A Christmas Wish pour toi

It has been a while since I've posted and I apologize.
The Holidays have kept me a bit occupied.
I wanted to say "Happy Holidays" and I have
a Christmas wish for you!
My wish for you, is that someone tells you that they
love you, and in return, you never leave those words
unspoken.

Twenty five years ago, we lost my Mother to breast cancer.
I tell you this, not to get sympathy, but to share a gift our
family received.
It was a long ordeal, trips in and out of hospitals, rude
encounters with reality, and cherished moments that
softened the blows.
My brother, Regan, was making weekend trips home
from the University to make the most from what
was.. limited time.
Sunday evenings became routine. Folding and packing
the weeks laundry, loading the car and readying
for his return trip. The last Sunday was no different
from the many that had preceded it, he was going
through the motions. Goodbyes said, keys in the
ignition, it would have been so easy for him to drive
off...BUT, he remembered he forgot to tell Mom that
he loved her. Running back to the house (pressed
for time which IS his trademark), he kisses Mom's
cheek and whispers those sweet words, I Love You.
I think you know how the story ends.



It is so easy isn't it, to get caught up in our daily
routines and take life for granted.
You never know what tomorrow brings, so please
share those simple words.
That is my wish for you, from our family to yours!
Happy Holidays and Bisou!

Thanks to my friend, Jodee for sending me the photos
via www.all-creatures.org
and PS Jodee.... I Love You!!!

Simply French

I had to do a test on these videos!

Chef Gregoire Guiot of
Mirabelle Gourmet Catering

At my shop, "European Antique Market", we are
all about the authentic French Lifestyle!
Several years ago, a customer walked through
my door, because he was homesick and needed
a fix. The "Law of Attraction", in action!

Fast forward, we are now great friends and
do what we can to promote one another's
business. We have a common bond....
The Love of France!

European Antique Market started hosting
cooking classes titled "Simply French",
taught by the talented Parisian trained,
Chef Greg. He has developed somewhat of
a cult following, but if you ever tasted his
cuisine, you would understand why.
Makes for a nice ambiance, feasting on
French food, surrounded by French antiques.

My brother Regan, who owns 2Thomases Video,
was kind enough to put together a video in
exchange for a dinner from Chef Greg.
So here they are!



This one is just an overview


Sauce Mouselline


Dessert...Chocolate Souffle

So what do you think? Is a cable tv show on
the horizon?

Hope you enjoyed them and if you happen to
be near Louisville, drop by our "Fete de Noel"
next weekend.
Guess who's making the Bouche de Noels!
Chef Greg even imports all the wonderful
garnishes from France! Yum Yum!

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Bisou and have a great weekend!

endroits à boire

Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé

Very important you know to pick the proper place
in which to drink the bottle!
So, I went scouting for us :), in the South of France
of course!




Think the owners would mind if we hung out on
the grounds of their quaint chateau?
Probably not, since it is for sale.


We could just go from room to room.
Don't you love those windows?
A perfect place for an aperitif with all the
fold up garden furniture pieces.

The barrel stone ceiling in this Tuscan style kitchen is
fabulous and the baskets over the cupboard, soooo
European.

Maybe they would let us stay through Thanksgiving.

I could eat turkey at this table! I hate to watch myself

eat, but if its in a Baroque, gilt mirror, I guess I could

force myself.

This would be a nice place for our after dinner drink.

I'd love to have those bamboo chairs, think they would

sell them? Like the sconce too. Those are

tres chic in France. I see these more and more on my

buying trips. I have a supplier in France that takes

antique sconces and attaches them to reclaimed

wooden frames. He does fabulous work!

Nice kitchen, but if you ask me the two things that make

it are the French iron chandelier and the marble top,

patisserie table. Chandeliers can sure set the mood.

Like purple? Looks gorgeous in this huge room

doesn't it?

Don't have to worry about wine spills either.

I think it would blend right in.

Like the over sized candle covers on the chandelier too!

The boiserie still remains here and how lovely it is.

The linen upholstered Louis XV chairs add the

element of freshness. Careful with that glass though!

Another one of those French signatures here.

Drapes in unexpected places!

Terraces covered with natural materials are also

common practice. The French are simply masters

at using the sun for ambiance.

More fabric, but it's the knots that add the detail.

Hubby was a Boy Scout, but he never dreamed he

would use that training for decorating. More than

once it has come in handy.

We should all be so lucky to have a farm table

on the terrace, but if not, a marble top bistro table

and wood slat chairs will do the trick!

Of course, if not outside, we at least need one inside.

Farm table that is. It has to be the most important

piece of Country French furniture.

If you want to learn more about French farm tables see my

post here.

We could sit in here and watch the sunset as we kiss the

bottom of the bottle.

Photos via Sotheby's Real Estate

Come to think of it, I might be one glass short.
Soaking in a tub here would be the perfect way to

end a day.

I hope you have a wonderful

Beaujolais Nouveau!

Lets drink to santé, amitié et amour !

(Health, Friendship and Love)

Bisou mes ami's

dimanche après-midi

il fait froid à Louisville.
It is cold in Louisville and possible snow flurries!
I can't think of a better way to spend a Sunday Afternoon,


than cuddled up in front of this French Gothic Fireplace
from Origines.
Grab your cashmere throw
and a glass of Merlot,
because off a blog hopping,
we will go!

