Dreaming of Paris...

Image via Such Pretty Things ~ Flickr ~ The Fleas

Bonjour Mes Amis! I was just enjoying a cup of tea and dreaming of Paris! My friend Julio from Beaux Mondes Designs is there now and he took his toddler son with them. His posts are just lovely and are making me miss Paris dreadfully! I can't wait to take my Baby J there :)

Image via Inspiring Things ~ The Storefronts

From the Fleas, the shops. to the storefronts, these images are causing a little pang in my heart.

Via Flickr

A favorite thing of mine to do was to visit the Marché aux Fleurs and Marché aux oiseaux. Just strolling around and seeing all of the sites and smelling the flowers (not the birds) is a perfect little break in the city.

I could never get over the flower stalls piled  high with beautiful fragrant blooms. Like walls of blossoms on each side. It's truly beautiful. I always had fresh flowers in the apartment.

Via Flickr

Via Flickr

The best bookstores in the world I do believeare in Paris! They are amazing. What I wouldn't do to be there now.

        Via Flickr

                                                               
I love this image of the Bouquiniste along the Seine. It brings back so many wonderful memories of Paris! Leisurely breaks reading along the Siene and views of the Conciergerie. Life doesn't get much better than that! What a wonderful stroll down memory lane for me tonight. I'm off to bed with visions of Laduree and Les Printemps dancing in my head.
Bonne Nuit!

I took a fabulous trip to Hollywood with some friends and I can't wait to post about the fantastic Golden Age of Hollywood sites I saw...Until then!

Merci Mandy!

Bonjour Mes Amis!

I have been in a blogging  "rut" as of late and have been needing something or someone to inspire me and bring me back to these moments in front of the computer that preserve my sanity and keep me connected to you~ It is in reading your posts and seeing the incredible talent and creativity you share with us that I too get inspired and refreshed.

Well, I decided to change the look and feel of my site to aid me in this task and could think of no better person to ask for help than Mandy at A la Parisienne ~ Une Ville Romantique Un Style Romantique ~

In keeping with the spirit of gratitude this week I have to extend a huge, resounding, heartfelt, THANK YOU to Mandy. She did an absolutely incredible job with Paris Atelier and brought such lux beauty and grandeur to the blog. I adore it and I hope you do as well. If you are planning a blog or Etsy overhaul, I encourage you to check out the other beautiful sites that Mandy has created and head over to Mandy's Etsy shop here. She is true talent and her creativity astounds me.

I am so lucky that Mandy accepted the challenge of revamping Paris Atelier for me, I'm afraid I was a tough customer. I could not come up with anything, I knew what I wanted but had no clear vision of the final outcome. In other words...I wasn't much help!

Mandy produced the most exquisite and glamorous site I have ever seen and I adore it! It is more than I could have imagined. I love my old banner so much but I needed a change after so long.

Mandy is such an amazing Blogging Friend, she is kind, helpful, honest, and pure. A soul so kind and genuine. I feel lucky to be able to call her a friend. I am so grateful for all of the beauty she has brought into my life.

This is just a taste of the exquisite beauty you will find in Mandy's shop

I hope you love the new blog as much as I do, it is everything I want Paris Atelier to be and more, glamour, sophistication, inspiration, and luxury all wrapped up in a perfect little package by Mandy for me!

Mandy has also started creating the most beautiful accessories for her Etsy shop. The brooches that she has created are breathtaking and decadent. Her blooms are so glamorous and versatile. She uses the finest materials and the quality is evident. Take a look at some of her feminine and gorgeous brooches here.

All Images are from A la Parisienne

Thank you Mandy for all that you have done for me and for your remarkable friendship. Your talent astounds me and your creativity is boundless.

And to you, my friends, I am so grateful for you and the inspiration and friendship we share with each other in this virtual world. It's a beautiful place to escape to, a wonderful place to recharge and get ideas to make my life more beautiful. I am a better mother, wife, friend, and interior decorator because of all of you!!! :) It sounds crazy but it's true!

Thank you and have a beautiful weekend. Happy Thanksgiving to my friends celebrating stateside

Xoxo

~Judith~

The BIG reveal, My 100th Post, and a Giveaway!

Bonjour!!!

