The French Cupboard

Voila! ... French Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy Brocante) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:17:00 +0000

Romance is in the air ...

With all the Valentine projects I've been noticing lately

really 'put me in the mood'

for some French inspired LOVE.

What things French are stirring your heart lately?

Link on up and share the love!

See you next week,

Jill {Gypsy Brocante}

White Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Counting Your Blessings) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:26:00 +0000

Sharing a bit of the vintage whites that are on my studio table this week.

I also spent a little time adding our Cupboard boutiques to the sidebar over there on the right. Now you can shop and blog at the same time. Go ahead, take a peek...

Posted by: Polly ~ Counting Your Blessings

Linking with White Wednesday

Voila! ... French Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy Brocante) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:08:00 +0000

Bonjour all ... welcome to Voila! ... our weekly party where we share and inspire all things French!

Last week I gave you a peek of what was going into my preparation for the Philadelphia Home Show ... well, this week I want to show you how it turned out. If you remember, we were going for a "Parisian Boho" vibe .......

Hand painted French signage is surrounded by a few pieces of French hotel silver ...

A pretty French Provencal style desk painted in a dusky gray and blue combo pairs nicely with the French postal stamped burlap.

I LOVE these vintage canvas bags, each one with a little French accent on them.

If you want to see more of our display and a little behind the scenes video of us setting up click HERE.

... and if you have something you wish to share this week click below and link on up to the party!!

See you next week!

Jill {Gypsy Brocante}

White Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Counting Your Blessings) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:19:00 +0000

Just a few bits of white around the farmhouse...

My quirky throw

The new vintage cabinet that Mr. Blessing has been working on. It used to be part of a florist shop.

Hope your day is filled with lovely whites!

Posted by: Polly ~ Counting Your Blessings
Linking with White Wednesday

Voila! French Inspiration ...

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy Brocante) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:57:00 +0000

Today is a pretty exciting day for me ... in about 2 hours I'll be heading over to Philadelphia to set-up a booth for the yearly home show. My partner, Beth, and I will will be selling our gypsy wares there for the next two weekends.

Over the past month we have been pulling together the "look" we are going for and found our inspiration in a French oil painting and some French furniture ... here's a peek of what we have in mind ...

Above is the French oil painting that started our minds a twirling ...

French gypsy ... Parisian boho ....

A funky gold velvet chair ......

A silk and tassel trimmed ottoman ......

A french desk painted in "French Blue" - of course!

So ..... last night we started loading up the truck ...... the first piece in? The French Desk!

We will spend the entire next 2 days setting up our French inspired vignette ... wish us luck ; )

What's going on in your French inspired world? Link on up below.

Jill {Gypsy Brocante}

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy Brocante) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:12:00 +0000

Bonne Annee ... and welcome to the first

Voila! party of the new year !!

{source}

Have you completed a French inspired project already in this new year of 2012?

If not, do you have one planned?

If so, what will it be?

I haven't completed mine yet, but have started one ... a little re-do of my sun porch. well, mainly just the furniture.

Here is the "before" shot of the sofa I'm tackling:

And this is as far as I've come to date ... I've managed to remove 80% of the old fabric while keeping the "innards" intact that I can re-use and cover over.

and while I was at it, I figured why not pull apart the seat cushions on the wrought iron chairs that sit opposite the sofa ..

... and that my dear friends is as far as I've made it!!

There is no heat out on the porch and yesterday it was a bone numbing 12 degrees outside. This project may be waiting for completion until spring!

Well, if you've been ambitious and have some inspiration to share ... we would LOVE to see it ... link it on up below ; )

Jill {Gypsy Brocante}

Voila! ... French Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy Brocante) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:40:00 +0000

Bonjour!

Can you believe another year is about to pass?

I spent this morning cruising through Voila! posts from this past year ... revisiting links and finding an abundance of French inspiration!

Here are a dozen that grabbed my eye {again!} this morning ...

Confessions of a Plate Addict

The Gilded Pear

The Decorating Diaries

I could have posted HUNDREDS of images today ..... I am overwhelmed by ALL of the projects you gals have linked up to our little Thursday blog party!

I hope you have more up your sleeves for next year, 2012 ... and bring them all to the party to share.

I have enjoyed them all ; )

Voila! Will be taking a break next Thursday, but will be back in the New Year on Thursday, January 5th, 2012.

