Sometimes there is a lifetime between a dream and making that dream a reality.
I was 14 and sitting on my cousin’s bedroom floor just outside of Strasbourg when I made the commitment to live in France. It was my first visit and I was captivated by everything French. My extended family, the food and how it was prepared, the historical sights and art, even the way daily life was lived, all spoke to me. I knew this is where I was meant to be. But life took me through all sorts of places and provided countless experiences before I was to immigrate to Europe in early 2017. I went to school. Then more school. Married and had babies. Pursued a worthwhile teaching career. I followed my spouse’s dream of growing coffee and living in Hawaii. At every milestone in my life, France whispered to me but I was not yet time to make the leap. Still, each experience and the people I met along the way provided love, wisdom, and a sense of purpose. Each nudged me closer to my dream.
In a recent interview, I was asked to share my journey from academic career, to coffee farmer, to making my childhood dream of living in France a reality. Nothing about the move was “accidental.” It was a lifetime in the making. But starting a business focused on French vintage finds - that was more experimental. I needed to make a living and so I looked to what I enjoy most: old things with a past. Creating an online curated collection of French vintage finds was a natural extension from being a collector of the faded and worn to sharing those treasures with others.
Here’s a bit of my personal story:
How would you describe Living a French Life?
It’s a place for those who love French culture and see beauty in weathered and worn objects. From vintage textiles to ironstone dishes, my online store, Le Shop, is a curated collection of rustic, decorative European pieces for homes with character.
How did Living a French Life come to be?
My business comes from a lifelong love for old over new. I’ve been antique hunting since I was a young girl. I’m not sure who I take after since both my parents desired new. Although today, when I'm visiting my mother in Florida, we both love to hunt for vintage finds. But back in the 1970s, old things were just old. My father could never understand why I would cart ancient objects home from visiting family in Europe. He would say, "I left all that behind when I came to America."
Why France?
It has always felt like home to me. France is where my ancestral roots can be found on my father’s side. I always knew I would live here one day. It just took me a while to make it happen.
What did you do before this?
I taught American history. I guess my fondness for the past has been with me all along. I enjoy asking questions of evidence and exploring patterns. I gravitate toward unconventional sources that reveal everyday life. Never underestimate what a quilt might tell you. Between teaching and living in France, my husband and I and our two children lived on a coffee farm on the Big Island of Hawaii. It was an adventure. We started a small skincare company, Luana Naturals, which is still making good food for the skin by hand. We also established a wonderful farmer's market on the island. It was a great place to raise a family.
Where do you find your creative expression?
I love making things. Just being in my studio gets my creativity flowing. Beyond my creative space, I find inspiration from interior designers, works of art, a brocante sale, and my surroundings. The French countryside definitely provides a spark of creativity for me.
How would you describe your design style?
Simple. Timeless. French.
Do you have design experience?
I studied both fiber arts and art history as an undergraduate. I did have a desire to go to design school but I followed my love of history instead. There still might be time ;)
Are there themes that run through your business?
The past. Bien sûr. The study of history is a part of me so it had to be a part of my business. I am drawn to this sense of simpler times when life was lived slowly. Work was physically more demanding but everyday tasks were both necessary and valued.
What values do you connect to your business?
Living a French Life is more than just selling beautiful things. It's about cherished objects that have a story to tell - both about the maker and of the times in which it was created. When we select something old, we bring that character and history into our homes. Consequently, our homes then become layered with stories of the past. Living in a one-of-a-kind space sparks my imagination and nurtures my day. It makes me happy.
What does a typical workday look like?
My home is my work so there are a lot of blurred lines in defining my time as "work" or "play." Home is where I am inspired, design, create, and produce. Every day can be a "work" day. If I'm hunting for vintage finds at a brocante, it's work-related but it's one of my favorite things to do so it feels like play. But most days begin with a cup of tea, jotting notes about the day ahead - things to do or ideas that come to me about a project. Most days find me in the garden and studio. I'm learning to work a digital camera so product photos have become a bigger task. Lots of trial and error. Every day I write. Lots of writing. My Weekly Voilà newsletter, quarterly blog posts, descriptions for the curated items in my online boutique, and I'm working on writing a book. My husband and I enjoy cooking so we create almost all our meals at home. There is lots of time spent in the kitchen. Soon, we'll begin the restoration of our 400-year-old stone farmhouse so our schedule will shift to make it our top priority. If there is a brocante or flea market nearby, all bets are off and I'm up early and everything else can wait.
How do you decide what goes into your market basket when you are antique shopping?
My curation process is led by my own tastes but edited for the Living a French Life look that I’m developing. Quality, functionality, and beauty are my three guides when I'm hunting at local brocantes or flea markets and antique shops. I adore so many different periods of design but I now shop for specifically French country but with a more modern / tailored nod. I am not a ruffle, chippy paint, shabby chic girl. Patina? That I can get behind. My tastes have developed over time and that is reflected in my online curated collection.
