Bliss

my happy place: mount shadows

2009-11-10T14:08:00.000-08:00

eep...I think I maybe in trouble. I believe I choose a home based on my mood, the time of year, or my level of warmth. homes are not like clothing...you cannot change them based on how you are feeling at that exact moment. I can't have open and airy one minute and small, warm and cozy the next. I am thinking that rather than trying to have a cohesive home I may need to change it up a bit. I need a room for each moment or mood...my poor husband is going to go completely nuts!

at this particualar moment I am looking for a comfortable, big-hug of a cottage...

so soothing I can barely handle it. actually, I don't think I would ever tire of living this way...problem solved. xo mrs. french

via the amazing bosworth hoedemaker

my happy place: the home of anja and alain

2009-11-10T09:19:00.000-08:00

hellooooo....how are all of you this morning? oh my does my happy place make me weak in the knees this morning. All of the greens and grays have me rethinking my strictly white policy...too much a good thing and all of that...

I love the perfect mixture of feminine and masculine elements...animal skulls and beautiful crocheted bedspreads...perfection! xo mrs. french

also via the stunning portfolio of hotze eisma

jamie shelman giveaway...weeeeeeeeeeeeee!

2009-11-09T13:46:00.000-08:00

Do you happen to know these cats?

I do and I love them so much. Jamie Shelman is one of my all-time favorites. Her cats drew me in and I can't pry myself from her produce...

The lovely minimalism in her work is a breath of fresh air. You can tell she lives "in a place where you can still see the stars at night and cats run free." Her work is dripping with a pretty, simpler life.

The best part is that it is my birthday and Jamie is giving one bliss reader a gift. Leave a comment below stating which Jamie Shelman masterpiece you like best and you will be registered to win one of Jamie's strawberry prints (which by the way, is my very first choice). Bliss readers also receive a 10% discount..just enter the code "BLISS" at checkout in Jamie's shop. Yay!

xo mrs. french

I heart monday...the birthday addition!

2009-11-09T10:05:00.000-08:00

happy monday....happy birthday to meeeeeee...ever since I can remember I have been super silly about my birthday! I have always had the idea that if I don't make it special nobody else will...actually, I am not sure a grown woman in her 30's should get 8-year-old excited, I just can't help it.

I usually consider monday birthdays an unfortunate thing, not anymore. I loved every second of assembling this list...

I heart this chair.

I heart these ruffles.

I heart this dahlia.

I heart this tote.

I heart this print.

I heart this memo board.

I heart this v-neck.

I heart this print.

I heart these boots.

I heart this pretty classic.

I heart these ornaments.

I heart this dress.

I heart this bowl.

I heart this pretty dress.

I heart this beautiful barn.

I heart this bag so much.

I heart these shoes.

I heart this dandelion.

I heart this tee (thank you for the intro dear melissa).

I heart this bed.

have a wonderful day and have a cupcake for me wherever you are....xo mrs. french

p.s.

come back for a lovely giveaway later this afternoon...

lucky winner

2009-11-08T08:44:00.000-08:00

the winner of the le papier studio giveaway is...

lucky number 20...congrats hana!

PINCH design studio

2009-11-06T10:00:00.000-08:00

I am having a frustrating morning. I have spent the last hour and a half attempting to install a light fixture in my front room. The room I mentioned in a previous post...the one that is almost finished! This light fixture has been sitting in our basement for a year and I chose this morning to get all handy and go for it. Needless to say, I am not handy and I don not think it will work. Light fixture shopping today friends! Then if one of you would be so kind as to come and install it that would be great...oh and the painting thing still applies...

In the mean time, I turn to my blog. This is where I come to get away from things like this. Everything is done, just the way I want it. The perfect time to introduce PINCH design studio. I am crazy for for PINCH. Honestly, there is not one thing I do not love....

A collaboration between husband and wife team Russell Pinch and Oona Bannon, born in 2004, PINCH specializes in furniture, object and interior design....creating that effortless elegance I constantly admire. PINCH objects are designed to last...design-wise and structurally...timeless. Each item is made by hand and is truly a work of art.

When I stop to post on bliss about loveliness like PINCH that silly light fixture doesn't seem so daunting...I become full of inspiration and shopping for a light fixture becomes an adventure.

However, I would be willing to scrap everything and let PINCH have a go at the whole darn room....the house...you see here I go again...xo mrs. french

~via yatzer

more polaroids...

2009-11-05T15:48:00.000-08:00

I have been perusing all day...'roid week is amazing!

try to find time in your busy life to stop by....xo mrs. french

p.s. if you haven't checked out blissful inspiration at sfgirlbybay, do it now....more polaroid perfect imperfection!

blissful inspiration...

2009-11-05T10:59:00.000-08:00

~the real janelle

in honor of 'roid week...sfgirlbybay...xo mrs. french

wyoming via polaroid

2009-11-04T13:25:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it. It has been nearly a month since our trip. I also can't believe it has taken me this long to post some of my photographs. As I was scanning my polaroids today all of the memories came back...

