Gloaming Designs

There Goes the Sun

I love a wonderful gray, cosy, thought-provoking rainy day. And I always have. And in my home state of Maine, we have winters that can range from those gray days to bright blue sky days.

But here in Paris, it seems almost every winter day is just gray and I've been surprised to find that it really effects my spirit. It's not the dark I mind, really, it's the heavy, died gray of the sky. So, I find myself so happy when I see the sun pouring in the windows, like today, and a bit worried when I hear a friend saying that the weather is supposed to turn gray and rainy again for the following days. Wishing for the light. And I don't think Albert minds when it's sunny either!

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How do you do with the change in seasons?

xo,

a.

 

Marché Photo of the Week

This week is really a portrait of early winter in fruit and vegetable.

delice d'or apples

celery

comice pears

parsley

buffalo mozzarella

onions

polka bread

potatoes

radicchio

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On the menu:

Mussels steamed in Guinness with baked French Fries

Chickpea, Rosemary, & Pancetta Soup

(both from Jamie Magazine Nov./Dec. 2010, & Mar./Apr. 2011)

Porkchops with Tomatillo and Apple Sauce

And for the rest of the meals I'm trying to finish what's in the fridge from previous weeks marché visits. Sometimes every time, it's hard to resist adding extras to our basket.

What are you planning to enjoy this week?

xo,

a.

 

sale in the {re-opened} shop!

the shop is open again and cyber Monday is lasting until Wednesday there :)

enjoy!

xo,

a.

inspired

I hope everyone had a beautiful Thanksgiving in warm and cosy homes. This season of being thankful is fully upon us and I'm feeling very blessed. So it seemed like the perfect time to start sharing with you my favorite inspiration and finds from the week (because I'm very thankful for them! get it?). It's so fun to put together a list like this, I'm going to try to do it every Friday. The only hard part is keeping the list a manageable size! So, here's what's got me all excited this week:

1. You know know the amazing Jen Altman's photography blog Nectar & Light but have you seen her beautiful food blog: Nectar? She shared a recipe for Port Cranberries with Shallots for Thanksgiving and it sounds like heaven. And I love her idea of straining off some of the extra liquid to save for drinks and desserts. (photo: Jen Altman)

2. When I stumbled onto the Mini-eco blog I read for pages and pages into her archives. Her ideas are most often geared towards children but they are all so simple and beautiful that they appeal to any age. The origami garland will definitely be starring in my Christmas decorating plans this year. (photo: Mini-eco)

3. I've seen several versions of this kind of scarf/necklace around the internet, but etté's is my favorite for it's simple clean lines. Try it out here: DIY recycled t-shirt scarf (photo: Bridgette Meinhold)

4. I can't wait to start decorating for Christmas and as soon as I get my act together, this simple evergreen bunch is going on our door. I love that it is a bit traditional but simple and modern too. (photo: Michael Partenio)

5. And to go with that origami garland, I'm loving the idea of lots of these paper gems from Mini-eco to decorate the tree and use on gift packages. I'm going to try them in white with cut glass glitter to look like frost. (photo: Mini-eco)

6.This DIY leather cuff bracelet couldn't be simpler to make and I love the idea of pairing it with some other fun bracelets. (photo: Oh the Lovely Things)

7. Nasa has a flickr acount! And it's a treasure trove. You can browse through hundreds of images of space and earth like this one of Istanbul at Night. They are beautiful and also come with a far amount of information on each image. (Check out this one of Europe at night too!) (photo: Nasa)

8. I've been loving reading the spunky and well-written E Tells Tales of one E and her adventures with her baby boy, EE. Seriously. She cracks me up. (photo: Elizabeth Ivie)

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happy weekend!

(Im so glad it's here)

xo,

a.

happy

Happy Thanksgiving!

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may your family be close,

your turkey be juicy,

and your naps be profound.

xo,

a.

November Fields

I've got a treat for your weekend.

First, you need to plan a walk through the fields of November...

... but before you head out, you need to have the right music in your esprit.

And that is just what the album November Fields by my dear friend Robert Nichols is.

For years now he has worked so very hard to make this album sound just right, tweaking this, changing that. And, now that he's let it out into the world, you can hear just how perfectly he got it. In his own words, he is about telling stories, but you really don't need him to tell you that. It's exactly what the songs are. And I love stories.

