Hitting the Bottle This Weekend

images; sfgirlbybay; the birthday girl; remodelista; captain kk; the design files

I have a school reunion to attend today and while part of me can't wait - will those old crushes be there with their balding heads and beer guts?! - there is part of me that is suddenly turning into a 15yr old needing a little reassurance that all will be fine. Only one way to cope, I feel, and that's hitting the bottle....let my alter ego, come out and play. Well, maybe not. The idea makes me feel a little more at ease though.

I love bottles, I love glassware all lined up and sparkling, I actually have files of pictures of them. Here's a selection taken from the blogosphere in the last year or so.

Have a great weekend!

Allez Lido!

images 1; via the diversion project 2; stephan t for galmont

Jules over at The Diversion Project has shown a delectable French home but of course, my eye was drawn to the image on the fireplace. It looks like the program for one of the shows at the Lido Cabaret, dating back about 50 years. We've been fortunate to have the advertising poster a number of times at Galmont, this is the 60 X 40cms version. Gorgeous.

Ballarat Antique and Collectable Fair 2010

images; stephan t for galmont

When we returned to Australia after living in the United States, we at Galmont (ie. l'Homme and moi!) were showing our wares via a storage facility and an online gallery. The only other place that we could be seen were fairs. Ballarat Antique and Collectable Fair was the first place to accept us, they weren't exactly sure what we were up to, there was quite a bit of explaining to do with some of the stall holders who were questioning how legitimate we were. But eight years on, no-one questions us, they've seen us in the media, they appreciate that we bring something different, they love watching us turn the posters over and drawing a crowd. I look forward to every year meeting back with the familiar faces of people we've met. I feel a sense of loyalty towards those who chose to take a chance on the couple who were passionate about a product that was completely foreign to them.

So, this weekend, I cranked up the music, drove myself for an hour and a half, stood on my legs for nine hours straight and had a ball!

Galmont on Twitter

image; trouville by savignac, 1987; stephan t for galmont

We’ve been avoiding the whole Twitter thing for a long while, but thought it was time to add another string to our social networking bow. So we’re going to tweet and twitter and hoot and holler and hope that someone is interested in hearing our 140 characters of wisdom...

Of course, our assistant extraordinaire, our little GenY wonder, Michelle our Belle, is taking the reins; but as we are all a bunch of chatterboxes with something to say, I have no doubt we'll all have a go.

Feel-the-Love Friday

Comme Nicolas by Peyonet, circa 1950. image; michelle our belle for galmont

It's so nice to be loved, isn't it?! I've been feeling the bloglove lately, more comments and interactions with dear readers and, it seems, a few bloggers liking what we do at Galmont. I've become aware of some fairly recent posts that have been written regarding us and our posters.

Many thanks to;

- Gorgeous Belinda at The Happy Home, her blogpost here;

-Darling Fitzroyalty who gave our community bookshelf a little bit of attention here;

- Fresco Creative blog has a little bit to say here;

- and that Crafty Minx, Kelly, is apparently a fan of Galmont too, read here.

Enjoy your weekend, friends, will see you back next week. x

Galmont on House and Garden's Wishlist!

So lovely to open up the latest Australian House and Garden magazine and see our beautiful little Parapluie looking back at me. Thanks to subeditor Elle Lovelock for thinking the image was worthy to go on your list right there with the Prince Charles chair.

Living Without LivingEtc....just...

I subscribe to more magazines than I have fingers - all in the name of research, of course! But my most beloved, most anticipated, most can't-believe-how-many-creative-people-there-are-out-there-check-out-how-they-live magazine is Living Etc. I don't care that it arrives to me a good month after my beloved Brits have read it. I run with anticipation to the local newsagent each month, (thanks Maxie!) pop it in the pram, race home again and then savour every single page with a piping hot cuppa at my side. I've had this same routine for three years now.

So, to get home last month only to discover that it was nowhere to be found was deeply disturbing. Cannot for the life of me work out when it slipped out from amongst the baby paraphenalia. I am still only getting over it! It's a wonder I haven't lost sleep...

Simply cannot wait to visit Maxie and be handed the latest issue tomorrow.

Hurrah! Femme Gets a Facelift!