Wishing you the brightest and merriest of holidays,

Jill {Gypsy Brocante}

Voila - French Angels

noreply@blogger.com (Counting Your Blessings) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:56:00 +0000

I just adore the old French angels image that we are using this year for French Cupboard's Holiday Market! I love it so much that I've been making all kinds of little holiday gifts with it. This was a super simple and cheap gift. Vanilla candles from the dollar store, old sheet music, a bit of glass glitter and some twine. I used hot glue to put it all together (because I'm a glutton for having at least one finger burned everyday) but a glue stick would work just as well.

Our sweet angel, Jill (Gypsy Brocante) isn't able to be our hostess today but she will be back! In the meantime, I hope that you'll join us this week as we begin the countdown to Christmas and enjoy some French Inspiration.
Posted by: Polly ~ Counting Your Blessings

Voila!

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy Brocante) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:06:00 +0000

Hello all and welcome to Voila!
This week I have a French inspired burlap stocking to share with you...

I found this burlap already stamped with French script, post marks, and stamps at my local JoAnne fabric store ... lucky me had a 50% off coupon and bought the whole bolt of burlap for 1/2 price!!

I washed the burlap several times to soften it ..... made a simple stocking pattern .......

Then embellished it with vintage lace .........

Filled with some fresh greens cut from my yard and Voila! ...

another French inspired Christmas decoration.

What have you been up to this week?

Please share with all of us below ; )

See you next week ....

Jill {Gypsy Brocante}

Linking today with Funky Junk

Voila! .. French inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy Brocante) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:42:00 +0000

Okay ... will someone please tell me what today is?!
I have just spent half of my morning thinking it was WEDNESDAY!!
Not until I was bringing in the trash cans a few moments ago did the light bulb go off ... wait, trash day, Thursday, VOILA! .... and so here I am late with this week's post and my apologies.
I guess taking off last Thursday for Thanksgiving really messed up my inner alarm clock ; )

I've been excited to show all of y'all my little French inspired skate girls!!
I've "dolled" up some second hand ice-skates into romantic Christmas decor ...

A little glitter, moss, burlap and twine ....

And ... VOILA! ..... a sweet French inspired decoration for my mantel.

Joyeux noel!!
Link up below to share your latest inspiration ....

xo
Jill {Gypsy Brocante}

Cyber Monday

noreply@blogger.com (Counting Your Blessings) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:31:00 +0000

It's Cyber Monday!

Pop on over and take a look at the unique, handmade gifts at the French Cupboard Holiday Market.

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy Brocante) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 11:58:00 +0000

Hello everyone! I've been reviewing the last month's worth of french inspired projects again and I have to say WOW! ... they are ALL impressive ... I'm amazed at the never ending stream of inspiration found here!

Can you believe next week is Thanksgiving? Not only does that mean giving thanks but also a reminder to me that it's coming time to send out Christmas cards to family and friends that I'm thankful for. I like to make my own cards for the holidays {no surprise!} and thought why not go for a little French theme this year. My "go to" place for inspiration is always Etsy ... and here are a few examples that caught my attention.

{click on photo for more info}

I know, I know ... me too!
I'm ready to get the card stock, my glue and glitter out!!
How about you? Will you be making any French inspired holiday cards, wrap or tags?
You know we would love to see them if you do.
In the mean time link on up what inspirations you have to share for this week.

xo
Jill {Gypsy Brocante}

Handmade Holiday Market is Open!

noreply@blogger.com (Counting Your Blessings) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 22:02:00 +0000

French Cupboard's Holiday Market is open!

This year we are putting the focus on having a handmade holiday and we're adding new items every week.

We'll be open 24/7 from now until the end of the year so you can shop anytime you like!

Come on over and take peek around...

Click here to visit the Holiday Market

Voila! ... French inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy Brocante) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 11:23:00 +0000

Running, running, and more running.
That seems to be all I've been doing lately.
I want to sit.
Just for a minute.
Okay, maybe an hour .... or two.
Right here ...

In this pretty little French chair I spied during last week's running.
What have you been up to?
Have you had time to create or be inspired?
Please tell ; )

Okay, ...... gotta run ..... another holiday show to do tonight!

xo
Jill {Gypsy Brocante}

Voila! ... French Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy Brocante) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 11:53:00 +0000

Hand lettering my French inspired sign ... part deux ......
Today I'm posting a bunch of pictures to show you my progress on last week's project.
I'm happy to say it's DONE!!
...and...
really wasn't as bad/hard as I thought it would be.
I thank all of you kind ladies who encouraged me to keep going!!

Here's where she resides as of today ... waiting for a new home!
Link on up to share your French inspired lovelies and have a sweet weekend!!

xo
Jill {Gypsy Brocante}

Voila! ... French Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy Brocante) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 11:25:00 +0000

Incomplete.
If You were grading me on my progress this week ...
this is the grade you would have to award me.
Incomplete.
But, I would LOVE to show you my progress to date !!

