Awaken to French Decor

Bonjour my friends,

Why don’t you come and journey with me through some of the French homes and chateaus I’ve stayed in across France and get a sneak preview into the delicious world of French interiors?

We usually need this to enter the French bedroom…

and just imagine who has turned this same key before us last century!

In other French homes, we may well cast our eyes instantly onto beautiful embellished walls of murals and trompe l’oeil decoration. It’s just like stepping straight into a glossy page from ‘Better Homes and Gardens’ magazine. I don’t mind a bit of Mary Poppins transporting myself.

I can take you through unexpected rooms of historical significance as we enter century old libraries with artworks and even brocante antique bird cages…

And you’ll enjoy the quircky world in the homes of french provincial artisans who simply allow imagination to run wild… even in the bathroom.

And they’ll welcome us in elegant Bretagne interiors with more refined French simplicity

and chateaus where their wonderful ambience are true testaments to the passion of their generational owners. My french awakening to decor with its unique French appeal using beautiful french fabrics and quilts, made my stay even more inspiring and memorable than you can imagine.

But keep in mind you will sometimes have to polish the patina from an antique balustrade on your way up and down a French staircase…

to breakfast with the stars…

Life can be tough in French interiors.

Discover for yourself. x

AuRevoir,

Best Wishes, Therese

Awaken to The New Quilt Website and French Inspiration

Bonjour everyone,

My French Awakening is so pleased to announce the arrival of my new quilt website inspired by France of course!

At long last I’ve kissed goodbye my old quilting website and forged on through ugly IT jargon to produce something new and fresh with new quilt designs from my french awakening. This is your introduction to a whole new Custom made Quilt Section- my very special Memory Quilt Section which may touch the heart and give you some comfort for loving friends and family the way you do. What does it all mean? Well, just go to http://www.quiltingthejourney.com and have a good look. There’s something for you.

Even though some of you darling people haven’t the foggiest idea on how to sew, I have some easy quilts that will get you started, like my ‘Diamonds Are Forever Quilt’ and a very special section introducing Custom Made Memory Quilts using precious fabrics (of ties, cotton shirts, dresses and so on) from loved ones who have passed away and giving me the honour of combining and transforming such pieces into a beautiful quilt to snuggle under. Colours and design will match personality and I can’t think of anything better than being wrapped in a quilt like this, can you?

Just to give you an idea, my latest Custom Memory Quilt was for a lovely lady who had lost her husband too soon. She provided me with his favourite silk ties which I combined with gorgeous silk from the south of France. They lived near the sea and loved these rich nautical colours so I called the Quilt,’ St Tropez To The Stars- In Loving Memory of John- The Real Star.’ It was a testimony to great times in France!

It gave me a lot of satisfaction to see that she loved the quilt so much!

A special Custom Made Memory Quilt is just what you need to sooth the soul and an answer to not bearing to throw out sentimental clothing of someone you have loved. You know what I mean.

Or perhaps you and yours are lucky enough to still be in the land of the living and would love any of my patterns made up in your own glorious favourite colours for your home or as a beautiful gift, so just send me your enquiries at the following email address at therese@quiltingthejourney.com   

I’ll be adding new quilts to my new site for you to enjoy. Subscribe to the RSS feed on the site so as not to miss out on updates.

I hope your having a fabulous day and thankyou for your wonderful wishes of support as always.

Best Wishes, Therese

Awaken to Provence Inspired Quilts

Bonjour my friends,

Today is the day we take the warmth of Provence and the roads which wind across its yellow and green fields steadily towards the Meditteranean and show you how I turned a piece of French provincial inspiration into some quilts. I hope you like them!

Here are the results of my Provence experience called, ‘The Road To Provence’ and ‘Provincial Autumn’. It’s all part of my french awakening but up close and personal. Take a look now at ‘The Road To Provence’ Quilt pattern…

The Road To Provence Quilt embraces the warm, rich colours of the South of France as inspiration, where fields of gold, lavender and green are breathtakingly beautiful. I intended that this quilt’s earthy tones and sun blessed colours radiate a feeling of comfort and seduction.

