Veerle At Home

On to "La Vie"

2011-02-16T16:30:00.000-08:00

Please visit my new blog...

La Vie Home & Living

See what's new in the shop and perhaps even find some inspiration for soft, romantic living...

Thank you for visiting!
Sincerely,
Veerle

The Freshness Of A New Year

2011-01-06T14:13:00.000-08:00

The glitter has been packed up and put away...

And the freshness of white and cream abounds...

With cool blues to remind us not to worry...spring and summer remains a certainty...

And new beginnings come in many different forms!

Happy New Year Everyone!

Sweet Dreams

2010-11-24T12:18:00.000-08:00

There are lots of ways to have sweet dreams...

Under the cozy and oh-so-pretty Brunelli quilt 'Carmen'...

Or in a sweet sleigh bed, circa 1940 'Waterfall', freshly painted, and 'Christina' bedding by Brunelli.

The photo below shows all of the bedding available in Christina...

And finally, my favourite...and what I have on my bed at home...

'Opera' by Brunelli

Sweet Dreams!

Veerle

Christmas is Coming...

2010-11-23T13:47:00.000-08:00

Everything just got a whole lot "glittery-er" at La Vie Home & Living....

Christmas is just around the corner now...

A good reason for getting glam...

Fabulous!

Cheers,
Veerle

Darling!

2010-11-16T14:59:00.000-08:00

Don't you agree? This little chicken wire cabinet is Oh-So-Darling...

And this...

Shall we say "Darling" again?

I refinished this pre-war waterfall dresser and sleigh bed in Benjamin Moore's paint colour,
Vanilla Ice Cream OC-90. LOVE this colour - it's my go-to fav.

The bed is dressed with Brunelli's 'Christina'. I have been selling Brunelli for years now and I love it -
it is so practical. Wash it a gazillion times and it still looks FAB, my house is full of it!

And my darling daughter tucked in the background...

Cheers,
Veerle

My New Shop

2010-11-15T14:35:00.000-08:00

I have been quite negligent of late in writing my blog but I have a good excuse...

I have opened a new shop called...

La Vie Home & Living!

It's a mix of classic and vintage inspired home decor and fashion...

Come back and visit me tomorrow to see more of the shop...

Located at 2225 Oak Bay Avenue, Victoria, BC

Au revoir!
Veerle

My Dear Blog

2010-10-24T00:18:00.000-07:00

As I write this, the wind is howling. It truly is a dark and stormy night...my hundred year old house is literally groaning and shrieking at once!

My dear blog, is it true? Have I really neglected you all summer long and well into the fall? How could I stayed away so long? You may even accuse me of being a fairweather friend; when all is well, I am here for you and I can be depended on, but a series of darker days and I abandon you? For shame.

Blogging is our alter ego though, is it not? Our best foot forward, our vision, dreams and wishes interwoven into our postings of daily life, accompanied by photoshop'd pics artfully rendered. But that's a good thing, don't you think? We need to see our lives through rose colored glasses sometimes, and challenge ourselves to find the beauty in each day. We also need to see our lives artfully presented to the rest of the world, to remind ourselves that we really do have visions, dreams and wishes worthy of sharing...beauty worth sharing too. I suppose blogs are different things to different people; we all have our reasons for having them, and now...

You know my reason.

And then there are those times in life when searching for that little bit of illumination in our day just seems to take too much effort. I know I let that happen to me for a while, and I am so sorry I did. Sorry for me. It was my loss.

Dear blog, I won't neglect you again. I promise.

Antique Etched Champagne Glasses

2010-06-09T16:05:00.000-07:00

Summer is here, and entertaining seems to get so much easier when BBQ season arrives. I like serving a cold soup in a petite glass as an appetizer...everyone is always impressed with the presentation, and the soup is so delicious and refreshing.

I use vintage sherry or champagne glasses as I love collecting them, but am not likely to have very many opportunities to serve sherry! So I have re-invented their purpose for serving...either a cold soup or a truffle dessert...

Remember when you see those vintage treasures at the flea market, you need to reinvent their purpose to give them new life!

Gazpacho Soup (cold)

Ingredients
6 ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped
1 purple onion, finely chopped
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded, chopped
1 sweet red bell pepper (or green) seeded and chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1-2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
2 Tbsp chopped fresh chives
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
3 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice
2 teaspoons sugar
Salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
6 or more drops of Tabasco sauce to taste
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce (omit for vegetarian option)
4 cups tomato juice

Method
Combine all ingredients. Blend slightly, to desired consistency. Place in non-metal, non-reactive storage container, cover tightly and refrigerate overnight, allowing flavors to blend. Serves 8-10.

...you can see some vintage etched glassware on my Etsy Shop.

Cheers!
Veerle

Weekend Finds

2010-05-31T14:17:00.000-07:00

I think we all love this time of year for the same reason.

You know what I'm talking about...we're all blogging about it, or we're all posting pictures...

we're all in our element, aren't we?

I believe we are all kindred spirits when it comes to this passion...

yup, you and me...

and if it isn't a passion yet, just wait, you will be...

Someday.

It's just a matter of time!

Of course I am talking about flea marketing...

Again. Fav topic.

On Sunday, I found some lovely Hummel prints for my Etsy Shop...

And this charming vintage scale...which I'm keeping!

And a beautifully weathered old wood and iron bench...

Another keeper!

My next purchase comes from my favourite store, Sweet Peas At Home...

My heart still races when I look at it!

Graceful lines, plenty of aging, and so practical.

No, I am not describing myself but in fact this lovely shelf...

And I have been remembering to bring my own bag to the grocer

now that I have this darling shopping tote from another favourite store, French Vanilla...

There's more but I will show it off as soon as I get them unpacked out of the van.

I know it's wrong that shopping can make you feel this happy...

But could you have resisted any of these?

I didn't think so.

Cheers,

Veerle

A Dream

2010-05-25T12:36:00.000-07:00

Dare I say it aloud?

I have a dream.

I believe you can't have something until you name it, or call it into being...

The universe is always listening...wondering where to direct its creative forces to next...

So here goes...

I want to move to Belgium.

No, France.

Well, a lovely town somewhere near either border will work...

Even if it's just for a few years...

I want my etsy shop to do well enough so that I can do it here or there..or anywhere!

A brick and mortar shop is more than I can undertake again right now, even though that would be a dream come true too. It is my comfort zone and area of expertise, after all. But I will take the freedom of the Etsy Shop for now.

My nine-year old is game for it, and the other two are nearly grown up now. Actually, Vanessa lived there awhile and loved it...I can see her moving there too one day.

Life has been throwing me a lot of lemons these last few years; my juicer has gotten lots of mileage in making a kick-ass lemonade.

I have had to learn a lot of lessons...

Actually, I'm still learning them.

I believe every challenge is presented to you because you needed to learn something from it. And if you didn't learn from it, it will be presented to you again...

And again...and again.

Apparently I am a slow learner.

But I am still here, putting one foot in front of the other...

Believing in my dreams...

I will let you know how it all plays out...

Meanwhile, I will continue to dream...

Cheers,
Veerle

Thank you google images for lending the above pictures, didn't quite know how to capture these with my own camera today...

Getaway Weekend

2010-05-24T09:57:00.000-07:00

The kids and I made the two hour trek to our favourite resort town on the east coast of Vancouver Island...

Parksville!

It is our favourite place to head to when we can sneak away for some fun and relaxation...

We have been coming to Parksville since I was a young girl,

and now it has worked its magical allure into my children's hearts as well...

And now we have even more reason and opportunity to visit Parksville now...

My sister and her family have recently moved to Parksville and are building a new home!

I am so blessed, this is what a weekend getaway to my favourite place yields for me now...

I get to visit with my best friend and sister Anne-Marie...

And see my nieces and brother-in-law!

I get to enjoy her generous hospitality...

*Bonus*...her marble spa bathroom is near completion!

...and did I mention the pool is going in soon too...

Well, I already loved you before there was any mention of a pool, Anne-Marie...

But now I love you even more...

