Monday, November 29, 2010

Advent....

Advent....
I remember it fondly.
My dad always bought us a Advent calendar.
My sister and I looked forward to every morning when we got
to open another day on the calendar and there was
always a piece of chocolate.
Now we only got one calendar that we had to share.
Usually we would swap every other day to open a window
and we always split the piece of chocolate.
This worked pretty well.
If we didn't share my dad got the chocolate and let me tell you
we weren't going to let that happen.

Similar to what we had as kids.


I started thinking if I were to hang a Advent calendar
today what would it look like.


Love the use of old lace.

What if you used old burlap bags and vintage flour sacks.

Use a different language for December each day.

Could you use old school pennants?

If not artistic what about old cards, stamps or kids artwork.

Love the rustic feel (from Pottery Barn)

We all have old trinkets laying around, make ornaments and assign them to days on the calendar.

What would yours look like?

Ciao,
F

Friday, November 26, 2010

Holidays....

We made it through another Thanksgiving
with full stomachs and much to be thankful for.

Before the Turkey was roasted and the gravy was made
Meeghn and I worked like little elves in Santa's shop
getting our new expanded space ready for the holidays.
If you want to ask me I think it looks pretty darn good 
for our first holiday season.
Enough suspense here are some pictures.

The space

A little bit of  elegance with whimsy

Pure vintage

For the child in all of us.

Great for gift toppers or just making cookies.

Silver for Christmas dinner.

Grandma's coming to town.

Entertaining.

A touch of green.

Gold for the glitz of it.

Warm plaids and baskets full of yarn.

Fido.

Every party girl needs a place to sit and rest.

Lets celebrate!
Be sure to stop by on your holiday shopping trips at 
to see all of our wonderful holiday treasures
perfect for entertaining and everyone on your list.


Happy Shopping!
Francisca & Meeghn
The girls of Bee & Mason

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Thanksgiving....

Happy Thanksgiving to all!


Francisca & Meeghn

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Bedroom....

I stayed home today due to a nasty chest cold
that made it almost impossible to breath.
I haven't move much, mainly between my bed,
the coach in the living room and the love seat in my bedroom.
As I have laid here I realized other than my own bedroom,
which I may say is pretty darn cozy and a nice place
to have to be sick in, is there a bedroom out there I wouldn't mind being sick in.
Let me tell you there are not a lot of them.

First of all, I don't like a super cluttered bedroom but I do like 
things that are personal to myself and my husband.
I must have books in my room, and no tv.
A lap top or discrete computer is fine you never know when you
may have the urge to blog.
I am not partial to things hanging above my head. This must come
from years living in earthquake country. A little paranoid I guess.
Here is what I found for my mood today.




all images Elle Decor


Stay healthy
Ciao,

Monday, November 22, 2010

Plaid....

Plaid.

I found these wonderful wool plaid blankets awhile ago 
and they have been sitting in my "studio" waiting to be 
re-discovered when the weather turned cold.

Well, the weather has certainly turned cold these last few days
and after spending some time pondering the use of a stack of wool blankets
I realized I couldn't use all of them at the same time.
This really didn't sound like a bad idea though since
it was pretty darn cold out, only going to get colder
and I have a cold but that felt a little to much
like the princess and the pea for me.

I realized that maybe the next best thing to snuggling under one of these
beauties was to snuggle on top of or on one.
Pillows it would be.

My mom and I set up a little cottage industry like assembly
line and made these lovely's right up.

28ea. at Found on Fremont


They were all finished and that evening I went downstairs 
and found my husband cuddling up with them on his sofa
in his man cave.
I asked him what he thought and he said he loved them and
that they looked great on his coach.
I had to inform him that they were for the shop and he 
sadly said, "So, your telling me I shouldn't get to attached to them?"
Yes, honey don't be getting to attached.
He regrettably gave them back to me and to the shop they go on Wednesday.

I think they will make a warm addition to our Holiday set up.

Ciao,
F

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Growing....

Great news,
We are expanding.
That's right Bee & Mason is expanding.
Not our waist lines, well hopefully not that.
No, our little shop in shop at Found on Fremont is growing.
The girls gave us a call the other day and informed us 
that the space next to us was being vacated and would we want to 
expand our space.

