The french touch in California

IMPORTANT New adress for the blog....

2008-01-25T23:08:00.000-08:00

As this one has a complicate name to remember; I have chosen a new one : French Atmosphere
Just click on the link and you'll get all my new posts

The fabulous french garlands !

2008-01-24T16:27:00.001-08:00

Since the creation by the french duo of designers "Tse et Tse" of the garland light, I am a real fan of this method of lighting. And now I am going to extend my collection to cotton or plastic garlands to brighten my interior ... without lights !
You too, get some inspiration with those models, such as the famous "fabulous garlands" of Sophie Cuvelier.
In papers or felt, they already take place in different shops in Paris, such as the so trendy shop for kids Lilibulle ...
I also like the small triangles from lilafanfreluche that can be made from paper, plastic ... Anything that falls into your hands!
Finally it seems that the Christmas magazine "Marie-Claire idées" has inspired many : see this garland made by les sept étoiles with small pieces of liberty: bravo! It is even more beautiful than in the magazine. Here are some ideas to decorate a child bedroom, a birthday party...

A nice table for Birthday party !

2008-01-20T14:01:00.001-08:00

See the video
The american way of doing birthday party is very different from France. They rarely take place at home and moms always search special activities on that occasion.
Even if my girls'party will be only in six months, I've already decided that I will do it the French way with a traditional "goûter".

This week my favorite french TV show on decoration "Interiors" (downloaded from the web) has made a video about decoration of children birthday party. You will see good ideas, particularly from the director of the trendy french newspaper "Milk" for parents. For my part I liked the table colored by candies. I have also learned how to customize small white cardboard plates with colored ribbons.
To finish with, have also a look at the video of the french creators of the well-known brand "les petites emplettes", specialized in nice bed linen. They live in a old grocery : they have made a cheap deco with vintage and second-hand stuff, mostly found in flea markets !

Spring at home

2008-01-19T15:17:00.000-08:00

When the weather finally brings back the sun, the home decoration follows!
I had desires this week of spring days and their new colors. Lucky me ! I found these beautiful baskets with purple and turquoise dots at Michael's.
I also had a look at the spring collection at Pottery and barn kids and I was not disappointed. First I was able to take advantage of the sales they make on bed linens this month. I bought this delicate duvet cover in a nice cotton still in the same tones.

Next purchase? I think these new large canvas round storage, also with dots... also at Pottery and barn kids... still trying to storage the kids toys after Christmas!

Mirror addict !

2008-01-19T15:12:00.000-08:00

I bought several copies of this small Ikea mirror ... Malma model around 3 dollars.
I let my grils decorate them for gifts to their grandmothers, aunts ... Or for their rooms. See this turquoise model repainted by them and covered with "precious pearls": in fact small bright beads purchased at Michael's.
Riding a few french blogs I became addict of, I saw that others french bloggers liked the customization of mirrors. Of course, they made much more successful versions. See the Matriochka version of mes p'tits trucs à moi or the little angels of Mimicreations, I like the idea of combining a delicate mirror with a small box in the same tone ....
Enjoy !

Japanese trend !

2008-01-19T15:07:00.000-08:00

Let's talk about one of my favorite shops in the region: a small japanese stationery shop on Santana Row.
The name is not necessarily easy to remember: Maido. But, as this blog wants to meddle futile and useful, here's the address: 378 Santana Row suite 1, San Jose.
It is a real paradise to found gifts. Superb Japanese papers, origami, gums fantasies,, bags, notebooks "en veux-tu-en-voilà" ...
And last but not least for latecomers like me: all agendas, planning 2008 are on sale!

Little papers for little wishes...

2008-01-19T14:57:00.000-08:00

Here is an idea that I found brilliant today on the blog L'atelier d'Audrey: send a bird made out of folded paper for the New Year wishes. Her own is with a nice decoration of stars stickers. Write on the inside nice wishes for the new year: love, sharing, friendship, health ... Send the paper bird with creases marked but flat in a pretty organza package. But the idea can be developed for party, birthday invitation...

Happy new year

2008-01-19T14:36:00.000-08:00

A year has passed ... For me it was half-Paris, half in California and full of new projects! So let's hope 2008 will be the one of their outcome.
While still waiting from the American administration, the necessary permits to open my little shop online, I just have to make some shopping!
In California the sales begin the 26 of december, whereas in Paris you have to wait the second week of january. But as they take place every two months in USA, it is less expectation and the rush than it was in France. Anyway, I decided to make a new stock of candles at Crate and Barrel where the price were divided by two!

I also took advantage of a morning in San Francisco to buy me a second colored glass ornament in a Lebanese shop that I love: "Chez moi" on Union street. Clinging to my bedroom curtain, it extends for a while Christmas time, which always goes too quickly ...

I will finish this first post of the year with this adage taken from a sticker of the charming Parisian designers team "Des Pieds Des Ailes" that I hope to be able to have on my website at the end of the month: "Beware of dreams, they will always happen" !

French deco for party, part 2

2008-01-19T14:28:00.001-08:00

All french blogs are about Christmas this month !
My two favorites ideas of the day: the tree Susie posted on the website of the so trendy shop in Paris LIlibulle.
Her idea to recycle small umbrellas from Chinese restaurants to make a game of shadows on its light garland is incredible ...

Second favorite idea : the hand-made Advent calendar of the children of the creators of the brand Bonton (also creators of Bonpoint).
In fact every detail in their Parisian apartment is a source of inspiration for home decoration. You can download the visit of their apartment on the french decoration tv show "Interieurs".

I also had a crush for their collection of melamine tableware. So I bought from Pottery and Barn kids, and for once at a price not too unreasonable, these small plates, Polka, which quickly give a festive style to the children table!
I continue to make my little press review of french deco magazines (see my previous post). Today found in "Marie-Claire idées", the French bible of hand-made products, a gift idea for children:
Take a hanger, cover it with ribbons or tissues and hang a few Christmas decoration : it will be a beautiful object for decorating their rooms.

Emma

French deco for party!

2008-01-19T14:21:00.000-08:00

What is good when my Mr Big goes to Paris to work,is that he brings me back all my favorite french magazines .... Always very inspiring. In particular, I like this scene of celebration proposed by "Elle à table". On the menu:
-- Japanese lanterns revisited and painted in black and gold. The important detail: the small grigri or small decorative Christmas ornament suspended.
-- To go with this gold and black decor, add beautiful pieces of Christmas paper (it was in december) in the same tones, arranged on your table by way of sets, add small glasses painted and turned into pretty "photophores".
Finally dress your bottles or carafes with ribbons in the same tones.
In a word: have fun!

Little ideas to start with

2008-01-19T14:06:00.000-08:00

Small decorative ideas easy to implement to start with ...
Buy small felt letters for 50 cents from Michael's to customize the doors of our children with accessories such as ribbons, feathers ...
You can also buy large cardboard letters, make a name and cover each letter with harmonious but different tissues and lay them on a piece of furniture or nailed to the wall or...

You can also enjoy the abundant material for scrapbookers and use it for other purposes. For me, an Ikea desk that I have customized with scrapbooking stickers found at Paper Source.

Do not hesitate to post to exchange ideas of making or shopping deco products, original gifts ...
The web address of the day: the Christmas blog of french magazine Elle, which offers to make a garland "arty" very simple and pretty to decorate a princess bedroom !
Emma