Jennelise

Voix Douce

2012-02-27T21:02:00.001-08:00

"my silent friend
will you write me another story"
                     ~Kylie Johnson
                          'Count me the stars'

   I meant to post much sooner but this weekend turned out to be just a tad busier than I had previously planned. MY SISTER GOT ENGAGED!!! This was a big surprise and everyone in my family is currently a bit shell-shocked. We are all very happy for her though and already beginning to get caught up in the thrill of wedding preparations (I have been busy going madly through all of my favorite pinterest boards, wedding blogs, and etsy stores in search of gorgeous ideas and inspirations!). At any rate this post is a little late. I wanted to share a beautiful blog I recently discovered though called Voix Douce. It is a photo blog that has some of the most beautiful and romantic pictures I have ever seen. Every photo displays old world elegance, grandeur, and beauty in spectacular abundance! I visit nearly everyday for a dose of refinement and loveliness. I know you will enjoy it! I am also including a little doodle I did recently just for fun!

Drawing by Jennelise

The Perfect Table

2012-02-22T21:59:00.002-08:00

"Home is an invention on which
no one has yet improved."
~Ann Douglas

There once a Lady, very fine in her tastes, who chose for her home the things that spoke to her heart in the tenderest manner. She carefully selected each item relying on her instinct for beauty and her well-honed ability to choose what would always be timeless and elegant. She invariably succeeded in her quests - roaming from one treasure trove to the next until she happened upon that special piece that would complete a room. Every room reflected her special tastes, her time with her family, and her love for the finer elements of life. One day however she set out to find a table for her sitting room - the room that was especially hers - and travelled to many different places in search of it. Days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months. On occasion she would return to her home with a table that she thought might perchance have some magic in it to transform her quiet room. Sadly, none of these could do justice to her vision. Then one day travelling farther afield than usual she came upon the most beautiful table! Carved and elegant in design it instantly spoke to her! After so long! Years now!- she had found the table of her dreams! She took it to a good fairy* she knew and it was transformed into the perfect table. When it finally came to rest in the place of honor - the center of the fair Lady's sitting room, all who witnessed gasped in admiration. The room was complete! The Lady had once again chosen and chosen well and in her small kingdom there was rejoicing!

(This is a true story. To see photos of this most famous of coffee tables see below. *Most sincere thanks to the good fairy - Barb Brown! The drawing at the end of the photos was commissioned by a friend and is called 'La Belle Epoque'.)
Linking with What's It Wednesday.

Drawing by Jennelise

Pink Girl

2012-02-18T20:45:00.000-08:00

"Pink is the color of romance and a
friend tells me that the girl with the
pink dress at the party is the one
who is selected for each dance."
~Alfred Carl Hottes

One of the first posts I did when I started this blog was about my love for pink! If you have been visiting for a little while you will know by now that this love borders ever so slightly on obsession. Pink is the color of my world there is no denying it. I have loved it since I was a little girl and I imagine that I will be an old lady surrounded by pink roses still! Here are the photos to prove to you that I am a PINK GIRL! Some of my lovely pink things and a quick sketch I made for my Mum (who also happens to love pink - quelle surpise!). Have a rosy weekend!

I am joining Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound!
P.S. The lovely ribbon roses that find their way into a great many of my photos are from http://www.meadowstreet.com/!

Drawing by Jennelise

Liebster Blog Award

2012-02-16T16:55:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend the lovely Becky at From Generation to Generation... passed the Liebster blog award on to me!! Thankyou so much Becky - I am incredibly honored! - What with all of the chaos opening the Jennelise Rose Etsy shop I haven't had a chance till now to accept the award and pass it to five other beautiful bloggers!

The Liebster Blog Award is awarded to blogs that are new and under 200 followers.
Liebster is a German word meaning dearest or favorite...

If you are chosen to be a Liebster Blog award winner,
you must complete three steps.

1.Choose five blogs to pass the award onto.
They must have less than 200 followers.

2.Show your thanks to the blog who gave you the award,
by linking back to them.

3. Post the blogs you have given the award to... linking back to their blogs.

Here are the five blogs I have chosen for this award:

1. Jill McDowell at http://fussyfrench.blogspot.com/! Jill's blog celebrates the beauty of French design and vintage decorating with beautiful photos and musings that leave you wanting to take a trip to the flea market or sip a glass of lemonade in your garden. A recent discovery Fussy French is a new favorite!

2. Tricia at Conversations with the Muses! Tricia's blog is, in a word, MAGICAL!!! Visiting Conversations with the Muses is much like stepping into a Faerie realm full of whimsical palaces, feathery wings, and goassamer gowns! You will be amazed at her creations and enchanted by her passion for detail and beauty!

3. Dana at Lambs and Ivy Designs! Dana has an incredible talent for ribbon work. She uses old techniques and fine ribbons to create her beautiful roses, flowers, and stems which she fashions into gorgeous accessories such as bracelets, pins, hair pieces, etc. Her lovely blog is just a taste of what she has to offer!

4. Karla at The Purple Bow! Karla's blog has something new and unique every week whether it is a beautiful design idea, a gorgeous fashion piece, or a new treasure to add to your wish list. The Purple Bow is absolutely charming!

5. Melissah at Country Style Chic! I have mentioned Melissah's beautiful blogs before I am sure but Country Style Chic is one of my absolute favorites! A visit there will immediately make you feel like spring has arrived - even in the middle of winter! Her photos and thoughts are fresh and charming!

