French la Vie https://www.frenchlavie.com French la Vie Sun, 24 May 2026 13:48:57 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://www.frenchlavie.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/poppy-1-150x150.png French la Vie https://www.frenchlavie.com 32 32 https://www.frenchlavie.com/2026/05/24/poppy-field-at-last/ Poppy Field at Last https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/957166970/0/tongueincheek~Poppy-Field-at-Last/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/957166970/0/tongueincheek~Poppy-Field-at-Last/#respond Sun, 24 May 2026 11:00:22 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=85136 Funny how a poppy field finds me whenever I am wearing a white dress.]]>

Funny how a poppy field finds me whenever I am wearing a white dress.

]]> https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/957166970/0/tongueincheek~Poppy-Field-at-Last/feed/ 0 Weekly Top Posts: 2026-05-24https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/957129917/0/tongueincheek<ol><li><a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/918981803/0/tongueincheek/~A-Must-See-Flower-Shop-in-Provence">A Must See Flower Shop in Provence</a></li> <li><a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/918982583/0/tongueincheek/~Going-Beyond-the-Back-of-the-Truck">Going Beyond the Back of the Truck</a></li> <li><a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/918787382/0/tongueincheek/~At-it-Again">At it Again</a></li> <li><a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/918854999/0/tongueincheek/~French-la-Vie-Journey%2c-Let-us-Take-You-There">French la Vie Journey, Let us Take You There</a></li> <li><a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/919023494/0/tongueincheek/~Another-Wonderful-Group">Another Wonderful Group</a></li> </ol><Img align="left" border="0" height="1" width="1" alt="" style="border:0;float:left;margin:0;padding:0;width:1px!important;height:1px!important;" hspace="0" src="https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/i/957129917/0/tongueincheek"> Sun, 24 May 2026 04:00:01 GMTtag:feedblitz.com,2026-05-24:tongueincheek/2026-05-24T04:00:01-00:00 FeedSplice by FeedBlitz https://www.frenchlavie.com/2026/05/23/french-craftmanship-aubusson-cartoon/ French Craftmanship: Aubusson Cartoon https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/957107282/0/tongueincheek~French-Craftmanship-Aubusson-Cartoon/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/957107282/0/tongueincheek~French-Craftmanship-Aubusson-Cartoon/#respond Sat, 23 May 2026 11:00:15 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=85129 An Aubusson cartoon is a full-scale painted design used as the template for weaving an Aubusson tapestry. The cartoon guided weavers by showing the exact composition, colors, and details of the final textile artwork. These cartoons were placed behind or beneath the loom so the weaver could follow the image accurately while working. They are the “before” […]]]>

An Aubusson cartoon is a full-scale painted design used as the template for weaving an Aubusson tapestry. The cartoon guided weavers by showing the exact composition, colors, and details of the final textile artwork.

These cartoons were placed behind or beneath the loom so the weaver could follow the image accurately while working.

They are the “before” of a tapestry’s “after”—a glimpse into the creative soul of French craftsmanship.

Isn’t it wonderful how these cartoons hold the blueprint for such grandeur?

]]> https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/957107282/0/tongueincheek~French-Craftmanship-Aubusson-Cartoon/feed/ 0 https://www.frenchlavie.com/2026/05/22/antiquing-today-a-pair-of-chairs-green-shiny-things-and-a-pinchable-butt-c/ Antiquing Today: A Pair of Chairs, Green Shiny Things, and a Pinchable Butt https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/957013514/0/tongueincheek~Antiquing-Today-A-Pair-of-Chairs-Green-Shiny-Things-and-a-Pinchable-Butt/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/957013514/0/tongueincheek~Antiquing-Today-A-Pair-of-Chairs-Green-Shiny-Things-and-a-Pinchable-Butt/#comments Fri, 22 May 2026 11:00:34 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=85113 Our guest loves to go antiquing which is fine with us. The last few days we have done just that. A lot. Thankfully, we all like different things which makes life so much easier when you’re all out for the hunt. Merle likes jewelry, purses, hats, and vintage clothing, which makes antique hunting easy when […]]]>

Our guest loves to go antiquing which is fine with us. The last few days we have done just that. A lot. Thankfully, we all like different things which makes life so much easier when you’re all out for the hunt.

Merle likes jewelry, purses, hats, and vintage clothing, which makes antique hunting easy when you’re not in the same field. Luckily that’s usually the case- everyone has their interest, and even though they might overlap a tiny bit, they don’t overlap completely.

Nevertheless, we influence each other don’t we? That is something I enjoy about antiquing with other people is seeing what they like hearing them talk about it. It opens my eyes to new stories, creativity, knowledge… all that good stuff.

For example, let’s start with this one. This fabric with gold and silk threads has very interesting shiny green bits. Do you know what they’re made from? Caught me completely unaware! I’ll give you the answer in the comment section if you guess.

Never in a million years would I have thought to make a collar, or a scarf out of gloves. But, Merle did. The fashionista has the eye, creativity, and experience.

