Oui, oui ~ we have a guest blogger with us today!
We got Summer's husband, Peter, to tell the tales of the Ellis adventures en France ~ not only that, but how the very same adventures shaped their businesses in Waco, Texas.
Peter, coffee enthusiast turned professional roaster, opened BRU Artisan Coffee Works in July of 2016. I must tell you, his genius saw a one hundred year-old elevator and thought: I shall create an espresso bar. In this vintage, American elevator. And that, he has done!
The his + her businesses are run from the same historic building in downtown Waco (so cute, right!?). Their creativity sparks from beautiful, beautiful places...one of which is described below!
Once you've taken in the sights and smells of Peter + Summer's France, we've prepared a little treat for you! Our very own double-short film: La vie en Waco! Featuring the ever-glorious, Kinna Necklace + the Delysia Hoops. Click here to make them yours! Voilà!
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Q: What exists today in the building / your businesses (specifically, BRU, roasting coffee, and Summer Ellis Jewelry) because of that time in France?
A: Much. The dream for such a building with a depth of culture, connectivity to a few of our personal passions amidst its would be visitors, regular patrons and the public bringing about a greater beauty, was kindled all the while, while in France & later French northwest Africa, where we also lived for a good while. Summer's timeless inspiration was only nourished being around such European castles, as in Kayserberg of Alsace, or the classic terrain and stonework of Avignon, or the impassioned architecture of age-old Arabic Medinas between the Mediterranean and Sahara. Classic coffee & tea too were stoked as a grande reach for consummate quality, without compromise, a treasured past-time, rather than mere stimulants. Being from the old world port of New Orleans, coffee had been presented well beyond the chain shop & ground, canned experience that's plagued most of the nation for decades.
Summer waves from the fourth floor, as the Bijouterie's French-inspired wooden sign is fit to be hung! Follow @summerellisjewelry on Instagram to see the finale!
The Ellises, having a bit of BRU...
Q: Peter, what was your favorite part of living in France?
A: We loved living an an ancient society, where we joined in with a vibrant French family, walking their youngest just down the rue to the schoolyard & then bringing him back for lunch, where his papa & maman would be having a sieste for awhile, lingering beyond any American lunch hour... letting their hair down & even changing their attire most days in between morning work & their final afternoon hours after their pause avec chaque autre. After an obligatory shot of wine, we would clean up the dishes from the outdoor dining episode, to then take our little buddy who happened to make an excellent, albeit unaware tutor, back to his afternoon schooling. We were in the very bottom of the Alsatian wine trail, in the interconnected district of Ilzach of the larger metropolitan centre of Mulhouse. Mulhouse, pronounced "Myl/huze," meaning Mill House has an historic heritage as one of the highest per populous areas of Christianity, as many of the Huguenots were driven there & beyond to the German/French contended city of Strasbourg.
Q: What city were you living in? For French language school? Did you have French language prior to that experience?
A: We chose to live in Mulhouse, as it simply was the option which presented itself to us amidst our curiosity to live in France for language immersion. We were actually in Edinburgh, Scotland for a visit the year previously & through a mutual friend were invited to live w/ a large French family of five children, who by the way, all played a different instrument & could devour any meal that touched the table. It was an adventure for sure, living in the vaulted attic room of an historic four-story, creaky, wood floor, French home. Anyway, we did both have a background in the French language, both being from separate yet similar, lightly francophone locales of Canada & southern Louisiana. Having also studied French in university prior to meeting, even to the point of Summer having studied abroad in Paris just the summer prior, we both felt an affinity for such an endeavor as we had later found ourselves in the middle of.
...Found themselves in the middle of and wanted to share a spot of with YOU: