February 15, 2009

Mon Amour de Toutes les Choses Francaises or My Love of All Things French

Bienvenue à mon amour de toutes les choses françaises ! Je suis si heureux que vous m'ayez joint aujourd'hui et j'attends avec intérêt de visiter vos blogs pour voir quels beaux trésors vous avez !

Welcome to My Love of All Things French! I am so happy that you joined me today and I look forward to visiting your blogs to see what lovely treasures you have!

As many of you know, I seem to have become obsessed with all things French, especially vintage Eiffel towers. Seems that every time I see one, I have to have it. I have decided that I would share some of my favorite finds with you both vintage and new.

I have announced that this event would take place both Monday and Tuesday, but I might just have to have additional posts to share more of my collection. If you have just learned of this event, don't worry. You can still add your link below on Mr. Linky, even after the two announced days.

For those of you who are ready to participate, please add your direct link below. On Tuesday morning I will randomly select a participant from Monday, who will win some french goodies. I will pick another name randomly on Wednesday morning as well. Good luck!

And now, on to my favorite French goodies. Know that you can click on any of my pictures to get a better view.


I have had wonderful friends and family who have gifted me some of the above items. And I will let you in on a little secret. I love to find vintage french items on eBay like my Eiffel tower buttons, pins and souvenir patch.


The black Eiffel tower button is my favorite. It seems to have a lot of character. The two silver buttons are not as heavy, but still a wonderful find.



Here are some more Eiffel towers I have found to use in my art work, and also some wonderful gifts from friends. When someone gives me a gift with and Eiffel tower, or a french twist, it just means so much to me. It is a gift from the heart from someone who knows me well.





I don't know why I have become so obsessed with the Eiffel tower. I think it may have something to do with a lot of the altered art that I have seen that seems vintage and french.





I have been collecting and making silver charm bracelets for many years. However, I have also found some really beautiful souvenir bracelets on eBay and in some of my favorite local shops. It always scares my Mom when I find something with the Eiffel tower because I let out a loud "GASP"!


The bracelet on the top is just so beautiful. I love to wear it and it has so much detail to it. The third bracelet down is the one I wear most often. It has many french charms, but also a few from other places I have visited while in Europe. I especially love the large circular charm on the right end. They can never be too big for me.






The bracelet on the very bottom of the above picture was a Christmas present from my parents. My Mom and I had seen it at one of our favorite shops one day. I love older silver charms. They are so detailed. Of course the little Eiffel tower spoke to me. I didn't get it that first day, but when we returned on another day and learned that the shop was having a store wide sale, you can bet I was an excited gal. My Mom said that she would get it for my Christmas gift and of course I was a giddy gal with that!

The pendant on the far left was another eBay find. It is a shield from France, and I HAD to have it!





These hankies are another recent find. I think they are so precious and would love to frame them some how. The detail is fantastic as well.













The above scarfs were all gifts.




This was a gift from my dear friend Carolyn. I just started to cry when she sent it to me as a surprise. A thoughtful gift I will always treasure.



This pink scarf was also a gift from Carolyn. I just love the color and the time period of the people.



This gold scarf was a gift many years ago from one of my former first grade students. His family had gone to Paris and they brought this back for me. At the time, I wasn't obsessed, like I am now. However, it was still wonderful because it was from an awesome little boy and I had visited Paris as well.


I just love these old Paris photograph sets from Guy. Each one has several numbered photos from Paris.



These are wonderful, because like other French ephemera I have, these can be scanned and used in my art work. I love adding vintage touches of Paris to my art.



I have always loved vintage steroviews. Imagine my surprise when I come across these beauties. My dream is to one day own an actual stereoview to place these in for viewing.



This is one of my favorite vintage finds. It is full of beautiful pictures of the sites of Paris. I have used these in my art work as well.



Isn't that just amazing. I would like to somehow duplicate it and hang it as a border around my studio. That would be fantastic!




Vintage ephemera, my favorite, especially when it's french. I just love the photos and advertisements in these old programs.







These aren't as old, but still great finds. Any time that I am out searching for treasures and I come across anything french, it is snatched right up.




This is one of my favorites because of the below advertisement. I have used it a few times in my altered art.




Below is one sample I made for a round robin travel themed book that I am currently working on. Each participant picked one country and focuses their art on it when they have each participant's book. I bet you can't guess which country I chose?????





I love finding unique vintage items. The image on the far left is a matchbook cover. The backside is below. The upper right is a matchbook cover as well, and although it isn't from France, it is from an international bar in Chicago. I also found this french phone token. How cool is that!


And of course there are several of us that love those vintage postcards. Not the reproductions, but the authentic kind. I especially love it when it has someone's memory written on the back. I think about the person that once held it and the sites that they saw long ago.


And of couse I love the newer postcards as well. I mean, come on, they're french. And we all know I love all things french.
I hope that you have enjoyed some of my favorite treasures. I hope that you will join me by either posting some of you own favorites or by sharing a comment, story, or memory on this post. Be sure to come back tomorrow for more of my collections.
Merci de me joindre et ayez un jour merveilleux ! Au revoir !
Thank you for joining me and have a wonderful day! Good bye!





