This time last year I was busy writing and taking photos for my book about my French girlfriends. Happy times that have left me with plenty of wonderful memories of our photo shoots all over France.
At each girlfriends house, while my photographer Franck Schmitt clicked away, I was busy styling and also filming short videos.
I was aware of what a privilege it was, getting inside the homes of these exceptional women, and that when the book was ready, I’d want to share some of my favourite things with you.
Determined to include women from all walks of life and from different regions, ages and lifestyles, the photo-shoots turned out to be a veritable tour de France. In the company of the various girlfriends, I walked along mountain rivers; ate seafood by the ocean; rode horseback in Paris; enjoyed breakfast outside châteaux in the sunshine of Provence and enjoyed many many other wonderful moments.
You know how within your group of girlfriends, each one has a different talent, something that makes her special. So it was with these women. Whether we were in a cottage in Normandy; a chic apartment in Paris; breathtaking vineyards in Champagne or an artists studio in the centre of France, there was always something that made my heart beat a little faster and made me more and more excited about the book.
Here is a video of a few of those special experiences, I hope you enjoy. And a special thank you to Clem Beatz, a French artist, who generously gave me permission to use his track ‘Lazy’ for the video.
The book is release on 1 August next, to pre-order just follow the link HERE.
74 comments
Sharon, unbelievable. . .gorgeous, perfect. The video absolutely, brilliantly, captures every nuance of the charm and beauty of this country. Your eye is unfailing.
Thank you for the wonderful day last Friday btw.
xoxo,
Tish
Thank you dear Tish, I am so glad you like it!
speak soon
xxx
How fabulous Sharon! Great taster for what will undoubtedly be a gorgeous book. Congratulations!
Sophia x
Thank you Sophia, it’s great to have this encouragement
Sharon
x
Sharon – what a special treat this morning! Thanks for giving me a taste of things to come with your book. I really look forward to it’s arrival!
Thank you Vicki, I love the idea of my book travelling all around the world!
Sharon
x
Oh I’m doing my part to help with that! Not only did I order a copy for myself (in Georgia) but I ordered a copy as a gift for my sister in Florida.
I can’t wait to read the book! I’m an American currently living in Bangkok. Last year I spent some time traveling in France and loved getting to see the differences between the regions. I especially liked Normandy 🙂 It is wonderful that your book will feature many parts of France.
Hi Kimberly
I really wanted to show some of the many different and wonderful parts of France. Choosing the girls for the book was a long process but great fun!
Sharon
x
How beautiful to see it through your eyes. Thank you so much!!!!
Merci Valerie
x
Wonderful video…thank you Sharon! Can’t wait for the book’s release! Have it on pre-order.
Best,
Sandra Leonard, Maine USA
Good Afternoon Sharon,
Loved the vid clip, will there be any more? Can’t wait to see the book.
Best wishes
Richard.
HI Richard
So glad you liked it. There may be some video teasers, I certainly have plenty of material to use. Watch this space ! 🙂
Sharon
x
That is great news and I will certainly watch this space.
Richard,
Simply gorgeous scenery and homes! Such inspiring, talented women. I am looking forward to getting your book and reading it while relaxing in my garden this summer. The perfect way to spend a day in my opinion!
Lovely glimpse into the book – cannot wait for it to arrive
Sharon,
Thank you so much for this magical glimpse into the gorgeous, elegant world of French Country Living…can’t wait for your book !!
From a chilly South Australian winter I will keep dreaming !! Xx
I absolutely love the video & I can’t wait to see the book!
WOW can’t wait for your book x jan
Wonderful xx
Love love love the video! Did the trick – I have pre-ordered your book and will be surprised when it arrives as I can’t remember those per-buy things! Ha! So your gift of a beautiful book will be a lovely surprise at my door. Merci!
What a wonderful tease for the book. Very well done.
Gorgeous! Can’t wait for the book, and keep promising myself to come on a Brocante tour, thinking of opening a small shop here in UK
Thank you…really lovely!
Wow!! What a fantastic treat this little film was. Lovely!
Ooh la la – makes me want a croissant and cafe au lait.
Love the video! A wonderful tiny taste of France and your book.
I just place my pre-order and waiting with great anticipation for this amazing book. Thank you for sharing upur beautiful work and showing my beautiful France
Thanks for the video tease on your book. Clicked right away & ordered! Beautiful places and inspiring people.
Sharon,
Really lovely! What a brilliant way to give us a preview of your book…..fabulous!
Thank you,
Jackie
Lovely, sentimental and wonderful detailing. Anticipating all this in your book.
What is it about the light in France? oh, I know…it’s perfectly beautiful!
Lovely….Cheri
Fabulous and exciting! What a charming group of girlfriends you have, and what enviable lives they must lead.
How thrilling Sharon, lovely to catch a teaser of your French girlfriends. I shall have to order this. Congratulations!
FABULOUS!!!!!!
This will be a HIT for SURE……………
I was able to watch the clip only because I had a “TECHY” in the house this morning sipping TEA with me who was in THE KNOW!
August First is right around the corner……..after MY BIRTHDAY!
XO
PS. Heather, I have pre-ordered for YOU a book and will HAND DELIVER lets HOPE SOON!XOXO
Oh this just made me bust out into happy tears! I am so grateful to have such incredible friends…Elizabeth, you really should not be called La Contessa but La Reine (the queen)!!! I can’t wait to give you a big old American style hug. It WILL happen…
Sharon:
So exciting! Wonderful video and just so looking forward to the book. You should be so proud of your beautiful work. You are such an inspiration and all your post are so appreciated by me. You scatter joy!
