Uncategorized

Your 12 Favorite Posts of 2017

I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year.

~ Charles Dickens ~ 


I’m not big into making New Year’s Resolutions however
I do like to think of how I’d like to be in the coming year.
What type of person I’d like to be.
What I’d like to accomplish over the next year.
Today I’m sharing 12 of your favorite posts from 2017.
A little recap, if you will, as we move into 2018 and
think upon those things we’d like
to do better!
😉

Jumping right into your favorite posts

from 2017

let’s begin with:



1. The Texas Pie Company

A great little place to go have a piece of your favorite
pie and a warm mug of tea or coffee
down in Kyle, Texas.
Yum!
{a great way to begin this year’s recap!}




2. $10 Thriftshop Challenge ~ Chalkware and Silver

I love heading out to browse local thriftstores wherever
we live or if I’m visiting somewhere.
This trip was a fun outing checking out the thrifts
right here in my own backyard!
How about you?
Is touring around and wandering thriftshops one of
your favorite things to do?


3. Inspirational Designers ~ Earl Spencer

On my trip to the Design Bloggers Conference this year
everyday shared a keynote speaker and listening to
Earl Charles Spencer was one of the highlights
of this year’s trip for me.
Do check out this post as I shared a lot about his talk
on his family’s ancestral home, Althorp.


4. Spring Gardens and Happy Memories

A little ditty sharing how I began gardening
what flowers I’ve planted in my gardens
over the years and especially
my love for all things roses…



5. The Beast{s} of WM Farm

Was the second of my series of fairy tale stories
sharing the beautiful and soft alpacas here at
Wagon Master RV Park and Alpaca Farm
at shearing time.
This is yearling baby girl Skidboot ~ such a cutie!


6. Crafts to Make ~ A Shabby Chic Glamper

One of your favorite craft projects that I worked on
in 2017 was this little camper glamper!
This was a really fun project and after finding that little
cutie at one of the craft stores I just knew it had to
come home with me.
😉


7. Summer Outdoor Blog Hop Party

This was a fun blog hop with friends sharing their gardens
their tablestylings and all things summer.
I shared our gardens here in Texas.
Loving how green it is here in summer!


8. Sweet Inspiring Gardens Nearby

I’m known for my decorating, tea parties and gardens
mostly and this post is no exception.
In most every season I am outside shooting photographs
of gardens and beautiful blooms wherever I go.
This post shares my neighbors’ gardens and the
richness there is wherever one lives
is often found…
in the garden.
🙂

featured at
Thursday Favorite Things ~ Follow the Yellow Brick Home


9. Vintage English Candy Boxes

This beautiful candy box with Queen Elizabeth’s
portrait on it just had to come home with me
this summer to pair up with my other.
This post shares finding it.

featured at
Thursday Favorite Things ~ Follow the Yellow Brick Home


10. Drop-Cloth Slipcover Reveal

More sewing instructions and sharing the last part of
this series on sewing chair slipcovers and how I solved
a slight problem.
Plus a little tea party!
This is a good instructional series if you are looking
to make some of your own and never have sewn
covers for furniture before.
Oh, and toss out your regular sewing pins!
Quilter’s pins are the only ones I use for
sewing nowadays.
All three posts are linked within for you.

11. Favorite Showrooms at High Point Market

Oh, my!  What a trip of a lifetime to be able to see
sooo many gorgeous showrooms of fabulous furnishings
for one’s home!
I went gaga for the incredible French furniture and lighting
at Eloquence, Ave Home and French Heritage.
I will be sharing more about these wonderful
stores in future posts.
Look for those this winter.


12. Setting an Elegant Thanksgiving Table

It was a hard decision between this post and the
post I wrote sharing a Nordic Christmas Tablesetting
and home tour as both were really well liked
so I’ve included both here for you.
🙂

<!– /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"MS 明朝"; mso-font-charset:78; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;} @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Edwardian Script ITC"; panose-1:3 3 3 2 4 7 7 13 8 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;}

Setting an elegant table is certainly one of my
absolute favorite things to do.
I love having company come over and sharing
a beautifully set table display with my best crystal wine glasses
a set or two of rosy china and my best silver tableware
is a way of sharing my heart with them…
and with you.
🙂

Sharing today with
Share Your Style ~ The Red Painted Cottage
Thursday Favorite Things ~ Katherine’s Corner
Tablescape Thursday ~ Between Naps on the Porch
Merry Christmas and What to Do Weekends ~ Shoestring Elegance
Friday at the Fire Station ~ A Fireman’s Wife
Friday Features ~ Oh, My Heartsie Girl
Friendship Friday ~ Create with Joy
Top Projects of 2017 ~ Southern Hospitality

All link parties are linked above for your enjoyment!