I am So excited to write this post today! It is a day filled with news.

Today is my 100th post and to celebrate I am going to reveal my surprise! I cannot keep my secret any longer...I'm afraid, I might have built the news up a bit much...

Today is the Grand Opening of my new Etsy shop!

Paris Atelier

As you might know I have been setting up an online E~boutique and while I am in the process of doing this, I thought I would open an Etsy shop with a small preview of what I will be featuring in my online boutique. You have all inspired me so much over the last months that I just couldn't wait to share with you.

The shop consists of vintage treasures, object d'art, and Estate finds from around the world. Many of the items were found in Paris and abroad. I love the glitz and glamour of these special items and now I want to share them with you!

I am afraid that I have not yet listed some of the juiciest items that I have, so I have decided to do 2 giveaways. The first today and the second at the end of the week when I have added more items to the shop.

The first giveaway starts today! Just pop over to the new Etsy store then come back here to this post and leave a comment and you will automatically be entered to win, if you would like, you can post about the new shop and you will be entered twice more.

The first giveaway includes this gorgeous vintage Marcus Brothers ~Miami basket. You can't tell in the photo (Tim Walker, I am not) but the basket has a pale Pink satin lining with a corded drawstring that is beautiful! The front of the basket is covered in stunning vintage flowers.



To fill this pretty vessel, I have placed a very petite vintage miniature Louis XVI style chair, a pair of vintage Italian Bernard White leather gloves, a vintage French petit point handbag, two gorgeous vintage ladies handkerchiefs,
and I've tucked in a for more surprises for the lucky recipient.




Here are some pics from the new Etsy shop which you can view here. I love Marghab linens.

Of course I had to add a little Marie Antoinette flavor in there! ;)

Just some beautiful and fun stuff to add to your maison and your collections. I have SO much more to list, and quite frankly, I think I am saving the best. I have amazing textiles (glamorous Pink Satin and Silk textiles from the 40's *sigh*), Estate jewelry that is gorgeous, fine Silver pieces, tons of vintage accessories and linens...so much! I hope you enjoy!

Thank you so much to everybody! This community and circle of friends in this blog world is amazing and I am so grateful to have met you and been inspired by you. This has been an amazing journey for me and boy... What a fabulous adventure! I can't even express in words how much you enrich my life! Thank you!!!!

A HUGE thank you to Catherine at A Thousand Clapping Hands. She gifted me with the beautiful picture that greeted this blog post! She customized it and everything just for me! Thank you Catherine not only for the beautiful gift I received in my inbox this week but for your friendship and support, always.

Don't forget to watch out for giveaway #2 at the end of the week! Check out the new

Paris Atelier

Etsy shop here!

Thank you!!!

xoxo

Judith~

A Technicolor Dream World

The incredible Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe in Gentleman Prefer Blonds

I've been a little obsessed with these fabulous Technicolor wonders lately.

Hi Friends!!! I've been working on my surprise for you all and this post is a little clue! These movies and so many more, have always inspired me and they take me to a more glamorous and refined time. A time not so long ago, filled with glitz, glamour, and enough fashionable movie stars
to light up the nights sky!

Grace Kelly (who after all married a French Prince)

The colors and feeling invoke a sense of richness and luxury to me.

America's favorite mermaid Esther Williams

Why is it that my hair and make-up never look like this when I swim? Movie magic!

Doris Day

I love all of the Doris Day movies. Especially the Rock Hudson (va va voom) ones!
Her ensemble is another clue...

The beautiful Betty Grable

Betty Grable movies are always magical! If I catch one on TCM I'm hooked. So down to earth and the fashions are always mind blowing! Oh to be a fly in Edith Heads
office!

Diana Dors

How Amazing is this bed!?! If you love it...keep watching out for my surprise, you will not be disappointed! ;)

I LOVE Carmen Miranda! Her joy of life and her sunny personality always make me smile! What a woman!

The incredible and classic Audrey Hepburn. What more can I say that hasn't already been said so eloquently by so many. A true icon.

Ava Gardner and her turbulent life. Her work is wonderful and her beauty is timeless.

I love the hat!