I hope you enjoy visiting these wonderful blogs!!! I certainly do! Thankyou again for your support and for this award Becky!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2012-02-14T10:18:00.000-08:00

"A bell is no bell 'til you ring it,
A song is no song 'til you sing it,
And love in your heart
Wasn't put there to stay -
Love isn't love
'Til you give it away."
~Oscar Hammerstein

Happy Valentine's Day!!! I hope everyone remembers to express their love in some way today to the people who mean the most to them! I want to say a big thankyou to everyone who commented on the opening of my new etsy shop! Your encouragement and wishes mean the world to me! I have added five more new prints to the shop and will be adding more in the next couple weeks. Today I have appropriately Valentine-y photos for you - including a little valentine I made my Mum, the beautiful heart chocolates she gave to me, and a drawing of a sassy Valentine girl. Enjoy!!

I am linking to these blog parties:
A Return To Loveliness
Show off your cottage monday

Drawing by Jennelise

Here are the five new prints available at

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Jenneliserose

Grand Opening

2012-02-10T15:59:00.000-08:00

THE DAY HAS FINALLY ARRIVED!!!

The Jennelise Rose etsy store is finally open!

I know it seems like it has taken me an incredible amount of time to get my store up and running - I had no idea how many little details needed to be sorted out before one could conceivably have an online shop! Thankyou so much for your patience and encouragement - it has meant a lot to me! I am starting out slowly with a limited number of prints but have no fear there will be more added all the time. If there is one that you particularly want and you'd like me to hurry it along just let me know either through etsy or email me directly (or you can even leave me a comment on a post). Here are some pictures of the prints available, one of the designs I thought I would use in the beginning for business cards, and my actual business cards! I am very excited to be opening a little store! I hope you all like it too!

Drawing by Jennelise

Vintage Valentines

2012-02-08T19:10:00.000-08:00

"You know you are in love when you can't fall
asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams."
~Dr. Seuss

I'm sorry I haven't posted sooner but I've been fighting the flu again! I can't seem to shake it. Oh well! Valentine's Day is just around the corner and the store where I work - Heirlooms - just brought in a collection of gorgeous old paper valentines and I had to share them with you. They are all a bit faded and crinkled with age, but each one is special and lovely in it's own way. I imagine them crisp and new during their day being given to a sweetheart. I miss giving little valentines at school and decorating a box for my friends to put valentines for me in! Maybe I will have to make some of my own to give to all of the people that I love this Valentine's day! Enjoy this collection of pretty pictures and the very old sketch I am including with them...
I am linking up with :
What's It Wednesday
Wow Us Wednesday

Drawing by Jennelise

Wearing Lace

2012-02-03T18:47:00.001-08:00

"She made a few light steps as if to shake
her dress and give to the breeze its...floating
sleeves and...the flowing curls of her coiffure."
~Balza 'Lily of the Valley'

I love lace - I have definitely said it before. I love it laying on tables, draped across vanities and piano tops. I love it hanging from closet doors and little hooks, sitting neatly on a chair seat, or even folded in a box waiting to be brought out and given its perfect place. I love happening upon a small fragment in a basket at a flea market (always at the very bottom), I love unwrapping a gift and watching it tumble out of tissue paper, I love looking at it in pictures, and I love love LOVE to wear it. When spring comes and fashion dictates we must wear lighter colors and airy fabrics I cannot wait to peruse shops for the inevitable lacey dress or tunic that is bound to appear. I am so enamoured with lace clothes that sometimes, if the piece is very, very pretty, I will buy it knowing full well I could never wear it and it will hang on my closet door just to look at. It seems a pity though that only I can see them so I have created a post all about 'wearing lace' - because when you wear lace nothing could feel more romantic, more feminine, and more lovely! I have also included another new drawing of mine - in the 'paper dolls' collection. Enjoy!

I am joining these blog parties!
Feathered Nest Friday
Pink Saturday
What's It Wednesday
Show and Tell Friday

Drawing by Jennelise

We Are The Dreamers of Dreams

2012-02-01T19:56:00.000-08:00

"We all have our own life to pursue,
our own kind of dream to be weaving.
And we all have some power to make
wishes come true, as long as we keep
believing."
~Louisa May Alcott

Sometimes when I dream I remember things I never knew. It's a power that only appears in those few moments before your mind is truly asleep and all its little corners are brightening. I see things that I couldn't hope to imagine during the day and I feel a little enchanted by what can only be a lost sense not realized when I'm awake. A few sentences from a book, an image from a film, an experience during the day, a thousand memories I'd thought long forgotten, images I conjured in my mind that disappeared half-formed - they all reappear in tantalizing color when I dream. Sometimes they are frightening. Childhood memories of shadows under my parents bed or nightmare things that skulk around the edges when I'm not sure I'm awake or asleep. Sometimes they are beyond beautiful - a sprawling estate with haunted windows and imperious tenants, cathedral cities where the light is orange and heavy, fairytale palaces peopled by otherworldly royalty, and always I find myself in the center looking on or playing my part. Sometimes I write things down and look at them months later astounded by the detail and wishing I had written more. Sometimes my night time dreams feed those of the day and I am inspired to create something. Sometimes these dreams are so absorbing I find myself staring into space and have to be recalled back to the present! Like right now! How lovely are dreams and the things that inspire them. I found this beautiful blog the other day and wanted to share some of the dreamy and ethereal photos displayed there. It is called We are the dreamers of dreams and seems to celebrate everything that is fanciful, whimsical, nostalgic, timeless, and utterly deserving of a moment's quiet reverie. The photos are collected from many different places and the sources can be found when clicking on them individually - I have also included a very old fairytale drawing of mine at the end of the photos. Enjoy and remember to dream everyday and to everyday live your dreams!