Two posts were featured!




Thank you for being a big part of French Ethereal.
I truly appreciate your taking time to stop by
each and every time.
Your visits, comments, and what you share
are a huge blessing to me.

<!– /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"MS 明朝"; mso-font-charset:78; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;} @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Edwardian Script ITC"; panose-1:3 3 3 2 4 7 7 13 8 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;}

//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js

Thank you!

Uncategorized

Inspirational Furnishings ~ Cynthia Rowley’s Gorgeous Furniture Pieces

Riding the downward escalator inside
Dillard’s
at the 
Shops at Willow Bend, Plano, Texas
a couple of weeks ago
I spied this gilded bedroom beauty and 
an armchair that made my heart go
pitter-patter…


“Mimi” wing chair ~ available at Dillard’s online and in stores.
I tend to fall head over heels for rose strewn pieces
and having two upholstered couches decorated with roses 
just waiting to come out to Texas…
this lovely armchair 
would fit right into my home perfectly!


A year ago in the spring at the
Design Blogger’s Conference in Atlanta
Cynthia Rowley came and spoke during one of the
sessions about becoming a designer.
In her slides, she shared this table from her new line
which was then going to be coming out in the fall
and of course I remembered it 
because of the roses!

The Antoinette gilded upholstered bed, king size along with other Cynthia Rowley designed furnishings

The gilded twig mirror in that first photograph
{sharing again!}
is also part of her collection for
Hooker Furniture.
I love the play on faux bois with the twigs
around this gorgeous mirror!

The tables, chairs and other items you see around the 
Antionette bed and the rose armchair are also
part of the collection.
I am thinking my daughter would love
that mirrored dresser ~ it’s so glam and
Old Hollywood with its retro 1930’s/1940’s
vintage look.

One last quick photo ~ I only took a very
few photographs with my iPhone while I was
looking at these lovely pieces.
The part of me which loves anything and everything 
in a vintage French style wanted to share this 
amazing detail with you.
Loving the soft blue grey velvet
paired with the gold ormolu crest!

Trés bien, non?
Have a great Wednesday!


Sharing with
Wow Us Wednesday ~ Savvy Southern Style
Create Link Inspire
Welcome Home Wednesday ~ Five Kids a Dog and a Blog
Vintage Charm ~ The Blue Willow House
Talk of the Town ~ My Simple Home
Dishing It Digging It ~ Life and Linda
If you’ve enjoyed reading this post
please sign up on the sidebar to receive more, thank you! 
Uncategorized

5 Fun Beginning of Summer Things to Do with Bandanas

My Girl Scout Brownie troop around year 2000 hamming it up in their super cool flying cow bandanas!

Today’s post is all about things we all
like to do and wear that’s fun for our kids and 
for grown-ups too
and with 
summer coming up and this weekend being 
Memorial Day…
Patriotism and good memories of loved ones 
and fun times 
is on my mind and
were the inspiration for this 
perfect
beginning of summer post.
I’m talking about something that is a
staple in everyone’s drawers
and camping supplies ~ good for
washing dishes on a campout
to 
making a mini backpack to tie
to a little pole ~ it’s those wonderfully versatile
bandanas!


One of the first times our girls washed dishes.  This was many of these girls first time camping.  🙂

Bandanas are great for many things!

So today we are talking about the

wonderfully handy sometimes a hanky

but often utilitarian 

bandana

and 

some of the other fun things 

for which

a bandana can be used:


1. Tying back one’s hair


The number one use for a bandana 
(and probably always will be)
ever since these darlings 
were invented
is to tie back one’s hair.
Always wonderful for keeping that hair
out of one’s eyes when the wind is blowing,
bandanas come in such a variety
of colors and patterns now, it’s just plain
fun to wear them.
Pick up a few for everyone in the family
like we did back 
during our Scouting days and 
be “twins” 
with your kids for the day!

