Metis Linens

Rêve ~ A Dream Come True

2013-02-01T03:00:00.000-08:00

For those of you who have been asking, perhaps even dreaming…

The time is now at hand.

For the past year it would seem as if the Metis partnership had ceased to exist. Actually, we have continued to sell our linens to private parties and antique dealers.

In addition, we have been working on a French themed E book travel series ~ Rêve ~ which literally translates into “Dream”.

It was a short debate on what we should cover for Volume I. There is nothing like Paris ~ the City of Light and Love.

This travel E book series will be vastly different than what is already flooding the market.

You will not find information on the Eiffel Tower, Arch de Triumph, or the Champs-Élysées.

While those are all wonderful places to visit, we want to offer you over 100 pages of:

“Les trésors cachés de Paris”

translation: “The hidden gems of Paris”

You will also notice that there is no date on the (tentative) cover of Volume I. This is because the information contained within the pages of Rêve will be timeless. Much like France itself. Unlike a magazine, you will not want to eventually toss, recycle or delete this book, but refer to its fantastic content again and again.

Future volumes will cover areas such as Brittany, Burgundy, Provence… et plus (and more)!

Images Of Paris

2012-04-14T06:07:00.001-07:00

Today is the 100th birthday of famed French photographer Robert Doisneau. To celebrate here are just a few of my favorite images.

Le Baiser de l”Hotel de Ville~ 1950

Monsieur Doisneau is considered to be one of France's (and the world’s) most well loved, talented and prolific photographers. His images showcase everyday, innocent and ironic scenes that feature a glorious Paris as the backdrop.

His subjects were mainly the working class and captured moments in time that often featured their pleasurable pursuits. I love the female dancers Cuban heeled stockings and well formed dancing shoes. But it is the title alone that seals my adoration.

Be bop en cave ~ Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Paris 1951

His photographs often include humorous subjects.

Romi's shop window, 1948

Everyone was beautiful to Doisneau.

Chez Gegene, Quai de Polangis, Joinville-le-Pont (La Mariée) 1946

Of course he did have his fair share of famous subjects.

Robert Doisneau, Les petits pains de Picasso, 1952

To read Doiseneau’s story of his early life is ever inspiring. Sadly his lens stilled in 1994 at the age of 81. But he left behind an amazing catalogue of work. I have shared only a few of my favorites but there are many wonderful books that feature his vast collection of work.

Robert Doisneau aux Tuileries, Paris 1982 -by Marion Kalter

I will close with a heartbreakingly precious portrait. One who knows me well can guess why.

Le Chien a Roulettes, 1977

Joyeux anniversaire Monsieur Doisneau!

Laura

Are You Ready To Wear Ticking?

2012-04-13T08:50:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I was wandering around Anthropologie. I had heard that their coral reef inspired windows were amazing (and they were). While there I noticed an entire wall seemed to have been inspired by the popular decorating trend of using vintage and antique French linen and sheeting.

Like these darling shorts! Wouldn’t they look great with a red top and espadrilles?

As is often the case, clothing designers and manufacturers often take their color and style cues from the interior design industry. A current example is the tremendous amount of orange clothing to be found which was no doubt influenced by Pantone’s color of the year, Tangerine Tango. I for one like the white linen trend which is featured beautifully via the Naudine dress.

As with any trend, just a touch is often enough. The pairing of a red ticking stripe against the cheery floral print found in the Lova skirt is just darling.

Being a pear shape I don’t really want to add any attention to my own hot pockets, but I enjoy looking at the buoy high waist trousers. I would however scoop up the Honfleur blouse in a hot minute if it was a bit more in my price point.

The blouse would look fantastic paired with the Brooks mini.

You can see the entire collection by Koto Bolofo HERE. It is probably no secret that I love it all!

Happy shopping,

Laura

Mastering The Art of Beef Bourguignon

2011-11-08T08:10:00.001-08:00

Without the hype, beef bourguignon cooks down to what essentially is a type of beef stew or casserole. Albeit the very best beef stew or casserole you will ever eat.

Last spring, in Andrea’s cozy kitchen located in the Burgundy region of France, we enjoyed a beautiful lunch of this famous French dish. In truth it was almost a blip on the radar of the many wonderful meals we experienced. Almost. Upon my return to the states I set about trying to find a vintage copy of the cookbook we exclusively used. Yes, I am well aware that Mastering The Art of French Cooking (MTAOFC) is still in print and I could have had a copy on my doorstep the next day with one click of the Amazon button. But I am funny that way. I wanted a vintage copy in good condition to find me. I had to wait six months but there she was in all her Fleur~ de~ lis glory.

I spent an entire evening immersed in her pages. I found little clippings of recipes and articles from the previous owner along the way. You can’t get delights like that from a new book. I decided that the first recipe I would create would be the classic Beef Bourguignon (Boeuf à la Bourguignonne) found on page 315. (Unlike the masterful Julie Powell I have no lofty expectations that I will ever make every single recipe.) Of course MTAOFC is a grown up cookbook in that it has no photographs. Truthfully, grown up cookbooks such as this and her classic cousin, Joy of Cooking, make me nervous. But as many will tell you, if you can read, you can cook.

