Seasonal Frenzy Disorder

Bonjour,

With the Christmas season in full swing, it is difficult not to get caught up in the frenzy of it all.  As a female of the boomer generation, I am programmed to feel I must "do it all."  I must decorate my home to perfection, shop for all the perfect gifts, wrap those gifts perfectly, bake lots of delicious, perfectly-shaped cookies, etc.; and, to be honest, I truly love doing all these things, but the perfection business can be a tad repressive. As I have gotten older, I have learned to slow down and I do my best to try to be satisfied with less-than-perfect. Now I strive to enjoy the special moments, because that is what it's really all about, isn't it?

In that vein, I did take time to attend the party for the local Historical Society members that I told you about last week.  And I did not fret and try to find the perfect outfit (as I may have done in my younger days) but wore something I had hanging in my closet. And, as is usually the case, that fact had no bearing on the experience.   I had a fine time visiting with old friends and the lovely old home was decorated beautifully.

Saturday was devoted to attending Dickens on the Strand where we ate festival food, drank, shopped and saw the "Queen."

A great time was had by all...and I managed to get my annual photo of the grands by the Tremont House Christmas tree...and they were smiling.

I hope you are enjoying the season and finding time to experience those special moments of joy that only this time of year can bring.   I'd love to hear what you are doing.  Please comment below or via the link above.

(And should you need a small gift, please take a look in my shops via the links above.)

Until next time, wishing you many peaceful moments.

Adieu,

Noël

Bonjour,

The Christmas season with all its festivities is fast upon us.  In France, Christmas is called Noël and is celebrated somewhat differently than it is here in the United States.

In parts of France, the celebration begins on December 6, with la fete de Saint Nicolas, when parents traditionally give gifts to their children. On Christmas Eve, children, in hopeful expectation, leave their shoes by the fireplace for le Père Noël, Santa Claus, to bestow gifts. Christmas Day festivities typically begin at midnight, when families gather for worship and a celebratory dinner, le Réveillon, after midnight mass.  Adults usually wait until New Year's Day to exchange gifts.  The season doesn't end until the final celebration on Epiphany, on January 6.

How do you celebrate the season?  The celebration begins for me tonight, as Monsieur and I will attend the first party of the season, given by the local Historical Society for its members and their guests, and located in one of the city's historical homes, the Pompeiian Villa.  It is always a pleasure to tour the home, decorated in all its Christmas finery, and to visit with other patrons dedicated to the preservation of our local history.

The Pompeiian Villa
Port Arthur, Texas

Saturday we will spend the day in Galveston at their annual festival, Dickens on the Strand.  This event has signified the beginning of the Christmas season for us for many, many years.  We started taking our children when they were young, and now they accompany us with their families. It has become a tradition that cannot be missed.  There are vendors selling handmade crafts and food, and the local shops are filled with seasonal wares.  And, of course, all involved are dressed in period costumes and the area is decorated to resemble Victorian England.  I hope to share pictures with you next time.

Until then, wishing you a lovely beginning to the season. 

Adieu,



p.s.  If you may need a small gift for a friend or loved one, maybe an item of handmade jewelry would           fit the bill.   I invite you to take a peek in my shops via the link above.  Merci.

Giving Thanks

Bonjour,

On this day, I pause to give thanks for so many blessings...family, friends, my fur babies, health, enough creature comforts, a loving God...life in a country that allows me the freedom to share my thoughts.

May you enjoy this day with a grateful heart...

...and a full tummy.

Adieu,

Shopping Handmade

Bonjour,

Alas, the Christmas season is upon us, like it or not.  It seems that every year, it is extended...that is, it comes sooner rather than later.  Personally, I prefer to enjoy my holidays one at a time and in their proper order.

Bah, humbug!

Although it is often advantageous to shop early, I really dislike seeing Christmas advertising begin as early as pre-Halloween.  Of course, those doing this form of advertising are usually the big retailers trying to outdo one another for our business.   I do love a good bargain, but aside from toys, I seldom purchase gifts from such retailers.

When it comes to shopping for Christmas gifts, I have always preferred searching for things the recipients may not necessarily purchase for themselves, more on the line of a treat rather than a necessity.  I tend to look for special items from small local shops or area festivals or craft fairs.  Of course, now such shopping may be done online via Etsy, which provides a plethora of artisans selling unique and original handcrafted items.  Somehow gifting feels more personal when the item chosen is handmade.