Our Girl Scout troop had these cool
flying cow bandanas
my co-leaders and I found at
the local Army-Navy store
one day when we were picking up
GS badges and other items.
I think we gave them to the girls that 
first year we were together.

They were something the girls could 
wear together which helped 
gel them together
as a group and it was part of their 
color-coordinated unofficial uniform
for when we went on hiking trips
and for this 
our first camping trip.


A spring breakfast tea using the trustworthy bandana!

2. Bandanas as Napkins


A while back I had a post sharing
these fun pink napkins used
in place of other napkins I’d 
normally use.
Because bandanas are usually made out of
100% cotton
that makes them perfect for 
cleaning up spills
or for 
wiping one’s lips
when jam or BBQ sauce
gets all over.

I just think it’s fun to change up what we
think of as a napkin!
Guess I’ve always done that.
How about you?
What do you like to do for your napkins?
Have you sewn any of your own?
It’s super fun to create something
to coordinate with an upcoming
party’s theme!
I’ve used leftover fabric when making a
tablecloth to create tiny fingertip napkins.
Check out an old Valentine’s post where
I’d made matching napkins.
🙂

While I was starting to write this post
I got to thinking about
where and when were bandanas invented?
Turns out that they have officially
been around for over 200 years!

There’s a really cool article online about 
“Bandana History” by BandanaShop.com
which talks about how bandanas
have been used as giveaways
promoting political figures
{George Washington being one of the first to be thus immortalized!}
and as a promotional tool for
that newfangled invention
“the talkies” ~ handkerchief bandanas
with Snow White and the seven dwarves
likenesses being one of the first
out there promoting children’s films.
I found the article fascinating
and I think
you will too!
Do follow the link over and check it out.
🙂



3. Bandanas Belts


Tie or braid several together to make 
an impromptu belt to coordinate
with a summer outfit…
With the 4th of July coming up
it’d be fun to sport
red white and blue bandanas
woven together into a belt.

The belt I whipped up for the photos
above is just
*two bandanas laid on an angle
*fold each opposite point inward
then fold the bandana in on itself
making a long rectangle.
*Tie together in back with a granny or
square knot.
*Slip through belt loops and tie in front.
Easy peasy!

If you want a Patriotic Bandana Belt
you’ll need six bandanas (two of each color}
to braid together.
*These can be folded as above
or
they can just be scrunched
and tied to its twin lengthwise
*tie the three colors together on one end
*then braid all of three long bandana “ropes”
at once.
*When braided, tie the three ends of the 
three colors together.
*Slip through your waistbands
and knot around in front.








4.Bandana Dog

I saw this hot diggity dog of a bandana
idea and knew it had to be
featured here at French Ethereal…
;)’


I contacted Marci at Stone Cottage Adventures
and asked if I could use a couple of her stories.  
She was delighted to have 
a few of her bandana posts
featured!
The blog link above will take you
to a quick bandana star story
she just posted.

The pink headlines and I think the
Pinterest photos
will take you to her posts, too!
{the pink links for sure!}
Marci shared how to make this incredibly 
cuddly cute dachshund
that she made for her granddaughter
out of just one bandana
per dog
plus a little from a coordinating color 
for each of the sweet pup’s ears.
Naturally, she made several of these
hot dogs…
{pun totally intended!!!}
Stop on over to see the other cute dogs
she made.
I could totally see a 4th of July dog…
yep
{or is that “yelp!”}
to go with our theme.
;)









5. Sweet Dress for Your Baby


I also saw this darling baby dress 
over on
Stone Cottage Adventure’s blog
and knew it had to
come on over, too ~ 
just check out how adorable 
Marci’s sweet granddaughter
looks with her purple bow
and matching 
purple bandana skirt!

Marci gives a whole tutorial on
how to cut pieces of
bandana to create the bow
and then 
how to create the dress.
Several other photos show
this cutie modeling
a couple of other outfits.
She is quite the fashionista
which is part of the title.
An outfit for your baby or for a family
member’s or friend’s new baby
out of 
patriotic colored bandanas
could be just the ticket
and a real crowd pleaser!


Happy Memorial Day
this weekend,
Remembering the fallen…
Barb 🙂





*The red is for the poppies… since 1919 when Memorial Day
was called Armistice Day.


