French Lavender Sachets

Bon jour, Mon Amis!

It's a cold and windy day here at the chateau, perfect for staying inside and working on projects!

I'm not much of a seamstress, but once in awhile (a great while!) I get the urge to break out my circa late 1960's Kenmore sewing machine (it belonged to my aunt, and still works like a charm!) and stitch something up!

When we were in Paris last month, I purchased a couple of large bags of dried lavender from Provence. I'd been saving a pair of linen and cotton pants that I found in the thrift store quite awhile ago, for just such a project. The pants were gorgeous, but were way too small for me, but I knew that they would come in handy some day!  So I didn't feel bad about cutting them up for my sachets!

I made all of the sachets a bit differently.  I really love the hearts, which I embellished with my wonderfully crinkly cream seam binding, and glittered silk hydrangea blossoms.

For this blossom (below), I also used some Martha Stewart flocking powder in addition to the glitter.  Love the look!

I also stitched up some little squares, and added vintage Mother of pearl and abalone buttons to the centers.

I wish that you could smell them!

I'm giving some as gifts (and keeping one for myself, of course!).  I'll also be putting a few in my Etsy shop.

Now of course I wish I had bought more bags of lavender!  Oh well, next trip I will be sure to!!

I love vintage buttons, don't you?

For the sachets below, I decided to leave them unadorned, but tied a group together with the seam binding, and topped it off with a glittered hydrangea blossom.

Whenever I feel tired, stressed, or head achy, the scent of lavender really seems to sooth me, and lift my spirits, too!

Linking up with the Dedicated House for Make it Pretty Monday.
I'll also be linking up tomorrow with Becky for Blissful Whites Wednesday, the new party that I'm super excited about!  Be sure to visit!

On a side note, sending prayers and thoughts to those who may be affected by the hurricane.  Stay safe!

Au Revoir!

Meet Natasha

Ever since I first spotted the wonderful mannequins that so many of you have, I longed to find one for myself!  Finally, I lucked out last week when I discovered this beauty at Home Goods!   

It was love at first sight!

I'm so excited!  Actually, the first one I found at Home Goods was black, with a white lacy overlay.  While I loved it, as soon as I spied Natasha, I knew that I just had to bring her home!  Yes, I named her Natasha!  I think it's a pretty fitting name, don't you?

She is keeping me company in my craft room!  I can hardly wait to use her in props for photos, decorate her for the holidays, and more!

Of course you know how I adore all things French, so I am really loving the advertisement for the Parisian dress shop!

She is a lovely oatmeal color, and is on a gray wooden stand. While I'm really not a gray person (I think I'll eventually paint the gray part my signature Heirloom White), it is kind of growing on me. Well, sort of!

Notice the angels in the antique frame, below?  Both are a new addition to my craft room, and I'll share more about them in a future post.

I think Natasha looks right at home!

I'm linking up with Becky at Timewashed for the first ever Blissfull Whites Wednesday!  Becky so gracefully has taken over the former White Wednesday party, that so many of us loved and dearly missed!  So I am super excited that she is carrying on one of my very favorite parties!!
Also joining Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday. Be sure to visit!

New to My Shop: Scarves From Paris!

Bon Jour, Mon Amis!

When we visited Paris last month, I was sure to save room in my suitcase so that I could bring home lots of goodies!  I ended up purchasing quite a few scarves, which I am offering for sale here.  (I'm not able to sell them in my Etsy shop, as I didn't make them myself, which is why I am selling them here.)  French women seem to possess an effortless sense of style, and always look oh so pulled together!  Parisians, both men and women, are crazy about scarves!  They are so popular no matter what the season or temperature, and the French always manage to tie them ever so fashionably!

So, without further ado, Natasha (my new dress form that I am so excited about!) will model them for you!

If you are interested in any of the scarves, you can email me at: theshabbychateau@yahoo.com

This first scarf is one of my favorites!  All cotton, the scarf is a pretty pale aqua, with white polka dots and  fringe on the ends.  It's huge!  Measures 40" x 70" (not including fringe). 

I can think of so many ways to wear this lovely scarf, including wearing it as a shawl!  Cost is $35

I couldn't resist this pretty crinkly blue scarf, either!  The background color is more of a slate blue, and it has a sweet all over pink, blue, and taupe floral print. Measures 18" x 60".  No tag, but it appears to be a rayon/poly type blend. Cost is $18

This crinkly floral scarf also caught my eye! 

The background is white, and it has the prettiest lavender/plum flowers with green leaves and taupe flowers as well.  Measures 16" x 60". Again, no tag, so I believe it is a rayon or poly. $18

Lots of ways to tie this beauty, too!

This next scarf is so neat, I've never seen one quite like it!  The sweet woman who I bought it from (at an outdoor market, which is where I purchased most of these scarves from), spent alot of time showing me just how to wear it!