A Bit Of Colour

2010-05-20T11:22:00.000-07:00

I am all about white..

And black...just a little black though...

Colour enters my home as a visitor only; staying for a little while
and then moving on...just as the seasons are here for a spell, and then they leave us...

We all change our accessories as Christmas time...bringing in bits of red
...or gold...or silver. I left out my red cushions and red vignettes until very recently...

They're gone now.

Just white left now...

And a little bit of black.

I often paint furniture to sell...white, cream or black...
I was definitely feeling new inspirations when I did this...

I was stepping outside of my comfort zone, obviously, but I am happy with the result.

The antique double bed is circa 1930.

Then I painted this sideboard and hutch for my good friend's lovely shop...

Sweet Peas

Both sold quickly!

I chose the Benjamin Moore colour Wedgewood Gray HC-146 and strangely enough

I came across the same colour pre-mixed at Rona's (called River) - an almost exact match.

For all of you Canadians out there; the paint was $40 less per gallon

and it was a dream to paint with!

So now that I have colour out of my system...I found a wonderful old ironing board that

still had it's paper label - I repainted it (White!) and now it will be perfect in my laundry room

with some old enamel cannisters. This ironing board dates back to about 1940.

And now I am on to my next projects...

Cheers,

Veerle

Vanessa's Graduation Dinner and Dance

2010-05-16T17:16:00.000-07:00

We have reached yet another milestone...my little girl is no more...

Now she is a lovely lady...

Last night she attended her graduation dinner and dance...

Prom!

We had to get the hair just right....

And the earrings...that we made together of crystal beads...

And the shoes....

That matched the little evening bag...

Oh...and did I mention the dress?

A few final touches...

And my girl was happy...

And here she is...

The Graduate

She had a wonderful evening!

Happy Graduation Vanessa!

In Love With Toile...And We Have a Winner!

2010-05-11T23:05:00.000-07:00

It's so enjoyable to find new blog friends and I have thoroughly enjoyed this week of comments and learning about my newest followers...

As promised, here is the winner of the beautiful vanity mirror and brush set...random.org picked number ...17...Marci of Mady Sunshine. Congratulations Marci! Please send me an email with your address. P.S. I love your blog!

And many thanks to Kirsten of Faded Prairie and Tracey of French Larkspur for their very gracious mentions of my blog and giveaway. These are my two very favourite places to go for inspiration and reflection, and I am so appreciative that they sent so many of you my way...

And now please indulge me with your attention while I tell you about one of my favourite things...

Toile. I love toile. Always have. I am quite confident that I always will.

I sold a great deal of toile bedding when I had my home decor shop, and I think that my love and enthusiasm for toile spread to my customers, many of whom 'blame' me for their current love of it as well.

I have always regarded it as the ultimate enduring classic; after all...if the French have been okay decorating with it for nearly three hundred years, we should feel confident it won't become outdated in our own homes for a few decades yet...perhaps even the next century!

Nearly every room in my home features toile...with only a couple of exceptions. My two sons have banned it from their bedrooms but I did notice that nine-year old Alex does pull the red and white toile quilt out of the cupboard frequently to wrap himself up in. Perhaps it is because our one-hundred-year-old house is a little drafty, perhaps because it is irrestibly and comfortably soft (as it has been washed a hundred times). And perhaps, just maybe, it reminds him of me...
Mom and Toile intertwined forever-more in his mind...

I think it is a combination of all, as there are four or five quilts and throws in that cupboard to choose from...but it is always the toile he pulls out.

I really got to indulge my love for toile at a museum in Jouy-en-Josas, near Versailles, France The museum is located in an 18th century chateau near the original site of the factory. The term toile de jouy comes from the place it was made - Jouy-en-Josas. It is now commonly used to loosely describe a style of toile but originally meant that the toile came from that French factory.

Christophe-Philippe Oberkampf, an engraver and colourist from Germany, established the factory for printed cottons in Jouy-en-Josas in 1760 and eventually employed up to fourteen hundred people in the area. Due to the very high quality of the cotton and its printing, the factory and area become famous for its toile. It began with block printing and soon after adapted copper plates and then copper rollers. I loved seeing all of the exhibits of old blocks, fabric swatches and rollers; I was quite captivated...I spent the whole day in that place...longer than I spent in the Versailles palace!

The painting below is from the museum's website and depicts the factory in 1807.

It was fascinating to me to see how the process worked. The rollers were gigantic! Some of them were 6 or 8 feet long and up to 3 feet in diameter! The larger the roller, the more distance there was between pattern repeats. Each roller was intricately carved with landscapes, people, and animals. Much of it, I learned, was influenced by the Indian cottons prints that had been imported previously, but the beautiful toiles soon replaced the Indian ones and France began exporting the fabrics around the world. The monochromatic toiles began at this factory and reigned as a luxury fabric for over a hundred and fifty years.

The factory closed down in the mid 1800s. It is pretty amazing to think that they are still influencing major design houses with their toiles over a hundred years after they closed down!

If you are travelling to Paris in the future, I have no doubt you will include the Palace du Versailles in your itinerary...be sure to make time to see this museum that is only ten minutes away from the palace...it is a definite Must See if you love toile...

Au revoir!
Veerle

Giveaway! An Antique Vanity Mirror & Brush Set

2010-05-05T09:00:00.000-07:00

Time for a Giveaway!

What lady can resist the elegance and refinement of these...

Sterling Silver...
...and bakelite...

...the beauty of a bygone era with only
the patina of the years as testament to its advancing age...

...much like the laugh lines on our own faces...

...this antique vanity mirror and brush set

is in excellent condition...

...the mirror glass is in very good condition as well...

Circa 1930

Value? At least $65...

All you need to do to enter the giveaway is become a follower and leave a little comment to say you dropped by...

Also, if you came via another blog, please mention that!

The Giveaway ends Tuesday May 11 at midnight!

Thank you for visiting and Bonne Chance!

Veerle

La chambre à coucher de Vanessa

2010-04-29T22:09:00.000-07:00

I had a little fun playing around with the photo editor...all of these pics are antiqued!

Here are some peeks around my daughter Vanessa's room.

The palette is cream and white with hits of black...

...like this very large black chandelier...

Her antique iron bed was missing its posts and we were not able to find any old ones,

so we made do with these antique glass doorknobs...

We put together this collection of Italian landmark buildings over top of her window...

they are just decals, but we were impressed with how well it turned out....

...so we did another collection of decals over her bed...this time of chandeliers...

...and more black and white accents...Vanessa loves her Iron Eiffel Tower...

she drapes her jewelry on it...

...and she collects vintage evening purses (numbering 10 or 11 now)

and pretty trays to hold her perfumes and whatnots...

Vanessa brought back this vintage mirror from Belgium for me when she was studying in Europe last year...but somehow it ended up in her bedroom. Hmmmm....

...the Eiffel Tower probably gave it away, but she loves Paris too...

Au revoir!

These Are A Few Of My Favourite Things

2010-04-25T10:17:00.000-07:00

Many of my favourite things around the house did not cost a great deal of money...

but I treasure them nontheless...

As I went around taking the pictures I realized that they all had one thing in common...

I brought back each piece from a brocante or braderie in France or Belgium

on one of my trips over the last few years.

Each one stuffed with socks, rolled in sweaters...wrapped with a little prayer and hug before I closed up the suitcase in the hopes I would see it in its entirety again on the other side of the ocean...

...like this Flemish Toile Coffee Set. I can't even remember where in Belgium I was, except that we had crossed the Scheldt River to Beveren and continued on for about half an hour. The lady of this stall would not budge off of her price of 25 Euros and I walked away from it twice when she would not go down even a little on the price...

Finally, I realized the price was excellent for a full set of a coffee pot, creamer, sugar pot, and six cups and saucers. It is now my favourite, as I love decorating black and white...and all things toile...this is a perfect combination of those two...and to think I almost walked away from it...

I love the stamp on the bottom....

The Boch Brothers created their company in 1841 in La Louviere, Belgium. They were responsible for much of the fine Delftware and toile pattern porcelain for the next century.