Sharing with
Wow Us Wednesdays ~ Savvy Southern Style
Share Your Style ~ The Painted Cottage
Friday Favorites ~ Creatively Homemade
Friday Features ~ Oh, My Heartsie Girl!
Sweet Inspiration ~ The Boondocks Blog
Friendship Friday ~ Create with Joy
Feathered Nest Friday ~ French Country Cottage
Friday at the Firestation ~ A Fireman’s Wife
Vintage Charm ~ Blue Willow House











//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js

Uncategorized

Inspirational Designers ~ Earl Charles Spencer, 9th Earl of Althorp

Earl Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, Viscount Althorp
came to visit us as the keynote speaker at 
Design Bloggers Conference 
on the last day of conference on
Tuesday afternoon…

Earl Charles Spencer began his talk 
sharing about the restoration work ongoing 
at his family’s ancestral home, 
Althorp House.  
He inherited the house at the age of 27 
when his father passed away and 
he lovingly shared a story about his father
and this home:  
The roof of this home, which is massive {see photo above}
was really in need of repair and replacing.  The house was originally a red brick Tudor and much smaller; 
however, 
in the late 1700’s, the architect and designer 
Capability Brown
said that red brick was bad and ugly, so 
the home was made grander and the red brick banished.  

A second major restoration happened back in the 1890’s, 
I believe Earl Spencer said, and 
his father Edward Spencer ~ the 8th Earl of Althorp ~ had gone about attending to other restoration work around the house. 
However, that roof still needed repair. 
Well, when asked about it one time, Earl Edward Spencer
said,
“Well, I’ll leave that for Charles.”


Please forgive the terrible photo and cropping ~ luckily the beauty of Althorp shines through despite my wonky shot of the screen from where I sat and final editing! 😉

And this is how the current Earl Spencer came to 
become really involved in the caretaking and
history of his ancestral home.
Restoration work and taking visitors on tour around the
house as a kid for pocket-change led to 
his writing about the home.
He has written one 
main book
Althorp: The Story of an English House


All photos from Earl Spencer’s speech at DBCLA, 3/7/17
Lord Spencer already had a love for history
this being his major in college and 
writing books about England’s history and 
his home’s small part in that were just 
natural extensions of this love.


Here Lord Spencer is talking about some of the different rooms within his home.

In one room’s hallway there are these
incredible busts of famous British figures,
{you know me and statues!}
on the doorway side are hung paintings and
busts of Spencer family ancestors.


Photo taken of a slide Earl Spencer shared from his book ~ Althorp, The Story of an English House.
Earl Spencer doesn’t usually put his family
especially his children
in the spotlight or use them in his work.
He does this out of respect for them and to keep 
their family life private.
However, that being said, Lord Spencer shared
that two of his seven kids 
are on social media.

One of his sons, who is still pretty young,
interviewed someone rather famous one day, and 
this interviewee asked him, 
“Well, how many followers do you have?” 
“Four,” was the reply.
Holding back a smile, the man made a comment
or other to the effect that 
he thought
Earl Spencer’s son might have a few
more followers soon.
By the morning after young Spencer published 
his video blog interview 
with this rock-star gentleman,
the next day he had 
thousands of followers.
So, this is his son’s break into journalism.
😉



Earl Spencer talked about the house 
being open to the public 60 days per year.
It was open when he was a boy, too, and as a child 
his father would have his children
lead people around the house
if they were home and 
this was how he learned his home’s history
and earned a little pocket change
at the same time.
Every large estate needed a way to generate revenue 
for its upkeep 
and
Althorp was no different.

With the restorations going on and the roof
finally under repair and replacement,
Earl Spencer collaborated with
Theodore Alexander
a furniture company
in recreating 650 pieces of furniture
at last count in its 
Althorp Living History 
collection. 
The earl said that 40% were direct copies with every 
nick and dent recreated. {he says he has to get up really close and study
the pieces to be able to tell if its the copy or the original, these reproductions are “that good.”}
Another 40% are pieces with some adjustments and the remaining 20% are pieces inspired by originals at Althorp.

His parting advice for us Tuesday afternoon was
that when creating a brand as a designer
one needs to be authentic ~ 
be to true to one’s self and don’t collaborate
with a partner that doesn’t fit you.
Good advice, indeed!
🙂

In closing, I want to share how warm, charming 
and funny Earl Spencer was.
His love for his children and family, 
and for British history work harmoniously together.
Much like the talk I went to at Macy’s given by
Sarah, Duchess of York
a number of years ago,
his passions shine through in
everything he does.
I really enjoyed listening to his talk ~ 
his passionate zeal for his work as the current 
conservator of Althorp incorporating 
modernizations for the future into 
the timelessness of his ancestral home
really shines through ~ and
is something to which we can all relate 
as we create our homes.

