Bliss

the backs of calypso

2009-07-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

I love Calypso...airy, bohemian and timeless...I was struck by the beautiful backs in their summer collection...

take my word for it...each and everything is just as pretty from the front...I want it all and a lovely beach to go with it...xo mrs. french

2009-07-16T16:33:00.001-07:00

skies are always prettier on vacation....xo mrs. french

blissful inspiration...

2009-07-16T09:46:00.000-07:00

~buttonmoOn

peaceful...blissful inspiration...sfgirlbybay...see you there...xo mrs. french

2009-07-15T15:00:00.000-07:00

the perfect afternoon snack....I love Saint Cupcake so darn much...xo mrs. french

james perse

2009-07-15T10:04:00.001-07:00

It occurred to me today that I am not at all hard to figure out. Regardless of what Mr. French says, I am a relatively uncomplicated gal. I am on the quest for one thing simple/perfect. This is my style, I want this for myself and my surroundings. I have not achieved this yet, but I am working on it.

James Perse emobodies this. Beautiful, well made, luscious to the touch...simple/perfect. I had mentioned yesterday that my life is a bit hectic at the moment, which is perhaps why I am so longing for this today. I would love nothing more than to empty my closet and replace it with what I have here. I love the colors, the design and can almost feel it on my skin...(I am so very good at this transporting thing)...

while I am at it, I want to replace all of my furnishings with these...

I can't get over how much I love the James Perse furniture collection. California is not that far away...I just need a truck, someone to help load and I could be on my way to Malibu to start my simple/perfect life.

oh and there's a cruiser...I love my bike so much, so I would never trade it in, but I could always just add this little number to the collection in the garage...

there I go, getting all complicated again...I am not sure I am cut out for the simple/perfect lifestyle...it was a nice thought...xo mrs. french

(500) DAYS of SUMMER

2009-07-14T14:00:00.000-07:00

I cannot remember the last time I was this excited to see a movie....xo mrs. french

my happy place: a solar powered beach shack

2009-07-14T09:01:00.000-07:00

It is a bit hectic around the French residence today...which makes my happy place this week particularily inviting....

this sweet "shack" is located on the Isle of Wight in the UK. I would love to grab a stack of books, my cameras, my boys and hunker down here for the remainder of the summer...sigh....................wow, I am in the midst of the most beautiful day dream. xo mrs. french

via apartment therapy

p.s.

come see me at deb's today too....I decided to share some of my tried and true favorites....

I heart Monday.

2009-07-13T08:39:00.001-07:00

happy monday friends...I got carried away this week....so much to love...

I heart this clutch.

I heart this chair so much I could scream.

I heart this dress.

I heart this wall hanging.

I heart this sandal.

I heart these bowls (thank you deb).

I heart this scale/clock.

I heart this dress.

I heart these earrings.

I heart this bowl.

I heart this pouffe.

I heart this sweet chair.

I heart this dress too.

I heart this pillow so much.

I heart this side table.

I heart this birdie.

I heart this top.

I heart this wooden sign.

I heart these shoes.

xo mrs. french

pretty portland bicycles...

2009-07-10T14:00:00.000-07:00

the mister and I are not a lot alike and a lot alike at the same time. I have to admit I was the tiniest bit nervous when I asked him to post on my bliss. I had no idea what he was going to post and was very relieved when I read it...free of profanity, pretty funny and surprisingly insightful...I agreed with almost everything on his list...especially the part about the comfortable silences in relationships and on a lighter note, the amazing custom bicycle builders in Portland.

I will not pretend to know much about bikes and will come clean and tell you that I look at bicycles based on the "pretty" factor, which is why I love these Portland constructed beauties...

~map bicycles

~vanilla bicycles

~sweet pea bicycles

functional works of art if you ask me...mr. french rarely does ask when it comes to bikes...but if you did...xo mrs. french

a home for pencils...

2009-07-10T12:00:00.000-07:00

my pencils should be so lucky...loving this "dotted pencil cup" from bailey doesn't bark xo mrs. french

bloom's bloomers....

