find joy in the journey

the academy - creative styling 101

As I mentioned in my first post about The Academy, one of the purposes of this event was to learn about creative & editorial styling.  I've always loved taking pictures and learning all I can about taking better pictures. There was a lot that I took away from Heather's classes to help me in this skill.  Here is a little overview/synopsis of what class at The Academy looked like!

DAY 1 - CREATIVE STYLING 101

We were told to come to the farmhouse for class on Monday morning and we arrived to find this amazing space for learning.

Little cafe tables, a whiteboard, and a power point presentation.  Of course, little gifts were waiting for us.

Heather gave a presentation about creative styling and the rules of composing a good photo.  Then we paired up with partners and were let loose to use anything from the prop table, our brocante finds, along with several pieces of furniture available to us to compose a beautiful, styled photo.

The prop table was a photo op all on it's own!

My partner created the following vignette with bread she purchased in Eymet.  And as I said in my introduction post, I learned that it takes a lot of work to compose a photo that is beautiful, has a sense of life, and tells a story!

And here was mine.  I used one of my LuLaRoe skirts as a prop along with my copper pot from the Brocante in Eymet.

It was so fun to watch the other ladies at work too!  So much creativity happening in this space.

Oh and one more of my LuLaRoe clothing - I wanted to try out a flat-lay and included a few vintage postcards I picked up at the brocante. 

Heather was out there giving us camera tips & ideas to tweak our set-up to make it just right.  She definitely has a gift!

And I was ga-ga in love with Genevieve's painting.  I drooled over it at the Brocante.  She became the lucky owner!

DAY 2 - EDITORIAL STYLING 101

On the second day of classes we learned more of the business side of what Heather does and the steps that go into preparing and executing a photo shoot like she does.  Of course there were presents once again.

These wooden Moroccan spoons were from Elsie Greene, a linen towel from Provence, and the antique slate roof tile was one of Teri's finds.  It's great for displaying & serving cheese or using in a styling photo shoot.

For our photography lesson we worked with various aperture settings to change the look & feel of the photo through depth of field.  I love playing with aperture and this lesson was especially fun because I had my brand new camera and 35mm f/1.4 lens to play with!

 

I love love love this photo vignette!  My partner, Stacie, and I were putting this one together but something didn't feel quite right.  Heather came over and within seconds she tweaked a little thing, changed the location, and showed us the angle to shoot from and it was perfection.

 

DAY 3 - LIFESTYLE - JAM PHOTOSHOOT

When I got the schedule for The Academy I saw that "Jam Making" was on the itinerary.  How fun is that?!   The jam-making also doubled as a class in lifestyle photography.  From the jam preparation to some stylized photos with the strawberries, it was great practice in how to compose a good photo

Hey, there's my mom!

Heather wanted to get a photo of the pot of cooked jam.  By the way, isn't that copper pot amazing???  Anyways, the light proved challenging (even for the pros!), the jam looked flat (no life, which means a no-go), but it was really interesting to stand back and watch Heather and Jaci at work.  

And we'll always remember the time that I got to make strawberry-rhubarb jam with my mom, in France, in a 13th century chateau.

 . . . wearing the CUTEST custom linen aprons.  Thanks Heather!

And I love the photo that Heather shared on her Instagram account.  Bronwyn was a great model with the most perfect seersucker skirt!

photo credit: @heatherbullard

the academy - eymet brocante

After my visit to France with The Academy, I've decided that the best way to see a foreign country is to visit its markets.  

On our first full day in France we woke up early, enjoyed a breakfast of warm croissants, were gifted the most darling straw market bags, and we were on our way to experience our very first French Brocante.

photo credit: @heatherbullard

This particular brocante (flea market) was a special one - so special that Heather actually chose the dates for The Academy so that it would coincide with this brocante in Eymet (pronounced Ee-may).  We knew we were in for a treat!  I believe there are markets in Eymet throughout the year but this one was special because it was the big one.  Teri said it is a "cleaning out of the attic".  In preparation we were told this would be a mixture of amazing antique & vintage finds as well as general yard sale fare including whole displays of headless Barbies.  Yup.

There were some nerves heading into it because of the language barrier and the fact that we would need to negotiate prices.  Terri gave us a few tips to navigate the brocante.  First, when you approach a vendor booth/table make sure to say Bonjour to the seller.  It's important to acknowledge them first before you browse - otherwise they think you are rude.  The word of the day was "Combien?" which means, "how much?"  And there are several ways to get an answer on the price - speaking, with a show of fingers (although you have to be careful because pointing your index finger is not 1 but 10 -- they use a thumb for 1), or if all else fails Heather, who thinks of everything, included small notebooks & pencils in our market bags which we could use to communicate price.

