...joyeux noël...

...sending cheesy christmas love from France...happy holidays!  We're off to the Alps!  See you back here in 2012...x mvg

...feather bouquet...

...I've added some color to the feather bouquet sketch...still playing around with the mountain teepee!  x

...sparrow & co...

...I stumbled across this amazing online boutique, Sparrow & Co, out of the UK housing a unique homeward collection.  Most everything on the site is handmade in far flung places like Morrocco, Uzbekistan, Asia, Central America, & Scotland- my favorites are the vintage quilts, hand knit throws, fair-isle pillow shams, tin can lanterns, & recycled glasses....the owner/curator ensures that traditional crafting skills are kept alive & each product has a story to tell...x mvg

...dala horse...

....the swedish dala horse...these little wooden decorative creatures are so fun.  Traditionally carved by woodcutters & soldiers back in the day from leftover wood.  They would carve these during the long winter months for the children.  They are often painted bright red, but I like the black ones too.  Have a great weekend...{images via erica knits & ingebretsens}

...tea time...

...we've been drinking lots of tea lately & I've become mildly obsessed with the quotes on the tea tags of yogi organic tea...partially due to the fact that they are something in english that I can read (remember we're in France) & also because they rattle me a bit from time to time helping me put life into perspective....most importantly though they make me smile & sometimes laugh if one of us gets a funny one...I got this one last night, "feel good, be good, do good"...something I'm always striving for, but a nice reminder...the background of the quote above is a shot from an epic day of tree riding in southern california a couple winters ago...I'm dreaming of snow, can you tell?!?!  The Alps next week, yeaaaaahhh!  {images via me & pinterest}

...last minute shuffle...

...finished your holiday shopping?  I am frequently a last minute shopper when it comes to Christmas...I mean, I usually have an idea of what I am getting, I just don't actually end up purchasing until the final hours.  Sooooooo if you're like me & you need some ideas, here are some items that would make good gifts for the ladies in your life....x

1- amethyst wine stopper from anthropology

2- babushka faux fur hat from free people

3- tulum napkin set from anthropology

4- reclaimed peace dove band from alkemie

5- zip pouch from scout & catalogue

6-  duck boot from tory burch

...daily dose...

...these feel good images were sent to me by mon ami, michelle...love her, love them! x mvg

...the beat goes on...

...kinda love this old drum re-purposed as a side table...not to mention the holiday styling is pretty great.  I'm also into the mirror in the background...I saw one like it here....{image via emmas design blog by way of hus & hem} x mvg

...christmas chaos...

...the holidays are always chaotic, but are soooooo worth it!  An abundance of family, friends, food, wine & good cheer...here is a somewhat disheveled scene styled by Hans Blomquist...so warm & welcoming though, don't you think? It's what the holiday season is all about...x mvg

...les martines...

...this past weekend I made my way to a women's shopping event in Bidart France, Les Martines with my friend Julie.  It was so refreshing to walk into a beautiful space with so much creative energy.  These girls totally rocked it & all the product was amazing.  I ended up spending most of my time at L'atelier des Dames sussing out the perfect christmas gift- & of course I ended up walking away with more than I had planned on, but tis the season, right?  She had such gorgeous stuff...my favorites were her headbands that were crafted from fabric or lace mixed with chain & then these delicate little flowers made from fish scales...love!  My other two favorite stops were La Theiere Electrik & Rock Mafia.

...tis the season...

...where will you be this holiday season?  you'll find me snuggled up with my honey, riding some european powder, sipping on glogg & eating fondue!  Speaking of glogg...here is the best recipe (and my fave) from Alicia Silverstone's book, The Kind Diet....a holiday must!  Cheers to health & happiness this holiday season! x mvg {images via pinterest & cole barash (amazingly talented photog)}

...it's all in your head...

...or is it? kind of love this illustration from anne emond.  "be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle"...

...doggy zzzzz's...

...our poor dog saxman had a run-in with either a fence or a possum yesterday & his little paw-or rather massive paw (he's a great pyrenees) is all mangled...no ball or walks for a good while for this man! He's in need of a new doggie bed & I'm in love with these ones from Garnet Hill, especially the moroccan looking one in red & white...poor guy deserves one...x mvg

...chicks + boards...

...a little off beat, but how hot are these chicks?!? x mvg

...mountain lux...

...wood, white, & fur...lux simplicity at it's best in Aerin Lauder's Aspen chalet.  Tons of light & a stylish relaxed vibe...makes me look forward to Christmas in the French Alps this year! {all images via vogue }

x mvg

...underwerket...

...I always love seeing other peoples creative space...here are some pics from danish artist & fashion illustrator, Lisa Grue's studio in Copenhagen.  Check out her work, blog, & shop...{all images via dosfamily} x mvg

...la maison...

....projects on my hit list right now....

1. palette headboard for the guest room

2. crochet pendant light (maybe I can get ma mere to crochet something like this) -I think all you need is some really heavy duty glue to set it- maybe over a lamp shade to help give it it's shape...here is a similar tutorial here.  

3. plumbing pipe & wood plank wall shelf...tutorial here...

x mvg

...sketchbook...

....a couple recent graphics from my sketchbook...I want to play with a couple different color palettes in illustrator with these...they could be super fun prints for the wall...I'll repost when I'm done..x mvg

...holiday hyancinth bulbs...

...I'm not sure if this off season growing technique is used everywhere, but all the flower shops here in France have had these on display for the past couple months now...do I live under a rock???  They haven't bloomed yet so I honestly thought they were growing onions in vases at first & I was a bit confused- but then I saw this article in Elle Interior, & I felt a little stupid & it all made sense!  I fell in love with the two vases above from the danish shop, Holmegaard...a project worth trying out for the holidays...x mvg

...stealing beauty...

