It was one I had planned since first coming up with ideas for the chapters. And it was one that I had to find THE perfect field for. You see – not all fields are created equal. I had a list of what would make it perfect.

A golden field- meant late summer or early autumn styling in California- and it needed to be a golden field surrounded by beautiful mountains and trees. This field where we took the photos was the one I had in mind from the start. It is one that I have loved since I was a child- the field with the mountains all around- a dream and there has always been something about it that inspired me.

A secret behind this shoot?

We set up and photographed this table just hours before leaving for 2 weeks vacation. We loaded up the truck with the table, chairs, cloths, food, etc. and after dropping Sweet Pea off with my daughter- and then set up and took the photos.

I was pretty much in awe of the beauty the whole time- and if we weren’t leaving for vacation the next morning- I would have loved to have come back and shoot again to get even more photos.

Remember vacations? And travel in general? And gatherings without worrying?

I hear you… and one day we will be back to all of that good stuff folks- but for now – staying home and staying safe is where we are- and so- how about some tips about being inspired right at home?

Today we are talking about this photo shoot- but also how you can create a similar feeling right in your own backyard.

Hint: You don’t need a field to set a beautiful summer field inspired table that is beautiful. Here is a quick video with a bit of the behind the shoot.

Styling tips for a field of dreams table- without the usual ambiance

There are a few simple tips to make this table feel so magical. It was different than the others in some ways- there was no electricity- so no twinkle lights. And you might notice that the candles are not lit also. That is for fire safety reasons.

Color Palette

When planning a table in a field- think of muted sun-bleached colors as accents. I brought along some of my favorite pale vintage dresses and linens to really play up the golden grasses and warm sunset glow.

Tip: Think about the color palette that nature is providing for the shades and colors to incorporate.

Vintage Inspiration

Another tip is to think vintage. This table setting has a lot of vintage inspiration included- from the plates and flatware to the stemware. Vintage just seems to fit that field table setting vibe for me.

Simple Texture

I am a Big texture girl. I love it in the house and outside the house.

One of my favorite things about this table was using this crocheted bedspread as a cloth. It adds so much charm and a very ‘bohemian’ feeling to the table.

Tip: Think outside the box when it comes to tablecloths- they don’t have to be formal cloths to be perfect. Bedspreads, quilts, blankets- even simply just favorite fabric will do.

Flowers

The secret to these flowers is that they are grocery store flowers that were made into a beautiful custom arrangement.

The takeaway here is- you don’t need expensive designer flowers to create a stunning centerpiece.

I picked up several bunches of various blooms and greens at a stop on the way to the field. I simply went with the colors that inspired me and what I felt would stand out against that golden backdrop. These rich colors were perfect- I removed the ones that didn’t fit and added in the others I felt did. And when they were all mixed them together- they created the most beautiful autumn bouquet.

Tip: Look at those grocery store flowers in a different way and see what you can mix and mingle for a custom look.

Most of these photos are outtakes that didn’t land in the book- but you can see all the photos that made the chapter in Inspired Gatherings

Sources:

Table- The Bella Cottage,

Crystal glasses – Vintage

Chairs- Vintage from Re-store

Crochet bedding- Shabby Chic

Don’t miss the settings that my talented friends are sharing today!

Ashley | The Handmade Home

Jen | City Farmhouse

Kristen | Ella Claire Inspired

Bre | Rooms For Rent

Jeanne | Jeanne Oliver

Happy entertaining at home all.

The post Inspired Gathering in a Golden Field appeared first on French Country Cottage.

This time last year, we were standing in the middle of a vineyard in the wine country working on a chapter for Inspired Gatherings.

This particular table was inspired by the beauty of harvest season in the wine country. When the grapes are full and heavy and the vines and leaves turn a delightful golden yellow.

This shoot was also quite special because it was at my brothers home in Calistoga. My husband and loaded up the truck with table setting elements, folding chairs and a few buckets of flowers and headed up to the wine country for an overnight stay right on the vineyard.

Since it was September- we were all about harvest inspiration. From clipping grapes from the vines to wrapping fresh baked brioche with paper. There was an abundance of delicious food for the shoot- it was hard not to nibble while working.

My twin nieces Elodie and Willa were my right hand girls. They just turned 7 – something you might not know about them is that they were micro-preemies – they were born super early and weighed just 1 lb each. They spent months in the NICU before they came home.

