Nesting – Francois et Moi

On a Whim

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 13:54:28 +0000

Have you ever, on a whim, bid on something on eBay or at a silent auction thinking, “Why not? I’ll probably be outbid anyway”? So have we, only we weren’t outbid. It all started last August when we flew out to Salt Lake City to visit my sister, Sarah, who’s wrapping up her PhD at the University of Utah. While browsing antique and vintage shops on 300th Street, Ken and I came across a killer 6′ wood plane propeller in a tiny mom and pop vintage shop. Ken has always been fascinated by flying and has gradually been logging flight hours over the past 10 years towards a private pilots license. Needless to say, the propeller caught his eye and we seriously considered buying it, but had no idea how we’d get it back to Minneapolis, so we ended up passing on it. 4 months later and still thinking about that propeller, Ken jumped on eBay one mundane Thursday night, and did a keyword search for vintage propellers. What came up was a sweet 1947 wood plane propeller with graphic red prop tips. On a whim, we decided to throw in a bid, fully expecting to be outbid. (The last several things […]

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A 20-Something’s First Apartment in Brooklyn Heights

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 13:46:08 +0000

I came across this sweet Brooklyn Heights brownstone apartment on TraditionalHome.com a few years ago, and was immediately drawn in by the interesting mix of old and new and the balance of neutrals with colorful accents. I had pinned this space for inspiration a while ago, and came across it again when I was bumming around on Pinterest recently. Though this space was shot in 2010, I still love it, and I think it’s in part to the use of classic pieces and timeless styling. The space feels curated and thoughtful, each piece having a story behind it. I love the use of flea market finds, classic investment pieces, and inexpensive off-the-shelf accents to create a budget-friendly, bright and timeless space that will grow with the homeowner. This charming first apartment is home to Lauren McGrath, an early twenties something who when she landed her first real job in the City, got right to work outfitting her first place with the help of her mother, Suzanne McGrath of Suzanne McGrath Design. For the full back story on Lauren’s first apartment, visit Traditional Home.com. Check out Lauren & Suzanne’s marvelous blog, Good Bones, Great Pieces, for more inspiration. Sources: Upholstered […]

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The Blooming Paperwhite

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Mon, 06 Jan 2014 15:20:27 +0000

When I put together the DIY Paperwhite Bulb Kits over the Holidays, (see that post here) I picked up an extra one for myself and planted the bulb around the same time. The bulb took just over two weeks of full sunlight and daily watering to finally sprout through the soil, but when it did, I was surprised and fascinated at how quickly it shot up! Every morning when I woke up, I took a shot of the plant, and after ten days, it was fun to put the photos side by side and see the transformation. Towards the end you could really see some major changes from day to day!

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It’s the Little Things…

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 13:40:46 +0000

A few little pins I’m loving at the moment… These gorgeous milkmaid braids make me miss my long hair. Get the tutorial here. How cool are these leather & bone drawer pulls? If you try one new recipe this winter, make it this one. We’ve made it twice in the last 2 weeks…it’s good. And it calls for ground cashews in lieu of milk for an added creaminess–a godsend for us lactose-sensitive beings. Learning how to crochet is on my to-do list, and these color-blocked blankets might just be the perfect project in which to learn! Mmm…Winter White Buttermilk Panna Cotta. Find the recipe here! Sassy. Ombre. Tights.

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Simply a Wonderful Christmas Time

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Tue, 24 Dec 2013 15:36:32 +0000

Happy Christmas Eve! Can you believe it’s upon us? Since we headed out of town to spend the Holidays with family, Ken and I celebrated with one another at home last Saturday morning. After exchanging gifts, we decided to take some pictures as a way to document our 2nd Christmas together as a married couple. We had so much fun with these. Ken had me laughing, and I mean ridiculous, gut-busting, laughing-so-hard-I’m-crying laughing several times. I’m so thankful to have such an incredible partner and friend to go through life with. And on that note, Ken and I would like to wish you a very merry Christmas surrounded by the ones you love!

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Aromatic Lavender Sachets

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 13:56:20 +0000

For my wedding showers a few years ago, my mom had the genius idea of making lavender eye pillows as favors for guests to take home with them. There were a few leftover after the shower, so I took an extra one home and tucked it in my “unmentionables” drawer as a sachet and loved the subtle lavender scent it brought to our bedroom, so I decided to take a cue from my mom and sew up some sachets (which are about 1/2 the size of eye pillows), as stocking stuffers this year. Theses little bundles come together pretty quickly (I made three in an evening), and will make a nice, handmade addition to stocking trimmings this Christmas morning. Materials List: 1/8 of a Yard of Cotton Ticking White or Ivory Thread Hand Sewing Needle Sewing Pins 8.7 yards of Contrasting Embroidery 6-Strand Floss. I used DMC in Medium Plum. DMC Chenille Needle, Size 20 .5 oz (14 g) Dried Lavender (Available at Whole Foods) Scissors Ruler Pencil 1 Sheet of Paper 6″ x 6″ or Larger for Make-shift Funnel Scotch Tape Special Equipment: Sewing Machine (Optional, but recommended) Iron (Optional, but recommended) Creating the Fabric Pouches Step 1. Cut out six […]

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Nordic Winter Centerpiece

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Tue, 19 Nov 2013 13:29:04 +0000

