Brittany Bound

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Brittany, the part of France where Yann is from, literally the opposite of where we live now. We have a very good friend Francoise who also is from Brittany, and at one time long ago she lived in San Francisco. When Yann went to California he met her and because of their meeting I met Yann. Francoise was at our wedding in California thirty years ago, and she will be at Chelsea's and Martin's wedding next month. 

 

 

 

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Years ago back in San Francisco Francoise would make clothes without a pattern, or I should say she would make a pattern from seeing something she liked. She amazed me with her creativity and talent. As you know I have a backup dress plan for the wedding if I do not find anything I like, but stewing in the back of my mind I had this blouse that I loved so I called Francoise and shared my crazy thought and asked if she could make me a dress and she said why not. So I bought some fabric and went to Brittany these last few days to see if Francoise could make a pattern from the blouse and then lengthen it into a dress.

 

 

 

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My mother would say, "Are you nuts! As if you have all the time in the world to be traipsing to Brittany to have a dress made."

Francoise's mother would say, "Are you nuts! You haven't made a pattern for years and now you are going to make the mother of the bride's dress?"

And Francoise and I would say, "Why not." 

If it works it works, and if it doesn't it doesn't, and if it does and I decide not to wear it that is okay too.

The sewing adventure began.

 

 

 

 

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But first we talked and had lunch, and then I took a nap.

 

 

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And then we walked around her utterly charming village and went to a Rose garden show where I collected a big bag full of rose petals, and then we went for a walk in the countryside.

And then started to sew.

 

 

 

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Francoise's home.

 

 

Oh, then we talked about organizing a week-long tour in Brittany, where we would take a small group around visiting antique shops, castles, gardens, visit Saint Malo, eat galettes and crepes, and take a sculpting lesson in her studio (Francoise is a sculptor I am a dreamer.) We were on a roll dreaming up ideas and having fun.

 

 

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I am seriously planning a tour are you interested?

 

Oh, we or I should say Francoise made me a dress. It is lovely, more about that tomorrow.

 

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One week from today my nieces arrive.

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Remember:

We are going to try to live stream Chelsea and Martin's wedding on my Facebook so if you are a Friend of mine on Facebook I hope you will tune in, mark the date July 6th at 4:00 in the afternoon French Time.



Comments

37 responses to “Brittany Bound”

  1. Kathie B

    In my sewing days, I sometimes lengthened shirt designs I liked into shirt-dresses, although always with a shirt pattern as my basis.
    Can Françoise repair the mutilation to Chelsea’s wedding dress, so it can look the way it’s supposed to? Or maybe your nieces can bring your grandmother’s (and your) wedding dress from California for Françoise to mend/strengthen so it’s wearable another time?
    Re Brittany: Don’t forget the Kouign Amanns!

  2. Jacklynn Lantry

    Corey I don’t do facebook so I’m going to have my daughter, Sophia, friend you. I’m so excited, I don’t know what I’m going to wear:)
    PS Love those curtains!

  3. I don’t think either of you is nuts.. Sounds enchanting.
    Just another reason I wish I lived in California; the wedding will be at 9 a.m. in the fly-over States and, alas, I will be at work. We’ll see if I can sneak a peek.

  4. Martina

    Francoise sounds amazing! Eager to learn more about your mother of the bride dress.
    The rose petal drying factory is doing well. Four one gallon Ziploc bags ready to go to France, more petals drying. All 68 rose bushes are in full bloom.

  5. RebeccaNYC

    you mean we’re all invited to the wedding?! SQUEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! I will be there!! Now….what am I going to wear?

  6. Chère Corey, j´aime cette histoire, ton/votre idée, très inspirant*y*, d’autant plus que j´ai appris le métier de couture;-)
    et oui, Corey, le mariage , l ´incontournable pour moi, j ´aime le rituel du mariage , fêter la solidarité, amour exprimé, beauté, coeur….. je vais participer avec grand plaisir, (FB) MERCI*Y*
    chaudement
    Tina *y*

  7. Leslie in Oregon

    Brittany: yes (especially if it includes (dare I say it?) some excursions to
    events/places other than brocantes (since I am not a shopper…although I love French culture and history).
    Chelsea’s and Martin’s wedding stream on FB: Yes, with great pleasure!

