The Intersection of Design & Motherhood
From the monthly archives:
Today I thought I’d share a photo tour of some of my favorite details in the living room here at La Cressonnière. Starting with the floor to ceiling mantel and fireplace. Amazing, no?
Here’s a closeup of one of the little carving details.
Click here to see the rest of the living room tour.
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When the TV crew was here, the cameraman wore clothing from Superdry pretty much exclusively and always looked super cool. Superdry is new to me so I asked him about it and he said it’s not budget priced, but the quality is fantastic. Do you know the line?
I’m thinking about splurging on a hoodie for Ben Blair. I bet he would wear it to pieces. Which reminds me, do you pick out clothes for your husband, or does he shop for himself? At our house, except for the occasional gift, Ben Blair does all his own shopping. (And he always looks great!)
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Last week, Ben Blair and I invited Colette and Roger, parents of the homeowners, for goûter — the French word for afternoon tea. You may remember, they had a delicious cake, jar of homemade jam and cozy fire waiting for us the day we arrived here. We wanted to repay their kindness.
What gracious guests! They brought a flower bouquet cut from their own garden. A homemade chocolate cake (with sweet instructions it should be saved for the kids), and a container of Creme Crue made on their very own farm.
Creme Crue is amazing. We use it like sour cream, though it’s thicker, creamier and slightly sweeter. Mmmm! And it’s made just minutes from our house, so we know it’s super fresh.
Today, Colette and Roger have invited us for goûter at their home. We are such a big group and I’m nervous about etiquette. My poor kids! Many of the manners that have been drilled in since birth no longer seem to apply. Napkins on laps? Not really a thing here. No elbows on the table? Doesn’t matter anymore. But there’s a whole new set of rules we’re just getting to know. Luckily, everyone we’ve interacted with has been really kind and I haven’t felt judged for any obvious or oblivious faux pas. : )
Ever made any memorable etiquette mistakes? Ever been surprised by an etiquette rule you didn’t know existed? I love those sorts of stories!
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Friends, do you know the term layette? If it’s new to you, it means the collection of simple clothing you need for a new baby. The word is on my mind because I’m thinking about designing a line of layette items. Wouldn’t that be fun?
A few weeks ago, a manufacturer approached me about designing a diaper bag. I thought about it, told him there were lots of terrific diaper bags on the market, and asked if he’d consider producing a layette line instead (still waiting on his answer…). I’m no fashion designer, but I do have strong opinions about what works and what looks cozy on tiny babies. I know many of you have strong opinions too. : )
Did you have a favorite piece of clothing in your baby’s layette? Do you like gowns and footie pajamas? Do you have a preference for kimono tops versus traditional onesies? Zippers or snaps? Bright or muted colors? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
P.S. — Can I tell you about June’s polkadot outfit? It’s not really a layette sort of item, but it does have a sweet little history. I had a favorite shirt (see here), but I had worn it to pieces and it looked ragged. So I sent it to Miranda (seamstress extraordinaire), who made a pattern of it, and the shirt was reborn in a stripey fabric. Then, she took the old fabric from that favorite top, refashioned it into a sweet little getup for June, and sent it to me as a surprise. Isn’t that lovely? June is only 3 1/2 months in these photos. So little!
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Image by Camille Roche/Courtesy Todd Bieber
I know this is an icy picture for a Spring day, but I love the story behind it! Todd Bieber found an undeveloped roll of film while walking in Prospect Park. He had the photos developed and then used clues from the images, plus a dose of social media, to track down the photographer. The story has an especially charming ending. You can read it here.
Do you have any great lost and found stories?
Thanks for the link, Ann.
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I’m slow at posting today because I’m hanging out with my Mom seeing the sites. She leaves tomorrow so we’re trying to pack in as much as we can.
On Saturday we went to Mont St. Michel. Wow! It made me feel like I was visiting that city in Lord of the Rings (Ugh. I can’t remember the name. Help me out, please.) It’s a city built on a mountain, with a picturesque little village of shops and restaurants to wander through as you climb higher and higher and finally reach the abbey/cathedral at the top. But it’s not just a mountain. It’s an island too! During our visit, the weather happened to be just right and the views went on forever.
Best discovery: I found out there are several hotels right on the island. This information is totally public knowledge, but I had no idea.