Drawing by Jennelise

My Mum's Birthday

2012-01-30T09:30:00.000-08:00

"Most of all other beautiful things in life come by twos and threes,
by dozens and hundreds. Plenty of roses, stars, sunsets, rainbows,
brothers and sisters, aunts and cousins, comrades and friends -
but only one mother in the whole world."
~Kate Douglas Wiggin

It is my Mum's birthday today! She never asks for much on her birthday - maybe a small bag of Bernard Callebaut chocolate shavings (generally used to garnish cakes and other desserts but my Mum likes to eat them from a small glass dish with a teaspoon). I always struggle to think of something special to do for her - this year she foiled most of my ideas by insisting on tagging along whenever I tried to slip out to get something special for a surprise. I thought I would buy her a cake - but I couldn't get to the bakery. I thought I would get her some flowers but when I casually suggested on my day off we go to the little shopping complex where our favorite florist resides (thinking I could lose her for a moment and run to the flower shop) she said she would rather go somewhere else (and how could I insist I ask you??). After I failed for what must have been the third or fourth time I threw up my hands in exasperation and declared, "How am I supposed to do anything for your birthday when you upset all of my brilliant plans!!!" - to which she answered that all she wanted me to get her was Callebaut shavings . . . You see what I am up against. So I bought her her shavings (and some chocolates just to thwart her) and drew her a picture, I wrote a card, and now the only thing I can think to do is announce to the world (or those of you who might be reading this) how very, very much I love her. I think she is the loveliest person to ever exist and will always be my most cherished friend! I have put together a few bright and lovely photos that remind me of her and her ability to create beauty wherever she is. Her talent and passion has fuelled mine and her encouragement continues to sustain me. Happy Birthday Mummy!

Drawing by Jennelise

The Messy Victorian

2012-01-27T10:09:00.000-08:00

"To be properly accomplished, young girls learned
such vital social graces as how to sit down, how to
pour tea, how to tip the maid after a country weekend,
how to put on gloves, how to write a thankyou note,
and how to receive a diamond or refuse a pearl."
~Jeanine Larmouth

I have been doing a lot of reading lately because I have had the flu (I am feeling much better now by the way - thankyou for all of your get well wishes!) and I found myself indulging in a few period romance novels. I love the language and the descriptions of social settings in Regency and Victorian stories. One afternoon I had just finished a book that I love and have read before and suddenly felt that I needed to tap into my novel's well of inspiration. I was still feverish and drippy at the time but I got out of bed anyway and cleared my vanity and began putting layer upon layer of things on it in an effort to create a "messy victorian" girl's dressing table. I thought - those Victorian girls must have had a little bit of clutter once in awhile what with all of the correspondences, party preparations, baubles and ornaments, etc that would have no doubt collected at some point on their desks and dressing tables. Certainly in upperclass households a maid might have tidied a little - but I was imagining the scene before the maid had been, just after a flurry of activity, perhaps captured in the moment after our imaginary young lady was interrupted in her activities. Flushed and short of breath I completed my little tableau and captured it with my camera before collapsing into bed for a rest before attempting to dismantle my creation and put my room back together. I hope you like the finished photos and the new drawing I have included! I think there might be a little bit of the graceful, fussy, feminine, and messy Victorian in all of us!

I am linking to these blog parties today:
What's It Wednesday
Feathered Nest Friday
Show and Tell Friday

Drawing by Jennelise

My Nana's Home

2012-01-23T14:26:00.000-08:00

"It is as grandmothers that our mothers
come into the fullness of their grace."
~Christopher Morley

My Grandparents - or Nana and Grandad as I have always called them - were born and grew up in England. My Mother was born in Hull Yorkshire and as a family they immigrated to Canada when she was four. My Nana has often felt homesick over the years and has travelled back to England often. She likes to have more traditional things around her in her home and there is a real English influence in her style. I went to my Grandparents house last week to take some pictures of my Nana's things - she loves warm woods, bright colors, and LOTS of flowers! Because it is winter most of her flowers are artificial, but when spring arrives there will be bouquets of fresh flowers in every available vase! My Nana loves comfort and more than anything she wants her rooms to be places where her family are comfortable gathering together and visiting. I have had Christmas there all my life! Mostly I have taken photos of all her little treasures - her flowers, ornaments, jewelry, and all of the pretty things that I have come to think of as uniquely her over the years. I hope you enjoy these few glimpses into my Nana's home...

Drawing by Jennelise

Bella Notte Linens

2012-01-20T20:08:00.000-08:00

"Winter is the time for comfort, for good
food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly
hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the
time for home."
~Diane Edith Sitwell (1887-1964)

Anyone who knows me well knows how much I love home and everything to do with it. I love eating dinner as a family, I love sitting in the family room in the evening with a book or a movie, I love coming home after a holiday and the way that everything seems new, I love being surrounded by small treasures collected and loved over the years, I love the quiet corners and the places that reverberate with happy noise, I love the memories that seep into the walls of every room and make home the most beautiful place in the world. I also love the comfort of home and I adore crawling into my bed at night and falling asleep. My cousin sent me a message recently with a link enclosed for Bella Notte Linens. She wrote in the message that every time she looked through their catalogue the photos made her think of me! I of course immediately went to the site to have a peek and what I found is the most gorgeous line of bedding in the entire world! Every piece of linen and lace - every pillow, robe, quilt, and coverlet is absolutely beautiful! No matter what your taste or style is you will find something at Bella Notte to make you swoon. I'm sure that Bella Notte is well known to many of you but I was so entranced by their beautiful photos I had to share some with you in case you have never heard of them! Here are my favorite pictures from their online album (access through their site) showcasing items from this year's collection as well as from two and three years ago. I hope you will visit - you will not be disappointed! I have also done a little sketch in honor of their beautiful linens. Enjoy!