As we entered the brocante blocks I came across my very first French crepe stand.  Score!

Crepes for everyone!

The setting was beautiful and I knew it was going to be a great day & experience.

Again, there were a little nerves among the group but I think once we broke the ice and made our first purchases it was easy sailing from there!

There was so much to see!  It went on for blocks and blocks and I know we didn't see it all.  We had a couple hours to roam and it wasn't long enough!  And so many wonderful treasures.  There were several items I would have grabbed if luggage space hadn't been an issue! :) 

We had pleasant interactions with all of the vendors.  Some spoke English, but most did not.  My little notebook came in super handy while I was trying to determine & negotiate price on some botanical prints.  I was going back & forth with the man and neither of us could understand each other.  When I pulled out my little notebook & pencil he smiled and laughed with relief!  

Part of the purpose for shopping the Brocante was to allow each of us to pick up props & pieces that we could use later for our styling photos.  It was a little difficult for me to think of it that way, so I focused on finding pieces that I was drawn to & loved (that's how I always shop antiques) knowing that if I loved it they would work out.

Not only did we get to experience a French Brocante but we also got to do it while wandering the coolest little French town!  Just look at all of this amazing character!

Oh the panties!  Or rather, bloomers.  We got a good giggle over this!

 We met for lunch at a restaurant in the town square.  We sat outside and and enjoyed a lunch of bread, frites, salad with duck breast & foie gras, and crepes for dessert.

 

(Jill and Teri on the right)

Again, so much character and so many amazing old buildings & roads right there in the square.  Here's a peek at what surrounded our view there.

Enjoy this little video of our drive out of town and back home through the countryside!

Eymet from Shannon on Vimeo.

When we returned to the Chateau we all set our market bags on the steps for a photo shoot.  So perfect.

Photo tip: have someone walk in/out of the background of your photo to give it more life.

photo credit: @heatherbullard

And then we sat down & enjoyed the evening as we each took turns sharing our new treasures . . . show and tell.

Here are my finds.  I'm loving that copper pot with patina on the inside. Also that framed botanical print has me very happy.  A candlestick, pigeon lamps, green glass jar, and an assortment of postcards.  One is addressed to someone in the Dordogne and another was sent to Monte Carlo!

 

the academy - chateau de mondesir

Okay, here is the first installment of stories about my time at The Academy!

Before we get any further I need to tell you about the place that we stayed.

Chateau de Mondesir

It is a 13th century chateau in Villefranche-de-Longchapt.  The population is TINY because anytime we walked or drove through the village it felt like a ghost town.  Seriously, where are the people??

There are parts of the Chateau that are original to it's 13th century heritage while other parts were add-ons in the 15th century, as well as the gite which was added in the 1800's I believe.  The gite is that 1-story section on the far right. It included 3 bedrooms & 2 bathrooms where several of the Academy attendees stayed, a small kitchen and dining area that was available for our use, and a lovely porch & table on which we ate a few casual meals.

But just look at that sweet Juliet balcony on the main building!  And the white shutters!

The door on the far left led into the dining room where we had breakfast each morning and the middle door led into Martine's kitchen.

This table was also the setting for our dinner en blanc and our final meal at the chateau.

Hello Genevieve!

The trailing roses on the gite were amazing!

And how cute it that horseshoe hanging next to the door?

This is a view of the Chateau from the back.  We though the palm trees were an interesting landscaping choice.  You just don't associate palm trees with France, am I right?

You can see the original turret on the left. Two of the ladies in our group got to stay in the turret!  Just check out their room!

It was hard to photograph, but just above those massive, rustic wooden beams there is a huge circular glass sealing that allows you to look up into the turret roof while laying in bed!  Look carefully and you can see light coming through the roof shingles.  There were spotlights that illuminated the ceiling area as well -- what a magical room!

While all this looks amazing - and it was - I should point out that this building is old and with old buildings there are challenges.  Like heating (or lack thereof), bugs, and oh maybe a random bird flying through your room.  The bird was too much for Lisa and she re-located to another room in the house. Totally understandable! :)

We loved exploring the home and were just delighted by the original touches -- little porthole windows as well as small holes in the walls of the turret cut out for shooting arrows!  Laurent shared a little history about the chateau and explained that it was essentially a fortified farmhouse.  

Detached from the Chateau sat a little cottage and that is where my mom and I got to stay!  (you can see it in the porthole photo above) We were seriously so lucky! There was a bedroom, sitting area with a large fireplace, and a full modern bathroom.  The building was originally a stable or barn of some sort, and when Laurent & Martine gained ownership of the place they converted it into another area for guests. Again, I loved all of the rustic touches.  Just take a look!

And this sweet window from the outside . . . 

So many possibilities lying ahead!

