Thursday, October 16, 2008

We're Dancing As Fast As We Can!

Seems when it rains, it pours!

After "break" in receiving new inventory (if you call a week a break), we're now flooded with it! But oh how wonderful it is!!

**BEFORE YOU GO ANY FURTHER -- ALL OF THE ITEMS LISTED BELOW ARE ON OUR NEW ITEMS PAGE - THE QUICKEST LINK TO USE TO ACCESS THEM ALL. *

For months there has been a "buzz" about a new addition to the store we've been working on that we're SO excited about and now the first of the new "exclusives" have been rolled out...

**BE SURE TO CLICK ALL THE PICS FOR BEAUTIFUL DETAIL!**

We've been in the design/fabrication stages of creating a line of truly beautiful, elegant and unique pillows and the first of them to be available are constructed of something very , very special...vintage French ticking fabric that is SO strong and dense it must have a count of like 2,000 threads per inch! This stuff is practically bullet-proof -- really something to work with.

The fabric was a once in a lifetime find and we've made as many pillows from it as possible, conserving the fabric like a miser to use every last inch of it.

So far, we have several designs we think you'll love -- all impeccably embroidered -- creating a pillow accent that will last a lifetime and really make a statement.
The Crown Crest pillow (below) is rectangular, measuring 10.5" x 14" .
This bold Crown pillow is 12" square. Both sizes are the PERFECT "toss pillow" size -- the kind that guests don't have to fuss with or politely try to find another spot for when they sit down.



Additionally, there is a Vintage Keys pillow and below it is shown in a charcoal/soft grey colorway. Going forward, this design is going to be done in the black/charcoal.
**A note about the color-quality in the pics below -- the red fabric appears too pink -- it is more closely depicted by the photos of the larger pillows above.**


This pillow is a smaller, accent pillow done in a 10" square -- we can see this on an antique French chair!

We have just one of the charcoal/grey pillows and if you would like to purchase it, please email us and we'll set it aside for you. It does not appear on the website, since there is only one, so please contact us ifyou'd like it! Once it is sold, it will not be produced in these lighter colors again. Be quick if you'd like this pillow -- it is the only one we have!

Currently, also in the works are our "Mathematicus" pillows (that's Latin in case you're wondering) -- they provide that bold, graphic statement that we so love! (SEE PIC BELOW!)

Of course, anyone who knows me probably wonders how I, of all people, would choose to create a line of anything with the word "math" in it, since they know that dealing with math or any form of crunching numbers at all has me reaching for sharp objects to jab into my... oh, never mind...


Since this pillow appeared on our blog and on the site, next to the huge burlap pillow cover we had for sale, we've been getting many inquiries into the "No. 34" pillow!

The Mathematicus range will be available shortly and we've got a call-back list growing from people who have asked to be notified when the "real" pillows are available. If you'd like to be added to that list, just shoot us an email and we'll add you! (info@thebeautifullife.com)


EXTRA-SPECIAL FEATURE OF THE MATHEMATICUS PILLOWS:

We will be happy to take your custom order for whatever number you'd like on your pillow(s)! So, if you have funny thing about a certain number (I do -- mine is "34" & no, I'm not telling why) we're happy to make up a pillow with your "special number" on it!

Otherwise, we'll have some "stock" numbers ready to ship which you'll love equally as well, since its the bold statement they make that we love, no matter what the number.

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Next, we're thrilled to finally carry these fabulous housekeeping products, some of which I've personally used for years but somehow never got around to adding to the store. There is laundry powder (very concentrated stuff!), herbal dryer sachets, dusting liquid, fabulous-smelling furniture wax/polish, and some out-of-this-world candles!






They're now in stock and they will become a fast favorite of yours, too! ALL of the products are SUPER highly FRAGRANCED and will make your housekeeping tasks a pleasure. And as a bonus, your home will SMELL fabulous when you're done!

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Another range of items we've finally added for sale are some that we use routinely in our packaging/shipping of orders that we send out.


We are so happy to now off you the beautiful silk seam binding ribbon (beautifully packaged on stamped cards!) and a selection of custom, made-for-us tags that we think you'll love being able to finally have for yourself!

There are "Pastry Tags" -- a collection of various Gateux (French for Pastry/Cakes) tags, perfect for the coming flurry of giving of baked goods! There are beautiful French "Pour Vous" tags (French for 'For You') - a thoughtful and lovely gift tag!

And don't you just know we LOVE this crown tag!

We get comment after comment about how thrilled our customers are when their packages arrive all "gussied up" with pretty paper, ribbon and tags...Well, now you may purchase a select offering of our tags for your own decorating and gift-giving use!

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~~~BEST-FOR-LAST ALERT!~~~

What's French, grey, spiky, and on the highly sough-after/endangered list??? A French porcupine? Rare French sea urchin?

GIVE UP?????

CHECK OUT THIS BEAST!


The excitement surrounding these racks has only been equally by the passion our customers have had about the English "Pure Butter" and "Cheese" platters we once carried (and we even now continue to get inquiries about those weekly!).

Originally used in France for air-drying wine bottles, these are now one of the most sought-after home products I know of. If you wanted to buy an original, vintage rack from France, lets just say you're into way more than the cost of these reproductions. Trust me.

Last Christmas, my own bottle rack was used to hold my huge collection of Christmas mugs and it was the hit of every party or gathering we had. The kids especially loved being able to stand there and gaze up at this strange-looking thing and choose their own special mug. :)

It makes a FABULOUS craft-station implement as well! We have one in our "packing room" which holds spools and spools of ribbons, scissors, hole punches, pretty tags, etc... During our Christmas Tour Of Homes last year, the rack holding all the ribbons, etc. was a real hit with the ladies coming through -- they all wanted one for their craft area.
These racks looks as great in a modern loft-style kitchen as they do in a period/historic home's kitchen. They're one of those items that is so universally appealing, it "holds its own" anywhere.

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So, as you can see, its been a busy time here and yet a thrilling time, as well. By way of a "heads up" - much of what we introduced in the last post (new items) are now just about gone.

The response to those items was huge and, not to be pushy but....I'm just saying....if you wanted any of the things you saw in the last post, well....you know what they say -- 'She who hesitates..." :)

Thursday, October 9, 2008

"Keep Calm" posters IN STOCK; Favorite books & music listed.

As mentioned in the last post, the "KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON" posters are now in stock and ready to order and ship! Yay! They look great and even have an almost vintage-y look! I just love them! CLICK HERE TO GET ONE!

Another addition to the site that we added this week is a compilation of the books (Decoration Francaise Books) that have been a tremendous artistic and creative inspiration for me as well as the music (Musique Francaise) that "fuels" each day around here... It's just a fun way to share with you the essence of being here without being here, if you know what I mean. ;)

We have not physically stocked all these books and cd's we've listed. Better, we've partnered with Amazon.com and simply provided links to the page(s) on Amazon where each book or cd is listed. For the book/cd purchases, you checkout directly with Amazon. We just thought we'd list our fave books and music, giving you a little insight into what life's like around here inspiration-wise.

I feel terrible that all the incredible new items we have gotten in are STILL NOT up on the site!! Between there just not seeming to be enough hours in the day, and the off & on rain (making for too-cloudy photographing conditions) we are lagging behind in processing the newer items up onto the site. I'll say this, though -- once you see them all, it will be well worth the wait...