Nouvelles Années De Veille

Mum and I decided to head out to the stores this afternoon to snag those last Christmas bargains of the season. I came across this gorgeous reproduction German glass ornaments at a favourite store of ours. I thought the large glass prisms would look gorgeous with my other vintage ornaments in a large glass bowl, and the glass bows which look like they have been dusted with German glass glitter will hang on my miniature white Christmas tree next year. I just didn't have the heart to pack them away just yet, so I think I will keep them out for a few more weeks on my small antique serving tray.

I hear a fire crackling downstairs, so I am off to enjoy that and begin my list of resolutions for the New Year...

I wish you all health, happiness and luck in 2008!

Joyeux Noël

Vintage ribbon, pearls, paper umbrella, dried pink rose, ticket stubs, antique photo frame

Vintage ribbon, pom-poms, pearls, ticket stubs, antique baby pins, antique photo frame, glittered bird, nest with egg

I wish you and your family and very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

I will return to my blog after Christmas with new ideas and a new look! I'm looking forward to catching up with you all and seeing what wonderful and creative things you've done since I've been gone.

In the meantime, here are a few pictures of my miniature white Christmas trees that I have decorated just in time for the holiday...

Busy As A Bee

These last couple of weeks have been incredibly hectic....what with work and Christmas just around the corner, it's getting more difficult to find the time to blog. I think it's time I took a little bit of a blogging break and hopefully when things start to settle back down, I can invest the time and energy into my blog that it deserves.

So, I'm flying from the nest, so to speak, but I will return shortly refreshed and with all new ideas. Thank you for stopping by and visiting to say hello and check up on my whereabouts! I will talk to you all soon!

And, of course, if you ever want to know what we're up to, you can fly from my nest over to my mum's...

Au Revoir Mes Amis!

Se rattraper

Thanksgiving Cupcakes

Have you missed me?

I can't believe two weeks has passed since my last post, and I apologize to all of you for being away for so long and not visiting you! I have been catching up with work, meeting deadlines, researching, crafting, and of course, garage sale-ing before the season is over!

I was recently promoted at work and have been co-ordinating upcoming events on top of doing work for my university so things around here have been very hectic! Mum and I also tried our hand at creating Sally Jean inspired necklaces which have turned out beautifully. You can view them on my mum's blog, Posted From Home...(she never neglects her blog like I am so guilty of and she is very much adored for that!)

This past weekend, mum and I scored a gorgeous antique scale and a beautiful dress mould that we have BIG plans for...and speaking of garage sales, the tea cart I found a few weekends ago has also been receiving some T.L.C from me and is being prepped for a fresh coat of white paint! You are all in for a treat when you see the spin mum and I are putting on it once we are finished!

For now, I will leave you with a picture of the Thanksgiving cupcakes I made for my co-workers on Thanksgiving Monday!

Parc d'héritage

Picture of our favourite heritage park taken from the visitor's guide

We have many traditions in our family, and one of them happens to be visiting a favourite heritage park in a small town to celebrate the Thanksgiving weekend. Local artisans and their work are featured, heritage homes are toured, Celtic music is played in a small heritage church and daily hikes are planned, while a beautiful waterfall forms the background for all of the events. And with all of the proceeds go towards supporting wildlife in the area and sustaining this beautiful park, we know we will be able to visit it again and again in the years to come and continue to enjoy its beauty.

This afternoon, our family visited this favourite historic area and enjoyed all of the festivities, while remembering the years we've spent celebrating past Thanksgiving weekends at this beautiful park.

Afterwards, we drive a little further down the road and visit the local public school which houses even more local artists.

On the way home, just to tie us over before dinner, we pick up homemade apple fritters, peanut brittle and candy apples! We always joke that it's the homemade treats that keeps us coming back year after year!

We had another wonderful day celebrating the Thanksgiving weekend with the people we love, and with whom we are most thankful for.

Samedi Brocantes à domicile De Matin

Vintage Postcard Book

This summer hasn't been the greatest for garage sale finds, but if this weekend were to be the last of the garage sale season, it would end on a happy note and mum and I would be satisfied. On our first two stops, we picked up three vintage folding chairs (in Cath Kidston colours) for $1 apiece, vintage linen napkins (perfect for entertaining), and a few bits and bobs...books and a ceramic sun for the garden.