I have since seen a similar set in a Brussels Antique Shop priced at 325 Euros

My coffee set is dated around 1930.

And this footed vase was made in Italy, but I picked it up in Ghent...

The cast iron flying pig is not an antique or even vintage...

I came across it at the Paris Flea Market about seven years ago, in the Biron section, and was enchanted. I lugged it all the way back to Victoria and found the same ones being sold in Chinatown for less than I paid for it in France! Lesson learned; be aware not all things sold at le marché aux puces are old!

...and these black flare top dessert glasses...

I love these so much; my home is very graphic, being black and white, and I cannot resist an interesting piece texturally or design-wise if it is black...these ones are French circa 1960.

I found this lidded porcelain urn at a roadside brocante on our way to

Flavigny-sur-Ozerain in the French region of Burgundy.

It is made in Portugal and as you can see it did not fare so well on the journey home...

there are a few chips on the flower-clad lid, but it is still my favourite piece as it reminds me

of the beautiful scenery of that part of France.

This tapestry is not old...I bought it in Antwerp in a shop that sold

Belgian linens and tapestries...

I hope you enjoyed viewing my favourite finds...Happy Sunday Everyone!

Cheers,

Veerle

My Indulgence

2010-04-21T09:38:00.000-07:00

I have confession to make...I am a Sid Dickens' fanatic.

When I owned my home decor shop, I was lucky enough to meet the criteria for carrying Sid Dickens Memory Blocks. The company requires that your shop has a 'certain look', both inside and out, certain square footage, as well as signage that meets their approval. I was hopeful but not encouraged as a few lovely stores I knew of in the area had been turned down to carry Sid Dickens Memory Blocks.

Imagine my delight when I was approved. I had been in love with the artful old world style blocks of plaster since first seeing them featured in Victoria magazine about a dozen years earlier. I promised myself (and my then-husband) I would hold off on purchasing them for myself...maybe two or three per year, I assured him.

Ummm, yeah. Flash forward one year and I had fifteen blocks over the mantel in the living room, twelve over the mantel in the family room, six in each of my three children's bedrooms and a box of eighteen 'put away' in storage. At last count I had over seventy. So much for my promise...but it is hard not to fall in love with them, they are addictive! The artist, Sid Dickens, from Vancouver BC, was heavily influenced by his time in Europe, and it shows. I especially love the French themed tiles.

You may be familiar with them through other magazines as well...it seems each time they feature a famous person's house on its pages, there would be the lovely blocks. I loved them, but could yet afford them, when I first discovered them.

Sid Dickens creates each mould; they are hand-poured plaster, and each one is handpainted and finished by at least five artisans. The 'old world' look is enhanced by cracks and pits in the artwork...lovers of old things find they blend in beautifully with their decor.

Oh, here is another aside...as naughty as seventy blocks sounds, I have a friend who owns approximately 200 of them...she has a breathtaking collection, having been collecting them from the very beginning; nearly twenty years ago.

Many have been 'retired' and have gone up fantastically in value. But Sid fans usually agree on one thing...they are not letting go of any one of their precious memory blocks...

This picture is old - when I first opened my shop...2005...

So you can see how easily these tiles would have blended in with my decor...the furniture was brought over from France and Belgium, beautiful bedding and home embellishments in vintage, French Country and cottage styles...

And here is a picture of my first living room that featured the blocks over the mantel...this was my 'new' house before I moved into a hundred year old grand lady in Victoria, and the collection expanded...

Careful! It wouldn't take much for it to become your indulgence too...let me know if you also have a Sid Dickens collection...

Homesick for Belgium

2010-04-17T21:44:00.000-07:00

Belgium is really on my mind these days.

Our family has had the pleasure of hosting a young couple from Antwerp, Belgium, recently. We have thoroughly enjoyed listening to them talk about 'home' and it has been stirring up feelings of homesickness for me. You have heard me say before I would like to go to the Lille Braderie in September, and Belgium is but a hop, skip and (not even a jump) to Lille!

Just yesterday I happened across the loveliest blog, Belgian Pearls and received correspondence from its talented writer, Greet, who is an amazing interior designer. I fell in love with her work immediately! This lead to another Belgian blogwriter, Marjolijn of Something White, contacting me after seeing my very Flemish name show up as a follower on Greet's blog. You must visit both of these blogs, they are delightful, and it is so nice to connect with kindred spirits halfway around the world.

I am inspired to offer you my highlights tour of that tiny little country

that has so much to to be proud of...

Belgians are not boastful people and are the last ones to ever toot their own horns.Perhaps that's why the world knows the fries they invented as 'French' fries! Hmmm, don't know how France got the credit for it! France is so well-known for its cuisine when in fact Belgium has more Michelin Star restaurants in its tiny country than all of France does!

There are over 500 varieties of beer! For connoisseurs, the complexity of Belgian beers are similiar to wines, from fruit-fermented lambics like Kriek (cherry) to ales brewed by Monks for centuries. There is no way I can do justice to the topic of Belgium Beer! This very moment I am sipping a Lindeman's Kriek brought over from Belgium for me by Isabelle, our guest. It's perfectly chilled and I am having a aaaahhhh moment.

And then there's the chocolate. Oh, the chocolate. Enough said.

And beautiful linens and tapestries and handmade lace!

And design! Belgian design is a sophisticated mix of centuries-old architecture and a-second-ago-modern. It is the inspiration for all chic design today but the Belgians have always been effortlessly combining the two!

I can tell you these things and not be boasting because I have lived in Canada for nearly all of my life and can't claim any bragging rights...but I have visited enough times to know all of this firsthand,

...and to be so very proud of my heritage.

Tot ziens!

Veerle

P.S. I nearly forgot to tell you about the waffles...yes you guessed it, they are world famous too...

Paying Attention To The Details

2010-04-15T09:44:00.000-07:00

My nine year old son Alexander is very interested in the First and Second World Wars. His Dad majored in History at University and I myself have always been interested in the wars, having family in Belgium that experienced it firsthand. I have taken my children to see Flanders Fields, Tyn Cot Cemetary, Ypres (and the War Museum there) and Juno Beach, (twice!) so I guess it is no great surprise he is so interested. He has become quite knowledgeable about the wars, and we try to feed his interest with movies and books such as the Diary of Anne Frank and Hannah's Suitcase.

The other day I remembered the movie Schindler's List and rented it for him to watch. We saw it together; I had to sit through it with him as it was rated 18+ and I had to cover his eyes and ears a few times times during the movie! You may remember that Oskar Schindler owned a factory that made quality enamelware before and during the second world war. The factory was moved to Czechoslovakia during the war, from Germany.

I won't re-tell the story here, as I am sure you know it. It is a true story and I think it demonstrates how we are all capable of great and good things, perhaps even without intention at first.

I have come across lots of vintage and antique enamelware that I have bought and sold in my shop, some of it even dragged back from France and Belgium. Of all the pieces, never have I seen enamelware of this quality (and featuring a detailed stamp)!

I nearly swooned at the sight!

I immediately thought of Schindler and his list of 'Specialized Workers'. What a fabulous find!

This is no accident, I thought, when I turned it over to read the stamp.

How is it that this comes across my path at this particular time?

When you're paying attention, you notice all kinds of things!

Hmmm.

And love that shade of blue!

Salut!

Friday Guessing Game

2010-04-09T12:48:00.000-07:00

Just to see who's paying attention out there...

What is your guess on what these are? I kept seeing them at flea markets and recently found out at an antique market show. It's amazing what you discover when you just ask...

Please join as a follower! Just click on the link so you can leave your comments!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone...

