je t'aime...

June 30th, our wedding day

There are only four questions of value in life.

What is sacred?

Of what is the spirit made of?

What is worth living for?

What is worth dying for?

The answer to each is the same. Only love.

-- Don Juan Demarco

"A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous.
-Ingrid Bergman

Catherine

Petite Inspiration Box Swap...Paris Edition

Spoiler alert, photos of my altered match boxes to follow.  Don't peek if you are one of my swap partners...

Match Box Swap, Paris Edition.....

Heather, of Speckled Egg, graciously sponsored another of her fabulous "Match Box" swaps with a Paris edition. Oh yes I did say Paris...ooh la la.

I attempted to alter my box and channel vintage Paris, the time of Edith Piaf, 1940ish...

I covered the outside of the box with vintage sheet music which I had first sprayed heavily with "glimmer mist".  I then took an old vintage photo and printed it upon Claudine Hellmuth's sticky back canvas paper.  I stiched around the sides and frayed the edges.  I then attached a good sized piece of old mica which looked like an old dusty shop or movie house window.  I attached some embellishments, and stamped on the mica to finish it off.  I also stamped on mica for the Bonjour label behind the brass plate, which acts as a drawer opening.

Now on the inside of the box I used some old Anna Griffen paper I luv to attach to the sides and for the bottom I found a photo of the movie poster, "La Vie En Rose"...

These are some of the lovlies I stuffed inside the box for my swap partners to enjoy...

Vintage found items...

Well that's all there is, I hope that Alison, Linda, and my daughter enjoy them  : )

Hugs,

Catherine

First day of summer, grey skies, I dream....

How to Dress like a French Woman:

-First and foremost, throw away uptight.

-Of course, own one of everything in black, plus know the fashionable color of the season, and have it in your wardrobe too: This year it is gray with hints of floral pink.

-Dare to wear red gloves.

-Stuff your pockets with confidence in your beauty, walk knowing you are worth a billion dollars.

-Smoke without shame.

-Wear matching sexy, jamais boring, ni basic white, undergarments.

-Ditch the tennis shoes and socks.

-Have a "day" perfume and an "evening" perfume, make it your calling card.

-Dress for the occasion, wear leather pants to the grocery store, and always have champagne in your refrigerator.

-Celebrate your femininity, breasts are more than two lumps.

-Add a twist to the ordinary: Jeans, lace top, leopard print high heels. Do not be afraid to express yourself.

-Sit straight, hold your head up, guard your tongue, and admire other women.

je reve

Catherine

A little roadtrip...

And we are off, on a little weekend mini vacation...

Hitting the road, bright and early

Summer is where the girls go barefoot and their hearts are just as free as their toes...

And so my sweet friends, is it not time to pack up your bags and and visit the beyond?

XOXO

Catherine

Summer fun...

Over at Big Picture Scrapbooking, Claudine Hellmuth is offering a class titled, @ Home With Claudine Hellmuth. I just signed up. I love her style and I have been unable to find an in person class in my area so I thought this would be a perfectly delightful.

And Kara is also offering a summer class, "Summer of Love"...two weeks filled with journaling and photography. Oh my it sounds so tempting : )

And if that is not enough, Shimelle is also offering what looks to be a delightful class with phtography and scrapping.  Oh my what am I to do...lol

Would enjoy hearing about your creative summer plans. Do you go on  creative hiatus, do you take classes, create special projects with your little ones.  Oh the joys of summer...

Catherine

XOXO

The Farm Chicks Antique Fair, part 2

A little peek at some of my sweet found treasures...

A very old daily journal, which had not been written in. I adore the texture and character of the book cover.  It is very delightfully soft and supple as well.

The inside pages are worn around the edges and  the paper is aged beautifully.

Oh I do enjoy vintage button cards. Just look at these adorable pink trimmed sweeties.

Look at the beautiful pink satin ladies glove box I found.  Won't it be just perfect to hold my vintage found items?  I am little by little trying to find vintage containers to hold my art supplies.  Today I was most fortunate.

A closer look at this amazing piece of pink milk glass circa mid 1940's or 50's.  I want to learn a little more about this as I understand it is becoming quite a collectable.  If you have any information please share with me.

A close up of an old piece of chenille fabric I found.  I love the flowers.

And here is a close up of the amazing vintage wallpaper I found at Heather Bullard's shop.  Good find, I think.

Oh my, look at this 1948 edition of a Better Homes and Gardens magazine. It if filled with wonderful old photos and advertisements, oh my heart be still...lol.

Hope you have enjoyed my little show and tell today.  I must say I did get overwhelmed by the large crowds and was not at my "shopping" best.  But as you see I did manage to find a few special finds.

Thanks for visiting...

Catherine

The Farm Chicks Antique Fair, part 1

The adventure begins...

On Saturday, I arrived one hour before the gates opened and stood in line with close to 1000 other crazy antique hunters.  Just a few friends getting together.

The Antique Fair is held at the Spokane Fair grounds and filled three entire buildings with vendors.

A friendly little hello as we enter the gates

As I walked into the entryway I was greeted by this vintage milk truck with delightful clouds hanging overhead.  A great photo spot.

Just look at this lovely lace covered chandalier.  Wouldn't that be fun to make?

I was drooling over these beautiful pink, white and cream horse ribbons. When I took one of Teresa McFayden's E Zine classes she did a wonderful altered horse ribbon project.  Pretty, pretty.

Loved this old suitcase filled with vintage sheet music, flowers and lace. Yummy!

The fair was wonderful, although as crowded as Disneyland in August.  The crowds were so dense I could not move at times.  But everyone was sweet and made the best of a difficult circumstance. 

Hope you will visit me again as I shall return and share the delightful treasures I manged to find and bring home with me...stay tuned.

Catherine

Une belle aventure....

A little road trip....

"What began as a little sale in a friend's barn in 2002, became The Farm Chicks Antiques Show with antiques, vintage objects, handmade goods and is now held annualy with visitors coming from all over the country. "

So tomorrow morning we will pack up the car and head on over to Spokane.  Am pretty excited, couting my pennies and making a list of potential treasures I might find.  Hoping for a sunny day but we have had buckets of rain in the Pacific NW,  but hey a little rain won't keep me away.

Petite Inspiration Box Swap - Paris Edition

I just signed up for Heather's new swap and thought you might like to join in as well.  Hurry up and visit her blog as the sign ups end soon.

XOXO

Catherine

Thinking of Paris....

the macaron

In September I shall spend three glorious days in Paris, yes I did say Paris, and I am already day dreaming of all things French.  Paris is one of my most favorite places in the world and I have had the good fortune of visiting several times but it has been about seven years since I have visited the city of light.  Far too long, mes amis!

I luv travel guide books and usually carry several...lol.  On one particular trip I carried Suzy Gershman's Born to Shop Paris  book, and based on her recommendation, I discovered Laudree Tea Room and the amazing confection called macaron.  My first taste was sheer bliss and was the beginning of a long term love affaire.

What is a French Macaron? Unlike its American cousin, which is spelled with 2 O'S and made with coconut, the French Macaron is made with almonds, egg whites and sugar. It consists of 2 delicate pillow like almond merinque wafers which sandwich a luscious flavourful filling.

Oui,  je reviens

Catherine