Size of Quilt:  90in x 60in

PATTERN ON SALE for $20 AUS !…

And here is another…it’s called, ‘Provincial Autumn’…

This quilt represents a Provincial Autumn with its falling leaves and earthy colours surrounding a centre of beautiful French Toile de Jouy fabric.

Size of Quilt: 77 in x 77in

Pattern on SALE for $15 AUS !

These original quilt patterns (and many more) can be ordered directly here: http://www.quiltingthejourney.com/   

Au Revoir,

Best Wishes, Therese

copyright@Therese Waddell@2011

Awaken to Chanel with a Chanel Quilt

Bonjour everyone,

I hope you’re all well. Thought you might like to take a wee peep at one of my recently finished quilt designs. It was inspired by my first glimpse of the Chanel shop in Paris a long while ago. Remember https://myfrenchawakening.wordpress.com/2010/02/13/awakening-to-chanel/

The beautiful art of Chanel is so inspirational for me in many ways. With its classic simplicity in line and shape, inspiration took hold of my french awakening and I could think of no other title for my Chanel inspired quilt design than simply “Chanel”.  I can only hope that Coco would have been pleased in some small way. So here it is….

My Chanel Quilt pattern is definately one for the girls this time, especially those interested in fashion with a bag fetish! The colours are bright with a  contemporary youthful feel, which harks back to the words of Coco Chanel herself…

“I am not young but I feel young. The day I feel old, I will go to bed and stay there. J’aime la vie! I feel that to live is a wonderful thing.”

Quilters Alert:  Choose your favourite fabulous fabrics for this one- I’ve used vintage brights from my great aunt’s fabric stash!

This pattern and many more is available at my quilting website:

www.quiltingthejourney.com

The SALE price is $25 for those of you who would like to purchase the pattern.

Do enjoy and live wonderfully!

Best Wishes,

Au Revoir,Therese

copyright@2011 Therese Waddell

Awaken to French Quilt Pattern SALE

Bonjour,

Attention all  QUILTERS. My french awakening is offering now HUGE REDUCTIONS in our CLEARANCE SALE of original FRENCH INSPIRED QUILTING PATTERNS while STOCKS LAST.

CLICK HERE to see just a small sample of what’s on offer THIS MONTH.

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For more patterns go directly to www.quiltingthejourney.com and place your orders for QUILTING PATTERNS which have been SLASHED UP TO  80% off!! That’s a HUGE SAVINGS!

Your order will be automatically REDUCED AT  CHECKOUT so IGNORE the initial full prices when shopping.

Patchworkers and Quilters enjoy!

Au Revoir,

Best Wishes, Therese Waddell

 

Awaken to French Parterre Gardens

Bonjour everyone,

The French really know what they’re doing when it comes to parterre gardens. My french awakening to gardens across France was accompanied by a string of magical and unforgettable images.  Mathematical by design with such precision of symmetry and order, French parterre gardens originated in the fifteenth century by the very clever Claude Mollet during the Renaissance. Today, they have made a remarkable reentry into landscaping and still exude a calmness in our modern world of chaos and dilemma.

Look at this gorgeous back garden of a home in Lautrec, down in the south west of France…

We would all like one of these! You too will find them fascinating and truly beautiful. Even  though I deplore control in most other environments, when it comes to ‘French green’ it’s another story altogether, isn’t it?

The French demand for what I term controlled greenery, does not seem to paralyze the human spirit nor my french awakening and you too will discover that they bring a reassurance and calm while otherwise flitting about on your busy tour of France. French gardens in their formality and sophistication, maintain some certainty principle in their resilience to change over time and that in itself is very comforting.

Wander through a formal French garden and you will understand what I mean.

Here’s another garden with topiaries clipped into submission outside the fabulous Musee Goya in Castres…

and some statuesque evergreen obelisks marking the corners of the parterre garden of Versailles definately giving it je nais sais quoi- that unexplainable X factor. Elegant, non?

