organisé

I've been pulling some of my favori organized idee pictures from divers places. I amour this image. I'm quite affectueux of the vintage utilitarian piece. What a grand endroit to house your every day kitchen goods.

This old aluminum counter is divine. Love the white stoneware mixed with the rustic wooden crate.
The pictures help to favorisez inspiring storage idees.
What inspiring storage idees get you motivé?

Ayez un beau jour

Jill

inspiration de Noël

In between baking and wrapping gifts I've been fetching some holiday inspiration at Pinterest. You can find amazing idees and creations all of which help you to get further into the esprit de Noël.
 
 I prefer simple low key elements in design and feel these images reflect just that.

One more beautiful image...

Christmas is my favorite time of the year!

I'm baking gâteaux and biscuits and sucrerie all inspired by the joy and love I feel for this season of giving.

Time spent with friends and family, holiday réunions and a simpler old fashioned Christmas is loved by many including moi-même.

I hope you're enjoying a peaceful, joyful holiday.

Ayez un beau jour

Jill

pièce de blanchisserie

I'm mildy obsessed with utility rooms or laundry rooms. Although I prefer a laundry room to be completely functional I also admire a certain utilitarian look. No fussy layers, simple clean lines and shelving with pretty but functional laundry aides. Glass jars, aluminum scoops, and vintage soap advertising are some of my favorite things to dress up a lr.

I prefer neutral wall colors but splashes of fresh coloring here and there in accessories. I love the little towel wrack below the sink in this picture. Functional but mignon!

This laundry room caught my oeil with its simple little sink suspended by stone. The wooden counters and the stone seem to compliment one another. The wrack above, délicieux indeed! I would use the wooden wrack to dry herbs.

My laundry room functions as a retail merchandise area. Serving to be both functional and resourceful since I have a shop within my home.

 How many laundry rooms have you seen that have been transformed into a shoppe?

My laundry room houses homemade laundry powders and linen waters, dryer sachets, ironing sprays and sachets filled with lavender.

Ayez un beau jour

Jill

Simply done...

I've been spending more time at Pinterest lately. What a great idee center. I'm loving these simple paper bags adorned in candy canes and burlap twine.
How cute to have these little packages under the tree filled with homemade toffee or a sampling of rich dark cocoa.

A couple of years ago I found the BEST toffee recipe! Click here.
Enjoy...

Ayez un beau jour

Jill

French Packaging Naturellement

Bien, I know it feels familiar! Yet another post on assez empaquetant, but it feels the perfect time considering the vacances are approaching ever so fast!

This holiday season I'm focusing attention towards détails when wrapping my Christmas gifts. The French emphasize the pretty outside as much as the inside and those idees have always appealed to me in special ways.  
I'm using items found in nature, pine cones and twigs and inexpensive items like coffee filters and burlap to wrap the gifts tenderly that sit under the tree.

Ayez un beau jour

Jill

Salles françaises de bébé

I absolutely love these simple bunks. What a cozy bedtime retreat.  

I'm equally as fond as this simple cottage big boy or girls bed.

This bebe space with its layered cubbies. The collection of white polar bears adds balance to the rooms eclectic style.

The dark stained wood flooring really becomes a focal point. The space looks warm and cozy and pulled together without a lot of fuss.
Aren't baby rooms fun to decorate? The excitement of a wee little new soul arriving in his or her new environment makes my eyes twinkle.

Ayez un beau jour

Jill

enveloppe de cadeau française

The French seem to have perfected the art of gift wrap. They make the simplest gift stand out with pretty packaging. An inexpensive gift transforms into a beautiful work of art when wrapped in pretty papers and ribbons.

My French ancestors must have shared gift wrap idees from time to time.

So funny too, When I had the boutique downtown the French tradition of wrapping customer's items in pretty packages seemed to come effortlessly. I insisted each and every item purchased as a gift  be wrapped special regardless of how much the item cost.
I encountered a number of content happy faces during those shop days. I would always ask, may I wrap this pretty for you? A smile would appear on my face as well as the happy patron.

With the holidays fast approaching I'm pondering different packaging idees. Thoughts of silk ribbon and brown paper wrappings with sugar plum trimmings dance in my head.

Ayez un beau jour

Jill

French Porch Idees

We have a porch right outside our kitchen. We call it our "tree house" porch since it sits amongst the tops of the cedar and red bud trees.

Mr. Fussy French recently extended the outdoor area and I've been enjoying cool autumn candle light evenings sitting and unwinding in the new space. I also enjoy my morning coffee outside amongst the tall cedars. Their heavenly scents fills the air. 

I haven't decided what type of furniture to add to the extension and will probably wait now until spring arrives again to make a final purchase since winter is gradually sneaking upon us.

I've been admiring porches with French accents and touches.

Do you have a porch? What are some of your decorating idees?

I'm contemplating rod iron with plush pillows in gray linen.
I'm inspired by the two pictures above.  

Any idees?

Ayez un beau jour

Jill

aimez ceci

I keep going back to this picture asking myself, why do I fancy this look so much?

Quite possibly my attraction is the simplicity of the nook. Maybe it's the layers of texture. I love texture in a room!

The huge botanical prints definitely a favorite object of attraction for me.