Drawing by Jennelise

Bedazzled

2012-01-17T21:24:00.001-08:00

"The rarest things in the world, next to
a spirit of discernment, are diamonds and pearls."
~Jean de la Bruyere, translated from French

I am still not over my flu bug - which means I am moving slower than usual. Oh well! I wanted to post something pretty today. I have a little notebook that I write ideas and inspirations in (I'm sure I have mentioned it before) and I look at it when I need an imaginative boost! This week though because I am feeling under the weather I just picked up my camera and started moving things around and taking quick shots until I thought something looked pretty. Sometimes those photos turn out the best! I emptied my jewelry box and took pictures of the sparkly mess on my bed where the lighting was horrible. The shot wasn't so good but it made me start pulling things out and playing with them. I love jewelry - old jewelry especially. The pieces that have a beautiful old fashioned, or delicate design are always the ones that catch my eye. You will see from my pictures that I also love pearls! I hope you like these few photos of 'pretty things' and the little drawing I am including with them. She is another spontaneous creation :) (P.S. The ribbon rose in the final photo is by Meadow Street)

I am linking to Your Cozy Home Party!

Drawing by Jennelise

'Grand Traditions of French Couture'

2012-01-13T14:12:00.000-08:00

"Isn't a fashion designer like a magician
who creates illusions--and perhaps beauty?"
~Hubert de Givenchy

I was given the most beautiful book for Christmas and I have been so excited to share it with you! The book is called Grand Traditions of French Couture: Cristobal Balenciaga, Philippe Venet, Hubert de Givenchy by Christiane de Nicolay-Mazery with photos by Luc Castel. We all know how much I love everything French and this book combines some of the most gorgeous photos of interiors, architecture, landscape, and exquisite couture fashion that I have ever seen! Every photo is lush and irresistibly elegant. The book contains historical facts, quotations from the designers and their muses, anectdotes, and so much more! It is so beautiful that it inspired me to take some photos of my own and I wanted to share them with you along with some of my favorite pages from the book. I hope you enjoy them and the little drawing I have included! This book reminds me what it means to be feminine and graceful - and to appreciate the grand history of those artists who venerated feminine beauty to such a spectacular extent.
I am joining these four blog parties today!
Inspiration Friday
Show and Tell Friday
Home Sweet Home
Feathered Nest Friday

Drawing by Jennelise

Edera Jewelry

2012-01-11T19:34:00.000-08:00

"These gems have life in them;
their colors speak, say what words fail of."
~George Eliot

I wanted to post sooner but alas the flu is running amok in my house and my time on the computer has been limited. I was browsing through etsy one evening looking at the new additions to all of my favorite stores and I realized that I don't think I have ever posted on Edera Jewelry before! How could I not!!?? Edera is a collection of handmade lace and gemstone couture jewelry that absolutely takes your breath away. I have oohed and aahed over it many times before and today I thought I would try sketching a few of her gorgeous pieces. I love their intricacy and design - each piece looks like something from a fairytale to me! Here are a few photos of some of my favorite pieces at Edera and my little sketches too. Please visit Ivy's shop to see more!

Drawing by Jennelise

Silver and Rose

2012-01-07T20:44:00.000-08:00

"Tell me how many beads there are
In a silver chain
Of evening rain..."
~Thomas Lovell Beddoes

I have always loved warmer colors - pink, green, ivory. Shades of blue and purple aren't my favorite because I have always thought they were a bit cool. Still - those pale lavenders, robin's egg, greys, and shimmering silvers can be very beautiful in a room, even a little magical, when they find themselves in the company of well-loved objects and welcoming settings. Sometimes adding something to a room that has a bit of sheen can bring other colors into brighter relief. I have seen many gorgeous photos of homes with predominantly white furnishings and textiles and then here and there you see bright floral arrangements, mercury glass, and unframed mirrors. The silver and the roses make the white seem even more pure and refined. Years ago I started collecting little silver frames. I had no idea where I was going to put them because I tend to have objects and accessories that are a bit more gold, but they were just so exquisite! I couldn't pass them by. They sit next to pink flowers and china trays and it doesn't even matter that they don't match. My eye goes to them and all I see is that little bit of sparkle that makes everything around it prettier. Here are a few photos I have taken of silver things among, inevitably, my roses. Enjoy!

Today I am linking with Pink Saturday and Show and Tell Friday.

Drawing by Jennelise

Ivory and Gold

2012-01-04T09:35:00.000-08:00

"Beige is atmosphere. It's bisque, it's ivory,
it's cream, it's stone, it's toast, it's cappuccino.
It's, well, it's magic."
~Albert Hadley

New Year's weekend was an incredible flurry of events and I have not had time until this moment to sit down and write a post for you! Yesterday I was out of town with my Mum - just for the day - which was lovely. I don't know why but I always feel like going somewhere in January - whether it is on a big holiday or just on a small day trip. Maybe it's the chaos of December, but January feels like a time for winding down and getting used to the feeling of a new year. Over the weekend Barbara at 21 Rosemary Lane chose me for the Blog on Fire award! I haven't had a chance to say thankyou yet (so sorry!) and to pass the award along to five other beautiful bloggers with a few facts about myself in the mix. Here goes!...
1. My favorite colors - Pink and Green
2. My favorite pastimes - Drawing, Antiquing, Photography
3. My current favorite song - Shelter by Birdy
4. My favorite childhood story - Gwinna by Barbara Helen Berger
5. My favorite dessert - Cheesecake

My Five Beautiful Bloggers!

1. Country Style Chic is a gorgeous blog designed by Melissah! It displays beautiful photos of homes and vignettes that are fresh, elegant, and picturesque. Everytime I visit I leave with a longing for Spring.

2. Inspired Design is a blog I absolutely love to visit because there is always something new and delightful to see - whether it's a gorgeous interior, a classically beautiful outfit, or an inspiring piece of photography. I always leave with new inspiration in my pocket!

3. Champagne and Macarons is as refined and lovely as it's title. It combines the timeless beauty of old-world french elegance with modern touches here and there to create a presence and atmosphere that is absolutely captivating!