The next stop was THE garage sale of all garage sales...and with all the proceeds going to our local hospital, who could resist getting a bargain and making a donation all at the same time? It was here that we picked up an antique tub bench (circa 1923) and folding tea cart (complete with removable tray), a few wicker baskets, a brass holder which has hands for clips, an old antique postcard book which I'll alter and finally, a box full of Italian stamps!!

Despite having a van filled to the brim with bargains and barely being able to see out the windows, this morning's Saturday garage sales were a success!

And, while I won't post pictures of everything just yet (because, quite frankly, everything looks a bit shabby) I will be sure to take before/after photos and post them a.s.a.p.

I hope you're all enjoying your weekend!

This is my favourite new toy!
A few weeks ago, I went laptop shopping and happened to come across my dream laptop...a gorgeous HP wireless laptop complete with built in web cam and other divine devices (that I have yet to figure out!). I am completely computer illiterate, but I think this is just the thing I need to motivate me into improving my computer skills! My original intention was to buy the laptop in order to do research, but I think subconsciously I may have bought it in order to blog and download all my pictures!

This week, I promise you lots of posts and pictures of all my new crafts. I will be altering a cigar box I found a few months ago at a garage sale and mum and I are planning to try our hand at some homemade jewellery.

I hope you're all enjoying your week!

Jolies Petites Choses

Here are a few pretty little things I've been working on with mum for the last week...

The first picture is of my collages, which I just finished a few nights ago. They're done on canvas boards, and I cover the front with pages from vintage books, music notes from antique music sheets, and various paper from Papyrus (my favourite paper store!). There all embellished with antique buttons, stickers, stamps, glitter, eggs, nests, small frames, antique lace and scrabble pieces. And since I don't photocopy any of my pictures, each one is unique and different.

The second picture is of seashell balls embellished with, of course, seashells and complete with antique pearls. These are the most time-consuming because each seashell and pearl is glued by hand while any white space must be covered. At a garage sale last year, mum and I came across antique dowels which were remnants taken from a farmhouse. We've made them into candle holders, complete with hand rolled sheets of all-natural beeswax. At the same garage sale, I also found a set of vintage tea cups and saucers, and I plan on placing an embellished ball complete with bird in each one. Some are depression glass, some are china so each one individualizes the piece.

The last picture is of my journals. Anyone who loves to write or jot down thoughts in a pretty journal will love my "VAMP", "TRES CHIC", or "WISH" notebooks. These are complete with pearls, stamps, scrabble letters, seals...even fun (faux) fur! And inside of each one is a black and white seal so that you can personalize with your name.

The one thing we're having a dilemma with is pricing each item....so we may visit a few shows of our own first to do some comparison shopping!

The only things left now are to finish up our shadow boxes, blackboards, soldered charms and tree ornaments....basically enough to keep us busy until the day of the sale!

Jeu Nommé

THE MIDDLE NAME GAME

A few days ago, Mary from Across the Pond, was kind enough to tag me to participate in the NAME GAME.

The name of the game is to:

List one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of your middle name. If you don't have a middle name, use the name you would have liked to have had. When you are tagged you need to write your own blog post containing your middle name game facts. At the end of your blog post you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read your blog.

L-Laughter - I love a good laugh and joke, and my family are huge pranksters. I love the fact that laughter is contagious.

E-Education - I have always loved school and feel most comfortable in the classroom. This would probably explain the reason why I was always called 'teacher's pet' for most of my school years!

I-Impatient - This trait may not be one of my best qualities, so I blame it on my star sign - the always impatient Aquarius.

G-Gifts - I hate to brag but I am a fantastic gift-giver. It may also have something to do with the fact that I am also a shop-aholic!

H-Home - I am a home-body and love being surrounded by my family and friends, who I consider my extended family.

A-Animal Activist - I have always felt very strongly about animal rights, and my parents raised me with the belief that we as humans need to be the eyes and ears of animals who cannot speak for themselves. Some of the groups I belong to are Animal Aid, SPCA, and PETA.

N-Nature - Looking after the planet and protecting Mother Earth are two things my parents also instilled in me. Ohhh, the perks of having hippies for parents!

N- Nostalgic - I love anything from the past...if it's vintage, I want it!

My first middle name, Leigh, means Meadow in Ireland and Ann is a name that has been passed down from generation to generation in our family on both sides. If my parents hadn't settled on Leigh Ann, it would have been 'Blythe', after my mum's favourite second grade teacher, Miss Blythe, an animal rights activist herself who was a single woman and owned her own farm. She was a woman who was ahead of her time, and a modern day feminist.