....one of my favorite movies in high school & the soundtrack is equally amazing...this takes me back to 1996...yeeeeoooowwww...x mvg

...cabin porn...

...I stumbled upon free cabin porn today...totally obsessed...here are a few of my favorite images from the site...I could spend days on that website...x mvg {images via free cabin porn & pinterest}

...turkey table...

...whats going to be on your table top this thanksgiving?  loving all three of these table top ideas...unfortunately I don't think we'll be eating turkey this year....goose or duck will be on the menu...carpe diem, france! images via pinterest, here.  x mvg

...fall into...

...fall is here, reminding me of vermont, leaf peeping, apple cider, maple syrup, roaring fires, pumpkins, barns, duck boots, spiced wine & all things cozy... images via pinterest- here...x mvg

...let go...

...bisous...

...white lights...

...the lane + byron...

A Bohemian Love Story from The LANE on Vimeo.

...I  love this bohemian love story...styling by the lane in one of my favorite places, byron bay....  take me back! x

...paris watercolors...

oui oui...watercolors I painted while in Paris...x

...meerkat...

{images via vogue australia & viciouslycyd....x mvg}

...manic monday...

...itssss monday...whats on your list for the week?  here are a few projects that are on my hit list for this week & beyond....x mvg

1.  hunt down an antique french bed like this one & update it with a fresh coat of white or black paint & new upholstery (ikat or stripe print fabric?!?)

2.  homemade watercolor/dipdyed wrapping paper for the holiday season....here, via my friend michelle

3.  modern friendship bracelet with chain link edges, like this one from dannijo

4.  painted driftwood & feather mobiles...already started on saturday eve with miss sage...

5.  Mini succulent planters out of wine corks...how cute!?!?

...to live by...

...les arts décoratifs...

...more paris posts, eeeek!  Just a couple more & it will be out of my system...ha!  It was such a great week & I really got to take in so much of paris...I stumbled upon les arts décoratifs which is new to le louvre I think...It was a little less focused on furniture & decor than I was hoping, & more channeled towards fashion but it was still impressive...I got my chair obsession fix! x mvg

...green scene...

...perfectly imperfect spaces with a boho vibe & green inspiration...x mvg...

...zen & things...

...so I'm not done with my parisian posts quite yet...there were a couple more home decor shops that I made my way into that are worth talking about....

...zen chic had some killer textiles that I was lusting over...the fringed pillows they carry are made from recycled fabric (these types of rugs are everywhere so I'm sure you're familiar).  In the end I purchased 2 of the tropical-esque floral pillow cover above in black...I fell in love with the hand painted feel & the stitching detail.  I have a thing for throw pillows...it's no secret!

... home atour du monde...I have to say when I reached this shop I had been caught in a rainstorm with no umbrella & my map was super soggy so these crumpled city maps caught my eye right away...virtually instructable...I know most of you have iPhones, but since moving to France I've retired mine so this is my vintage mode of transport around cities these days...I'm a dork! ha! xx mvg

...merci beaucoup...

MERCI in paris...everyone I know who has been here raves about this place...no doubt!  The second I walked in I knew it would be an experience.  This place was insane....multi level barn loft vibe with everything unique for the home along with an herb & veggie garden, a cafe, & a restaurant.  I could have stayed at this place for days.  You also get some good karma shopping here since all profits go towards helping poor children on the island of Madagascar...seriously, merci!  A couple of my favorite bobbles, 1 & 2....x mvg

...fleux paris...

I had such a blast tooting around paris solo last week....my friend Julie gave me a bunch of interior shops to check out & FLEUX was one of them.  They actually have 2 stores on the same street across from eachother- they were similar but carried different lines.  I was wishing I had more room in my suitcase for these two fancy finds....1 & 2, & unfortunately I couldn't find either on their website....booooooo!

...skate study...

...the skate study house is a modern furniture collection that was started by sole tech ceo, pierre andre senizergues.  The line adds an interesting spin to iconic silhouettes by fabricating them from skateboard decks.  The top photo is from the PAS house at Gaite Lyrique in Paris.  A skateramp interior...my husband would love for our house to be this someday! cheers! mvg

...paris fleas...

...I wish I had taken more pictures...these don't serve the paris fleas much justice!  I hoofed it to one of the largest ones in Clignancourt- march aux puces last monday.  When the taxi driver dropped me off he told me to beware of pic-pockets...I definitely felt like I was in the "wrong" part of paris initially & definitely stuck out like a sore thumb.  The actual market is surrounded with gimmicky vendors selling tons of crap, but if you just duck into one of the side alleys its the difference of night & day-  it gets super quiet & there is a whole network of alleys within this area that are filled with flea market vendors & antique dealers....Its quite magical actually.  I was definitely a little overwhelmed as to where to start & what to look for, but once I caught my groove I was fine!  There were some real gems to be found here, but the prices were definitely steep...

...peacock => the abode....

...white rattan peacock chair...get in my house!!!!  There is one at the local 2nd hand shop that has been haunting me for weeks...a little paint job & a gold cushion & I'd be set....but I don't have room for you!  Couldn't I just get it & save it for later?!?! x mvg

...channeling...

...currently channeling these three artist...check out their super inspiring work, Brook Reidt, Caroline Wright, Jackie Tileston...happy friday...I'm buzzing on coffee & gearing up for Paris next week...yeeeeaaawwww! x mvg

...cabin fever...

...missin my vermont roots today...wishing I could curl up by the fire on this rainy day with a hot cup of coffee, a good book, & my fam!  x mvg