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!

Rose Bowl Nesting

Amongst the colorful crowds, in a sea of merchandise, wedged between vendors selling vintage laxatives on one side (!) and artwork on the other, Laura & I assembled a cozy little nest of a booth~

Our goal this month was to create an atmosphere as soft and lovely as a vintage French chemise and as thoroughly feminine as this Empire bust~

Vintage powder compacts and crocheted linen gloves graced our tables~

Part boudoir, part dressing (as the French call a dressing room), thoroughly feminine~

The focus of our central table was a collection of vintage glassware & bottles with ostrich plumes~

This was the second look of the day as the first one, this American copper lantern, was the first thing to sell, as soon as it was set out and before we had finished setting up.

The Early Bird got the lovely patina~

and the still-life winter garden vignette inside, minus the bird, we kept him for ourselves~

Our collection of vintage bottles filled in the space~

this trio of amber bottles would be lovely in a kitchen for oils or vinegars with a pour spout...

Bookending the bottles were a pair of commercial-grade etageres in osier blanc~

which held jam jars filled with lavender, and many other lovelies, on soft beds of moss and excelsior~

Dozens of Laura's sweet lavender sachets were piled high~

with various finishings;

these will be available on the Blogtique~

Priced from $5 - $10~

each one individual, each one lovelier than the last~

the little nests with real blown quail eggs were tucked all over the booth; we included some French farmers market soaps to deliciously scent the booth~

Vintage jam jars in assorted sizes sold quickly, though some will be available on the Blogtique~

19C monogrammed kerchiefs made of toile d'Arles perfectly complemented the yellow jam pots from the Paris Flea~

One large pot, one small, label says "comme a la maison"

"just like home(made)"~

various pieces of vintage mercerie or sewing items were presented; vintage clothes pins, spools of thread, here new old stock linen thread, with the pretty packaging depicting a baptism~

Holiday greenery lined the entrance to the booth, and more vintage French clothes pins held up our laundry line on the walls~

Rolls of napkins were held in a wire boat; we have many more new pieces in, with and without monograms~

Laura has been busy at work dying the cotton and linen chemises in shades of gris and rose~

The petticoat totes were much admired and sold well~

as did les chemises~

Sweet little birds were found in various places,

like a winter garden~

We have a large selection of new old stock 1920's monograms in various sizes and various letters; you sew these puffy beauties on to your cloth then pull away the tulle, which is as delicate as butterfly wings~

vintage egg baskets also lined the walls,

hung with the chemises~

Did we mention it's tough business setting all of this up? This time, we were prepared; we brought French cider in our carry basket~

and set up an antiquaire's lunch for ourselves & our favorite shoppers. Well, we started with the baguette, cheese and grapes at 9am. At that point we had been up for about 6 hours so it felt like lunchtime~

these labels or etiquettes as they are called are from the Paris Flea; we will post this week on them, there's a story of course~

New items for sale, including these plus many more, are going up on the Magasin de Metis aka our Blogtique this week.