4. French at Heart is a photography blog featuring stunning photos of France and all things French. The photos at French at Heart are so beautiful and moody - it is almost like being in France itself!

5. Belle Francaise Interiors is a blog I recently discovered and love! With beautiful photos of interiors and vignettes coupled with pictures of the author's stall in the Dupre's Antique Market in Marietta Georgia - I always complete my perusal of Belle Francaise feeling a little heartsick that I can't be standing among the beautiful things in the photos!

And now for the photos I have created for today's post! I love the color ivory - I love it in furniture, on the walls, in paintings and textiles. I think it is universal and timeless. What I love more than anything is when ivory is combined with touches of gold. In the original finish on some painted antique pieces of furniture such as french or florentine - the combination of cream and gold is exquisite and can have the effect of softening and brightening a room at the same time! Here are my photos of ivory and gold objects in my home - some, like the pretty Tocca perfume, and lace scarf, were gifts this past Christmas. Enjoy and Happy New Year!

Drawing by Jennelise

The Year With Jennelise

2011-12-30T20:42:00.000-08:00

"I fell asleep beneath a tree
and dreamt I met eternity
She asked my if I felt it right
that minutes flew like drops of light
That time remained a thing unseen
and she a fairy-tale queen."
~Jennelise

The year is almost up and I have been looking back at all of the things I have done, loved, created, discovered, and experienced in the past twelve months. In february I picked up a point and shoot digital camera and started taking pictures of things in my house. Not long after this I began a blog - with no experience or idea of where it would lead except that I was bursting to create something pretty and maybe to have a place of my own where I could display the things that I loved (including my artwork which I had never before showcased). In May I bought a DSLR because it had only taken a few hours playing with my sister's little point and shoot to discover that I LOVED photography! I am amazed that from these little choices this blog has evolved and the support and friendship I have received from so many people has been an overwhelming source of inspiration and encouragement. Sometimes you just need someone else to say that what you do is lovely. It makes all the difference. Thankyou for the time you spent reading my sometimes clumsy words and browsing through my pictures - I have loved sharing them with you and I am SO excited to see what the New Year brings because I expect it will be even more exciting than the last. My etsy store is twinkling on the horizon and I am brimming with new ideas thanks to the incredible bloggers and creative women out there whose talent inspires me. Thankyou again! I have had a wonderful time looking through all of this year's photos and drawings and I have created a few collages to help you remember. Here is a little look at Jennelise Rose 2011...

Drawing by Jennelise

I am linking to:
My Romantic Home's Show and Tell Friday
How Sweet the Sound's Pink Saturday

New Year's Eve Finery

2011-12-28T20:46:00.000-08:00

"Each age has deemed the new-born year
The fittest time for festal cheer."
              ~Walter Scott

   Oh my goodness! - I can't believe that Christmas is over and the New Year is approaching! It seems as if the preparations for Christmas were endless and yet the weekend has gone by in a rush of chaos and visiting. I wish sometimes that I could slow it down and savor a little bit more. Oh well - bring on the New Year! I am very excited to see that this blog now has over 100 followers! Incredible! Thankyou so much for your visits, kind words and wishes, and friendly support - it means the world to me and I love to hear from you and get to know you better! I was also surprised and thrilled to see that my Christmas post was one of those chosen to be featured this week at What's It Wednesday! Thankyou so much Patti and Paula for your lovely compliments! That absolutely made my day! (So many exclamation marks in one post!!!)
   At home and at work everyone is getting ready for the New Year. 2012 is fast approaching and I know that many people have special plans for New Year's Eve. I am going to a musical with some friends and then spending the night with my family (I hope I can stay awake till midnight :). For those of you going to parties I have done a few little drawings of party/cocktail dresses and taken some photos of some beautiful evening bags from Heirlooms where I work. I hope you all have a wonderful New Year's Eve whatever you do and thankyou again for your warm wishes and support!
~I am linking up once again with What's It Wednesday!~

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T20:00:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to everyone!

I hope your holiday is special and happy. Thankyou for your support and kind wishes. Take care!

(These are three of my favorite Christmas pictures -

unfortunately I don't know who the artists are because I made

them into magnets on my fridge years ago :)

My Christmas Treasures

2011-12-21T20:45:00.000-08:00

"I like days
when feathers are snowing,
and all the caves
have petticoats showing,
and the air is cold,
and the wires are humming,
but you feel all warm...
with Christmas coming!"
~Aileen Fisher

I can't believe how close Christmas is! I finally finished my shopping on monday - the latest I have ever been! The other night I was with my family and we were talking about Christmas memories and all of the things that we have loved over the years.-- I remembered sled rides at night when the air was so snowy and cold that my fingers in their gloves stung. Even with the cold it still felt magical - the horse pulling us all down the path through trees, the dark sky above, and the promise of hot chocolate when we reached our destination. I remembered the Christmas I asked for one very special doll and then spent the month of December counting down the days with desperate excitement - measuring presents to see if she might be there! I remembered Christmas breakfasts and suppers, trips to the Nativity pageant, parties and get togethers, carols sang at church, and so much more! Just talking about all of these wonderful memories made me so excited for this weekend! Every Christmas is different and some traditions change and evolve over the years, but that magic feeling never goes away. I still feel like a child at Christmas and the thing that I love the most remains the same - my family.
The pictures I have taken for you today are a little random - they are of all of my personal Christmas treasures that I have displayed in my room. The stocking near the end is my favorite - I added the lace, ribbons, and the rose (from Meadow Street). My Mum requested a drawing of a Pink Christmas Tree! I hope you like everything and have a Merry Merry Christmas!

I am linking to Primp Your Stuff Wednesday and What's It Wednesday!

