~ Kaari Meng~
Fourteen years ago, when I sat in an old house in St. Remy, France and thought up the idea of French General, I had no idea that it would take me on this wild creative path with twists and turns at every corner. The idea of a French general store appealed to me – an old space that stocked the shelves high with rural textiles; the apothecary jars full of old glass baubles and beads; and the wooden pegs full of old grosgrain ribbon – who wouldn’t be inspired? Originally, I just wanted to stay home and be with my new baby girl Sofia – I was looking for a way to work less, not more. After spending ten years in the jewelry business, designing with my collection of old glass beads and charms, I was ready to take a break. I wanted to start a small home business that combined all of my favorite things – texture, craft and color – and somehow get myself to France every summer to collect the stock.
Opening the original French General in our barn, was a way for me to stay home and still be creative – something I desperately longed for. Within a few years, I learned that other women were looking for the same thing – to be inspired by something creative everyday – not just on the weekends or for a stolen hour here and there – but to surround themselves with beauty and creativity on a daily basis. Over the years, French General slowly evolved into a lifestyle that fit into our family life and resonated with friends – we dreamt of living a simple life – crafting our days into something special. After building a website that featured our products, we were able to move French General out to California and have the luxury of opening the shop one day a week. We get a lot of people asking why we are only open one day a week and I always think about an old French comment… are you living to work or working to live? Right now I am happy to say I am working to live. French General has decorated my life with kits, projects, books, and beautiful fabric – not to mention the wonderful and talented friends I have made. Every time we start a new project, I check in with friends and family – to hear their opinion or suggestions – or maybe even see what they are looking for to make their life easier. I have always believed that whatever objects we put in our lives should be beautiful as well as useful. So much of what we do is inspired by the past, I am always looking for a new way to do design something that was originally made a hundred years ago. How do we improve on something that is already beautiful? Keeping my life filled with creative people is one way I stay inspired daily.
After teaching at The Creative Connection last year, I went away filled with so many ideas – I felt as if the event had jump started my work again – I returned home to Los Angeles with new friends, inspiring ideas and a ton of creative energy!
*Photo courtesy of the AMAZING Martha of http://iseethemoonphotography.com
This past year I have started two new projects – a scrap booking/ paper line and a home decorating fabric, wallpaper and trim line – neither idea would have come to fruition if I hadn’t attended The Creative Connection last year. I can’t wait to return again this September – to meet up with old and new friends and learn something new. I will be teaching two different classes with my good friend, Wendy Addison. Wendy and I decided to combine our workshops together and offer people twice as much creativity – so if you sign up for one of our classes, you will be in for a real treat!
{Bibelot Charme Workshop}
{Boite de Bijoux Workshop}
I hope to meet you in September or at our shop in Los Angeles (on a Monday!) someday soon.
~
Please visit Kaari at
www.FrenchGeneral.com
Follow her on Facebook
THEN
Join her latest endeavor:
www.the-art-of-craft.com
~
We are honored to have Kaari as a Teacher and Pitch Slam Roundtable Author at
THE CREATIVE CONNECTION.
Plus, she'll also be signing her book:
at the Autograph Cocktail Party!
You will want to sign up for her classes early … They will sell out!
SO …
What about a giveaway?
Kaari has GENEROUSLY offered a copy of her book:
PLUS …
An exclusive Jewelry kit from the book …
And you know how FABULOUS her kits are!
All you need to do is comment to this thread and you're entered!
***********
Additional entries:
*Follow WWC and TCC on Twitter
@WHEREWOMENCREAT @TCCEVENT (1 Entry)
*Tweet about this contest (1 entry)
*Blog about this contest and mention THE CREATIVE CONNECTION (1 Entry)
*Have a WWC button or link on your blog (1 Entry)
*Post a Comment on THE CREATIVE CONNECTION BLOG (1 Entry)
Remember to post separately for each additional entry and please only post the amount of entries allowed. Also, make sure we have a way to contact you. This contest ends on Tuesday, June 14th at Midnight (MST), so make sure to get your comments in by then.
One more thing … Facebook rules are ever changing, so we never involve them in any contest we have. However, we would appreciate a "Like" on our THE CREATIVE CONNECTION EVENT Facebook page.
Creative Karma will be bestowed on you!
~THANK YOU~
Have a wonderful weekend creative friends!
Oooooh pick me please!
Pick me too! :)
Beautiful! I have admired you for years.
i would love to win this book to try all the ideas
pick me plzzzzzzz
I would love a chance to win – looks like a great book to have
I would love to enter this :)
I absolutely love French General and to win this book would be divine!
Oh I would love to win this for my daughter, who loves making jewelry! Your book would be my desire, because I used to sew for Bloomingdale’s & Macy’s. I love making things for the bedroom especially!
