Joyeux Noël!

Itiza vous souhaite un joyeux noël.
Itiza wishes you a merry christmas.

Enjoy the holidays.

Happy Holidays!

Joyeux Noël et Bonnes Fêtes de fin d'année !

The Itiza store has many gift ideas for the Holidays. Browse the site or contact us directly for customized orders.

********** ***********



You can order the towel set here



You can order the pillow here



You can order the tea pot cover here



You can order the bag here


You can order this stationary set here!

Baby boy blanket

This baby boy blanket was a customer special order for a lovely newborn.

The patchwork of the Amy Butler fabrics is in one side and the other is a brown fur to keep the baby warm.

Stockings

Itiza made a few stockings for homeless children in the Seattle area. The pattern was provided by the association that is later filling the stockings with gifts for the holidays.

New Aboriginal Painting: Passage

I finished my last Aboriginal painting: Passage. I really find in this one the powerful feeling I got in Australia.

The center is ligher with yellow and the surroundings are darker brown with red.

Ribbon fiesta

My sister helped me with the ribbon cutting -the ribbons are used in the baskets-. It makes such a great composition that I took a picture of them on a piece of fabric from Amy Butler.

French chair customized cushion

Itiza made this customized cushion for a French chair. I used a Toile de Jouy fabric showing dark red figures on a cream background. The cushion is attached to the chair in the back with two dark red quilted ribbons.



Thanks to Poppy and MCX for the picture.

New creation: Lola Rose Baby Blanket

A cute blanket for a new born!

This Lola Rose Baby Blanket is a patchwork of pink, white and green on one side and a white flannel on the other side. White little pompons mark the meeting square of the top.

Reference: 7092132

Price: $25.00

New Itiza creation: The Coral wall basket

After the Nuku-Hiva brown and blue collection, I wanted to work with lighter colors. I found three beautiful fabrics in pale cream and red that worked very well together. I made a quilt (coming soon) and wall baskets.

I named the collection Coral because both the pale cream and the red remind me of this natural and precious beauty.

The wall basket contains 3 pockets.

Reference: 7090915WB

Price: $29.90

New creation: Nuku-Hiva Basket

The Nuki-Hiva collection is extending with the reversible and rectangular basket.
One side is brown with blue and white flowers and the other side is playing with the same color in a mosaic design. The basket is maintained by brown ribbons on the four corners.



Reference: 7081828
Price: $17.00 each

New Creation: Nuku-Hiva Throw and Round Pillow

A smooth transition to the Fall with this Nuku Hiva Throw and Round Pillow set...



Nuku Hiva is an island in the South Pacific, more precisely in French Polynesia. The Itiza set displayed the lagoon blue of the island surroundings and the brown of its mountain side.

The Throw is a patchwork of lagoon blue and brown fabrics on one side, and a false brown fur on the other side. The Round Pillow is playing with two of the Throw fabrics, and a brown ribbon on both side make it look like a big and sweet bonbon.

Perfect gift to wish the best to a college student.

Ref: 7081827
Price: $95.00

New Aboriginal Painting: A hope (un espoir)

Here is my last aboriginal painting: A hope or "un espoir".
Thinking positive toward the future.

New Creation: Inspiration Apron

Cooking and serving in style with this Inspiration Apron.

The lower front is large and offers a good protection. It looks like a skirt in the Amy Butler fabric. The upper front is a fitted top protection in a Moda flower fabric. Between the top and the bottom, a simple and beautiful polka dot fabric in brown and pink provides a nice belt.

1 size that fits small and medium adult.
Reference: ABT07081U



Order here!

Surrounded by natural beauty

Home decoration can come from the garden in the form of colorful flowers.



Looking at them individually or in bunch provides a feeling of happiness and natural beauty.

Amy Butler comments on the Itiza creation!

The great and famous new designer, Amy Butler, sent a great note to me in response to a mail I sent her with a picture of the Inspiration Tea Pot covers I made with her fabric! With her authorization, I share her message with you:

Dear Isabelle,

I just wanted to write and say a long over due " hello "! and
Thank you for your note, and connecting to your blog. I really enjoyed reading it!
Thank you too for all your kind words. I have to tell you that getting
notes like yours mean so much to me. To know that my fabrics are inspiring
you to enjoy your talents and craft, well, I couldn't ask for more!

Oh my....... your piece is so wonderful!! May I share it on my web site sometime?
I believe this is my fan mail to you!! Thanks for taking the time to forward your
beautiful design Isabelle!