Happy decorating!
Barb 🙂


Will be sharing with
Friday Feature Link Party ~ Oh, My Heartsie Girl!
Create Link Inspire
WOW Us Wednesday ~ Savvy Southern Style
Feathered Nest Friday ~ French Country Cottage
Uncategorized

Inspirational Designers ~ Styling Your Photoshoots Like a Pro

Jickie Torres ~ editor of Country Cottages and Bungalows
Hello from Beverly Hills and the
Design Bloggers Conference!

Today I thought I’d share a little about styling your own
photoshoots like a professional.
This was the talk Jickie Torres and Courtney Allison
two of my favorite photo stylists and designers
gave on Sunday afternoon.

Jickie is the editor of Cottages and Bungalows magazine 
and 
Courtney is the photographer and blog-author of
French Country Cottage
one of my favorite blogs out there
in Blog Land.

Together they spoke about creating 
good quality photos and the differences between 
creating photos for your blog -vs-
creating photos aimed towards 
magazine publication.
Two slightly different ways of photo shooting
that I think most bloggers wouldn’t just
intuitively realize.

Courtney of French Country Cottage
In this slide, Courtney compared two
of her photographs and talked about how
the one on the left is more of what the industry
calls “a vignette scene.”
See how it’s more of a “close-up?”
It shares more details like the pompom ruffle
around the chair pillow,
the thick plush down seat cushion
and of course
the ever sweet doggie!

These kinds of photographs work great
on your blog, but for editorial print work
there needs to be more of a “room shot.”
Editors also need your photos to
“tell a story.”
Jickie mentioned to make your photos
realistic ~ have a cup on the table,
drape a blanket over the chair’s arm.
You want those things in your scenes to draw a 
reader in and make him or her
want to jump right into the picture and just
plop right down making oneself 
right at home.
🙂
Well, those are just two of the big takeaways
from Jickie and Courtney’s talk late
Sunday afternoon!
There’s sooo much more to share from conference and I’ll be sharing more in tomorrow’s post.
As always, feel free to share this post and any others and please sign up if on my sidebar and follow along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook as I’m posting video and other photos there.
Thank you!
Leave a comment and ask questions, too.
I’ll get back to you as soon as I
am able.
Have a lovely Tuesday!
Barb 🙂



Sharing with
Wordless Wednesday ~ Oh, My Heartsie Girl!
Uncategorized

Waxing Poetic ~ My Shabby Streamside Studio

I looked for a way to contact Sandra Foster now to see if I could use her photos ~ I ended up taking a photo with my iPhone
to share this photograph with you.  On her sidebar, Sandy has a message that says “she is flattered if anyone wants to use her photos.  Just please give me credit!”  Always!  All rights reserved ~ Sandra Foster and My Shabby Streamside Studio.
Blogging or any journaling
like a diary of old, 
is an ethereal and elusive thing.  
One moment we wax prophetic, another we are off on a 
journey into ourselves…

<!– /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"MS 明朝"; mso-font-charset:78; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;} @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;}

–>

Such is how I came to write my own little blog; my son saying I would probably like blogging.  About seven years ago, I found a blog that tugged at my heartstrings ~ this person was just like me! 

She loved the peaceful etherealness of whites and had turned an ordinary hunter’s-blind-of-a-cabin into an ethereal white Victorian cottage.  Her décor included white Christmas fairy lights, tissue paper valance puffs to hide nails and the ordinariness of a thrown-together building, and furnishings all wicker-ed and linen-y.  Bone china set behind repurposed door frames became a built-in china cabinet and some erstwhile pieces with pale pink roses scattered about were forgiven for not being completely white because of their beauty.  

Photo taken off my computer with my iPhone ~ used with permission, My Shabby Streamside Studio.

Decorations mirrored this etherealness with vanilla candles flickering and gleeming away on silver trays, and crackled mirrors with ethereal rose swags reflecting their warm fiery glow.

my own white china cabinet

<!– /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"MS 明朝"; mso-font-charset:78; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;} @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;}

–>

Favorite old books and decorating magazines were just a ladder and a quick grab away up on the cottage’s tiny loft alcove’s whitewashed shelves ~ Lucy Maude Montgomery’s
“Anne of Green Gables” being an especial favorite
for summertime reading.  