Since I have 8 letters in my name, I have tagged 8 fellow bloggers:

Rosemary at Rosespetitmaison

Gillian at Indigo Blue

Sherry at Q's Corner

Susie Q at Rabbit Run Cottage

Pam at Art and Soul

Mandy at Pearl Maple

Karen at Jewel Box Chronicles

Nita at Red Tin Heart

Thanks again Mary for tagging me!

Boîtes De Cadeau De Cru

Since it was a gorgeous day out, Mum and I spent the afternoon outside crafting and came up with a few little items for our craft sale. Unfortunately though, we went to the location for the November craft sale we were planning to attend, only to be told that the tables were 8 feet long! Way too small for all of our goodies! We were a bit disappointed, but we we are staying positive that we will eventually come across the perfect spot (and one with a big enough table to display everything!) And I promise I will keep you all posted!

For the time being, I'll keep posting my crafts which I hope you all enjoy!

Nuit De Martini

This past week has been crazy! I have been working full-time at my usual day job and have spent my days off researching for school and crafting in preparation for an art sale mum and I are planning to enter at the end of November. It's a bit of a way off, but I'm sure the time will fly by and it (as well as Christmas!) will be here in no time. So, I thought I should get a head start on my crafts.

But all of that work and crafting worked up quite a thirst, so my friends and I headed out for Martini's! The Martini House opened for the first time a few months ago downtown and it is the perfect spot out with your friends before another long week at work begins. We ordered Berry Berry Martinis...berry infused vodka with cranberry juice...and of course, no drink would be complete without dessert, so we went for the chocolate mousse cake. As you can see, it barely lasted long enough for me to take a picture!

It was a lot of fun, and I'm sure it will be a regular spot on the weekends for us!

Samedi Brocantes à domicile De Matin

This morning, mum and I did our usual Saturday morning bargain hunting and came across a scrapbooker's dream. The garage sale was held by a Canadian scrapbooker who has been published numerous times in the Memory Makers and Creating Keepsakes magazines and books, so of course, we ended up finding some of the most gorgeous papers, ribbon, stickers and other fabulous scrap booking supplies.

I can't wait to begin creating!

Un jour à Toronto

Art from the Gardiner Museum

Shoes from the Bata Shoe Museum
Art from the Royal Ontario Museum
...More Art from the ROM
The CN Tower at Night

Some of my friends and I decided to spend the day in Toronto, Ontario. We had a great time exploring the many landmarks of the city including the CN Tower, the Royal Ontario Museum, the Gardiner Museum, the Bata Shoe Museum (Carrie from Sex & the City would definitely have been impressed!) and to finish it off we caught a show at Toronto's Second City.

My favourite part of the day was visiting the Bata Shoe Museum, where we saw shoes worn by David Bowie and Ella Fitzgerald, as well as an assortment of French shoes which were displayed in a Parisian inspired room complete with French chandeliers! Ohh la la!

The Royal Ontario Museum was also amazing, and there we were able to see an assortment of art forms including a totem pole which was centred in the middle of the main foyer, 20th century Canadian flame work pieces including a horse drawn carriage and a nativity scene, as well as a collection of Lalique perfume bottles and china, a paper weight display and art deco furniture....stunning!

Lastly, we visited Second City, a comedy club in Toronto where the likes of Canadian comedians such as Martin Short, Dan Ackroyd, John Candy, Catherine O'Hara and Gilda Radner have performed in the past. The show and improv performed was fabulous.

I saved the best picture for last...the CN Tower in all its glory at night.

Vous Êtes Une Poupée !

Nita @ Red Tin Heart has nominated me for a "You're A Doll Award"! I visit Nita's blog daily and am always inspired by her creative ideas and beautiful photographs. Thank you, Nita!

Now it's my turn to nominate some blogs that inspire me daily:

Deb (my mum!) @ Posted from Home
My mum is my best friend and a constant source of inspiration for me. Her photography captures the beauty in everyday life, and her inspirational quotes

Lidy @ Little French Garden House
Lidy's love for all things French is what caught my attention when I first began blogging, and I've been coming back ever since. Her sense of style is...shall we say, magnifique! And be sure to visit her amazing website!

Flea Market Queen
Flea Market Queen is a girl after my own heart because she is a self-confessed 'flea market junkie'! And anyone who knows me or has read my blog knows my love for vintage items. If you love finding a beautiful bargain, then you must visit this blog, you will LOVE it!

Susie Q @ Rabbit Run Cottage
Not only is Susie a fabulous writer, but she's also a one-woman comedy act! Susie's humour and love of life shines through all of her posts.

