my stylish french girlfriends - Marie-Laure

Another talented and stylish girlfriend has been kind enough to endure my camera and questionnaire - where would I be without them?! 

Marie-Laure lives along our valley in a beautiful house with her husband and four gorgeous children.  The house is typical of the valley, shutters, stone walls, a barn.  Sweetly she apologised that being at the start of winter,  the garden didn't look more spectacular,  I thought it looked great!

 Besides caring for her family she also creates!  Marie-Laure is handy with a jig saw and a paintbrush and turns out beautiful items that sell like hot cakes on the net and in private sales around here!

I asked her a few questions ...

Thank you for inviting us into your home Marie Laure, a real family home.  I know you like to hunt for brocante like me, and you use brocante pieces in your house.  What are your favourite items?

 Thank you for inviting me over Sharon,  Yes, I love discovering things that have their own history, and just need a little attention to give them a second lease of life.   I think my two favourite pieces are the 'meuble de metier' (the large chest of tradesman drawers), and the Hermes silk scarf that I framed.

 Your workshop is at home, where does your inspiration come from for the pieces you create?  And where do you sell your goods?

At the moment I am inspired by natural elements, birds, deer.  They are motifs I use a lot.  I also specialise in portrait silhouettes which are very popular.

I sell on the net at Decoclico, the shop 123 famille in Paris and Versailles and soon I hope to sell via my new blog.

How do you manage to find the right balance between work, family your home and your children?

It takes a lot of self discipline, and it's not always easy, especially at this time of year when I am making things for Christmas.   I generally work while the children are at school but sometimes I have to creep into my studio over the weekend too.

With four children you must do a lot of cooking!  Do you enjoy cooking typically French food?

Ooh la!  They eat so much, especially the boys who are growing fast!   I cook more at the weekend, and a blanquette de veau is a family favourite, but we also eat a lot of italian food, risottos and pasta.  I love sitting down together for family meals.

We are lucky to have a good selection of local food shops, even locally made macarons!

You live in the country in a tiny village, but you dress very stylishly.  Where do you like to shop for clothes?  

Thank you!  Actually I wear jeans and a jumper a lot of the time, but to go out I'll always make an effort.  I hardly ever wear all black, I love to use bright colours, in particular burnt orange.  It's easy to shop in Paris from here, but I also like Rouen, it's such a pretty city.

Thank you Marie-Laure for letting us be so indiscreet and good luck with your business!

I hope you are enjoying my series, I aim to bring you one more before Christmas,
I'm just waiting for her to put up her tree!!

Thank you for reading, à demain!