French Inspired Romance

It's been quite awhile since I took the time to sit down and actually "create" something. My stash of old crosses, keys, and hearts have been calling to me to come spend an afternoon with them. Since Valentine's Day is just a little over a week away, I wanted to share a few of the new pendant necklaces that I put together yesterday.

Each one is different, and unique in it's own vintage way.

tarnished and well loved elements

with a past life...

mixed metals for some vintage romance

I've been trying to organize my cabinets in the studio, and I came across this wonderful old book that I'd forgotten about. A Wanderer in Paris  which was first published in 1909 by British travel writer and essayist, E.V.Lucas.

This copy was a reprint from the early twenties. It's in pretty good condition, with just a few signs of wear. One of the best things about this travel anthology are the wonderful illustrations and images of French masterpieces.

City map of Paris

Lucas covers all the landmarks and attractions of Paris of the day, but I thought it peculiar that he didn't have any illustrations or images of our favorite, the Eiffel Tower, except this one small faint reference. You can see it to the left of the illustration below; misty and almost unrecognizable.

Here is what he writes about the modern day quintessential Paris icon:

"The merit of the Eiffel Tower is that it shows you not only Paris to the ultimate edges in every direction...but it shows you (almost) France too. How long the Eiffel Tower is to stand, I cannot say, but I for one shall feel sorry and bereft when it ceases to domineer over Paris. For though it is vulgar it is great, and it has come to be a symbol....The Tower and I came to Paris at the same time, in 1889."

My dress form, Irma, is modeling for you.

Necklaces available in my Etsy Shop,

The Petite Boutique

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend, 

with a little French Romance mixed in...

joining in at
Coastal Charm
Savvy Southern Style
The Charm of Home

xoxo,

Amalie, The Milkmaid

My husband knows not to bring home chocolates for Valentines Day; (love them way too much), flowers are wonderful but my cats tend to want to eat them, so when we went to the Antique Show a few weeks ago, I knew I had a little credit for  shopping.

I've actually had this vintage print before, and sold it, so when I saw it again at a good price, I jumped on it. True to form, I didn't know where I'd put it, but I fell in love with this sweet little milk maid, so home she came. Amalie was the only name that fit her, so now she lives in my kitchen, and I enjoy not only her, but her bucolic friends each day. And seeing those little painted daisies, just makes it feel like Spring.

The print is in it's original wooden back frame. It's a little wavy from humidity, but old prints have such a personality, I generally don't let that bother me.

I love how she contrasts with the off white walls, 

and plays off the dark floral curtains.

I've had this little birdie plaque for years,

but it received a little white paint and a "mossy" treatment. 

I found a few other things that day, but one that I have in the kitchen is this wonderful little hand painted black tole tray. 

It's setting on top of my double ovens right now and I can see

that it needs to be raised up a little from the photo.

(oh, the hazards of being short...)

Remember that Monday Marketplace is up all week, so you still have time to link up your  Etsy and online shop items, and then do some shopping.  Just scroll down to the next post.

If you're local Leola's Vintage Home and Garden in Ozark is having their Spring Open House starting Thursday at 9:30 AM running thru Sat. at 5:00 PM. Me and my camera will be there with the early birds.

And then be looking for a Give Away from French Bleu Vintage which will be starting this Friday afternoon. 

I'm joining my pals for their great parties:

Met Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Table Top Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm

Tuesday's Treasures at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

White Wednesday at Faded Charm

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Share the Love Wednesday at Very Merry Vintage Style

What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants

Primp you Stuff at Primp

Open House Party at No Minimalist Here

Cowgirl Up at Cedar Hill Ranch

Knick of Time Tuesday at Knick of Time

Saturday Nite Special at Funky Junk Interiors

whew...busy week...hope you're having a great one!

xoxo,

Can you guess where this is going...?

I love the use of the "double entrende"...

I found this great frenchy burlap runner this Fall at Robin's and knew that it would end up on my Dining Room table after Christmas. But I also knew that once it was there, you wouldn't be able to see the wonderful graphics, so here it is draped across one of my slipcovered chairs in the Living Room.

