French Day Dreaming

I woke up one morning, et j'avais envie to go back to bed and turn the clock back in time dans mes rêves



but it was too beautiful outside.



So I decided to look out my balcony



and let my imagination transport me to an era where a woman would just swing open the doors into her armoire



and find something beautiful



and extraordinary to wear.



I stumbled into a deep slumber where everything morphed into a collage of stunning black and white memories of which the color comes only from each passing day, and where else other than Paris



would this adventure of dramatic contrasts between light and dark



and haute couture take place?



Even stepping out to the café pour une bonne tasse de thé avec une amie



would call for the occasion to slide on a string of pearls.





And if it rained?



All the better; misty days gave way to try the latest fashion



And once the weathered cleared up, all a girl had to do was call up a friend



decide what to wear



and take to the streets



in style.





Somehow, being well-heeled makes you feel good



and ready to seek new adventures



with the one you love.



I suddenly woke up to the light of a new day in my own world



and I'm ready to go out today and make my dreams come true.

Enjoy each day in style with someone you love!

Photo Credits:

French Interiors scanned from Country French Interiors

Bringing France Home -Cheryl MacLaclan 1995

Provençal Escapes - Caroline Clifton-Mogg 2005

Lace on Chair - Tongue and Cheek

Audrey Hepburn, Vogue - Google Images

Dutch Masters

You all know me by now. Je me passionne de tout ce qui est français, from

Castles









Crowns





to Cottages.



But after having seen the movie



I stumbled into an enchanting domain of textured light and emotion





where still moments of the Bourgeosie



elegantly coalesce with the rusticity of Dutch life.





I was mesmerized. However, contemporary Dutch life had already started to tug at my affections when I encountered the beauty of three extraordinary Dutch women from Blogland.

Lili and I crossed paths last year by way of a Crown Party hosted by Vintage Bella Studio in June of 2009. Lili's gentle world of birds in art, vintage finds





and the ability to escort me down the canals of her childhood have given me wings to imagine what beauty lies around the corner in her beautiful country.



Sandra, through her photo journal of Dutch life, has fondly presented her voyage as a Portuguese woman in the Netherlands. Her view of her new homeland is always presented from the view of the lights of the city



to the calming lull of gentle waters



that blend the culture of urban living with nature



that leave you drifting out of a fairy tale.





I have been given wings to fly beyond my imagination however, by someone very special to me.


Myspace Glitter Graphics



Along with the two other lovely ladies mentioned, The Dutchess is able to make you believe in dreams. Educated, skilled and articulate, this Dutch Maitresse is the creator of some of the most enchanting fairytale creatures I have had the pleasure of knowing personally.



For a glimpse of how she inspires the artist and storyteller in me and my cohorts in whimsy, visit our team blog Nowhere, and see how she fires up the child in us all that releases the adult mind from its limitations.

The Dutch Masters; skilled in textured beauty of the soul, the canvas of storytelling and most of all, of the heart.

Beste vriend ik hou van je zo!



Photo credits: Mozes and Miss Moussie, by The Dutchess
Final photo by Annie Leibovitz
Vintage Bird Ephemera by Lili M.

One Last Chance, One Last Dance

Imagine if you had until midnight



to transform yourself, little



by little


Myspace Glitter Graphics



into a princess who would be escorted to the dance of a life time



where YOU would be the Belle of the Ball.



What would you wear to make the news?



If you're young enough, you might be able to slip into Annie Leibovitz's classic altered Vogue Alice in Wonderland



or her ethereal Beauty and the Beast.



But if you are Une Femme d'Un Certain Âge, Marie might suit you; her style still translates youth and maturity seeking the pleasures of life; but if you're not comfortable brandishing her trademark fla fla, go and get some fun advice from Tish





and she will skillfully discuss alternative fashion choices from designer vintage chic





to the glitz and whimsy



suitable for any occasion of the heart.



So choose your style and relish the moment with romance





make sure your slippers are on snug



and that they hold up to the journey



on your way back to living life



for time is running out.



Love is eternal, but the chance to live it and make a difference is but a short dance.



Dance on everyone!


Photo Credits: Vogue Cover Shots of Celebrities by Annie Leibovitz
Newspaper Dress, Gary Harvey