We are thrilled to bring you our newest featured blogger for August! We are pretty confident you’ll be swept away by all the little goodies, just like we are…
Mini Coconut Cheesecake!
I started being creative as soon as I could hold a pencil, spatula or a pair of scissors in my hand (which was not easy seeing as I am left handed and the world is out to get me.) I made mock magazines, took photos and stood on a stepstool to make homemade donuts. As I grew up I became increasingly interested in the visual arts, eventually went to school for graphic design and now own my own studio, Pixel Soup Creative. But, when I am not designing logos, I am taking photos and blogging about my life in Redmond at www.ThisFrenchFarmhouse.com
French farmhouse Peonies!
Bedroom treasures…
My blog is made up of the the things I love, the things that inspire me, and the things that I’ll remember 50 years from now.
Amalfi, Italy
Grilled artichoke…delicious
I share this life with Justin, my best friend and husband, and our sweet and smiley baby boy, Sage Michael. Our family is also composed of chocolate labs Huck and Chili and chickens Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner. We love to work on projects together and travel the world.
First there is the house…
We live in Redmond, Washington – about 20 minutes east of Seattle. Our craftsman cottage was built in 1947 and sits in the middle of a country acre. It’s a lot of work, but we have never had more fun making a house a home. Since we bought in 2009, Justin and I have worked together to bring the property back to its former glory and rejuvenate the country setting with a lived in, yet refined French Farmhouse style. Give me three shades of white paint and some 220 grit sandpaper and I’ll shabby chic the car if you’ll let me. We jokingly refer to it as the “Shanda Foisy Signature Farmhouse Finish.”
My bedroom…
Then there is the food…
I started cooking with my mom as soon as I could stand. Years of making homemade breads, curries and learning to brine a chicken prepared me to work as an apprentice pastry chef under Julie Hoagle during high school. While everyone else was in after school sports practice – I was furiously trying to perfect the ‘airiness” of my Madeline Cookies. I seriously considered culinary school, but in the end decided that the hours and lifestyle of being a chef were not for me. While design helps pay the bills, cooking is still my passion. When I’m not working in my studio or on the house, you will find me in the kitchen; cooking, styling and photographing (I’m still learning!), and most importantly, eating with my family.
and the Arts and Crafts…
I try to squeeze in as much creative time as I can, but the days seem to go by much faster now that we have a child. Although I’m not opposed to putting the baby in the front pack while I paint a picture or wander through a flea market looking for things to re-purpose. I do my best to make home-made gifts for Justin and our family. At the end of the year we like to give “Our Box of Favorite Things.” It is usually made up of mostly cheese and alcohol, but our family doesn’t seem to mind.
The { ever growing } Bucket List Take a food styling class in Brooklyn from Béa Peltre Kiss a boy on a bridge in Paris Go to Tanzania and South Africa Learn to ride a motorcycle Grow an organic vegetable garden Write a cookbook Eat Panang curry in Southern Thailand Have a farm sink in my kitchen Watch my son ski with my husband Eat Pizza in Naple Be on “This American Life”
Have a luxurious and treasured filled day,
Trésors De Luxe!
Trésors De Luxe 