Spring Departure

Christmas is barely over, and we will soon celebrate the New Year, but Laura & I have been plotting and planning, developing our concept for Metis Spring for several months now. The change of the seasons and change in our home decor sometimes comes in stages. I suppose if you are super-organized you will swap out your decorations & accents all at once, but I tend to make the change more gradually. I found that I had somehow placed a pink candle in the crusty 19C candlestick, and tied it up with a vintage gold ric-rac to place on our Christmas coffee table. Hmm, a little foreshadowing?

I have had this chair for several months, and it keeps asking me for an overhaul:
It's horsehair and silk damask, very solid and heavy but worn to bits~

Still, I love the detail, the beading and the ribbonwork~
My favorite gold chair has also asked me to be reborn, and it's on my list too~
So, just what do we have in store for you for Spring? Oh you will only have to wait a few short weeks. I was a little mesmerized by the pink candle, staring at the perfection of it's color (it's by Point a la Ligne, Paris, thanks to my local hardware store). Laura & I are a little tired of too much neutral, and ready to give the red accents a rest for a time. Pink, yes, color will be great for Spring, especially after all this wintry weather~
We're thinking a little softness too. Something puffy, feminine, like a Macaroon. We love these from Loic in San Diego~
but maybe we will punch the color up a little. Oh Yeah....it's going to be more saturated, a little more yummy, in a rainbow of colors like these~
You will forget your winter doldrums when you see our Metis pieces for Spring. So back to work we go; stay tuned for our progress. A Very Happy Sunday to all~

Our Christmas Gift to You

From the bottom of our hearts, we wish to thank everyone that has been so supportive during our first year of Metis Linens. Here is a small token of French holiday images collected over the years.

Our wish is that you will savor all of the goodness that the holiday season offers.

Meilleurs voeux,

Andrea

May the peace of the season be yours.

Joyeux Noël!

Laura

We shall return in the new year with exciting ideas and a new feature entitled “French Fridays”.

Santa’s Magic Key

Many parents are faced with the situation of having no chimney. This can be a cause  of great concern for a child. There are several lines in the famous poem “Twas the Night Before Christmas” by Clement Clark Moore that reference a chimney. The most prominent is: “Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.” If you ask any child over the age of 3 how Santa arrives 99% will respond “The Chimney”. If you are like me and live in a home with no fireplace there is a very sweet alternative. The Santa Key. At Metis our Santa keys are from 18th and 19th century France and show the delicious patina that comes with age. They are heavy and most children have never seen such a key, making it all the more magical.

 

 

There are several sweet poems you can select to accompany your key.

Take this "Magic Key" tonight
Hang it on your door so tight
Santa's on his way to you
in his sleigh with presents too,
He tip toes in, not missing a house
Jolly old Guy, Quiet as a mouse
Whispering magic and joy in each Child's Ear
Comes to deliver some Holiday Cheer!

 

Our stockings hang upon a wall.
We have no fireplace at all!
You see the problem is quite clear.
Santa, how will you get in here?
We heard a legend. Is it true?
Of magic only you can do.
We'll leave out this special key,
and mark it "Santa" so you can see.
Your magic makes the key fit right,
so you can get inside that night.
Thank you Santa, here's our key.
The milk and cookies are on me!

 

 

If you have no chimney on Christmas Eve,

Awaiting the presents that Santa will leave,

Just hang this key by the door for him,

And all the gifts will be left within.

 

 

If you are in need of a key, our antique keys are available for $15 and arrive with a heavy, double faced satin, red bow. Priority mailing takes two days ($4.98), so there is still time.

You are free to leave a comment, or contact us.

laura@metislinens.com

or

andrea@metislinens.com

 

Joyeux Noel!

 

All poems found on the Thrifty Fun website.

Antique Linen Tabletop Ideas

We love using vintage linens to create one of a kind tablescapes. The lovely toile wallpaper is sweetly enhanced by a red and white tablescape that features a monogramed sheet used as a tablecloth.

 

 

This rustic tablescape is simplistic perfection. An antique piece of linen and hemp is folded for use as a runner.

 

 

Linen dishtowels are rolled up for use as generously sized napkins. The chairs are beautifully upholstered in linen and hemp.

