Tea With My Sister

Hello again from the French Hen's Nest,

  My sister will be arriving soon, and it's so chilly outside, thought I would make a pot of tea.  As luck would have it,  my sister and I enjoy the same tea, Earl Grey.  So I have prepared the tea, (decaf of course) and some tea cakes as my grandmother use to call them, (short bread cookies) for us to enjoy.

Tea and tea cakes

Tweet

A Decorium Christmas

Hello Again from the French Hen's Nest,

  Once again I visited Decorium, a beautiful store in Alexandria, Va.  I love the way they decorate their store, especially the way they decorate the  store front for Christmas.  The owners are decorators, and you can see that in the details.  Hope you enjoy your visit.

Decorium's  Elegant  Christmas Window

Tweet

Latest Thrift Store Finds

Hello Again from The French Hen's Nest


 I haven't found a great piece of furniture to work on lately, but I have found a few interesting things, and I'm going to share my latest thrift store finds with you now.

Tweet

Decorating Options

Hello Again from The French Hen's Nest,


  I don't know about you, but I decorate, redecorate, and then decide which I like best.   And then I may add more.  I can only describe it as a decorating frenzy.  I have so many ideas, they have to be narrowed down.  I'm sure that you know what I mean.  So below are a few pictures of decorative objects,  decorated differently for Christmas.

Tweet

Christmas Bedroom for Em

Hello Again from The French Hen's Nest

  I've been decorating my granddaughter's bedroom for Christmas.  When we visited  La Bella Luce, the store featured in La Bella Luce Christmas, she expressed an interest in decorating her bedroom.  So I got right to it.  I think I'm finished, but I'll let you be the judge.

          A very simple wreath for her door

Mary and Baby Jesus

Tweet

Angel Wings on My Pillow

Hello again from The French Hen's Nest


   As I was scrolling through the parties last week, I found a post that had a poinsettia pillow, which was so pretty. It was made with boiled wool.  I have tried to find the blog, but I can't, and of course I can't remember the name.  As I scrolled further down, I found a pillow with angel wings. The wings were made of felt, and it looked so pretty, that I was inspired to make my own Christmas pillow with angel wings.   

First, I had to make a run to the craft store for supplies.  I went to AC Moores, found the felt, bought a little glue and was ready to go.  I used quick stick felt and decided that I would add something more to mine, maybe feathers. 

 

Tweet

My Little Feather Tree

 Hello again from The French Hen's Nest.

I was visiting my friend Sandi at the Rose Chintz Cottage yesterday and she was showing off her beautiful feather tree.  She was even able to capture it in just the right light and it had a romantic pink hue.

Well I wanted that feather tree.  It was beautiful on the silver tray, with greenery and snowballs she made, sitting in front of the window at sunset. 

Tweet

La Bella Luce Merry Christmas

Historic Clifton, Va

Hello Again from The French Hen's Nest,

  I visited one of my favorite stores the other day, La Bella Luce, we have featured them in the past.  The store is owned and operated by military wives.  The owner is currently living in Italy, and buys the beautiful pieces you see in the store.  Well, I was there to take pictures of their Christmas Decorations, and they had just finished decorating, so we got there just in time.  My granddaughter, Em, went with me, and she was very inspired by what she saw.  Maybe she has the design bug, wouldn't that be great?  Anyway, here are the pictures I took, and hope that you enjoy them.

Tweet

The Tale of Two Lamps

Hello Again from The French Hen's Nest,

  Once in a while I have a really good idea, as I am sure you do as well. 
I have an Asian inspired lamp in blue and white, only it's not a dark blue but almost a light purple blue, all though I like the lamp, it just doesn't really work for me.  So, I was thinking one night about what I could do with it, or should I just buy another one.  Then a brilliant idea, I can paint it!   Luckily, there was a small can of navy blue paint in my cabinet, and some fine tipped paint brushes.  I got to work on it, and I loved the result, it's no longer pale, but a vibrant blue that fits in with my decor much better.  What do you think?

Before                                                               After

Tweet

An Angel By My Side

Hello Again From The French Hen's Nest,

  The other day I blogged about an angel that I had bought from a thrift store, and while I was writing about her, I began to think about my encounter with an angel. I think all of us meet an angel on occasion, someone that helps us in someway, when we really need it, and  it is quite unexpected.  Well, that is exactly what my angel did for me, only with so much love and compassion.

