Vignettes

I recently had the idea to create little vignettes to display my latest jewelry offerings, and to provide fun decorating ideas. Here's what I've been up to this week...


I'm loving a 'beachy chic' look right now, featuring the colours of water and sand, natural textures and a casual feel, so this was the inspiration for this vignette featuring seashells, a rustic candelabra and vintage postcard of a girl by the sea. Of course, my new 'atlantic city' double-wrap necklace fit right in!







Next we have one of my all-time favourite themes - Marie Antoinette! Here she is in miniature size stepping out from a French storybook and showing off my 'sterling crown' choker.






Please let me know what you think of my silly vignettes so far - and do share with me some of your ideas! I'll need a little help. Thank you for visiting. :)

Sunday Offerings

Bonjour, mes amis! I hope you're all enjoying as lovely a Sunday afternoon as we're having in the Bay Area! Just a short post today to show you some new things just listed in my Etsy shoppe.

This necklace is called 'vive la france' because it proudly features a sterling silver fleur de lis pendant, vintage cameo, Notre Dame souvenir bracelet link, and all the delicous colours of France.


And I'm calling this versatile little number 'fragments' since it's made from fragments of several vintage rosaries and chains.


'fragments' can be worn doubled or tripled and looks great layered with other pieces.






But, of course my favourite kind of Sunday, er sundae, would be that of the frozen yogurt variety:



Please also remember to leave a comment telling me what you'd like to see more of on the blog (or in jewelry designs) for an entry to win these earrings. I will draw a name at random to be announced on July 4. :)

Our House

Growing up, our house was warm and cozy, filled with lots of interesting friends and family members.

Baby sister Sue loved to collect seashells.


My older sister Nancy was so in love with Jack and always wore the gold locket he gave her before going off to war.


Unfortunately, he looked much older by the time he returned home.


My spinster aunts Gertrude and Bertha fancied their rubies so!


But they were always scolding poor cousin Billy for causing mischief in the backyard.


One day, President Kennedy even came to visit us!


And mama served him tea.


Our house was the most fun when all our friends and relatives would come over together for family dinners.


Of course, mama always made us leave our shoes outside first.


And in the springime, our garden would be filled with flowers and butterflies.


I hope you enjoyed this little trip down memory lane with me. Oh! And please remember to leave a comment for an entry to win these earrings:


Thank you for stopping by! :)

Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries

Since tomorrow marks the summer soltice, I thought I'd celebrate with one of my favourite summertime fruits and a song that sums up the meaning of life. These lyrics, written by Lew Brown, and first published in 1931 remind us to live in the moment:

Life is just a bowl of cherries
Don't take it serious,
Life's too mysterious
You work,
You save,
You worry so
But you can't take your dough
When you go, go, go


So keep repeating "It's the berries."
The strongest oak must fall
The sweet things in life
To you were just loaned
So how can you lose
What you've never owned


Life is just a bowl of cherries
So live and laugh, aha!
Laugh and love
Live and laugh,
Laugh and love,
Live and laugh at it all!


Also to celebrate the season, as well as The French Circus' one-year anniversary on July 3, I'm offering my first give-away!



Please enter to win these fleur de lis and garnet earrings by simply leaving a comment telling me what you'd like to see more of either on the blog or in terms of jewelry design. I will draw a name at random and announce the lucky winner on July 4.


Bon chance, mes amis!

My Hero

In honour of Father's Day, I wanted to pay tribute to my own special dad. He is such an inspiration, not only to me, my sister and mom, but for many more people than I'll bet he realizes.

Over the years, he's had many different professions from Kosher caterer to toy designer. These Mad Men-era photos were taken when he worked as a passport photographer in New York City.


But I believe his most important job has been as head of our family, our rock through good times and difficult ones.

So today I just wanted to say, 'Thank you, Dad'...

For teaching me how to swim and ride a bike.

For carving Cinderella's coach out of a pumpkin on Halloween so I could win the 5th grade contest.

For instilling in me an appreciation for big band music.

For helping me whenever I have a computer / car / TV / camera question.

For still doing my taxes every year and even putting a postage stamp on the envelope so I don't have to.

For taping episodes of Oprah you think I'd like. (I'm gonna miss this!)

For never missing a Valentine's Day and buying my favourite kind of chocolate.

For your incredible story about meeting Marilyn Monroe.

For helping me put things in perspective when I overreact to situations.

For teaching all of us to live in the moment.

And so much more! I love you!


Happy Father's Day to all the cute dads out there! <3

What's for Lunch?

With our busy lives, it can be a challenge to find time to really stop and enjoy this mid-day meal. I've been trying to make it a ritual to go out or prepare a special meal for myself at least once a week, on a day when work demands don't require that I eat at my desk. Here's what I've been up to lately.


Last week I treated myself to an alfresco lunch at a nearby Italian restaurant since our weather was finally gorgeous. Because it was a little later in the afternoon, I had the whole patio to myself!


Caesar salad, prosciutto and tomato sandwich and a new magazine... can't be beat!




I also picked up these huge, sweet strawberries on the way home.



Today I sliced them and used them in a spinach salad with smoked salmon, Parmesan and a few whole wheat crackers. Simple perfection!



What's for lunch at your house?