Holiday – Francois et Moi

DIY Star Anise Wreath

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Mon, 13 Dec 2021 03:14:42 +0000

How to create a festive star anise wreath using a metal clothes hanger, hot glue, and whole star anise spice. Hint: it’s easy and fast to make! This week’s hygge-ly craft is an easy and fast star anise wreath made with a metal clothes hanger! Supplies: Wire clothes hanger Whole star anise Wire cutter Hot glue gun Floral wire (optional) Velvet ribbon Bend hanger into circular shape. Press kinks into table surface to smooth. For a smaller wreath, cut hanger wire with wire cutter & twist ends together. Use floral wire to secure, if necessary. Attach star anise with a dab hot glue on the back. Tie a velvet ribbon bow on the neck of the hanger. More Holiday Crafts DIY Window Candelabra Made from Scrap Wood Easy Pear and Cedar Centerpiece How to Make a Nordic Origami Star

The post DIY Star Anise Wreath appeared first on Francois et Moi.

Tiger Butter Bark

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 11:00:59 +0000

Delicious and creamy tiger butter bark swirls peanut butter and dark chocolate flavors for a confection that’s as pretty as it is addictive. Do you have a favorite holiday cookie? Is it a nostalgic recipe you make with your mom every year? A crave-worthy, sinful sweet? Or maybe it’s the piece de resistance treat for your cookie plate. The recipe I’m sharing this year, Tiger Butter Bark checks all three boxes: Tiger Butter Bark is variation on the bark I loved making way back when I worked at a chocolate shop in high school. It’s one of those confections that are truly hard to eat just one piece, and the bark’s graphic swirl design makes it a beautiful statement in the quintessential cookie plate. It’s the season of making and sharing sweets in reckless abandon, am I right? So I’m teaming up with my fellow design bloggers to virtually swap holiday sweets. Come on into my kitchen and make one of my favorites with me. Then hop over to my fellow designing ladies for their favorite cookie recipes too! Ingredients: 1 lb of White Candy Coating Chips (not white chocolate!) 1/2 c Crunchy Peanut Butter 1/2 c Semi-sweet Chocolate, coarsely […]

The post Tiger Butter Bark appeared first on Francois et Moi.

5 Ways to Keep Garland Fresh Longer

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 13:18:09 +0000

Love fresh garland, but hate how fast it dries out? Steal these 5 tips to keep garland fresh longer indoors throughout the holiday season. The number one thing I use to decorate for Christmas is fresh greenery: garlands, wreaths, branches in vases, sprigs nestled in bowls, and of course, our Christmas tree. It’s delicious scent, authentic look, and old-tyme charm are just a few reasons it’s my favorite. And the number one thing I hear from you guys is that you love fresh greenery, particularly in garland form, but it drys out so darn quickly, looks dead, feels crunchy, and makes a mess. Ugh, I know! Fresh sprigs tend to dry out especially quick when brought inside our cozy, warm houses, with that unforgiving dry air this time of year. Just ask my skin! So what can we do to slow the drying process and help our garlands look less wilty throughout the season? Here are my best defenses against dead-looking garlands: Tip 1: Soak Your Garland or Wreath Before Hanging Essentially, give your greenery a long, cold bath. Put the garland in the tub and fill with enough water to cover the greens. Let soak for 12-24 hours. There’s […]

The post 5 Ways to Keep Garland Fresh Longer appeared first on Francois et Moi.

Thanksgiving Chic: 8 Ideas for a Modern Chic Gathering

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 18:34:12 +0000

Simple ways to throw a modern chic gathering that’s thoughtful, but not stuffy. If you’re hosting Thanksgiving, you’ve got to read! So you’re hosting Thanksgiving and looking for ways to make it feel thoughtful, but not stuffy? This post was written exactly for you! Whenever I have people over, I’m striving to make things feel special and tasteful, but not like I’m trying too hard. And it’s a hard balance to strike! So I’ve put together eight Do’s and Don’ts or things to consider for a modern, chic gathering. It’s written with Thanksgiving in mind, but it easily translates over to Christmas and any gathering really. Hope you find this helpful! Skip Formal Place Settings They’re stuffy and old fashioned! Instead, set out stacks of dishes for guests to dig in and seat themselves. Use Your Everyday Dishes, Silverware, Etc. to Elevate the Vibe None of this disposable dinnerware/serveware business. It’s less waste and way more chic. On the opposite end of the spectrum, don’t feel obligated to bust out your wedding china either. Your everyday dinnerware is effortless and homey. Do Use Specialty Drinkware Do use any fun drink glasses you might have on hand, like cut crystal or […]

The post Thanksgiving Chic: 8 Ideas for a Modern Chic Gathering appeared first on Francois et Moi.

