For the love of France

The Dordogne region of France is to me, pure magic. Considered one of the most unspoiled 

regions of Europe in the southwest of the country. Gastronomic France, un-touristed, genteel and medieval France. With my tour group recently returned, I wanted to share this stunning region. 

The land of the prized 'Black Diamonds'; the black truffle. More and more the truffle hunters use dogs versus the typical female pigs, the latter of whom may bite your fingers off for the delicacy. Apparently to pigs, (how do they know these things) truffles resemble the scent of an amorous male boar!

Fairytale castles abound

The region of dizzying heights culminating to the Dordogne River

Market remembrances made me weep, when I arrived home that is, and went to the local grocery chain

Antiques are attainable 

Charming cafes and villages vie for attention

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And the gardens! This is Marquessac, know as the "cloud" gardens, high on a ridge, it's boxwood seemingly trimmed with cuticle scissors.

Traditional French gardens are about symmetry and controlling Mother Nature. Viewing is historically from above

We had the lovely 'La Combe'  B & B to ourselves. Our hostess Wendeley Harvey, is a renown cookbook author,  gourmet meals were lain before us like the queens we were for a week. Due to a friend of Sylvia's, Wendeley deviated from her typical format of accommodating chefs and their groups only and will do so again for us next year.

Her charming and naughty companion was ever-present, particularly when backing out of the driveway.

A quick few days in Paris, how could you not!

Source: plumsiena.com via Debra on Pinterest

Clingnancourt, the main market. Word is that Vanes may be a good bet too, anyone been?

Ralph Lauren Paris in a once and still opulent Parisian mansion. Sylvia and I wanted everything and could afford nothing.......sigh.........

Loved this simple arrangement outside his shop

Particularly loved seeking out the many floral shops with their massively creative offerings.

In a shop window, one side in French, the other English. Loved this saying!

Bonjour France for now. Reservations are now open for France 2013, September 20th through 28th, hope you can join us!

Next post........Antiquing in England, wait until you see what I found

With love,
Debra

Back in Step

What a summer that was.........blazing hot, drought induced and madly busy!

I was unprepared for the spate of business for both interiors and gardens with never enough time to spare. Good and bad, don't you think? I have missed my readers, and actually my friends and family. But with all that madness I knew that my annual jaunt to Europe to guide a tour and to REST was in sight. Just arriving home, Autumn brings hopes of a return to normality, however Christmas retail lurks nearby.

So what has been going on besides gardens & interiors?

 THIS! Discovered this wine in France and about to begin the hunt for it here and this vineyard in particular. Like Pinot? This will ruin you forever. This strictly red wine girl is hooked on Sancerre!

 Have always liked Dash and Albert rugs, I jumped in and am carrying the whole line. As an introduction to my readers, enjoy free shipping and a 20% off first order discount. (good until 11/28)

 NEST candles, ahhhh, our favorite scents and a top seller in the shop. As a good client, we were invited to a private party at Laura Slatkins home on the upper east side of NYC, her 8 story private home! OH MY, OH MY! I fear I did not make any friends. Upon entering her massive dining room, the period empire table (seating 20) was surrounded with her new fragrances. Picking up a bottle by it's lid which was my first mistake as the bottle departed it's lid and landed with a massive thud on the said period table, after silencing the room and much visible heart clutching later, the hostess managed to avoid eye contact with me the remainder of the evening. (nothing like getting noticed in a crowd)

Oh and this "star" was there with an entourage (for the uninitiated, this is Dina of the Jersey 

housewife fame)

ANY free time was spent here, gathering gorgeous inspiration, fab recipes and interesting D-I-Y projects........I am sadly addicted

Found a new blog I like, 'The Caledonian Mining Expedition'. Take a peak

Discovered this stunning perennial, Gentiana. The most vivid blue flower that blooms nearly all summer. Great for the front of the border. Mr. 5th has joined my business and reluctantly taken on the ordering. I was siting nearby when he was reading my handwriting and placing the order. Gentiana was  ordered like this......."I would like 24 genitalia!" i over heard and matched the roar of laughter from the other end of the line. "If you tell anyone this, I will never order again!" shhhhhh 

Never would have guessed my "dream" vehicle would be a 1935 Ford pick-up truck. 

Purchased from a friend, I thought with the proper signage it would make a nice vehicle marketing my landscape business, don't you think? Only problem is the learning curve, so far I cannot get the double clutching down. Beware if you see me on the road!

We recently completed our group tour to Dordogne France and to Paris, will share in the next post. 

Then it was four glorious weeks in England, scouting for next year's English tour, catching up on sleep and rest. Oh and shopping, wait until you see what I found!

