When I look back over my life so far, I see the faces of all the wonderful women I’ve known and I feel profoundly blessed. They give my life meaning and purpose and there is no measure of what I have learned from them. How I got so lucky I’ll never know. I’ve learned to never question my fortune and to simply absorb as much of their grace and wisdom as I can.
Now I’ve mentioned my friend Anne before, both here and in the book. She is the American who left the ‘civilization’ of Illinois in the ’60s to carve out an extraordinary life with her Swiss husband in rural France and she’s never looked back. She is a wife, mother and grandmother who grows her own vegetables (as I write this I’m eating green beans and yellow zucchini pulled from her soil this morning), knits fabulous capes, hikes in Nepal and lets Canadians stay in her apartment in Switzerland. She is smart, kind, loving, supportive, extraordinarily beautiful and, oh yeah, just a tad talented.
Today I’m taking you to her atelier located just behind her stunning French farmhouse.
Yes, this is her office. Incredible right? She makes jewelry and while I’ve seen her pieces before I’ve never seen her in action until now.
It’s amazing to watch her hands shape rough metal into these treasures…
Holy mackerel, I can’t even tie my shoelaces half the time let alone craft something as beautiful as this jewelry. I own a pair of Anne Devrient original earrings, the first gift Anne gave me but not the last. Not by a long shot. Dinners by the fire, Sunday lunches in the garden, coffees in town and now she and her husband Michel are guiding us to our new life in Switzerland. Yet another woman in my life who defines the word admirable.
And on that happy note, I bid you au revoir for a week. Blogcation beckons. Meet you back here on the 20th and in the meantime be good to yourselves.
What beautiful work. I adore silver and stones and Anne’s work is gorgeous. You lucky thing! Have a good break xcat
Beautiful art, beautiful artist—with a crowded bookcase in her studio!
Have a wonderful break in Switzerland. Hope all goes well for you with all you have to do.
What a great friend to have and her jewellry looks terrific.
Anne is a great example of someone who has followed her heart and used her talents. What beautiful jewelry she makes. It’s hard to imagine fashioning such gorgeous things with my own hands.
Annetastic _ thats artastic!
Really, it just seems unfair that one amazing woman gets to have all of those talents. Can I trade my amazing ability to get lost and to kill any plant with her ability to garden? Sigh.
Oh, I know!! She is amazing and has too many talents to list. She’s also incredibly brave and adventurous.
There beautiful…..is there a place to visit more on the web?….thanks, and keep writing.
I don’t think so. I believe she only takes orders the old fashioned way but I’ll ask her.
Gorgeous photographs!
can you tell us where we can either find her or places we can travel to, that sell her lovely jewelry? it’s beautiful and unlike many of the artisanal necklaces i’ve seen.
Hi,
I believe she takes orders in person only but I’ll ask her. Her studio is just outside Semur-en-Auxois and her full name is Madame Anne Devrient.