And the bathroom . . . 

One afternoon during our free time I took a long walk around the back lot of the chateau. There was a meadow as well as expansive vineyards just beyond the old stone walls.  The Bordeaux region is known for it's wine production and the chateau has it's own wine label.  As I walked around the yard I couldn't help but think of the families that have lived in this chateau over time, and in my mind I pictured children frolicking through the yard & meadows, climbing the trees and walls, playing hide & go seek, gathering little bugs,  . . . . . all the things that children do, but in such an idyllic setting.

Just an absolutely beautiful place!

Do you love my fake leather jacket I picked up in Perigueux?  It was under 30 Euro!

Laurent & Martine are the owners of the chateau.  They are oringally from Paris, I believe Laurent worked as a lawyer, and they retired and purchased this chateau about 10 or so years ago.  (I could be wrong on that.)  They live in the chateau and rent out the rooms to travelers, groups like us, and host weddings & events.  

Martine prepared our breakfasts every morning.  And for our dinner en blanc they prepared and served a 7 course meal.  Throughout the week Martine was busy around the house and the kitchen.  

And Laurent could be spotted throughout the property working on this and that.

I should also introduce you to Benoit - a helper / groundskeeper at the chateau.  Although it sounds like he comes and goes as he pleases so his employment there isn't always consistent.  Anyways, Benoit.  He suddenly appeared mid-week, wearing a beret (!), tooling around the grounds on a golf cart (like for real, that thing was his race car).  A little while later we saw him on the golf cart again, still wearing the beret, but no shirt!  You can imagine the laughter that ensued among this group of women.  A while later we spotted him again, shirt on.  And later still he would come around the corner with no shirt.  So we gave him the nickname -- naked Benoit.

His appearances were always so random and quick that no one was able to get a photo of him.  We were all on a mission to capture Benoit in his natural habitat.  One morning at breakfast, we spotted him in the yard.  AND . . . we can't make this stuff up . . . he was chugging on a wine bottle!  Quick, someone take his picture!  Denise ran out to grab his photo and he happily re-enacted his morning drink.  Although he claims that it was just "prune juice".

One of the funniest moments of the week was at the final dinner, for which Martine & Laurent joined us.  We told Martine the story of Naked Benoit and her reaction was priceless!  She was absolutely beside herself with laughter and I personally got so much enjoyment & entertainment out of just watching her.

Martine & Laurent were a delightful couple, friendly, helpful, and sweet as can be.  We asked them to share a picture of their wedding and they told us the story of a brother who took all their wedding pictures, and then discovered the next day that the film was ruined.  So sad - no weddding pictures at all!  But they did bring out this small framed photo so we could get a glimpse of them in their younger days. 

 Across the road from the chateau sat a farm house.  It included a large stable, living quarters (where Heather, Jill, and Jaci stayed) and a covered outdoor area where we held our classes. I didn't get a photo of the farmhouse in it's entirety but here are some glimpses.

This is actually a view of the chateau from the farmhouse grounds.  How about that thatched fencing?

The trees were ah-mazing!

Inside the stables.  Absolutely gorgeous!

One of our dinners was held in this room and it was just magical.  That golden light . . .  yummy.

More of Jill's calligraphy touches on handmade paper.  For dinner she made us the most amazing vegetarian lasagna.  Yum-o!

Basically the chateau was amazing and beautiful from every angle, in every light.  

It was peaceful, quiet, relaxing.  The birds chirped all day long and late in to the night.  Really, at midnight the birds were still chirping!  Someone commented that it was because they are just so happy to be there.

Once again, what a unique once-in-a-lifetime experience.  I stayed in a 13th century chateau!  Maybe if I say it enough times out loud it will finally seem real to me! 

the academy

Bonjour!

In May I had the amazing opportunity to join my mom on a once in a lifetime trip to France.  Yes, France!  I have NEVER been to Europe, or really outside of the U.S. at all (to me, Mexico & Canada don't count).  Several months ago my dad called me up and said, hey mom really wants to go on this trip with Heather Bullard to France - will you go with her?  I have to admit that I hesitated, because my mind is always full of logistics & reality -- May is like the busiest month of the school year & is Scott really going to be able to manage full-time dad & work duty for a whole week?  

So I brought it up at dinner and he was like, "duh, you're going."

Maybe he didn't say "duh?" but that's what he meant.

So the trip was a go and I was really going to finally use that blank passport I purchased 8 years ago.  Plane tickets were booked in February and before I knew it it was May and time to go!

In the meantime, I had a lot of people ask me about the trip - where are you going, what are you doing, and why?  It was a little difficult to try to explain what this trip - The Academy - was all about. But now that I've experienced it, I can give you a synopsis.