Look how beautiful and shiny lovely Femme de Montmartre is looking!
Thanks to Pip for her gorgeousness and generosity and thanks to all of you for voting.

As you can see via my very sophisticated methods featured in the photo below; number 3 header was the winner by quite a substantial amount. I am thrilled with the outcome.
And then, in the very same sophisticated manner (ie. torn up scraps with voter names written on them) I randomly chose a winner who is
Camilla at Designalogue Blog!
You take home this gorgeous girl, Camilla, please contact me via my email (galerie.montmartre at gmail.com) and I will see that this gets to you. Congratulations!!

Friday Fun - Thanks Raina!

joker by auriac, 1958; photo, stephan t for galmont

I am so thrilled to have discovered 'If The Lampshade Fits', Raina's 'snarky' (as she puts it...at least I think it was her?!) persona has me laughing on a regular basis. Although an American living in Colorado, I swear she must have some Australian heritage somewhere, as her sense of humour, the way she views life via her blog and her ability to poke fun at herself reminds me so much of my Aussie mates.

This post has had Michelle our Belle (that would be our assistant-extraordinaire) and I laughing aloud, the comments are too funny. Seriously, I urge you to jump over and have a quick look.

Hope you get plenty of laughs this weekend.

Don't forget to put in your point of view for the Femme de Montmartre header....two days and the vote closes. Thanks to all those who have contributed, I love hearing from you!

Undressed and Gorgeous!

'undress' by kat macleod; turquoise beaded detail, red lace; pink cellophane hair; flash not included...

a feminine piece deserves some feminine framing; note the gorgeous detail in the matt? oh how i love it; framed to perfection by creative framing in burwood, victoria

i was sure you were enjoying the flash as much as i was....



'undress' at home; la chambre, chez trbuhovich, february 2010

She has arrived! Just look at her, that adorable, irresistable young thing glancing at me over her bead-enhanced shoulder everytime I walk into my bedroom. Look how comfortable she has made herself amongst my bedside bits. Just gorgeous, thank-you so much, Kat Macleod for that gorgeous show which means I can own a little of what you do. I love it!

You Could Own This Little Beauty...

vespa piaggio, anon; c. 1960, 30 X 40cms; stephan t for galerie montmartre

....simply by voting for the header you like best.
Isn't she gorgeous?! From the 1960's, this was one of the generic signs printed for the Vespa product boxes in Italy - primarily used for export, she retails for $150 but you could have her simply by being so kind as to give your valued opinion. Interested? Go here and get in the draw!
And, it should be noted, this giveaway is open to international friends too, so don't be shy all you overseas lovelies. x

Happy Friday - Galmont and Inside Out Magazine

photograph; john laurie styled by the lovely lucy feagins

Some of you may not have had the chance to see our posters in the latest edition of the
Inside Out magazine (ie. that might be you S-J Down the Lane and Rockin' Raina in Denver), so thought I'd give you a little glance.

Megan Morton is not only the stylist's stylist, but she is one fab person and has come up with the best written soundbite for vintage posters that I have read in a longtime.

"Posters are produced to attract viewers' attention and hold it. Their bold use of typography ensures they will always be centre stage in a room. Sarah is not alone in her passion for vintage posters. Due to their rarity, many have become collector's items, and their popularity has made them highly prized." Megan Morton for Inside Out March-April 2010

Have a lovely Friday, people, next week I'll be showing you what I've chosen as the giveaway...if you haven't voted for a header, please do so to be in the running to get yourself some vintage paper love! x

Hanging to Play in this Room

I love what Suki has done for little Varpu; yes the room was created for a baby, but this Femme could easily hang out on the mass of cushions all day long staring up at her Eames Hang-It-All. (Note To Self; start saving so I can stare at one of my own...) Check out the entire blogpost here.

Pip to the (Interim) Rescue and a Giveaway!

1.

2.


3.

I've had some great conversations with retail and blog friends about the importance of sharing knowledge and how some lovely creatives are a little reluctant to do it in case someone steals an idea or does something even better etc. I'm of the opinion that chatting things over and sharing ideas can only help your own creative process. Oh believe me, I used to keep things to myself for fear of being ripped off.....never told a soul about my desire to have a yellow and grey room as a teenager, for example! But as I've become older, more self assured perhaps, that attitude has g.o.n.e.