Wonderful memories, but pretty darn sad...I miss Wyoming and I miss my dear sister. Actually, polaroids seem pretty appropriate...this is how it looks in my head now. The memories aren't as vivid...like a dream. xo mrs. french

zeha-berlin

2009-11-04T09:27:00.000-08:00

Did I need more shoes to obsess over? no. Do I kind of like it?

yes. I have been conjuring up outfits in my head ever since first glimpsed these beauties from zeha-berlin. I have tried to forget but can't. I keep telling myself, so worth it because they are timeless and the quality seems impeccable...but then logic kicks in and I am brought back down to earth. However, somehow I have to believe that if I had a pair of these I would be walking somewhere other than earth anyway...hehe...xo t

~wiksten-made is responsible for all this glorious madness!

my happy place: maria's home

2009-11-03T15:00:00.000-08:00

maria and her handy husband are an inspiration. they have taken a lovely, historic home and made it truly lovely, while honoring the home's originality....it's original story, which is so beautiful you may just cry. I am not sure how I first discovered maria's pretty blog, vintage simple...actually, I think dear barb is to blame for that, and I am so happy she did. maria's kindness radiates through her words and her love for her home, reminds me to appreciate what I have.

I am so happy to show you what she has created...

the only issue I see with vintage simple is that the homes she features rarely measure up to the one she and her husband created. Thank you maria for your constant inspiration and for showing me what can happen when you truly love a house. xo mrs. french

t.ruffles: the sweeterie

2009-11-03T12:22:00.000-08:00

I thought I was on top of things today. I had both posts written and scheduled and then I get an email from two of my absolute favorites. I don't mind falling a little bit behind for them. I was going to wait and tell you tomorrrow but I couldn't.

Mary and Karey...do you ever have so much to say that you can't seem to say it at all? I love them both. Mary's photographs make the everyday magical. It's funny she has done what I strive to do and done it in such an effortless, beautiful way. That's it, she's effortless and so good at it. Then you have Karey...I have never laughed or cried more. Her words are a gift. Everytime I read something she writes, I always stop and tell Mr. French..."she did it again, I don't know how she did it, but she did." Her words make me take a deep breath...take them in and then make me start it all over again.

So when I got the email telling me they created a new blog together...I thought, "brilliant!" and "of course they did, it was meant to be": Mary's images and Karey's words.

It's called t.ruffles: the sweeterie..."candy for your soul." Mary "opens" with a photo in the morning and Karey "locks up" with words. I have already been back over and over and I just heard about it about 20 minutes ago. There! I feel so much better (I felt sneaky keeping it in).

Oh and for goodness sakes just go there...I am honestly giving you a gift (really and truly, I have never given you anything this good).

xo mrs. french
p.s. don't forget to come back later today for another happy place....another favorite!

my happy place: annettee verkuyl's home

2009-11-03T08:50:00.000-08:00

I have been working on making this house we live in a home. I spent the first 4 years we lived here waiting for the next one and then realized that's a sad way to live. One of my biggest mistakes was looking at my home as a whole...overwhelming! I have now been breaking it up a bit and everything seems a lot more managable. I now have one room I like...actually, quite a lot. I have a few things left to do and then I will actually post photos of my own home!

Until then, I continue to poor over beautiful houses...homes. This one belongs to designer Annettee Verkuyl. I can't see one thing i would want to change. I think my favorite feature would have to be the little cubbies throughout...oh how I can think of ways to fill them!

Like I said, I am making peace, but in the back of my brain there is still "the next one." It's just quieted down a bit.

This afternoon I have a little treat for you. The home of one of my blogging friends! I know this girl in an online sort of way and would love to meet her in person one day...xo mrs. french

~via the portfolio of hotze eisma

le papier studio giveaway!

2009-11-02T14:00:00.000-08:00

vana and I have been online friends since the beginning of this blogging journey. I was immediately smitten with her sillouettes, attention to detail and loads of talent. Then I realized that on top of all of this, I just really liked the sweet woman behind the lovely shop, le papier studio. Which is why I have always felt so proud to have vana on bliss...

I am not at all surprised by how much I love le papier studio's holiday collection. I have already professed this love for vana's calenders...

The rest of it is just as perfect.

Simply put, I love everything vana does. Which is why I am particularily thrilled to announce today's giveaway. Vana has graciously offered one bliss reader a $50 gift certificate to le papier studio! Leave a comment here pointing out your favorite le papier item by Friday the 6th and you will be registered to win. I can't think of a better gift can you?

Besides the holiday items, I would personally choose this and this (hint: birthday one week from today...got that mr. french ?):

Thank you vana...on top of talented, you are too generous! xo mrs. french

I heart Monday.

2009-11-02T08:41:00.001-08:00

Happy Monday! I hope your Halloween was delightlfully frightful! I am currently trying to talk B into letting me toss the moldy jack-o-lanterns,"maybe at Christmas"....we'll see about this.

I love each and every item here soooo much!

I heart these "worms."

I heart this chair and could design a whole room around it.

I heart this ring.

I heart this scarf.

I heart these pretty tumblers.

I heart this beanie.

I heart this "admiral."

