I stuck these silk daisies into this basket to get them outta the way….and, now, I like them here!

Jade bracelets being prepared for Saturday’s event.  White, gray, green/black and blackberry.  Easy BREEZY.

Lots of MEDALLIONS… spread them out, and decide which ones will make it onto the new, 34″ candy colored necklaces for Saturday’s event in Manhattan Beach, CA.

Our custom French Kande beads in solid brass and silver plate… oxidized and ready for integration into new jewelry designs.  Just another cool little element we added to our line this year.

An abundance of FRENCH MUSIC sitting on my Bose music system.  Gotta feed the FRANCOPHILE in me constantly!!

More stuffffffffff  — I’VE GOT TOWER  F E V E R!!!

Family photos…keep me smiling, an old doll from a collection I used to own, Halloween pics of my mother and daughter (a la 1994) and my trusty Panasonic telephone system that still rocks my telephone world!

One of my favorite sculptures that Taylor made for me.  I enhanced it with my old engagement ring stone… approximately 5000 karats.  Right!

What would I do without my iPhone?  I owned my first iPhone for 3+ years… and it died on July 4, 2011.  That was a perfect day to go to the iPhone store…because it was  E M P T Y!!  Take a look at these huge chocolate pearls.  They’re real and they are a little rustic.  I’m considering them for new designs.

Ashlee Simpson– my first celeb!  She looks cute and wears it well… Plus one of my Eiffel towers from Paris, a girl can NEVER own too many Eiffel towers.  They’re everywhere in my home and they remind me every time I lay eyes on them of my most recent trip to Paris is November.  The food, the city and the jet lag are still FRESH in my mind.

YESSSSSSS!  My desk is decked-out in pearls, coral, jade and ESPRESSO (but of course–it’s 3pm)!  Also, dreaming of the photo of Mustique on my computer…it’s a Jetsetter email pitch.  And, then, there’s my W magazine, which consistently feeds my imagination with amazing photography.  Love it!

Books by Marion Fasel — all about jewelry: With this Ring, Bejeweled, Diamonds and Hollywood jewels…awesome research tomes for the jewelry designer.

Lucite lamps on my desk are from Target, the tower (Eiffel) is from PARIS, the PINK ROSES dried better than any others I’ve tried, and the white beads — well, those are some special “matte” opals that I bought.  Very few, and sorta special.  I like them!

This is a necklace of seed pearls that were given to me 10 years ago by my mother-in-law.  They’re cute, and sitting next to my SUPER VINTAGE EMANUEL KHAN white sunglasses.  I bought these in Tahiti!!!!!!!!  True story.

This is such a thrill for all of us at French Kande… Here are two of our necklaces in a story on Spring 2012 TRENDS. For over 100 years, Women’s Wear Daily has provided the global fashion industry with THE voice of authority. It is often referred to as “the fashion bible”.  We are grateful for inclusion in such a prestigious magazine. She’s wearing our 34″ Lion medallion on brass chain, and NEW 34″ black stone bead with FK Hoop and Brass Louis Medallion

The fav — white, white and MORE white Roses.

Sunday morning coffee roses.

La Frite French Bistro in Sherman Oaks Roses.

Birthday cake and Roses.
 

My kitchen counter in the afternoon and Pink Roses.

Playing around with the Pomegranate left-over from Thanksgiving.

Cheval on double cable brass chain– one of my new favorites!

Cleo’s trying to get in on the action. . .

Yep… love it.  Would like to own it.  Where can I get it?  Who knows… but it’s awesome!

Anyone who knows me — KNOWS how much I love WHITE PEARLS.   It’s a sickness I tell you!

On the left of this picture is the iron base of one of the two lamps on the counter in my bathroom… they are classy (sorry you can’t see the shades!).  Our master bathroom has counters which are topped with chocolate marble.  Yeah, I fell in love with this marble while staying at the Hyatt in Tahoe, in one of their Lakeside cottages–mah jorly ROMANTIC.  I’ve always appreciated these counter tops… we chose the marble at a small resource on Sepulveda Blvd. in Santa Monica.

Here is just one of the GAZILLION’s of shots I have taken of my TREASURED while Italian marble lamps that my sis-in-law, Debra bought for me.

OM Gosh… this is the most beautiful little setting.  I’d like this in my office– it would make me smile every time I glanced its way.  So FRANCAISE!!

