The ART of Arte Pura

Anyone who reads this blog knows I am insanely crazy for this line of Italian linens.  This is now a dated word "bedspreads" Not here.....  Some of these beauties are like gowns, double as duvets, embellished as much or as little or as much as you want.    

 32 gorgeous colors and 10 trims make your bed so unique.....

Take the Majia (above for example.....)  It can be ordered 12 ways. If you have a pet that sleeps on the bed you can lose the center crochet, and have a trim added to the border as shown below.

Yes this is the same bedspread.... With the Elegant Lace trim and no crochet on the top.  There is a relaxed volante surrounding the whole spread and an extra layer of linen added for a duvet insert. This example adds the sparkle of Swarovski crystal......Oh, and both come with an extra layer of linen encased organza....... Totally washable.

This is the Atollo.... A Puckered Linen in the Arguilla Old color..... Very popular in Gray.

Pillows are enhanced with Italian writing or a crown on a white background

you choose from three colors.

This is Lido, a clean contemporary look..... with a linen border.....

The linen top is embroidered in a geometric circle motif.

This in Amaryllis a cotton velvet soft as butter embroidered with "Cornelly Roses" in Chenille...

 Totally reversible to a soft brushed cotton.......

I love this one.... Oasi. Linen encased in organza with roses and cotton jersey ruched ruffles all around with a linen volante on the bottom.

This is a personal favorite......Every spread has a coordinating deco pillow and some have coordinating curtains........This is one that does......

 

The lovely Zaffiro in the Incanto Old....... Linen with Organza embroidered with roses with a volante encased in organza.  Looks like it is encased in gossamer.....Very ethereal.

This is Sorgente Similar to Zaffiro but with an arabesque embroidery and a double volante surrounding the entire spread...... We have one in the shop in a pale peachy pink everyone calls it the Peach Souffle Bed.

Oh yes they make curtains...... Incredible curtains.........

We just got the ones in on the right.... I am not usually a tab top person but when there are big

pearls on the tabs it changes the whole look.

If you are coming up for Round Top Antiques Weeks we invite you in to see these marvelous examples

of Italian linen and workmanship..... The line is huge including table top, bath, day/dream wear no one is wearing to bed and robes and accessories....... OR we can email you the catalog so you can peruse the eye candy at your leisure.  Just email us at  beadboardupcountry@sbcglobal.net

Flowers in the Fireplace

They had some fabulous hyacinths at a local garden shop, reminded me of some we bought in Paris.

So I stuck them in the fireplace.  The fireplace is from the 50's when the house was built.

I know the black tiles are not currently in vogue but when I place lights or candles there the reflect them beautifully at night and if, in the spring I place flowers in there they look great against the dark background.

These flowers were a gift from our friends Pauline and John.

The Waterford glasses make great votive holders.

It was a good week for flowers around here!!!!!!!

Provisions in Paris, Ile St Louis..

While getting provisions in Paris, Robes and I have our little things we like.....

The first day he went to the market alone and got things HE wanted..... I think because

I had been there in Sept while he watched the shop.....Then when I saw what he arrived at the apartment with I saw a few things missing....... So, we headed down to Ile St Louis.... 

This is a restaurant on Rue De L'Ile 

  Sign not too enticing....

But look at what in hanging in the window..... All fresh!!!!!!!  NO Plastique food thank you very much. 

 I was ready to crunch on some of those gorgeous radishes....They serve them with a little unsalted butter.

But I was on a mission,,,, I wanted some Point L'Eveque cheese.....Hit Paydirt here!!!!!!

Also you will notice the terrine de lapin is missing.....

That is because the young gentleman was cutting a petite morseau pour MOI.

AND they had Proscuitto San Danielle.........YUMM!!!!!! 

 And wine so we didn't have to make an extra stop.

This was where we got the flowers From Patrick Allain........

So Pretty

Snapdragons??? We got Hyacinths, roses, and orchids...... And a bouquet of Fuschia colored flowers. 

 I blogged on his shop a few weeks ago.

I have know idea what happened here but I liked it so here you go.....

Maybe I was reeling from the fragrance.  Literally.

Down on the corner was Le Regis Blanc a great restaurant/bar., where we could not only  nab a baguette on the way home but suck up a fabulous fresh mint Mojito.

I saw on the mirror they have bouillabaisse........Will definitely try that next time.

Soooo Fun.  Wait staff were easy on the eyes too....... Nice....

Whimsical Kitchenware from France

This is not the kind of thing that normally floats my boat.   But there are these shops in France whose functional merchandise is so whimsical they are worth a second look.