Getting around this garden by horse drawn carriage can be loads of fun. Take a look here:  https://myfrenchawakening.wordpress.com/2010/01/14/awakening-to-versailles/

But above all, take time to smell the French roses along the way… https://myfrenchawakening.wordpress.com/2009/12/02/where-it-all-began/

and wander barefoot at least at some time!

If you’re a quilter as well as a garden lover, try my very easy quilt pattern which was inspired by the order and symmetry of French gardens.

 

Order this pattern and more online at http://www.quiltingthejourney.com or email me at therese@quiltingthejourney.com for any enquiries.

Go on. Visit a French garden.

It will inspire you too.

Have a great day everyone!

Au Revoir,

Best Wishes, Therese Waddell

copyright@2011 Therese Waddell

 

 

Awakening to a French style Christmas

 

Joyeux Noel mon amis,

My french awakening to Christmas with its beautiful blend of old traditions with new, brought on one conclusive discovery- that a French style Christmas may be just what you need!

Imagine a white Christmas…

Sure you may have to scrap away a little snow…

But you can leave all those mundane chores behind…

and allow time to stand still like those in central France.

Some Christmas traditions have been around for a long time. Now the idea of using a Christmas tree (sapin de Noel) was bought to France around the middle of the fourteenth century.Today, some french in country areas opt for using yule logs instead…

which they douse in red wine to keep the logs alight, but this seems a perfectly good waste of french red, don’t you think?

Old French Christmas traditions are fabulous. Hanging candy, fruits, nuts and small toys from snow covered branches is precious for the young at heart…

and arranging a nativity scene (or creche) in a prominent space gives the essential religious dimension to most French homes.

Often village characters (called santons) are used in these manger scenes. Does this say we can all be kings? The figurines, made of clay in the south of France, have been often passed down from generation to generation, so then it becomes familiar and enriching. I like that.

Newer traditions may involve sending an email to the French Santa (who can handle emails unlike the German santa!) and hanging your favourite french decorations of glass- like this chook from Paris for  your tree…

And cooking frozen ones like these in the Loire Valley, for the table…

Or making new pomanders from an aged old recipe of oranges, cloves and exotic spices- a wonderful Christmas treat for the kids. The word ‘pomander’ comes from the French “pomme de’ambre” meaning apple of ambergris -a perfume ingredient. However, times have changed and I for one am not going to attach any pomander to my girdle (as I don’t wear one)  but this was common practice of some women during the Middle Ages!

The little tradition of sticking cloves in oranges and rolling them in spices will fill your Christmas air with a rich earthy yet sublimely sweet perfume and has been known to last for many months into the New Year and even up to the next Christmas! You can wrap them with ribbons to hang or simply give them away as gifts!

Another French tradition is that everyone in France indulges in the main, extended evening meal which usually takes place after midnight mass on Christmas Eve. This is known as Reveillon (an ‘awakening’) and where often the traditional french dessert called Buche de Noel is served. (Buche means log by the way.)

If you are looking for the perfect Christmas dessert when you are sitting at a sumptuous french table…

you can’t go past a french yule cake, made in the shape of a tree log. It’s a very light sponge cake rolled and wrapped in chocolate, strawberry or rum flavoured cream, adorned with woodland creatures such as reindeers, perhaps a meringue mushroom or two, then dusted with icing sugar. Have you tasted a piece? It’s heavenly!

I have a recipe right here if you’d like to try…

Buche de Noel (French Yule Log)

You will need:

6 egg yolks

6 egg whites

2 cups cream

1/2 cup icing sugar, 1/2 cup cocoa and 1/2 cup white sugar

1/3 cup icing sugar (extra)

1/3 cup cocoa (extra)

1/4 cup white sugar (extra)

pinch of salt

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

1 tsp extra vanilla

Method:

1. Preheat oven 190degrees. Line a lamington tray with greaseproof paper.

2. Whip the cream, 1/2 cup icing sugar, 1/2 cup cocoa and 1tsp vanilla in bowl until stiff, then cool in fridge.

3.Beat egg yolks and 1/2 cup white sugar. Add 1/3 cocoa, rest of vanilla and pinch salt.