What?! Oh my goodness gracious that was just IN-sanely beautiful…
No surprise there of course…
Eeeee, I am so excited for you!
stunning + can’t wait to see more. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com
Sharon!! I am so excited and cannot wait for your book release. I hope you will allow me to review it on my site!! What a wonderful video and music!
xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
Absolutely stunning, loved the music too, had such fun watching that two or three times, beautiful homes and everyone looked as if they were having so much fun. Can’t wait to see the book 🙂
It’s your PASSION that brings this all too life…..anyone can post pretty photos,etc…but the difference is…you make us love them!. Brava!
Just pre-ordered a copy and can’t wait to see it!
So entertaining. I love the theme and music; so well done. It will be a huge success.
So glad you like the music Sheryl. Clem Beatz is a young French artist that my daughter put me in touch with. I am very honored that he let me use his music for my theme.
Great little video Sharon and I love the Porsche at the end… so classic!
(I work for Porsche so that was really sweet to see)
Can’t wait to see & enjoy the book!
Oh my goodness gracious Sharon, this was breathtaking! I viewed it in full view several times on my 27″ Mac to savor it all in. All these women are not only stylish but beautiful as well. I’m happy I had a tiny part in introducing you online to one beautiful artist. I can’t wait to get my copy! I see a movie in the making, I really do! XXX
Well done. Loved everything about it; a nice short view into the girlfriends lives.
What stylish women they are and such wonderful ambience in that video. I’m very happy for you that all your courage in starting a blog and your obvious talent in how you present it has resulted in books and films to delight your readers. I do really enjoy reading your blog, it has just the right amount of everything! And as you planned, it brightens up so many of our days! Congratulations – you have every right to be proud of your achievements!
Totally fabulous Sharon… and I can’t wait for the book’s release… 🙂 xv
Sharon, what a treat I have just experienced…The video is amazing! The ambiance is outstanding! I can’t tell you how happy I am for you and to see you evolve over the years has been so exciting! I can’t wait to get your book!
Sharon I was walking with you through your special girlfriends homes and gardens. Thank you for the inspirational video. xxx
Absolutely gorgeous! A creative video with very creative and interesting women, including you, of course! Would love videos of interviews with them in each of their own settings! This video teased me to want more!! Thank you!
So lovely. I love how the styles your girlfriends decorate in vary. From a French version of shabby chic to very glamorous. They all have a good sense of style. Makes me want to make more of an effort when setting the table too. The book looks wonderful.
Debbie
Congratulations Sharon, just wonderful images. I am so looking forward to receiving my copies of your “blog in a book” – your beautiful aesthetic captured on paper! Thank you for sharing your friends with your e-friends, best wishes, Amanda
Wonderful film. All I can say is… more, please! It would make an incredible movie, a feature film,. Sundance is calling!
Can’t wait to see the book.
You are such a special person.
Thank you for all you do for us out here in blog-reading land, and for your guests. To those who might be thinking of visiting your cottage, I can honestly say, go, do, experience France, Sharon’s way…mwah, all the best!
Chris
Thank you Chris for your very generous comment…… the step between a two minute video and a full blown film is simply unfathomable, but its a lovely idea to daydream about 🙂
You know you are welcome back here whenever you want, and maybe this time we’d get to paint together!
Sharon
x
Exquisite and captures the feeling beautifully! Can’t wait to see the book. Xo Nancy
What a fantastic video-mix of your girl friends, their homes, animals and more. Looking forward to the book…congratulation Sharon.
Wow, Sharon – The video is so beautiful! I just pre-ordered the book – something to look forward to in August – for my birthday!! Thanks for letting us into your and your friends’ lives.
What a lovely group of friends, and beautiful photos.
Exciting
Sharon je voudrais vous dire toute l’admiration que j’ai pour vous et votre travail!!! Cette vidéo est magnifique!!! Tout ce que j’aime!!! Merci beaucoup!!:)
Now I’m really excited for the book! I too would love to see interviews and more video.
In that first picture at the top, what is the name of the vine creeping on the wall? I saw it in England and Italy. We are headed to France next month and I can’t wait!
WOW WOW WOW, Sharon, Love your video…..and Clem Beatz…..thank you….
I am enthralled…..me want to come….lol……I am so in love with your page………
gorgeous flowers…..so romantic…oh la la..xoxox
I never want to wish time away, but I truly am filled with anticipation for the release of your gorgeous book on 1 August!
Wow! What more can I say but gorgeous! Thank you for sharing.
Hello Sharon,
Already this small video is wonderful, so I can’t wait for the book. I have already pré-order it, as soon as you announced it !
How lucky are all those women to be your friends !
Thank you Sharon for all those nice moments I spend reading your blog. Not all, not everyday but as soon as possible. And as you have probably noticed I am French, and I love the way you write, so it’s good to practice my English !!! Have a wonderful week end !
Nathalie
Oh Sharon….c’est formidable!! Can’t wait to see your beautiful book. Congratulations.x
Your video was a joy. What a wonderful lot of girlfriends, beautiful homes, cheeky little dogs and great country side. A true delight!
Fabulous Sharon! I am ordering now, I can’t wait for this book.
Well, it was a “tough” job, but so glad the someone who didit was you. So, looking forward to seeing real stylish women in their everyday lives in my dream destination-France!
Sharon, I read Part 5 of your wonderful story and absolutely loved it, love all of it. Can hardly wait for part 6. I ordered and received your new book about a week ago, and so want to find quiet time to sit and enjoy looking at it, which I know I will. I watched the video you posted and I know I was smiling at the beautiful rooms, the women, all of it. I will be looking at it for the fourth time in a few minutes. What a joy it must have been for you to compile this lovely book and what a gift for all of us who will enjoy it do much. Even though I am Italian , living in New York, I found the video so pleasureable to watch that I wanted to be there in France. You are so talented and keep the beauty coming. Ciao, Marianne