Vallen @ Queenly Things
Vallen is an amazing artist who inspires me to create on a daily basis. The humour and quirkiness she brings to each post will have you coming back for more!

Ginny @ Twinkle Pink
Ginny's love for all things vintage is evident in the fabulous swaps she's held over her blog - most recently, her tiara and matchbox swaps which were a HUGE success. Her crafts are always stunning.

Sophie @ Sophie Huneysuckle's English Decor

I love visiting Sophie's blog because of the beautiful photographs she takes of her home. Her style is one part Rachel Ashwell/one part Cath Kidson. Her home is elegant and her love for all things vintage shines through each of her posts.

Thank you again, Nita, for nominating me!

Petits gâteaux De Noix de coco

Here are the coconut cupcakes in all their glory for tonight...

I hope the girls enjoy them!

Cônes De Papier

I have a couple of days off of work (in a row, which is really unusual), so we have a day in Stratford to see a play planned, some shopping in Toronto planned, and a few other day trips in mind which leaves me with one day to have some of my girlfriends over. With summer almost over, I wanted to have a small get together before we all head back to school or begin new jobs in the fall.

We have reservations at a favourite bistro of ours right across from the lake and then we're off to see a movie...we're debating between "No Reservations" and "I Know Who Killed Me"...if anyone has seen either, please leave your recommendations!

Then, we'll head off to Dimitri's, a favourite coffee and dessert bar of ours and...if that weren't enough, we'll head back to my place for coconut cupcakes. In preparation, I made paper cones to put at the back of everyone's chair...these are a few of the ones I finished today. Inside of each, I've added a few little goodies for the girls to take back home with them.

Samedi Trouvailles De Brocante à domicile De Matin

Mum and I had a very successful Saturday morning, indeed. Lots of great bargains out and we seemed to snag every deal! At our first stop, which was just down the street, we came across a box of vintage marbles I just had to have...and for only 25 cents! Mum said they reminded her of her school days when she would sit under her favourite tree and play marbles with all of her friends (and she would win every time, although she was too sweet to keep them - she always returned them back when they told her it was their 'favourite' marble!)

Then we came across a stack of books and more silver trays (I think I'll pick up some black chalkboard paint tomorrow and get started on a few more blackboards!)

The final bargain of the day was a retro looking bread bin! A dream find for me, and I have been looking everywhere for one! And to think, we probably could have done more damage had it not been for the fact that I had to get to work...it was bad enough I had only left myself 15 minutes to get there!

Récompense De Sujets De Nice

My mum has honoured me with a "Nice Matters" award! Thanks, mum! Now it's my turn to select 7 other NICE blogs...

This was so difficult, as I love all of your blogs but I thought that honouring you all with one would be cheating! So, here are my nominees...

*Rosemary @ rosespetitemaison

*Manuela @ The Feathered Nest

*Sheila @ A Kiss is Just a Kiss

*Blue @ Indigo Blue

*Pam @ Art and Soul

*Nita @ Red Tin Heart

*Q @ Q's Corner

Speaking of nice, we also celebrated my beautiful lab, Ben's anniversary with us yesterday night! We adopted him 7 years ago yesterday and have been thankful ever since! He has certainly treated us very nicely, indeed!

Bagatelle Anglaise

What better way to cool off than enjoying a refreshing summer dessert with layer upon layer of whipped cream, fresh market berries, vanilla pudding and Italian lady finger biscuits? You're got the best of 3 countries, for one thing: Italian cookies, trifle recipe from England, and prepared in the French Nest kitchen!

This simple, yet delicious, dessert is a real time saver and tastes even better the next day!

Kate's Summer Trifle

(Serves Eight - or, in our case, a family of four!)

Ingredients:

-Whipped cream (Cool Whip works best)

- 2 boxes of Jello vanilla pudding

-2 packages of Italian lady fingers

-Plenty of fresh market berries: blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries (remember to reserve some of the berries for garnish)

Layer lady fingers, pudding, berries and whipped cream...bon appetit!

Surprise Tôt De Matin !

I know the early bird gets the worm, but this bird got more than that delivered to her French Nest! My kind friend Sherry from Q's Corner had put together another box of goodies she thought I might like....and I certainly do!

Inside the box (which, by the way, was as beautifully decorated on the outside as it was filled with beautiful items on the inside), was a gorgeous hat box decorated with French poodles and pom-poms! So adorable! Inside were gorgeous vintage linens, a French plate, tassels, and the piece de resistance...a red beret! (I am so in love with it that I wore it this morning while eating breakfast!)

