This dining room is full of inspiration…

via decor8

The mix and match seating…beautiful pastel-wash rug…perfect wood patina…large formal chandelier…vintage mirror collection…

Lovely!

After reuniting with some of my very best college friends in the fall of 2010, we determined that 2011 should be a year of celebration and new beginnings and what better way to celebrate than with a trip to Paris!  One of my friends, Mary Charles, had a daughter who would be graduating in May 2011 and planning to move to Paris to study at Cordon Bleu, so planning a trip around the beginning of her new studies made sense.

We all lead busy lives and are spread across Dallas, Houston, College Station and Aiken, South Carolina, so the help of Valerie, at Riverside Travel, was essential!  This knowledgable travel agency/French antique shop specializes in French flea market shopping trips and was recently featured in Flea Market Style magazine.  Hands down, Valerie’s expertise and attention to detail played the #1 biggest part in our ease of travel and ability to see that all of our individual priorities were met.  My two favorite “hook-ups” from Valerie were our centrally located hotel and our personal shopping guide.

Valerie’s hotel suggestion, Le Littr’e,  was affordable, spacious and accomodating…much more than I ever expected!  Our party of 5 had private access to their top floor, two-bedroom suite that was like no other European hotel experience that any of us ever had in past travel experiences.  Our bathrooms were huge… with all of the modern amenities that all Americans love!  The staff took great care of us and is even taking care of packing and shipping a flea market art treasure to me.

My top priority in Paris was experiencing Les Puces de Saint-Quen at Porte de Clignancourt.  Strolling around the Eiffel Tower, going to the Lourve, Musee de Orsay, etc were on my list of to-do’s…but at the top?  Les Puces (The Fleas)!  Hearing that I was a “flea freak”, Valerie told me about my soon-to-be Paris BFF, Jodie!

Jodie Hutchins is an absolute doll and our greatest resource during our time in Paris!  Her personal shopping and guide service is a must for anyone who plans to spend a day, or more, shopping the flea or luxury designers in France.  She asks what you would like to find prior to your arrival and scours the shops before you get there, so that there’s no time waisted on hunting for that specific vintage Hermes’ bag or Christian Louboutin nude stiletto.   Her fluent English and French allow for perfect translations and negotiations.  Voila!   I can’t wait to go back to Paris and see her!  I truly made a new friend.  (Double cheek kisses to you, Jodie!)

I was in awe at the variety of vintage art everywhere!  (my obsession…)

Everything seemed to be beautiful in Paris…even “the fleas”

Here are a few of my favorite shots from our day…

Jodie led us to a tucked-away section that she said was much like “Sanford and Son” where we found tons of treasures and one of my new art treasures…a real deal at 60 Euros!

It was such a fun day!  I can’t wait to share more Parisian inspiration with you this week!

Be sure to check out The Hidden List Facebook page for more photos…

Twenty hours of celebration for one of my favorite stores in Austin!  Chose the time of your attendance wisely and PJ’s just might be appropriate!

This store is packed to the brim with vintage inspiration.  I wish I could be here for this!  Find more details here.

I shared these non-traditional brooch bouquets before, but when I saw these I just had to share!  I’ve talked to several people lately who have never seen one before, so hopefully some of you will read this post!  Aren’t they amazing?

These bouquets are from Hula Gypsy.  You can find other choices on Etsy by searching “brooch bouquet”.  Here are a few that I thought were exceptional…

This yellow and blue bouquet from The Heirloom Bouquet, would be adorable for an informal vintage wedding.

Pretty in pink from Lionsgate Designs

Totally amazing pearl and rhinestone combination from Noaki

Would you carry a brooch bouquet at your wedding?

These funky, bohemian tribal bags are made by Belgium-based brand, Believes.

They’re made using antique French silk fabric, tassles and lucky coins….I love them!!

Find them at Bottica.com.

Two of my “loves” collide tomorrow…Cowgirl Cutie’s vintage cowboy boots and imported goodies from The Wooden House…for a trunk show that will have you kicking up your western heels!

Steven Brooks and his precious pooch Cayden, owners of The Wooden House, offer hand-crafted 19th century inspired dining tables, upholstered cane headboards and other items that you won’t find anywhere else.  Steve is offering 10% off any purchase over $100 tomorrow night for the event!

One of my favorite items are their gorgeous kantha cloths.  I collect them and pile them in a huge wooden bowl that sits beside my couch…ready to use as throws while watching TV.  They’re addictive!

