Vignettes, an ethereal store after my own antique-browsing heart, located in the beautiful and sunny antique district of Ocean Beach, San Diego, California, hosted author Fifi O’Neill to a book signing from 12 noon to 5pm, on Valentine’s Day 2015. “Fabulous Fifi,” as she is often called, has just published her third book, Prairie-Style Weddings… PRAIRIE-STYLE WEDDINGS: Rustic and Romantic Farm, Woodland, and Garden Celebrations (Chronicle Books, December 2014, $30 USD/Hardbound).
Vignettes is a beautiful French-inspired atelier located in the antique district/Ocean Beach area of San Diego ~ 4828 Newport Avenue, San Diego, California 92107. Phone number: 619-222-9244. Open daily, call ahead for hours.
View along Newport Blvd. looking towards Ocean Beach and the Pacific…
Lori Chandler, the owner of Vignettes, and her staff
were gracious hosts sharing gift-wrapped chocolate hearts and glasses of champagne with everyone who purchased one of Fifi’s new book and/or
came to shop and meet Ms. O’Neill.
I’m going to do a write-up of Vignettesin another posting but wanted to share just a few
photos from the shop…
Fifi O’Neill at her lovely signing table outback of Vignettes… Two designers had set up this beautifully decorated tented area with everything inspired by Ms. O”Neill’s Prairie-Style Weddings book! Even the parachute covering the Easy-Up was pink!
For those of you who read decorating/shelter magazines but might not be familiar with
Fifi O’Neill…
Ms. O’Neill is the former editor of Romantic Country magazine and is the editor of French Country and Prairie Countrymagazines ~ both Country Decorating Ideas
publications published quarterly.
I have been reading both of these magazines for years
and drooling over Fifi’s decorating style!!! She is originally from just outside of Paris and I think she brings a fresh Parisian flare to our American homes.
Her decor tends towards mugs and dishes with cute French words printed on them, worn clock faces displayed on a shelf, muslin and drop cloth pillows with French printing ~ she likes toile de jouy printed fabrics!
(Mais bien sûr! Mais je te jure que c’est vrai! ~ but, of course!)
Fifi also decorates with her sister’s embroidered pillows, and she has these little metal hearts hanging around her home that were once used as memorials that I really think are sweet…
And, where would we be without hearts on Valentine’s Day?!!
😉
In this photograph below, there is the first issue of Romantic Country butit wasn’t called that then (perhaps the actual title hadn’t been finalized?). It was called “Romantic Living.” Anyway, I brought all three of these books and magazines with me and asked Fifi if she would sign them.
After shooting a few photos of the outside of Vignettes and photos of the antique district there in Ocean Beach I walked inside Vignettes to go to the book signing soiree…
Well, I walked in the door and there was Fifi O’Neill ~ I practically ran into her! I also met another new friend that day ~ Lidy Baars who owns a beautiful online shop called French Garden House.
I said something really dumb like, “Oh! I didn’t expect you to be right here.”(How dumb was that, right?)
I quickly recovered and said hello properly!
🙂
Luckily, there was another lady there chatting with Ms. Fifi so I joined them {this was Lidy whom I asked to shoot the top photograph} This ended up being where we took the top photo and a few more. I hope that Lidy finds this blogpost someday as I’d really like to thank her for taking these pictures!!! (Thank you, Lidy!!!)
Well, I’ll get off here for now! Been rather excited and
happy prepping this post and I wanted to get it out to you so you can meet Fifi…
She is a lovely, lovely person and though she doesn’t write in her blog much anymore ~ not enough time as she is flying all over the country interviewing and styling people’s homes for print, she said ~ her site is still up and you can watch the video she put up
of her cute little converted garage.
I wish you could hear how sweet her beautiful French voice is!
She is every bit as nice as she sounds, too.
Her style is so cute ~ I know you’ll love her as much as I do!
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French Ethereal is a lifestyle blog sharing tips on decorating, table settings, crafts, gardening, DIY and travel. I love an elegant Shabby Chic/Old World French decor all decorated with Faith. <3
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