La Vie Creative
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La Vie Creative episodes

  • EP 41: Paris Handbag Designer and writer Kasia Dietz talks about how Paris influenced her popular handbag designs

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    A New Yorker who fell hard  for an Italian in Paris. She would later launch her handbags made locally in France. The hand-printed canvas bags were inspired by her world travels. She also provides fashion tours in the city of light introducing travelers to local designers. My guest today is Kasia Dietz
    https://www.kasiadietz.com/

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    30 min
  • EP 40: Paris History Avec a Hemingway (Gertrude Stein)

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    Gertrude Stein was the woman behind many of the greatest writers and artists in Paris of the 1920’s and the famous catch phrase, the “Lost Generation”. 

    Growing up in a wealthy family, the incredible intelligent woman was well educated, appreciated art and amassed a collection that any museum would envy. 

    While her time in Paris is engraved on the life of the expatriates and many of their famous feuds we dig a little deeper into who Gertrude really was. 

    More info and photos: https://www.claudinehemingway.com/paris-history-avec-a-hemingway-podcast-1

    Support Claudine on Patreon and get more of Paris and all her stories and benefits like discounts on her tours, custom history and exclusive content  https://www.patreon.com/bleublonderouge

    facebook https://www.facebook.com/BleuBlondeRouge

    Instagram https://www.instagram.com/claudinebleublonderouge/

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    🎨 Join my 2026 Tour of Christmas in France 

    https://tourwithabsolutely.com/celebrity-tours/christmas-in-paris-with-krystal-aka-miss-paris-photo-your-american-photographer-abroad/

    37 min
  • Episode 39: New York Times best selling author Craig Carlson chats about how creativity goes into restaurant design and his best selling books

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    New York Times bestselling author Craig Carlson first came to France as an exchange student in 1985 and instantly fell in love with the country. He never could have imagined that some thirty-five years later he’d be the owner of two American diners in Paris and be nicknamed “Le Pancake Kid” by the French. With a background in journalism, Craig studied cinema at the prestigious USC School of Cinematic Arts, using his experience as a screenwriter to pen his debut memoir, Pancakes in Paris: Living the American Dream in France. Craig and his husband Julien currently split their time between Paris and Los Angeles. Well, at least they try to. With two busy diners that can’t be left alone for too long, their lives lean heavily on the Paris side, which, of course, is not such a bad thing, n’est-ce pas?

    Craig: Facebook

    www.craigcarlsonauthor.com


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    https://tourwithabsolutely.com/celebrity-tours/christmas-in-paris-with-krystal-aka-miss-paris-photo-your-american-photographer-abroad/

    48 min
  • Ep 38: Paris History Avec a Hemingway (Catherine de’ Medicis)

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    Catherine de’ Medicis was the other Florentine queen that would also leave her mark on France. Catherine and Marie de’ Medicis are often mixed up and we hope we can help you tell the two apart like a pro in no time.

    The mother of three kings and two kings and the wife of Henri II would finally wield her power after the early death of King Henri II. What happens next is the tale of intrigue, jealousy, power, witchcraft and death. 

    More info and photos: https://www.claudinehemingway.com/paris-history-avec-a-hemingway-podcast-1
    Support Claudine on Patreon and get more of Paris and all her stories and benefits like discounts on her tours, custom history and exclusive content  https://www.patreon.com/bleublonderouge

    facebook https://www.facebook.com/BleuBlondeRouge

    Instagram https://www.instagram.com/claudinebleublonderouge/

    Sign up for the weekly Blue Blonde Rouge newsletter  https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5e8f6d73375c490028be6a76

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    🎨 Join my 2026 Tour of Christmas in France 

    https://tourwithabsolutely.com/celebrity-tours/christmas-in-paris-with-krystal-aka-miss-paris-photo-your-american-photographer-abroad/

    32 min
  • Ep 37: Lindsey Tramuta talks about her creative process in writing Parisian themed books

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    Lindsey Tramuta, an American who has lived in Paris for a decade, writes the award-winning blog Lost in Cheeseland, and contributes to the New York Times, Afar Magazine, Condé Nast Traveler, and Bon Appétit, where she writes extensively on Paris and French culture. Today we chat about her creative process in writing and about her new book "The New Parisienne: the Women & Ideas Shaping Paris"

    Checkout her new book and learn more about her here:
    http://www.thenewparisienne.com/

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    🎨 Join my 2026 Tour of Christmas in France 

    https://tourwithabsolutely.com/celebrity-tours/christmas-in-paris-with-krystal-aka-miss-paris-photo-your-american-photographer-abroad/

    53 min
  • EP 36: Paris History Avec a Hemingway (Berthe Morisot)

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    Berthe Morisot, one of the few women of the Impressionist Movement, with her dark locks and stunning gaze, was the perfect model for Édouard Manet.  However, she would become an artist in her own right stepping behind the canvas to create paintings that showed everyday family life, forging her own path among  the male dominated Impressionists    

    Born on January 14, 1841 to a wealthy family, her father was the prefect but also studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Her mother was the niece of the Rococo master Jean-Honoré Fragonard, she was born with art running in her veins. In 1852 they moved to Paris and her parents let Berthe and her sister Edma take art lessons from Joseph Guichard. 