It is three layers and triangular shaped, the bottom being a lovely coral/red check on a creamy background.  The second layer is a gorgeous lacy taupe with beautiful floral "fringe", and the top layer is a pretty coral/red floral print on a creamy taupe background.  The scarf is edged in pretty creamy taupe floral trim, and for fun there is a silver tone star charm hanging from the bottom tier, and a cute little silver star hanging from the top layer.

This scarf is so versatile!  The first two views show how the French woman showed me how to wear it.  The second two views I've flipped it around to the back side.  It is even prettier in person than the photos!

Measures 17" x 69".  Viscose. $28

This next scarf below is huge!  It's crinkly, all cotton, and has a gorgeous all over print of blue and light blue large flowers, with green leaves, on a dark blue backgound.

It's so large, you could wear it like a shall like I've show here, or come up with lots of clever ways to tie it!

Has a pretty fringe on both ends.   Measures 38" x 68" (not including fringe).  $35

Ok, this last scarf is really pretty too, and made of the softest 100% silk.  It actually was made from an Indian silk sari (love that idea!). 

It is a gorgeous burnt orange background, with a beautiful all over leafy/swirly vine print in aqua blue, purple, bright pink, green, & orange.  The colors are so vibrant!

Again, so many ways you could tie this beauty!  Measures 37" x 40".

If you have any questions, or if you'd like to purchase any of these scarves, you can email me at
theshabbychateau@yahoo.com  
Merci for visiting today! 

Linking up with Feathered Nest Friday

Fall Apothecary Jar

Hi, hope you all are having a great week!

Today I thought I'd share with you one of my latest little projects, a fall inspired glass apothecary jar.

You may have seen my jar earlier this summer, that I filled with sand and sea shells.  I lucked out and found it this summer at a garage sale for a mere $7!  It's quite a bit larger in person than it appears in these photos.

Anyway, I'm having so much fun playing with it, and created a little autumnal vignette that was quick and easy to put together.

I began by filling it with moss, then added a real bird's nest that I found a few years ago, which I just had to glitter!  I also added a few pine cones that I collected on our trip thru Colorado this spring.  Some feathers, faux leaves, a cute little glittered faux pumpkin, and a tiny little bird's nest were added.

I love tarnished vintage silver, and thought this tray, a bargain thrift store find, was the perfect addition to my vignette. 

Oh, I also tucked inside a bunch of acorns that I collected (and glittered, of course!), and some faux berries and twigs.

I've never been big on "fall" colors, such as orange and gold, as they really don't go with our home.  Besides, they just aren't me!  So I'm really loving the warm but a bit subdued colors of my little creation.

It's sitting on our dining table, where we can enjoy it each day.

I'm already dreaming of how I'll be decorating the jar for Christmas!

Have a great week!
Sharing with Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday

Vintage Turquoise Mirror and Sconces Redo

Hi, hope you all are having a great week!  It's a beautiful, warm and sunny day here at the chateau.  Looking at the calender, I have a feeling that we won't be having too many more days like this, so I'm enjoying it while I can!

If you visit here very often, you know how much I love mirrors!  You could say that I'm obsessed with them!

So when my picker friend called to say she'd spotted a large vintage Burwood mirror and matching candle sconces at a sale recently and asked if I'd be interested in them, I couldn't say "yes!" fast enough!

 Of course the set didn't start out looking this pretty!  Oh,no!  I sure wish that I hadn't been in such a hurry to paint them, as I neglected to take "before" shots of their not so lovely earth tone colors.  Remember when those colors were so popular, back in the 70's & early 80's?  This poor set was burnt orange, tan & gold (ugh!), and I could hardly wait to work a bit of magic on them!

 I knew right away that I wanted to paint them a vibrant and rich turquoise, so I mixed up a bunch of different shades that I happened to have, to create my own custom color!  Painting the set by hand proved to be even more work than I'd imagined!  All of those little nooks and crannies were quite labor intensive, to say the least!, But I am so happy with the end result!

After painting, I distressed a bit, then dry brushed with a little Ralph Lauren antiquing glaze, to add what I like to call "that aged over time look".

 Even though it was alot of work, I am thrilled with the end result!  I've transformed quite a few Burwood, Syroco and other vintage mirrors over the past few years, but I've never seen any mirrors just like this one til now.  It is even prettier in person than my photos can capture!

 And here are the matching mirrored sconces.  They are quite large.  Love them!

 I've placed them all in my Etsy shop ('cause I just can't keep all of my creations, as much as I'd love to!), if you care to take a peek!

That's it for now, thanks so much for visiting!

Au Revoir!
I'm linking up with the following awesome parties:
Vintage Inspiration Friday
Feathered Nest Friday 
Shabbylicious Friday 
Passion Parade