I would love to win a copy of this book please!
what fun is this!! please pick me! would love to win this book. thank you. carlanda
The new paper line and trim are a great addition to very beautiful fabric!
Looks like so much fun!
oh lovely, hope I win..sweetness
oh lovely, hope I win..sweetness
oh lovely, hope I win..sweetness
I so admire Kaari Meng! Would love to win her book and a kit.
Diane Langness
I envy your creativity and lifestyle…you are an inspiration!!!
I so love this! I purchased a bracelet kit some years ago and it is still one of my favorites. It would love to have a new friend to play and party with. Thank you Kaari and thank you Jo and Paige and all the others that make this wonderful community happen.
I love that book so much!!! It is creativity without limitations. I can’t wait to see the papers and fabrics coming out!!!
I would so love to win this book. I work at a library and suggested it to be bought and guess what, they did!!!! haha..so everytime it comes back in (and it goes out a lot) I get to drool over the pages…would love to add this to my personal library…love this article….thanks for the opportunity to try to win….
what a wonderful give away!
FG is one store i’ve always dreamed of spending some serious time and probably too much money!
Always so interesting to see how women are using their creativity!
I feel truly inspired!
Wishing that this was my time to attend the Creative Connection Event!
It is not to be, but maybe winning a kit that Kaari has created would ‘feel’ like I was there? lol…
I’d even wait till September to do it!
…silly can be good too… :-)
I’m so excited for this class at TCC. I’ve checked this book our from the library and love it. I would be so happy to have one of my own. Thanks for the chance!
Oh this is fabulous. I would love to win!
I would SO love to win this book, always admire French General & just recently took my first jewelry class! Thanks Jo & Kaari, would love to meet you both at Creative Connection! Hope it’s great, looks awesome! Debbie :)
so blessed that all of you are here to share your amazing talents with me!!
Love your trinkets and treasures! Pick me! Pick me! Pick me! Please.
Lovely! I <3 French General! I Follow on Facebook and twitter! Merci!
I have always wanted to learn how to make jewelry. This would be perfect! Thanks.
Fabulous as always! Thanks for introducing us to another amazing lady.
aliben7 (at) gmail (dot) com
Wow! I l-o-v-e French General fabrics! I can’t wait to see the paper line too. I used the red and cream striped fabric this last year to make a diaper bag when we heard that our first grandchild was on the way. I was thrilled with the way it turned out – even my too-cool-for-school son decided that it was hip enough – and non-girly enough for him to carry it without embarrassment.
I do so hope I win the book!
Amazing! This is my first day visiting the site and there’s a giveaway..love it!
I have loved all her books!
merci for the great giveaway! i tried to visit your L.A. shop a couple of years ago when i was there for my birthday, but sadly the shop was closed that day. this would be a lovely consolation gift:) i’m now following you on facebook. thanks!
Sitting here, with a grandbaby asleep in one arm and trying to type with the other…Inspiration on “both sides”!!! Someday I will be able to attend a Creative Connection Workshop and experience the magic….
Maria
What a lovely giveaway. French General is great.
What a great giveaway to win! Kaari’s books and kits are so beautiful. I love to look at them for inspiration. I have a WWC link on my blog – Cheers
I love French General fabrics and would love to win the book!
French General is my latest passion…love the fabrics, I just purchased Moda French General Maison de Garance for a project!
I love French General! Would love to add this book to my collection!
I adore French General, too. Please enter me in the giveaway. :-)
What a beautiful post! very inspiring, I would love to be entered in.
Lovely! all…
loveeeee it!!!!!!!
Love your trinkets and treasures. I always wanted to learn how to make jewelry. This would be perfect! Thanks for sharing.
Oh wow this has to be Serendipity. I just finished listening to your podcast with Annie Smith and also her podcast with Kaari Meng, I am a bit behind on my listening you see.
Thank you for the chance to win this wonderful prize.
Aww…I would L O V E a copy of your book!
Thanks for all your inspiration!
I have followed Kaari for years and have many of her books already! She inspires me in so many
creative ways~ for which I am thankful. I must have been a francophile in a previous life :)!
Having drooled over the many beautiful items in Kaari’s on-line store for a long time, it would be delightful to win her book and kit! The only thing that would top it is being able to take a class with her!
Love Kaari’s life philosophy, something we all aspire to. Thanks for featuring French General and Kaari on your inspiring blog.
LOve, love, love!
What joyful, creative expression of spirit. Thanks for your williness to share your design & energy with others.
I love Kaari’s creativity and her outlook on life. Her kits look divine and it would be fun to try them out. Thank you for sharing this wonderful giveaway!
I’m so inspired by your creative expression! Thanks for sharing your ideas with us! Best wishes on your continued success. Along with so many others, all I can say is, choose me! How fantastic it would be to win this fantabulous book and kit.