Please consider shopping handmade this Christmas.  Not only will you be supporting the individual artisans themselves, but I believe you and your gifts' recipients will be equally rewarded.  Do you usually purchase handmade items for Christmas giving?  Please share your thoughts below or via the link above. Until next time...

Adieu,

Qu'il Neige (Let it Snow)

Bonjour,

Well, the weather outside is frightful, so I say,

"Let it snow,"

"Let it snow,"

"Let it snow."

Until next time, wishing you warmth.

Adieu,

Santé

Santé

(Cheers)

Bonjour,

Today's French word is often welcomed at the end of the workday.  What could be better than to relax after a productive day by sharing a nice bottle of wine...perhaps a French Cotes de Gascogne...with your favorite companion, as you hash over the day and toast its passing. 

On those days when I feel like a nice red wine is in order, I often pick Dreaming Tree Crush.  All I can say about it is "Yum!"  An added bonus to the bottle's delicious content is the cork with which it is sealed.  One of the owners of the winery is Dave Matthews, the singer/songwriter, hence its name, Dreaming Tree, which is the title of one of Dave's songs.  The prized cork (at least, for me) is imprinted with the beginning lyrics of the song.

In my imagination, these words evoke ethereal images.

I have always saved these particular corks and lately have incorporated them into my jewelry design. Somehow their pairing with crystals seems appropriate to me. 

Although this item of jewelry may not be considered anything but fun and casual, it may just inspire one to dream.  It may be found in my shop, FrenchGraceDeux, above or here.

Is there a special way you choose to unwind at the end of a busy day?  I'd love to know. Please share your thoughts below or comment via the link above.

Until next time, I wish you many opportunities to dream.  Santé.

Adieu,

Bead Love

Bonjour,

Beads, glorious beads, are my newest obsession. Until I began making jewelry, I never stopped to think of all the different beads that are produced.  Now I see beads everywhere and find beauty in most of them.

Some of my favorites, and also those which are most commonly produced, are Czech glass beads.  The Czechs (actually their predecessors, the Bohemians) have been making beads for centuries, but began greater production in the mid 1800s when they began using molds.

In the early 20th century, they began mass production and became the world's leading bead exporters. Since then, the industry has been negatively affected by wars, the Depression and political turmoil, but once again the Czech bead makers are at the forefront of their trade.

There are infinite colors, shapes and sizes of Czech glass beads.  The beads I've shared here are a few of my latest acquisitions and are examples of fire-polished beads in different shapes and finishes.  Aren't they lovely?

These small objects keep me inspired.  Wouldn't these beauties inspire you as well?

Adieu,

Remembering Oscar

Fashion is about dressing according to what's fashionable.

Style is more about being yourself.

Oscar de la Renta

The fashion world lost a giant with the passing of Oscar de la Renta.   If there were ever anyone who defined "style," it was Oscar de la Renta.  Any little girl who ever made believe she was a princess would have also dreamed of wearing an Oscar gown.  I certainly did, since he was a designer who dressed the first "American princess," Jacqueline Kennedy. He made every woman look like a goddess…and with style.  

Here are few recent Oscar gowns I love…pure elegance... 

I will leave you with more of Oscar's words...

Luxury to me is not about buying expensive things; 

it's about living in a way where you appreciate things.

Thank you, Mr. de la Renta, for all the luxurious memories.

THE Bracelet

Bonjour,

Today I thought I would share with you the piece that began it all...the one item that sparked my love of jewelry. As you will see, it is nothing special and certainly has little monetary value, but to me it is priceless.

My love of jewelry was inspired (actually more like instilled) by my mother.  My mother told me on many occasions that all she ever wanted was to be a mother to one little girl; lucky for her, that's exactly what she got. And her ideals for a girl were strictly feminine. I grew up in an era of ruffles and lace, adornments of which my mom never tired. (She would have loved to have seen me in ruffles to this day.)  In addition to the frilly dresses in which she clothed me, there were always accessories, hair bows or ribbons, purses, and especially jewelry. Of course, the first pieces she purchased for me were the typical baby bracelet and ring; but this is the one I consider the actual "first."