21 comments:

Suze said...

You have some beautiful Parisian treasures, a wonderful collection.

I haven't participated in Mon Amour de Toutes les Choses Francaises...I can't add a photograph my French connection. But, as you love all things French...I thought I'd tell about it. A cousin of mine lived in Paris for several years...she was a dancer and worked for Miss Bluebell as a Bluebell Girl, at the Lido on the Champs Elysees. After she retired from dancing she became one of their dance instructors, and now works in the US...

Good luck with your quest...

Geralyn Gray said...

I celebrated the french in disney yesterday and will share some fun facts about Paris and pictures of Paris of a recent trip. Thanks for the great idea Rhonda---I am looking forward to reading all of you who share a love of all things french!!!!!!!!

stamp and scrape said...

You have a fabulous treasure collection of 'choses francais' - thank you for sharing!
I have added my card to Mr Linky, but will also add the link here:
http://stampandscrape.blogspot.com/2009/02/paris-1900.html
Ros

Anonymous said...

Bonjour Rhonda....
You have a lovely assortment displayed. I especially like your charm bracelets and the large pendent. Magnifique!
Vous devriez avoir un beau jour...
Robin xoxo

Sugar and Spice Art Confections said...

Rhonda!!! I can't believe how much French stuff you have! Lovely collection!

Tristan Robin said...

Bonjour!

viva le petit beautes!

merci de le partager avec nous!

(my French is bad - I don't think I mean partager - but you get the idea LOL)

peggy gatto said...

What memories you brought back to me! I remember the first time I saw the eiffel tower. We had walked from our hotel by the louvre and went down these narrow streets. Then we rounded the last corner of the street and THERE IT WAS! Mon Dieu, I will never forget the size. I will be posting a map I did after our "april in paris" trip in 1995.
You have some special treasures!
thanks!

Ann Marie said...

C'est magnifique! I have added my linky to your list, and hopefully will post part 2 tomorrow!

Ali @ Betty and Violet said...

Hello - I have just discovered your amazing blog via The Vintage Moth and I just love it - a girl after my own heart! I am too late sadly to participate in your event but by pure coincidence I posted on my own blog on Valentine's Day with 'I Love Paris' and some photos of Guy souvenir sets ~ a kindred spirit!
I can't wait to see more of your lovely collection...

Geralyn Gray said...

Rhonda --please take me off #2 if you can --I made a mistake when I was linking---THANKS

Decor To Adore said...

Oh I love all of it! The hankies, the buttons, the charm bracelets~j'adore.

Maria said...

WOW! what a great collection of all things french. Ilove the old cabinet cards what a score. Th elittle eiffell tower mouse clicker is too neat.

said...

Rhonda, I adore your collections. Your photos are wonderful!

Summer Gypsy said...

Oh, Rhonda, I love everything!!! Thanks for sharing your awesome collection!! I added MY VERY FAVORITE FRENCH THINGS today!!! I am late with my post, but I've had a computer problem for several days. You have the best ideas, friend and the most loved French collection!
Hugs,
Marilyn

Kathy McElroy said...

Hi Rhonda, I left you a link to my blog. I was in Paris last Oct. with a group of friends. I have many posts with lots of pictures.
I love your collection. Wish I could see it all in person. I am in love with the Eiffel Tower also. Thanks for great event. I hope you enjoy my photo's.
I am so happy to have found you.

Anonymous said...

J'adore your blog! Your French collection is amazing! I love anything French (and Italian!!), too! I will try to take a photo of one of my French silk hankies that is different from your collection. There is a darling little bank at a local thrift store that encourages saving for the trip to Paris--something I have been thinking about! I hope you stop by for a visit--I love company!

Debbykay

Gaby Bee said...

I found your Blog through Kathy McElroy and I enjoyed looking at your French collection. A really fabulous assortment. I especially like the old cab cards and your charm bracelets. Simply wonderful.
I love France also and I visited Paris several times, but I'm so sorry, I have nothing to share.
Greetings from Germany
Gaby

Esther said...

quelle fabuleuse collection!! all your tour eiffel are amazing!! have you all this things at home?? waw!! you live in paris!!

Cecile said...

Well, you can say you are a serious French lover. Although I'm French, and lived in Paris for 5 years, I don't have the slightest part of what you have ! Looks like the grass is always more green in your neighbour's garden !

Cecile, in Fnrace

Jan C. said...

And I thought I was bad with all my
Eiffel Towers and all things french. Loved seeing all your wonderful items and am so jealous of them.

By the way my wonderful bird cards and poodle cards I ordered on Etsy came Saturday and they are wonderful.

Jan in AZ

Anonymous said...

Hello Rhonda !
I "discovered" your blog last week, And I do declare I'm very happy you love so much France ! Because ... I'm a French woman LOL ! My English/American language is not good so ... be lenient with all my mistakes ...
You own a nice collection of French "things" and postcards.
I want to add that your blog is very pleasant to watch, I love vintage objects too ...
Have a nice Sunday !