Is there an element you enjoy most about your business?
Oh yes. The hunt. I love looking for vintage finds more than even the discovery. I also enjoy connecting individuals to objects that I know will love the item, too, for years to come.
What part of your business took you by surprise?
Building an audience takes a really, really long time. In an age of social media platforms, you'd think you just make a few posts, do a blog, and Voilà - you tap into your target market. But it's a very big ocean out there and difficult to get noticed. Still, I have grown organically and that means I enjoy a genuine community, a global audience that shares my love of old things. Every entrepreneur dreams of an influencer mentioning their name and having a viral moment. But that's not a practical business plan. The key is to be consistent in your communication and just keep swimming.
Who is your "influencer" that you would love to have follow you on Instagram?
That's easy. Brooke Giannetti of Giannetti Homes and Patina Living fame. She's a self-taught designer and we share a kinship in our aesthetic tastes and values. Her husband, Steve, is a brilliant architect. They built a home / farm in Ojai, California. Imagine a property where money is no object. Swoon. Yep. The day Brooke tags me in a post on Instagram will be a "pinch me" moment. Do these folks know the power they hold in their hand with just a click of a button?
We cultivate purpose in our lives when we let go of the fear of vulnerability and allow ourselves to be seen and heard.
What advice do you have for other entrepreneurs who want to build an online business?
Let opportunity find you working. Few entrepreneurs get a lucky break to propel their business. It can happen. But most businesses grow slowly, organically. You need to keep putting yourself out there. It's not easy. You feel exposed and vulnerable. But that's the nature of owning your own business these days. The internet opens up a world of possibilities but it can also be cruel. Try not to compare yourself to others. Use Instagram and Pinterest for inspiration but don't let another's success be your measure. I know it's easy to say and hard to follow.
For me, I have one amazing woman who lives in Normandy who I follow on Instagram. She does a monthly pop-up shop and is sold out of her French vintage finds in a matter of minutes. I think, "Geezz. That would be amazing! Do all your shipping in one go each month." But she came on board with Instagram when the platform was new and supported the "little guy." She quickly built an audience of 50k followers with her stunning feed. She works it but the platform is different now. Apples and oranges, if you will. So my advice is be inspired, be yourself, and be ready for it to take some time before the business pays the bills.
How do you stand out in the saturated business of online sales of antiques?
Two things: One, I forge relationships with my clients. I genuinely desire to have a connection with those who purchase from my small business. I love when I open an email from an individual who purchased a cassoulet dish from my online boutique and he shares a favorite recipe for using his new French treasure. There's a connection there beyond just a confirmation email.
Two, I only purchase items that I love and would have in my own home. In fact, much of my collection rotates through ma maison before making it to my online curated collection. Each item is loved. Each is a part of me. I hope this comes through in my photographs and descriptions.
Do you like working for yourself?
Absolutely. Each day is my own. But you have to schedule yourself or you'll lose the day - the week. Ok - months fly by now. You need to have a master list of what your projects are going to be for the year and how you are going to achieve the necessary steps each month to get you there. I love that I can work from home and there is no long commute eating into a precious day. I enjoy being in my studio writing or making something. Sometimes I play music but mostly I enjoy the silence. I like to be ready and listening when inspiration strikes. I'm someone who enjoys collaborating but works very well on her own. Yep. I love being self-employed.
Do you have any hobbies?
Too many. I adore anything that requires working with my hands. Spinning, knitting, crochet, dye work, sewing, painting, gardening. I am a very tactile person. I have to touch things. I'm at my best when I'm sitting on the floor, surrounded by my collection of vintage fabrics or naturally dyed yarn. I just start pulling a project together. Making things. That's my hobby.
Do you have your own studio space?
Currently, I do. But it is covered in boxes pending our upcoming move. We have purchased a very old, stone farmhouse nearby and are waiting to take ownership. Paperwork in France is somewhat of an art form and requires diligence and patience. The number one item on my "wish list" when we are were property searching was to have an art studio. Sadly, there isn't a dedicated room in this small house for a studio. There is a small barn in the hamlet that I have my eye on and hope to purchase one day and make into my art studio and shop.
For now, I decided to make the entire house dedicated to making things. I will set baskets of handspun yarn next to a comfy chair with a floor lamp, writing spots tucked into window nooks, paint supplies ready at my desk. My antique sewing machines set next to an armoire filled with French vintage fabrics in a room that doubles as a guest room. I'm going to incorporate my dye studio into the garden space. Folks have outdoor kitchens so why not? All I need is a stone table and access to water.