This bracelet was given to me by my mom and dad on my third birthday I believe, if not the Christmas before. I loved it then as I do now. I love its simplicity and its timelessness. Throughout my childhood, I rarely took it off.  It is not solid gold, only a gold-plated base metal, and every few years my mother would take it to a jeweler and have it replated.  It would look new again. Although I do not wear it daily any more, I do still wear it...and often. It could stand to be redipped again, but I prefer its flaws to show…there are memories there.

When I was photographing the bracelet for this post, I discovered the maker's mark inside, Krementz USA.  In my research I learned that Krementz was a New Jersey jeweler which was in business since 1866 and which originally became successful by mass producing men's collar buttons and cuff links in gold in the early 1900s.  The company later began making gold overlay and electroplated jewelry when costume jewelry became popular in the 1920s. They offered a lifetime guarantee on their jewelry, which is probably why my mother had my bracelet replated periodically.  They are no longer in business, but their  jewelry is still available for purchase in venues like Etsy and EBay.

I wonder how many other little girls' first introduction to jewelry was through a piece by Krementz & Co.  Did you ever wear their jewelry?  If so, please share your story.   I'd love to hear from you.  Please leave comments below or via the link above.

Adieu,

Lune de Sang

Adieu,

How many of you viewed the eclipse of the blood moon this morning?  In my location, the spectacular sight occurred right before daybreak, which is the time I normally wake up and walk my dogs anyway, so I did not even have to adjust my schedule in order to watch the event unfold. In fact, observing la lune is a regular part of my morning ritual.

There is minimal lighting around my house (my neighborhood is somewhat rural), and my morning walks are affected by the different phases of the moon.  Before I had dogs to walk, I rarely took the time to enjoy the sight of the morning sky, especially at that hour.  Now I am attentive to the lovely moon, as I am partially dependant upon it to light my path.  I love those great full moons which shine like lighthouse beacons. I sorely miss their passing when they wane or are hidden by clouds.  There is something to be said for rising before the sun.  As I look up, I picture the night sky as the earth's jewelry box, filled with sparkling diamonds...a neverending treasure chest of gems.

"The Night Sky" by Levviathor

And, as for this morning's lune de sang, I watched for as long as I was able to withstand the drone and bite of the rabid mosquitoes buzzing around me.  The sight was definitely worth the few itchy bumps I received.  I hope you were able to observe it in your part of the world as well.

ABC News-Reuters

In honor of our precious moon, I share these favorite earrings with you, made with antique buttons and available in the "Shop" link above.

As always, I'd love to hear from you. Please comment below or via the link above. Until next time...

Bonjour,

Bulgari Love

Bonjour,

A few weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to take in an exhibition at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, "Bulgari: 130 Years of Masterpieces."  It was a fabulous way to spend a Saturday.

The exhibition, which showcased the evolution of the Bulgari style and its social and cultural influence, included 150 pieces of jewelry from the 19th century through the present time. The displays of the exquitsite items also included photographs of many celebrities wearing the jewels, along with other archival materials.

Over the years, Bulgari has been influential in the world of jewelry design through innovative styling, such as that in their tremblant brooches which were very popular in the 1960s. These beautiful brooches were one of my favorite parts of the exhibition. The ornate pieces featured precious gems, mostly diamonds, which were mounted using a special technique which included tiny springs which suspended the stones and allowed them to move freely and flutter with the movement of their wearer. They were unbelievably lovely.  The one below was given to Elizabeth Taylor by her then husband, Eddie Fisher. 

Tremblant brooch in platinum with Yellow and Cognac-colored diamond, 1959 

Of course, my absolute favorite piece in the exhibition, to which I kept going back for just one more look, was a stunning 118-karat (yes, 118!) emerald necklace. That alone was worth the price of admission.  And if that were not enough, there were also matching earrings.

Necklace and earrings, 1961; Platinum with emeralds and diamonds

Bulgari photos via Houston Chronicle

The exhibition ends Sunday. If you have the opportunity to attend, I promise you will not be disappointed. Can you imagine wearing that necklace above?  I feel sure it literally would be a pain in the neck to wear, but I'd love to attempt it. How about you?  I would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below or via the link above. Until next time…

Adieu,
 

Buttons and Beads and Escutcheons...Oh, My

Bonjour,

As I have mentioned in past posts, I enjoy hunting for treasures such as antique buttons, beads of all age and design, and old hardware.  These items are the inspiration for my jewelry design.