When they got home from school- I had so much fun showing them how to take style and take photos for the book while we worked- and they helped set the table and made sure that all the photos I was taking in the vineyard looked good.

How to Create a Harvest Party

This setting was inspired by the vineyard it was set in- but you can create a beautiful harvest party right in your own backyard.

Harvest parties are inspired by harvest season. The fruits and veggies that have been growing all year are finally ready for harvest and enjoying the rewards of the work with a celebration or gathering is a fun way to come together.

I am sharing a couple of tips for what we used for the centerpiece and details that can easily be used wherever you decide to set up your own harvest party. A picnic on the lawn, a table in the backyard or even right in your own dining room- an inspired gathering can be anywhere you are inspired to set up.

Centerpiece Elements

I mixed fruit and greens on the tabletop. The squatty peaches were in abundance at the market- along with fresh figs- and I loved the rosy tone they have.

I wandered into the vineyard and clipped fresh grapevines and grapes- but you an use any fresh greens and table grapes just as easily.

The Flowers

Natural welcoming elegance- to me that is what the wine country embodies. So I used a vintage bucket for the flowers and a mix of fresh market finds.

White roses, Craspedia, Stock, Baby Eucalyptus and a few grape vines tucked in.

The Food

There is nothing like fresh baked bread dipped in fresh ground peppered olive oil for nibbling on. So lots of artisan breads long with several different cheeses and crackers.

Sweets on repeat. Another good thing in my book. We had some sweet treats to enjoy after dinner- mostly fresh baked fruit filled pastries. Favorite wine country casual dinner would have veggies like artichokes or eggplant. Pasta or squash. And bread and vino. And of course a rich dessert.

Creating a beautiful gathering inspired by harvest season at home is something that is fun and easy to do. Think about pumpkins and the other flowers and foods of the season. Use those inspirations to create your own beautiful gathering with your family. You can see more of this setting and more in my new book Inspired Gatherings

Don’t miss the gatherings that my friends created this week that are inspired by gatherings in the book- and stay tuned for another Behind the Gathering tour tomorrow.

KariAnne | Thistlewood Farms

Beth |Home Stories A to Z

Leslie | My 100 Year Old Home

Jenn Rizzo | Jennifer Rizzo

and stay tuned for another post tomorrow.

The post How to Create a Wine Country Inspired Harvest Gathering appeared first on French Country Cottage.

Can you believe we are just 1 week from book launch day?! I have so much fun stuff planned for next week to celebrate Inspired Gatherings that you won’t want to miss. And this week- I am giving you a bit of a sneak peek at a couple of the stylings- and some more behind the scenes.

I tend to shoot dozens of photos to get the 7 or 8 that we will use – and sometimes those features in a book are on even a bit of the smaller side and we only use 3 or 4 photos. Which means I have a whole lot of extras that didn’t land in the pages. Like this one.

So today it is all about piles of pillows and throws, a low table and lots of simple, cozy charm in the backyard.

Casual Gatherings

There is something about gathering around a casual, low table that is full of comfort and charm. Maybe it is the stacks of pillows and chunky blankets that invite you to wrap up and get cozy while relaxing.

Or that dining with friends and family feels so warm and simply wonderful. With a Bohemian or ‘boho’ style table- it is all of that wrapped up into one- and then some. The low table stacked with nibbles and candles aglow.

Leaning back into pillows and truly relaxing while laughing and catching up. The simplicity of a bohemian style table is what makes it a favorite. There is no fuss or dress code requirement. Everyday plates are as welcome as your favorite fancy ones. And those mismatched linens are absolutely perfect. We included a small feature on this Bohemian Style table in my new book ‘ French Country Cottage Inspired Gatherings‘ and I would have loved to have a dozen pages of it- it was such a fun one to style. Today I am sharing a peek at what you will find in the book- along with another boho style table I recently styled- and how to achieve that welcoming style right in your own backyard.

Think Comfortable

Soft and cozy. Warm and inviting. Layers of cozy to wrap up in. Start with what feels inviting for guests. Large oversized pillows in abundance is key- they invite people to sink in and relax. The table should be low- but it doesn’t need to be on the ground. 10″ – coffee table height is perfect.

Feel Good Food

Always on repeat when at home- those favorite foods that we all love to enjoy. When setting up for a boho gathering- keep it simple and feel good favorite food. Crusty warm breads. A hot soup. Fresh nibbles straight from the garden, slices of cheese & banana bread and chunks of chocolate bars for sweets. Leave the chef designed recipes and all the work to create them in the kitchen and keep it simple.