Very heavy linen-y hemp-y burlap-y goodness.

So here is where the fun "other meaning" comes in...

look in the lower right corner.

My little companion, the burlap addict. 

Her brain is being taken over by the desire for burlap indulgence.

"Hmmm....what's my  next move?

Hey mom, don't you have someplace else to be?"

ahhhhh.....

oooooohhh....

So, once I removed the slobbering mess,

the burlap went to it's proper destination.

sans cat.

I'm trying to transition from Christmas to "Winter"

more later from the zoo...

joining in with A Stroll Thru Life

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Savvy Southern Style

Very Merry Vintage Style

Primp

Ivy and Elephants

No Minimalist Here

The French Cupboard

xoxo,

Vintage Inspiration Friday # 63: All Things French Give Away

Are you wondering what has inspired me this last week? Well, you all are my inspiration over and over. Because of that I'd love to thank each one of you personally for being here with me this last two years. Just know that I read each of your comments, laugh with you, cry with you, and hold you dear. I'd love to have a big party where we could all get together and hug, laugh, sit and talk, (and oh yeah, eat...)but since I can't, I just want to say a heartfelt thank you, and share a few things "French" for this celebration!

(I'd love you to grab the button on the sidebar!)

So, here are a few things going into the Give Away package;

a gorgeous handmade French pillow from Jolie Marche.

Some wonderful  gift products and a French Lavender bundle 

from L'Occitane. 

And one of my signature pendants with 

a little "frenchiness".

All for one of you sweet followers out there. 

And since this is to celebrate my followers and supporters,

To enter, I'm asking that you either "follow" by google or email.

Two chances to win,

let me know you're a follower,

(On this post only)

and on a seperate comment let me know if you've

blogged in a post and/or have my button on my sidebar.

cause there's a special little gift for one of you who do...

A super cute bag from Carol at the Polka Dot Closet

Thanks so much, everyone!

Now onto last week's links...

And speaking of...

Carol from the Polka Dot Closet,

here are her adorable no-sew market bags.

Brenda at Cozy Little House has a new Little Blue House.

Drop by and be inspired by her "moving" story!

Camelot Art Creations amazed me with her wonderful

desk adorned with French script.

Kathleen who we all know and love from  Faded Charm Cottage, 

has been inspiring us for two years with White Wednesday.

Come take a peek at her wonderful Christmas window

 at Monticello Antiques.

Julie from Saltbox Treasures shares her wonderful vintage ornaments 

with graphics, you'll want to see all of them.

and...

My "sis" in the blogging world Anne, from Fiona and Twig

has just been published in this edition of Artful Blogging Magazine.

If you haven't read her touching article then you'll want to be sure and

enter her Give Away here

Hope you'll join in for the party!

Please have a link within your blog post.

lot's of love,

...I finally did it!!

Can I tell ya just how long I've wanted to do this...?

(here she is after only 5 hours paint time)

To paint this monstrosity of the 80's...

this octopus that inhabited my now pretty frenchy living room...

OK, I have to admit,

it started to look better when all the shades were removed.

Taking this puppy down was just NOT gonna happen.

it is about 5 foot wide and 5 foot tall,

and weighs a ton.

I think it has 23 or 24 candelabras attached.

So my husband found a ladder for me

and held his breath and prayed.

First thing was to clean over 9 years of dust and cobwebs off of it.

Above is the first coat of  "Creamy White" by Behr.

Yessiree girls and boys,

I brush painted this thing...no other choice.

And below is the second coat of a mix of creamy white, black, and almond

to get this yummy gray taupe, medium dark coat.

Dry brushed a sloppy coat.

Next a coat of Creamy White and the Almond (custom color)

dry brushed on top of all that.

Hard to see, but it has great "dimension" and subtleties.

I love this reflection!

Now, this room is about where I envisioned it several months ago.

I'm getting there!

I was so excited to post this I still have paint all over me

and I haven't cleaned up my mess.

more photos this week...!

Moral of this story?

Where there's a will there's a way!

linking up with

And Joy at Thriftin' on a Thursday

Now to see if I can get all this paint off.

xoxo,