French General Make & Take

Kim Caldwell offered a bonus day of shopping as an add-on to Enchanted Affaire.  One of the stops was a reception at French General just for us.  Yeah!  However, first on the tour was a fabric warehouse, the Santa Monica Flea Market and a shop in Venice called Bountiful.  I didn't know anything about these shops, but I've certainly heard of French General owned by Kaari Meng https://www.frenchgeneral.com/.   I gotta tell you, getting to the FG, at the end of our shopping day, was a lllooonnnggg process.  A few of the women on our bus tour were frenzied in their purchasing.  It was frankly disgusting to observe a couple of these gals, one in particular, who literally was taking things out of the hands of others waiting in line so that she could add yet more stuff to her pile.  It sure wasn't pleasant to be behind her in line either, as I found myself at the flea market.  After waiting 30 minutes as she grabbed more and more, while she was checking out, I finally walked away.  We did have a deadline to get back to the bus after all.  YET, another gal held us up by 30 minutes; when she finally got on the bus she offered no apology.  Whoa.  Kim kept her cool and really I didn't hear any protests, except the words coming out of my mouth.   Really?  Hold up a bus for 30 minutes?? 

 After a hideous bus ride through stop and go LA freeway traffic, we arrived at the French General almost 2 hours late which was sad for Kaari and her assistant.  However, there she was standing out front to greet us with a huge smile.  Now that is gracious.  Kaari offered a much needed wine spritzer and snacks, a shop full of wonderful merchandise and a pretty little make & take kit.  Shown above is the kit; a 3 petalled flower cut from wool felt, embroidery thread and needle, a nice button and pin back to complete the corsage.  After I sucked down a spritzer, or two three, I was ready to shop.  The top photo is my haul.  OH, I forgot the best part.  I had won a $25 gift certificate to FG during the Affaire.  Shop on! 

I think this little corsage is so cute.  It was relaxing to embroider the blanket stitch all 'round the petals.  I added a bit of lace and a charm.  Thank you Kaari.  That Lillet spritzer was new to me and definitely a keeper; fill a glass with ice, add an ounce of Lillet, squeeze in a slice of orange, fill glass with San Pellegrino or Aranciata.  Delicious.   So, uh, would I go on the shopping tour again?  Good question.