Drawing by Jennelise

Christmas Displays

2011-12-16T16:29:00.000-08:00

"What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past,
courage for the present, hope for the future. It is
a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with
blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may
lead to peace. "
~Agnes M. Pahro

I love Christmas displays - I love to see how the things I have collected over the years for Christmas can be put together in a beautiful group. I decided to make a few Christmas-y displays today using my little shelf and a pretty tiered cake stand that I have. I took lots of photos and wore myself out running all over the house looking for just the right finishing touches. I hope you like the pictures and have fun making your own Christmas displays! Christmas is just around the corner now!

I am linking to Show and Tell Friday, How Do You Deck The Halls, and What's It Wednesday. :)

Drawing by Jennelise

Christmas Candle

2011-12-13T21:26:00.000-08:00

"A Christmas candle is a lovely thing;
It makes no noise at all,
But softly gives itself away."
~Eva Logue

I've made a recent discovery that I love candles! Not just at Christmas time but all of the time and I love the beautiful little votive holders that you can find here and there. On a recent antiquing trip I found the most gorgeous candleholder made of cut crystal. It absolutely sparkles when you light a candle inside it! I put it on the coffee table in the family room and in the evening when everyone sits there I light the candles and turn the Christmas tree lights on and it looks just magical! I took some pictures of my new favorite candle and a swag my Mum and I made this year with a large sparkly red rose and some beautiful dusted berries (P.S. The last photo is of another sparkly red flower that I found this year and think is very pretty). I hope you like them and the little drawing - it is one of a pair that I did in the 'Whoville' style. This week I am also joining two blog parties: Table Top Tuesday and Wow Us Wednesdays. I hope everyone is enjoying the Holidays!

Drawing by Jennelise

Around the Christmas Tree

2011-12-10T19:22:00.000-08:00

"Our hearts grow tender with childhood
memories and love of kindred, and we are
better throughout the year for having, in
spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time."
~Laura Ingalls Wilder

I braved a shopping mall today (crazy I know but I had the day off) - didn't find what I was looking for but had a fun and festive time anyway! This week I was given a tripod by my extremely generous and lovely boss who is himself a photography pro. The first thing I did with it was take pictures of our Christmas tree and decorations set up in the family room. I couldn't get any good pictures before because the light is so dim in there and I couldn't hold my camera steady enough! With the help of my new tripod I think I have captured everything pretty well! Thankyou Bill! My Mum decorates the tree and made the garland on the mantle - years of collecting and adding treasures! I hope you like the pictures and the little drawing I have included as well. Happy Holidays!

This week I am joining the Saturday Show Off blog party at The Rose Garden in Malevik.

Drawing by Jennelise

Mulberry Muse

2011-12-07T20:34:00.000-08:00

"Christmas is the season for kindling
the fire of hospitality in the hall, the
genial flame of charity in the heart."
~Washington Irving

The other night my Nana came over with a few 'testers' of her Christmas baking for us to try. She called them 'seconds' but of course they looked and tasted perfect! It made me feel very Christmas-y and, like most Christmas traditions, brought back memories of past Christmases. The first few cards have started to arrive as well! They reminded me of a discovery I made not too long ago. Mulberry Muse - one of the loveliest shops on etsy you will ever find sells the most beautiful cards, stationery, and notebooks! For Christmas they have gorgeous designs featuring fanciful french-inspired, regency, and vintage motifs. You will love them! Also, don't forget to visit their blog Mulberry Musings to see new designs, home decor, and charming musings! For now enjoy these pictures of some of my favorites!

Red Roses

2011-12-04T20:12:00.000-08:00

"When we recall Christmas past, we usually find
that the simplest things - not the great occasions -
give off the greatest glow of happiness."
~Bob Hope

Even though I have been thinking about Christmas, planning and bringing out the decorations one by one, it still feels like the season has suddenly appeared out of nowhere! Only three weeks until the day! I love everything about Christmas - the frenzy and preparation, the company-filled evenings, the Christmas shopping and the nights when you collapse exhausted on the couch afterwards with energy enough just to sit and watch a Holiday movie. I love the food (I REALLY love the food) and the decorations, the lights on trees and houses, the happy, lingering feeling of excitement left over from so many childhood Christmases. I think Christmas for me will always be magical! Today I wanted to show you a few of my Christmas treasures. My Mum loves pale colors at Christmas - soft pink and green, pale gold, silver, cream and ivory. Those are her favorite colors and I love them too! - But I also love red at Christmas and sparkling gold! These three boxes are from my own Christmas collection and I love, love, love them- mostly because my Mum made them and gave them to me! They are absolutely gorgeous and I have them displayed in my room right now. I am joining in three blog parties today Seasonal Sunday, Sundae Scoop, and Amaze Me Monday. I have also included a new drawing inspired by my Christmas boxes!

THIS IS MY 100TH POST!!! I CAN HARDLY BELIEVE IT!!! Thankyou so much for visiting me this year! It has been lovely getting to know you and I look forward to a hundred more posts and kind thoughts from my new friends! I would love to hear which post out of the hundred has been your personal favorite! The first three people to let me know in a comment will get a little present in the mail!

Drawing by Jennelise

Pink Christmas

2011-11-30T18:54:00.000-08:00

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world,
and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful."
~Norman Vincent Peale

It snowed! When I woke up this morning everything was white outside my window and all I wanted to do was burrow deeper under my covers - but of course I couldn't I had to get up and go to work! Thankyou to everyone who left such lovely comments about the Christmas photos! My Mum read some of them and was very touched at the sweet things you all had to say about her box! It's one thing for me to say that the things she makes are beautiful and quite another for her to hear it from others. Thankyou! I hope you like this new set of Christmas-y photos too - they are of our pink decorations displayed in the front entryway and living room. The ornaments on the little silver tree are from Germany bought many years ago from a store here in town. My Mum made the little pink ribbon rose on the beaded stocking. Take care!
I am linking up with Blue Cricket Design for Show and Tell Wednesday.