  8. I am interested!
    I’m curious if it is expensive to ship larger items from France?
    Looking forward to seeing this come together.
    Christine

  9. Fat rabbit

    Thank you for sharing these wedding stories. Some are funny, some touching, some so happy & loving. However I am sure that your reader-friends are sending Chelsea loving supportive thoughts in the hope that her wedding dress can be resewed & reconstructed into her dream dress. ❤️
    As for Brittany- I love our visits there. We have plans to visit St Malo this summer with grandkids
    Looking forward to seeing posts with your nieces & then the wedding!!

  10. arnelle louise

    I think this unexpected trip was just what you needed before the next 2 whirlwind months roll in!
    In Avignon I kept looking for a dress that had the same feeling your white blouse (for the civil service) had.
    You looked so stunning…fresh and absolutely Correy.

  11. Sounds like a good idea to me, and I’m sure the dress will be lovely. What a beautiful place Brittany is, and what a charming house!

  12. Dawn Fleming

    Beautiful photos and kudos to you & Francoise! I would love to come to Brittany. My husband and a friend are possibly interested also.
    Merci!

  13. How wonderful! We are planning to go to Brittany in October. We did not have enough time last year. We have been only to Saint Malo. I would love any information that you could throw our way. Will return to Provence for November.
    I don’t have a Facebook account , but my husband does. Maybe if I ask nicely, he will friend you….and I can watch the wedding and cry with everyone else.
    Ali

  14. TerriNTexas

    Can’t wait to see your dress! I hope Chelsea’s dress is transformed into something she likes. Love the photos, curtains, house!

  15. Diogenes

    Her home is lovely. How nice of her to help with a dress. Wonderful that she will attend the wedding. 😉

  16. Absolutely would be interested in a Brittany excursion. Looking forward to seeing the dress and to Chelsea’s wedding!

  17. My husband and I spent a week driving in Brittany in September and I would recommend it wholeheartedly. It would be wonderful to include some of the coast too, it was breathtaking.

  18. Jacquelyn

    Oh my I would love to visit and do all those things you mentioned. I’m a retired single lady and dreaming about going to France. Actually thought about moving there any suggestions?

  19. Liana Munden

    Yes! I always wanted to go to Brittany! I’d love to here more about it.

  20. How exciting! Can’t wait to see just everything. I am so excited for you all.

  21. Clearly I am not the only one who thinks a Brittany excursion is a great idea. Hope it comes to fruition!

  22. Kouign Amanns had to wait, until after the wedding. Chelsea’s dress is at the seamstress so we will see what can be done. My wedding dress is too little for Chelsea she is 5,9 and I am 5,3…

  23. Yeah! See you there!

  24. It will be live but you can watch it later, I will post it so it will not go away.
    xxxx

  25. My dress is simple, very simple, and not sneak peeks! 68 ROSE BUSHES!!! I can imagine the perfumed air! And THANK YOU for collecting petals for Chelsea xxx

  26. Something beautiful as you do!!!

  27. See you there !!!

  28. Hi Leslie, A few shops but mostly a journey to Yann’s country with Francoise as our guide. Pink Castle and a garden or two, galettes, Saint Michel, Saint Malo….

  29. I cannot wait to show you Brittany! Regarding shipping… I can manage that for you price depends on weight, size and where it is shipped to. The other day a friend shipped 4mc weighing 300 Kilos for 2000 Euros. That gives you some idea of pricing (picking up, packing, customs, legalities and shipping included)

  30. Hi Dawn, Great! Husbands are welcomed!

  31. I will note everything on my blog over time! See you late in November xx

  32. I am glad! I too am curious about how Chelsea’s dress will look.

  33. Yes, the coast is incredible isn’t it!

  34. That is a whole wide wonderful subject all its own. I have two blogging friends from the USA who moved to France if you would like to talk to them I will put you in contact with them.

  35. Once Francoise and I have it together we will let you know.

  36. I am jumping up and down with you! Excitement is fun shared!

  37. SO interested in coming, the tour sounds amazing, please send details….KindredHeartsAntiques@gmail.com

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