Monday, December 22, 2014

Noël en France

Noël....I love a French Christmas...my husband & I have celebrated several holidays in France...our first Christmas, we were in Paris..it was beautiful with lots of lights, lots of people...everyone was in the holiday spirit. As we strolled the streets we passed by the Chestnuts vendors...roasting chestnuts...what a wonderful smell! The large stores Printemps & Galeries Lafayette were both stunningly decorated and filled with shoppers. It was very beautiful...a large magical city that felt intimate...all reveling in Christmas. The other times we celebrated in the countryside of France...it was very simple & very memorable...I loved everything....the food was simple, delicious & amazing, as were the decorations...Père Noël greeted everyone in the main street of the village on the morning of Christmas Eve....the entire village gathered in the centre ...shops had all their goods outside even though it was very cold...the butcher shop had fresh seafood iced down in front...large trays of prawns & fish...large containers of fresh greenery and fresh fruits were everywhere. Every shop closed at lunch on Christmas Eve. The main Christmas meal, called Réveillon, is eaten on Christmas Eve or early Christmas morning after people have returned from the midnight Church Service...roast turkey with chestnuts or roast goose, oysters, foie gras, lobster, venison and cheeses are usually on the menu. For dessert, a chocolate sponge cake log called a bûche de Noël is normally eaten. On Réveillon we had a fabulous dinner, with too many courses to count...each course more delicious then the previous...candles were everywhere...the emphasis was more on the celebration then gift giving. On the morning of Dec 25....the Christ child or enfant was placed in the creche in the town centre. It was authenic...thoughtful and beautiful...one of my fave Christmas ever...Sharing with you a few faves of a Noël en France...Wishing all a very Merry Christmas...Happy Holidays and Joyeux Noël...
Beautiful & simple French country fireplace..for Noël
Christmas tree in Nancy, France
Noël
Provencal fruits & cheese for Noël...

Edith Mezard's Shop...Lumiere at her Chateau de L'Ange in Provence
Beautiful French table set for Réveillon...
Noël candles in the garden...
Simple gifts for Noël ...French marmalade
Simple & elegant French dining at Christmas...
Antique French silver...for Noël

Simple French Noël sweets wrapped up in antique linen...
Fabulous French altar candleholder...
French Noël dining at Christmas...Château de Moissac
Château de Moissac
Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, love divine..
Love was born at Christmas,
Star and angels gave the sign...
 

                                                          Christina Rossetti 1885

Friday, December 19, 2014

All wrapped up....Christmas

This week at Rue 27 Maison...Christmas gifts....Christmas bows...tinsel...paper & wrapping....Most of us celebrate this beautiful and holy season with exchanging of gifts...some of us shop all year & others enjoy the excitement of shopping the few days before Christmas...I always say I will be finished shopping well before the rush....somehow each year I am tempted to join in the crush of fellow shoppers...it's crazy....crowded and I always feel the spirit of the holiday in the chaos...I am done shopping this year & now its all about the wrapping....I love beautifully wrapped presents...I love to use vintage ribbons, tinsels & ornaments...I was fortunate to find several bolts of vintage French tinsel and I love to use it with matte silver wrapping paper and simple brown craft paper...I love the contrast...this year I also used old keys, framed Joyeux Noël script & mercury glass ornaments with the tinsel...Sharing with you a few faves of this season...Wishing each of a very Merry Christmas!
Love the fresh greens on this gift from Craftberry Bush....
Beautiful & white with Christmas pine...
Rue 27 Maison this week...
Antique keys & vintage tinsel....Joyeux Noel framed print adorn gifts at Rue 27 Maison
Fabulous sequined paper with simple hemp ribbon...
A gorgeous gift...winter berries with vintage Christmas silver spoon...
Simple brown paper all tied up & stenciled makes a big impact...
May Peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through...Cheers! 

Saturday, December 6, 2014

The Greens of Christmas...

Fresh Christmas greenery...nothing quite like that beautiful smell...it sets the tone for all the holiday festivities...looks fabulous with all colors & brings a fresh fragrant into our homes...This year I am using lots of greens....fresh greenery...pine, boxwood, cedars & holly...green ribbons and of course a green Christmas tree. I always use several wreaths, the wreath shown above is fresh boxwood & is at Rue 27 Maison this week..I also love fresh garlands of pine...I love to hang them over mirrors & artwork...pine garlands also look fabulous down the dining table or on a buffet...a bouquet of fresh greens looks festive tucked into an arrangement of white roses...I am finishing up decorating this weekend & right now, I love the smell in my house...the fragrant of the fresh greens are a welcome to the season and remind me of Christmas past...Sharing with you a few of my fave Christmas greens...
a fresh boxwood wreath looks simple & elegant on a buffet at Rue 27 Maison...

love the fresh garlands...
fresh greens with burlap...
the greens at Rue 27 Maison...
love the fresh cedar swag with the antique gilt...
a bouquet of pine looks beautiful against the glow of silver...
Rue 27 Maison
gorgeous fresh greens to welcome guests...
beautiful & brilliant green glass ornaments...
love this fresh green tree with silver & gold...
Until next time...Cheers!