Betty Grable in Moon over Miami. I LOVE this movie and again those costumes are to die for!!!! I know I'm crazy but I'm in love with the chair in the back ground :)

Because I have not done a true French post in a while. An American in Paris with Gene and Leslie! I'm a sucker for this movie. Look at those flowers (another clue).

This is a rare 1930's movie and for the life of me I can't remember the name of it right now. I'll update the post when it pops into my head in the middle of the night! I just love the bathing suits.

Esther Williams again proving going to the pool can be as glamorous as going to a ball. Look at that beautiful monogrammed cover up. What a wonderful idea and the colors!

Marilyn and the diamonds! I have always loved the quote from Gentlemen Prefer Blonds where she exclaims that she loves finding new places to wear diamonds! Anytime my husband has ever given me jewelry I just want to blurt it out! I know I'm a little nuts.

I just love this image of Carmen Miranda via Worth 1000.com. It gives me ideas for a Halloween costume! :) Those nails!

Another image of Betty Grable. Makes me want to dance my worries away.

One of my all time favorite movies is Singing in the Rain. This scene is fabulous!

Another short post for you today, but don't worry, I'll be back in full force in the coming weeks!

Have a fantastic Thursday!

xoxo

~Judith~

Modern Marie

Bonjour My Friends! I just spent the weekend celebrating and today recovering! Champagne is such a delight (on occasion)!!!


I am still feeling quite festive and I think these photos are too much fun. What better way to celebrate all things pretty than with a post dedicated to Marie Antoinette...correction...a Modern Marie Antoinette. We can all use a dose of pretty in our lives and I can't think of anything prettier right now! I hope you enjoy! I am not trying to be historically accurate or anything, just having fun with some Marie Antoinette inspired eye~candy.

For Her Wardrobe~



Every Queen needs some bling! This extraordinary necklace by Ranjana Khan is perfect! I love the color and the size of it!




These sassy silk covered bracelets are from Thistle and Clover. Sure to make you feel girly.




All of the handmade hats from Hey Sailor! are beautiful. I chose this one because it is reminiscent of the ship hat Marie Antoinette famously wore. How stinking cute is this!?!


These little doozies are from Faire Frou Frou. Who I adore! They have some of the most exquisite lingerie and they are the ultimate in customer service. To visit their store is heavenly! When I lose those last 10lbs. I am rewarding myself with a trip there!



Feathers! Every Modern Marie needs some feathers. I found this cute and different feather fan on Etsy.

For Her Chateau~




I am loving this picture! How fabulous is this? The Lila Canape is so quirky and whimsical. Definitely Modern Marie.

I picture some of these LoooLo Anna Linen pillows from Design Public (there are a few style and all of them prettier than the last) strewn about. These pillows are made from organic fibers, dyes with the least environmental footprint and Looolo textiles products can be safely composted at the end of their useful life. Pretty and good!

Of course you have to have a chandelier and matching sconces from the new Paris Apartment Boutique! Claudia just recently launched her new boutique and she has some of the most incredible lighting! Marie wouldn't have been caught dead without her chandeliers!

A mirrored vanity from Neiman's for a flashy girls boudoir! P.S. I love the rug in the photo.

There's that rug again! I need one asap! I just love this bedroom from Graham and Green

I just love the mix of styles in this photo.

This pic is from Martha Stewart. I love the wall to wall folding panels of mirrors. Breathtaking!

Of course the Louis Ghost chair! Every Modern Marie needs at least one of these. A set for the dining room is even better! I like it in Black as well. You can find both at Design Within Reach

This picture has it all. The chandelier, the yummy pastries, the chaise lounge, the fabulous wall covering! I love it!

Wall decals are so popular right now. I personally haven't gotten "into" them for my home but if you have commitment issues, you might like them! These are from Celio and they have lots of really fun things!

This is also from Celio. I love the tonal colors and the simplicity.

What a fantastic bath!!! Those wall tiles are gorgeous! The mix of styles and that chair. I could live like that! :) I don't have a clue where this is from but wall tiles look like fun.

And...Last but not least...don't forget your fresh flowers! I'm sure the palace was always drowning in them (if not for their beauty but to cover up the stench in the palace). In our homes it will be for the beauty of them!

Au Revoir my Modern Marie's!!!