Strong Like Bull

2010-04-06T21:33:00.000-07:00

My aunt and uncle don't have any children together. They keep very busy with their passions; my Aunt Adele paints beautiful florals and landscapes. Years ago she started with oils, then acrylics, and now watercolours. She is also a wonderful cook. My uncle carves in wood and soapstone and also paints with great talent. They live very simply, never wasteful, having lived through the war. That experience greatly affected them, I believe, and set the foundation for an enriched and appreciative life. My Uncle Frank is a gardener extrordinaire, starting with his family's farm in Belgium and later his own acreage in Port Alberni, turning out vegetable and flower gardens that have been featured on garden tours. Many times I have been alongside him in the garden as a child, picking the raspberries and loganberries that I could reach while feigning interest in the swiss chard or tomatoes. Whenever he picked up something heavy or push something along, he would turn to me with a grin or a wink and say 'Strong like bull!' Sometimes he would accompany the saying with a show of biceps and a laugh. To this day I cannot pick up something heavy without saying that, which was often while owning a furniture store! Neither can my own three kids.

My aunt and uncle are the picture of health and vitality, having eaten their own organic vegetables for all of their lives. My uncle is nearing 90, and is still so strong and vital. Strong like bull, eh, Uncle Frank? A couple of years ago Ron and I thought we would help him in the garden as he had poured some round cement slabs to create a new patio area. We tried to lift one together and could not; it was well over a hundred pounds. We went home to take stock of what tools we might have to assist us, as there were about six large stones to move. The next day we came back with a dolly and a flatcart borrowed from a neighbour. To our shock and amazement, every stone was in place! At the look of our surprise he flexed his muscle and said 'Strong like bull'. I don't need any convincing that vegetables are good for you, I just look at the two of them and know that their lifelong commitment to eating plain old fashioned food (nothing processed!) and lots of veggies are the recipe for good strong quality living!

This last week has been traumatic for our family. During a screening at the hospital, it was discovered Uncle Frank had an aortic aneurysm that put him in critical condition. The hospital staff quickly moved into action, sending him by ambulance to Victoria for an operation, while the Doctor gently let our family know that we should say what we needed to say to our uncle.

But wait, I told the specialist in Victoria, you don't know my uncle. He is very strong!
He is 88 years old, the doctor told me.
He eats his vegetables! I told him back.
I have been doing this a long time, he said, annoyed.
Oh dear, I wasn't explaining myself very well, I realized. He's Strong Like Bull, I added.
The doctor went back to explaining the procedure and I felt stupid. I asked a couple of questions and I could feel he was fully vexed with me.

I had been sitting by my uncle's side, along with my sister and aunt, for many days. We were all strong for each other, and we talked about the garden that Uncle Frank would plant. We joked that Aunt Adele may have to help him out a bit this summer. Uh oh. Upside down tomato plants.

Two days ago, my uncle was operated on, and he is now on his way to recovery.

The specialist took me aside.

He's amazing, he gushed.
I nodded.
He is doing remarkably well, remarkably well!
I nodded again.
I can't believe how well he is doing for his age, he gushed once more.

Uh huh, I nodded again.

Strong Like Bull.

Good Friends, Good Wine.

2010-03-29T21:56:00.000-07:00

I had not seen my gal pal Shelley for way too long. No excuse for it! We had just failed to connect enough over the course of the four years since we had worked together in government. We lived about 60 km apart, I had my store that kept me tres busy and three kids (actually four kids but I am no longer with my husband, ha ha ha) and little time to visit, it seemed.

Happily, now that I am living in Victoria, I am finding the time again to seek out my friends and re-discovering the treasures they are. Is there anything better than a glass of wine (beaucoup de verre!) and good company?

I assure you, there is not.

We laughed and laughed till our sides ached...my former co-workers gave us plenty of fodder!

Shelley prepared delicious hors d'houerves and it was the loveliest of evenings!

I have to share with you the delicious recipe Shelley made...I could have sworn I was on a Tuscan terrace sipping wine and nibbling on the bounty of the countryside! I could hear the drone of bees, mixed with the thudding sound of oak wine barrels being rolled along to the aging barn, whilst the sun beat down upon my straw-clad head...okay, okay, I am getting carried away, but they were that good! Before you dismiss my comments as exaggerated, I advise that you try the recipe this Friday night while you relax with your loved ones at the end of a long week...

Proscuitto Roasted Figs

30 ripe figs

1 small wedge of Blue Cheese cut into small chunks about the size of a raisin

10 slices of Proscuitto, each cut into 3 pieces, lengthwise

2 tablespoons honey

a couple grindings of fresh cracked pepper

With a small knife, make a vertical slit in the side of each fig. Gently wedge in the piece of cheese and squeeze shut. Next wrap each fig with the slice of prosciutto. The figs can be prepared a day or so in advance and stored in the refrigerator, covered in cling film.

When your guests arrive, preheat the oven to 200 degrees C (400 degrees F) and remove the figs from the refrigerator. Place the figs on a baking sheet and roast in the oven for 12 to 15 minutes, until the figs are warm, the cheese is soft and the prosciutto has sort melted onto and enveloped the fig. Drizzle with the honey and grind over the black pepper. Place the figs on a platter and serve immediately. It's fantastic when the figs are still warm from the oven, but it's just as delicious at room temperature.

You can subsitute dried figs, but use about twice as much blue cheese for this variation.

And what , you may ask, does any of this have to do with vintage finds? With decorating? With flea markets or France?

Rien, mon ami, rien! This time the lovely vintage item was the wine.

Bon Nuit,
Veerle

And The Winner Is...And A Guessing Game

2010-03-25T10:11:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Amanda B! You have won our giveaway!

I will let everyone know what Amanda ends up choosing...

Amanda picked up my card at Chabeigh & Chic, so Rhonda C. will also get to pick a gift!

We will be having another giveaway soon, please keep referring my blog!

Here's a guessing game for you...

I found this lovely antique yesterday...what is your guess on what it is?

Post your comment below!

Cheers,
Veerle

Lille Braderie (Flea Market)

2010-03-18T10:33:00.000-07:00

The first weekend in September sees the town of Lille, France transform into Europe's largest flea market. This year's market runs September 4th and 5th. If you love flea marketing as much as I do, this is the market to visit, at least once, in your lifetime! It's history goes back to the Middle Ages, when once a year, servants could sell their master's old possessions, and thus the flea market was born. Today, the market draws two million visitors to the city and offers approximately 100 km of stalls to shop from. Umm, can anyone say heaven?

The first time I travelled to Lille, I was surprised by its charming colourful palette of buildings; pastel yellow, green, blue and pink hues are visible everywhere; but to see colour on those dazzling renaissance structures seemed to me that I was a miniature character in a land of giant architectural candy confections! Beautiful!

Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium. It is the capital of the Nord-Pas de Calais region, and the city is heavily influenced by its Belgian neighbour, having once been part of the Count of Flanders' reign. Today, the city is a vibrant, historic, beautiful city...if the Braderie was not a draw on its own, the city is a highlight of a European vacation irregardless. Combining the two makes it the best holiday you can imagine for this chasseur de trésor (treasure hunter)...as a lover of all things 'French', a homesick one-time Belgian, a bona-fide flea marketer and appreciater of the world's best food...yes, that's what I said, world's best food!

Lille's cuisine is acclaimed throughout Europe, shaped by its Belgian roots. You cannot visit Lille without trying moules frites (mussels and fries) a classic dish that causes great competition in the city, washed down by Belgian beer like Kriek (cherry lambic ale) or Hoegaarden or a Rodenbach. It is well-known for its gastronomic excellence from Michelin star restaurants to Flemish Taverns. I promise to blog about the food soon, for there is much to say and even wax poetic about!

I hope I have inspired you to consider visiting Lille, France!

I am going to check my airmiles account right now and see if I am close...

I have begun planning my next trip...

Au revoir,

Veerle

Not too Chabeigh!

2010-03-11T19:35:00.000-08:00

Oh my.

I just visited Chabeigh & Chic.

I am about to show you why you should get in your car and drive....

...now...

...just drive...

...over the Malahat...

Reason # 1...

Reason # 2

Reason # 3

There are probably about 245 reasons, really, to go, but these photos will tempt you while leaving the joy of discovery for you!

Chabeigh & Chic is open Monday thru Saturday, 11 am to 5 pm.
250-743-6712.

