After Pia's book came out a few years ago, I started seeing little mentions of this beautiful ceramic boutique in Paris, appropriately called "Le Petit Atelier"--the small workshop. While it's always been on my Paris wish list, I never had the opportunity to visit it until a few months ago, when Aran and I spent the day in Paris after our workshop. It turns out Le Petit Atelier was at the top of her list, so off we went.
It was a beautiful, little shop and I really enjoyed seeing all the details in person that I'd seen online. Unmarked on the exterior, you really have to be looking for this gem of a shop; which made you feel like you'd truly stumbled upon a Parisian treasure. I thought I'd share a handful of the images I snapped during our quick visit (I was parked in a loading zone a block away so swiftness was key!), in case you're also curious about Le Petit Atelier as well.
Oh, and if you win the La Maisonnette France Giveaway, perhaps a day or two in Paris tacked on will be in order. And then you can go visit this lovely shop (and many more!) in person. Now, isn't that a lovely thought on this Friday morning...
Exciting news in the shop this week! I am now offering a beautiful, white, pie favor box that would be perfect for a sweet picnic or a lovely wedding. While I used the boxes to hold homemade quiche (at our workshop in France), they are ideal for pie, tarts and cake. During this time of year, I like the idea of making little treats for neighbors, friends, teachers, your favorite postal worker, etc. and packaging them up in these white boxes. The deluxe pie box kits come with pre-cut parchment rounds, baker's twine, wooden forks and of course, the boxes. They make gift-giving pretty and festive!
If you are interested in large quantities of just the box (to allow your own customization to shine through), then please send me a convo in the shop. Also, please note there are limited quantities available on this particular style of box. Thank you!
Since Monday is an important day to feel inspired, I want to share this gorgeous "real life home" tour with you today. I simply cannot wait another moment to do so! I discovered Annalise Neil's beautiful, San Diego home via the lovely Jora of Domestic Reflections--one of my favorite blogs. And thank goodness I did, because Annie's eclectic home exudes so much love, warmth and depth, that it simply cannot be contained. This 1946 bungalow, affectionately referred to as "Neilhaus", is situated on a quiet, dead-end street above a tiny canyon that is home to gray foxes, possums and other small wildlife. Marking the beautiful home are two, wind-swept juniper trees, which you can see a portion of above. It truly sounds like an ideal location to raise a family, which is just what thisprintmakerand freelance writer is doing! In fact, as your eyes move through this home tour, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for Annalise’s original etchings, prints, copper plates and drawings dotting the photographs (which were also snapped by Annie). For those of you just tuning in, this original series showcases living spaces decorated by people who are not formally-trained interior designers; people who mix new finds with antiques and secondhand pieces from Craigslist (or the like). People who have figured out, on their own, what looks and feels good in their living space, be it a free-standing home, an apartment, or in one particular case, a tower :)
And the winner of a free night at any Radisson in North America is...Teresa! Please email me, Teresa, with your contact information at "stephmodo@gmail.com". Thank you!
Hello + Happy Weekend! How was your Thanksgiving!? We just wrapped up a delightful family excursion to Northern California where we soaked up sunshine, watched movies, ate more than our fair share of treats and enjoyed relaxing together as a family. Today, we hopped around San Francisco on a photo scavenger hunt, which our kids enjoyed tremendously. Between riding the cable car I used to take to work, eating our way through the Ferry Building and enjoying the sweeping views of the bay on just about every block, I have to admit I felt a twinge of nostalgia for the years we lived in that beautiful city.
Speaking of family excursions and getaways in general, I was recently approached by Radisson Hotels with a generous offer to give one of my readers a free night's stay in any of their hotels in North America. Radisson is celebrating their 50th Anniversary this year and subsequently hosting a "50 Years, 50 Days, 50 Rooms" extravaganza; and today, November 24th, is the lucky day on which I get to share this offer with you. Whether you're craving alone time with your significant other, or a family getaway, a night on Radisson sounds like a nice bit of icing on your holiday cake.
In the past, some of my favorite quick destinations include: New York, Quebec City and of course, San Francisco. But, at the top of my wish list are: Santa Fe, Chicago and Vancouver, BC. Do you have any favorites to add yourself? If so, please do in the comments. Thanks!