Tweet

My Louis XVI Chair Makeover

Hello again from The French Hen's Nest


My yellow french chair is different from my other french chairs.  It is a Louis XVI chair style and has no curvy lines at all.  Like so many of the things in my home,  I acquired it from my sister Jeannie when she moved from her Victorian home in New Bern back to Alexandria and decided to downsize.

It is so very roomy in the seat and very comfortable and I loved it just as it was.

(Beautiful just as it was)

Tweet

A Mirror, An Angel, and A Persian Rug?

Hello Again from The French Hen's Nest  

   The title sounds like a really good story, but it's just another name for my weekend finds.  I had been looking for a small chest or chest of drawers for a while.  I have a mirror that I bought at GW for $12, and thought it would be perfect for my granddaughter,  and was hoping to find a mate for it.  Well, last week I did,  one of my neighbors put a dresser, and chest on the street, they were ornate, and really matched the mirror well.  Only one problem, no one to help me get it home.  I'm sure this has happened to many of you as well.  I had to let it go, but I still think about it. And like I said, I still have the mirror and here it is.

The little ducks will have to go

Tweet

Doors Decorated for Fall/Thanksgiving

Hello Again from The French Hen's Nest

These doors are decorated for

Fall/Thanksgiving.   Some have pretty wreaths,

others are more simple, but all very pretty.

Tweet

Some of My Favorite Things

Hello Again from The French Hen's Nest 


   These are some of my favorite things, collections, mirrors and pieces of furniture that I have collected over the years, and know that they will always have a place in my home.

Hope that you like them.

Tweet

Halloween Decorations That WOW!

Hello Again from The French Hen's Nest   






  

This is a post from last year, but the decorations are so good that

I thought I'd post it again, since Halloween is just around the corner.  Hope that you enjoy it, and maybe get an idea or two. 


   During one of my walks this weekend, I came across some fantastically decorated homes.  Thought I would share them with you.

                   

Tweet

Decorium

Hello Again from The French Hen's Nest

   I visited one of my favorite stores yesterday.  It's the Decorium, right in the heart of Old Town  Alexandria, VA.  It has beautiful chandeliers, furniture, and art, and never disappoints.  It is art itself, and I always feel inspired after being there.  I took a few photos to share with you.  If you ever find yourself here be sure to stop by, it's a lovely shop.  I hope that you enjoy them.

Tweet

Osage Oranges & Crickets??

   Hello Again from The French Hen's Nest  

   I don't know about you, but I have a real cricket problem about this time of year.  These city crickets are really fast, they sneak right past me.   Then I hear the dreaded chirping, you know the sound, you get up to look for it, you  know you're close because as soon as they hear you they shut up. I always track them down and put them outside, but it's a pain.  So, I went to  a farmer's market a couple of weeks ago, and one vendor was selling Osage Oranges. 

Tweet

Pink, Brown, Blue, White???

Hello Again from The French Hen's Nest

   Hope you're having a great week.  I'm getting ready for Fall/ Thanksgiving, have a lot of ideas swirling, and swirling, you probably know what I mean.  When you start dreaming about decorating it's probably time to take a little break.  But that's not going to happen!  I have a small dinner party coming up, and I decided to set the table for Fall.  

Two different settings and see which I like  better.

Tweet

Not to Shabby Antique Store

Hello Again from the French Hen's Nest

  
Although I was busy painting everything in my house Paris Grey last weekend, I did manage to look in a few thrift shops; I found one in Del Ray, a section of Alexandria, that is very up and coming, a lot of restaurants, shops, and young families out and about. I took a few pictures in the Not Too Shabby Antique Store. It is upscale, and people rent space to sell their wares.  Everyone was helpful and friendly.  So if you are in the area, it is worth a stop. 



Tweet

Paris Grey Weekend

Hello Again from The French Hen's Nest

 

I had mentioned in my last post, (More Weekend Finds) that I had found a three drawer French style chest to transform. It was in rough shape, painted black with multiple colored flowers, and other symbols.

Tweet

More Weekend Finds

Hello Again from The French Hen's Nest and Happy Fall,

Well, I'm back with more finds.  
I was lucky this past weekend, because I found a three drawer chest, very French, it is painted black, with flowers of many colors, can't wait to get started on it.  It really needs a lot of TLC,  I'll show it to you later.   But for now, just a few finds I couldn't resist.