Tribute to a Lovely Lady

2010-03-10T11:22:00.000-08:00

I sometimes marvel at how much knowledge I have accumulated over the years, bit by bit, about so many vintage things such as milk glass, depression glass, mirrors and so much more. For me, there is never any worry as to how I will ever learn all there is to know about old things; I have the internet at my fingertips for a wealth of knowledge...the real lesson presents itself with each find...something of yesterday that beckons us to take hold of it, behold it, and even imagine its former mistress. Perhaps even to dream up a new life for it.

A lovely vintage find forces us into the moment, for we cannot appreciate the history of the piece without being fully cognizant of the NOW...it puts so many things into perspective upon reflection; how fleeting and precious time is, how beauty and age continue down the path hand in hand, and that we must remember to surround ourselves with beauty in all ways.

The thrill of the hunt is also acknowledging the joy of discovery when it comes to flea marketing!

The former mistress of an antique piece may be long gone...but then, here is this lovely and gentle reminder to others of who she once was, and what she may have loved herself.

Perhaps it is fitting that we ladies like to adorn ourselves with pretty things, and surround ourselves with things of beauty...pretty things remain pretty things despite the years, and connects us all from one generation to another. An aged patina is welcomed, like smile lines on the face of our well-loved grandmother.

It may have only been in your proprietary a few days, but it has been busy its long life; sending out messages of gentle rembrance for many years.

And...its message, you ask?

Enjoy the moment.
Absorb its beauty.
Appreciate the patina time has bestowed.

...and pay tribute to the lovely lady that now holds it in her possession....

Au revoir!
Veerle

In love...With Milk Glass and Vintage Treasures

2010-03-04T21:25:00.000-08:00

I've never met a piece of milk glass I didn't like.

I think I have said the same thing about food.

But that's not actually true.

I don't like margarine.

But...technically, margarine is not a real food.

So I guess...

I have never have met a food I didn't like...

...or milk glass...

Please have a look to see the wonderful pieces I have found for you in my Blog Shop

Wait!

There's more...

A beautiful antique decorative mirror stand.

Antique Glass Fan Plates

Come have a peek at my shop...

I'm Home! Wait, It's Sweet Peas!

2010-03-04T16:31:00.000-08:00

Ahhhh...home again.

Wait a minute...this isn't home...it's Debbie's shop...

Sweet Peas...

Fooled me again!

Once more, I feel like I have arrived à ma maison when I step through the doors of Sweet Peas...

...and a photogragh can't capture the smell!

Let me tell you...it is like a spring morning; the scent of hyacinths and violets mingling with the bouquet of chocolat du pain (or is it your chocolat chaud?) and layers of...
...strawberries?
...the tropics?
...basil?

Hmmmmm.

So complex, yet so simple! Cliches are so handy, don't you agree?

As I take a turn throughout the shop I have to admire...

...this beautiful painted landscape scene mirror.

And...

These ladies know how to get their fun on...

...promise me you will have moments like these this summer....

But for now let us be content with Spring!

Tips For Shopping Flea Markets

2010-03-03T11:18:00.001-08:00

Whether you plan to hit your local swap meet or have a trip to California or France planned just for flea-marketing this spring, here are some tips I have learned over the years that will help you turn it into a satisfying venture. I have interjected some flea market photos of Ghent, Belgium, one of my favourite markets!

1. Just like any endeavour, from painting the house to throwing a party, preparation is 90% of the task and ensures its success. Serious flea-marketing is no different!

2. Buy a folding grocery cart to take with you, they are worth their weight in gold when you are having a bonanza day and finding everything you want all in one morning! They are not any trouble to drag around and you will sing my praises after using one, guaranteed! I often see these carts for sale at the swap meet too, I would not pay more than $10 for one as you can buy one brand new for just a bit more than that at Canadian Tire or Walmart.

If you are travelling abroad, look for a Carrefour (similar to Wal-Mart) to stock up on these items, or just bring them with you in an empty suitcase as you will want to bring back lots of goodies! It is not a big deal if you have to leave your cart behind (or trade for something at your last stall before leaving!)For foreign markets, keep a pen and small notepad handy so you can write down your bid if language is an issue - offer it to them so they can write their counter offer if they shake their head 'no'.

3. Bring your own plastic bags and paper/bubble wrap for wrapping fragile items; you can just throw them into the shopping cart to have on hand. I learned the hard way on this tip as I have had glass and china break because the vendor did not have it packaged properly, many of them just don't have the supplies for it.

4. Keep some sanitizing wipes in the car and with you if possible. You are more likely to get in there and risk getting your hands dirty while sorting through boxes of junk if you know you will be able to wash your hands soon after.

5. If something is $15 and you offer $8, expect that you can get it for $10 or $12. If they just won't budge or you really want to just spend only $8, politely tell them you are only looking for the 'deals' and walk away. Chances are they will call you back and say okay to your offer. Always be polite! This is a livelihood for some people and they know the value of their 'junk', don't be rude if they don't budge off of a price, even if you feel they should come down.

6. Go ahead and start at half price on your bids if you keep the above rule in mind and don't mind that the stall owner may get annoyed with you. You may risk not getting a discount off of the price at all in some situations if they are offended, so it is up to you how you prefer to go about it.

7. If you are at the flea market right at opening time or a bit beforehand, expect that stall owners are not so willing to negotiate on price. They always will negotiate a little bit for sure, but few will go for your half price offer until much later in the day.

8. Personally, I usually end up paying about 75% of the asking price as some things I will pay full price for because I see someone else reaching for it or expressing interest in it, and I balance it out by the other items I was lucky enough to get at half price. I try to look at it as a big picture.

9. Finish your Tim Horton's coffee before you hit the stalls as I promise you that you will put it down and walk away from it within the first three stalls never to be seen again! Keep your hands free and ready for quick action when you see that special something.

10. Most local flea markets will let you drive in to pick up heavy items, so if you see a dresser or wardrobe, don't be afraid to get it; the vendor will put a 'sold' on it so you can come back and pick it up later. This is where my daughter Vanessa came in very handy...she kept track of the many places we had to collect our treasures from! You can drive around during the market (usually) if you are very careful! Check with the person at the gate/entrance before you leave to ensure you can do this at your market.

11. Go home, scrub up your treasure, and beam proudly when someone compliments the very unique vintage ____ that you just found for only $8! You don't need to tell them that part, just bask in their admiration of your fab style!

If you liked this post, you may also enjoy...
Sleep In Or Visit the Flea Market?

If you enjoy my blog and aren't a follower yet; please do so...if I know there are folks out there reading my blog I will keep writing...please send it to your friends too! Thank you!

French Flea Market

2010-02-26T12:58:00.000-08:00

As usual, I have Flea Markets on my mind again...this time the ones in Europe...

I have travelled extensively throughout France and Belgium visiting brocantes and la braderies...I think I can offer you some good advice if you plan on visiting Europe soon...I may even organize an escorted trip for September. Last year, before the economy went 'to hell in a handcart', eight lovely ladies signed up to visit the Lille Market in September of 2009 on an escorted tour with me. Unfortunately, all but two had to bow out due to changed circumstances and we did not have enough folks to go. Now that things seem to settling down somewhat in the financial realm, I endeavour to undertake an escorted trip again...so stay tuned and email me if you are interested. More to follow if there is interest...

In the meantime, if you plan to visit Europe in the near future, no trip is complete without the Aladin Magazine, published in France, brimming with information regarding dates, times, and locations for all markets from 6 stalls to 160! The markets are listed by date and are in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and even some in Germany and points east!

Look for the magazine at one of the many newsstands throughout Paris.
It is the best resource out there for serious flea marketers!

If you liked this post, you may also enjoy...
Jaime des marches aux puces
Belgian Bakeries
Choux Choux Charcuterie

Enchantment

2010-02-24T14:42:00.001-08:00

I have quite a few painting projects calling my name from the basement workshop...but I have not made it down there for awhile and I was wondering at my procrastination. Ordinarily, I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and the process of metamorphosis through a paintbrush. Lately, however, the weather has been so warm and lovely, (especially for February) that I can't quite get down to that old dark basement. Granted, I do have a glam chandelier suspended over my work table, but even that isn't enough to beckon me this time.

