Five Ways to Bring Provence into Your Home

I am excited because it's time for our Country French design group's monthly share! I always love seeing what my fellow francophiles have to show us. And this time I am sharing something very close to my heart...in fact my home is decorated around this notion...bringing the feel of Provence into your home!

A stay in this wonderful mas or farmhouse in the Luberon region of France...deep in Provence...left me with such a wonderful impression that I decided that I would turn my own home into my own little corner of Provence by collecting things that remind me of its warm, sunny colors.

For me, there are five elements that just say Provence, with its simple, rustic style and deep connection to the beautiful pastures and farmland around it. These are items which can be easily found or are inexpensive to make...perfect for adding the feel of Provence without spending a lot of money or making drastic changes to your home.

1. ROOSTERS I always smile when I see a rooster and think about the noisy neighbor that I had when I lived in France! The rooster is not only an iconic emblem of France but is also their national symbol! You'll find them throughout my home, including this DIY French ticking pillow. It sports a vintage Camembert label starring another very noisy fellow!

But perhaps my favorite is the one on this wonderful rooster chandelier in the breakfast room. I love the rough texture and the country charm!

2. SHEEP A simple pastoral landscape dotted with grazing sheep is a gentle reminder of another Provençal favorite of mine. I keep this one on my mantel most of the year...

...and this one graces my DIY vintage French sheep pillow. It's always tucked into my grandmother's old arm chair.

3. LAVENDER Of course, we cannot talk about Provence without mentioning lavender! It grows abundantly in that warm, sunny climate and is a must-buy in some form for every visitor. I used it in this easy-to-make lavender wreath...

...and this fun and super-easy homemade lavender goats milk soap. Just the smell takes me back to Provence!

4. SUNFLOWERS A visit to Provence should certainly include a long look at a field of glorious sunflowers! I have them on my table whenever possible, such as in this late summer centerpiece. And...the vase also sports a rooster! :-)

There are even sunflowers on my dinnerware...such as this wonderful Pistoulet bowl. You can see more here.

5. COLORFUL FABRICS And finally, a trip to Provence would not be complete without a visit to the street markets in the little villages and a chance to buy a colorful Provençal tablecloth or torchon made from fabrics of every color under the sun!

My favorite reminder of Provence is this wonderful tablecloth in my favorite color combination...blue and yellow... that is filled with more sunflowers!

Miss Kitty says that by adding these simple elements, you can evoke a feeling of a little trip to Provence...without spending a whole lot of money! Just click HERE if you would like a peek into my home where you will see more of these elements and how they fit into my décor.

And be sure to check out this fun GIVEAWAY...a copy of Monet's Palate Cookbook: The Artist and His Kitchen Garden at Giverny that has been signed by the author, filmmaker and writer Aileen Bordman. It contains 60 beautifully photographed recipes linked to Monet's two-acre kitchen garden  and his cooking journals, as well as a look at his beautiful home and gardens in Giverny. You can enter by clicking HERE.

And head over to see what my fellow francophiles have to share this month!

FRENCH COUNTRY COTTAGE

SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE

CEDAR HILL FARMHOUSE

 Remember to pin it!

Thanks for stopping by! Please visit these wonderful bloggers and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants. 

Under the Table and Dreaming for the Sunday Showcase Party , Thrifty Decor Chick for Before and After Monday , Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday , The Stories of A2Z for Tutorials and Tips Tuesday , Coastal Charm for the Show and Share Party , A Stroll thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday , My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Inspire Me Monday, Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays , Common Ground for Share Your Style on Thursdays ,   French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday ,  The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday , Craftberry Bush for the Inspiration Gallery on Friday, Tatertots & Jello for the Link Party Palooza on Fridays

See you next time! À la prochaine!

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Giveaway...Signed Copy of Monet's Palate Cookbook!

I am so excited because I have a wonderful giveaway for you, my readers! I am happy to be able to offer you a chance to win a copy of the beautiful new book Monet's Palate Cookbook: The Artist & His Kitchen Garden at Giverny signed by author and filmmaker Aileen Bordman and featuring a forward by Meryl Streep. If you know me, you know what an important place Monet's home and gardens hold in my heart since a visit there was the central reason that I took my then ten-year-old grandson to France. So that makes this book especially meaningful to me!

The book takes you into the beautiful home and gardens that French impressionist Claude Monet created in Giverny and gives you a wonderful peek into his life and the constant inspiration that surrounded him. It also includes detailed information about his two-acre kitchen garden on the grounds that yielded an abundance of fresh vegetables and herbs... 

...because Monet was not only an inspired artist, but a lover of great food who collected recipes and even kept cooking journals! Authors Aileen Boardman and garden writer Derek Fell have created 60 recipes linked to his garden and inspired by his journals and the places that he visited.

The book includes beautiful photographs along with the recipes, such as this one for Red Cabbage, Fennel, Carrot and Fennel Seed Slaw which has been plated on one of Monet's own dishes, created and designed by him!

Recipes for traditional French dishes are shared as well, including one of my favorites, Normandy French Apple Tart.

It is my honor to be able to offer a chance to win a signed copy of this wonderful cookbook to you, my readers, courtesy of the author, my friend and fellow admirer of all that is Monet, Aileen Bordman.

This giveaway is now closed.

Here’s all you have to do…just click on any of the methods of earning an entry in the rectangle below the fine print ↓ to receive as many as 15 entries. That’s it! I can’t wait for this wonderful cookbook to find its way to its new home…maybe yours! Bonne Chance! Good luck!

