The Paris Memories Continue...

It rains in Paris.  A LOT.  During our 2 weeks there, we only had 1 day of sunshine.  It rained every other single day.  But Paris in the rain is still beautiful. 

One of the first things we did before leaving the airport was to purchase Museum Passes.  Ours were good for 7 days and you could see as many museums as you wish.  They also get you quick entrance so you don't have to stand in long lines at the museum ticket office.  We could use the express lane!  The Louvre for one, is notorious for lines that take hours to get through.  If you go to Paris, get a museum pass!

One very beautiful museum is the Musee des Arts Decoratifs.  It is located at the end of the Louvre and it is dedicated to all things interior design wise...especially 18th century. The wonderful thing about museums in Paris is that you can walk around rooms like you were a guest in a private home.  Every museum we visited allowed photos, with the exception of the D'Orsay.  You just can't use your flash.  I was in heaven.....

An 18th century salon....

...a royal jewelry box.....

.....18th century perfume bottles......

.....a display of chairs owned by royalty........

....an original chair that belonged to Marie Antoinette......

......china that belonged to Madame Du Barry......

Another 18th century devoted museum is Musee Carnavalet.....once a private home now a museum filled with treasures.....

Notice the worn stone stairway.  You can see the wear from ancient footsteps that have worn the stone smooth over centuries of use.......

It took everything I had not to crawl into this gorgeous bed for a quick power nap.......

Hallways were filled with paintings by my favorite French artists....Francois Boucher and Jean Honore Fragonard....

.....and this delightful treasure......a small sculpture of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette that was a gift given to the royal couple.

Thanks for your visit....hope you enjoyed a small sample of some of the beauty Paris has to offer.  Merci mon amies ~ xoxo ~ Joy

 

 



 

 

Remembering Paris....

It was just a year ago this weekend that my hubby and I boarded an Air France jet for Paris.  We were reminiscing all weekend long saying to each other...."this exact time last year we were....." 

In honor of the anniversary, this weekend we enjoyed croissants, French beer and wine, and Sunday night dinner was Paris Chicken.  We also enjoyed looking over our photo albums and I thought I would share some of my favorite photos with you.

We stayed for 2 weeks in this charming apartment located just a block and a half from the Louvre on Rue Saint Honore.  We booked our apartment thru HERE and their services were great and I will use them for our next trip.

Our apartment was located above a Boulangerie & Patisserie and every morning around 5:00 am we would be awaken by the delicious smells of fresh bread and pastries being baked in the shop below.   It was a memorable and delicious way to start our day!

We made a beeline for the Eiffel Tower.  My long held dream has been to go to the top of the tower, kiss my husband and drink champagne.  Check.

Then off to photograph the most beautiful city in the world.  I was packing my big girl camera!

For our first full day in Paris, we blocked a whole day for the Louvre.  Exploring every nook and cranny that we could find....and there are lots!  You can't see the Louvre in a day....but we did our best. 

The famous glass pyramid is really an entrance.....this is what you see from below.....

The art is jaw dropping in beauty and scale....

....and the ceilings are every bit as beautiful as the art hanging on the walls.....

Everyone makes a run for the Mona Lisa first.  I found taking a photo of those trying to get close and take a photo of Mona more interesting.......

....then everyone runs for Winged Victory.  It is stunning to see her in all her glory.

Personally, I found some of the interior stairways to be the most beautiful and peaceful places inside the Louvre.....

....and after walking miles and miles that day, even a marble bed looks like a comfortable place to take a rest!

Every little thing your eyes take in is beautiful in detail and photo worthy....some of my favorite photos were the ones I took looking outside thru centuries old windows and glass panes....

On the way back to our apartment, we enjoyed a stroll through the Tuileries gardens.  I have read about these gardens for so many years and to finally be able to take in the beauty of this special place was a dream come true.  Day One in Paris - done!!!

Although we were there just a year ago, sometimes it seems like just yesterday and other times it seems like a lifetime ago.  Paris is enchanting and she gets under your skin.  I know that I will visit her again, it may not be soon, but someday I will return.  Until then, I have my photos and sweet memories and thank you for allowing me to share these with you here in my little corner of blogland.   More photos to come over the next week or so :)   ~ Mercie mon amies ~ xoxo Joy

New for Fall!

....adding some new pretties to the website today!   xoxo ~ Joy

New Jewels.....

.....added to the website today! 

One of a kind bracelets made with antique and vintage elements.  For more info, please click HERE.  ~ Merci ~ xoxo Joy

Inspired....

A pink sunset on the bayou last night…. Enjoying a sunset and a glass of wine on the balcony makes the stress of moving and unpacking boxes totally disappear! 

 

 

....and today in the studio, I am inspired to work with pink stones and darker metal tones….a glowing sunset transferred into jewelry J     New jewels coming this weekend!  ~ xo ~ Joy

 

Open for business!

A sneak peek of my new studio….a few more finishing touches and I will be ready for a photo shoot to share pictures of my new space.  

 

 

 

I re-opened the website for business today and I am already back in the swing of things.  It feels good to be done with our renovations, move and almost done with unloading boxes.  A day at my new work desk is pure heaven!  ~ xoxo ~ Joy

 

Ready, Set....MOVE!

After almost 2 and a half months of renovations, we are down to the wire and finally packing to move to our new home on the bayou!

It has been a lot of work and there is still much to do, but our current home sold fast so now we need to go.  My studio is closing to prepare for the move and set up in a new location so I am closing the website for a bit while we make the transition.   I plan to be back by Monday, September 23rd, so until then, thanks for stopping by and I hope to see you right back here in a few weeks.  Merci mon amies ~ xoxo Joy