I have asked my electrician to install even more lighting so I can get on with my projects, but in the meantime I had a lightbulb (chandelier style!) go off over my head today...I moved my painting project outside to work on! That worked out very well until the clouds moved in and it started to rain, short-circuiting the wiring on my lightbulb, metaphorically speaking!

After moving my temporary workshop back into the house, I walked to Oak Bay's enchanting shop French Vanilla Home & Garden for some inspiration. I am so lucky to live in lovely Oak Bay, shops like these are steps away from my home...and a neighbourhood walk is always a rewarding feast for the eyes, as you can see by these pictures...

French Vanilla's talented owner, Sheila, has a wonderful eye for details; little vignettes of glory abound here in this darling shop.

I love the treasures offered here, such as the broken china plaque, handcrafted in the Cowichan Valley by ultimate Shabby Chic artist Eva...I'd recognize her work anywhere!

Ahhh, I am refreshed now to tackle the basement...

Road Trip

2010-02-23T13:51:00.001-08:00

Wow! I stopped in at Chabeigh & Chic on my way up to Parksville to see my sister this weekend. Lots of new things are in! I loved the display of rain chains...since I did not have my camera with me, here are a couple of pics I found of how lovely they look displayed in the garden. My favourite combination again..pretty AND practical!

I came home with a half dozen new pictures for the walls, a chandelier and a cement pot embellished with roses, all from Chabeigh & Chic. Too much to tempt me and I obviously could not resist!

My pictures are a bit blurry as my camera kept taking three pictures in a row and I couldn't figure out how to turn the function off, so they did not turn out as well as they could of...

This next picture is for everyone who knows me as the 'black and white girl', a couple of you are about to fall off of your chairs as I have been adding colour to my living room (just red for now!)...I warned you!

Notice it is not artistically styled, cleaned or fluffed for presentation! Ha! If I waited till it was just right you would never see these pics, ladies, so please overlook the unprofessionalism!

I stopped in at my BFF's shop in Nanaimo...she owns a Serious Coffee on Commercial Street downtown, and it is Seriously Gorgeous in there! It is a beautiful open and spacious mix of chicly chosen industrial elements such as concrete floors, historical nods to old-time Nanaimo, accented with elegant, gigantic chandeliers alongside funky modern blue ones! I love the comfy chairs here, the very open, uncrowded, yet cozy feel of the space, but most of all I love Susan's signature Nanaimo Bars made on location and the best coffee on Vancouver Island. Thanks Susan, you made that two hour car trip so enjoyable!

An Idea Emerges

2010-02-21T08:08:00.000-08:00

Yesterday morning I walked into one of my favourite stores in Oak Bay with plans to take pictures for my blog. Immediately, I knew something was amiss. There was little stock and it was just laid out on tables, not displayed at all.

"Are you closing down?' I enquired, and instantly regretted the question; how rude of me to ask. I know how much it bothered me when people asked that of me in my shop, and I was only re-arranging after selling a bed or a dining room suite. I should know better, of all people!

I apologized for my rudeness, as there were no signs posted saying a closure was imminent. Alas, the reply was...yes.

My next question surprised me even more (Veerle, get a hold of yourself!)."Has the space been leased?"

Another 'alas', the answer to that was yes as well. I purchased some old Victoria magazines (I used to own every issue since discovering the publication in Oct 1989, but stupidly gave them away during my 'depression during the break up!!!') and left, only to sit behind the wheel of my car in silence for some time, realizing that I was about to leap all over an opportunity to open up a store again.

Hmmm, that was an interesting experience...

Shopping for New

2010-02-14T10:57:00.000-08:00

I spent a day shopping with my client Jennifer last week. She has the loveliest character apartment close to Beacon Hill Park; it is utterly charming! She has been slowly filling her place with white and cream furniture inspired by French Country and Shabby Chic decorating, and it is coming together beautifully; it is a work of art in progress!

This time, my work was opposite to what I am used to doing. I usually help clients tweak their modern furnishings to incorporate antique, vintage, French Country or Paris Chic elements to their home. I will compare it to the 'backwards dinners' we sometimes have in our home (at my kid's request); we begin with dessert and move on to the entree after that! Jennifer has just bought a newer condo, featuring modern fixtures and finishings. She has all the sweetness and delight of the 'dessert' in decor, but she now needs to incorporate 'the entree' with a few key furnishings and decor accents to marry the two styles.

Understandably, Jennifer did not want to spend very much money to accomplish the transition and set a budget of $1000 total. She had just outlayed the funds for a new home and has a big, fat mortgage to consider now, but did not want her beloved furnishings to feel out of place in her new digs.

We visited a few places downtown that feature modern decor so Jennifer could get, at the very least, a sense of scale and visual clues, and hopefully find the right pieces in her price range. My plan was to zero in on a few key pieces or find a similar inexpensive version at Ikea, if all else failed. Jennifer can order online or wait until she is visiting her sister in Vancouver in the near future.

In our intitial consultation at her apartment, I suggested she replace her small white oval Queen Anne coffee table with a sleek glass and steel one in larger proportion (but round or square for the new, larger condo); to keep her colours light and airy by only adding in modern metal finishes (no dark colours or heavy frames), and replace her mismatched antique dining room chairs with modern ones.

These simple additions will pull the eye from her open-concept floor plan around the room with flow; beginning with a kitchen of stainless steel appliances and white cabinets (thank goodness, or I would be suggesting a completely different approach to this consultation) and a white marble and painted white wood fireplace at the opposite end of the room. The fireplace does feature some brass, but Jennifer is going to paint it out with a silvery metallic paint. These two anchors offer enough balance to the scale of the room and require only a few hits of modern pieces to bridge it. A brushed steel light fixture was planned to be replaced with a large and beautiful chandelier later on when budget allowed, but happily we have already been able to find one to fit within her total budget.

After visiting the stores, we found her budget would not cover the desired items, so we shopped online at Ikea to make it all work (although Jennifer is going back to NOOD (New Objects Of Desire) to pick up the acrylic nesting tables she thought practical and perfect (and I agree!) now that the budget is met.

Although we won't see the condo complete until Jennifer gets possession in April, she promises pictures for us. She expressed her elation at the success of the project, as she was able to 'see' what I suggested for her decor to take it to the next level, and felt confident to go ahead with all of the purchases already, since we carefully considered measurements and exchange policies.

She fell in love with a chandelier at Sweet Peas; a glass confection of pendants encased in white drum shade, but in the end it proved to small for her large open space. She is presently undecided between a white lucite fixture at Home Depot and a shimmering grand chandelier at Chabeigh and Chic. Amazingly, both are priced under $200. I'll let you know which she ends up choosing...

The four chairs at Ikea were $70 each, the coffee table was $90. Add in the chandelier, nesting tables, taxes and my fees, her grand total will be 1040, a total she was happy with since she is also getting a chandelier and nesting tables in addition to what she thought she could afford in the first place.

Cupcake, anyone?

2010-02-14T00:35:00.001-08:00

My waistline is begging me to please stop!

I had been reminiscing with my daughter about a very special place on the mainland called Tracycakes Bakery. They specialize in the most scrumptious cupcakes you could ever imagine. I first discovered the shop when it was originally located in quaint Fort Langley a couple of years ago. Now they have two locations; White Rock and Abbotsford. I was delighted to see the interior of the shop...it was like they bought every single item from my previous shop, Chabeigh & Chic! Vintage furniture, sparkling chandeliers, and all black and white!

...oh my, it didn't take me long to get off topic just now, for I was only intending to tell you about how heavenly and delicious Tracycake cupcakes are, and believe me, they are!

Now travel with me back to Victoria...there are three shops that I know of that specialize in cupcakes. My mission today (Saturday) was to purchase the sweet creations from each bakery/cupcakery and create a blind taste test for my family (and discover whether any compare to my favourite Tracycakes).

I visited and purchased a half dozen mini-cakes from each shop: Crumsby's Cupcake Cafe on Estevan Avenue, Ooh La La Cupcakes on Hillside Avenue, and Pink Sugar Cupcakery on Fort Street. I placed each cupcake on a plate with a letter to identify it written on tape (A, B, C...) and on the plate's underside I wrote the name of the bakery for reference after the test. No one knew which cupcake belonged to which shop until after the test.