Warmest Wishes,
All Best,
Amy
http://www.amybutlerdesign.com/

Amy is a talented fabric designer. I love how she plays with colors and forms in her fabrics and how she coordinates them together. I also have a lot of admiration for her entrepreneurship and the way she does her business with passion and ethics, and gives back to the community. She is truly an inspiration for me.

This post is the genuine expression of Isabelle's opinion. Neither Isabelle or Itiza had any financial interest in Amy's business and sales.

A little French Princesse

Once upon a time, a beautiful little girl named Ellie told her mom that we wanted a pink robe. Her wish came true with an Itiza Louisette robe that her mom picked for her. Since then, Ellie the little Princesse wears her robe all the time, only removing it to leave the house.

Itiza thanks a lot Ellie's parents, who provided the picture and autorized its publication. This picture cannot be copied without expressed authorization from Ellie's parents.

New aboriginal painting: 3 kangaroos running

I just finished the painting of 3 kangaroos running.



The three animals are together in a piece of painting for the first time. They were in a triptique before, occupying all one square of the story. In this new painting, the 3 kangaroos are running together toward the future; each of them at a different stage but in harmony.

Details:



I discovered aboriginal art when I visited my beloved sister in New South Wales in 2004. We went to Sydney and Melbourne and it was amazing. We would spend time in aboriginal galleries and stores, admiring the beauty of the paintings.

My sister is in Australia again for a few weeks and I envy her, although it is winter there at the moment. I would love to go again. I lost all my pictures of the aboriginal paintings when I was there due to a defect of my digital camera. This is too bad because some pieces were so beautiful! One day, I hope to go there with my husband and travel in Australia with him to discover the rest of the island.

Isabelle

New creation: Reve Rose Throw

This throw will make you have pinky dreams! or to see "la vie en rose" (life in pink) as we say in French.

Three different pink fabrics are playing together on the front. The back is a quilted white.

Size: 34 inches x 45 inches. (other sizes available on special orders).

Price: $60.00

You can order it here: www.itiza.com

New Creations: Inspiration Tea Pot covers

New to Itiza: Inspiration Tea Pot covers!

Here is the first line of a new tea pot cover collection. This first model is playing with coordinated fabrics on both sides. The front side has flowers on the top and a star paisley froom Amy Butler fabric on the bottom, with a line of brown and pink polka dot fabric. Fully linen with a pink fabric and an insulated linen to keep your tea warm. (for regular side tea pots). Limited collection.

Beautiful paintings from Jenna Colby

On Sunday, I discovered a great artist at the Sunday Fremont Market in Seattle: Jenna Colby. Her paintings look great in any home rooms or offices.

She paints portraits that are deep and whimsical at the same time. The characters in the portraits have a similar cute nose and lost eye expression. The color palette evolves around blue, red, orange, grey and green. At the market, many blue pieces looked well suited for a living room or a bedroom.

Some small canvas have painting on all the sides except the back and are perfect for corridor where you can enjoy different sides at different times. One lovely piece has characters without shoes on the main side and the shoes attached to a nail in the wall on the right side. Lovely!

You can see her pieces at the Sunday Fremont Market in Seattle, WA, on her website (http://www.etsy.com/profile.php?user_id=5019094) or at the following locations (feel free to add others if you you know other places)

http://www.artstarphilly.com/exhibitions/jennaColby/jennaColby.html

http://store.ladieninscollectibles.com/jennacolby.html

http://www.blueruingallery.com/colby2005/colby-01.html

http://www.bluebottleart.com/artwork/art_colby7.php

http://lov.li/users/soopajdelux

Her sculptures: http://www.operationfragmentation.com/artist/jc.html

Note: All the painting review and the links are genuinely shared. Itiza store or Itiza owner has no financial interest in the sale or the advertisement.

Itiza creation: Petale Doll Bed

Another cute Itiza doll bed is now available.

The Petale Doll Bell is a soft coffin in pink fabrics with a flowery flat sheet at the bottom and a pink flat sheet with a flowery flap on the top. The pillow case is like the top sheet (with the 2 fabrics). The comforter is in a pink and soft flannel.

The mattress and the pillow are provided with the bed.

The coordinated bag is also available.

To order the bed or the bag, contact us at itiza@itiza.com.

Itiza Sale Event!

Thanks to all of you who came to the Itiza Sale Event! It was a pleasure to see you browse the creations, touching them, trying them...