Sandra wrote of these reads and writers on occasion ~ her writings about these authors being favorites of mine to go back to to read.  Sandra wrote of the original publishing of Victoria magazine and some authors whom whose writings she enjoyed, sharing those writing with us readers over and again, making us wish to go and reread those Victoria back issues once more.  

Hers was a world filled with Nordic white sleds, warm cocoa, tea and scones, cream-colored dogs Zuzu and Bella, and curious clucking chickens wandering in and out ~ a world at once surreal and SO real as to blend happiness on this Earth and the spirituality of Heaven into an enchanting whole. 

Sadly, this beautiful blog is no longer written due to some unfortunate personal events, but Sandra Foster’s blog lives on as a place to go back to whenever one feels the need to wax poetic and to rekindle one’s decorating soulfire again, leaving us wishing for more. 

<!– /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"MS 明朝"; mso-font-charset:78; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;} @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;}
–>

In a way, Sandra created what she most liked to read ~ a place forever populated by characters and events frozen in a moment in time ~ just like her favorite Green Gables and Victoria issues of old.  
Come back to us…. My Shabby Streamside Studio.
How about you?  Do you 
have a favorite writer or
blog of old?  
Please leave a comment and 
share your thoughts…
xoxo Barb 🙂
<!– /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"MS 明朝"; mso-font-charset:78; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;} @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;}

–>

Find Sandra Foster’s blog posts at:  

<!– /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"MS 明朝"; mso-font-charset:78; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;} @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} –>

Uncategorized

Elements of Style ~ Setting a Beautiful Table

Our little drum table set for tea a year ago at Easter…
🙂
For some reason,
I’ve always thought that everybody 
could decorate,
kinda like 
doesn’t EVERYONE collect 
home/shelter magazines?

Does this happen to you?


A January “Snowman Tea” I held at our house a few years ago.

Well, over the years I’ve learned that NO not
everyone can style a beautiful table

so…
perhaps that’s why we have
those aforementioned
 shelter magazines!!!

Magazines like
Romantic Country Style, Romantic Homes,
French Country Style, Country Living and
[British] Country Living,

and 
my old favorite introduced to me by my mother
when I was newly married,
Victoria,
help us “see” elements of good design.


Setting a beautiful table begins with 
bringing out your most beautiful china.
For someone who has just moved into their first apartment
that might mean using your parents’ hand-me-downs
and a few new pieces that you found at
HomeGoods
while browsing with your mother.
For someone just married,
maybe you received a few place settings towards
your eventual goal of twelve.

Bring these out and try mixing and matching
with your usual kitchen china to start!
Begin slowly (like most things in life) and when you go out
with the girls to shop at thrift stores or flea markets,
see what interests you and buy a few pieces.
🙂
One never knows 
where our hearts will take us when it comes
to the pitter patter palpitations that finding 
a lovely
 old Haviland plate with tiny rose garlands
encircling the edges
or a Bavarian pre-WWII creamer & sugar bowl set
with the tiniest of lavender pansy bouquets on each side.
I don’t know about you
but
these lovelies make my heart swoon!


I know my china has evolved from my first set of
Villeroy & Boch 
called Botanic.
I still use this set as my everyday china
but
I tend to use my white china more often now.
😉

See the white china here?  I found these at TJ Maxx several years ago. You can find
similar pieces at HomeGoods and other retail centers.
The next element of
setting a beautiful table
involves having a lovely tablecloth (or two or three!)
layered on your table.
It’s up to you if you like your tablecloth ironed or not.
like mine ironed, in truth, but I’m usually running around
trying to get the food finished on tea mornings,
so…
Mine are usually not ironed and per Ms. Shabby Chic herself,
Rachel Ashwell,
rumpled is just as beautiful!
(Thank goodness!)

Spend some time at after-Christmas sales
gathering a small but mighty collection of linens.
When you go antique browsing, tag sailing (my pun on “sale-ing”, sorry!),
and to everyone’s favorite
thrift-shopping,
look at the linen aisle and check out
potential diamonds in the rough!
Many stains can be washed out with a lemon juice soak
or with today’s oxygen removal detergents.
I love my OxyClean!
Most old linens can’t hold up to soaking in bleach.
Bleach tends to break down the already weakened fibers
that are just weakened with age and use.