We have our favorites because it's been playing on repeat here for a little while now.

But I think it's best to discover it on your own. The perfect accompaniment to a long wander through November landscapes.

So, here's your soundtrack for the weekend!

Check out his site here and you can even get to know the songs a bit here.

And I want to hear what you think!

p.s. In full disclosure, I had a hand in designing his packaging but all the credit and benefit belongs to Robert!

xo,

a.

Albert in Black and White

I have been loving black & white photographs lately.

Maybe it's because Paris turns from color to grayscale at this time of year?

Whatever it is, this is my favorite image of the moment.

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Are there an images that you can't shake lately?

Flax

It's hard to love vintage and antique pieces, as well as brocante hunting, without appreciating the beauty of flax, or linen. I love it for it's texture, durability, and natural variation in color.

So when I saw these beautiful short films, I was {literally} excited: by the beauty of linen, its past, and its possibilities.Commissioned by the European Confederation of Flax and Hemp, the first film describes the process of growing linen (with it's beautiful blue flower) through to its transformation into thread then fabric and it's traditional applications. But the second film, the second film opens the doors on linen's future. And you won't believe what that little plant can do! I recommend both films, but, if you only have the time or patience for one, watch the second.

The processing of flax into textile is a purely mechanical process: no oil, no chemicals, no nothing is added. And it is an extremely resistant fiber as evidenced by the countless sheets and towels and clothing made of linen that can be found in the brocantes, all having survived sometimes hundreds of years of utilitarian use. I couldn't agree more with the producer who explains in the film:

"I love this fiber because I believe in it."

So, it made me think, maybe along with our upcoming holiday pledges to buy handmade, we can also make ourselves the promise to think about material, too, and how it will effect both our lives and the environment's.

But first, watch these films:

 

BE LINEN MOVIE from Benoit MILLOT on Vimeo.

BE LINEN MOVIE 2 from Benoit MILLOT on Vimeo.

 

xo,

a.

Golden Vines

I promised you vineyards. And here they are, glowing and golden. We took these during our trip to the Sancerre region (home of the French grandparents) at a time when the grapes have been harvested and the leaves have turned from green to golden and eventually to russet then brown before each vine is cut back to an ancient little trunk that will wait through the winter before tossing out fresh, young branches again.

The slopes of vineyard line the hills and spill into the valleys everywhere you turn. This is a favorite spot of R.'s, one we visited on my first trip here, where a Hollywood-esque sign watching over the grapes.

There were still some little grapes holding on that had escaped harvest and we grabbed little sweet and sticky tastes here and there.

A V of noisy, migrating cranes flew over head and they were followed by another group, and another, and another for what seemed like ages! There were hundreds of them all off to the south together.

This is the town of Sancerre - perched on a little hill and surrounded by the fields and vineyards that are the lifeblood of the region.

Looking at the scene as it runs into the distant, one can't help but imagine what it might feel like to be able to run your hand over the fields as it it were a great green quilt over the landscape.

And there you have a stroll through the hills of Sancerre.

xo,

a.

 

Secret Weapon

When much anticipated autumn sweeps in, I'm afraid my much dreaded allergies come with it. It's like clockwork every year, that day that the air turns beautifully crisp also heralds the beginning of a period of 'We Have Arrived!' symptoms from my friends the allergies. And the worst is the scratchy, achy throat. Because, on top of the allergies, the air in our apartment is very dry.

One day I discovered my secret weapon and I've blessed it ever since!

My secret weapon is: lemon & honey.

Both have cleansing and soothing properties to help your throat fight back and the steam of a hot drink, of course, does wonders too; so I sip this mix constantly when the allergies strike (or when a cold strikes for that matter).

Simply put 2 slices of lemon and a generous tablespoon of honey in a (pretty) teacup and fill the cup with boiling water. Let that steep a couple of minutes then squeeze extra juice out of the lemon with the back of a spoon before taking the slices out. Leaving them in can turn the brew bitter.

Enjoy all day long!

This is by far my favorite trick for throats that hurt. Does anyone else have any secret weapons for coping with the change in weather?

xo,

a.