I don’t know if it’s the rustic simplicity, the effortlessly cozy factor or my Nordic pride shining through, but I’m always inspired by the Scandinavian aesthetic, especially so this time of year. I made this Holiday centerpiece for our dining table using a flat wood piece we salvaged from an old textile loom that a local salvage and antique shop, Art & Architecture was selling off for parts. With just a couple drill holes, a few candles, and a snippet of velvet ribbon, I pulled together a simple and restrained centerpiece that we’ll use to deck the halls with Nordic flair this year. Materials List: Weathered Wood Board–the more weathered, the better! Hand Saw 5-3/4″ Menorah Candles from Target Electric Drill 3/8″ Spade Bit 3/4″ Spade Bit (optional) 12″ of Velvet Ribbon (optional) Pencil Ruler or Measuring Tape Step 1: Cut your board down to the length you prefer using a hand saw. I cut my board down to 24″L x 2-3/4″ W x 1-1/4″ H, but if you have a large dining table it could be fun to make a long, dramatic centerpiece to run the length of the table. Step 2: Using a pencil and ruler, mark where you’d like the […]

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On the Home Front…

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Fri, 08 Nov 2013 13:29:09 +0000

I’m fascinated by the way people live. From a person’s daily routine to their clever storage solutions to the tools they use to rock the daily grind with flair and efficiency. Here are a few of my personal routine favorites: one: The french press is critical to our morning routine. We love the strong coffee it brews up for us. two: We have quite a small galley kitchen where counter space is definitely lacking, so we swapped our bulky, counter top knife stand for a wall-mounted magnetic knife strip and happily reclaimed our coveted work space. three: We refer to La Tartine Gourmande Cookbook whenever we’re stuck in a food rut. Her recipes are not only delicious and fresh, they often include unusual ingredients like amaranth flour or saffron, and they inspire us to try something new. four: The amazing mandoline helps me thinly slice just about anything like a pro in seconds. five: Not only do we use trays for entertaining, but also for corralling books and magazines on our coffee table, as well as for special breakfast-in-bed mornings. six: I received this quirky wine opener as a gift several years ago. It’s extremely durable and not to mention a great conversation starter […]

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Indigo Tea Towels

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 13:23:55 +0000

When the Holiday party season takes full swing, I’m typically scrambling for thoughtful hostess gifts -something a little more creative than a bottle of wine. In all seriousness, a nice red tied with a bow is usually what I end up with, as it’s just so easy. This year though, I’m trying to think ahead. Since fun tea towels are something we don’t often buy for ourselves (but are so nice to have around), I’m thinking these little numbers might just do the trick! Materials: Indigo Dye Kit (Indigo Dye, Reducing Agent, Rubber Gloves, Rubber Bands, Wood Blocks) Flour Sack Cotton Tea Towels 5 Gallon Bucket Plastic Tarp or something to protect the ground below A Stir Stick long enough to reach the bottom of the bucket. I used a wood paint stick. It was just long enough, but I’d recommend a longer one if you have one. A String and Clothespins to hang your drying tea towels. Step 1: Setup your work area. Lay the plastic tarp down and string your clothesline. It’s best to do this outside. I set everything up on our apartment balcony. Step 2: Mix up your dye vat according to the kit instructions and let […]

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Chunky Knit Wool Blanket

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 13:00:08 +0000

I’m a textile nut. It’s an appreciation my mother first instilled in me at a young age and one that’s developed and refined itself over 4 years of working closely with textiles. Last winter, I’d been craving the loft and warmth of an uber chunky knit, wool blanket. One that my hubby and I could cuddle up in during those last few months of cold weather. I looked everywhere, but couldn’t find one that quite fit our budget. Never having knitted a purl in my life, I took a leap of faith and ordered Laura Birek’s Giganto Blanket Downloadable Tutorial here, as well as several pounds of raw wool roving from The Sheep Shed Studio. Laura’s tutorial is very detailed. She walks you through how to felt the wool roving in your bathtub! and how to knit your blanket using two pvc pipes as your knitting needles. (I used broomsticks, as I wanted a smaller gauge.) You can watch Laura knitting her blanket in action here. As an extremely beginner knitter (if I can even call myself one), I called upon the ‘ol internet for videos on how to cast on, how to use the backwards loop method, etc. Youtube has some […]

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Hunt & Gather

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 12:40:02 +0000

Minneapolis is fortunate to have so many storied antique and vintage shops about town, one of my favorites being Hunt & Gather in South Minneapolis. Every time I stop in, I end up making two or three laps around both floors, enthralled by their menagerie of curious objects, furniture pieces, textiles, jewelry, dried lavender, glass cloches and the list goes on. I’ve learned that I need to go in without an agenda or time limit, because I will inevitably get lost in the layered retro beauty that is Hunt & Gather. Below are a few of my H&G finds. Roe Deer Antler Plaque Vintage Marquee Letter Brass Candle Stick Holders Other Vintage Finds Pictured: Yellow Teacups + Saucers from Old Town Antiques & Books in Duluth. Westclox Big Ben Alarm Clock from Ebay Vintage Train Cart from ASID Sample Sale at IMS Design Center

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Marché aux Fleurs

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Tue, 22 Oct 2013 12:35:02 +0000

We picked up a gorgeous bouquet of locally grown flowers at the farmer’s market on Saturday, and they were just too beautiful not to share. I never used to buy flowers for our home because I considered them somewhat of a superfluous expense, but I’ve come to realize that the positive impact they have on my mood is well worth it. Not to mention the color, texture and fragrance they add to our place. These days, I’m definitely on the flower train!

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