The Spring the Plant Stand Became A Plate Stand

Where do I put the collection of white dishes that continues to grow? A question I have been asking myself for months as I stacked the dinner plates, the salad plates, the soup bowls, the serving bowls, and the cake plate first on the china cabinet, then on the sunspace breakfast table, then on the countertop in the kitchen, but most often on the rustic pine dining table. 

The question was always in the back of my mind as I went about my normal activities. 

French Design on Friday 7

~ Accessories ~

Paris Hôtel de Ville 

When selecting furnishings, lighting, and accessories for a French Country look, how do we decide what to use? Botanic Bleu provides examples straight from France through photos taken by me. Together we will study the photos, and then see how to translate French designs into our own homes. 

Early Spring Blue Plate Stars

Inspiration for new tablesettings come from random sources and sometimes from unexpected combinations of events. An early spring blue and purple tablesetting is one of those that began with a beautiful new blue scalloped edge tidbit plate and unseasonably Spring-like temperatures. 

Out of the blue, an unexpected package arrived in January from a friend who lives in San Antonio. Our friendship was born through this blog. We have never met in person, but talk to one another via blog comments and emails regularly. 

French Design on Friday 6

~  Architecture  ~ 

Eyebrow Arch Windows & Doors  

How do we know what IS French design? When selecting furnishings, lighting, accessories, and architectural elements for our homes how do we decide what to use to replicate French style? 

Last Minute Valentine Dessert

Need a last minute valentine dessert for tomorrow? One that's yummy, but does not take a lot of time? One that everyone will L O V E? 

Raspberry cheesecake, je t'aime (I love you.) Raspberry sauce, fresh raspberries, R E A L whipped cream.... 

with pink valentine heart sprinkles 

Botanic Bleu Facelift

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

The Botanic Bleu Facelift did not include Botox, but the facelift has given freshness and a youthful vitality to the appearance of Botanic Bleu. Botanic Bleu still has the same face, but received some tweaking of its appearance. 

Rebekah @ The Lady Gadget is the technical guru who implemented the html coding to make my wishes come true. We are still working on some behind-the-scenes technicalities. Please send me a message to let me know if something quirky happens when you visit Botanic Bleu so Rebekah can apply her beauty cream to the html. Contact Rebekah if you need some technical help. Her rates are very reasonable even for us with small budgets. 

As with houses, blog sites need refreshing and updating to keep their looks and structures well maintained. Over the past several weeks, really months, some changes have occurred here on my blog. You may have noticed some of them like the six social media buttons, the CONTACT page, or the centered blog title and date. 

The BIG change is Botanic Bleu's URL address. 

New Address

Have you noticed I have a new address? My blog's address is now

www.botanicbleu.com

If you have the Botanic Bleu link anywhere on your blog or in your address book, please update your files to my new address. I love all my readers and do not want any of you to get lost on your way to my blog. 

Some places you may need to use my new address link are 

• Links to Monday Social on your blog 
• Link to Botanic Bleu on your blogroll 
• Reading List in Blogger 
• Contact information in your Address Book 

Readers who receive Botanic Bleu in your email inbox do NOT have to do anything to continue to receive Botanic Bleu via email. Please let me know if you no longer get Botanic Bleu in your email inbox so I can follow up with my technical support to correct a problem.


I have updated my URL blog address on Facebook, Instagram, and Bloglovin'. Part of the update for Bloglovin' requires the link at the top of this post. I would love for you to follow Botanic Bleu on Bloglovin'.


Do you have any tips or suggestions for other places I should update with the new URL address?  

Please join me at these inspiring places for more joy of living. 

SUNDAY

Dishing It and Digging It @ Rustic and Refined

Sundays at Home @ My Soulful Home

MONDAY

Monday Social @ Botanic Bleu

Amaze Me Mondays @ Dwellings, the Heart of Your Home

TUESDAY

the Scoop @ StoneGable

Tuesdays At Our Home @ Our Home Away From Home

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life

Show and Share @ Coastal Charm 

WEDNESDAY

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

THURSDAY

The Inspiration Gallery @ Craftberry Bush

Your Inspired Design @ bluesky kitchen  

Share Your Style @ The Essence of Home

Ta-Da @Chatham Hill on the Lake
Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps On The Porch
What To Do Weekends @ Shoestring Elegance
Thursday Favorite Things @Reinvented Collection

FRIDAY

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Foodie Fridays & Everything Else @ Rattlebridge Farm

SATURDAY

Share It One More Time @ One More Time Events 

French Design on Friday 5

~  Garden Elements  ~ 

P L A N T   U R N  

My first daffodil bloom peeked out this week with many more buds ready to join it any day. Daffodils swaying in a light wind made me think about gardens and French design on Friday. In Paris, there are favorite gardens I love to visit over and over again for their beauty, for their inspiration, and for their chairs to rest my weary feet after hours of sightseeing. 

French Love Banner and Bouquet

A Paper Post

V A L E N T I N E ' S  D A Y 

 is a week away 

and brings thoughts of  

France... Land of lovers.... French lovers.... Amour (love)... 

For my readers who love all things French, I created some French valentine printables for you to use as a banner or as a bouquet... or, to give away to friends... or LOVERS. 

Easy Display for Valentine's Day

White Handmade Valentines 

create an easy display for the love holiday.  

The pine chest of drawers that sits between the living room and kitchen is my favorite place to create arrangements all during the year. Whatever the season or whatever the holiday, only a handful of items on this pine chest is all that's needed to celebrate the occasion and to brighten up the whole area. 

With handmade valentines, French script feathers, and preserved boxwoods, it is easy to add Valentine's Day cheer. 

French Design On Friday 4

F R E N C H   D E S I G N 

on Friday 

~  Architecture  ~ 

Vintage Village Roof 

How do we know what IS French design? When selecting furnishings, lighting, accessories, and architectural elements for our homes how do we decide what to use to replicate French style? 

If you wish to have an authentic touch of French style, then you are in the right place. Each Friday Botanic Bleu goes to the source for French design through snapshots of French architecture, houses, textiles, metal work, food, woodwork, landscapes... and discovers inspiration for creating 

a French-inspired garden and home.