    The two girls visited the Louvre as art students and spent their day copying the great masters under the watchful eye of Guichard.  One day artist Henri Fantin-Latour took his friend Édouard Manet to the Louvre to meet the Morisot sisters who were copying a Rubens painting. It would be the start of a very long friendship. 

    Following Manet’s shocking of the Parisian Salon with Olympia and Déjeuner sur l’herbe he was looking for  a new model, and Berthe would have everything he wanted. In 1868, Manet painted The Balcony for which Berthe would pose after much apprehension. Being a model for an artist was not the profession for a woman of society in Paris at the time. Continuing to work with Manet for six years, he would capture her many times including his hauntingly beautiful painting, Berthe Morisot with a Bouquet of Violets that can be seen in the Orsay. Painted in 1872 Morisot is in black mourning attire after her father's death. You almost miss the violets as you are so drawn to her striking face. Morisot and Manet had a relationship built on great respect and between two artists. I can stand in front of this painting for hours and lose all track of time. 
    Find out more on Claudine's website:
    https://www.claudinehemingway.com/

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    🎨 Join my 2026 Tour of Christmas in France 

    https://tourwithabsolutely.com/celebrity-tours/christmas-in-paris-with-krystal-aka-miss-paris-photo-your-american-photographer-abroad/

    29 min
  • EP 35: Sharon Santoni Shares her French Country Life Creative Adventures

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    Sharon Santoni has gained millions of readers through her blog where she shares with people what it means to live a French country life. Her blog has grown into tours, a podcast, books, magazine, delivered gifts and much more! 

    We chat about how France brought so much creativity into her life and inspired her to create a thriving business after her children grown into adulthood. We chat about how creativity lies everywhere and how creativity is vital to life.

    Learn more about her life and offerings here: https://sharonsantoni.com/meet-sharon/


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    🎨 Join my 2026 Tour of Christmas in France 

    https://tourwithabsolutely.com/celebrity-tours/christmas-in-paris-with-krystal-aka-miss-paris-photo-your-american-photographer-abroad/

    34 min
  • EP 34: Paris History avec a Hemingway (Marie de Médicis)

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    Once upon a time there were two Florentine queens that left their mark on Paris. In the newest La Vie Creative - Paris History Avec A Hemingway episode we talk all about one of them, Marie de Medicis from her childhood in Florence to her life in exile. 

    She was born on April 26, 1575 to Francois I de Medicis and Joan of Austria in the Pitti Palace in Florence. Joan of Austria would die by the time she was two years old and her father married his mistress Bianca Cappello, but the two would die ten year later hours apart. A touch of the Medicis poison and the urge to get ahead by another brother. 

    Marie now an orphan was raised by her uncle Ferdinand I, Grand Duke of Tuscany who took the throne. As a young girl there were many suitors looking to attach themselves to the Medicis fortune but they waited until Henri IV, king of France turned in his dancing card. Marie was 25 years old when the marriage was arranged, to not only join the two families but also eliminate the debt France had to the Medicis. 

    It was the second marriage for Henri IV who had first married the daughter of her distant cousin Catherine de Medicis, Marguerite de Valois. Unable to provide an heir to the king, a new more fertile wife was needed. On October 5, 1600 by proxy her uncle stood in for the groom at the ceremony and was followed by a lavish party lasting for days, without Henri IV. 

    Marie headed to France later in the month and on November 3, 1600 arrived in Marseilles thinking she was leaping into the arms of her new husband, but Henri wasn’t there. Continuing onto Lyon it would take until December 12 before Henri IV would set eyes on his new bride.  A little over 9 months later, the heir, Louis XIII was born followed by five more children. Her role was complete but everything was about to  quickly change.  

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    🎨 Join my 2026 Tour of Christmas in France 

    https://tourwithabsolutely.com/celebrity-tours/christmas-in-paris-with-krystal-aka-miss-paris-photo-your-american-photographer-abroad/

    28 min
  • Ep 33: Professional violinist in Paris: Camilla Radford-Furman

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    Suzuki Violin with Camilla started playing the violin at age three with Elizabeth Mills, one of the very first Suzuki teachers in the United States, and was chosen to help demonstrate the Suzuki method to other interested teachers, with the help of Dr. Suzuki and his assistants.

