celebrations & a contest

guess what today is...my bloggie's one year anniversary! i have to admit i'm still getting into the groove of posting on a regular basis. i get sidetracked with viewing my long list of regulars that i neglect my own, not to mention a serious flickr obsession. i want to say a very big heartfelt thank you to all of you who blog, for your inspiration, inside peek of your lives, studios, gardens - and craft drawers. it has been an amazing year! most of all thank you for your comments, kind e-mails - even unexpected gifts! to connect with other creative women was my purpose for starting birdsofafeather, and i'm so glad i did!

i've been sick all week with a crazy alergy, cold, coughing thing - not fun. what's kept me going is lots of studio time, getting ready for mindy's launch party and indie designer boutique. if you're in the beverly, ma area please stop by redbrick and say hello! be sure to check out the wish studio's blog to enter the e-contest - the large journal above is my contribution - hope you win!

i couldn't resist posting one more photo of my little mermaid, off to her last prom of the season with her handsome friend. the funny thing was it was about 95 and the beach was mobbed! my friend jillian (handsome date's mom) took the beautiful photos.

paris in may

i promised a paris post, but we've had electrical issues. our power kept randomly going out, anyway, after two visits from both the town electric company and our electrician - all fixed!

this pretty much sums up my paris finds; a perfect green box from laduree, vintage pale blue ribbon 2E, rhinestone shoe clips 2E, a tiny glass jar 12E, and an easel back picture frame 15E, found at the vanves flea market. I do have a thing for tiny treasures, but i was hoping to come home with enough goodies to fill my small rolling suitcase i dragged around.


the sisters and hubby's finally made it to paris ~ which was not an easy thing to pull off. paris is captivating, i especially loved how old everything is; the cobblestone streets and intricately carved architecture ~ everything is over the top grand! the city was very different than i remember as a teen, noticably much cleaner ~ in fact there is a major effort to be enviornmentally conscience.

we took the train to vernon, and then rented bikes to get to giverney. there is a bike path for most of the way that leads directly there. we had lunch in the outdoor cafe at the famous hotel baudy. loved that even a trip to the toilette was magical! out back of the hotel is an old artist's studio set up with vintage paintings and glass jars filled with pigments, for nostalgia, and visitors still come and set up their easels to paint the beautiful gardens, so the legacy continues.


we decided to rent an apartment instead of separate hotel rooms, so we could spend more time together. the apartment was on rue des ecoles in the latin quarter, it was beautiful and in the perfect location. the pantheon, notre dame, isle st. louis, and luxembourg gardens were close, not to mention tons of wonderful little restraunts. right down the street was an open air marches (market) where we purchsed delicious patisseries, wine, cheese, bread, veggies, and flowers. dean bought me petite pink roses, how romantique. the maubert metro station was minutes away, which we took all over the city - it was very easy to navigate.

we did the l'open tour double decker bus a few days into our trip - touristy, yes, but who cares, we all loved it, and we were tourists! we wish we had done it the first day so we could really get a feel for all the different areas. we took the "grand avenues" route, the great thing is you can hop on and off all day to see the different sites, another bus comes along every 20 minutes.

i'm not much for french food, sorry. i do love all the cheese, bread, and pastries though. there wasn't a patisserie we passed that we didn't have to stop and get something or at least stop to admire the art of it all. fortunately even with these tiny indulgences we didn't gain an ounce, becasue we walked 12 hours a day. we went to laduree twice; the first time we got macaroons and waited in line for an hour - well worth it i'd have to say. the second time we sat down and let them pamper us with all kinds of goodies; marie antoinette tea, tiny macaroons, a beautiful rose infused confection that looked (almost) too good to eat, cafe creme, and chocolate chaud that was like a melted milk chocolate bar - it came with steamed milk to mix in. one of my sister's and her husband stayed a few days longer and had breakfast here - they said it was the BEST breakfast they have ever had, and believe me that is saying alot!

i could post hundreds of photos, but i'll spare you! all i can say is i can't wait to go back! just when we got our bearings, and felt comfy with the language (most everyone speaks english) it was time to head home. the french people were warm, friendly, and very accomodating. i don't think we've ever visited a more tourist friendly city.

mother's day trip

for years, the day before mother's day friends and i would visit lark elizabeth roderigues in her rhode island studio to purchase a special treat for ourselves. she is an amazingly talented potter whose work is as lovely as she is. yesterday we made the trip to her studio where she is getting ready for several shows, so it was stocked full! stepping inside is like a fresh spring day bursting with blooms. flowers, leaves, berries, fruit, even mermaids and sea creatures all delicately wrap around hand thrown pots, vases, and hearts with life-like whimsy. i first met lark at victoria magazine's business of bliss seminar in new york city, which was many years ago now. speaking of victoria, i've heard a little rumor that they may be back on the newstands soon! that was my all time favorite magazine. i have every issue!

after returning from our grand trip on saturday i decided it was more important to spend mother's day with my babes than cleaning and doing mountains of laundry - so we went to the local nursery and bought hydrangeas and other flowery plants and happily dug, planted, played, and puttered in the yard. the next day my back was so thrown out of wack! so for two days i've been whincing in pain...but getting better - as far as the dirt and laundry, it's still here if anyone's interested...

back from paris!

we're back from paris and had an amazing time. everything was blooming, the people were hospitable and kind, and the food was delicious, fresh, and artfully prepared. we literally walked and ate our way through the city stopping in every patisserie and boulangerie to marvel at the gorgeous desserts and to purchase a few to go. we sat to have cafe creme several times a day; you cannot get coffee to go. even in the hustle and bustle of parisian life they truly do stop to enjoy life - hope that never changes.

this photo is from a great shop we stumbled upon in montmartre called tombes du camion on rue joeseph de maistre. we thought we'd find more shops like this, but didn't. it was packed with all sorts of curious treasures new and vintage. our trip was all about seeing the sights and spending time together, so shopping was taken in stolen bits and pieces. the total of my purchases fit in a tiny laduree box, ahhh, but the memories will carry me forever.

we visited laduree several times, and in our (expert) opinion (based on many taste testings) their macaroons were hands down the best. our favorite was the cassis-violette, although all were deliciously flavorful. i will be dreaming about them and seeking a state-side replacement for a long time to come.

so many photos and goodies to upload, hope to have them up by the end of the week.

bonjour for now -
xo heidi

alle a paris!

we're off! i'll be back soon with treasures, photos, and wonderful memories!

xo, heidi

here are some of my favorite blogs for researching our travel plans -

corey - i would have loved to share a cup of tea with you in the south of france - next trip! love her insight, beauty, inspiration, and wonderful flea market finds.

carol - her passion for all things parisian, especially food, and her art.

ulla - sweet and talented - she brings the true parisian excentricity in art and fashion to those of us who had no idea.

eiffel tower - this is so cool!