 

 

Perfect parcels for the table are sweetly scented sachets made from antique linen scraps.

 

 

A classic Christmas setting is created by using traditional red monogrammed towels and fresh greenery.

 

 

How will you decorate your table?

 

Linking to:

Between Naps on the Porch

Antique Linen Christmas

It’s no secret that we love vintage linens. Especially at Christmas.

 

 

The ever classic red embroidery often found on vintage and antique linens just speaks of Christmas.

 

 

Metis bed linen of course looks lovely when used in its original state.

 

 

As well as draped over couches and ottomans.

 

 

But the wonderful sheets can also be used to create chair slipcovers that are so cozy by a roaring fire.

 

 

Of course no mantle should be without stockings hung by the chimney with care. 

 

 

These vintage linen stockings feature cuffs made from handkerchiefs.

 

 

Don’t you just love this dreamy petticoat of a tree skirt?

 

 

Scraps of linen can be used to create Christmas gift bags as well.

 

 

A tree covered in sachets would indeed be heaven scented.

 

 

I don’t think that even Santa himself could resist this sleigh of goodies.

 

 

Our linens are currently 15% off in the Metis Blogtique this week if you are so inspired.

Come back on Wednesday for Christmas tabletop ideas using vintage linen.

A Measure of Holiday

Sometimes it's hard to imagine what antique items can be used for, like our Burgundy grain measures~

here they are today, finished with a tartan bow~

and filled with pointsetta; these will be a knockout in someone's entry or alcove or dining room~

$125 each, there are three available~

There are many special items available in our Metis Blogtique; be sure to stop by, or email for other items in inventory. We have something for all price points.

THESE GRAIN MEASURES ARE NOW SOLD!

Holiday Candle How To

I love to find new ways to incorporate the easy French lifestyle into my home. The French love to create beautiful tablescapes using natural elements.

 

Everything tastes better by candlelight. The embellished votives and hurricane’s are simple to make…

…and a visual feast for the eyes.

You begin with a piece of vintage métis linen that fits around the glass cylinder of your choice. Top it with a slightly thinner piece of linen in a lighter or contrasting color. After you layer the linen pieces on top of each other you can also add a thin piece of velvet.

Roll all three pieces around the glass then secure the fabric closed with a small straight pin. (You may also use double sided tape or for a permanent solution, use fabric or hot glue.)

You can then embellish further by using various hand dyed silk ribbons and vintage French medals.  

The finished candle holders look so lovely.

To make the holiday season easier for you we have assembled a few inexpensive candle kits available in our Metis Linens Blogtique.

Enjoy!

Dejuner des Antiquaires

If you have been to France, you can't help but notice that the antique dealers take a lunch break that is to die for. Tables set, crystal & argent massif; wine & excellent food, even if it is slightly pique-nique. There is usually a dog resting at their feet. The art of living thrives.

I've never dared take a photo of any of them, it is simply not done; though I have the images in my mind's eye. On Sunday, Laura and I set up our own version, including some Epoisse and Saint Andre cheese, grapes from the farmers market and baguette~

We had many shoppers come in pairs. Most of them said, "That looks so real!" thinking the cheeseboard was faux.....bien sur it was all real.

Most of them stopped for a bite. Pourqoi pas? It was a great lead into conversation. The exception was the Actress Andrea knows from Palisades; she came and bought, she is a waif and so cheese was not on her "to eat" list; she is a lovely person and it was great to see her again.

Towards the end of the day we had this shopper; she instantly recognized the display as real but she was shopping for fake. She collects fake food; she had a good laugh with us~

We had Perrier and apple cider too; up until the second World War, cider and beer were the most-consumed beverages in France, ahead of wine~

The labels are from the Paris flea; dated for the values in Francs~

They would be great set up in a kitchen; $20 the large, $10 the small;
check the Blogtique for stock~

At the end of the day, the Epoisse had melted a bit~

to remind of Dali's Persistence of Memory; though there are high-fallutin' ideas and interpretations including Einstein's Theory of Relativity, Dali said the work was in fact inspired by a melting piece of Camembert cheese.

Be sure to check out the previous post which feature pictures of the booth.

You will not be disappointed!