As I work on getting an abundance of scarves ready for the two Trunk Shows I’m hosting next week, one in Briarcliff and the other at Antan in South Norwalk, I’m finding, to my surprise, that the repetition of sewing is relaxing.

I’m so used to having a certain amount of anxiety and stress in my life that feeling calm is so unusual I can’t help but wonder at this strange sensation.

I feel connected to the women who typically, for generations, have sewn for their families and as an expression of their creativity, and I wonder why we stopped. The duplication of simple stitches done by hand over and over seem to transform magically into something else, something that you have to trust will be there when you’re done. Whether it is a dress or an Amish quilt, the process takes time, dedication and faith.

When I first learned to knit I realized that everything was made by using a combination of two stitches, knit or purl. In France, I learned they were called à l’endroit, right side, and à l’envers, wrong side. Then, years later when I studied computers and binary language, I found that “on” or “off” was the language of computers. I realized women had used this same language for generations to create clothes out of yarn. The simplicity and brilliance of these hand arts are far more interesting than we often give them credit for, especially when we view them through the lens of being old-fashioned.

At the moment I’m discovering that the little stitches I find myself repeating over and over are the expression of my creativity and the meditation that I had been longing for. I am always surprised how the things I need in my life manifest themselves unexpectedly but at the right moment, and when I stop and pay attention it is always thrilling to discover.

I’m excited to share these scarves at my upcoming Trunk Shows (details below). Come by for a drink, a bite, and some stress-free holiday shopping – and 10% off your French-Secrets purchase when you bring a friend!
Drinks, Shopping & Style Tips at French-Secrets’ Scarf Trunk Shows!

Stop by for drinks, light refreshments, and scarf styling advice from designer Adeline Olmer while finding the perfect gifts for family and friends from our new Scarf Collection!

Bring a friend and get 10% off your French-Secrets purchase!

Tuesday, December 18th from 4pm-7pm
353 Sleepy Hollow Road
(corner of Long Hill & Sleepy Hollow, entrance on Long Hill)
Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510

Friday, December 21 from 2pm-5pm
Antan
117 Washington Street
South Norwalk, CT 06854

RSVPs not required but appreciated info@french-secrets.com

My time away from the blog was not intentional. Earlier this year, I found myself deep in an all-consuming creative process that resulted in launching a line of scarves for French-Secrets.

I had originally started designing scarves 3 years ago for myself. The style concept was easy elegance – I wanted a scarf that was easy to wear, had style without needing to fuss, and stayed in place on its own.

They were made of fleece, though you wouldn’t know by looking at them, and were incredibly warm. I had no intention of starting a business, but after receiving comment after comment of “Where can I purchase one of those scarves?” and “Really? Could you make me one?” I realized they were unique.  Before I knew it, my side project dabbling in scarf design became a full-blown business that I’ve thrown myself into with passion.

I’ve evolved from using fleece to incorporating traditional fabrics, day-to-evening looks, and multi-wear styles that have become essential features of my new collection.

Take a look at my Winter 2012-2013 collection and tell me what you think!

We’re moving follow us at our new address French-Secrets.com

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Perfect for the outdoors, the deck or the terrace!

I love these chairs from grandinroad

These charming chairs are from a fun french blog french-word-a-day

Summertime in the seaside town of Cassis. Don’t these chairs look like fruity popsicle flavors (that is, if flavor could be visible to the eye)? Grape, blueberry, citron vert, melon, framboise.…

If you have some old chairs  .  .  .  have some fun with some spray paint!

Flag over Sonoma

 As the sun came and went, the light off the vines of the Kistler vineyards, located next to the house, made the landscape seem to glow.

 From the pool

we watched the Hawks sore almost at eye level,

the birds came to the edge for a drink and

as if that wasn’t enough, the sunset over the vineyard was spectacular.*

I highly recommend a trip to Sonoma even if you’re not into wine tasting.