Drawing by Jennelise

Glitter of Winter

2011-11-26T20:35:00.000-08:00

"The early mist had vanished and
the fields lay like a silver shield...
It was one of the days when the
glitter of winter shines..."
~Edith Wharton

My family and I went away for two days to do some Christmas shopping and other fun things. We got back this evening and are worn out from our exciting trip! We visited antique stores and came away with a few special treasures and then explored some garden centers that were floor to ceiling Christmas decor. It was so much fun and now we are all exhausted! My home is now pretty well ready for Christmas and I wanted to share the first of my Christmas photos! My Mum and I love mercury glass at Christmas time so this little display includes some from her collection along with a beautiful little silver tree and one of our Christmas treasures - an ethereal box that my Mother handmade. It is so exquisite and I love to see it every Christmas. I am sharing this post with My Shabby Streamside Studio's Vintage Video of Holiday Decor and I am also participating in Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas and I love it!!!

Doll Dress II

2011-11-22T20:29:00.000-08:00

"A memory...an exquisite treasure,
an inexhaustible source of pure refreshment."
~Charlotte Bronte

I was looking through my old files full of photos and found the first set that I took of this doll's dress. I took it with my sister's point and shoot camera and it was probably the first time that I had played at photography. I bought myself a new camera for my birthday in May and I thought that this dress deserved another photoshoot. I love this dress - It is made from the most beautiful lace and has little silk ribbons, pink gauze, stitched petals, and a crinoline! I added a pretty pink Meadow Street rose to the front and I have it hanging in my bedroom. I hope you like the pictures - for those of you who have been with me from the beginning I think you will agree that they are a little better quality though it doesn't much matter because the dress is beautiful no matter what. (I have also included the little drawing I did of the dress in the beginning.) This week I am linking to the blog party at Faded Charm called White Wednesday. Enjoy!

Drawing by Jennelise

Polyvore

2011-11-20T20:47:00.000-08:00

"Winter came down to our home one night
Quietly pirouetting in on silvery-toed slippers of snow..."
~Bill Morgan Jr.

Yet another hectic week with little room to pause - I'm sorry I haven't posted sooner! It was twenty below yesterday and the day before making the arrival of Winter official! My Mum, Nana, and I went to a Christmas market on friday evening and had a fabulous time wandering around the different stalls looking at Christmas-y things and buying presents. Christmas is definitely coming! The decorations have started to come out of their carefully packed boxes and soon there will be a flurry of Christmas photos for you to see! I have also started playing with pinterest and have added a button in the side bar if you would like to see the boards I have created from all of the beautiful photos out there! (I'm sure that a great many of you will recognize some). Another site I have been having some fun with in spare moments is Polyvore! I opened an account there and have been creating beautiful "sets" or collages as I like to call them. If you don't know about Polyvore it is a site where you can compile photos of products and people, magazine and web articles into your own makeshift pieces of art - almost like ads. Clicking on the individual pictures in Polyvore will take you to the shops or original sites where the items can be purchased. I have filled my collages with things that I think are beautiful, styles, actresses, singers, and pretty things that caught my eye. If you want to see them in Polyvore just search Jennelise! Have fun!
(The titles of these sets in order are Sparkle, Gilded Age, Silver and Gold, A Romantic Life, Ladylike, Lovely, Fairytale, Pretty in Pink, and Everything Nice)

Nouveau Rose

2011-11-16T09:59:00.000-08:00

"She so fully and unequivocally inhabits her
own space, and with such individualistic
flair, that it seems as if even from the
earliest age she has always been sure of
who she is and where she's going. And
perhaps she has."
~Debra Ollivier

It would seem that Winter is making her first appearance - we have had our first snow of the season and the temperatures are beginning to drop. I can't seem to get warm no matter how many layers I put on and it isn't even bitterly cold yet! Oh well - with any luck my fragile body will adjust in time. I have wanted to share this ebay store with you for awhile - Nouveau Rose has some of the most lovely things for sale that I have ever seen. The owner's home has been featured in magazines a few times (I have the articles lovingly pasted in my inspiration scrapbooks because they are just TOO lovely). I have included a few photos of items that are currently for sale in Nouveau Rose's store. You will love them I am sure! I love that this Lady's home is so full of soft florals, faded fabrics and lace, chippy architectural accents, and general loveliness. Enjoy!

Drawing by Jennelise

A Beautiful Mess

2011-11-13T14:36:00.000-08:00

"The beauty that addresses itself to the
eye is only the spell of the moment; the
eye of the body is not always that of the soul."
~George Sand

I came across a photo not long ago - I am not sure who it was by - of a room with an ornate settee covered in beautiful lace boudoir pillows, scarves, and various lovely things with a mirror in the background and a shelf with more objects and baubles. The photo was lush with beautiful things placed haphazardly here and there and I loved it immediately! Everything looked as if it had recently been touched laying across a cushion or stacked in lovely disarray. It inspired me to take this set of photos full of beautiful things displayed together in one beautiful 'mess'! It is amazing the unique and wonderful things you can discover when you are not trying to make everything perfect! I have also included an old sketch of mine. Have a lovely sunday and remember to look for beauty in imperfection!

Everyone always asks me where I get the beautiful dyed ribbon roses - they are grouped in a bowl in one of these photos - they are from the wonderful site http://www.meadowstreet.com/. Definitely worth a visit!