The Fine Print: The giveaway begins today, May 30, 2015 at 12:00 am and will close June 5, 2015 at 12:00 am. The winner will be chosen at random using Rafflecopter with up to 15 entries per person. Odds of winning are based on the number of entries. You must be at least 18 years of age and a resident of the United States to win. (Sorry, everyone else…your sweepstakes laws are much stricter than ours!) The prize is valued at $30 and includes shipping. No purchase is necessary. By entering a comment below or receiving an entry through Rafflecopter, you agree to the contest rules and regulations and release this blog, its author and the giveaway sponsor from any liability. The cookbook shown is provided by the author Aileen Bordman but the opinions that are expressed are my own. I am not affiliated with publisher Gibbs Smith in any way. If the potential winner forfeits or does not claim the prize, prize will be re-awarded in Sponsor’s sole discretion. All prizes will be awarded. Void where prohibited.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The hardcover book, from authors Aileen Bordman and Derek Fell and featuring a forward by Meryl Streep, is published by Gibbs Smith. It contains 176 pages in full color, retails for $30 and is available wherever books are sold.

Aileen Bordman is the creator and producer of the acclaimed documentary film titled Monet's Palate: A Gastronomic View from the Garden, which has been broadcast nationally through American Public Television to all 350 PBS stations. She has been immersed in the world of Claude Monet since 1980 and has more than 35 years of firsthand experience at Monet's home and gardens. Her knowledge and passion with respect to Claude Monet's lifestyle, cuisine, gardens and art prompted the creation of the Monet's Palate concept. Bordman independently wrote and produced the film Monet's Palate with Meryl Streep, Alice Waters, Daniel Boulud, Michel Richard and Steve Wynn. The film has been screened from Cannes to New York, and was featured during the six-month "Monet's Garden" exhibit at the New York Botanical Garden in New She lives near New York City in New Jersey.

Derek Fell, writer and photographer, is the author of two books on Monet, The Magic of Monet's Garden and Secret's of Monet's Garden. He has a strong following as America's most widely published garden writer. His books on gardening, travel and art have been published worldwide and total more than 2.5 million books. He divides his time between Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and Sanibel Island, Florida.

Thanks for stopping by! Please visit these wonderful bloggers and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants. 

Under the Table and Dreaming for the Sunday Showcase Party , Thrifty Decor Chick for Before and After Monday , Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday , The Stories of A2Z for Tutorials and Tips Tuesday , Coastal Charm for the Show and Share Party , A Stroll thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday , My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Inspire Me Monday, Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays , Common Ground for Share Your Style on Thursdays ,   French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday ,  The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday , Craftberry Bush for the Inspiration Gallery on Friday, Tatertots & Jello for the Link Party Palooza on Fridays

See you next time! À la prochaine!

Also find me at…

 

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Please Join Me for The Scoop #172

Hi everyone and welcome back to The Scoop! I hope you have had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend! Here, the threat of rain didn't dampen our holiday spirit and I still managed to have more than my share of barbeque and corn on the cob! :-) After all, it's now the unofficial start of summer!

And speaking of summer, I am sharing my 10 BEST BEACH-INSPIRED PROJECTS...just in time for the beginning of the season! Even if you are not able to head there just yet, you can have a little of the beach in your home!

And I also showed you how to make these super-easy LAST MINUTE PATRIOTIC CANDLE HOLDERS AND VASES to add to your holiday table! Be sure to check them out and save the idea because the 4th of July will be here before you know it! 

Now I can't wait to see what you have to share, so let's get this party started!


Welcome back to The Scoop!

The weekly party featuring the scoop on the best from around the web!

We are

Anita from Cedar Hill Farmhouse

Debbie from Confessions of a Plate Addict

Yvonne from StoneGable
and Suzy from Worthing Court

Your host this week is...

Yvonne @ StoneGable

What a pleasure to be hosting this week. Happy Memorial Day! I hope everyone has had a great holiday weekend! Thanks so much for joining us!!!!

I hope you stop by StoneGable and enter to win a $100.00 Visa Gift Card!!! I'm featuring a scrumptious, make-ahead Carmalized Onion and Goat Cheese appetizer that is easy to make. You have to enter to win!!!! Click HERE to stop by and enter.

And please stop by and see my SUMMER FARMHOUSE KITCHEN. That's where you will find me this summer... canning and freezing and cooking up the bounty of the garden!!!

Here are just a few great posts from last week's SCOOP...

Cristina from Remodelando la Casa shared this fabulous OLD JEAN BEACH PILLOW! WOW! What a great pillow!

Just in time for the summer season, Roxanne from Honeycomb Home shows us how to make a great POTTERY BARN INSPIRED FLAG. This is on my must-try list!!!

Oh, this salad will be perfect for the long, hot summer ahead. Thanks, Linda from With A Blast for your MELLON AND CHERRY TOMATO SALAD. YUMMY!

This is a blog you really need to visit I love everything Suzanne does... like this scrumptious VANILLA SUGAR. Find it on Simply Suzanne.

Paige at Junkchic Cottage make a darling BENCH OUT OF A BED. She shared step-by-step instructions and lots of great pictures too!!!!

Thank you, thank you to everyone who linked up and visited last week!  Let’s see what you have to share this week.

Please read the guidelines before participating:

• Follow and/or subscribe to your host blog.
• Be sure to include THE SCOOP button or text link to in your linked post…mandatory to be featured!
• By linking up you are agreeing that the photos are yours or that you have permission to use them, that we may use those photos to feature your project on a blog post, Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter with a link back to your blog, of course.
• Please go to the source of a photo to pin it to Pinterest so that the originator of the post gets the credit.

Also find me at…

 

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