Thank you so much Sherry! I love it all!

Port Perry (Take Two!)

I'm back from my travels! Did you miss me? I feel like I have abandoned blogging lately, as work commitments have bogged me down lately. But, I am back into the swing of things and I promise you lots of posts!

On Monday night, we had the best time at a dinner theatre watching a Tribute to the Bee Gees...it was fantastic! They received two standing ovations and played for two hours straight! Mum and I, of course, were dancing in the aisles...it's the Latin blood in us!

And then this afternoon, we had the best time visiting Port Perry. We browsed through the most unique shops, sampled some great food, and even had time to visit Erin, a small town on our way back home. Even though the temperature hit 44 at one point, we managed to get from shop to shop and luckily, they were all air conditioned!

We visited a few favourite shops of ours including Delights, which has French inspired home and garden accessories and houses a large collection of over sized French clocks, and Pamper and Soothe, a perfumery shop. Once we entered, I knew I had to get the etched glass container...I think I'll put my bath salts in it!

The second picture from the top is my finished collage which I created out of a variety of paper, vintage lace, buttons, an antique playing card (you know how much I love those!) and a glittered letter. It feels so great to be able to find the time to create again, I don't know what I'd do without it.

Port Perry

Today, on my day off, we are travelling to Port Perry for the afternoon...I will post pictures as soon as I return, as well as pictures from my latest crafts. Hope you all have been enjoying your week!

Scènes de mon bureau

I spent this Saturday morning taking a few snapshots from my little corner of the world at work. Although I try to take my art to work, I find that I can't always find the space and the time to complete any projects I have already started or want to begin. So, today I took my small digital camera to capture some of the beauty and inspiration I see on a regular basis to share with you.

Wherever I am, I'm never really alone. The gardens are always filled with chipmunks, groundhogs, rabbits, squirrels, varieties of birds, butterflies and insects. Many of them are so tame because they are used to so many people touring the gardens on a regular basis. And I find that I never finish my lunch on my own...there's always someone to share it with, and the animals are never shy!

"The man who has planted a garden feels that he has done something for the good of the world"

Vita Sackville-West

It feels like I have been away for so long. In the past five days we have celebrated my brother's birthday, I have been working everyday from 9am-almost 8 pm, I have been doing researching on the side and have had no time to blog or create...two things I love! So, I have nothing to post or share, except a picture of Ben...who sends all his love to Nature Girl, who lost her beloved cat, Freddi, last night. Our pets are such a huge part of our lives and through blogging we get to share stories and photos of special times and memories that we have with them. Because we can relate to how much our pets mean to us, we can also relate to the deep sorrow we feel when one passes. I think it's helpful to know that other people send their blessings and thoughts during these times...and I'm sending mine Nature Girl's way...

"I love cats because I enjoy my home; and little by little, they become its visible soul"

--Jean Cocteau, French poet and filmmaker

Forme Changée De Robe

Yesterday night I worked on altering the dress form mum and I found a few months ago at a garage sale. Although it isn't your conventional dress form, and it definitely isn't French, the antique lace, vintage broach, playing card, music sheet, glittered initial and other little 'French Nest' touches, have given it the vintage look it deserves.

I want to stamp something French around the neck, maybe a Parisian quote or French poem, or even a date to make it look really authentic!

Who would have thought that something that cost is $5 would look so cute in the end?

Et le gagnant est...

Benny has a nose for names, so naturally, he selected the winner for my 100th post give-away.

And Benny chose....

Andrea @ Southern Heart!

Congratulations!

Please contact me at thefrenchnest@yahoo.ca Andrea, with your contact information and I will send your package off to your nest from mine.

And thanks to everyone for commenting!

A very special thanks goes out to my lovely assistant, Mr. B!

100th Post Give-Away

Well, today is the day...Today is my 100th post! Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of you amazing women for always leaving such supportive comments. Your kind words and inspiring blogs mean so much.


To celebrate my 100th I have put together a little package for one lucky winner...just leave a comment and I will draw names this Friday....


The give-away package includes:

A Victoria magazine, Cavellini & Co. butterfly postcards, small book with inspirational quotes, cherry stationery, homemade seals, velum, bookmark, and a small gift bag filled with vintage pearls, flower seals, block letters, puzzle pieces, tags, admit one ticket stubs, and a vintage scrabble piece.


Good luck everyone!