Giveaway Guidelines
- You have 3 days to enter this giveaway (closes Monday, November 26th at midnight).
- Make 1 comment on this post to enter.
- Anonymous comments will not be considered, so please make sure we know who you are.
- The winner will be chosen via random.org and announced next Wednesday at the top of this post--so make sure you peek back and see if you're the lucky one. Thank you!
note: Radisson is also allowing our family (or maybe just the two of us) to stay at a Radisson too :)
The other day on Instagram, Miss Jora posted an image of a bowl of festive pomegranates from her yard (yes, her yard!!). I immediately decided I had to share this post with you on seeding a pomegranate without making a mess. It's seriously the best method I've ever used (and I'm fairly certain I've tried them all), and only takes about 3 minutes to complete. So, if you're lucky enough to have a pomegranate tree in your back yard, or simply pick them up at the grocery store, this post on how to seed a pomegranate is for you. Pomegranate seeds make the perfect garnish for a chilled fresh fruit salad, many savory meat dishes and chocolate cake.
Here's to a beautiful and delicious beginning to this year's holiday season!
This autumnal potage converted my husband to squash soup, something he previously didn't care for one bit, if you can believe it. I love to make this for guests, as it's not only a crowd pleaser, but the soup can be made ahead of time; in fact, it will likely taste even better if you do! It's also become a tradition to make and serve this soup on the eve of Thanksgiving or for a light lunch on Thanksgiving Day (this is when the make-ahead feature comes in handy). The soup calls for a combination of my two favorite winter squashes--butternut and red kuri squash. A combination so naturally good that even in the French markets, you'll find these two squashes side-by-side :)
As Thanksgiving week is upon us, I've been thinking about all the things that I am grateful for--family, friends, health, a roof over my head, and the chance to connect with you here over the years. Another blessing in my family's life, since completing the renovation of our cozy cottage in France, has been the pleasure of sharing our favorite little corner of the world with so many wonderful readers and visitors. Three years ago we were in the middle of renovating La Maisonnette and I will never forget the outpouring of interest and moral support we received from you at that time. This little cottage feels like our 5th child in many ways. Blood, sweat and tears, and even a mild electrocution involving a certain someone was involved...but thankfully it all ended well :)
During your week's stay at the cottage, plan on doing a little reading in the garden while nibbling on a croissant from Les Delices (the amazing boulangerie/patisserie in town) smothered with homemade confiture from the outdoor market in nearby Sarlat. Visit local Dordogne Valley chateaux (there are 5 within minutes of La Maisonnette), rent a bicycle, explore the village's Medieval cobblestone paths, glide down the river in a canoe, walk along the river during Sunset and then set off to enjoy some of the best food in France (don't worry, we will send you our list of favorite restaurants!). After dinner, come back to the cottage and watch one of the movies filmed right there in Beynac (you'll find Chocolat and Ever After tucked inside that armoir pictured below).
This giveaway will run for two weeks (through midnight on December 3rd), and the randomly-selected winner will be announced on Wednesday, December 5th. Here's are the ways you can enter the La Maisonnette France GIVEAWAY:
(you may enter one time each way, giving yourself up to 5 chances to win):
1. Leave a comment on this post below.
2. Choose an image from any past stephmodo blog post related to La Maisonnette, France or even an image from a past post that you've particularly appreciated; then pin the image to one of your Pinterest pinboards and post a link to the board on my stephmodo facebook page.
3. "Like" the relatively-new stephmodo page on FB (late adopter here!). Note: if you've already done this you are already entered in the giveaway.
5. Post a link to this contest page on your blog; then let me know by leaving a comment and a link to your post in the comments section below.
I wish you the best of luck in this giveaway and cannot wait to share our cottage with one of you at some point in the near future. Thank you again for your encouragement, support and kind words about this life-changing project!
If you need a little help with #2, here are some posts including some of my favorite images of France, the area surrounding La Maisonnette, and La Maisonnette itself. Enjoy!
Friends, I am so excited to share this special sale with you today! One of my favorite artists, Katherine Sandoz, is offering my readers 50% off any original work in her shop right now. As you may know, I am a huge fan of her abstract landscapes (one of which was featured on Design*Sponge this week), and the beautiful scenes and color palettes they reflect. They are all just lovely.
