For Your Chateau

 

After a bit of a hiatus, brought on by a rather busy semester, FYC is back! If you enjoyed my (still ongoing) posts about the new fireplace with its blue and white tiles, then you may be thinking of something similar for your abode, in which case the hand-painted Delft tile may be just the thing. It would pair beautifully with the decorative wallpaper upon which you could always hang the chateaux prints, just to drive home the theme. Or perhaps the lovely, if expensive, painting from FrenchCountryGirl, which is a shop I just discovered. 

I'm on a bit of a lavender kick myself, and ever year I buy and grow more. Just today I was musing over the likelihood of putting in a lavender hedge this year. If not that, though, I may finally cave and get the decorative napkins I've liked for a while, or maybe bring the outdoors in with the tea towel. 

Purchased or made anything new for your personal chateau lately? I'd love to hear about it!

Humor for the ages

 

April 2nd 1787

Truly Spring cannot come soon enough! I am weary of the cold, weary of the wet, and at the moment exceedingly weary of house guests. The Chevalier as been at Portaberaud with me on a number of occasions this season, despite needing frequently to return to Paris to assist his father with some various duties in the running of the estates. He has not divulged exactly what affairs these are, and it has not alleviated my suspicious concerns one jot, but so it is. Where once I was want to entertain him for the duration of his visits I increasingly leave him to his own devices and go about my own tasks while he is here. There is a pleasing domesticity in this. 

Maman and her husband have also been to visit, though they are settled quite near me here in Riom and only stay as guests because we have a habit of playing cards or singing and playing music until it is quite late. The roads are good, but it is just much easier in the colder weather for them to wait until morning to depart in these cases. This has happened many times this year so far. 

My dear friend Elizabeth R- writes to tell me that, contrary to any rumors of the Chevalier's interest in other women, the only rumor related to his romantic entanglements involves our own and he is said to be much in love. This should cheer me greatly, however, I cannot seem to be easy in this regard. Too many nights I have found myself with a strange sense of impending disaster, as if some terrible calamity were close at hand. I cannot account for it. I had thought to distract myself from this when Emilie proposed another visit and, although she is not always a comfort, I did look forward to entertaining her again. Not surprisingly, given past observations of my own, her visit was to have coincided with one from the Chevalier, but at the last he was required to remain in Paris on business and she came away on her own. Gossip is her forte and I at last realized that very little response was required from me in order to keep her engaged. By this method we passed several days without my hardly needing to utter a single full sentence; such is her enthusiasm that she has a habit of speaking even as her conversation partner is yet speaking themselves. While this at first amused me, it became rather dreary by the end of the visit. Whether it was due to the Chevalier's absence, as I suspect, or her own sense of my tiring of her companionship, she left a day earlier than expected citing some pressing social engagement for which she wished to prepare. I must remember to ask Elizabeth about Emilie's prospects at present, as she is still young and likely to marry within a few years.

The rents are collected, but as has been true of the last few years the needs of my properties seem to outweigh the value. I am determined this year to expend considerable capital to ensure that next year the needs may be fewer and the profit more dependable. I have debts that must be serviced and it is my intention this year to spend less time in Paris or at Versailles, unless the Princess should recall me, and thereby save money with which to provide the capital for improvements. I have told Marianne that we will likely repair to Saint-Saturnin sometime in May when the weather has warmed, and written ahead to my steward to inform him of the same. 

Olympe

For Your Chateau- Under $100!

 

A little something for your home, a little something for yourself. From books to cushions to rings, and even a wall plaque to help you live your best French fantasy. There's even a gorgeous original painting (one of a kind, not a print or a series!) for under $100! The beautiful frame listed is only one of several from the same supplier, and honestly I was surprised to be able to find all of these delightful things for so comparatively little. I can just imagine creating a statement wall with that antique wallpaper, framing the waterlilies-esque painting with the rococo frame, and sitting down to read the Dumas book supported by those plump and pretty pillows. 