I couldn’t believe it when I saw this recent cover of WWD!  I have worn this outfit…well, with minor alterations.  I have two skirts that I bought from M. Frederick a couple of years ago.  They are transparent just like this and I’ve always worn them over skinny jeans. . . and many times with my hidden platform, gray suede Jeffery Campbell shoes (which I adore).

Pink daisies, pink gingham shirt — my daughter who is 21 just asked me ‘what’s gingham?’.  I told her she’s seen it many times at Italian restaurants used as table cloths!

Two of my fav medals– Inauguration and Mont St Michel.

A super-cute girl that I met while doing my morning 2-mile power walk on the strand in Manhattan Beach!

Our best friends in Paris, Francoise and Rachida, took us to THE dinner of the trip.  We entered, and I was a bit overwhelmend by the service and the fact that the menu was entirely in French (I am spoiled as most restaurants now offer English translation).  I had no idea Francoise had chosen a Relais and Chateaux restaurant where the chef was an icon, named Michel Rostang.  Let me tell you — I was not dissappointed on ANY level.  The atmosphere: superb, the service: unparalled, the FOOD… well here are the cliff notes:

We began with an amuse bouche consisting of a tiny scoop of shiny fois gras in a pastry shell. Next, we had a quenelle drenched in crayfish sauce. Then, I order the “Hare” which is wild rabbit in a fois gras and blood sauce (sounds odd- was awesome) and then we finished (each of we 6 had our own) caramel souffle.  Words will never express the entirety of this meal, the conversation (Rachida only speaks French) however her lovely daughters both speak English and translated for me.  It was them most wonderful dinner I may have had this entire year… no doubt.

From the Relais and Chateaux website:  In an utterly charming atmosphere, Michel Rostang celebrates 30 years of inspiration, taste and passion for fine dining. Constantly in pursuit of perfection, his cuisine is a reflection of his personality: simple and generous. Anyone who has visited his restaurant knows that his pairings of classical and modern flavours are indeed the epitome of perfection.

I found this photo on google images… the table on the right, center screen was the one we ate at… and it was dark so it looked more Romantic that this day-time shot.

Our last day in the city of lights consisted of final design component resourcing for French Kande, and a stroll through the Bourse, ending up at the Louvre.  Here is a shot of one of the famous restaurants that I ate in my first trip to paris 20 years ago.  Au Pied de Cochen… I have an original menu that I asked them to give me back then…

I first read about this most amazing ‘cooking utensil’ store in Ina Garten’s “Barefoot in Paris”.  This is the cute hubby standing in front wanting me to stop taking pictures and head in with him to shop.

Dehillerin was founded in 1820, and is two-level shop that carries an incredible selection of professional-quality matériel de cuisine (kitchenware). The wooded shelving units definitely look like they are from the 1820′s     The cute hubby is from the 1960′s!

A window display. . .

A “cool” (and by accident) photo I took of the street.  Lots of scooter E V E R Y W H E R E!

I liked this building with the red brick incorporated… look at the traffic.  Looks like this girl and child are in peril… Trust me, it’s no different the NYC!

ESPRESSO ? — MUST BE 3:00PM!

Went into this knitting store –FULL– of women.  Beautiful!

The light — oh my gosh.  Magnificent!  It’s about 4pm now. . .

Kinda liked this entire ensemble… However, not in the mood to try on clothing.  Look at the crotch of the pants…somehow it really works!

Yes– THIS WOULD BE THE LOUVRE at sunset.  I was disappointed we didn’t get there 20 min earlier.  I hold hope that I’ll improve my photographic skills to include consideration of the sunlight.

Some kind of wonderful. . . Couldn’t say it better than the The Louvre’s own website (in English of course!)     The Louvre, in its successive architectural metamorphoses, has dominated central Paris since the late 12th century. Built on the city’s western edge, the original structure was gradually engulfed as the city grew. The dark fortress of the early days was transformed into the modernized dwelling of François I and, later, the sumptuous palace of the Sun King, Louis XIV. The museum that has occupied it since 1793.

HEADING HOME — below last shot of final ESPRESSO.  At a tiny wood-fired pizza Bistrot around the corner from our apartment.

Oh- forgot to mention — IT’S DECAF!!   BONSOIR my friends… Hope you liked seeing my photos… I LOVED sharing them.  Merci Beaucoup and Au Revoir.