Pink Treasures

"I must have flowers,
always, and always."
         ~Claude Monet


   October is upon us but my head is still filled with roses! I love them year round for every season and occasion. I love fresh roses, silk roses, velvet, buds, and painted. They are spilled around my house softening nearly every corner and cupboard. I was lucky during my California trip to find a plethora of pink treasures and I thought today that I would give you the first little peek at what came home with me from paintings and antique china to the tiniest pink pin cushion. I hope you are all having a beautiful fall day! 

Vignettes Antiques San Diego

"I promptly said that life was a
random series of beautifully composed
vignettes, loosely tied together by a 
string of characters and time." 
                 ~Mahbod Seraji 


   If you ever peruse my Pinterest boards, particularly the one dedicated to dream shopping destinations, you will probably discover that about 75% of the pictures are of the same store. This is because I have been dreaming about this particular shop since I first saw photos of it years ago and it has become something of a fantasy for me. I had placed it at the top of my daydream shopping scenarios - right up there with Paris in fact! I told myself that one day I would get to see it and by complete chance and happy circumstances my dream came true! The shop is called VIGNETTES and it is just one of the beautiful antique stores to be found in the Ocean Beach antique district of San Diego California. It sits two blocks from the ocean under an elegant black and white striped awning and is home to a paradise of treasures. I have never been so excited to step through a door and I was definitely not disappointed!  Layered ornate frames, draping lace and chandeliers, French curio cabinets filled with vintage tiaras, entire rooms glinting gold with Italian tole ware and Florentine - I was in immediate heaven! The trouble as always is choosing what special treasures to bring home and because I was travelling I was limited to smaller items. I will definitely have to return to this dream spot again one day but for now here is a little glimpse of my visit! 

Madeleine L'Amour

"C'est une belle journée 
pour être heureux." 
            ~unknown

   Have you ever walked into a shop and just frozen on the spot absolutely mesmerized by the beauty that surrounds you? Has a place ever left you utterly speechless (or in my case squealing like a little girl) because the artistry of the displays and the beautiful treasures laid out in tempting vignettes feels like something you have only imagined in your daydreams? If you have experienced this then maybe you've visited Madeleine L'Amour in Bountiful Utah! I have been following this gorgeous shop and its lovely owners on Instagram and their blog for quite some time and never dreamt that I would have a chance this year to visit their little paradise. I can honestly say that I have never been in such a lovely store before in my life! Drippy crystal chandeliers send glittering light across a soft tableau of painted vintage furniture pieces displaying everything from romantic home decor and party decorations to jewelry, perfume, giftware, and of course endless flowers. It was one of the highlights of my vacation getting to visit this gorgeous store and meet one of the amazing ladies behind it! I came away with some lovely souvenirs of my visit including a beautiful Catherine Popesco bracelet, lace sachets, apron, and velvet millinery roses from Miss Rose Sister Violet, tea party plates (because you can never have too many of those), ribbons, and more! Thankyou so much Madeleine L'Amour for making my vacation extra special!! I will dream about my next visit and hopefully it won't be too far away!