Put Lisa Gillham, owner of Cowgirl Cuties, at the top of your list for amazing vintage cowboy boots.  She does all the leg work to track down the best selection of vintage boots around and will be bringing her selection to The Wooden House tomorrow for your perusal.  I like my boots worn, short and poke-your-eye-out pointy!  I can’t wait to see what she has in my size!

Cowgirl Cuties Trunk Show

Thursday, April 21, 2011

4:00 – 8:00 pm

The Wooden House

2918 N Henderson Ave.

Dallas  75206

Will I see you there?

Not long ago I ventured to Grapevine to meet a a few girlfriends for breakfast and a little treasure hunting at Red Shed Antiques for one of their Saturday Spectacular Sales. We all found an armful of goodies, but we agreed that our favorite find of the day was the amazing art of Grace Barzyz.

I loved what Grace sent me when I asked her to share some information about her background…I love it so much so that I want to share this unedited version of her journey into paper artistry.  It’s lovely…

“I was born with a “Gift .“ This “Gift” was the gift of “Creativity”.  Growing up, when asked by my parents what my favorite class was in school , my answer was always “Art”.  At a very young age I was making paper seasonal displays to decorate the bulletin boards in school and I made all the banners that hung in church every Sunday.  My Aunt Flora would always say to me……….you  were meant to create beautiful things.  I loved everything about the process of creating…………this was my calling.”

“It was not until much later in life though  in my early 40’s that I knew I wanted to make this my career.  My love for working with vintage paper as my medium was due to the fact that it was so versatile and also an affordable material.  Trial and error were the teachers of my artistry.  I found  that the more I cultivated my gift, the better I became.  I am very adamant on bringing my “Best” forth in every piece I create.”

“The most rewarding aspect of my work is the feedback from the customers that love my creations.  I want to bring them that one-of-a-kind piece that no one else will have.  At present, my work can only be purchased exclusively at “The Red Shed” Cottage Chic Antiques in Grapevine Texas.  I have fine tuned my creations to compliment the magnificent French Décor that graces the shop.  I cordially invite you to visit us in lovely historical Grapevine or you can visit via the web-site at RedShedOnline.com“

You must see these pieces in person to truly appreciate them!  If you’re in the DFW area, mark your calendar for May 7th!  This is the date for the next sale at the Red Shed.  The girls will have just returned from Paris, so this will be an excellent time to snag some of their fabulous finds and meet Grace in person!

This cake is one of my favorites!  Yes…all paper!  I was thrilled to spot this sweet ring and make it my own.  It’s so much fun and gives me lots of opportunities to tell about Grace’s amazing creations!

Hopefully I’ll see you on May 7th!

Here’s what lovlies at Anthropologie‘s wedding site, BHLDN,  have my attention….

Click on the picture to take you directly to the BHLDN link…

Would love to hear about your favorite picks!

Using a collection of mismatched vintage pulls on this chest of drawers re-do is genius!

Find the details about this DIY at Living With Lindsay.

Here’s another opportunity to “get your art on” this weekend if you’re in, or around, the DFW metroplex!  McKinney Main Street presents Art Walk in historic downtown McKinney!

There will be over 150 artists represented in the store fronts.  My friends at Patina Green will have three artist in house.  If you’ve visited this amazing store, you may have already seen Regina Butz’ vintage pieces already.  She makes bracelets from old silverware, necklace pendants from discarded spoons and worn and tattered belts fastened with vintage jewels for a one-of-a-kind cuff bracelet.

Those cuffs are to die for!

Amber Block calls herself a “multilingual artist”.  She’ll be turning Patina Green‘s dining room into an art gallery to showcase her paintings and mixed media creations.  Amber’s most faithful component in her art is her authentic self and her relationship with God.  She feels she hears His voice with the most clarity through the visual world.  Love that!

Photographer Jim Butchee will round out Patina Green‘s art crew with his postcards he prints with local shots from around McKinney’s historic district in which he adds his own unique artistic touch.

Kaci and the gang at Patina Green have just returned from Round Top and brought back amazing goodies that she’s unveiling for the Art Walk!  Kaci knows how to “pick” so get there early for the best of the best!

Another “do not miss” stop on the Art Walk is the home decor and antique shop, Smitten.  (One of my favorite words!)  This shop is adorable!

“A commitment by the whole design team to offer clients products and services that will meet the standards of Reuse, Repurpose, Refresh and most of all Inspire, transforms the shop into a haven, a most appealing argument for being environmentally astute!” (via Smitten’s site)

My good friend and uber-talented artist, Gloria Burson, will be there with her gourd sculptures created uniquely with found objects.  You must not miss these!!

There’s much, much more!  Please let me know if you’re planning to go!  I want to hear about the creative treasures that you find!