I have had to soak some tablecloths up to a week
in a bucket or in
our former laundry room’s  laundry sink tub,
but that’s an amazing way to save a ton of money on table linens
o you don’t have to always buy new.
😉

Lastly, set your table with the prettiest
in-season flowers from your yard or flower market.
Grocery stores and big box grocery places do carry good
flower bouquets,
and I know I will go to my local
Ralph’s 
and pick out what I want and just pay per stem.
I’ve done this for years and then I get exactly what I want
in my bouquets.

Please DO share your table-settings with me! I’d love to see them, your china
patterns, your bouquets! French Ethereal is on Instagram and Twitter
as well as my Facebook page:
@BFrenchethereal, #Frenchethereal, and just French Ethereal on FB.
Share your lovelies!!!
And, as always, feel free to share my posts with your friends.
🙂

Have a lovely day today 
and have fun dressing your table!
I’ll be creating a new Easter table-setting for you
later this week,
Blessings to you always,
Barb 🙂

p.s. I will be working on getting InLinks back up and running for you so 
we can share posts here! 

Will be sharing with ~
Feathered Nest Friday ~ French Country Cottage
*Roses of Inspiration ~ The Enchanting Rose
http://theenchantingrose.blogspot.com/2016/03/roses-of-inspiration-54-last-party.html

*Just wanted to let you know, this will be Stephanie’s last linky party as she
needs to step down for a while. Do please visit her site and if she has been
an inspiration for God for you, let her know.  Thank you. 🙂

Uncategorized

Design Inspirations from #DesignBlogConf 2016

Some of the wonderful design books & resources from brought back from
Design Bloggers Conference, March 6 – 8, 2016, in Atlanta, Georgia

Today’s post is all about
sharing with you 
inspiring designs
from
bloggers, designers and sponsors
from 
this spring’s
Design Bloggers Conference!


Have you ever
hoped to meet someone “famous?”
Someone you admire and esteem
because 
she or he creates such beautiful vignettes
and decorates with such panache?
A designer who creates
the 
most beautiful bouquets
which cause your heart to skip a beat?
Whose work you’d love to
emulate
and recreate in your own home
and DO?!


While at conference, I was able to meet 
blogger/author/photographer
Courtney Allison
of
French Country Cottage.
Courtney writes from her 1940’s era cottage in Northern California
sharing
beautifully set tables ready for a garden party,
tips on decorating
and
between redecorating projects in her home
she also finds time to bring 
her readers wonderful recipes.
Her photographs and photography
are also inspiring
and take her readers off into blissful daydreams…

It was an honor
to finally meet Courtney Allison,
the person behind
the blog!
She is just as personable as comes across
in her posts!
Courtney shared blogging tips for writing one’s blogposts
and 
essential information for working
with vendors.

Please stop by and visit her blog if you haven’t already.
You’ll find
 French Country Cottage

Here

Courtney Allison of frenchcountrycottage.net
and myself, Barb of frenchethereal.blogspot.com

Day Two’s amazing speakers
also included
crossover designer/fashion designer
Cynthia Rowley
who has designed a furniture line debuting at
this spring’s
High Point Market
this coming April 2016.


Cynthia spoke about her experiences 
as a budding designer
and shared slides of just a few of her 
many
designs for the fashion industry.

Host and CEO of Esteem Media, Adam Japko introducing designer Cynthia Rowley
at the Design Bloggers Conference, Atlanta, March 7th, 2016.

Vogue magazine cover, design award, and fashion designs created by
designer Cynthia Rowley.  Slide courtesy of Cynthia Rowley.

I spoke with Cynthia
when our sessions ended on Monday.
She was very gracious!
Then…
a bit jet lagged but elated
I sought out
Cynthia Rowley designs 
at
Staples
while my husband looked for things needed for the next day’s 
track meet at our high school.
Her website can be found
at


Later this week I’ll be sharing
more stories I heard from other 
great designers
who attended
this spring’s
Design Bloggers Conference.


Please check out the sidebar for other posts 
you may have missed
and
sign up to receive further blog notices
so you don’t miss any!  Have a great week
and…


Happy Sunday to you, 
Barb
🙂


Sharing with
French Country Cottage ~ Feathered Nest Friday