Pylones are the names of the shops.....This is a cd player??????

I don't thnk so...I don't care what it is Sooo cute!

 

  These are Demitasse cups with wings on them.....Love these...

For a summer salad you might want to serve with these bathing beauties...

Ok, I have purchased the pricey toasters from the San Francisco store who will not be named.....

But How cute are these....???

Oh, and a staple in Europe the teapot although these are looking like something from Alice in Wonderland but they are ELECTRIC......

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These were my favorite...... The Eiffel Tower that is an Espresso Coffee Pod Holder.

I took this picture because the flowers were DANCING. Should have made a video.

This is a great shop.  This particular one was on Ile St Louis....

Hope you go there. The walk down the street is worth it.

Friday Macaroons for You!

(Image by Juliska's new and very talented Photographer Pete Zezima)
Edible Friday,,,,, Don't ask for the recipe just enjoy the view.

Juliska cake plate.......OOPS! Some fell off!!!!!

I guess I'll have to indulge myself....... With this,

Some cafe in this named "Deshabillez Moi" or Undress me.

The coolest coffee cup & saucer I have ever seen.

Designed by Emilie Floge for Createurs a Limoges Availble in France

for 150 Euros for two.

Going to France in Two Styles!!!!!!!

Soooooo you want to go to Provence?????

How bout May, how bout staying in this villa outside Isle Sur la Sorgue, with a few other like minded people that will be enjoying

antiquing, cooking, wine, taking fabulous pictures, flea markets and more and have an interest in art and design?

Yep I wouldn't mind spending a few days here.......Especially if the arrangements for my entertainment were made by none other than Kit Golson, California Designer and author of the Blog Chic Provence. 

 Kit has a passion for attention to detail when it comes to her guests, and is very familiar with the area.

You would drink wine and make new friends in this room. How cool is this?????

After a day antiquing in the Sunny Provencal weather, maybe take some cooking lessons from a local chef in the villa's spacious Kitchen.

Using some of these cooking supplies..........(Just let me loose in there, I'll teach one!!!!)

For more information and the brochure just click on the sidebar for the Chic Provence tour.

All previous images by Kit Golson.

THEN......

If your interest lies in a more Urban venue, check out Jermaine's (of French Kissed Blog)

Parisian Shopping Spree!!!

Who better than the part time Paris resident with the Most Fashionable daughter Haleigh,

 a permanent Paris resident and fashionista.........(author of Making Magique Blog)

to introduce to you the best shopping (well known and also the secret places) in the City of Lights.

Places as cool as Merci.......

As delicious as Laduree.....

While you pass flower markets.........

Go to  Astier de la Villatte, known for their fabulous white ceramics.  

Will someone please get me a pitcher from here??????????

Don't ever get me started on these........

Stop in and say hi to the home of one of the hottest spring collections this year.....I mean it the collection is fabulous.... All Grace Kelly like........Le Figaro called it Les Hitchcockiennes!!!!

Stop and rest with a Coupe de Champagne.......

Oh and did I mention the Marche Au Puces where you can antique shop til you drop???????

This little jaunt is conveniently scheduled after the Chic Provence Tour.....Meaning...

YOU CAN DO BOTH!!!!!!! Just click on the Eiffel Tower on my right sidebar for further info.

AND GET A SUITCASE BIG ENOUGH TO SNEAK ME IN!!!!

And you should,,,,, you really, really, really should.  I would if I hadn't just gotten back.....

 And Robes would be soooooo jealous.......

All of the Paris photos were taken by Jermaine,,,, I'm sure she'd be happy to gve you some pointers.

I want an Orchid car for Valentines day.

 

You know after the Xmas season is over, I can't wait to get back to music I haven't listened to for 30 days........Not that Diana Krall, Michael Buble aren't fabulous for xmas music which we play in the shop.......But it is the theme for those Lexus commercials that drives me round the bend!!!!!!!! I would be just as happy with one of these in the above pic Sans the bow thank you very much.......I believe it is a Deux Cheveaux or a Peugeot. But while walking past a Toyota dealership in Paris on Blvd St Marcel I spied this sweetness.

It has a built in smile!!!!!!! Just like my old beetle rag top!!!!!!!!!!!It's the IQ? I can't imagine what bells and whistles it purports... I just want it. Want it. Want it.

And it's Beautiful!  Enhanced with  decorative orchids........ How cute is this?????

Why are there no Toyotas like this in the US?    I know, maybe there are and I just haven't seen them.

But sooooooo cute!  What do you think???????