Last week I gathered all the salvaged boards I'd been storing up for this project.
French inspired shop signs.
I was able to get them all painted and distressed ... ready to go ...

I went to my copy center and had all my images blown up to fit the various boards.
My thought was to use "old fashioned" carbon paper to transfer my designs onto the boards.
Well, that didn't work out so well ...
For some reason {maybe the softness of the paint} I couldn't get the transfer to take ...
But I was determined ...
and started the process of hand lettering.
I hate working on hand lettering!

So ..... this is as far as I've come this week ... it's slow going but I WILL finish these boards by hand, like it or not!

I will also share their completion in a future post ...... I'll be anxious to see what my final grade is ; )
Now, get busy and link on up all your fabulousness below!

xo
Jill {Gypsy Brocante}

Voila! ... French Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy Brocante) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 11:28:00 +0000

Welcome everyone ... This past weekend I was selling my wares at a local Philadelphia market, Clover Market ... with my friend/partner/fellow FC member, Beth ... we always manage to work a little "French" into our displays.

Above is a little vignette I managed to snap a photo of before it was ransacked by hungry customers!

I made about eight faux French grain sack pillows the week before and they were a hit, each one sold ... I'm working on more for this week's upcoming show. Do you recognize the chalkboard from a previous Voila! post?

Beth has these new purses in her fall line ....... they are to-die-for! Vintage canvas, hand stamped and just so ohh-la-la French inspired. Beth's promised me one for Christmas ... can't wait!

Did you find any French inspiration on your travels this week?
Did you create any?
Please share with us all ... link on up!

xo
Jill {Gypsy Brocante}

Voila! ... French Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy Brocante) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 13:11:00 +0000

Hello! Did anyone miss "Viola!" last week? ... I was on a road trip heading out to the Nada farm event last Thursday and in the middle of Indiana it hit me ... TODAY IS "VIOLA!"!!! Seems like with all the mad rush getting ready for my trip and preparing for jewelry class I let "Viola!" slip to the curb. My bad. ... and not much better this week. I've done nothing French inspired these past two weeks ... it's been packing, driving, and driving and driving. However, I did treat myself to a new travel mug for the ride home and it is French inspired ; )

I'm all settled back home and will be getting out the paints, glue gun, and inspiration flowing again ... back full swing next week! Please accept my apologies for the absence ; )

Now, what have YOU been up to?? Anything good? ... well, do share...link it on up below!

See you all next week!

Jill {Gypsy Brocante}

Handmade Harvest Blog Party

noreply@blogger.com (Counting Your Blessings) — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 00:27:00 +0000

We are sharing our handmade Harvest/Autumn/Halloween/Fall items this weekend and if you would like to join in the fun, just use the "add link" button below. Whether it's a vintage repurposed item, a handmade item... no matter the medium, you are welcome to link up with us.
In a season when every moment there are new colors out there, let's also remember the beauty of God's artistry.

Voila! ... French Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy Brocante) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:42:00 +0000

Welcome all!
Here's a project I've just been dying to try.
I've seen these cute prints just about everywhere, especially Etsy.
They didn't look too difficult so I gave it a go and I was very pleased with my results. Untill I took a closer look...a closer look AFTER I had already printed, cut out, mounted, and framed my new "art".
I believe my mistake is pretty obvious. Do you see it?

Yep. My French bumble bee and wreath is flying upside down on my page!
Do you think anyone will notice?

Graphics Fairy as usual was my source for the graphic ... I thank you kindly!
One simple page of a yellowing dictionary did the trick for the paper ... put it right into the paper feed and hit print.

The vintage frame I dug out of the basement, gave it a quick shine with windex ...

and ...

Voila! French inspired "art"

Looking forward to what all of you have to share this week ... link on up and inspire us!!

xo
Jill {Gypsy Brocante}

Voila! ... French Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy Brocante) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 12:09:00 +0000

These past few weeks {months?} I have been super busy preparing for Fall shows and events.
Yesterday I ran out of price tags and thought I would make up some simple "French" tags.
These were quick and easy to make ... I kept mine plain and simple, they're just price tags ... but you could really jazz these up and make awesome gift tags! Here's my method ...

Supplies:
card stock
old french dictionary pages
hole punch
tag shaped punch
twine
super 77 spray adhesive

I sprayed my card stock with adhesive and covered with pages of dictionary ... I like to put them on at different angles for a layered look ... the edges have great aging on them. I trimmed around the paper so that I could see were I could punch out tags and got busy punching.

Within a few minutes I had a whole pile of cute little price tags.

