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Thursday, January 17, 2013

Altered Book ~ My Jounrey Through France





I was not sure what I wanted to do with my

Altered Book on France, but after spending a little time

thinking about it, I have decided.

Because, I have dreamed of visiting this wonderful country

and it’s infamous “City of Lights”

since my childhood, I have decided that my book will

reflect all the wonderful things that draw me to France,

and the things that I want to learn about this part of the world.






So, as I take my journey, I plan on learning about all the places, 
people, food, celebrations, history, areas . . . etc.

If it interests me . . . it will be in my book.





I hope that you will journey with me.
We will explore and hopefully have a marvelous adventure.

I know that at the end of my journey I will have a much better knowledge 
and appreciation for this beautiful country.




 Have you ever thought about what it would be like to actually own a home there.
I have a love for checking out real estate,
so part of my book will include properties that I find on the internet:)
Look at how beautiful this little country cottage is . . .
the price is sweet, too. 





  And look at this one . . .
it is tiny . . . one small room downstairs with a kitchen along one wall of it's sitting room.   
Plus a small water closet (it didn't show a photo of the W/C but I think it was what we call a half bath...if that)
So you would have to add on to the bathroom, or take sponge baths in the kitchen (maybe?), but hey, you're in France.
"When in France do as the French-women, right!"  
Up-stairs  was a small bedroom . . .hey, the price is . . .$31,865.


 One of my favorite French women is 
undoubtedly   the lovely Coco Chanel .
Her life is so inspiring . . . 
a true Rags to Riches  story.
A woman that was not afraid of hard work,
and who never forgot her meager beginnings.   

~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Well, this is my first installment,
I hope that you enjoyed it and that you picked up a little more 
knowledge than when you started reading.  

I'm excited, because I love learning
and this will not only be an artful adventure for me,
but also, a learning experience.

If you are following along on my adventure,
please leave a comment.
I read every single one.

Your blogging sister,
Connie  :)

 
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29 comments:

  1. I purchased some books cut into shapes (hand, house, puzzle piece) from Somerset Studios. Making the hand book was so much fun. Each page has a different hand phrase - don't bite the hand that feeds you, hand to mouth, etc. I have yet to finish the house book or even start the puzzle piece.

    Your book turned out great. Having the opportunity to create is a blessing. Can't wait to see more.

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    1. Good Morning Carol, I hope that you are enjoying some warm sunshine . . . we just got another inch of snow over night. I have seen these hand books, but never saw one completed. Do you have past posts of it?
      I've been enjoying your lovely blog and our correspondence . . . I love making new friends:)
      Your blogging sister,
      Connie :)

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  2. What a beautiful book..Such beautiful colors and great photos.

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    1. Good morning Becky, Thanks so much for stopping by and for your encourage words.
      Your blogging sister,
      Connie :)

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  3. Love it, love it, love it. I've been on the Internet to look for tutorials as I've no idea how to get started - but I will. Have a great weekend Connie.
    Patricia x

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    1. Good morning Patricia, with all of your travels and your photos you could create a very exciting and memorable book. I hope that you do . . . I would be thrilled to see it:)
      Have yourself a wonderful weekend.
      Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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  4. What an interesting journey. Having lived in France for 12 years, I know just the sort of village house that you showed...and there probably would not have been a bath, maybe just a small basin!

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    1. Hi Elizabeth, when I showed it to my Steve, he says, "No way". Having a full functioning American style bathroom . . . spoils you for going backward. I say, "where's your since of adventure". They may not have Home Depots, but I'll bet there is a good hardware store to buy a shower kit and install it, LOL.
      This project is already becoming an interesting venture. By the time my book is finished I should have a very good idea about French culture.
      What region of France did you live in? Was it in the countryside, village or city?
      Have a lovely weekend.
      Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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  5. I too have been to France many times, it is just a hop and a skip across the English Channel for us. I love the fact that we can get there in as little as 2 and half hours and yet it is completely 'foreign' with an entirely different culture. Coco Chanel is also an idol of mine. Looking forward to the food part xxx

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    1. Good Morning Fran, I have heard about the bullet train that runs between UK and France, how lovely it would be to just sit back with a good book for a while and arrive in France for the day or weekend. If I lived close I would be talking you into a girl-friend trip. Leave the guys to putter with their DIY projects, LOL.
      I have started thinking about the food . . . I am not familiar with French cooking, but that is what this little adventure is all about. Maybe I'll start with something simple for Valentine's Day. I do make some great tasting French bread, but that's it, so this will be interesting:)
      Have a glorious weekend.
      Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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    2. We usually sail over there in our yacht, it takes about 12 hours. But if we are going to stock up with French wine we go by car via Euro Tunnel which goes under the channel. Start your day with pain au chocolate or croissants, lunch could be French bread with Brie cheese, a green salad and a nice glass of red wine, your evening meal may be a nice hearty boeuf bourguignon, salad and French bread to soak up the gravy. And don't forget another glass of red wine. Bon appetite xxx