DIY Candles: The Ultimate Guide

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 17:22:03 +0000

Learn how to make candles for every season with these wildly popular candle project tutorials by Francois et Moi. Candles are something I like to keep around the house no matter the season for their scent, ambiance and air-purifying properties. My love for them runs so deep that I’ve even learned how to make them! And over the years, I’ve made ALOT of candles. I find the process satisfying and fun, so here are my 5 most popular candle DIY projects. Coincidentally, there’s a project for every season! 1. Essential Oil Holiday Candle with Printable Label There’s something about the clean, yet still festive scent of winter balsam trees that I’ve been craving as the weather turns cold. I kept meaning to pick up a winter balsam essential oil candle (which of course I spaced), so finally I decided just to make one. A no-brainer of course! The candle’s scent is mostly pine needle with orange added for sweetness and Wyndmere’s Forest Retreat Blend added to give depth and complexity. When picking out your essential oils, make sure to use pure essential oils and not essential oils in a carrier oil. They’re a bit more expensive, but […]

The post DIY Candles: The Ultimate Guide appeared first on Francois et Moi.

How to Make a Nordic Origami Star

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Wed, 19 Dec 2018 03:07:04 +0000

Watch this quick origami star video tutorial, and bring a bit of Nordic flair to your Holiday decor this year. Only one material needed: Paper!If you read my blog, even sporadically, you most likely have some hunch that I love Nordic decor. And as the Holidays approached this year, I cannot tell you how many times I searched for ‘nordic christmas’ on Pinterest in the last month and a half. And with every search I surely came across beautifully minimal Nordic décor pins with origami stars or paper star lanterns in the window or on a credenza. They seemed to be everywhere, and I’m hooked on ’em! I love this look, but had a HECK of a time finding them affordably or in enough time to arrive before Christmas. I found them through an European retailer and though they were like $8, shipping to the US was $50, so I kept searching and found a Danish paper star tutorial that I translated with the help of Google Translate. These origami stars aren’t hard, but there are a few steps that are difficult to decipher with still images alone, so I’ve made a video of how to make the stars. The […]

The post How to Make a Nordic Origami Star appeared first on Francois et Moi.

Asymmetrical Garland DIY

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Fri, 07 Dec 2018 21:31:32 +0000

Asymmetrical garland: an unexpected take on traditional Holiday fireplace mantel decor. Hear my thought process and how to create the look at your house.My college roommate and longtime friend, Shawnna of thatsmeinthemiddle.com has a beautiful 1920’s home in Minneapolis complete with original casement windows and a substantial white brick fireplace—all those amazing details my 1936 depression-era house missed out on. Jk. I love my house, but man I also love fireplaces! Anywho, we’ve been talking about doing some kind of house tour at her place for over a year now. And recently over a coffee play date, I finally invited myself over to style her mantel for Christmas. You see, being that we are sans fireplace at the Francois abode, I’ve been deprived of getting to decorate one each year, and that’s gone on long enough! Shawnna was graciously up for it, and so the night before I headed over there, I ran to Bachman’s, Michaels, and Target and rounded up a combination of real and permanent greenery to create a robust garland. I was going to buy a premade fresh garland, and zsush it up with additional faux greens, but the fresh garlands were crazy expensive to the […]

The post Asymmetrical Garland DIY appeared first on Francois et Moi.

Scandinavian Gatherings’ Sugared Gingersnaps

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 12:00:12 +0000

As a kid, I was very aware of my Scandinavian heritage, but other than token Holiday decorations like the Swedish Star and Angel Chime Set, we mostly celebrated American Christmas traditions, that is until I got older and we discovered all these amazing Scandinavian traditions we’d been missing out on, and now ALL WE CELEBRATE are Nordic traditions. lol. My daughter, Sylvia, is almost two and I’m bursting with excitement to teach her about our heritage and traditions as she grows. My parents introduced Sylvia to Pepparkakor, a crisp Scandinavian ginger cookie, and they are her ABSOLUTE favorite. My blogger friend, Sarah of Room for Tuesday, invited me to join her Cookie Swap Blog Hop, and I thought it would be the PERFECT time to share my favorite Pepparkakor recipe from Melissa Bahen of Lulu the Baker‘s book, Scandinavian Gatherings. Throughout winter months and especially around the holidays, I try to gear into the Hygge mindset which is all about finding joy in simple pleasures. Melissa’s sugared gingersnap recipe is just that: a simple pleasure. Restrained in decoration, and SO darn delicious. I dare you to try to eat just one! Without further ado, here’s Melissa’s Sugared Gingersnap […]

The post Scandinavian Gatherings’ Sugared Gingersnaps appeared first on Francois et Moi.