I called Meeghn right away and left her a very lengthy, rambling 
message with the news of the great opportunity that had been given us.
We both spoke with our husbands and this morning decided to give it a whirl.
We are very excited but also very nervous.
This is a bigger commitment than what we are already have.
We love the idea of being able to really express our ideas and creativity
and also share more treasures with all of you
but to be honest we are nervous.
This means more space, which means more treasures to find,
more time to commit and more money. 
We both have very full time jobs that keep both of us extremely busy.
All very honest concerns.

But what we realized is that we both love
Bee & Mason.
It brings us so much joy and peace
that we couldn't turn down this opportunity.
We wouldn't know if we could do it if we didn't try.
That's how we started this whole thing in the first place.
Take a risk and if it doesn't work you can always go back.
If it works, holy moly look out there is no stopping these two girls.

We go in on Wednesday to set up for the holidays
and can't wait to merchandise the space with all
the wonderful treasures we have been collecting and have been given 
to us by friends and family wanting to help and support our habit.

So, look out these two girls are growing
not just literally but also figuratively.

We promise to post pics of the space after Wednesday.

Here we go!

Ciao,
F

Monday, November 15, 2010

Textures....

I am a bit of a texture junky.
You will find me constantly touching fabric, furniture, wood
pretty much anything that might have an interesting texture.
It's not just about seeing them but feeling them as well.
There is so much to be said about textures.
They make everything interesting.
Can you imagine a world with no texture.
I would cry.
My mom gave me a beautiful table cloth for our Thanksgiving table
and a very dear friend gave me a roll of burlap.
They were both laying on the table and I kept
finding myself stopping to look at them and touch them.
 I realized I needed to photograph them and share my addiction.


It's not just the texture but colors, the feel of rough and soft.
The table cloth looks rough but is so smooth to the touch
and the burlap just screams feel my roughness, my loose threads.


They both are reminiscent of fall and the all the seasonal changes
we are experiencing right now.
  I can't wait to decorate the table for Thanksgiving.
I have a funny suspicion it maybe all about textures and shades of brown.
I might even remember to cook the turkey.

Ciao,
F

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Cooking....

Cooking!

It's that time of year again
when we pull out the family recipes,
look through all of our cook books 
and tear out every yummy looking recipe from magazines 
so we can plan the perfect Thanksgiving meal
for our friends and family.



There is something satisfying knowing you are
going to make people feel good by feeding them.
In our family eating is very important.
It is about conversation, good food and time 
spent with loved ones. 
We have been know to sit around the table eating, 
drinking and talking for hours.
I love it.

I hope all of you find the same joy 
we do in cooking, eating and drinking.
It is the joy of sharing and loving.

Ciao,
F

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Country Side....

Well I am now heading North on the train to Manchester, England.
I opted for the train because I wanted to see the country side.
There is something magical about the English country side.
The sheep grazing in the fields, horses wearing blankets to keep warm against the cold wind.
The clouds are grey but the sun keeps trying to break through highlighting the emblazoned trees lining the rolling hills.
Small villages built of brick and the occasional grand manor dot the greens.
There is even the occasional canal lined in colorful boat houses.
I want to come back in my next lifetime as a lab on an English farm. Running after rabbits and pheasants while romping through the fields with my farmer. What the perfect dog life.

I'm really not making this up. This is what I see as we speed by on the train.
I wish I could just stop the train so I can just soak it all up and maybe even take a few pictures to share with you.
You'll have to trust me on this one.

Now back to watching my country side.

Ciao from the English country side,
F

Sent from my iPhone

Monday, November 1, 2010

Reading....

Being in England makes you feel somewhat a bit of a romantic.
Not sure if it is the weather, architecture, the history oozes out of every pore
in this country or maybe the accents
but what ever it is it works.

Found this picture and it spoke to me.
I so long to curl up in the library these books live in.
A comfy chair, large windows looking out at the woods
with a warm pot of tea.
Mmmm...

warm tones, lush textures and pretty writing.
courtesy of Selby
Ciao from London,
F