I have been blessed to have attended Kaari’s classes at Silver Bella. What an amazing woman! Thank you for this wonderful giveaway
Just went to CC and posted. Thanks for the chance on the giveaway
Beautiful book – would love to call it mine!
I love French General! Fabric, jewelry kits, everything! Thanks for the giveaway!
Oh my goodness how I would love to win this giveaway! I am hopeful to some day attend Creative Connection but in the meantime experiencing a little bit here is wonderful.
xo,
Abby
thanks for the inspiration, I’m looking forward to spending my summer creating and learning new projects for my K – 5 kids next year!
i love french general
Aw me me me :)
I love the idea behind French General! I just said to my hubby recently that I feel like we are working for the house and not having the house work for us {i.e. paying for household expenses, doing the maintenance and chores}. We need to downsize! I would love to have a copy of the book and the jewelry kit sounds awesome.
I have a WWC button with link on my blog!
What a beautiful book! And, thank you for the opportunity to enter the giveaway! It sounds like the Creative Connection in September will be fabulous!
Love! Love! Love!
just reading your story inspires me to want to open an American country one here in the heartland!!! enjoy your bliss!
I would be beyond thrilled to win this! I LOVE FG! Her story is so inspiring to me :)
Wonderful insight into Kaari’s life, creativity, inspiration and philosophy!
You are certainly a creative inspiration. Your things are lovely. Would love to win !
I feel like I Arnold Horshack standing up in the back row waving his arm and bellowing “Mr. Kotter! Mr. Kotter! Pick Me!” I love where your ideas take you…you don’t just dream them….you LIVE them! That’s why you inspire me. Thank you for all that you share with us!!
Meagan
What a fabulous giveaway! I’m so excited to be attending the event this year for the first time!
I love Kaari Ming and her work. I carry all of her fabrics in my little shop. We all need a little touch of France in our lives.
I have a WWC button on my blog.
I posted a comment of The Creative Connection blog. I’m attending a few of Traci Bautista’s classes.
I have always admired French General’s line of goodies. Count me in please!
LOVE French General!! Pick me!
I love, love, love French General!! Please count me in!!
I love Kaari’s creativity and love the French General.
OH OH OH!!! How exciting to have Kaari share her story with us!!! French General has been on my mind to visit next time I get to California!! Love that we can access her store online!!
What a delightful give-away!
Simply cannot resist the deliciousness of this giveaway!
I would love, love, love to win :-)))
Kaari Meng has been my inspiration for years. Her beautiful things just warm my heart.
I am inspired just by reading this. I need to be creative today!!
I love all of French General’s things. I teach French in HS and of course everything “French” is good. I really would love to win the book and kit
I’d never heard of French General before so thank you! I love French Country style and started browsing the site immediately!
Oh I love French General. This book is on my wish list. What a lovely interview with Kari.
Oh, how I would be eternally grateful for all that “Creative Karma”!! This looks like a fabulous book from which I can draw much inspiration. Thank you!! Amy ~
Oops. That should be Kaari. And I have a WWC button on my blog sidebar.
I’m so fascinated by the French Inspired Home and so inspired by Kaari Ming’s French General and the French Country style. I would LOVE to win the book!
what a beautiful post and inspiring too! thanks for the chance to win.
What a neat feature for your blog today! Thanks for the giveaway & for sharing such a neat person & website.
Who wouldn’t love the book and another bracelet. I will keep my fingers crossed. Have a great weekend!~
i adore all things French General…
oooo! I would love my name thrown into the hat for the chance to win the giveaway!
Thank you.
I would love to win! Please enter me in this giveaway.
Love this!
Pick me, pick me! Hand waves wildly in the air!
Awesome giveaway! I’ve linked it up at http://www.craftbuds.com/giveaway-roundup/
Kaari’s designs are beautiful. Her story is so inspirational; she thought of something unique and special that she would love to do, and made it happen. Congratulations on the success of French General!
So lovely to ‘meet’ Kaari who is living the dream. I have just purchased 3 of her books on Amazon and would love to add this one to the collection.
way cool. if only i made time to do this cool stuff. this blog is getting my energy, inspiration back. it was gone for so long. thanks.
Looks fabulous I wish I were in the LA area so I could come into the shop! Hope I win as the book looks amazing and I’m sure the kit is too!
Another wonderful giveaway! Thanks for the opportunity to win some of Kaari’s beautiful merchandise.
I would love to win!!!! Pleeeeease
I would love to win this book! That would be fabulous! Good giveaway.
Gorgeous Gorgeous Gorgeous!!! Love every bit of it.
I love her to bits! I did that pillow heart class too…pure JOY! I have a couple of her kits…I must make them up! Hugs.xoxo
I love everything Karri does, she is so creative and it is contagious, thank God. hee-hee
Creatively
Tammie Moore The Great
(remember in grade school when we would write that-why not now?)