Gathered Flowers

I didn’t have a ton of fresh flowers on hand when I styled this table- so I just wandered the garden and clipped what was blooming. Wildflowers, herbs and vines were perfect. In a simple mason jar- they make a ‘welcoming’ statement on the table. Again- back to the basics warm and welcoming is key.

Perfect Placement

Find that spot in your yard where you can tuck a table under a tree or low hanging shrub- and then string those twinkle lights. Those branches and lights overhead create a bit of a canopy and ‘cozy’ feeling – and also provides that warm lighting.

If you don’t have twinkle lights or a low hanging tree that works- you can always create a similar style ambiance with twinkling trees in the backdrop.

Mismatched is perfect

Don’t fuss over mismatched napkins, flatware or other elements. It is all about the layers that make the look so charming. 2 or 3 various rugs are perfect for creating that base under the table and pillows. And several colors and styles of napkins, flatware and plates are perfect as well. Think ‘gathered’ up and put together rather than ‘curated’. Leave the curated look to the more formal setting.

The most important thing to remember when creating a beautiful bohemian style table setting and gathering is to have fun. There are no rules and making special memories in an inspired setting on a random Monday or Tuesday with your family – is a most wonderful thing to do.

This inspired gathering is from my New Book which is now available- you can order your copy of French Country Cottage Inspired Gatherings

Stay tuned for a simple DIY on making a pallet or low table.

The post How to create a Bohemian Style Table and Gathering appeared first on French Country Cottage.

And you can find inspiration for a setting everywhere. A simple drive through the countryside, a quiet lake, table in the garden or that little quiet corner at home. All perfect for setting up and enjoying- Today its about 5 ways you can use what inspires you- to create a beautiful table.

I seemed to be noticing ‘inspired’ places to create a gathering even more than usual when I was writing my new book. And everywhere became an opportunity to pause and enjoy a few moments. Just ask my husband about how many times I had him pull the car over so we could enjoy the view for and a cup of coffee while on the road. And in the book- some of the settings are right here at my own home – and there are some that happened ‘in the moment ‘.

The Setting

The farmhouse at Hammersky Vineyards stopped me in my tracks. As did the barn. And the vineyards. Basically- the whole entire setting. We planned to stay in the farmhouse and photograph a gathering in the barn- and when we got there we found so.many.more. places we could set up and enjoy. It was beyond beautiful and around every corner- and row of grapes- there was inspiration.

The farmhouse is one you have seen here a couple times now- we have been back several times during the year last year to work on various projects with them. The most recent was decorating the farmhouse for Christmas with Balsam Hill. It is a 100+ year old farmhouse that has been updated but retains all that original charm.

Just across the lawn from the farmhouse is a big beautiful barn where they hold events and a pea gravel patio covered in twinkle lights. You know I was already feeling pretty giddy when I saw all of those layers of ambiance and beauty in one place.

This setting was not included in the book- it is kind of like a behind the scenes type of peek. With all that beautiful backdrop all around me, I had to ask my husband to run to the store to get another memory card for my camera while I worked away. While we set up, things like buckets of flowers, extra plates and linens and more landed on the pea gravel area. And in those ‘beautiful mess’ views- more inspiration happened. I will share more of those pea gravel table behind the scenes peeks soon.

5 few tips for creating an inspired table

1. Start with your inspiration- your backdrop Find a spot to set up your table. Of course it is easy when you vines all around like this beautiful location- but if you look around you will find something that inspires you. A tree covered in blossoms. The ivy vining on the fence. Or a little open spot in the center of the garden for example. Use that inspiration to set the mood.
2. Use what you have on hand. For this setting that meant clipping some of those grapevines and leaves to use in the bouquets and on the table. You can clip ivy, climbing roses and even wildflowers. If the table is inspired by the setting- incorporate that inspiration into your table decor.
3. Bring out simple nibbles. We didn’t want to spend all day putting together a big dinner- we wanted to sit and enjoy that beautiful view and watch the sun as it set. So we kept it simple. Cheese and crackers, focaccia bread, olives and veggies.
4. Don’t set a formal table. Part of the beauty of this little vintage table under the olive tree- is that it lends itself to those stacks of plates, gathered up wine glasses and a more casual evening. Casual get-togethers (even just with family) are always the ones that are the most fun because you don’t have to do a lot of work ahead of time to prepare a meticulous table.
5. Add the ambiance. This table didn’t require any additional ambiance. The sun setting across the vineyard gave us that warm glow and did that so perfectly. But you can always light candles or string a few lights over head for a bit more.