 Thank you to my dear friends and hosts Sylvia and Joe for housing me, feeding me and loving me in the magical town of Sherborne, England

Let's catch up, I miss you all

Debra

PS:  working on a new look for my blog, not there yet. What do you think so far?

DESIGN AEROBICS part one

 Day after Day, walking 10 to 12 hours daily, and never tiring, well maybe a little, is my happiness, the exercise, a bonus. I could never do this at home, I would be bored beyond belief, but looking at pretty things........I'm there! Here's some of what I brought back

First stop, my suburban Chicago shop, Scentimental Gardens, in Geneva, Il.

 A market stand, England 1930's, hand made and signed

 French papers, letters, legal papers....just an odd assortment of miscellaneous papers, circa mid to late 1800's. Great for covering books or simply framed in a gold leafed, thick, wood frame. These could be an autopsy report and it would not matter, they are so lovely!

 An authentic, large, double sided pub sign. I fell for the subject and the colors

 A pair of vintage consoles

 Faux bois (fake wood) planter with handles, French, circa early 1800's

Do you like demi-lunes? I am crazy for them and all their uses. This pair is from Sweden.

 Isn't the patina stunning? Hard to capture here but the primary color is a faded blue

 A design trend I embrace; metal stands with antique fragments or objects. This is a hand carved wood fragment from France, turned lamp

 My friend Herb makes mirrors and assembles and frames antique engravings. This is his mirror, attractive in it's relative simplicity

 The drama is this attachment, an iron hawk. Herb was visiting a metal re-purposing facility. To his delight there was grand panel after grand panel of gating from an estate in Hungary, a massive gate and a pair of Hawks, on the ground, about to be discarded!

 At both the gift show and the antique venues a noted trend was yellow. Could you embrace yellow? I never thought I could, but it is pulling me in

 One of a set of hand colored engravings (1796) of birds. Look closely, Herb has a touch i love; the cut edges of his mattings are all gold leafed, elevating and enhancing the art within. We are planning an Autumn trunk show in Chicago with a surprise guest.

 From England, a darkly stained gate leg table

From France, a metal potting bench. This resides in a new addition, our kitchen room, food stuffs to follow....... My intention is to paint the back plate and the top in chalkboard paint leaving recipe tips on the back. Anyone know of a good quality chalkboard paint that really works?

 Over the potting bench is a hand crafted light fixture by a gentleman that collects elements from former light fixtures, plumbing supplies and other assortment of finds. Don't you love his craftsmenship?

 Cannot believe I am selling both of these, having hunted them for over ten years. Old European cutting boards with legs, not just any legs either, each is carved from one piece of wood. Having been to a friends gathering, she had vintage cutting boards filled with cheeses, olives, breads and fruit. The wine was out and the candles were lit. All of us "oohed and ahhhed" over the display with the raised boards.

I am always asked "how do you give up these pieces?" Easy, I enjoy possessing them for a moment and then get further joy from seeing delight on my clients face.

Ironstone in our kitchen room

 Let's move over to my Chicago shop, SG Grand. Here is another of Herb's mirrors, up close it appears quite aged.

 Love mixing contemporary and vintage. The lamps have a clean lined look with the aged pieces

 Ok, adjust your eyes here, ever try to photograph glass?! My friend Lisa crafted this coffee table. From France, an oversized ruffled planter kissed in faded turquoise. Her metal worker crafted the base and attached the planter. I think she is a design genius

 "Odd" you maybe saying to yourself? Of course it is! Love adding a touch of whimsey and in this case   puppet forms (racy) from belgium

 And one for the ladies.........Original art, Empire chest, Rococo mirror and re-furbished regiment trunks from England

 Adore black accessories in a room

 I am over the moon for leather, add the look of a Chesterfield and I fall in love

 A Beidermeier styled chest from Portugal. In reality it is burled maple in a rich honey tome, but look at those lacquered legs, a style popular in Portugal

 Care to make a statement?

 I found five ottoman's on this trip, am addicted!

 More frames from Herb, 200 year old hand colored engravings and that ever-present gold leafed matting border

 Mid-century, a total of three

 Care to guess what these are? Stumped? Or did you guess French drain-tiles, you would be correct?!
Backed by a three-panel screen dressed with French adverts I made

Lastly, care to guess on this beauty? We are displaying it as a side table, but it's origin is a hand crafted bee skeps made of wood and "stitched", from France.

Part two is the gift show......

For a great read, my shop manager Bart, whom I also think is a genius (but one who can't bother commenting on my blog......hmmmm) shares a furniture history lesson, copying art and design, over the top creativity and utter frustration
www.simply-grand.blogspot.com

Hugs,
Debra