2009-07-10T08:40:00.000-07:00

one of the sweetest things I have seen is awhile...

bloomers! just look at them! the sweetest, softest little bloomers...new from perwinklebloom...psst...there is also a summer sale in ms. tyler's shop...lucky us. xo mrs. french

b...b...b...

2009-07-09T14:39:00.000-07:00

guess what b and I did yesterday....xo mrs. french

blissful inspiration...

2009-07-09T09:50:00.000-07:00

~i am cookie

lovely locks...blissful inspiration...sfgirlbybay...see you there...xo mrs. french

my happy place: a room from a beatiful book

2009-07-08T13:36:00.000-07:00

I became so inspired by the feminine interior posted earlier today that I had to find more...because of my ability to pack up my brain and move myself to surroundings other than my own I have quite the collection of design porn. My current favorite is the Atlanta Bartlett book At Home in White. A book so perfect I can barely handle it...which brings me to this image...

again completely feminine, clean lines, free of clutter and lots of marvelous white...a breath of fresh air!

xo mrs. french

my happy place: a home in london

2009-07-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

The logical me knows that a home cannot change ones appearance....however, I can't help but think that being surrounded by this would make me just a bit prettier...

sometimes it's nice to be feminine...xo mrs. french

via shootfactory

little birdie

2009-07-07T14:00:00.000-07:00

etsy talented never ceases to amaze me...

such is the case with these lovely pieces by stephanie teague's pretty birdie...thank you ellie for the introduction! xo mrs. french

I heart Tuesday.

2009-07-07T08:28:00.000-07:00

I am right in the middle of a beautiful, festive summer...hope you are too....

I heart this teepee (via my sweet suzanne).

I heart alyson's new endeavor.

I heart this pedestal.

I heart this clutch (merci dearest melis).

I heart this "bather."

I heart these hangers.

I heart this tote (thank you ms. ez).

I heart this pendant.

I heart these sandals (I have them in red and they are perfect...relatively inexpensive and comfortable!).

I heart this dress.

I heart this canister.

I heart these sneaks.

I heart this necklace.

I heart this priceless book.

I heart this top.

I heart this pretty mug.

I heart these "buds."

xo mrs. french

2009-07-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

I hope you all had a nice weekend...we are heading back to Portland today....see you in the morning! xo mrs. french

A hearty hello from Mr. French......

2009-07-03T09:50:00.000-07:00

My darling bride was going to seek out a guest blogger for this post while we are away on a little weekend getaway, but I offered to fill in. She should have found someone else, as you can see from my work below
First off, no ee cummings from me; what I lack in artistic and literary ability I make up for with proper punctuation and syntax. Enough rambling!! I am a bit perplexed about what to do, as I fear coming off as a caveman. Which I am. So, here it goes; I will share with you some things I hold dear, and share with you some of the rules I live by (which all men should immediately adopt). I mostly refuse to use the term "I heart."

Rules to live by (things I "heart"):

1. Men should never wear designer jeans; denim should not cost more than $70, and should have no "fancy pocket" designs. This means Levi's for men, and nothing else. If you want to spend less on jeans, fine; it just means you don't care you look like a goof. If you spend more, it is because you do care, and think you look virile in jeans with flaps or thunderbirds on the pockets. You are very wrong.

Nice on the left. On the right, completely unacceptable.

Don't get me started on adults that wear professional sports team jerseys.

2. I don't like hard alcohol, except an occasional margarita (on the rocks, with salt). Anything stronger than beer or wine tastes like the inside of a shoe, and only serves to get you drunk. Once you move past 30, you don't need alcohol to make you feel good. I do love me some beer though! Here is where you find the best in Portland, which pretty much means the best in the world; check it out.

3. I don't care about clothes, but I am crazy about outerwear; I have about 20 jackets, and always want more.

4. Bikes- I am a total nut. In Portland, the number of custom bike builders is insane; they create art you can ride. I really don't like fixed gears, tall bikes, and penny farthings though; what are they trying to prove? If you like bikes, you must check out this; very funny.

5. Street food; I hate to say it, but I was way out in front on this; it seems to be all the rage now. If you are scared of street meat, consider this; with limited storage space, street vendors must use fresher ingredients. Ok, I made that part up, but it makes sense and could very well be true. I do know they operate under the same health code requirements. Seriously, a $1.25 taco? Who could say no to that?