I asked my family to note what they liked about their favourite cupcakes; everyone's criteria was similar...light and fluffy icing and moist (but light cake), in addition to wonderful taste.

All three shops presented beautifully! The mini cakes were delightful to behold and the interiors of the shops were lovely as well. I could write a post just on their interiors alone...it would have been a lot less calories. These are really sweet shops, all three of them. They all get A+++ for atmosphere and decor.

Crumsby's offers refreshments and lunches as well, so you can enjoy the cupcake in-store properly, with a good cuppa! You could eat in at Pink Sugar as well, but you cannot purchase a coffee or tea to accompany it. That was a big strike against it for me as I prefer to sit and savour my cupcake without having to dry-swallow. Not sure what they are thinking here but they seemed to be missing the point if they have pretty iron tables and chairs but little reason to sit and enjoy a cupcake 'dry'. I did not notice tables or chairs at Ooh La La either so both places do not allow for friends or family to partake in a petite refreshment in proper fashion, unless they take it home. I concluded it must be their intention.

And back to my taste testing...I was not expecting any cakes to exceed my high expectations previously created by Tracycakes, but I was still impressed with the results!

Oh, here's an aside; Starbucks now serves cupcakes too, but they don't really specialize in them as these shops do, so I left them out of my test. I must share with you that the Red Velvet cupcake at Starbucks is delicious; quite dense and not your typical light and fluffy cupcake. Did I mention delicious? Are you starting to understand why my waistline is groaning of late?

Now for the results of our 'cupcakeoff'...we 5 tested 18 mini cupcakes of assorted variety, and we all chose as our number one pick...Ooh La La Cupcakes. The taste and texture of all six assorted mini cupcakes turned up as our favourite six times over without the other knowing which had been picked by the the other.

Pink Sugar was a very close second. Both met our criteria of light and fluffy icing, moist and airy cake, and delicious, but we all agreed that Ooh La La did it just a wee bit better.

So perhaps my sweet undertaking is not compelling reading, but we all enjoyed our special assignment with just a little too much seriousness; all-in-all it was great fun! I had my eye on reviewing Daniel's Patisserie soon, but I think I will wait on that one for awhile and stick to reviewing home decor for the next few pounds, er, I mean, days.

My waist line will thank me.

P. S. I still love Tracycakes best.

Clapham's Beeswax

2010-02-09T13:29:00.000-08:00

I am frequently asked about what I use over the paint to get that subtle lustrous finish to my shabby-finished furniture. It is Clapham's Beeswax Polish and it comes just so, in a distinct white jar. Locally I have only found it at Home Hardware so far, have not found it elsewhere yet. It is about $20 for the jar.

Chabeigh & Chic

2010-02-01T20:57:00.000-08:00

I have a special place in my heart for Chabeigh & Chic Home Decor. You may quite possibly grow tired of hearing me speak about it so often, but I have a very good excuse as to why I should...Once upon a time, the shop was mine; I created it, I toiled in it, I dreamed in it, and now I visit it! It was sold to lovely local lady, Rhonda Cummings, who is an absolute doll and my kindred spirit in decorating and dreaming. Although it has been nearly a year since I have left, I often catch myself calling it 'my store'. Sorry about that Rhonda! If I do so, please forgive me in advance, as I want to share with everyone some of the wonderful things you can find at the shop.

As I write this, Rhonda is at the Toronto Gift Show, ordering up a storm of new products that I can hardly wait to see! Although she will always stay with the classic decor that the shop is well-known for, I know she plans to expand the bed and bath lines even more. Rhonda continues to carry the vintage 'special finds' just as I did, and I have often been delighted with the old treasures she is drawn to and has filled the store with; vintage cribs, precious doll strollers and nursery chairs, elegant antique dressing tables and old iron beds.

Chabeigh & Chic is an official retailer for Sid Dickens Memory Blocks, a prestigious honour in the retail industry as many shops are turned down to carry the esteemed blocks. I had always taken a great deal of pride in that fact. The tiles shown below are one of my collections that I own...

C & C continues to carry the renown La Rochere Glassware from France, a company that has been in existence for centuries; since 1475! The glassware is extremely durable and thick. I have this glassware at home, and in five years, our family has yet to break or chip a glass. We run it through the dishwasher everyday, and it does not get that 'etching' that frequently occurs. But what I love most of all about this glassware is how pretty it is. 'Good enough for company' but use it everyday. How great is that? C & C carries the Bee design as open stock, so you can add to your collection a few pieces at a time.

C & C also offers the absolute loveliest bedding. If you appreciate cozy quilts for beauty and warmth, this is certainly the place to shop for one, as they offer Brunelli premium cotton quilts and bedding. There are intricately embroidered designs set against vanilla cream or white backgrounds, classic toiles and soft romantic patterns. In my house, I have quilts everywhere; layered on beds, over sofas, used as a tablecloths, and folded on chairs. I have just returned to my desk to report that I counted 16 quilts in use in my home. That officially makes me an expert on the subject! And since we really live fully in our home (translation; we drag the quilts around, the dog sleeps on them, we spill food on them) I can tell you that they truly stand up to frequent laundering. That is the difference in buying quality bedding from Brunelli at C & C rather than big box stores. The test of time proves all!

A drive north over the Malahat is truly worth a visit to Chabeigh & Chic, whether it is your first time or you haven't been for awhile. It is located in Mill Bay Centre, just off the highway as you descend the Malahat. You can reach Rhonda at 250-743-6712. When you see Rhonda, tell her Veerle sent you!

You can see a slideshow of images of C & C if you scroll down to the bottom of the blog. I will be adding photos of my visits to here and my other favourite stores often, so stay tuned...

Paint An Old Piece of Furniture

2010-02-01T12:17:00.001-08:00

I have converted yet another unsuspecting soul. One day they are looking at old furniture with disdain and little respect for its potential beauty. A few days later, they are enthusiasticly purveying the unwanted furniture stacked in their parent's basement with a gleam in their eye. How could this happen so quickly?
A chance encounter with an unprepossessing 1970's brown night table in the process of being painted is all it takes; to witness its transformation to a linen white that speaks of freshness and new beginnings, and the thing is done, you are converted. Some sandpapering at the edges completes the metamorphosis. If you have further doubts, scroll down to the very end of the blog to see some furniture I have painted in the slideshow...
To create your own reformation, all that is required is a few hours of time, some paint and a piece of old furniture. The happy result is a new appointment that will revive your room with character. Whether you love trendy furniture or antiques, a room comes to life when you combine these two to create a modern environment. Think steel tube ikea chairs with a vintage wood dining table painted black, and distressed; an old mirror above a spare, box-like mantel, or an assortment of different old chairs unified by the same paint colour.
And so now that my new convertee is appreciating her new bed, she is looking for an old dining room table for her next project...

The Dutch Bakery

2010-01-29T15:56:00.000-08:00

You may have gathered by now that I can be a little nostalgic, and the Dutch Bakery on Fort St. in Victoria may be just a little part of the reason I tend to value tradition, vintage things, and captured moments. We go back a very long way, this bakery and I.

When our family first arrived in Canada from Belgium some forty-odd
years ago, my mother soon learned about the bakery, even
though we lived a good three hour drive away, in Port Alberni.
I was two years old (sigh, forty-two years ago) when we first began
to make the pilgrimage. It was such a special time, these little trips to
the city, playing tourist and visiting as many shops as we could cram
into the three or four days. And the highlight? Why, the bakery, of course.
My mom, sisters and I all had our favourites for lunch, and all these years
later I have not wavered from those. Beginning lunch with a cup of their
delicious vegetable soup that featured coveted little meatballs. My sisters
and I would quickly count our meatballs to see 'who won' and bask in triumph
if one of the servings had yielded one more savoury prize than the other.
Then I would have a meat croquette; a hot roll of delicious meat mixture,
rolled in bread crumbs and then deep fried. After lunch my mom would pick out a few dozen patisseries; a delectable array of such sweet finery as petit fours, tarts, cream and nut filled marzipan and more.
The very large purple and white box, familiarly tied with white string, was
destined for our freezer, ready at a moment's notice for unexpected company
and every special event between now and our next trip back to Victoria.