Vintage Table by the vineyard

We found an old wood table and chairs under an olive tree while we were exploring the vineyard. This table was full of old charm and character so we left it bare to enjoy that patina. Then we covered it in plates of olives, cheeses and tomato topped focaccia bread and the most beautiful rosy- toned wine.

Simple nibbles are so easy to put together- and will leave you with more time to sit and enjoy.

The Nibbles

Cheese Platter- we used 4 different types of cheese- from wedges to slices. Think: blue cheese, an aged cheddar like Dubliner (so good!) a soft feta rolled in cranberries and good old slices of everyday delicious cheeses – brie, cheddar, spicy pepper, etc.

Focaccia Bread– a fresh focaccia bread top the bread with a pesto sauce, crumbled feta and sliced cherry tomatoes and drizzled with olive oil. Bake just a bit to warm it up

Olives– just mixed in a small bowl and a sprig of tomatoes on the vine does the trick.

Stuffed Mushrooms– mushrooms filled with mozzarella and tomato- warm to melt the cheese

Of course, the piece de resistance was not the delicious food- it was the view we were soaking up while enjoying it. Absolutely incredible. We sat and watched the sun dance across the vineyard and were in awe of the beauty.

This winery is one of the locations included in my new book- French Country Cottage Inspired Gatherings. (currently sale priced at $31) Though these settings didn’t make the cut into the pages of the book- I am so excited for you to see which settings we did include.

Stay tuned for a look at another behind the scenes sneak peek & story about something crazy that happened while we were wrapping to head home.

Happy Monday all.

The post 5 tips for creating a beautiful inspired table- and a sneak peek appeared first on French Country Cottage.

I apologize in advance.

 My favorite elements to use in a room- other than chandeliers and flowers.

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One of the things I worked on when photographing the book was adding special touches to each styling.
From an abundance of flowers in every room (of course) to simple things touches that add a certain something to the everyday look.

Like a new old flower crown for a statue on the sideboard.

Flower crowns are so easy to make and such a charming accent hanging on a wall or on a knob on an old cupboard door- and they are perfect for chunky crumbly statues too.
This flower crown actually started as one that I made at Moss Mountain Farm last year.
 I brought it home with me and dried it in my office on the doorknob- where it also added a sweet touch as you walked in the room.
And I decided to dress it up a bit with a few small spray roses that I had dried and give it a bit more oomph and place it on the statue. I also tucked some dried grasses in to round out the ones that crumbled.

I left the dried leaves that were originally on the crown for that touch of green – they dried to such a perfect color. And then I placed the crown right on this cutie and called it good.
The secret to drying those spray roses?
My favorite way is to simply let them dry right in the vase on their own.  I discovered it was the best way when I had left flowers on the table when I left for a trip- and came back to find them perfectly dried right in the vase. I think the process of drying while maintaining just a bit of moisture from the water kept them from turning brown – and preserved the petals.

You can find the How To Make steps for a similar flower crown-  in my post here.

And did you know that today is Amazon Prime Day ? That means Free Shipping and lots of deals!
AND in exciting sales news- you can take $5.00 off the price of my book today
with the code PRIMEBOOKS18 
as well as get Free shipping.
Which is pretty fantastic I think.

Pre-order French Country Cottage here.

Another sneak peek and story will be coming your way along with that giveaway the first giveaway- coming your way very soon!

Happy Monday everyone.

The post Sneak Peek & making a Flower Crown appeared first on French Country Cottage.

I have a stack of EARLY copies of my book.

My BOOK. 

I am not sure I will ever get over typing that one out!

My favorite part?  It has a gold foil spine, a debossed title & Sweet Pea is on the cover. 

And there is so much of my heart and style inside.

It was a lot of work, a lot of doubting and a lot of dreaming… and a lot of gratefulness. It is a dream come true to hold this in my hands. 

And I realize this is a bit of a long post that I probably should have asked my editor to help cut me off with haha. How I am feeling is not easy for me to convey…  and I cannot thank each of you enough for your friendship and support over the years.

You can order French Country Cottage here

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