I think Pip over at Meet Me at Mike's comes from the same school of thinking as myself. After this post, I had an email arrive and the gorgeous thing had provided me with some headers, until mine had been sorted. I mean, how is that for generosity?! It's not like the girl has a book to write, a blog to run, a retail space and a family that needs her attention. Oh no, she is going to help this little Femme get her teensy blog looking schmick.

God I love that girl, her enthusiasm and zest for life and others is inspiring. Thanks so much, Pip!

So, now over to you, dear readers - I am going to use one of these blog headers while I get my own act together. I would love to hear which you like the best, please leave a comment with either 1, 2 or 3 (and a comment, if you so desire!) and whichever has the most votes will be the one used. And I am going to choose someone at random, for taking the trouble and send a little vintage love courtesy of Galerie Montmartre. February 28th is the closing date. Hurrah! (That's my cyber impression of Pip!!!)

Love in Bloom 2010

valentine's day dinner party flowers at chez trbuhovich

i love turquoise and orange....was patting myself on the back all night over this combination!

the morning after, all dishes were cleared - except for the dessert plates - and you don't have to look too closely to see the grubby fingermarks all over the almosyt empty carafe; which speaks of a 'successful' dinner party to me!! all images; shelley t

We hosted some gorgeous friends on February 14th. It just so happened that Valentine's Day was the time we could all get together. So, what to choose flower-wise? I knew that I wanted roses, but not necessarily red ones and I also knew that I wanted to fill one of our French champagne buckets with a little floral number; so hydrangeas with a contrasting orange hued rose was what I chose. I had fun putting them together.

I always think I'd love a house full of flowers, but the reality is, I spend the 'kitty' on magazines instead. So on the odd occasion when there is bouquets at every turn in Chez Trbuhovich, I feel extra happy.

The Carnival is Over....almost...

image; oobi baby via the happy home

I have been down the beach having an absolutely dreadful time relaxing by the sea, meeting new people, hanging out at cafes and playing games with my little people, even managed a conversation or three with L'Homme (!). But still the girl needs to get one last thing out of her system. A surprise birthday party for a favourite Aunt.....in Queensland. So tomorrow I am taking Petit-Petit to go and play up north. I have wanted to be a little more spontaneous in 2010, this seemed the perfect opportunity to try out the new resolution.

I will be back on-board on Thursday and then no more swanning around for a while, I'll pop the party shoes and pink tutu away and resume my regular life again.

In the meantime, if you're in Australia, you must get your hands on the latest Inside Out magazine and check out some lovely Galmont vintage poster art.

My Sister Pat and Prue from Christchurch

image; the fabulous My Sister Pat bathing suits found at Lark

The blogworld is a hilarious place, I can't get over how much it brings people together from all over the world...

Case in point; I strolled past a woman on the beach today (yes, still here!) who gave me a big smile and said to me, "I love your bathers"; we were in identical styles with different prints - ie. My Sister Pat 50's inspired one piece.

We got chatting....Prue was down from Christchurch NZ with her family, we spoke about our swimwear, quickly jumping to Lark, the power of blogs, our google readers and how full they are becoming. Prue told me during her visit that she'd also been to Meet Me at Mike's and Cottage Industry, as a result of her blog-love.

Then we chatted about our little people, travelling and professional lives.

"Oh, I have this business that sells vintage posters...."I answered.

Prue looks over with a glint in her eye, "Really?? What is the name of your company?"

"Galerie Montmartre."

"Oh my God", says my new acquaintance, "I was on your website the other night. I noticed you via The Design Files."

It ends up that Prue loves Lucy's blog, it's her daily read, a post about us caught her eye, so she spent a while checking out what we do.

Unbelievable; Do you call that Six Degrees of Separation??

Let's hear it for...

...teachers!