As an added bonus, all of Katherine's abstract landscapes come pre-framed, which will surely save you a few hundred dollars at the local framer (!!). It's such a nice perk to take the painting out of the package and immediately hang it on the wall. Please note that when the sale ends, any remaining works will be retired permanently. That being said, I expect many of her paintings to move quickly, so if there is something you love...
Friends, please use code "50%MODO" upon checkout to take advantage of this special discount. Enjoy!
A few favorites of mine to get started: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
Hello and Happy Thursday! I hope you are enjoying the last drops of Autumn in your neck of the woods. Here it is waining, which only spurs me to appreciate every last bit. It may sound a bit silly, but when I spot beautiful leaves that have fallen to the ground, I stop to pick them up and either put them on the dash of my car or in a window sill at home; just so I can enjoy their vibrant color all day long. I've realized, over time, that stopping to appreciate these tiny moments is critical to developing gratitude for many other things in life. Becoming aware of all the good around you will buoy you up when times are tough.
Anyway, enough of the serious talk :) Today, I'd like to share with you some links you'll surely love:
First, did you know about this tiny, hilltop village in Italy? Deemed the Village of Eternity, residents can expect to live until they are 95. So fascinating to read why this takes place.
One of the most romantic things my husband has ever done for me is choose, 'try on' and purchase a perfume for me at a department store in Paris. Just imagining him walking out smelling like Bulgari, Yves Saint Laurent and Chanel all at once makes me laugh. But here's the kicker...my favorite one is currently on super sale. You can enjoy a deep discount if you're okay with not receiving the original box (mine went straight into the recycle bin so I don't see how this would be a problem!). My sister always steals a spray when she's over...although soon she will be the proud owner of a bottle as well.
I really appreciated Lindsey sharing a bit of her story on Sarah Bryden-Brown's website. So many people experience bouts of depression at some point in their life, but I don't think the subject is discussed as much as it should be. I've always appreciated Lindsey's honesty--she is a great gal.
Some of our friends, who recently moved to Seattle from New York City, are putting together a shipment of supplies to send to a couple of charities actively helping those affected by Hurricane Sandy--which is a LOT of people. If you live in the Seattle area, and are willing to donate any of the following items, would you please drop them off at this convenient Queen Anne address by Thursday evening? (that's tomorrow!) 2453 1st Ave N. Please set the donations inside or next to the box on the porch. This is a great way to participate in aiding those who are in serious trouble in the NY/NJ areas. While we are far removed geographically here in Seattle, there are still ways to help and this is certainly one of them. Thank you!
Also, if you're going to be in Magnolia on Thursday, there will be a bake sale benefitting Sandy victims from 3 until 6 pm. The bake sale will take place in the Edward Jones parking lot (3320 West McGraw). What a fantastic excuse to enjoy a treat!
I am planning on adding this gluten-free side dish to our meal this year to mix things up a bit and add some nice color. Roasted delicata squash (which truly reflects its name and is delicate indeed) melds nicely with a French spice mix, a little maple syrup, lots of crispy sage and nutty Parmigiano-Reggiano to compliment the sweetness. I am sharing my recipe here.
And while we are on the subject, what fun things are you making for Thanksgiving? What are your go-to dishes?
As many of you know, we recently moved to another home within the same neighborhood here in Seattle. Shortly after our move, Design*Sponge contacted me about featuring my space on their blog, which of course was an honor. However, I was still unpacking boxes and figuring out where to hang art and place furniture at our new place (in fact, I still am...help!). Thankfully, I already snapped a handful of images of our previous space to have on hand for a possible real life home tour. But since D*S was kind enough to feature some of the 'before + after' shots of La Maisonnette a few years ago, I thought it would be fun to continue the tradition over there.
If you're interested in taking a peek, you can view our old pad on Design*Sponge. Thank you!
Vibrant print pictured above by Aeropagita - discovered via Design for Mankind
Merci in Paris is technically a boutique (with profits heading to a women's charity in Madagascar in fact), but it also feels a bit like a museum too. The portion of the store directly up front rotates regularly, so you never know what to expect as you walk through the courtyard past the little red fiat...you just know it's going to be good. This time? Animal prints + Audrey Hepburn. Fabulous.
Since I love little peeks into interesting places in foreign countries, I thought perhaps some of you share the same interest. So here you go...a few recent captures of Merci.
