E-List Ladies' Night returns to Essex

Erica and her fabulous subscribers know where it's at. They will return to Essex for another Ladies' Night of shopping & socializing on Thursday, Nov 15 from 5pm til 8pm. Participating shops will provide button-wearing "e-listers" with a 20% discount off all of their purchases. (*sorry but there will be very a few exceptions). We have been rolling out all of our holiday finery so this sale is special and comes at a time when sales are not our routine! So, if you aren't an e-list subscriber yet, now is the time and join the fun!http://the-e-list.com/archive/girls-night-out-in-essex-village-111512-5087efa13efd9.html

We look forward to seeing you!

Have you noticed that the big necklace, aka bubble necklace, is all the rage? And let's face it, it's likely a fun but fleeting trend. That is precisely why picking one up at The French Hen for under $30 is brilliant.  Just in from NYC we have a great selection. Pop in for a pop of color.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-French-Hen/

A few design blogs I love

Check these out when you have a few spare minutes. Warning: minutes may turn into hours!



http://adoreyourplace.com/
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/
http://www.designsponge.com/
http://maynardgreenhouse.blogspot.com/

Welcome to my little blog for the little store in Essex, CT called The French Hen. The shop is lush with a carefully curated mix of wonderful items that every girl would love...fragrances, lotions & potions, cards to send that will be saved forever & ever, decor for your home that make your space uniquely yours and so much more! really...even more! I hope you pop in for a visit some day soon. I would love to see you.

Please check out our facebook page...here is the linkhttps://www.facebook.com/pages/The-French-Hen/180449332471

Ok, some cool stuff is coming down the pike. Firstly, The French Hen is going to participate in Child and Families "Interior Inspirations" Boutique on Friday, Oct 26 thru Sunday, Oct  28 .We will be among several vendors including Jo Malone Fragrance (a fave!). Go on the house tour and visit the boutique, it's a great cause and inspiration will be abundant! Details here: http://www.childandfamilyagency.org/event/interior-inspirations-2012/

We will be having some trunk shows right at the shop with hand selected artists. These meet the artist shows are scheduled in November and December. Very excited some photos of the work to be featured is below.

Also, something big is returning to Essex on Thursday, November 15th....Shhh, can't say more just yet. It isn't "e"-z keeping this secret. ;)

Come and get it! There is some pretty nice scratch and dent stuff on sale at the hen. May not be giftable but totally cool to keep for yourself...a mariposa tray with a scratch...it's gonna happen eventually. Use it for your next soire... I guarantee, money-back and everything- no one will notice the scratch! Happy Sunshiney day!

I have a lovely and brandy-new greeting card line at the shop...sacredbee. They are by Pamela Zagarenski. The cards, like Pamela's art are absolutely charming. Pamela's people and creatures appeal to anyone with an ounce of soul, young or old. She has illustrated more than 25 books for children and has her own new book coming out soon called "Sleep Like a Tiger". Back to my same old message...how wonderful to get a piece of mail, to be thought of. Sacredbee is my new favorite way to let someone dear know that they are on my mind.

Here is more of her beautiful work...love.

To see a nice selection of images and to read a great interview with Pamela Zagarenski click here:http://blaine.org/sevenimpossiblethings/?p=1707

What a summer it was, albeit way too fast. One of our busiest, so a warm thank you to all of our visitors. I've gotten some very nice compliments about our lovely summer helpers, Stephanie and Katlyn. The basement at "the hen" is loaded to the rafters with cartons containing Holiday merchandise. It's quite daunting and would surely frighten any non-retailer folk. I have been chipping away at the mountain and it's actually a little like Christmas for me as I open each box since I've (almost) forgotten what I ordered last January. Again, I am covered in glitter at the end of the day...a hazard of the job. Christmas will go out a bit earlier than in years past. I hate to push it but lots of customers (and I mean the ones who buy significantly) have requested an earlier holiday launch. I can oblige, I think, I hope. :-)

sneak peak of Dream Ship ornament. so sweet.

Inspiration for Easter/Spring decor

staying in touch

Great news! I have doubled the greeting card department at The Hen! There are so many choices for all occasions and of course plenty of cards that can be sent off in the post to just say hello.

Isn't real mail marvelous? When I get something in my mailboxes that isn't a bill or some type of official statement or "offer" my heart skips a little beat. As miraculous as the internet is, it can never completely conjure up the delight of getting a piece of "real mail". You can't tie up your emails with a beautiful satin ribbon like a stack of cherished cards or letters. We've been watching (and enjoying) Downton Abbey on Netflix and I love the scenes where someone is handed a letter that contains actual information, life-changing, jaw-dropping information. Today we might get that through our smart phones via text. Make someone's day and send off a hello.

What will 2012 look like at The French Hen?

I had a wonderfully productive stint at the Atlanta Gift Show last week. From which new product has already begun to arrive at The French Hen. Inspiration and creativity were everywhere and the showrooms ranged the gambit; sublime to the redonkulous. It's all there, the good, the bad and the oh so very tacky.
A few trends that I picked up may be worth noting. Industrial has been refined to a softer- edged utilitarian. I saw lots of ticking, craft paper, burlaps, seed bags, galvanized surfaces, but gone are the wheels and gears that we had been seeing. Tabletop is "green", stone slabs, big thick (wonderful) cutting boards, simple glassware and plates. Lots and lots of rough hewn furniture, (driftwood tones)which I think may look too unfinished for most nutmeggers.
It seems like the Parisian apartment dealio is being replaced by a more casual Italian villa vibe. Things just looked less fussy. When there was an ornate piece of furniture it was paired with simple clean lamps or vice versa. We all know matchy- matcy is out but now adjacencies of the unexpected are what make a room look interesting. Textile patterns are less in the floral department and are more modern with color blocking, and trellis or flame (zig- zag)patterns.

Stop in soon to see what I decided to bring back with me. I want to go back to more of a home décor mix; linens, tabletop, small furniture pieces and hopefully some interesting vintage. The French Hen will soon be lush with wonderful things that you just won’t be able to live without.