I heart this bag.

I heart this cart (I can't believe it is still there!).

I heart these belts.

I heart these boots.

I heart this blanket (via at).

I heart this clutch.

I heart this dress.

I heart this coat.

I heart this bag.

I heart these votives.

I heart this cardigan.

I heart these oxfords.

I heart this cushion cover (via decor8).

I heart this scarf too.

I heart this journal.

I heart these cushions.

I heart this turtleneck.

Happy November! so many good things in store...and a sweet giveaway this afternoon! xo mrs. french

halloweeeeeeeeeeeen!

2009-10-31T08:58:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween from the Frenches!

I hope it is full of spoooooky!

oh and B would like to make a contribution to his favorite holiday at the moment...

he put it together here. It is appropriately titled "spooky momma."

xo mrs. french

PARASOLMAG

2009-10-30T09:39:00.000-07:00

Yasmine is a crazy woman. Delightfully crazy! I don't know how she does it? She is a force to be reckoned with. I met Yamine about 2 years ago and knew her primarily as an illustrator and designer...an amazing one at that. Now you can add publisher, editor, writer to the mix. Somehow she has started the most beautiful online magazine, PARASOL. PARASOL promotes talented folks...she could fill a magazine with all she does, but instead has chosen to highlight what others create and it's beautiful...oh and free! Issue 5 is out and it's a good one...

featuring some of my long-time favorites (and some new ones)...

~lala gallardo

~lola andrew

~holly stalder

to name a few...oh and mememe!

I was lucky enough to make it in this issue and is a creative highlight for sure. Check out PARASOLMAG 5 you will be happy you did...

Thank you so much Yasmine for all of your talents and making me a part of one of your many masterpieces. I am beyond honored! xo mrs. french

Sarah Maingot

2009-10-29T15:32:00.000-07:00

Sarah Maingot is one of my very favorite photographers. I am amazed with her abilities to convey softness with concentrated use of color and to make a statement with subtle or no color. I think the contradictions in photography are what separate novices from professionals. I happily struggle with it everyday.

My adventures into this big, beautiful world of photography has taught me so much and inspired me in countless ways. Sarah Maingot is a reminder of all I have to learn.

namolio

2009-10-29T10:43:00.000-07:00

I am so cold and my birthday is coming up...

hiiiiiiiiiiint! namolio is perfect. I especially covet these blankets/throws. Let's see...3 beds, 2 couches...I need 5.

My birthday is a little over a week away...be prepared for even more blatant posts...I have to give him as much help as possible. :) xo mrs. french

blissful inspiration...

2009-10-29T10:18:00.000-07:00

~livia patta

comforting...sfgirlbybay...xo mrs.french

oeuf...these make me want one.

2009-10-28T14:20:00.000-07:00

I am not so sure what oeuf is trying to sell with these images...

beautiful knitwear for wee ones or an addition to the French clan....so sweet I can barely stand it!

xo mrs. french

fun on the floor

2009-10-28T12:31:00.000-07:00

what do these images have in common?

carpet obviously. I would consider myself one of the biggest carpet poo-pooers out there. Typically, because of my hardwood snobbery I won't even look at a home with wall-to-wall carpet. Then Patrick of Fun on the Floor sent me an email about their plan for a "carpet revival." Interior designer/craft queen Danielle Proud is on a mission to put this "fluffy flooring" in a new light. Part of the project involves creating a carpet-filled idea house featuring 6 themed rooms. Danielle has used carpet in ways I would have never thought possible...or thought of period (I am particularily interested in the pretty stair runner).

I do love the coziness of carper (nice, clean, soft carpet) and these photos have my wheels turning. I think the Fun on the Floor project maybe working considering the fact that my mind never wandered this way before. I am not at all ready to commit to a home full of carpet, but a nice comfy guest room maybe nice and then we can see where it goes from there.

xo mrs. french

lítill

2009-10-28T08:56:00.000-07:00

who doesn't love pretty terrariums? ok, some of you probably don't, but we are not going to discuss this right now. I also have a feeling that lítill may change your mind. My friend, jami, told me about lítill about a week ago, she said they were amazing but this?! I had no idea...

this is is above and beyond. I do not know much about them at this point and the website is still under construction. Based on our conversation I know that the glass is hand-blown and each one is meticulously assembled...I am dying to get my hands on one of these. lítill is currently working on a website, there is contact info and a few photos there, you can also become a fan on facebook and follow them on twitter...I love the fact that we can stalk the ones we adore in all of these ways! Oh and there is an etsy shop, with a lone piece (go snatch it up before I do!)...I am hoping to have more info soon. Until then, take it in! xo mrs. french

my happy place: a home on albert street

2009-10-27T16:55:00.000-07:00

no surprise...

surprises are nice, but comfort zones always feel just right. xo mrs. french

xo mrs. french

via light locations

applause!!!

2009-10-27T12:53:00.000-07:00

I have always loved them...but I love them even more now...

I am itching for one of these...one of the coolest, cleverest calendars/works of art I have seen!

They make magic together!

pick one up here.

xo mrs. french