Basically, Heather Bullard (who is a Contributing Editor for Country Living Magazine) had this great idea 1 year ago to bring together a group of women in France (why not?) to share & teach her expertise in creative & editorial styling, all the while experiencing the french culture, cuisine, and countryside.  Sounds amazing, right?

She called it The Academy.

We stayed in a 13th Century Chateau.  It was called Chateau de Mondesir - in Villefranche-de-Longchapt - a small village about 1 hour outside of Bordeaux.

There were 12 women in attendance from all over the world.  Texas, Colorado, Oregon, California, Nevada, New York, Canada, and Australia.

Each of these women had various business ventures & interests ranging from interior design, picnic supplies, sourdough bakery, vacation property management, blogging, antique sales, and some were there simply looking for an epiphany.  You know, sometimes you just need to do something different to shake things up so new possibilities can be opened to you.

Each day Heather shared wonderful gifts with us.  Just look at was waiting for us in our bedrooms!  She told us that she curated these gifts as if she were gathering gifts for her girlfriends.  I thought that was so special.

During our stay we visited a French Brocante to gather our own antique/vintage finds

There were class days when Heather taught us about photography, design, & the nitty gritty details of what her job (prop stylist) entails. We set up our own vignettes (with our purchases from the Brocante), practiced framing those shots, & learned that getting a pretty photo takes a lot of work.

There were field trips to nearby villages & markets to practice lifestyle photography and telling a story with our photos.  And so many wonderful sights, experiences, and wonderful moments were packed into those field trips.  Countless alleyways just like this one.  I mean, come on.

We ate like queens!  French queens. :)  Every meal was amazing, some were an adventure, and I just loved the experience of trying so many new foods as well as familiar foods cooked in new ways.  All of the food was so colorful and presented beautifully. We ate out for some meals, breakfasts & a special dinner were prepared by the chateau owners Laurent & Martine, and many more were prepared by Heather's assistant, Jill.  She has an absolute gift in the kitchen!  Everything was so delicious! 

Jaci (Jill's daughter) was there as photographer, chronicling all the events and pretties.  After much begging, I think (hope!) we convinced Heather to put all of the photos together in a book (along with Jill's recipes) and we would be more than happy to purchase it ourselves!

(Martine, Laurent, & Jaci // I realized I don't have a single photo of Jill!  Oh no!)

The last member of Heather's entourage was Teri who lives in the village Villefranche-de-Longchapt where the Chateau is located.  She had a wealth of local knowledge to help guide us through our excursions & to help us make sense of what we were eating at times. :)  She is an American and also hosts antique & shopping trips to France.

Jill also added beautiful touches to several of our gifts with her amazing calligraphy.

photo credit: @heatherbullard

I think what I loved the most about this trip was the opportunity to partake in unique, hand-picked experiences that were off the beaten tourist path.  The kind of things that I would NEVER know about or even consider if I were planning a trip to France myself.  The fact that I went to France and never stepped foot in Paris doesn't make me feel sad one bit!  Because I feel like the experience that I had here - at the Academy - was just so rich & full.

The X's on this map indicate the towns that we visited - Bordeaux (airport), Saint Emilion, Riberac, Perigeuex, and Eymet.  And the house icon shows where we stayed.

I loved that we had a schedule for each day, outings & lessons planned, meals & transportation provided -- we didn't have to think about anything (other than making sure we had enough Euros for the next market) and so we could just relax and enjoy and soak it all in.

And because it was imagined by Heather every single part was beautiful, thoughtful, and perfect.  What an absolute treat!

********

I plan to share more posts with LOTS of photos from each of our outings, classes, and the food definitely deserves a post all it's own. Stay tuned!

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Before my summary post is over I want to point out a small thing that became part of the experience for me.  5 days before leaving for France I broke my big toe.  I was really really hoping it was a bad sprain, but no, it was broken.  So the doctor gave me this walking boot (so thankful I could walk - a cast would have catastrophic!) and told me I had to wear it for 6 weeks.

I was actually surprised by how well I managed the trip!  My toe didn't bother me at all that week. A tender mercy!  I could go and do every thing that the group did.  I was just a little bit slower, especially on stairs.  And clunkier.

The only place that I thought the boot might be a hindrance was the airport.  So I requested wheelchair service for all legs of my trip and it was a dream!  I highly recommend it if you ever fall into a similar predicament.  The BEST was when I stepped off the plane and there would be a person standing right there in the jetway with a wheelchair waiting for me.  One time, they were even holding an iPad with my name on it!  It was almost like airport limo service. Almost. ;)

Once I sat down they already knew exactly where to go for my connecting flight.  I never had to check monitors, figure out terminals or gates, or think about anything!  The boot came in so handy we may need to keep it for future trips. ;)