Romantique Giveaway by Color: PINK

I have no doubt that many of you love pink just as much as I do, so in celebration of my favorite color and one of my favorite bands-Pink Martini, I am offering a romantique giveaway in honor of the color pink:

1st place winner will receive:

*one CD by Pink Martini {winner's choice}

*one pink Parisienne Petal flower pin/hair clip from my Etsy {winner's choice}. Select from pink chiffon, satin, or silk flowers in the above image.

_{perfect for clipping in your hair or for pinning to your favorite summer blouse or dress.}

*one pair of romantique vintage-inspired earrings by
divinagioielli, one of my favorite vintage-inspired jewelry stores on Etsy.

_{1st place winner chooses one of Pink Martini's albums.}

Click here to listen to Pink Martini's romantique, international-styled music.

_{Pair of beautiful vintage-inspired clear rhinestone and blush beaded earrings by Divinagoioelli.}
2nd place winner will receive:
*one pink Parisienne Petal flower pin/hair clip {winner's choice}

*one set of I Will Always Love Pink Parisienne Correspondance cards {set of 4 cards with envelopes} by à la parisienne.

_{Parisienne Correspondance No. 5 - "I Will Always Love Pink"}
How to enter:
* Leave a comment below.

Increase your chances of winning by:

*Becoming a follower of my blog

*Sharing this romantique pink giveaway by clicking here and liking my giveaway on Facebook.

*Share this giveaway with your blog friends in a blog post or on your sidebar.

Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry so that all of your chances to win are recorded.

Giveaway is open to all readers.

Deadline to enter will be midnight CST on Tuesday, July 5th.

The winning numbers will be randomly selected and announced on Wednesday, July 6th.

A big thank you to Divinagioielli for participating in my romantique giveaway. Visit her beautiful shop here.

This giveaway is closed.

_{image #1 à la parisienne; #2 via PinkMartini.com; #3 via divanagioielli; #4 à la parisienne}

A Statement of the Romantic Kind ~ Weddings à la parisienne

I'm pretty sure you all know that I love weddings by now.

I just wanted to share with you some wedding inspiration shots I've taken recently for my Etsy shop. And, yes, I've been a little chignon fanatic ever since my chignon post.

I just love the color of vintage {faux} pearls. You wouldn't think I were crazy if you saw me at the grocery store wearing all of my strands at once would you? Maybe a little too glamorous for buying a sack of potatoes...

Perhaps on our next date.

I think I'm going to do a little shopping for another wedding dress (for inspiration anyway). Obviously not to get married in but for photoshoots or to wear around the house for fun {Remember that Friends episode?}. A few months ago I asked my mom if she'd make me another wedding dress, and she said yes.

I've also been begging my mom to open an Etsy store. She could make vintage-inspired dresses or wedding dresses and, of course, I would help her get started~She won't do it.

I'm going to keep pestering her. Maybe she'll give in.

_{For more wedding"show and tell," be sure to visit my Weddings à la parisienne blog from time to time or become a follower.}

Thank you all for your visits and sweet comments about my Parisienne Boudoir. I will be sharing more pictures soon!
_{images by à la parisienne}

Vintage Noir~Weddings à la parisienne

Several months ago I was commissioned by a sweet Etsy customer to create six black velvet and nude fabric flowers for her champagne, cappuccino, and black Fall 2011 wedding-Sounds lavishly rich doesn't it? These flowers were fashioned to accessorize her wedding cake.

Velvet flowers on a wedding cake?

This is going to be some kind of wedding!

Many of my long-time followers may remember the post I wrote over a year ago about this lovely Dior-inspired flower.

After she received the fabric flowers for her wedding cake, she requested a custom-made ring pillow. For a brief moment after reading her email, I panicked. That meant getting out the sewing machine and sewing something all.by.myself.

Sure, I've sewn a few things. Heck, my mom is a seamstress, and I grew up watching her sew wedding dresses, pillows, prom dresses, doll clothes...but this time I had to do it, and someone would be paying me!

I wasn't going to wuss out on this one. It's a ring pillow, right?

_{My first Parisienne Ring Pillow}

One piece of advice that my sister-in-law gave me when I started my business was:

"Never turn down a custom job, even if it means making something you've never tried. You never know what it will turn into."

I've remembered these words so many times when customers request things I've never made, and you know what, those custom orders have been some of the best things I've ever made-not to mention the most enjoyable to make.

_{seven handmade noir chiffon flower pins by à la parisienne}

Here's another recent custom order for seven bridesmaids.

Black seems to be à la mode for weddings now days.

How I wish I could see the professional photos of these weddings and maybe catch a glimpse of an item that I made gracing such a beautiful day.

