Thursday, April 10, 2014
French Country at Holly Cottage: French Country draperies are finished!
French Country at Holly Cottage: French Country draperies are finished!: It took two weeks but I've finally finished my living room and dining room drapes. Excuse my photographs - I'm not the best photogr...
French Country draperies are finished!
It took two weeks but I've finally finished my living room and dining room drapes.
Excuse my photographs - I'm not the best photographer and I took these with my phone.
I do love them. Let me know what you think.
I couldn't believe how easy it was to make them. I thought that making the pleats by hand would be difficult, but it was easy.
I will be posting a tutorial on how to make your own drapes soon.
In the meantime, your comments and feedback are appreciated.
Excuse my photographs - I'm not the best photographer and I took these with my phone.
I do love them. Let me know what you think.
I couldn't believe how easy it was to make them. I thought that making the pleats by hand would be difficult, but it was easy.
I will be posting a tutorial on how to make your own drapes soon.
In the meantime, your comments and feedback are appreciated.
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| Living room - right side |
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| Living room - left side |
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| Dining room |
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| Dining room - pleats |
Friday, March 7, 2014
French Country at Holly Cottage: French Country fabric and trim for living room and...
French Country at Holly Cottage: French Country fabric and trim for living room and...: I have been searching for many years for the perfect fabric for our living and dining room draperies. I finally found it at French Country ...
French Country fabric and trim for living room and dining room drapery panels from Feathered Nest Friday
I have been searching for many years for the perfect fabric for our living and dining room draperies. I finally found it at French Country Cottage's blog - Feathered Nest Friday feature.
Although I love the chambray blue in the picture, I found something similar that matches our décor - it's the same print, but in a different color.
Here's a pic of the fabric and trim that I found:
Taking a chance because everything was ordered online - I am only going by pics I've seen on the internet, so I hope the colors are true.
The fabric is from House Fabric and was $9.95 a yard! Found the trim at Expo International It was on sale for $1.84 a yard! So I ordered 20 yards so there would be extra just in case I get overly ambitious. Fabulous prices for both the fabric and the trim!
Once I start, I will provide step by step instructions on how to make your own lined drapery panels and covered valance. However you will have to bear with my photography - it's not very good.
Have a fabulous Friday and a wonderful weekend!
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Paris, Burgundy and Provence
Whew!
It was a whirlwind trip but we have returned all in one piece (more or less).
Had some adventures with our standard car - not knowing where to find reverse - totally different from here. Luckily our guardian angels appeared from nowhere at just the right time. Like walking out of the woods as we were trying to find reverse.
We got lost on farm roads in Burgundy at 1:00 a.m. with very little gas - our GPS made many mistakes, we were stopped by a gendarme for stopping in an illegal space, we arrived just as workers were arriving for lunch at a country restaurant, sharing the bathroom with them. Lovely!
The French train system is great - but we didn't realize we'd have to schlepp our luggage around. Wonderful people helped up with that too!
We drank wine at lunch, dinner and in the evening. We ate baguettes and fabulous cheeses at breakfast, lunch and dinner. We met interesting people everywhere.
We saw beautiful sites in Paris and wonderful old, medevial towns in Burgundy. We toured the Pope's Palace in Avignon.
Unfortunately we didn't have enough time to see much of Provence. Saving that for next time. We will land in Marsaille and see more of the south of France.
Here are some pics that I took along the way. Hope you enjoy.
It was a whirlwind trip but we have returned all in one piece (more or less).
Had some adventures with our standard car - not knowing where to find reverse - totally different from here. Luckily our guardian angels appeared from nowhere at just the right time. Like walking out of the woods as we were trying to find reverse.
We got lost on farm roads in Burgundy at 1:00 a.m. with very little gas - our GPS made many mistakes, we were stopped by a gendarme for stopping in an illegal space, we arrived just as workers were arriving for lunch at a country restaurant, sharing the bathroom with them. Lovely!
The French train system is great - but we didn't realize we'd have to schlepp our luggage around. Wonderful people helped up with that too!
We drank wine at lunch, dinner and in the evening. We ate baguettes and fabulous cheeses at breakfast, lunch and dinner. We met interesting people everywhere.
We saw beautiful sites in Paris and wonderful old, medevial towns in Burgundy. We toured the Pope's Palace in Avignon.
Unfortunately we didn't have enough time to see much of Provence. Saving that for next time. We will land in Marsaille and see more of the south of France.
Here are some pics that I took along the way. Hope you enjoy.
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Eiffel Tower         |
Friday, September 13, 2013
Paris, Burgundy and Provence - here we come!
Jayne, Vivian and I leave for Paris on Monday, September 16th. It is so exciting!
It's been a lot of work planning and scheduling everything but we're almost there. I've spent this week confirming B & B's, apartments, car rentals and other details for our stay.
It's difficult to make definite plans - having never been to France - so we really don't know what to expect - we may have to wing it.
Our plan is to stay in Paris for three days - We've rented an apartment in Montemartre which, from what I've heard, is close to many interesting musea and sites. Need to find the best Flea Markets!