It amazes me that there are so many antique buttons still to be found and that they are even available for purchase, often in excellent  condition. There are many button collectors and many others, like me, who just love to see how buttons may be repurposed. Their varied styles and materials are used to determine their age. Although I am not an expert, I have learned a bit from the sellers with whom I have dealt, as well as through my own research. I will share that with you in a future post. This is one of my favorite buttons, which has been restyled.  Doesn't it make a lovely addition to this pendant necklace?

I have recently discovered a bead shop that has been in business for around 45 years. The proprietor stocks beads from all corners of the globe, and in every size, shape, color, and material imaginable. While most are new, some beads have remained unsold for some time and are vintage; however, there are also many antiques, some hundreds of years old.  I could spend hours there browsing to find the perfect beads for my designs.  (Alas, none of my purchases are ever of the antique variety.) These are a few from my last shopping trip.  Won't they make pretty earrings?

In this age of recycling, everything has worth if repurposed. A piece of antique or vintage hardware is often reborn as an object in a statement necklace. I love converting old drawer pulls or escutcheons into the focal point of a piece of jewelry.  This is a perfect example.  Isn't that escutcheon a work of art in itself?

Thank you for visiting with me today.  I would love to hear from you.  Please share your thoughts by commenting below or in the link above. Until next time...

Adieu, 

Mode d'amusement

Mode d'amusement

(Fun fashion)

Bonjour,

As you can see, today's "phrase-of-the-day" relates to fashion. Mode d'amusement.  Even the phrase itself sounds like fun. In my humble opinion, all fashion should be fun. Life is too short for anything else.  

Many mornings, I find I want to just slap on some makeup and don whatever is most visible in my closet just in order to arrive at work on time.  On those mornings, being fashionable doesn't even seem to be an option, much less fun. Other mornings, I may feel like a bit of dressing up is in order. But, in either instance, I never leave the house without jewelry. Accessorizing with jewelry truly is part of my DNA, and I do think such accessorizing should be nothing but fun.  After all, jewelry can be the perfect pick-me-up, especially on those drab days when one is dressing by rote. 

Take this necklace, for example.  No one could consider this anything but fun. Wouldn't this bring a bit of levity to anyone's day?

But there are other types of "fun fashion."  Say that visible outfit on that hectic morning turns out to be a basic ensemble such as a white top and black pants.  Instead of choosing to wear those same pearl earrings you always wear, why not change things up, and choose a pair of pale green earrings, like these...

Wouldn't that mode d'amusement inspire you to find joy in every part of the day? I know that it would do so for me. 

Let's put the fun back in fashion. You may find the items above and others in my shop, FrenchiGraceDeux.  Until next time, thank you for stopping by...merci...

Adieu,

'A la Mode

'A la mode

(fashionable)

Bonjour,

As an Instagram user, I recently found and started following "French Words," a poster of daily French words and their English translations.  The above was their post yesterday. I'm ashamed to admit that I, Frenchi, never knew that was the original meaning.  And to think I thought it only referred to the best way to serve pie.  Hmmm, I wonder who decided that if a dessert was served topped with ice cream, that was the "fashionable" way.

Getty image

As for jewelry, my latest creations may be considered "'a la mode."  In addition to my vintage assemblage jewelry, I like to make jewelry for the urban fashionista--or as I like to identify her, a "Frenchinista"--of which, on occasion, I consider myself one. Lately I have enjoyed making silver earrings with pretty bead and filigree dangles.  I use wire-wrapping techniques and even make my own hand-knotted headpins as enhancements.  The many lovely beads I find and am unable to resist are an endless inspiration for my creativity, such as the crystal beads found in these earrings.

These earrings and others may be found in my Etsy shop, FrenchiGraceDeux.

Do you have a special occasion that demands a certain accent to your outfit?  Or do you just want something to match a particular piece of clothing?  I'd love to make you the perfect jewelry to complete your fashion statement.  Please feel free to contact me via the link above. I love to collaborate with my customers to design a one-of-a-kind piece to ensure they feel their best-dressed.  Let's work together to create a style that is unquestionably 'a la mode.

Adieu,