    Later, about the age of 9, she went on to study with Sybil Maxwell in Los Angeles for many years and earned many awards and honors at Certificate of Merit, SYMF (Southwest Music Festival), Bach Festivals, and additionally was awarded scholarships to music camps and many music schools.

    She has also studied with Janice Luna, from USC, Andrea Byers, from Julliard, and has had a coaching with Jason Meyers, formerly of the Boston Symphony.  

    Camilla attended University of California Irvine, and California State University

    Long Beach, majoring in mathematics and electrical engineering. Additionally,

    she attended California State University Dominguez Hills for studies towards a

    music degree and taught Suzuki violin as an assistant to the Luna Violin Studio,

    until moving to France.

    Camilla played with the Long Beach City College Community Orchestra for over 15 years, where she was a featured soloist, and also played with the Carson Symphony, and the South Coast Symphony, as a regular member. While living in California, Camilla was a member of the American String Teachers’ Association, and was often used as an evaluator for the Certificate of Merit program of MTAC (Music Teachers’ Association, California), where she was an active member.

    When first in France, she played principle second for the Rainbow Symphony Orchestra and in the first violin section of the RATP orchestra, as well as playing as a section leader and ringer in the Association Symphonique de Paris . In general,  she is a free lance musician and teacher.  In September 2016, she was voted The Best Music Teacher in Paris by Expat Magazine, and was nominated every year since!  A great honor!

    Navigating French Wines @ www.navigatingfrenchwines.com 

    Winner of Best Wine Tasting in Paris 2020

    French Wine Navigator, Camilla Furman ,worked for the largest wine distributor (Southern Wines and Spirits) in California, USA, for 12 years, in the on-sale market, consulting and selling wines to hotels and restaurants, where she has had an extensive background in tasting, pairing and promoting wines. Since moving to France in April 2009, Navigating French Wines has been a wonderful opportunity to use her wine knowledge in helping the expat community, tourists, and even French locals who want to speak English, to learn about French wines. It is now her pleasure to help people Navigate the Wine Regions of France, or participate in a French Dinner Party, by sharing wine knowledge that helps in understanding how to buy and enjoy French wines, as well as share her love for cuisine, cooking and entertaining!

    Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/suzukiviolinwithCamilla

    Website: www.cmmusician.com






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    🎨 Join my 2026 Tour of Christmas in France 

    https://tourwithabsolutely.com/celebrity-tours/christmas-in-paris-with-krystal-aka-miss-paris-photo-your-american-photographer-abroad/

    40 min
  • EP 32: Paris History Avec a Hemingway (Zelda Fitzgerald)

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    Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald, the woman that is known by only her first name and her reputation as the life of the party.  Like many of the ladies we talk about each week on La Vie Creative - Paris History Avec A Hemingway there was much more to her than just the image that remains. 

    Zelda was born in Montgomery Alabama on January 24, 1900, the youngest child of Minnie and Anthony who served on the supreme court of Alabama. 

    Studying ballet from an early age it was the only thing she did that pleased her parents. She later decided she was more interested in spending her days drinking, smoking and being adored by all the boys. Girls were to be quiet and pretty and Zelda wanted none of that. 

    In July 1918 at a country club dance she met F. Scott Fitzgerald who was stationed at Camp Sheridan outside of Montgomery. He was instantly attracted to her and would visit her as soon as he had a day off. With dreams of becoming a famous author, F. Scott would use Zelda as his inspiration for his main character in This Side of Paradise. 

    However, F. Scott wouldn’t stop there with his “inspiration”. Zelda was a beautiful writer and sent him letters filled with flowery descriptions. F. Scott would pull entire pieces of her letters and diary and use them in his book. It was something he never stopped doing. 

    F. Scott wanted to marry her, but she wouldn’t until he became a published author. With This Side of Paradise with his editor, he pleaded with him to publish it as fast as possible. On March 26, 1920 it was published and four days later Zelda was on a train to New York and they married on April 3, 1920.

    F. Scott and Zelda, just their names paint a picture of life in the 1920’s with plenty of champagne straight from the pages of his most famous book, The Great Gatsby. However their marriage was far from it. F. Scott took her writing as his own in every book he wrote but would later blame her for ruining him and cheating him of his dream. I don’t think we ever would have a F. Scott Fitzgerald without a Zelda.

    Listen to her full story on our newest episode of La Vie Creative - Paris History Avec A Hemingway   

    #paris #parishistoryavecahemingway #zelda 


    https://www.claudinehemingway.com/paris-history-avec-a-hemingway-podcast-1

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    https://tourwithabsolutely.com/celebrity-tours/christmas-in-paris-with-krystal-aka-miss-paris-photo-your-american-photographer-abroad/

    30 min

About La Vie Creative

From the publisher's feed

France has been motivating people for decades to create and live a more inspired life. La Vie Creative is a weekly podcast all about creatives in Paris and beyond, hosted by American Expat Krystal…

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