*photo © D.Fink

Renting a house sight unseen in Sonoma has its uncertainty, but vacationing with 3 other couples, friends from home, could be a recipe for . . . disaster.

We walked in to find our friends sitting around the island of a beautiful kitchen nibbling the treats that were set out to welcome us. They turned and greeted us with big smiles and my concerns began to disappear.

As it turned out it was better than I could have hoped. Assemble a group that loves to eat, loves to cook and really loves good wines and it is hard to go wrong.

What made this so special was how comfortable we were with each other. The meals seemed to magically appear when people volunteered to cook creating the dinner around individual suggestions. We’d gather in the kitchen everyone busy with their tasks while someone poured the wine and passed the appetizers. Everyone was involved and we discovered this was a group of men who really knew how to cook!

When dinner was ready we moved outside to a find a dining table glowing with candlelight ready for us to sit and enjoy the fabulous food while tasting the wines we had gathered during the day.

The conversation and the laughter carried on into the night, until one by one we would get up to either sit in the hot tub, go to sleep or dance to the tunes. Whatever it was it was fun!

Traveling to an unknown place I always try to imagine what that first glimpse will look like. I know I can’t really imagine it until it happens and then I want to try to remember that sight.

I was not expecting that surprise when I drove over the Golden Gate Bridge on our way to Sonoma.  The hills were gold dotted with green organic shapes that were so scenic I couldn’t stop looking.

At first, I thought I was looking at parched earth, but it was tall grass seemingly suspended over the ground. The gold was the dryness of the meadow.  The trees were nestled in the valleys so that only the tops were visible.

As we got closer to Sonoma the fields started filling with vineyards and I recognized the slight smell I remember from the vineyards in the South of France. By the time we arrived at the house my senses were saturated with the smell of rosemary, sage and the eucalyptus trees that lined the road.

I’d forgotten how connected our sense of smell is to our memories, but one whiff sent me back in time and I was in heaven.

No wonder perfumes have such a strong impact on us.

Before I tell you about my trip to Sonoma, C.A. I thought I should tell you what I did before I left . . .

As  you know I really like wearing red nail polish. It makes me feel, excuse the pun, polished.

There are two things about the process I don’t like. First, is waiting for my nails to be completely dry, and second, since I use my hands a lot, the polish starts chipping off after a day or two. That just isn’t long enough for me to have red nails very often.

Until now that is! I finally tried the gel nail polish that dries almost instantly under the UV lamps, and  it doesn’t chip*! What a nice feeling it is to no longer have to do the funny hand dance of gliding your hands through the air while keeping your fingers apart.

Arlene, my friend, convinced me I would love it when she came over to show me her red nails, inspired after reading my post Winter Blues. I explained, I was reluctant to try it, afraid that the process might damage my nails, and that I’d read an article in a fashion magazine where a woman described her nails feeling claustrophobic under the acrylic gel.  She insisted I’d love it and she was right!

My trip to Sonoma was my inspiration to finally try the gels, something I wouldn’t  have dared in the past for fear of chipping nails while on vacation, but it’s been a week and they still look great!

If you like color on your nails and haven’t tried the gels yet, what are you waiting for go out and have some fun!

*It lasts 2-3 weeks and only needs to be redone when you can see the new nail growing in.

I’ve always loved the signs that say;

Gone Fishing

Nothing more needs to be said.

I don’t fish so it feels disingenuous, but you get the point, I’ve taken some time off.

I’ll send postcards, promise.

The best part of the evening, when I entertain, is after dinner.

When everyone is still sitting at the table full from the meal and happy to linger.

Dishes still litter the table, but no one seems to notice or care. The evening flows on at its own pace as our conversation is punctuated with bursts of laughter.

These are the moments that make my heart come to life, and I know without a doubt it’s been a good evening.

It is a French tradition to stay at the table long after the meal is finished and as a child I learned it was a time to cherish.

Even before we finish cleaning up, I’m already wondering when we can do it again.