In the end, art will be the life of the house and hopefully, creativity can be found in all of its spaces.
You call yourself a "maker" and not an "artist." What's the difference?
I spin. I knit. I dye. I paint. I do needlework. I am not a master at any of these things. I just enjoy working with my hands and making things that are both useful and beautiful. I'd be right at home in the Arts & Crafts Movement of the 19th century. Art can stand in and of itself. It doesn't have to be functional. My little oil paintings are there just to make you pause for a moment and take it in. That being said, we can define for ourselves who we are - a designer, an artist, a maker. The what we do is not important. And you know what? The why we do it doesn't matter either. Just use your abilities to create something that brings you joy.
When you're not in your studio or garden, what are you doing?
I'm a bit of a homebody, so that is where you most often find me. But I'm also in southwestern France surrounded by lovely medieval villages and markets to explore. When the warm weather comes, every town has its brocante or community "yard sale." The pandemic shut everything down but last month things have opened up again. Let me have a picnic lunch, a bit of knitting and a blanket in my basket, and I'm as happy as can be. Simple pleasures.
What book or books are on your nightstand?
I love design books. Right now I'm reading The Foraged Home by Joanna Maclennan. I love the idea of using found things for a new purpose. My copy of The Dyer's Handbook: Memoirs of an 18th Century Master Colourist is never far from me. And I have two neglected novels sitting next to my bed, one from the Outlander series, I can't remember which one, and Ken Follett's A Column of Fire. I love fiction that takes place in a historical setting.
What do you long to own?
A Citroën 2CV or deux chevaux. I didn't even have to think about that question. It was right there. I'd like her to be white with a tan top and interior, please. I've already named her Blanche. She'll find me when the time is right. I suppose I should have something like an efficient refrigerator or a quality mattress. House renovation et. al.
What is the most important lesson that moving to France and running your own business has taught you?
Just do it. If you have a dream, go for it. It sounds like something you have heard a thousand times but it's true. The road is most likely going to be bumpy and take longer than you think it should. But you'll weather it. It always works out in the end. So jump in with both feet. Be determined and patient.
What advice do you have for others who might want to live abroad?
Make sure you really want it. Starting a business is tough on its own. Doing it in a foreign country? Well, that's just madness. Think about your why for wanting to make the move. Yes, you need to know what you want to achieve but it's the why you want to do it that matters most. Ask yourself the tough questions about purpose and values and let those answers be your guide. If you are thinking about immigrating to France, be ready for the French bureaucracy that is archaic and fraught with non. Truth be known, I'm not sure I would have made the move if I had had a crystal ball and saw how difficult the process would be. Everyone told me it would be and they were right. Since I'm now mostly on the other side, I'm sure glad I did.
What does next year hold for Living a French Life?
It is going to be a crazy year. Almost as if I have been gearing up for this moment all my life. I have 4 projects on my yearly master list:
Growing the business. Number 1.
Quickly followed by the renovation of our house. My husband, Tim, will manage the project and we'll do much of the work ourselves. We have an extremely tight budget. Think what folks spend on a modest kitchen remodel - and then cut that in half to arrive at our budget. We'll have to be creative in finding quality materials. Tim will document the process and share it through our YouTube channel. Do we have a YouTube channel? Clearly, this will be his baby. While I'm not wild about the idea of being filmed as I attempt lime plasterwork for the first time, Tim promises to give me a "heads up" so I can at least brush my hair.
My third priority for this upcoming year is working on my book. It's entitled: making: Creating a Simple Life in the French Countryside. The pandemic was good for writing. I was confined and reflective. Now I need to gather all my musings together into an organized whole. My hope is that when one holds the finished work, there will be a sense that one is holding something special. As I like to say, "It will be worthy of a ribbon bookmark."
My last major project is also years in the making. With travel opening up, I plan on offering my first creative workshop next Spring. Pandemic willing. It will be a multi-day séjourner where we will dye local merino yarn with plants based on a Renaissance color palette inspired by the region. I want to document a specific time and place with 40 or so colors that we will then join together to create a one-of-a-kind scarf. At the heart of this project is the desire to have others come and create with me in a truly inspiring setting.
It is such a good life. I have to share it.
Our days are filled with doing things for ourselves and helping others. Daily, we balance our “must dos” with our “want tos.” We navigate all the choices in our lives and work to make sense of who we are and why we do what we do. It is no accident. When you declare your priorities, you create a path to follow.
À bientôt,
Karen
I add a blog post quarterly to Karen’s Atelier - more or less with the changing seasons. For a weekly dose of something "short and sweet" and a nod to French culture, be sure to subscribe to my Weekly Voilàs on this website. For those that have already subscribed, merci. Your support encourages me to take the next step in “living a french life.” It is a privilege to share this journey with you.