_{images by à la parisienne}

Blushing Arrangement~Weddings à la parisienne

A bowl full of ruffled, pale blush flowers for seven sweet bridesmaids.

I have always loved weddings, and lately, I have had the priviledge of creating feminine accessories for brides who love romantic adornments on their wedding days.

Thank you for attending my à la parisienne Show & Tell.

Have a happy weekend!

_{images by à la parisienne}

Parisienne Stocking Stuffer

Okay, let's be honest, most of us are natural procrastinators when it comes to Christmas shopping. But I must brag, I have already purchased 5 Christmas gifts so far...not impressed?

Okay, neither am I. I have so much shopping, wrapping, cooking, cleaning, decorating, and planning to do in less than 6 weeks.

{swift shudder of panic}

Oh, and I am in charge of the children's Christmas play at church this year, which means more planning, rehearsing, singing, setting up the stage, acting....but it is always such a delight to watch these children in the spotlight!

So, I've been a good little elf, and lately I've been brainstorming and creating for all of the special holiday events coming up, and, of course, for my Etsy shop just in time for the holiday rush.

In hopes of offering some good deals on my Etsy, I've decided that

Every week from now until Christmas, I will be having a sale on certain items in my Etsy shop.

This week's sale is on one of my newest additions to my Etsy-

a winter white felt brooch adorned with a vintage black button, and houndstooth leaves, properly named Winter in Paris.

From November 15- 17th this flower will be on sale for $10.00 plus shipping ($2.50).

*This classic winter flower pin is very versatile and can be worn by a young girl, teen, or woman.

*It is great for stocking stuffers, Chinese Christmas exchange, or any office gift exchanges.

*This brooch will be pinned to a pretty coordinating paper and will be placed in a cellophane bag.

*Best of all, it will come right to your mailbox!

Okay, my shameless promotion is almost over.

_{a glimpse of this year's Christmas tree}

For those of you who loved the vintage fur neckties, I have added more!!

I hope you all have a happy week!

I am off to do some more Christmas shopping!

Ruffles + Blush = Valentine Inspiration

Valentine's Day is just 10 days away! I just love all of the romantic colors and textures associated with Valentine's Day, especially the color blush and ruffles!

This gorgeous dress featured in Harper's Bazaar is so frothy and beautiful.

This is my newest romantique Parisienne Petal fashioned with blush satin, tulle, vintage dusty pink millinery plumes and a vintage velvet millinery flower topped with tiny gray beads.

A sweet little token for any valentine.

_{Image #1 Harper's Bazaar; Image #2 à la parisienne}

Parisienne Fashion Plate No. 1- Russet and Denim with a Vintage Twist

I don't know about you, but I always find it interesting to see how women put their outfits together, especially women whom I see often. I am able to see how they reuse various parts of their wardrobe in creative ways. So, I have decided to share with you ensembles from my closet.

I am not sure how often I will be able to post, because:

#1. I am a full-time Mommy, wife, and housecleaner, home maker, cook, you name it.

#2. My husband is the one who photographs me. So, the few times a week I actually wear something decent, he will have to be home to snap a few photos. He must really love me.

#3. I can't seem to find the time to write many blog posts.

#4. And there are also the times when I think an outfit may look good, but when I see it

on the camera, I am made aware that my super chic outfit was, in fact, a "what not to wear."

Nonetheless, I hope that I am able to share with you ways to extend your wardrobe.

Let's face it, we don't always have to buy new clothes to look nice or to be in style. (I am also talking to myself here.) As mentioned in one of my first posts about the meaning behind "à la parisienne" I talked about a Parisienne's state of mind- being selective. I would like to add to that a woman with an incredible look is also resourceful!

How many times do your beautiful scarves, necklaces, and belts remain in the closet while the rest of you goes out???

_{Okay, so the hair style could use some work...}

About the outfit:

1. Dark denim jacket - I purchased this jacket several years ago. I love it's mandarin collar and dark wash.

2. Russet velvet skirt- I purchased this skirt on Ebay of all places and I love it!

3. Vintage russet, floral scarf- I found this scarf at a local flea market in perfect condition.

4. Velvet brooch- A brooch designed by and made by yours truly. This brooch is such a versatile color. It is burgundy & dusty orangy pink. I mostly wear it with browns and denims.

I hope you all have a great weekend. The weather here is so beautiful. It feels like Spring, but as we say in Texas, "Whether you like the weather or not, just wait, it's about to change."

à la prochaine, mes amis!

_{images from à la parisienne}

A Little Christmas Inspiration...

It's been since Thanksgiving that I've had a chance to blog again. Christmas time is here and I just love decorating for Christmas. The main reason is that I LOVE vintage ornaments, glitter, ribbons, especially the silver, vintage golds/champagnes, pinks, and aquas. As you can see, I have an artificial (politically correct term for "fake") four foot white Christmas tree. Most people who love real trees would not only snub this little tree, they would probably laugh in her face for being so unreal. That's okay with me, though!