And so now here we are, all these years later, and the tradition continues. For the last few months, my daughter Vanessa and I have been going regulary on a Thursday, as she has a spare from school following her lunch hour. Enough time to tempt us downtown and make yet another pilgrimage -this time just from Oak Bay, not as far away as Port Alberni.

And on occasion, I will bring home that famous purple box, not so big as my mother's purple box, but the same box, nontheless, as it has not changed since the bakery
opened 55 years ago. And neither have any of the recipes, the website's history tells me, but I could have told you that from experience.
If you have not been this bakery before, start your own tradition
today, trust me...go for a coffee and sweet or try their lunch even. I have a feeling you too will be writing about it forty years from now...

The pictures above were taken in my kitchen, presented on Vanessa's antique pink cut glass pedestal plate and vintage pink French swirl glass teacups!

J'aime des marchés aux puces.

2010-01-24T17:29:00.001-08:00

I Love Flea Markets. I admit it. I am an avid flea marketer. I am addicted to them, and rarely miss one! I typically frequent the Swap Meet at the Western Speedway, but that runs seasonally; April through October. Of late I have been visiting the Market at the Da Vinci Centre in Vic West. It runs Sundays, 9 am to 2 pm. Admission is $2. Considering 'cette dame' has been to some pretty great flea markets in the world such as St. Ouen and Paul Bert in Paris, the Brussels Market at the Sablon, Tongeren and perhaps another forty or more including Ghent, Bruges, and Lille, I am still satisfied with any ole market or swap meet! Although this little market at Da Vinci is a little lacking, it still helps fill the void until the new season starts outdoors again, and once again I am on the hunt for pretty vintage finds. I love to collect milk glass, silverware, mercury glass and vintage glass such as Brilliant. My daughter Vanessa collects antique pink depression glass and vintage pink swirl glass from France. She also collects antique and vintage evening bags. Our collections have amassed over the years, and we have become more selective as we go along. The thrill of the hunt nevers wans for us, and we treasure the glimpse into the past each vintage treasure seems to give. I will post some pics of our collections tomorrow!

Choux Choux Charcuterie

2010-01-18T13:06:00.000-08:00

And so now you are ready to hear my other little story that pick ups in Belgium, once again, this time flash forward a couple of decades, and I am there with my own family; my three children and my husband, and we are spending the summer in Europe on a house exchange in Versailles with a side jaunt to Belgium. Our children are not strangers to Europe by this time, they are still young but have been raised like I was, with one foot 'back home'. At the time we were living in Mill Bay, a little community sliced by the island highway forty-five minutes outside of Victoria. To go anywhere at all one had to drive, and drive, and drive...school was in Cobble Hill, twenty minutes away, and piano lessons were in Shawnigan Lake, swimming lessons were in Duncan and well, you get the picture, we spent a huge amount of time driving everywhere to get to basic services and activities. I was very determined to ride my bike often while in Europe on the days we were not travelling to tourist destinations. We wanted to experience normal day-to-day life in France as there are bikes everywhere! Everyone rides there it seems, and I happily write to say, we did too. Every morning, one of us by turn, would hop on a bike and pick up our fresh baked goods and then go next door to purchase at the charcuterie. I laughed often to see that the line-up would typically be comprised of men, each with a list in hand! So this, then, was their chore. Even when we did venture into a large supermarket we still marveled at the quality and low prices, from fois gras, specialty cheeses, wine and beer, to clothing and electronics. It was nothing new to us, with stores like Wal-Mart and Superstore in Canada; what we could not get over the dizzying array of choice and the high quality of the fresh products. It seems Europeans demand it and that is how it has been for a long time. It is only recently, here in North America, that we seem to be on the tide of a resurgence in food quality. We want to know where it came from, what’s in it, and will go out of our way to pick up artisan food. I love this move, even if it is only a return to our roots. Once upon a time we all grew on our vegetables, we did not predominantly rely on prepared, fast, or convenience foods. We ate real food, not fillers, additives and who-knows-what else.

Well all of this musing leads me to the happy discovery of Choux Choux Charcuterie at 830 Fort St. My friend Elyse told me about it, and I knew it would not disappoint, as she has a real passion for artisan foods. As soon as I walked through the door, I was struck by its quaint understated charm, from the authentic cheese labels collaged on the wall to the chalkboard sign presenting its ‘plat du jour’.

I discovered they make their own sausages, pates, and smoked and cured meats using only fresh, free-range pork, rabbits, hens, chickens and lamb from farms on the island. The quality of the products are excellent, and I can’t rave enough about what a wonderful place this is, although many of you are 'in the know’ already about this delicatessen as it has been around for some time now. And unlike me, you probably don’t need the memories of Europe to wax nostalgic and appreciate high-quality, excellent tasting food! I was also delighted to see they offer things like crème fraiche, truffle oil, and a wonderful selection of European cheeses; Tomme d'Abondance from France, Tete de Moine from Switzerland, Queso de la Peral from Spain, Taleggio from Italy, Cashel Blue from Ireland.

The only thing I didn’t care for was the bread made by an outside supplier – I appreciate it is artisan organic bread, but my mouth hurts every time I eat the stuff, it is such a workout (my $100 J.A. Henckels knife can barely even slice it, it is that tough) but I am pretty fussy on my breads (blame those bakeries in Belgium!).

So next time you are in the area, pick up some meat and cheese, get some wine and bread, and savour a wonderful meal. Let me know what you think!

Belgian Bakeries

2010-01-17T12:36:00.000-08:00

This is the eventual story of a charcuterie (delicatessen) I discovered on Friday. Before I can tell you about that experience and why it delighted me, I have to back up a bit and tell you a memoir first that has more to do with bakeries. It will explain my elation about stepping into Choux Choux Charcuterie...
My earliest memories of Belgium, the country where I was born, were of my grandmother, who lived in Antwerp. Early every morning, before the rest of the household had even begun to stir, my grandmother threw a trenchcoat over her nightgown, and with a basket over her arm, would set out for the bakery and the charcuterie. It wasn't a long walk, only a block or two, and I believe that is the case with many homes in Belgium. She would soon return with fresh bread, croissants, and danish's from the 'Bakker', and a selection of deli items from the 'Charcuterie'...rillettes, pates, ham, (and my favourite, 'Kip met Curry' a mixture of chicken, curry and mayo) and more. It was certainly different fare from the scrambled eggs or breakfast cereal we usually had back in Canada, but I embraced the cultural differences with natural appreciation and carried it with me forever more. There were many visits 'back home' during the summers of the 70s and early 80s. My parents had emigrated to a small, but booming, forest-industry town on Vancouver Island, and I happily bounced back and forth between the two countries that were so unlike one another in many ways.
My sisters and I wondered, at first, then laughed at, the 'camper' size refrigerators in Belgium, when back home in Canada, every family I knew had full size fridges. Canadian fridges seemed gigantic and superior to us kids, by contrast. Why, we could fit up to two weeks of groceries in our fridge, we boasted to puzzled cousins. We soon figured out for ourselves the reason why the little coolers were deemed more than adequate. My Grandmother bought only enough food for the day, and there was little to keep cold, save for some milk and butter, it seemed. Every day we had the freshest of fresh food. The quality of the charcuteries, butchers and bakeries in France and Belgium were, for the longest time, wholly acknowledged as unequalled in the world of foodies, but this I knew already at a young age - so many years ago.
And today when I go back to Europe, the fridges are bigger, yes, and there are supermarkets like our own, yes, but the neighbourhood 'bakker and charcuterie' persists nonetheless, no doubt due to the quality and high standards it has offered so steadfastedly throughout the years. I have sought out and patronized many delicatessens and bakeries (that are wonderful!) here in Canada, which leads me to the next part of my two-fold story...that I will share tomorrow!