4. In another bowl, beat egg whites until they have formed soft peaks. Graually add in the extra sugar then fold yolk mixture in and spread onto tray.

5. Bake 12 to 15 min until it springs back when touched.When cooled a little, take out and roll cake up.Allow to cool completely.

6. Unroll the cake, spread the fill generously (after all it is Christmas!) then roll up again and refrigerate.

Decorate with ornaments or candles or nativity figures (its up to you!)

Bon appetite!

So my friends, where ever you may be right now, I hope you have an absolutely beautiful Christmas and celebrate over a meal with those who appreciate who you are- whether it be family or friends or both. Surround yourself with those you love and as for 2011- may each of you keep your dreams alive for an inspirational and successful New Year.

Perhaps next Christmas will be in France!

All the very best and thankyou to all of you – it’s been fabulous!

With love, Therese Waddell

 

 

Awaken To French Toy Shops

Bonjour mes amis,

The festive season is creeping fast upon us isn’t it? Christmas shopping may have already begun in your house or perhaps you’ve been really organised and finished already?

If you are after toys to give your petite cherub this Noel and you are lucky enough to be in Lyon right now, (if not, perhaps on your next trip) you would find no greater inspiration than the toy shop, ‘Les Jouets des Anges’  at 68 Rue Saint Jean in the Old Quarter. Its title is literally translated as, ‘The toys of angels.’  My french awakening to its angelic name is not the only thing that I adore about this shop.

Pinocchio greets you at the door in full enamelled colour.

Inside, the choice is wild. On offer is a menagerie of traditional and contemporary toys which float, bounce, and jiggle across counter tops, floors, ceiling and every conceivable space in between.There are musical what nots and laughing puppets and whistling trains and gadgets and puzzling gizmos and animals and thingamijigs which will educate or just make you smile.

It’s the French version of  ‘Mr Magorium’s Wonder Emporium’. Watch this and discover…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5_rR5wBU3g&feature=related

As Mr Magorium puts it,

“Remember with faith and love and maybe a big block of wood, you may find yourself somewhere you have never imagined”

Maybe it’s in Lyon. Add ‘Les Jouets des Anges’ to your long list of things to do and see when you’re there. You don’t have to tell them your age!

Even angels need to be entertained at times.

Au Revoir,

Best Wishes, Therese Waddell

P.S For more French stuff, fill in your email address in the box above.

copyright@2010 Therese Waddell

Awaken to Quilt Designs and Albi, France

Bonjour mes amis,

What a nice thing to see my quilt design make it to the front page of the latest ‘Australia’s Patchwork and Quilting’ Magazine again. I’m so happy and truly honoured.

My quilt inspiration is the French term, ”joie de vivre’ which means ‘joy of life’. Its circular formation represents the circle of life which we all undergo and it’s really a celebration of the simple things of life with the bursting of blossoms and birds in flight.

Anyway, if you like this pattern, perhaps you may be inspired by my other quilts at www.quiltingthejourney.com Do have a peep…

So how are you today? Feeling over the moon myself.You know when I’m most happy I seem to migrate to France simultaneously. So, fancy being taken all the way to Albi?

Oh come on! Don’t be like that! You’ll love it when you do!

You just have to firstly release the clenched muscle grip on the vacuum cleaner, or saucepan and wasabi mayonnaise (Carolina) or vintage camera (Graham), quilting thread (yes, you CAN do it Quilary), or your quirky collections of shells and flea markets (Claudia), your touches of whimsy and pretty frippery( Hope Ava) or even your bike, (which means you Richard Tulloch) and any other restraint or temptation just for a while. OK?