Wouldn’t that be a romantic getaway?
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Something happy to start your week. Jerome of Photomatonchic makes little videos out of the stills from photobooths. He made this one from a happy wedding party in upstate New York. I think this is so clever!
Thanks for the link, Katy.
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Hello, Friends. I am in love with Spring today. Right now, the roadsides and hillsides are carpeted in wild daffodils. Gorgeous. I think these are the first wild daffodils I’ve encountered — they are about half the size of the type you buy at the florist. Olive, our 9-year-old, goes out each day and collects another vase full. There are now vases in every room of the house. : )
Did you have a good week? My mom arrived on Wednesday night — our first houseguest! It’s so fun to have someone here to join in our oohing and aahing over La Cressonnière. We have been exploring and hope to see a few chateaus and cathedrals this weekend. Mostly, it’s just fun to drive through the countryside and gasp at the beauty. While we make our weekend plans, here are a few things I’ve been wanting to share with you:
-Are you over this trend?
-Another fun family photoshoot.
-She’s learning how to grieve and helping others learn too.
-Rad lyrics posters.
-Old Brand New.
-Loving.
-My obsession continues.
-Heartthrobs then and now.
-Get ready for spring cleaning.
-Baskets.
My Babble posts from this week:
-You’ll never guess what this jewelry is made of.
-Would you use these if I told you Jessica Alba does?
-Still thinking about how to display family photos.
-Bento fans unite!
-The coolest job chart ever.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend. I’ll meet you back here on Monday. I miss you already.
kisses,
Gabrielle
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Image by Sugar City Journal
Stephmodo has the neatest new series. She features beautiful homes that have been put together by non-interior designers. I can’t get enough.
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Today’s giveaway is so fun! It’s sponsored by House 8810 and they’ve put together a really happy prize package. The winner will receive:
-Grandma’s Kitchen Towels
-Picnic Napkins
-Too Hot To Handle Pot Holders
-Chatter Box Set
-Collapsible Laundry Basket
-World Map 100 Piece Puzzle
-Picnic Tablecloth
-Dottie Knit Throw
That’s over $225 worth of goodies!
House 8810 is one of my favorite sources for homegoods that are both cool and useful at the same time. Everything they carry feels new + hip and retro + trusted all at once. I especially love their kitchen linens — perfect for hostess gifts (or for your own collection!).
Visit House 8810 and leave a comment below to enter. The winner will be announced on Monday. Good luck!
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Kimberli is the lucky winner. Thanks for playing!
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New to Design Mom? Here are 10 posts to get you started:
What to Wear To Middle School
Napoleon Dynamite
Our Birth Announcements
Potato Print Clothing
Having Another Child
Young Einstein Birthday Party
Little Red LightHouse Outing
Porch Makeover
Waving Goodbye To The Atlantic Ocean
Build Two Toddler Beds for $75
Pimp My Ride: Family Edition
We love coming up with fun valentines to make and give. Here are some of our favorites (many are candy free!):
3-D Lollipop Valentines - Easy! And a big hit.
Wild Animal Valentines - Family Fun Magazine requested my idea for their latest issue.
Mad Lib Valentines - Family Fun requested this idea too!
Friendship Bracelet Valentines
And here are a few more ideas I've featured over the years that I bet you'll love:
- Fresh Fruit Valentines
- Color Theory Valentines
- DIY Scratch Off Valentines
- Shaving Cream Valentines
- Mini Valentine Boxes
Here's something fun. Our family was featured in an episode of House Hunters International! Spoiler: we choose the gorgeous French Farmhouse. It's called La Cressonnière and we take pictures of it all the time. If you're curious, try these links:
The Kitchen
Summer at La Cressonnière
The Halfbath
The Stairwell
The Neighbors
Ralph's Bedroom
The Studio
Springtime at La Cressonnière
The Living Room
Maude's Bedroom
The Artists
Oscar & Betty's Bedroom
The Exterior
The Floors
Olive's Bedroom
The Treehouse
The House: La Cressonnière
I hope you enjoy the house tour! Oh. And if you'd like to see the episode, you can find it on Youtube here (it's in four parts).
I write a weekly column called Inspiration Scout on Cafémom. Find new posts on Thursdays.
I write a daily post (Monday through Friday) for Babble's Family Style blog.
