This Week on Etsy...Italia Craft

It's official, I am a victim of the bad economy. I was laid-off from my job 4 weeks ago. It is still taking me a while to get used to the idea of not working, but I realize I have time to put some ideas into action.

One thing that I have wanted to do for some time is feature Etsy shops that I adore on my blog. And now here we are with my first pick. Of course, it had to be something European. I have selected Italia Craft. What I personally find interesting about Italia Craft is the style and prints of wallets, lap top cases and more. I am sure you will appreciate the unique style as I do.

Italia Craft has been open since December, 2006 and appears to have quite a following. All items are handmade in Italy. If that is not impressive I am not sure what is. Finding good buys is just another day in my European Style Life.

Winner of the European Style Fashion Contest

It is my pleasure to announce that the winner of the 2009 European Style Fashion Contest is Audrey Young of San Diego, California!

Thank you all for participating in the contest. Above is the fashion collage that Audrey submitted as her take on European fashion. Please check back periodically for further contests.

Rainy Days with Pride and Prejudice

Yesterday was the first rain of the season here in Southern California. I had been looking forward to this event for several weeks. I was temporarily satisfied last week when I took a one week trip to the east coast and experienced rain.

Now that autumn has officially started and we are experiencing the season, there is something to be said for sitting in the comfort of your own living room, listening to the rainfall outside and enjoying a cup of tea. I increased my rainy day experience by watching the 2005 version of "Pride and Prejudice". I find it difficult to believe that the movie opened four years ago!

While watching the movie I engaged in other activities such as laundry and checking email. That is really half the fun of watching a movie you know so well. You can get up and do other things and listen to the movie around the house and then scurry back for your favorite scenes.

I like the part where Lydia Bennet has returned home after her patched up marriage to Wickham. I enjoy watching her behave in such a ridiculous fashion. Her sister, Elizabeth Bennet looks at her and her new husband with contempt. As Lydia throws her dishonorable marriage in the face of her unmarried sisters you can not help but be delighted that you know soon Jane and Elizabeth Bennet will marry for love. And it just happens to be that their future husbands Mr. Bingley and Mr.

Darcy are filthy rich. It is amusing to watch Lydia make a fool of herself.

One of my favorite things to

do while watching Jane Austin movies is to match the characters with people I know. It is a fun game to play as you realize that decades may pass, but people and personalities stay the same. Everyone has a Mr. Darcy and Mr. Collins in their life. If you are fortunate, you end up with Mr. Darcy. And hopefully you can avoid conversations in the middle of the night with Lady Catherine de Bourg. If not, remember Elizabeth Bennet who respectfully threw her out of her house (another one of my favorite scenes). I admire her when she says: "You have insulted me in every possible way, and can now have nothing further to say. I must ask you to leave immediately." Only a woman with true grace can tell someone off in such style.

It seems that I can watch Jane Austin movies all day when it is raining outside. I believe I will watch "Emma" next. Watching a Jane Austin movie on a cold rainy day is just another day in my European Style Life.

Temple City Fall Festival Street Faire 2009

This year's Fall Festival in Temple City is promising to be the best ever! As in years past, Branché Boutique has used the Fall Festival to launch new products and this year will be no different.

After much success with the French Market Sale in August, Branché Boutique has been working hard to unveil the winter collection for the Fall Festival.

Please see the location below. For questions or details, please post a comment and I will respond. We hope to see you there!

FALL FESTIVAL

Branché Boutique

Saturday, October 17, 2009

10:00am to 4:00pm

9701 East Las Tunas Drive

Temple City, California 91780

(Near Pasadena and Arcadia)

The Return of the Parisians, "Le rentree"

King Louis XVI once declared "Is it a revolt"? No! It is "Le rentree"! Everyone knows that Europeans and specifically Parisians go on holiday for several weeks if not the entire summer. When the Parisians return from their holiday in September there is a new bustle in the air. With the enthusiasm of children returning to school and the reopening of open air markets, the gusto of Parisian life fills the air.

The return or “Le rentree” adds much to the general excitement of the life in Paris. It is an opportunity to have a fresh start and enjoy the sights, sounds and aromas of everyday life as the Parisians know it . Click on the link and indulge your senses as you take pleasure in the sounds of Paris during “Le rentree”. The article is hosted by Eleanor Beardsley and entitled “France Marks Return From Vacation In 'Rentree'”. Vous êtes juilletistes ou aoûtien?

European Style Fashion Contest

It is here! The first ever Living Euro Style Fashion Contest. It’s just like paper dolls except that you can dress yourself, your friends and share your sense of European style. In your favorite fashion magazine there are always great pages filled with dresses, skirts, belts, bags, shoes, etc. and they all look so beautiful put together like a work of art. Now you can create your own! The website for creating the montage is Polyvore.com. It is incredibly addicting as you search for the perfect skirt to go with the perfect hat and ultra trendy bag! Oh yes, don't forget the scarf! Have fun and be creative.

Creating a montage takes from 15-20 minutes. Please see the rules below and start shopping and pasting! The deadline for submission is October 15, 2009. Please send an email with any questions. You may view my fashion montage on my homepage under “How To Dress Like A European Woman”. Americans learning to dress like Europeans is just another day in my European Style Life.

Contest Rules:
1. Winner will be chosen at the discretion of the author of this website on the merits of the most unique, stylish and European inspired.
2. Participant agrees to have fashion montage posted on my website and to be used any way deemed appropriate.
3. Entries will be received from September 9, 2009 to October 15, 2009. Entry submissions must be submitted by email to parleneparis@sbcglobal.net and must include full name, mailing address and email address.
4. Entries should include at least one listing from my personal website, Branché Boutique by Parlene. It need not be a wearable item. This may require uploading photos. (Click on the link for instructions.) If you have a difficult time uploading photos, you may submit an entry without using an item from my Etsy site. It's all in good fun!
5. Entries must be created using Polyvore format.
6. One Starbucks gift card valued at $20 will be awarded to the winner within 2 weeks of the announced winner. The winner will be notified by email. The prize will be mailed via USPS. Participant may not request a monetary value of the prize. The monetary value of the prize is less than one cent.

The Bank Dance and 500 Days of Summer

Still can't get enough of 500 Days of Summer and those swanky frocks? Well, neither can I! I am as hooked on this movie and soundtrack as I was when I saw Marie Antoinette with Kirsten Dunst. Ah, but I bet you didn't know there was a "Bank Dance". Well, only us who are down with 80's music and skinny ties know about this one...Enjoy. Simply click the play button.

The Bank Dance from "500 Days of Summer"