Bloom Where You Are Planted

This is what I've been reminding myself lately.  I had found myself being envious of a good friend who is on a 3 week journey to the south of France and Paris. And envious when I read the wonderful blog of Corey Amaro, "Tongue in Cheek" who is an American married to a (gorgeous) Frenchman, living in a quaint Provencal village.
But I decided to take a break yesterday from lots of hard work lately, and relax with a book in my courtyard here in Colorado.  I was so awed and uplifted looking at my quaking aspen trees, beautiful window boxes of red geraniums and lobelia, and other potted flowers, I tossed the book to the ground and just drank it all in.  Our summer day was 72 cool and breezy degrees.  I decided there was no place else I would rather be.
I wish you the joy of being in the moment.

Here's To All The Dads

Here's to all the Dads that we can only wish Happy Fathers Day to in our prayers and thoughts.  Whether they taught us how to mix a Presbyterian or how to be a good one, we think of them today with gentle fond memories and a smile on our faces.

Spotting a New Trend?

First we apologize for being gone- life has been busy at Duchess & Bird...

While at our favorite flea market we think we have spotted a trend we wanted to share with you and see what you think.

Everywhere we looked we saw these.  In all shapes, sizes and adornments and wondered if you are seeing them too?  Duchess just found one in her travels and will be showing it in our store soon so do check it out!

We like the small size for showing off neclaces and to keep them from tangling in a drawer.

Don't Throw the Baby Out With the Bath Water

What an awful old expression!  But we do wonder why the French make such marvelous enamelware.  We have seen in the US many enamel pieces in white, blue, mossy green and red but leave it to the French to make useful things in pink with a white rim.

 This lovely tub was found at our local brocante early Easter morning before a horrific storm came blasting into the Bay Area.  We found many fun things which we will be adding to our shop as soon as we can photograph everything but we couldn't wait to show you this!  Can't you see it filled with ice for pick lemonade or chilled wines at your next soiree'.  Or perhaps you are giving a shower in the coming months.  You can put the gifts in here or the gift bags.  Of course it would be wonderful planted with flowers too!

Please see what other new things we have added to tempt you at Duchess and Bird!

xxoo-Bird

Little Orphan Houses

I have an urge to save homes. Period.  Maybe it is because I don't have a childhood home.  Perhaps I am longing to have a place of my family memories.  We moved all the time as children and even my parents last home was where none of us lived.  They bought it after we were all grown and gone from "home".  See what I mean? 

I started collecting these discarded needlepoint houses lovingly worked by hands at home.  I have many more that I need to finish.  I had them applied to scraps of fabrics I found in my travels.  Even the trims have meaning.  Most of them were found in Paris.  You know that little one crammed to the rafts with treasures in the very back corner in Clignancourt named Irma some came from her. 

Anyway,  the most special pillow of all is the little one in the front.  See the plaid fabric?  That was my Dad's favorite sportcoat. I just could not give that coat away after he was gone.  He wore it at my sister's rehearsal dinner, he wore it all the time.  This was a guy his children thought kept the old Abercrombie & Fitch and later Orvis in business.  He was the original preppy.  I could eke out just enough of the plaid to make this little memory.  It makes me smile every time I see it.

 What brings back memories to you?

 Warmly,

Bird

Easter Eggs

As I was putting away until next year all the eggs I've collected over the years, I saw these and instantly remembered another Sunday in Paris. 

Duchess and I were enjoying a stunning beautiful Sunday and decided to dash to San Chapelle knowing the light would be streaming through the glorious stain glass windows.  As we left the chapel and were heading across Ile de Cite to the Metro we found ourselves in the midst of the Bird Market!  As we wandered through the stalls I found the blue eggs.  On our next trip I picked up the single yellow and the following trip the brown ones. Now I remember those days and can't wait for our next trip to add to the memories.

What do you collect on your trips?

The Markets of Ile Sur La Sorgue

When we travel to find treasures in France we like to go in the winter or early spring when the tourists are gone and you are surrounded by the locals. A little cold or rain doesn't deter us in the least.


The Sunday market offered goods of all kinds.  Locally made tapenades, honey from lavender and many more flowers, provencale' fabrics in tablecloths, duvets, napkins, seat covers and even vinylized yardage to make your own!  You know the foodstuff are fresh from local sources.  We found a trove of sweet smelling guest soaps and shared a chocolate croissant as we wandered through on our way to brocantes across the bridge.

Have you ever seen so many varieties??  The colors bowled us over.  We wish we dared to bring the olive oils back with us.

We only took one photo inside one of the shops since our bags were getting heavy and we had miles to go.  The colors with the red fire buckets on the whitewashed trestle table really sang to us.  Every stall had enchanting displays and you sort of hated to buy anything and ruin their  vignettes but we did! We then headed outside to the Sunday market where the locals pull up to the street beside the river and set up tables to sell their wares.  We meet some wonderful people and found some wonderful old finds.

                                                                               





We were sad to say good bye to this magical place but we were heading back to Paris to seek out more treasures and our cute driver was waiting.

We will be returning again and again I am sure in the years to come.