Then just like that a pair of armchairs screamed my name so loudly I jumped! One could dream in that chair, one could have a cup of tea in that chair. One could find a place for that chair.

But then this guy stood there with that gorgeous behind knocking me off my feet thank goodness for the armchair, I fell into it instead of him. Yeah, he had to come home with me – he was naked – I had to bring him home – had to give him some clothes – now he’s standing on my dining room table, his beautiful butt refuses to get dress. Oh me.

]]> https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/957013514/0/tongueincheek~Antiquing-Today-A-Pair-of-Chairs-Green-Shiny-Things-and-a-Pinchable-Butt/feed/ 22 https://www.frenchlavie.com/2026/05/21/straw-hat-days/ Straw Hat Days https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/956898206/0/tongueincheek~Straw-Hat-Days/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/956898206/0/tongueincheek~Straw-Hat-Days/#comments Thu, 21 May 2026 11:00:04 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=85102 Sunlight spreads over the garden. A blanket unfurled. A picnic basket laden with olives, radishes, buttered baguette- A straw hat cheers the day. Spring leans towards summer, hand in hand until one lets go. The melody of bees busy amongst the lemon blossoms. Time loosens its grip. Bare feet wiggle into the warm earth. Fingers […]]]>

Sunlight spreads over the garden. A blanket unfurled. A picnic basket laden with olives, radishes, buttered baguette- A straw hat cheers the day. Spring leans towards summer, hand in hand until one lets go. The melody of bees busy amongst the lemon blossoms. Time loosens its grip.

Bare feet wiggle into the warm earth. Fingers trace the edge of embroidered cloth. Cherries stain lips crimson. The scent of lavender mingles with cut grass and sunshine. 

Nearby, someone laughs.

Spring and summer dance hand in hand. One still carrying the coolness of morning, the other promising tender evenings that linger long after supper. Everything feels suspended between seasons. Between moments.

A breeze lifts the brim of the hat. Pages of a forgotten book flutter gently. Clouds wander overhead without urgency.

A picnic beneath an endless sky. 

]]> https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/956898206/0/tongueincheek~Straw-Hat-Days/feed/ 6 https://www.frenchlavie.com/2026/05/20/a-painting-of-the-ordinary-beauty/ A Painting of the Ordinary Beauty https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/956809154/0/tongueincheek~A-Painting-of-the-Ordinary-Beauty/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/956809154/0/tongueincheek~A-Painting-of-the-Ordinary-Beauty/#comments Wed, 20 May 2026 11:00:34 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=85093 The same worn wooden table. The same lamp. The same knife haphazardly left on the edge.  Objects resting exactly where a painter once paused her gaze before lifting a brush. One could almost feel her there still, sleeves rolled, daylight slipping across the floor, paint thick beneath her fingernails while swallows circled outside the open door […]]]>

The same worn wooden table. The same lamp. The same knife haphazardly left on the edge.  Objects resting exactly where a painter once paused her gaze before lifting a brush. One could almost feel her there still, sleeves rolled, daylight slipping across the floor, paint thick beneath her fingernails while swallows circled outside the open door singing spring.

She painted what was before her- one meal over, and another to prepare- nourishing others, nourishing herself.

Then walked towards other day, leaving the scene, placing the painting on the cupboard to dry.

Yet there I stood, looking at present inside past. 

A woman holding breath before an onion, a bowl, fruit, coffee grinder…

Ordinary things in ordinary time-
Who sat hungry beside the café au lait bowl while afternoon bells drifted across the village?

The painting leaned against the fence at the brocante though waiting for someone willing to enter its doorway again. And for one suspended moment, life answered itself through the faded oil paint, and the tenderness of forgotten objects remaining faithful today as of yesterday. 

]]> https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/956809154/0/tongueincheek~A-Painting-of-the-Ordinary-Beauty/feed/ 6 https://www.frenchlavie.com/2026/05/19/pop-color-french-la-vie/ Pop – Color French la Vie https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/956698697/0/tongueincheek~Pop-Color-French-la-Vie/ Tue, 19 May 2026 11:00:41 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=85076 Our latest French la Vie has taken us to Marseille, cours Julien for some Vintage shopping and inspiration. Our guest (Merle), is a wonder load of creative punch and pop. Knowing her enthusiasm for avant-garde design mix with wearable art. We bee lined for graffiti infested vintage clothing mecca- cours Julien. Disappointing it was not. […]]]>

Our latest French la Vie has taken us to Marseille, cours Julien for some Vintage shopping and inspiration.

Our guest (Merle), is a wonder load of creative punch and pop. Knowing her enthusiasm for avant-garde design mix with wearable art. We bee lined for graffiti infested vintage clothing mecca- cours Julien. Disappointing it was not.

Stepping out of the ordinary- Memories of Haight Street back in the 80s flooded my thoughts. Loving the energy that swirled around us.

Creators at every turn, plenty of fabulous designs- tomorrow the brocante- but today was a welcomed diversion –

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