The last thing I did was tie on some twine ... this is probably the most time consuming part ... but worth it .... look at these sweet little French inspired tags I have now to use on all my goods!

Please link on up and share your inspiration with us below ; )
xo
Jill {Gypsy Brocante}

Handmade Harvest Party

noreply@blogger.com (Counting Your Blessings) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 17:22:00 +0000

That's right, we're having a party!

We're going to be sharing all kinds of handmade Fall items. And we want you to join in the fun.

All you have to do is show your handmade Autumn items on your blog and then come over and link up!

No matter what your favorite medium is (paper, fabric, jewelry, soap, couture clothing, the repurposed, etc.), if you put your hand to it, we want you to join us!

Just add our button to your blog and link it back to this post.

It's a Handmade Harvest Party!

October 1st & 2nd, 2011

The gorgeous image above was created by our friend, Beth at Tattered Vintage
We are linking up today with:
White Wednesday
Vintage Inspiration Friday
Chic on a Shoestring Budget

noreply@blogger.com (Leslie) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 11:20:00 +0000

PUMPKINS!!!!

I've been thinking about making

some pumpkins out of grainsack.

So of course, I went

to my favorite site to

get some ideas.

seapinks.etsy.com

There I found the ivory damask pumpkin above, and the velvet pumpkins below...

paperprincessstudios.etsy.com

Aren't they wonderful?

frenchhenfarm.etsy.com
Here's a gorgeous hand-dyed
velvet pumpkin...

ozmaofodds.etsy.com
...with jewels!

Here are some more
amazing pumpkins made from....

keepsakedesign.etsy.com
chenille.....and

houseofwhimsy2.etsy.com

and houndstooth....

nzimm.etsy.com

felted wool......

imali.etsy.com

floral cotton with vintage notions...

junktojoy.etsy.com
and cotton prints...and lastly,
some wooly pumpkins
below......

bearcreekdesign.etsy.com

mmwolters.etsy.com
How about a lacey
pumpkin?

parachute425.etsy.com

What will you make your
pumpkins with? Please share!
Happy Pumpkins,
Leslie

Voila! ... French Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy Brocante) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 13:09:00 +0000

Hello and happy day to all of you!
...and thank you! Thank you for your help last week on my French frame dilemma ... all great ideas,
I especially liked the one from
Kathleen at Charm Bracelet Diva
"I've got a similar frame (still gold, yet to be painted) and am also mulling over what to do. I'm torn between the message board and blackboard. You could also string wire across the opening in rows and clip pictures, ephemera, mementos onto it. Kind of like a changeable shadow box!"

I've been looking for a cool way to display earrings that are for sale at the Gypsy Market and I think this will do the trick ... wire strung {lots of it} with earrings displayed...thanks Kathleen!

This week I started working on a gift for my daughter ... a French inspired journal.
She has always wanted to visit France and dreams of going someday ... I thought this might help keep her dream alive ... a place to write or sketch it all.

I only just started and am far from completing it.

Sorry for the photos, lighting wasn't great early this am ...

I covered a .99 cent black and white composition book with lavender velvet

on the outside and purple toile on the inside.

I added an antique cardboard photo frame with a french dictionary page and added one of her old prom photos. I embellished with old fabric and buttons and my french rubber stamps.

To give the velvet a worn look I rubbed it with sandpaper taking off some of the pile.

I'll keep you posted on my progress ... I hope she likes it!
See, your french inspired projects don't even have to be 100% finished to share ... all they have to do is inspire someone to create with a little French flair! Link on up girls ; )

xo
Jill {Gypsy Brocante}

Voila! ... French Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Gypsy Brocante) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:57:00 +0000

Hello and welcome!
This week I need your help ... I need your inspirational input.
For this HUGE French frame

Sorry, no before pictures ... even though this piece has been hiding out in my basement for a few years now, once I had the urge to white wash it I couldn't be bothered to take the time to photograph it. Are you ever like that? Just picture it as all gold, flat with no luster. It's actually a vintage syrocco item and the largest I have ever seen.

Originally it held a mirror ...

So, I need to finish it's transformation from ugly duckling to swan and now I'm stuck. There are so many possibilities ... and I thought since you gals are the French "experts" when it comes to inspiration I'd ask your opinion. What to do next?? Here are the options I'm mulling over:
a.) put mirror back in
b.) make into a chalkboard
c.) use burlap and batting, stencil w/french wording use as "art" or message board
d.) open to suggestions ... help!

Shout out your ideas and weigh in ... and while you're at it link on up what you have to share this week.
Thanks for the help ; )

xo
Jill {Gypsy Brocante}