The signature red fiat...which according to Anne was recently painted blue. What? Sacrilige.
Pretty paperie and pendant lights...and some creative visual merchandising for those headphones.
How fun is this neon-filled table? Trends don't stop at just fashion, folks. Nothing is safe!
Dishes, furniture and lots of other heavy things that unfortunately don't fit well into suitcases :( #ifonly
Want more? Take a peek at these archived posts for more captures from Merci in Paris.
Also, if you're interested in the latest Merci happenings and insider sales, you can sign up for their newsletter online. You never know when a good sale will coincide with your next visit! In fact, I just received an email this morning about an upcoming sale...so apparently they do happen!
The other day I went searching for our cheese knives and in the process stumbled upon a small package of decorative parchment leaves I picked up years ago at Williams Sonoma (it's actually quite amazing they survived so many moves). I looked at them for a moment and then thought about all the beautiful, bright-colored trees I pass everyday and thought, "why am I not making my own decorative leaves this time of year?". Who needs to spend $16 when you can easily create your own authentic version instead?
All you need for this super simple DIY, (besides leaves), is a leaf press (or a couple of heavy phonebooks if you happen to have those still!). When choosing your leaves, consider those that are very bright in color, seemingly flawless and large enough to stage a small wedge of cheese. And options are good, so pick up a few more than you think you'll need.
Take your stack of leaves and gently rinse them one by one under a stream of warm water. Lay them in a single layer on a dry dishtowel. Use an additional towel to pat dry. Once you've removed all visible moisture from the leaves, it's time to place them in your press (single layer, with ample space around each leaf). You'll want to tighten your press as much as possible and then allow the leaves to flatten and dry out over the next 48 to 72 hours.
Once they are pressed, arrange them on a cheese board, tray, plate or platter. Add the cheese wedges, as well as the accoutrements, et voila...you have a beautiful cheese plate! Here I chose a brie called Pierre Robert (can you really ever go wrong with a triple-cream?), a personal favorite, P'tit Basque and new-to-me blue appropriately called Bleu d'Auvergne (amazing with figs!). I'm also a huge fan of Tomme de Savoie and Montagne. What are your favorites?
Somewhat recently a surprising amount of negative energy entered my life. And to be quite honest, I was a bit distraught about it all. Unfortunately, I allowed this energy to shadow every aspect of my life--it was hard not to. But, after a little time had passed, I decided to pick myself up, thoughtfully contemplate what I could learn from the situation, and then do my best to work through the muck. Because as human beings, that is really all we can do when negativity comes our way. The alternative isn't pretty.
However, my heart indicated that simply announcing my resolve was not enough. I knew I needed to counteract this negative energy with positive energy or I would never find peace. And so I headed to the place where I often create joy...the kitchen. I pulled out my best ingredients (including my coveted Valrhona cocoa powder) and baked a cake. A Dark Chocolate Cherry Cake in fact; inspired by my favorite bar of chocolate (thank you Miss Rebecca for the intro...and the cocoa powder :)).
As I made the cake from scratch, I made a conscious effort to think positive thoughts by reflecting on the sources of love and kindness in my life. I thought about how my life has been blessed by these sources and how grateful I am for them. Perhaps many of you practice this sort of thought process more often, but I am embarrassed to say it had been awhile for me. It felt restorative to begin filling my mind with happy, grateful thoughts. Healing had begun.
After baking and slightly cooling the cake, I prepared a simple ganache to envelop the dark round. Once it had set, I cut out wedges of this decadent cake and placed them in my wedge-shaped boxes for gifting. We shared with our neighbors, the cranky librarian, a sad friend, my children's teachers, pregnant ladies and anyone else who needed a healthy does of chocolate! Although, that's really all of us, right? If only I'd realized that the first time around...we ended up going for round 2 in the kitchen because I didn't feel settled after round one. There was still more mending to do and so I happily pressed "repeat".
I hope you enjoy this cake recipe as much as I enjoyed sharing it. Also, I would love to hear what you do to when negative energy comes your way. How do you make sense of it all and move on in a healthy way? outside of chocolate :)
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. You can enjoy a deep discount if you're okay with not receiving the original box (mine went straight into the recycle bin so I don't see how this would be a problem!). My sister always steals a spray when she's over...although soon she will be the proud owner of a bottle as well. 