We have scheduled a three day Open bus tour where we can hop on and hop off at different sites - Eiffel Tower, Arch de Triomphe, Louvre, etc. The bus tour includes a pass on the Batobus (boat cruise) on the Seine.
BTW, my birthday is on the 18th - we will celebrate at Harry's Bar in Paris! Can't wait!
Friday night we take the train to Nevers and from there hire a taxi to our home base in Montenoison. It is a 150 year old typical French farmhouse in the country. It is my husband's cousin's house that he is renting out while working in Vienna.
BTW, if anyone is interested in renting the house for a future vacation, please contact Laurence Caruana at visionnaire@lcaruana.com.
Here's the farmhouse in Montenoison where we will be staying. Thanks to Laurence and Florence Caruana (a.k.a. Flaurence).
The plan is to take day trips around Burgundy and Flaurence has kindly provided us with details of many sites in their area. Wine sampling is # 1 on our agenda, then cheese, then bread, more wine, followed by food and, of course, wine.
Our second week we will drive to Provence - passing through Lyon and many small villages. It is at least a five hour drive (maybe more), but we will leave early and stop along the way. We've rented a GPS which should help us find our way. Hopefully in English!
We've rented a B & B in Avignon called Chez Micaela for two nights. It is within ten minutes of Avignon centre. The house was built in 1850 and is in the heart of Provence. They provide Provincial cooking classes as well. A highlight for me is visiting the famous Provence Flea Markets.
Here is a pic of Chez Micaela.
We will return to Burgundy via an alternate route - so we see villages and sites that we didn't see on the way down. Our last two days will be spent relaxing in the village.
Then, it's back to Paris and the airport for our return home (boo hoo).
Stay tuned!
It's been a lot of work planning and scheduling everything but we're almost there. I've spent this week confirming B & B's, apartments, car rentals and other details for our stay.
It's difficult to make definite plans - having never been to France - so we really don't know what to expect - we may have to wing it.
Our plan is to stay in Paris for three days - We've rented an apartment in Montemartre which, from what I've heard, is close to many interesting musea and sites. Need to find the best Flea Markets!
We have scheduled a three day Open bus tour where we can hop on and hop off at different sites - Eiffel Tower, Arch de Triomphe, Louvre, etc. The bus tour includes a pass on the Batobus (boat cruise) on the Seine.
BTW, my birthday is on the 18th - we will celebrate at Harry's Bar in Paris! Can't wait!
Friday night we take the train to Nevers and from there hire a taxi to our home base in Montenoison. It is a 150 year old typical French farmhouse in the country. It is my husband's cousin's house that he is renting out while working in Vienna.
BTW, if anyone is interested in renting the house for a future vacation, please contact Laurence Caruana at visionnaire@lcaruana.com.
Here's the farmhouse in Montenoison where we will be staying. Thanks to Laurence and Florence Caruana (a.k.a. Flaurence).
The plan is to take day trips around Burgundy and Flaurence has kindly provided us with details of many sites in their area. Wine sampling is # 1 on our agenda, then cheese, then bread, more wine, followed by food and, of course, wine.
Our second week we will drive to Provence - passing through Lyon and many small villages. It is at least a five hour drive (maybe more), but we will leave early and stop along the way. We've rented a GPS which should help us find our way. Hopefully in English!
We've rented a B & B in Avignon called Chez Micaela for two nights. It is within ten minutes of Avignon centre. The house was built in 1850 and is in the heart of Provence. They provide Provincial cooking classes as well. A highlight for me is visiting the famous Provence Flea Markets.
Here is a pic of Chez Micaela.
We will return to Burgundy via an alternate route - so we see villages and sites that we didn't see on the way down. Our last two days will be spent relaxing in the village.
Then, it's back to Paris and the airport for our return home (boo hoo).
Stay tuned!
Saturday, August 24, 2013
French Country - Montmarte apartment
Yaaay! Our trip to France is getting closer - less than a month away.
We've rented a fabulous private apartment in Montmartre (4th arr). Everything is close by and we can walk, shop and eat all day. We are going to do the double-decker bus tour that includes a boat pass so that we can see Paris from the Siene, in a whirlwind tour. We are staying three days in Paris then travelling by train to Nevers where we pick up our car and drive to the farmhouse we are staying in for the rest of our visit. We're using the house as a base and go on day trips to different parts of France. I think our longest trek will be to Provence - we will probably have to layover in Lyon - but that's okay - another beautiful city for us to explore.
Here are some pictures of Montmartre:
We've rented a fabulous private apartment in Montmartre (4th arr). Everything is close by and we can walk, shop and eat all day. We are going to do the double-decker bus tour that includes a boat pass so that we can see Paris from the Siene, in a whirlwind tour. We are staying three days in Paris then travelling by train to Nevers where we pick up our car and drive to the farmhouse we are staying in for the rest of our visit. We're using the house as a base and go on day trips to different parts of France. I think our longest trek will be to Provence - we will probably have to layover in Lyon - but that's okay - another beautiful city for us to explore.
Here are some pictures of Montmartre:
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