February 6th, 1787

 

It is a new year, but Spring still seems very far, however much we may long for its arrival. This past week was almost unbearably cold and there is no sign that this next one will be any better, with snow lingering in every shadowed corner and making it too slippery for the horses, which has halted many of the plans myself and my guests have had for the past few weeks.

Try as we might, Marianne and I were unable to locate any definite proof of the Chevalier's disloyalty, though I still feel a constant sense of unease about his affections. He is now returned to Paris, but did marvelously charm Maman during his stay in Riom. Charming though he might be, he was unable to hide his dislike of the town declaring it "provincial" in a manner which was unmistakably denigrating. He swears he meant it only in the strictest sense of the word, as it is a country province, but I know better. He insults the place I love, vastly preferring the city in every regard. Though it is allowable for two people to hold different views, it is hardly helpful for one's paramour to sneer at the things and places that one loves. I have not always preferred the country to the town myself, but increasingly I find it holds the peace I need. The city is too full of intrigue in large part because it is too full of people. Versailles is even more so.

The Comte de Vergennes is very poorly, and as such the Council of Notables has yet to convene. It is said that he has worked himself into exhaustion, but for well or ill the Council cannot long delay their work. The King, being very fond of Vergennes, is loathe to continue without him despite urgings from his other ministers. Vergennes enjoys support from Lafayette as well for his pursuit of French involvement in the American war in the colonies, which resulted in no end of favor for the Marquis (despite his disobedience to the King, which I shall never understand). This I mostly have from Elizabeth, Comtesse de R-, for it has been over a month since my last letter from Princess Elisabeth. Evidently my god-daughter continues well, though the Comtesse is much exasperated, declaring that the child has such lungs that she hopes we may expect a fine voice when she is old enough to begin music lessons. 

Andre and his wife have departed for their home recently, though it took them an extra day's travel to arrive as the roads were so bad. Mattieu has remained some days longer, but is eager to be on his way as well. Maman and I paint, but grow tired of the same daily activities and Riom has very little at present to relieve the tedium. If my latest letter from Menars is to be credited then my enemies at court continue their slanders, but I have little ability to counter this and less and less energy to even attempt it. Perhaps when the weather warms my energy will return.

-Olympe

Historical Humor

 

You know, I'm not much of one for these sorts of memes, but this one struck me as funny; and in light of all that is stressful in the world at the moment, couldn't we all use a bit of laugh? 

As an American who used to live in Britain as a child, I can kind of see the road to the revolution both ways. Of course, the British were only too happy to fight to protect their economic interests in the colonies, as the colonists were happy to have the help. C'est l'histoire. 

Burgundy Riding Costume In Progress

 

As with many places and programs, we had to cancel two of our shows this year and find digital alternatives for the others. Sadly, one of the shows that had to be canceled was the production of Amadeus which has been an absolute wishlist show for me for years. Worse still, since the students who were most going to benefit from the opportunity to work on that show are graduating this year, we won't simply be able to reschedule it for next year, and because of leadership changes in the program we aren't likely to be able to do it for the foreseeable future. Join me in mourning.

There's always a silver lining though, and I picked one costume from the designs to have some of my more advanced students work on. It's a burgundy velvet riding jacket and skirt for the character of courtier Strack, who is usually played by a male, but which in our production was intended to be female. Students worked on panniers as part of their exploration of structured garments, and we utilized the mock-up of the jacket bodice to discuss draping and fit techniques. The wine velveteen over one shoulder in the photo is the fabric that the jacket will be made out of. 

One precocious student cut and put together the quilted velvet skirt using accurate 18th-century methods which, once hemmed, will be more or less finished. There's still a lot of work to do to make the jacket, trim it all in silver and purple passementerie, and create a little tricorn with plum silk veil, but I think they'll enjoy the process. Updates to come. This will likely take the better part of the semester to do as the students involved and I are only in the Costume Shop one day per week owing to Covid restrictions. It'll be like a slowly-unfurling flower. 

For Your Chateau

 

If you're in possession of some holiday funds you're itching to spend, here are a few 18th century themed ideas for your home and personal enjoyment!

Starting the Year With A Laugh