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

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 

Found on Fremont 

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

Thanksgiving....

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Francisca & Meeghn

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,
F 

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

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

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

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

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

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