I was a primary school teacher once, spent my days with 7 and 8 year olds, before my life became completely consumed with Galmont and other creative pursuits. Teaching was the hardest work I have ever done in my life even though I was pretty good at it - I said the last bit of that sentence quietly, as it feels a little like bragging! I'm not showing off, just stating that although I had the teaching thing down, it was hard, hard, hard work. Seriously!
Those kids were gorgeous, the parents were beautiful; I felt so responsible for the little people under my care that I carried the lives of 24 kids in my head (and my heart) for an entire school year, doing everything I could to help them be great little citizens and an asset to the world.

So, if you are an Aussie parent with a child starting school today, get to know your teacher and let them know they are appreciated, there's a good chance they care almost as much for your child as you do!

image found here

Celebrating Australia Day....for a couple of weeks!

Hello Folks! I am having so much fun lurking around the blogosphere, making the odd comment, following new blogs and getting plenty of inspiration.
Galmont has been open all January and we've met lots of lovely people - many Interstate and overseas visitors too - but there has still been plenty of time to relax and enjoy a few things...




...and with relaxation often comes the ideas...I've finally come up with a cheap (ie. budget conscious, not hideous!!) way to continue living with our outdated kitchen. The wallpaper above is going to be one part of it and blackboard paint the other - just a little, as I am getting slightly jaded seeing bb paint everywhere, but it's going to be put to good use in a fun way. I think a couple of slight changes and the kitchen can be brought into 2010. I am very excited. I see a 'before and after' post in the making!




.....loving Pia Jane Bijkerk's interview in the latest Dumbo Feather mook (ie. is it a magazine? is it a book?) I wrote of my love for all things Dumbo Feather here and I noticed that Victoria had something to say about DF recently too. Oh yes, it is inspiration city, that little publication.

I've actually managed to read the weekend newspapers from cover-to-cover four whole weeks in a row! That is heaven to me!
Congrats, by the way, to Kat and Nat who had a lovely little article written about their business, they launched a mere four months ago...their wrappers are selling like 'cupcakes'...urgh, sorry...!

...and I finally realised that the baby blanket our friend, Tash, gave us a couple of year's back when Petit-Petit arrived is an Amy Butler design (the top one) - any wonder I love it so much!

Of course, there has been much more which I'll share with you all when we return from our little vacation down the coast. Galmont will be left in the capable hands of sweet Michelle, our Belle, who will be beating L'Homme at his own game, if he doesn't watch himself.

See you again soon - thanks for your lovely comments and welcome to all those sweeties who have decided to follow what this Femme gets up to; I better lift my own game...

images; 1. the cupcake wrapper co. 2. yorkwall collection 3. scissors and paper rock! 4. amy butler

Beat the Heat

all images; color me katie

Well hello!! How has 2010 been for you so far? Here in the sweet land Downunder it has been hot, like un-naturally hot, heat-wave conditions. Yesterday in Melbourne was 44 degrees celcius (110 fahrenheit) with the highest minimum night temperature on record (32 degrees celcius ie. 90 fahrenheit) - very oppressive. But I think that my little mate, Katie, has the right idea...what do you think? Fancy taking public transport sans your pants?! This was the annual 9th 'no pants subway ride' held by Improv Everywhere - for an exhibitionist like me this idea appeals so much, but unfortunately it's about 10 years too late!

PS. I'm enjoying my little blogpost rest, January is holiday season which means we're out and about far more, so will post a little sporadically until the end of the month. Take care. x

Happy New Year Bloggy Mates!

image; stephan t for galerie montmartre

I am so happy to see in a new year, aren't you? I really enjoy them. My all-time favourite thing to do on January 1st. is to write the 25 things that I feel I achieved during the previous year and then write 25 things I'd like to achieve in the new year. Sounds very Pollyanna, I know, but I find it quite therapeutic - when do we ever sit down and give ourselves a little pat on the back? (And then allow ourselves some time to dream?)

One thing is for sure, this blog has been a positive inclusion in my life in 2009. I have met many wonderful people and been so inspired by the ideas of others in the blogsphere. In all honesty, I love the personal expression that blogging allows and I feel honoured to read the journeys of others. Sure, we show the side of ourselves we are happy for the world to see, but I think we have much to learn from each other.

Thank-you so much for joining me on my blogging journey, I really see this first year as a bit of a practice - you have watched me slowly getting my groove on! Congrats to that, you patient things!