OOOOOH, I drool over these jewelry kits! They are too yummy. Please add me into the giveaway. Thanks!
I would love to experience Kaari’s book and design kit. Thanks for another wonderful opportunity.
What a pleasure to read of your success, Kaari!!It is good to realize a dream does (and should) become reality if you work at it!
Kaari is an amazing teacher!
What a great giveaway. Kaari is certainly an inspiration and I’d love a copy of the book! Jamie V in MT
http://rem-nants.blogspot.com
I love French General and Kaari’s other book, “French-Inspired Jewelry” is another favorite. One day I hope to get to France. Until then, there’s always French General!
Kaari’s kits look gorgeous! Thanks for the chance to win!
I follow both Where Women Create and The Creative Connection Event on Twitter!
I have the WWC button on my blog sidebar!
French General is so delightful and inspiring. I would be thrilled to win a kit from Kaari…thanks for the opportunity.
So glad to have found French General and I would love to win your book. What a great story of making the dream come true, inspiring to the rest of us.
Oh so many beautiful ideas. I’d love to add some of them to my home..
Please add my name to the list – I love French General!
I would love to win this giveaway. Sounds like it will be a wonderful surprise for someone.
Looks like the combined class projects dovetail beautifully – so pretty!
I would love to win!
ohhh! I would love to add this to my French General collection! I have Home Sewn {♥}! {a collection starts with just one, right?!} I’m hoping to attend the Woad Workshop. I missed the last one and I have my fabric waiting just for the workshop! :) Thank you for a wonderful interview and giveaway!
So much eye candy and inspiration! :) Thanks for the chance to win the book and kit.
Sure thing – button. :)
Just love French General, wonderful to have a giveaway!
It would be wonderful to win this prize. Thanks for inspiring us all.
Great Giveaway!! thank.
Kaari is so inspiring! I just love her creations. Thanks for the chance to win!
Lovely. I wish I were still in SoCal–I would certainly drop in and say hello. Thanks for the generous giveaway.
Kaari is so inspirational. For years I looked for a way to get off my computer and express my creativity with my hands. Kaari’s beautiful books, fabulous bead collections and wonderful designs inspired me to try my hand at making jewelry. I love it! It has revitalized my creativity and changed the direction of my life. Thank you Kaari!
what a sweet giveaway! My granddaughter would really love this!
cathy b
pbprojecthope at yahoo dot com
Everything is so beautiful! I would love to win a copy of this book and the kit. Thanks for the chance!
I love Kaari’s work and creative ventures! I have her first book, and use it all the time! Thanks for sharing more about her and her happenings! ~Heidi
The French General Giveaway looks fabulous! I would love an opportunity to win!!!!
yes congratulations indeed she made her dream a reality
I’ve enjoyed your previous books and sell them in my indie bookstore. I’m excited to see the new one!
Who doesn’t love French General. Not only is the fabric inspirational but so is the site and everything they do. Congrats to who ever wins. Enjoy creating and hope you share your inspiration.
I enjoyed reading Kaari’s wonderful story. The book looks fabulous and I would love to be the winner!
I WWC badge is on our blog.
What a fun opportunity … as if I need another excuse to buy more ribbon.
oh what an awesome prize! thanks for the opportunity to win!
Oooh! LOVE her jewelry!!!!! Thanks for the giveaway!
What a wonderful giveaway!! Thank you! Following @TCCEVENT.
Thank you – really excited wait for TCC this fall. Tweeted. :)
I absolutley love Kaari’s style and really wish I could visit her shop in LA. One of these days. In the meantime, I enjoy visiting her blog and looking at her books. I pour over the shop website looking at the lovely jewelry kits. Simply devine!!
Hope to win!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE French General!!!
Absolutely beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
I have admired Kaari Meng’s work for so long! Her books, website and interviews serve as a great inspiration for my creativity and love of all things beautiful!!!
There is nothing I like more than a contest that offers wonderful books and vintage NOTIONS! Pick me, please! Thank you for offering this prize.
I discovered the French General A while ago and it truly spoke to me. Thanks for featuring Kaari & her work.
Liz
Several years ago a dear friend gave me French Inspired Jewelry. I was awed by the visual feast….I use a lot of vintage glass in my work so my sweet friend knew I would love it. And, love it, I did! I have all of your books and have purchased some vintage glass from French General as well. You, building your life around your creative center inspires me. So….thanks.
Welldone, you are doing a great job. Home business is good for every woman. I am happy to read that your home business that combined all of good things like texture, craft and colors.
what a beautiful post and inspiring too! thanks for the chance to win.
Yes those are really lovely. I bet you can make a lot of money with them if you kick start your business. You just have to engage in brilliant marketing strategies. Don’t worry, there are countless guides on the net just for that.
What fantastic designs! I absolutely love them!
Those are beautiful and fantastic designs, I adore what you have done here.