Candlelit Evergreen Lucia Table Wreath DIY from Scandinavian Gatherings Book

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Mon, 26 Nov 2018 18:01:02 +0000

Peek inside Lulu the Baker‘s inspired book, Scandinavian Gatherings, with this DIY Candlelit Evergreen Lucia Table Wreath project! All photos by Charity Burggraaf from the book Scandinavian Gatherings; reprinted with permission from Sasquatch Books. As a Scandinavian growing up in Northern Minnesota, I’ve been enchanted by the magic of St. Lucia Day from a very young age. The 13th of December is a day dedicated to celebrating light and generosity in the ever-growing darkness of Winter months. Families celebrate at home with one of the daughters dressing up as Lucia in a white gown, red sash, + evergreen candle-wreath crown, and serving her family saffron buns and coffee before the sun rises. What a wonderful tradition! And one we’re going to start with our (almost) 2 year old, Sylvie, this year. Melissa Bahen of Lulu the Baker‘s book, Scandinavian Gatherings, is an amazing resource of recipes and DIY projects for celebrating Nordic traditions year round, and ESPECIALLY so around the holidays. One of my favorite sections in her book is Lucia Day, where she outlines everything you need to create your own authentic gathering at home. From saffron buns and gingersnaps to candlelit table wreaths and pinecone garlands, her recipes […]

The post Candlelit Evergreen Lucia Table Wreath DIY from Scandinavian Gatherings Book appeared first on Francois et Moi.

Bathroom Refresh for Holiday Guests

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 16:23:14 +0000

This post has been sponsored by The Home Depot. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We have one bathroom in our 1930’s Tudor home, thus it more than earns it’s keep around here. Someday we want to renovate, but that definitely isn’t happening this year. Since we haven’t been able to dive into a big renovation, I’ve slowly been making-over different elements around in here. This fall, I’m teaming up with the The Home Depot on a $100 budget refresh to get things ready for when entertaining season hits, a.k.a. the holidays. Easy, inexpensive additions I ordered on HomeDepot.com to help this room put its best foot forward. First and foremost, I’ve focused on upgrading or introducing elements that give a sensory experience: Hand towels are a no-brainer when it comes to creating a luxe tactile experience for guests. Home Decorators Collection has a big selection of styles and colors online, and they’re affordable. Like these Fairhope 1-Piece Turkish Hand Towels. Rug. We’ve never really had a rug in here because I love this floor so much that I don’t like covering it up! But with people coming when it’s freezing, it was high time we get one. I […]

The post Bathroom Refresh for Holiday Guests appeared first on Francois et Moi.

Meaningful Holiday Home Tour

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Thu, 07 Dec 2017 12:00:54 +0000

Call me curious, Christmas-crazy, or maybe even downright nosy?! But I love seeing how other people ‘do’ Christmas at their house. From decorations to traditions, its fun to see all the creative ways people celebrate the season. All this to say, I’ve been following along with Laura from Meaningful Spaces ‘ Meaningful Holiday Home Tour the last 3 days, (If you have been too, you just came from Heidi of Honeybear Lane’s home) and I’m excited to welcome you to my own decorated home on the last day of the tour! When it comes to Holiday decorating, we draw inspiration from two areas: Natural elements like garland, spruce tips, amaryllis, dried fruit, etc. We like using these kinds of things because they smell delicious, they’re pretty, and fresh elements mean it’s less to store in the basement the rest of the year! Our Scandinavian heritage: simple, neutral & nature-inspired decor, Dala horses, Norwegian flag bunting, etc. Playing on the Nordic vibe, we did a Charlie Brown-style real fraser fir Christmas tree this year from our neighborhood nursery, Tangletown Gardens, and I love its open, sparse feel. Less tree branches mean less ornaments, so we limited the display to clip-on candles, […]

The post Meaningful Holiday Home Tour appeared first on Francois et Moi.

A Perfectly Plaid Holiday Table

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 16:10:52 +0000

After an insanely fun media console styling session last month, Tasha from Tchotchkes Interior Design and I have teamed up again to bring a little nostalgic yuletide inspiration to Holiday gatherings this season. This time we’ve brought Retro Wanderlust (the shop in the Minneapolis area for all things vintage home) along for the ride and challenged ourselves to think beyond the quintessential red and green palette and instead focus on less ‘in-yo-face’ festive cues like greenery, Holiday motifs, cozy textures, and candlelight to bring home the warm, merry appeal. Below we’re talking through how we arrived at this look, so you can recreate for your own gathering! The intent was to create visual interest by layering textures and materials. Let’s take it from the top, shall we? We started with a beautiful woven plaid fabric as the jumping off point for the entire scheme. The cognac, frosty blue, and black tones offered a non-traditional, yet nostalgic take on Holiday entertaining. Once the color palette was nailed down, greenery was the next natural step. See what I did there? (wink. wink.) We separated bunches of spruce, pine and cedar into smaller branch clusters and intertwined them with one another. There’s no wire […]

The post A Perfectly Plaid Holiday Table appeared first on Francois et Moi.