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    3. Yum, that sounds delicious . . . but the sail sounds even better. We do miss our Wazapan, she was only a 25 footer and we only lake sailed, but the lake we have her moored on was 30 miles long. I'll have to post a photo of her, one of these days.
      You're a sweetie pie.
      Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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  6. This is completely lovely Connie. Thank you for your cheerful and inspiring blog posts x

    Lesley

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    1. Good morning Lesley, It is always sweet to see you here.
      Thank you for the encouraging words.
      Have a wonderful weekend.
      Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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  7. I've never been to France, even though it's not that far away. But when you get there, I can recomend a visit to Sweden as well :). It's really beautiful, especially in summertime. Have a lovely weekend!

    Maria

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    1. Good morning Maria, I wish that I had the budget to travel, but I'm afraid that my travels abroad will be done from my computer and reading. Thank you for the sweet invitation to visit Sweden. I have seen many lovely photos and videos of your country . . . Swedish people seem to fully enjoy their summer season. I love summer, too.
      Have a marvelous weekend, and thank you for the sweet visit.
      Your blogging sister, Connie

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  9. Hi Connie,

    Wow. I about fell out of my chair at the pricing of houses! I enjoy looking at home prices too - but usually check out places in the United States. For a while there I really thought hard about retiring to the coast of Texas. Rockport to be exact. No, I've never been there but when I first started looking (over 10 years ago) beachfront property was a great price!

    I can't wait to read more about your France journey.

    Hugs,
    Kay

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    1. Good morning Kay, I was very surprised at the prices, too. Then, you look around places like Paris and the prices multiply by ten . . . but cities are nice places to visit, but I kind of like smaller towns and countryside, away. Listen to me . . . I sounds like I would actually move there. Only in my dreams, but that's what my altered book is all about . . . I've always been a dreamer, and I have no intention of stopping.
      I have had some great times in my day-dreams and I've been traveling that way for over 60 years, LOL. Day-dreams are free and you can be anywhere, wear anything etc. When I was a child I wore full skirted gowns and danced the night away in a castle with prince charming . . . now I look at real estate and plan how I would decorate, or I travel to far away countries. It's all good, very affordable, and I'm home to my own comfy bed each night, LOL
      Have a lovely weekend.
      You did say something about selling and moving in a past post. Do you have your home on the market? Sounds like you're ready for a real adventure :)
      Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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  10. Connie, I just love the altered book. How cute is that idea. I may have Emma make one of those. She would be crazy for the one about France.Enjoy your weekend. xoxo,Susie

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    1. Hi Susie, it is so nice to hear from you. I hope that Emma does do a book. You will have to post pictures.
      Have a marvelous weekend and thanks for stopping by.
      Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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  11. GAH! Love what you've done so far! I dream of visiting Italy. I think I'll have to give this a try. You know, sometimes dreams do come true. I hope someday soon you will find yourself sitting in a French cafe sipping...whatever the French sip. :)

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    1. Good morning Tresa, thank you for the lovely wish. Yes, sometimes dreams do come true and sometimes the dreams are better than the reality. By the time my Steve retires I'll be in my seventies and our last year's trip to Floria wore us out. Not the trip but the airports . . . I appreciate all the cautions they take, but it does take more time. I'm a doer not a sitter . . . and sitting for long periods of time, just kills my back. Oh, and our poor Butchy was in a kennel for eleven days and they couldn't get him to eat, poor thing, we felt awful for leaving him. Maybe we need to buy a travel trailer and start traveling that way. Then little Butchy can travel with us.
      Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for the sweet visit. I love your kind heart and I'm enjoying getting to know you better with each visit.
      Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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  14. What a great variety of everything French! And beautiful as well. I feel like I have been there and read one of their upscale magazines!

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    1. Dearest Ginny, you are such a sweet and kind-hearted soul . . . I wish you lived down the street or at least here in my town, so that we could get together now and then. But then, I guess that's what we're doing :)
      Have a glorious weekend.
      Your blogging sister, Connie

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  15. Connie, I've just discovered your blog and am enjoying your posts. Never give up on your dreams. I never thought I'd get overseas but the fall of 2016 my husband surprised me and asked if I wanted to go to London. Of course, I said yes and also said I'm not going to London without going to Paris. In March of 2017 we went. So at the age of 70 I was living a dream. It was a short trip but wonderful. Hope you make it one day. Dawn

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