I have one new year's wish for this blog in 2010;
- I'd love all those people who enjoy this blog on a regular basis to pop me on their blogroll, that'd be real nice!

Of course, there are things I am dreaming up and certain things that I'll be changing - the lack of proper header for one. So I hope you will join me for more bloglove in 2010.

Be safe, be well and blog on!!!
Happy New Year!

x shelley t - femme de montmartre

Galmont Sale!

an assortment of vintage posters up for sale this january! images; stephan t and michelle for galmont

We're wanting to share the post-Christmas joy in the form of a sale - a very, very good sale! If you have ever had even a smidge of an interest in original vintage posters (not a repro in sight!), then I'd suggest you get yourself to Fitzroy to indulge in some seriously discounted items; big, little and in-between, there is something for everyone.

But that's not all! (said in the voice of tv-sales guy!) From December 29th - January 3rd, we are asking you to 'name your price' on large billboard posters, to see if we can all reach a happy compromise. Maybe you've been stalking the website for a while and thinking, "Love it, but really would love it for a little less"....well, now's your chance. We've not tried this before, but we have a feeling it could be a win-win. We'll see.

We don't want our interstate and international friends to miss out, so email enquiries and phone calls are more than welcome with free shipping thrown in.

See? We don't do the sale thing often, but when we do....we really do it pretty well!!!

It's important we share the original vintage poster love....

(And we have layby...)

Galerie Montmartre - Original Vintage Posters

www.galmont.com.au

197B Brunswick St. (enter via Moor St.) Fitzroy, Vic. 3065

(03) 9486 8686

'Make an offer' sale hours;

Tues; 29th/Weds; 30th. 10 - 6pm.

Thurs; 31st 10 - 3pm.

Fri; Happy New Year!

Sat; 2nd 11 - 6pm.

Sun; 3rd 11 - 5pm.

My Christmas - Shelley T

image; stephan t for galerie montmartre

Thanks to all those gorgeous creative lovelies who took time out of their busy schedules to indulge us with their Christmases. Did you enjoy the 'My Christmas' series? I loved it. I thought it was a lovely peep into the lives of others. However, I didn't think it was fair to ask others to tell us about their Christmas without sharing a little of mine.

I am one of those holiday lovers!! I enjoy the planning, the imagining, the decorating, the giving, the eating and drinking! Having spent a number of years in the US, my 'holiday excitement' begins at Thanksgiving time (last Thursday of November) and goes right through to the end of January!

After several years of living in a home that has stayed well and truly in the 90's, I finally got around to getting our little courtyard completely decked (thank-you Cousin Brett), which only means one thing, people - parties! So this December/January Chez Trbuhovich will see alot of people stepping through the doors and sharing some food, drink and conversation....and maybe a cheeky dance on the kitchen bench....but that is for another blogpost...

We host Christmas most of the time at our place. L'Homme, a man of many talents, is an incredible cook and puts on a feast of sorts. This year, our families are slightly scattered, but all in Melbourne, nevertheless. So that means that we have an all day 'drop by and say hi' type situation, with a lovely traditional lunch thrown for my immediate family and then the barbeque kicks into overdrive as a seafood sensation is prepared for all our friends and family who turn up after 4pm. Love it!

Our Christmas tree has travelled with us around the world, having bought it in a Marin County (Northern California) Target store a gazillion years ago. I love it, it is the most real looking fake tree I've ever seen!!! To the Petit-Garcons, it is the most incredible thing they've ever set their tiny eyes on, which is why the bottom half of the tree is filled with glass-looking-plastic and felt ornaments and the top half holds all my precious, breakable ones! I can tell you where every single ornament is from and where I got it. I plan on passing them down to my little guys, I'm a bit sentimental like that. Always traditional Christmas colours for me - red, green and gold with white slowly creeping in....and I have a feeling I am possibly the bauble queen; picking up new ones every end of year sale to add to the collection - I don't think I have ever paid full price for a Christmas decoration yet.

I want to wish you all a fabulous and safe holiday season. You have been very good to me, I am grateful that you take the time to drop by. I write as if no-one is reading but always feel so delighted when you comment. Thank-you - I'll be in touch again next week.