"Avec Moi Decor"

     Over the gentle Parisian music playing throughout the store I overhear these comments, "Your style inspires me" says a customer. "I have traveled the world but never been to Paris yet so when I come here I go ooh! what have I missed" raves another customer. "I just like your style" says another.

      Avec Moi Decor is the shop to visit when you are in Los Olivos. My husband and I have shopped there for ourselves, as well as for others and have never left empty handed.

     Personally, I felt really great that Michele would take time out of her busy schedule and grant me this interview. It gave me that rare opportunity to briefly glimpse inside the world of shop owner Michele Power and see what inspires her.

Q. How did you choose the shops name?
A.  My best friend came up with the name and I considered it but wasn't sold on the name until an untimely death of my best friend and fate. I was overwhelmed and very sad as I was trying to deal with the lost. While in Paris one day I was riding in a cab and a bus passed by me with the name Avec Moi and I felt that  this was a sign from her best friend and fate so I said okay this will be the name of my shop.

Q. What does Avec Moi mean in French?
A. It means decorate with me.

Q. How long have you been in business?
A. I celebrated the one year mark in October.

Q. What do believe is the secret to your success?
A (Giggles) "Have I had one yet"? Well you have to love what you do and be passionate about it. This is what will sustain you when times get tough.

Q. What inspires you?
A. Magazines and tear sheets. That is what the garment industry calls it and I have about 400 pages of them. I was a dress designer in the Los Angeles area for 29 years.

Q. What are tear sheets?
A. Pages taken from magazines, books, etc.

     The holiday season is here and Michele will be hosting a party at her shop on Saturday, December 3rd, 2011. To learn more about this event please visit on her at www.AvecMoiDecor.com

     I know that you will enjoy these pictures of this gorgeous shop and please post a comment to let me know what you think.

     Until then happy shopping!

One of my favorites

Beautiful

Something for baby

Shop view

Beautiful decorated at every angle

Owner Michele

Come inside

Keeping everything nice

Thank you Michele

Happy Thanksgiving

     Not too long ago I found 6 postcards (that I will never part with) handwritten to friends with the most beautiful sentiment and love ever. These postcard are dated 1911 and came from Springfield, Ohio, Albany, N.Y., Los Angeles and Pasadena, CA. One written sentence said,"Was so glad to get your card last evening you are the same dear Winnie". There's something about these postcards that evokes peace, true friendship and faith.

     So, on this occasion I want to say I'm thankful to God, I'm blessed with a wonderful family, and a host of special friendships. These are the priorities in my life that support all of the other things that I love.

     Praise God from whom all blessings flow...

Look at the illustration and colors

A few of the postcards

A message of love

Big Reveal!!!

     One, two, three, okay open your eyes! I'm so excited to reveal my finished project and how nicely the re purposed picture frame turn out. This was my first experience with chalkboard paint and I think it turned out beautifully.

     In fact, I have some good news to share with you and that is my daughter Ryan at "The Blooming Thread" and I will share a vendors space at "Sweet Repeats". I'm excited and look forward to working side by side with my talented daughter. Ryan encourages me to follow my dreams and her creativity and entrepreneurial spirit inspires me and I'm so proud to be her mom.

     I can't wait to share with you the pictures of us setting up shop, as well as, some recent fabulous finds. Trust me you will want to see them.

     Until next time happy collecting.

After Picture

Can hardly wait to write a message!

Now You See It, Now You Don't

     On my way to "thrifting" I stopped into "Picket Fences" a beautiful home decor shop in Solvang, Ca. and the place was literally crawling with customers. I'm hoping to interview Leanne Jennings the owner of this gorgeous shop in the near future.

     It's quite obvious that people are very passionate about decorating their homes beautifully and comfortably to entertain friends and family. And you can say the same for collecting.

     I'm hoping this blog will be a resource on where you can locate shops that are truly inspiring as well as, show how style can be achieved on any budget.

     Last week I found this painting in a beautiful frame and my plans are to transform it into a chalkboard for messages or notes. Here's the before picture and I hope you'll leave a comment to let me know what you think when you see the "big reveal" on Sunday.

     Until then, happy collecting and decorating!

Before