The adorable spindle bed with its chipped patina and that old fashioned French striped mattress naked with no fluffy pillows or linen sheets layered high on top of it. 

What the estacade à claire-voie!

Is my taste changing?

non

This décor offers a tranquil room setting. It's neutral but with a touch of fusée. Not too much flare or fussiness, but still hitting on a fastidious appearance. 

Inspiration comes from different perspectives and angles, doesn't it?

Ayez un beau jour

Jill

  

  

French Dress Forms

I have this thing for French dress forms.

Knowing the forms were once used to help make and fit a new garment fills my heart with joy.

When I sew a new blouse or dress I use a form to attach the cut out pattern pieces. It seems to make the process much easier.

I usually don't follow the pattern, but use the form to piece the garment together.

The embellished forms are a piece of art.

Ayez un beau jour

Jill

Romantic iron beds

My current love...Golden amber oatmeal hues and old iron beds!

  I must confess my admiration for old iron anything, but quite fond of an old iron bed.

They add a unique charm to any space.

This one inspired me to re-create the look in my chambre à coucher.

Getting there...

Do you own an old iron bed?

Ayez un beau jour

Jill

concepteurs français

French designers from the past. Their unique style is passed on from one generation to the next. The designs they create have a nurtured quality as well as a uniqueness with a fastidious flair while simplicity remains in tact.
French designers like, Caroline Reboux and Coco Chanel continue to inspire young designers from around the world.

I enjoyed reading your  inspiration comments. My favorite was from Anne. Her inspiration comes from anything and everything as she sees beauty in all things!
I would imagine the designers of the past had the same thoughts.

Ayez un beau jour

Jill

considérer des idées

I've been searching old photos of France for inspiration idees for Bittersweet packaging and design. Funny how a beautiful picture such as the one above inspires different creative thoughts. The wisteria is stunning against the natural rock, wood and greenery.

A field blanketed with golden sunflowers in their natural state are a feast to the eye . The old stone home in the back somehow takes on a storybook appearance.

The sunflowers are flourishing on my side of the pond. I always think about picking fresh bouquets of the happy flower to bring indoors.

My mind also wonders to autumn weddings with fresh sunflower bouquets on every table of white linen.

Once again, inspiration is triggered by natures way . Some of my best idees have come from her.  

The air has taken on a crispy feeling of fall. You know the feeling. Cool mornings that require a light jacket during a morning walk. Or the smell of what's cooking for dinner gently lingers in the path ahead.

Where does your inspiration come from?

Ayez un beau jour

Jill 00

French Packaging

When I create new packaging for Bittersweet most always the influence comes from vintage French packing.

It seems white linen and pretty French labels marry well.

In fact, I prefer to say they Merry well!

Sometime the French packaging is tattered and torn, simple and distinct.

I am inspired by each and every one!

Ayez un beau jour

Jill 00

Vieux se mélange avec nouveau

I love the look of this simple elegant bed and the way the decorator mixed touches of modern with old. Not too much modern added. Just a snip here and there. 

 The antique bed and mirror intermingled with the modern chrome light and billowing flowering branches mix to create an inviting soothing space. 

 The picture above offer the same characteristics as the first. A dash of modern quietly mixed with antique. I am taken by the look.

I love the pillow mix of pattern and texture. It's just the right finishing touch.

 French design is defined by this technique. 

What's your take on this? Do you like old mixed with new or do you prefer old all together?

   

Ayez un beau jour

Jill 00

French Sable Cookies

Sablé Cookies


(From Cook's Illustrated, November & December 2008)

1 large egg

10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon (2 3/4 ounces) granulated sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups (7 1/2 ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour

1 large egg white, lightly beaten with 1 teaspoon water

4 teaspoons turbinado sugar. 

Place egg in small saucepan, cover with 1 inch water, and bring to boil over high heat. Remove pan from heat, cover, and let sit 10 minutes. Meanwhile, fill small bowl with ice water. Using slotted spoon, transfer egg to ice water and let stand 5 minutes. Crack egg and peel shell. Separate yolk from white; discard white. Press yolk through fine-mesh strainer into small bowl.

In bowl of stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, combine butter, granulated sugar, salt, and cooked egg yolk on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes, scraping down sides of bowl and beater with rubber spatula as needed. Turn mixer to low, add the vanilla, and mix until incorporated. Stop mixer; add flour and mix on low speed until just combined, about 30 seconds. Using rubber spatula, press dough into cohesive mass.

Divide dough in half; roll each piece into log about 6 inches long and 1 3/4 inches in diameter. Wrap each log in 12-inch square of parchment paper and twist ends to seal and firmly compact the dough into tight cylinder. Chill until firm, about 1 hour.

Adjust oven racks to upper-middle and lower-middle positions and heat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Using chef's knife, slice the dough into 1/4-inch-thick rounds, rotating dough so that it won't become misshapen from the weight of the knife. Place cookies 1 inch apart on baking sheets. Using pastry brush, gently brush cookies with egg white mixture and sprinkle evenly with turbinado sugar.

Bake until centers of cookies are pale golden brown with edges slightly darker than centers, about 15 minutes, rotating baking sheets front to back and top to bottom halfway through baking. Cool cookies on baking sheet 5 minutes; using thin metal spatula, transfer cookies to wire rack and cool to room temperature.

bienvenue

Coming soon...