Tweet

Easy Sew Valance Tutorial

Hello again from The French Hen's Nest 

Since we moved into our home 3 years ago we have had wood blinds at our dining room windows and no other window coverings.  Our view is our front yard and we have a lot of trees which means birds and squirrels to watch. I knew I wanted to make valances for the windows but I was waiting to see which way my decorating went.  This year we found a beautiful french dining table and chairs for a steal at Salvation Army so my dining room needed to be Frenchyfied. What's more French than Toile?

Tweet

My Weekend Finds

Hello again from The French Hen's Nest. 

On the weekends, and during the week I go looking for that piece, you know, something a little special that needs some TLC.   Probably many of us look for the same thing, but this past weekend, it just wasn't meant to be for me.  However, I did find a few interesting things, and I'm going to share them with you.

Tweet

Charming Homes of Old Town Alexandria

Hello again from The French Hen's Nest

  As I've mentioned before, I live in Alexandria, VA, near Old Town Alexandria, which was established in the 1700's.  The homes there are charming, most are well over a hundred years old.  I enjoy walking through the streets just to see the beautiful old homes, I especially like the colorful ones.  Fall is just beginning, so it's the perfect time to walk about..  Even George Washington had a home/office here.  On Sunday, I snapped a few pictures of some welcoming homes. 

Tweet

Staging Can Be Stressful!

Hello again from The French Hen's Nest

 OK, I'm very new to blogging - August 2012 new.  It's very exciting when you publish that first blog.  My sister and I share our blog so whoever has something to write about, blogs next.  I am going to tell you about my latest effort for the blog.

Several months ago when I didn't have a project in progress, I started thinking about a table, mirror and shelf I had not being used,  trying to decide how to change them and put them together. 

Tweet

Painted Faux Marble Buffet

Hello again from The French Hen's Nest

When I downsized a few years ago, I had a huge buffet, and a large dining room. I sold the buffet, and other pieces and moved into a smaller space. I had bought a French style dresser, and decided it would be perfect as a buffet. The front looked pretty good, nothing a furniture pen couldn't take care of. 

Tweet

Easy Ivy Topiary, That Can Be Enjoyed All Year

Hello again from The French Hen's Nest

If you like topiaries, this is an easy and inexpensive one to make. They are rather expensive to buy, but I'll tell you how to create one yourself, inexpensively. 

Tweet

My First Slipcover

Hello Again from The French Hen's Nest

I did it Miss Mustard Seed!

Seven years ago when I was single and money was quite tight, my sweet sister Jeannie (the other French Hen) bought me a good

Voilà!

quality sofa from goodwill that only needed a cover and got it for $20!  I had just moved into an apartment and was grateful to have the sofa.  Although it was a very well made sofa and the lines were classic, the upholstery fabric wasn't very pretty.  



Tweet

Antique Store "La Bella Luce"

Hello Again from The French Hen's Nest

I visited one of my favorite stores yesterday, and thought I would share my visit with you. La Bella Luce is the name of the store, which means, 'The Beautiful Light'. The store is located in historic



Sweet Dreams



Clifton, Va, a serene little town in Northern Virginia. It's owned and operated by military wives, let's give a shout out to our military families. Brenda and Michelle were working yesterday, and were very helpful, thank you ladies.

They have a beautiful selection of chandeliers,furniture, and art. Hope you enjoy these pictures. Any questions about their store, please call 703-830-8442, and tell them Jeannie sent you.

Welcoming Front Porch



Vanity

French Buffet

Sunny Room with Something for Everyone

Wine Bottle Chandelier



Beautiful Burl Bed






Sweet Dreams

 



Lovely Bed & Sconce



Sunlit Corner

Italian Linens

Beautiful Vanity and Chair



Well Dressed Bath



Venetian Chandelier

Bella Chandelier

Hope you enjoyed the tour.  Till next time,

Jeannie

We're partying at



Make it Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House
Make the Scene Mondays Alderberry Hill
Motivate Me Monday Keeping It Simple
Masterpiece Mondays @ Boogie Board Cottage

Home Wednesdays @ Rose Chintz Cottage
Primp Your Stuff Wednesday @ {Primp}
Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style
Under $100 Linky Party @ Beyond The PicketFence
Crazy Cute Thursdays @ Between You and Me
Time Travel Thursday @ @ Brambleberry Cottage
Tutorials Tips and Tidbits @ Stone Gable
Show and Tell Friday @ Romantic Home
Furniture Friday @ Miss Mustard Seed

Tweet