This year's color palette for my Christmas tree is cream, vintage gold, and pink.

To give this stark white tree some warmth, I wrapped champagne colored tulle around it from top to bottom. Without ornaments, it looks like a wedding cake.

One thing I've discovered is, when you buy what you like everything you own seems to coordinate.

I hung Amelia's little dusty rose, gold, and chocolate brown velour dress behind the tree to bring in more color to the scene. I just love this little dress.

Michael's craft store had these WONDERFUL glittered feathered bird ornaments last year.

I nearly fell over when I saw them hanging there. I could decorate with these all year...

My favorite thing about this bird is that her feather are the perfect shade of cream and the ends of the feathers are curled up, creating a ruffled effect.

I place this tree atop our diningroom buffet every Christmas for two reasons:

Number 1-From the double windows in our adjoining living room, one can see the illuminated tree from our front yard.

Number 2-The enormous buffet mirror behind the tree reflects the lights and ornaments and makes this diminutive tree more substantial.

(And number 3- I just thought of another reason) Amelia can't reach the ornaments (or as she says, ORN-NAH-NENTS) from the floor:)

Unfortunately, Zena, the warrior princess, our very overweight cat, can still manange to leap up to the top of the buffet and snack on the plastic tree limbs. I guess when you put a tree on a buffet, one should expect it to be eaten...yeah, when a cat craves eating plastic, there's definitely some marbles missing...

I felt camera happy one evening and had to do a "photoshoot" of some of my brooches nestled in my Christmas tree. (Notice the big dark blob at the top of the tree in the first picture.)

This "Winter Wish" brooch is one of my newest additions to my Etsy store.

It is made of 100% silk in a beautiful shade of silver.

The center of this brooch is adorned with a layer of dove gray velvet and a

vintage rhinestone pin

One of my wrapped brooches

I don't know about all of you, but I have only wrapped ONE Christmas gift!

Oh, I am so behind.

I plan to share with you some of my wrapped gifts soon!

I hope you all have a blessed day!

_{All images by à la parisienne}

Giveaway!~Parisienne Petals~a la parisienne's new romantic brooches~

For all of my loyal friends out there, I wanted to share with you some exciting news. A couple of weeks ago, I added a new product to my Etsy store~Parisienne Petals~romantic brooches that have a vintage appeal. As a "grand launching" of this product and a thank you, I want to give one of these brooches to one lucky winner. Winner's choice!

A little bit about my hand-made flowers:

*Each brooch is made of luxurious fabrics-silks, velvets, brocades, taffetas
*All petals are hand-cut by me
(These aren't craft store flowers with a pin glued to the back.)

*The design of these brooches are one of a kind- I created the template for the petals and I select the fabrics.
*Edges of petals are treated to prevent fraying.
*I love using authentic vintage pearls, beads, jewelry and ribbons for the centers of my brooches.

~Le Petit Trianon Brooch~

This flower is my Marie Antoinette inspired brooch. I drew these colors from the gorgeous robin's egg walls in the Petit Trianon at Versailles and sumptuous dresses worn by the actresses in the film Marie Antoinette.

Although the color palette of this flower might be considered more fitting for the spring and summer months, I would still wear it in the winter...but that's just me.


~vintage vanilla cream brooch~

I hand-dyed the fabric used in this brooch to make it a creamier shade of white.


~La Sorbonne~

A charcoal raw silk brooch, with the appearance of linen is a great color for fall yet light weight enough for spring.



~velvet decadance~




This brooch is one of my very first creations. It is fashioned with layers of dusty rose and burgundy velvet. It is ruffled and so very rich.


~Satine~ Inspired by Moulin Rouge

~A scarlet silk and crinkled velvet brooch~a rich, classic, striking

How to enter the parisienne petal giveaway:

You must leave a comment below to enter. Anyone may enter!


If you would like to increase your chances of winning:
(For each of the following, your name will be added once more to the hat.)

*Visit my Etsy store, come back and tell me which brooch is your favorite.

*Become a follower. (Current followers will also be added to the drawing an additional time. Please mention in your comment)

*Become a Facebook fan of a la parisienne

*Do a post over my giveaway. (You must inform me of your post.)

*Purchase a brooch from my Etsy.

If you win, you may select another brooch for free-to keep or give as a gift.

You could have your name added to the "hat" up to six times for this giveaway.

Entry deadline: Saturday PM, November 14th.
Winner will be announced Monday, November 16th.

Throughout the week I will be sharing with you many of my other brooches. I look forward to hearing from you.


Bonne Chance!!!