Here we go then…

My french awakening to quilt designs actually began in the south west of France, so we’re going to the Tarn region directly to the very old (we’re talking Bronze Age) city of Albi.  Check out Christophe Bouthe’s amazing panoramic photo of the city at http://www.360cities.net/image/albi#357.80,28.40,70.0 radiating such a feeling of warmth because of its predominantly rosy pink hue.

The massive brick cathedral dominating the city is the imposing structure of the Gothic Cathedral de Sainte Cecile d’Albi. It’s actually the largest brick building in the world!

If the outside doesn’t take your breath away, draw breath at Viden Natzev’s panorama exposing the sumptuous interior at http://www.360cities.net/image/albi-cathedral-cathdrale-ste-ccile-1-france#0.00,0.00,70.0

It is so intricately detailed in colour and design with enormous frescoes (you can’t miss the Last Judgement frescoe under the organ- given it’s one of the world’s largest frescoes) and the interior is so totally unexpected given the monsterously bland exterior.

Like the outside though, everything is big here. HUGE. Saint Cecile’s bell, pipe organ, frescoes, screen of stone carvings, flying buttresses and ornate walls will quite possibly give you some neck strain but hey, this could counteract our posture at the computer, non?

So much for looking up…

Cathedrals like Saint Cecile always give me inspiration for my quilt designs. The famous French fashion designer and grand couturier John Paul Gaultier has made Albi his home. I wonder whether St Cecile, with her decoration, colour and architectural lines was ever his

muse for his sculptural costumes such as those seen on Madonna or in one of my favourite films, ‘The Fifth Element’ where the blue alien diva pours her heart out (literally). Take a look and I defy you not to notice those flying buttresses and window shapes in her head piece!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuDOlPaLnVw

Looking across the city now, the view from the bridge over the Tarn river which dissects Albi offers beautiful views. Fancy yourself here?…

See Saint Cecile’s Cathedral in the far distance.

The Pont Vieux (Old Bridge) was constructed in stone way back in 1040 where at the time, toll charges were issued. Later on, houses were built on it and over time it’s been rendered in brick and still in use today as you can see.

Walk back over the bridge and enter the world of Albi’s rustic market place. There’s another Marche Couvert (or covered market) in the Market Hall at 14 Rue Emile Grand selling the produce of generations of fine foodies and farmers,  but I like this one too oozing organic produce as well as flowers, French rattan baskets and sometimes fabric with a backdrop of the blue water of the Tarn! It’s really nice.

There are plenty of good quality boutiques, shops, restaurants and cafes in which to nestle…

Spend your time after a coffee walking through the winding streets of the old city to discover more fabulous places. The added wing of the Palais de la Berbie, with its lovely french gardens has been transformed into the Toulouse Lautrec Museum housing his fabulously famous posters which he painted in the red light district of Montmartre. The infamous Lautrec was born in Albi and his work is epitomised in scarlet inks with inner passion.

There’s also the Laperouse Museum commemorating the sea faring Jean Francois Laperouse, a must for any history buff. Laperouse’s family originated from Albi also and his expeditions to places including Australia before being shipwrecked in the Pacific, are very well documented here.

Many of you will prosper in Albi- you’ll be inspired and invigorated with the wealth of artistic and cultural affairs ready for the taking.  Others will find solace in its fantastic food and restaurants and local gourmet produce. For me, it’s definitely a must see when you travel to France  with its beautifully simple way of life. You’ll feel so good, especially at sunset when Albi is caressed in its warm glow.

Life doesn’t get better than this.

Au Revoir,

Best Wishes, Therese Waddell

copyright@2010Therese Waddell

Awaken to French Train Stations

Bonjour mes amis,

Just a quick post today desole but I thought you all might enjoy my photo of one of the train stations in Paris.

It’s so beautiful with its art nouveau design and frilly wrought iron that it must be some enticement to travel? Just ask the four and a half million Parisiens who travel the three hundred stations to and from home each day.

What do you think? Fancy taking the metro with me somewhere across Paris?

Au Revoir,

Best Wishes, Therese Waddell

copyright@2010 Therese Waddell