that they were beautifully uneven and bumpy. Not the best for heels! The place just oozes history and charm to say the least.  Gorgeous brickwork don't you agree?...and it is all made by hand even the bricks!

There was something about this beautiful old jug. If it could tell a story...

...and yes if you are wondering, I did purchase two very small pieces of china knowing full well the restricted baggage allowances on Ryanair.

French Provincial Magazine

It was a lovely surprise to receive my French Provincial Mag in the mail today! There is always something about France that captures my senses.

Back to the mag...it's an Australian publication with fantastic stories an photos from France and from Australia. A great read for the Francophiles!!!

La Ballon Rouge

Images from here

I really love these images so I was inspired to find out more as they remind me of a childhood fantasy I used to have.

 The 30 minute movie is about a boy on his way to school one morning and he makes friends with a red balloon. It begins to follow him.  A gang of boys destroy the balloon and then balloons of different sizes and colours descend on the boy from all parts of Paris. They lift him into the sky and take him over the horizon. 

These images are from an Oscar winning French Movie called Le Ballon Rouge which was first released in 1956. A blue ray disc has been released this year in the UK - that's how popular this short movie has been.

I must see this movie and escape from reality for 30 minutes!

French Moments

It is raining in Brisbane at the moment and has been all night. Great time to spend on the laptop and post images of our time in the French countryside in March this year.

Le Theil is a very small rural village about 10 minutes drive south of Gramat, in the Lot Department. From memory there were only 8 homes in this close knit farming community. Most homeowners spent the winter up in the northern parts of France, so it was very quiet time of year.

Our very comfortable accommodation was set in a very charming converted millers Maison. The best part was that friends of ours own the house so we enjoyed extra special attention.

You have no idea how many images I have captured of doors and shutters on French homes, I adore the individualism and the craftsmanship of each and every one of them. To me, they are the eyes of what lay behind.

I am a true romantic at heart!

Beautiful walnut farms are prolific in this area and are very attractive to me even in the winter. I love the starkness of winter.

This was the very intriguing next door neighbours house. Owned by an elderly couple who spent the winter in Normandy. Beautiful architecture.

 

I fell in love with what I thought was a very small cottage next door. I had great plans for it thinking that it could be converted into a small holiday cottage (Dream on!!) I was then told by another neighbour that this was in fact a garden shed. I want one like this in my backyard!

The handmade gate to the working sheep and cattle farm was indeed a work of art.

Another passion of mine, images of fences, walls and moss.

The French Countryside in March is just as beautiful in winter as it is in other seasons. I can only imagine the explosions of colour in the fields now though.