Monday Morning Blooms -

Welcome to Monday Morning BloomsThe theme today is sunflowers, a favorite summer flower for me.  I'm thrilled to join today's edition!

As always I'm honored to be included as a "Guest Bloomer" for Monday Morning Blooms.Pam, Lidy, and Mary are very talented floral designers and stylists who showcase their flower talents on the first Monday of every month.  Click the links at the end to view their beautiful posts.  

This is my friend Debbie @ Mountain Breaths

Do you know sunflowers can grow to be 30' tall?

Sunflower blooms face east in the morning sun 

and track the sun as the day progresses.

This is known as solar tracking or heliotropism.

Native to the Americas, these classic blooms represent

happiness, good health, and hope.

Sunflowers are grown for use as food, medicine, dye, and oil, 

but I buy them as fresh flowers because they make me smile.

By now, you may know that I'm a bit of a Francophile.  

An admirer of all things French, I'm drawn to the 

rich, happy colors of French Country style.

For me, roosters and sunflowers are the 

quintessential French Country design element.

I knew immediately at the mention of sunflowers that

my Monday Morning Bloom post would feature sunflowers

on a tablescape with a French Country ambiance.

With that in mind, I invited my darling Ilonka Country Dolls to join us.

I purchased my first, the rabbit, at a small gallery in Carmel, CA.  

Soon after, Gumps featured Ilona Werner-Martin's charming handmade

dolls on the cover of their catalog, then a local small boutique began carrying them, and as you can see, one thing led to another.

This was in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Each doll is unique, individually sewn, and made from an 

assortment of beautiful fabrics, some of which were 

sourced from England and the south of France.

I was drawn to the sweet faces and the provencal fabrics, 

the simple embellishment of an antique button or piece 

of jewelry, such as the cameo shown on the lady above. 

The girls and I set a breakfast table to enjoy on the terrace, 

though in reality it is much too unpleasant here this 

summer to dine alfresco, even in the morning hours.

I selected a beautiful round cloth with a scalloped edge 

from Just Darviny, an older pattern named Ocean Waves.

The large tray is by Le Cadeaux, also in a discontinued pattern,

but both sites offer bright, fun designs from which to choose.

As you can see I filled the table with sunflowers using various containers: a Saint-Clément faience rooster pitcher, a figural vase by HenRiot, Quimper, a MacKenzie-Childs sunflower watering can, and a variety of pieces from MacKenzie's  Royal Check enamelware.

I filled a Royal Check ice bucket with real sunnies and mixed in these amazing faux stems in the MacKenzie-Childs Courtly Check pattern.

The plate stacks repeat the Royal Check and the Le Cadeaux 

French provencal pattern using individual cutting boards.

The blue and yellow color pallet also reflects a

quintessential French Country ambiance.

Again, I selected linens which we have enjoyed for many years 

because of their provencal feel and paired them with 

 beaded sunflower placemats from Nicole Miller Home. 

You can find the placemats through a Google search.  

There are several sources online.

Le petit déjeuner is a choice of fresh baked

croissants or pain au chocolat.

And a coffee of your choice.

I prefer mine a strong French roast.  

Perhaps you like to add fresh French butter 

or a touch of Bonne Maman orange marmalade.

I do at times indulge in pain au chocolat, but today I'm having 

a butter croissant with a touch of orange marmalade.  

What is your pleasure?

I couldn't resist adding a flourish to the tray 

with these petite blue and yellow napkins.

They belonged to my mom, Henrietta.  She was lovingly known 

as"Hendi" by her siblings and liked to collect roosters.

Please, pull up a chair and join us.

Bon Appétite!

Previous Sunflower Posts can be found

here, here, here, and here.

If you haven't already visited Pam, Lidy, and Mary.  Click their links below.

Pam @ Everyday Living

Lidy @ French Garden House

Mary @ Home Is Where The Boat Is

I leave you with these words of wisdom that my precious mother would say to us as we set out to school each morning.

I try my best to model these words, for if we go through the

day with a happy attitude, those around us are likely to feel the same.

I invite you to leave a comment and tell me your thoughts on sunflowers, roosters, and French Country Style.

Joining

Love Your Creativity @ Life and Linda  Sundays on Silverado @ House on Silverado 

You're the Star @ Electric Red Barn  Inspire Me Monday @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia   

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life Tuesday Turnaround @ My Wee Abode

All About Home @ Common Ground  Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop @ Electric Red Barn
Share Your Style @ French Ethereal  Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch
Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner Charming Homes and Gardens @ Shiplap and Shells  Embracing Home and Family @ The Everyday Farmhouse   Farmhouse Friday @ The Painted Hinge