What a reward to hear many of your saying that your wanted to buy everything! :)



Thanks again!
Isabelle

Note: Big thanks to my husband, and to my two great friends for their help in setting up the sale, and for their company.

New Creation: Lully basket

Bring sun and French elegance at your table with this Lully basket!

New creation: Polka dot kid apron!

Kids always want to help you in the kitchen. With this apron, they can do it protected and in a cute manner. Easily attach in the neck.



Ref: 6012647
Price: only $14.90

Summer Itiza sale event on June 23th!

Don’t miss this opportunity to discover the Itiza creations outside of the internet!
You will be able to touch them, try them, see their true colors, etc.



Plus, we will have exclusive new creations for this event; as well as unique sales on some items.

Come to see our tote bags, shopping bags, pillows, napkins, towels, bed linen, aprons, baskets, … And new to Itiza, Aboriginal inspired paintings!



And participate in the raffle to win selected Itiza creations!


Contact us at itiza@itiza.com to get your invitation.

The store is back on line!

The store is back on line.
Thank you for your patience.

And new creations are coming.

Isabelle

The online store is temporarily closed

Dear Itiza customers,

The online store is temporarily closed due to an unexpected change in the store framework web hosting. We are working in fixing the issue; however it will take a few days. Please accept our sincere apologies.

The store is operating through email; and the paiment can be made with credit card, paypal and check. All sales are 10% off during the offline period. Contact us to receive the latest flier.

Thank you for your understanding,
Isabelle

Chateau de Cheverny

Cheverny castle is a Loire monument that is not marked by the Renaissance style, but a Louis XIII style, with symetrical architecture. It was built in the 17th century.


The castle was one of the first private chateau opened to the public. The family still lives in the castle and operates it. This tourist attraction is famous for its cultural aspect, both historical and from books (Tintin), and also for its hunting dogs that are taken out for hunts twice weekly. -Note that we visited the castle a rainy day and the dog area was VERY smily and noisy! However, the dogs were beautiful hunting ones.-

A part of the caste celebrity is due to is the fact it served as a model for Marlinspike Hall (Moulinsart in French) in the Tintin famous books. Hergé, the comic book author, removed the aisles, but kept the rest of the castle and the park.


More information:
On the castle (FR)
On the castle (EN)
On Moulinsart (FR)
On Tintin(EN)

A funny piece of wood or a sleeping dog?

When my sister and I were in Amboise, in the Loire valley, we stayed in a manoir with a little park. They had a piece of wood that looked like a dog. Amazing!

Happy Earth Day!

We have a beautiful planet. We need to take care of her. Happy Earth Day!

French Elections

On Sunday, the French citizens will vote for the President. It is called the "Elections Présidentielles". There are many candidates for the first round ("Premier Tour"). And for the second round ("Second Tour"), only the two main ones will compete. Many women are in the elections this year, representing different views.
Voters need to be registered in a "bureau de vote", generally in the city or town where they live. The day of the elections, usually a Sunday, they go to their "bureau de vote". It may be the City Hall ("Mairie") or a school.

There, each voter takes an empty envelop, and little papers with the name of the candidates. Each paper contains only 1 name. Then, the voter goes into what looks like a dressing room "l'isoloir" where in complete confidentiality, he/she puts one paper with the name of the chosen candidate in the envelop. Then, out of the "isoloir", the voter goes to the secured vote box. He/she gives his/her "carte d'électeur" to a board member who reads his/her name out loud. Two persons, each with a copy of the voters list in the form of a book, look for his/her name, then presents one book to sign to the voter. The voter then places the envelop in the opening of the box, and when the envelop falls, the board president -usually the mayor ("Maire") says "a voté !" (meaning that the voter voted).

When the election time ends, the "bureau de vote" is declared closed. The population gathers in the room, as the book keepers counts the number of voters. Then, the mayor or a broad member unlocks the vote box and counts the number of papers. The number needs to correspond to the number of voters from the book. Then, the mayor starts to read the papers. Again, two persons are recording the number of vote for each candidate. At the end, the papers are recounted and the numbers for each candidate need to match the number recorder by each book keepers. The results are announced and then communicated to the "préfecture" for compilation with the other cities.

Mairie d'Ayguesvives (Ayguesvives City Hall) now in one of the two town castles. Behind the building is a big park. Non religious weddings also happen here.

Architecture details from the city of Angers

The city of Angers has beautiful architecture details.
Here are some of them from downtown. My favorite is the first one (very romantic)