Drawing of Jennelise

Fresh Roses

2011-11-10T16:16:00.000-08:00

"Flowers seem intended for the
solace of ordinary humanity."
~John Ruskin

Around this time of year my Mum and I love to start browsing through all of the new Christmas decorations starting to appear in shop windows. We go to boutiques, department stores, and flower shops soaking up all of the sparkle and evergreen like we're starving for it! During one such outing last week we went into a little flower shop and towards the back we saw the most beautiful fresh roses that either of us has ever seen! The lady cutting flowers for bouquets told us their name but of course I have forgotten it! My Mum turned to me and said if I buy some you have to photograph them! So here are the photos of our gorgeous three pink roses purchased while Christmas shopping! I also have some exciting news - I found a printer! I still have a lot of work to do but the Jennelise etsy store is now in sight so stay tuned!

Drawing by Jennelise

Jewel Tones

2011-11-06T20:07:00.000-08:00

"Why do two colors, put one next to the other, sing?
Can one really explain this? no."
~Pablo Picasso

I have been making time lately to do things that renew me - taking pictures, drawing, singing, dancing, going out with my Mum and sister, eating yummy food, reading, looking at beautiful things etc, etc. If I can fit even one of those things into a busy schedule the whole week is happier and I am more peaceful inside. I love to look at other people's beautiful pictures and read their thoughts - I added more than twenty new blogs to my blog list that I hope you will take the time to browse through! They are all absolutely wonderful! The photos that I am posting today were inspired by one picture that I took for the Rachel Ashwell post - I downloaded it to the computer and thought: "Wouldn't it be neat to do a whole set of photos in these bright colors!" ...I am a fan of pastels as you know but there are some truly beautiful things in bright shades that just grab your attention and hold you spellbound. Here are a few things from my home in bright jewel tones and a little drawing from my sketchbook (She is a companion to the Darkling Dolls - 'Odd Doll Wind-up'). Have fun!

Drawing by Jennelise

Shabby Chic Inspirations

2011-11-03T16:42:00.000-07:00

"If one is inspired by the works of others, it is not to say
that our visions are not original and from our own souls;
but absorbing other artists' stories and expressions adds
dimensions to our creativity...The beauty of art is that we
all see different aspects that inspire us, so inspiration and
design keep going and going; we inspire and we are inspired."
                                                ~Rachel Ashwell
                                                    'Shabby Chic Inspirations
                                                       and Beautiful Spaces'

    I finally got my copy of Rachel Ashwell's new book Shabby Chic Inspirations and Beautiful Spaces - it came out in stores much later here in Canada and I was beginning to think that I would have to order it! I was so excited when I opened it and took my first look at the gorgeous photos and vignettes inside. I hadn't realized that there would be so many different homes displayed with so many unique and yet classically shabby chic styles. I loved it and immediately experienced a little shabby chic inspiration of my own. After so many posts leading up to Halloween in darker moody colors I had a wonderful time taking these photos inspired by Rachel's beautiful book and returning to softer shades. If you haven't already perused through its pages this is definitely a book worth running out to the store for - I have captured a few of my favorite pages in the pictures and have created vignettes inspired by those found in the book as well as my own take on shabby romance. I hope you enjoy looking through them and will remember to look for inspiration wherever life takes you! P.S. I have also included a little drawing I did inspired (since that is the word of the day) by an old sketch by one of my favorite artists.

Photos taken by Jennelise

Drawing by Jennelise

Blog Award

2011-10-31T22:21:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! I had an exciting surprise today! The lovely and wonderful Irina at Witty and Wise has given me a blog award! Irina is the author/creator of more than one blog and always has the most enchanting posts to share with everyone! I am incredibly touched by her kindness and her sweet words. Thankyou so much Irina! I hope you will visit Witty and Wise to see her! The Blog On Fire Award has the added excitement of being one that I can pass along to five other blogs that I think are spectacular! Also I get to tell you five things about myself and in turn the five blogs I give the award to can tell everyone five things about themselves and pass the award along again to five people that they think are wonderful! So much fun! Here goes:

1. I love love love the color pink, all things French, and beautiful old-fashioned things. I never go on a holiday that doesn't involve some treasure hunting and I even work in an antique store!

2. I am an artist who has always dreamed of illustrating or in some way sharing my artwork - which is unabashedly girly! Like me!

3. I graduated University a year ago and have dreams to be a writer one day. I write poetry in my spare time, when I'm happy, or feeling blue. I have about a dozen stories on the go and can't seem to finish one before I am struck with an idea for another! Not very efficient but sometimes characters and worlds just come out of nowhere and you have to grab hold of them or they disappear!

4. I have never been to Europe and it is my heart's desire to go there! One day I will make it there and when I do my camera will be glued to my hand. :)

5. I love music. I play the piano and sing. My family thinks I'm crazy sometimes because the oddest melodies get stuck in my head and then I sing them for months. Example: Oklahoma, Some Enchanted Evening, and currently Thriller. :)

And now for my five brilliant bloggers! (Click on the titles above the pictures to go to these blogs)

Helene Flont A Rose Affair

Helen is an incredibly talented artist who lives in France. Her paintings are absolutely stunning and her home is the picture of old world elegance.

The Paper Mulberry

Glenda is a former designer who lives in an Elizabethan Farmhouse in England. Her blog is an inspiring collection of design and decorating ideas featuring truly gorgeous photos and color palettes.

Delusions of Grandeur

Vanna's blog is a tribute to her absolutely beautiful home filled with fabulous antiques and unique objects. Her humor coupled with an eye for beautiful flea market finds makes reading her blog a joy!

A Thousand Clapping Hands

Catherine's blog houses a collection of beautiful photos, poetry, and her fabulous artistic creations. It is dreamy and refined with glimpses of times past and the beauty of old ideals.

Lovely Reveries

Lovely Reveries is the first blog I discovered by the wonderful Irina and it is completely magical! The photographs you will find here are lovingly collected and every post has that special touch of the extraordinary.

I hope you will visit these wonderful blogs! I honestly have so many favorites and will be adding new blogs to my blog list in the next few days. Thankyou so much everyone for the beauty you display! Take care!