My mouth is watering......

6. I am in the minority of American men in that I really like cats; why wouldn't you like an animal that doesn't "need" you all the time? Plus they seem cleaner than dogs. I like dogs as well, but not small dogs as a rule. Mutts are more my speed.

7. It is better to have one male friend that you would jump in front of a train for than 100 that you just enjoy hanging out with.

8. Since B was born, Christmas is a really, really, cool time of year. We adults lose our sense of wonder and children help us recapture it.

9. I can't tell you how much I like coffee; any time of day, any temperature. If you are in PDX, go to Ristretto.

10. I talk A LOT; in spite of this, the sign of a true soul mate is the ability to enjoy another's company without saying a word. I'm pretty sure I've found one. Maybe not as sure as South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, but close. I've never been to Argentina though.

11. I have a great idea for all the men that may read this; here is the world's most perfect man conversation to have; it involves a game called "When Animals Fight." The rules are as follows: pick two or more different creatures and a very specific scenario; e.g., a polar bear and a great white shark, fight to the death in 3 feet of water. Click here for the clear winner. The internet is full of rumors to the contrary, but they have no validity. Go at it. The only rule is you have to be able to clearly state your case. Hours can fly by when fully engaged, and the scenarios can get pretty crazy (great horned owl versus alley cat in a 12'x12' room with a dining room chair in the corner anyone?)

Enough. I hope all of you in the U.S. enjoy the holiday weekend.

Cheers,

megan and andy's wedding

2009-07-02T13:00:00.000-07:00

I had mentioned awhile back that I had shot my first wedding. I must admit, I was terrified. I had never seen myself as a wedding photographer (still not so sure I do)...but after much thought, doubt, worry, and excitement I decided to dive in.

I have been working on the photographs in between summer obligations and have a ways to go before I am finished. Megan and Andy (the cutest bride and groom ever) have been so patient and so generous as to let me share some of their photographs with you...

trust me...this is just the beginning. xo mrs. french

p.s.

you definitely want to stop by tomorrow....bliss is hosting a very special guest. Unlike anything I have ever done before...actually, I am a tiny bit scared....

blissful inspiration...

2009-07-02T09:50:00.000-07:00

~mind body soul

I love strawberries...blissful inspiration on sfgirlbybay...xo mrs. french

zooey

2009-07-01T14:30:00.000-07:00

oh goodness I do love her....zooey deschanel....

this little series is a perfect example of why that is. I am pretty sure I have five to ten years (actually it's 7...I just peeked) on her but I want to be her when I grow up.

xo mrs. french

whitney found the ultimate zooey site....you will love ms. zooey even more after a visit.

a swedish series: part 2

2009-07-01T12:00:00.000-07:00

I had posted previously about our travels to sweden...ha! not really! mr. french and I are travelling vicariously through our dear friends kevin and scott. they are about half way through a house exchage...and are staying in the stockholm area.

their emails and photos have been such a nice gift. mr. french and I have now moved sweden to the top of our must-see list....

the colors, architecture, scenery, and of course those bicycles sealed the deal.

xo mrs. french

tumbleweed show

2009-07-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

last week I mentioned my little show at the loveliest of boutiques, tumbleweed....

I am so pleased with how it all came out...honestly, I do not think anything in this shop can look anything but pretty...the care and kindness that went into this show was truly flattering....thank you kara, susan and lesley. you made my night.

this was also a blissful images first...I had never seen the photographs in my shop displayed so large on plywerk. Kjell and the plywerk folks went above and beyond.

I love this city...full of creative, wonderful people that come together to help a gal's photography look just right..xo mrs. french

my happy place: dave coote design

2009-06-30T15:00:00.000-07:00

afternoon installment of "my happy place"...dave coote design. dave is a furniture and interiors designer. I absolutely love the use of whites (of course), with the perfect bit of masculinity, mixed with, amazing textures and his knack for using reclaimed and vintage materials. I do believe this is a designer the Frenches could both agree on (and b too...he's the easy one)...

I am having the most beautiful Tuesday...hope you are too...xo mrs. french