First stop, the blog Velvet & Linen, the wonderful world
of California designer, Brooke Giannetti.
Brooke shares her stylish home, interior design ideas,
and her love for French and Swedish antiques.

Monochromatic colors and french shutters,


Gilded chairs and a vintage flair



I know you will enjoy your time there!!
Now, top off your glass
and get ready for more class!

Capturing beauty is exactly what Australian stylist, Coty Farquhar does.

Whether it is styling for a wedding, a magazine shoot, or children's clothing, her work is entertainment for les yeux.

How lucky for us, she is willing to share

Visit her here , and into her world, you will peer.

Two wonderful blogs I had to share. I hope you enjoy them and stay warm!

Sante and Bisou :)

petits luxes

Its almost Christmas, so I'm running frantically about!

I do have the date set for our "Fete de Noel", so if

you happen to be near Louisville, we would love

for you to come!

I have one tree up at the shop, but lots more to do!

This is about the time I start to obsess over wrapping paper.

I found this wonderful little online store,

Paper Luxuries that has some wonderful

Cavallini paper and oh, so French!

These would be great as book jackets too!

I like the vintage English style too.

You'll also find a wonderful assortment of napkins if you

are looking for something different.

How cute would these roosters be for Thanksgiving!

If you are a wrapping fanatic too, you may want to

read my post from last year titled...

Pretty Papers, Pretty Ribbons.

I have links to several other sources there.

My new Departures arrived in the mail today and there is

a great article by Charolette Druckman about Macarons.


Of course, we would all love some of those Laduree

delicacies, but short of flying to Paris, these are a few

of her recommendations stateside that have

perfected the fragile shipping, and the cookie!

MadMac - New York City

Michel Patisserie - Arlington, VA.

Pistacia Vera - Columbus, Ohio

Rush Patisserie - Dallas, TX.

Paulette - Los Angeles

If you would rather make your own, you can always order

Pierre Herme's new book, just have a conversion chart handy.

Lastly, I had to tell you about these absinthe suckers

from Lollyphile. Too cool, but the alcohol has been removed.

We could always dip them in Pastis! :)

Time for me to get back to work!

Bisou and have a wonderful week!!

théâtre de la vie

Years ago, there was a girl, (we will call her The Performer), who landed the leading role in the theater.

National Theater of Iceland courtesy of Didaskalia
Not only did she get the lead part, she got Producer, Director, Casting Coordinator and Prop Master.
The only thing she was given was the title of the play.
The title was, and is, "Life".
No limits, no boundaries... only complete
freedom in how she chooses to act out this story and
communicate it with her audience.


Like the renaissance troupes before her, there have been times when she shields her face by masks. Once the masks are touched by "the Performer", they become props, material objects used to enrich the storyline and add character,(Untouched, they simply remain set decorations).

The Performer likes to touch, therefore she has many props. Most of her props are French Antiques. Like the Greek masks of comedy and tragedy, French Antiques help her enrich her story. They are props that communicate emotion and without emotion, there is no life.

She wants to know the gift of the blind. . .
For her fingertips to act as eyes and feel more than just the uneven grain of an old plank antique floor. She wants to touch more than the expression, on the chiseled face of a marble bust. She wants to be connected to the beautiful thoughts of the creator, who can only enrich her spirit and in the end, that is all she has to give.

Her hand will graze the plaster walls and she will know the stories held within their age. She will take in the curved lines and decorative motifs of the Louis XV furniture, and sense the influence of Madame Pompadour. You see, these props of hers, help her to tell a more intimate side of her story.

Her hand will follow the stitches entwined with love, that are passed through generations and remind her that joyous moments live forever and when shared, are doubled.

These props, they give her the means for self reflection, they remind her she is the director and the performer. She chooses how long to hold up any mask before her face. (look closely, do you see the reflection in the floor)?

As not to fall into the vast sea of sameness, her creativity needs not set decoration, but props. The performer is of the belief that her spirit carries with it, something that is greater than self. It is not something that can be seen, only touched.

She often contemplates her story and carries with her pieces of the past, to form the present.

These French Antiques are not just material things to her. They become props in her Theater of Life. A means of helping her express who she is and what she feels.



This is just a random page from "The Performer's" play.

Set location photos are via Shootfactory, a wonderful site I found via Di at DesignersBlock

Bisou and Happy Halloween

plus de curiosités

IF, you should tire of raking leaves,

visit Madrid based photographer, Eugenio Recuenco's website.
Recuenco has to be one of the most creative people
on the planet ...

unlike the portrait of the specimen above, who appears
to be a bit left-brain dominant.
Recuenco's photographs tell a story in which
his characters just happen to dress fashionable...
much more interesting than "pretty people posing",
don't you think?

Lucky for those of you close to Miami, as
Recuenco's work will be on exhibit at the
Galerie-Bertin-Toublanc through November.

Merci Eugenio, for giving us such visual delights and

inspiring us to dream !!

After you visit his site, come back and tell me

what you think !!!

Does he inspire you ??

Bisou mes ami's