The preparation date was set for a Sunday when I would have hours to prepare the dish and a large table of visiting family members who would eat it. In my haste to begin I did not photograph a “before” photo of the ingredients. Thankfully another blogger had.

In the morning I began to sauté the pearl onions as indicated on page 483 (Oignons Glacés À Brun).

They then were braised in beef stock. (In the center is a bundle of herbs known as a bouquet garni .)

This portion of the recipe was then set aside.

I then began to sauté mushrooms in butter (Champignons Sautés Au Beurre) as found on page 513.

This portion of the recipe was also set aside.

I then simmered the bacon.

I had a bit of a crisis in that Mrs. Child’s indicated to sauté the bacon in a fireproof casserole dish. No doubt she means something along the lines of this:

I persevered with my common stainless steel pan and just drained and dried my simmered bacon and added a bit of oil to the pan and proceeded to sauté the bacon.

The bacon was then removed and then the stewing beef was added to the leftover bacon fat and browned on all sides.

The onion and carrots then had a turn. I do not use the tiny baby carrots that come in a bag as they are injected with dye and flavorless. I find all recipes taste better with the old fashioned long, peel it yourself, variety.

All the previous ingredients, and a few more, were then put into a glass casserole dish as that is what I had to work with. It said to cover the dish so I added a sheet of aluminum foil.

Four hours later I have to say that the dish didn’t look all that appetizing. But the glorious smell had men, children and beasts running to my front door for miles around. I transferred it into a pretty dish, and added the onions and mushrooms.

I served the dish with tiny Dutch gold potatoes, hot French bread and a simple field green salad. Dessert was an apple tart with fleur de sel caramel sauce. It was a hearty, rustic meal that was much appreciated by my family.

The next day I had it for lunch and Ooh La La it was even better. But truthfully, given the hour and a half of prep and four hours of cooking time I do not believe that this dish will become a staple in my household. I mastered it though and sometimes that is enough.

Bon Appétit!

Laura

images

2011-09-23T06:35:00.000-07:00

Fête Nationale

2011-07-14T06:59:00.001-07:00

Today is Bastille Day, also known as Fête Nationale. The holiday is celebrated all over France as well as several other countries.

The Bastille prison, located in Paris, was once greatly feared for the terror which occurred inside its walls. On July 14, 1789, it became a symbol of French Revolution and freedom.

La Liberté guidant le peuple (Liberty Leading The People) by Eugène Delacroix

The Bastille prison was originally called the Chastel Saint-Antoine. It was built between 1370 and 1383 under King Charles V and King Charles VI to serve as a fortress and protection of the city of Paris against Anglo-Burgundian forces during the Hundred Years' War. The four and 1/2 building was surrounded by its own moat and was located at the eastern main entrance to medieval Paris. It had eight towers which were approximately 77.1 ft. (23.5m) high. There were two courtyards and an armory.

La Bastille dans les prémiers jours de sa demolition (The Bastille Early in Its Demolition) by Hubert Robert

The storming of the Bastille occurred on July 14, 1789 and marked the beginning of the French Revolution. The event is celebrated annually on July 14 in France and many other countries and is officially called the Fête Nationale.

On the one year anniversary of the storming of the Bastille in 1790 people honored Fête de la Fédération with a huge feast to celebrate the uprising of the short-lived constitutional monarchy in France and the short lived, but successful, French Revolution. The event took place on the Champ de Mars, which was at the time far outside Paris.

A mass was given to mark the occasion and General Lafayette, captain of the National Guard of Paris, took his oath to the constitution. The celebration lasted four days with feasts, fine wine, fireworks and people running naked through the streets.

Today Bastille Day is celebrated in much the same way sans the running naked through the streets part.Will you open a bottle of wine and enjoy some lovely French bread and cheese to celebrate?

Viva La France!

Andrea and Laura

Linking to:

French Cupboard

French Country Cottage

Early Summer Days

2011-06-06T10:34:00.001-07:00

School is out for most of us, graduations finished this past weekend. We can now hopefully settle into the easy days of summer. We have many, many lovely places and people to show you from our recent trip; here are a few images of the early days of summer in France~

{Iris, north of Beaune}

{mustard field, north of Beaune}

{yes, in Brittany they do wear a lot of striped shirts~ for sale at the Wednesday market}

{rose, at La Ruchotte}

{herbs, Beaune Saturday market}

A bientot~

Cuivre Ancien

2011-05-27T07:49:00.001-07:00

Copper is an ancient metal, known since about 5,000 BC in arms, and later, around 3,500 B.C. as Bronze, an alloy of copper and pewter. I like to remind people that for the French, “modern” starts in the 17th Century. So perhaps it is no surprise that by the 19th Century the French had perfected copper, in beautiful, functional forms, and in relatively “mass” production. The 19thC might be my favorite period of all, because it is affordable, true to the old styles, and generally available, at least in France!

Laura and I are able to source a variety of old copper pieces, dating from the 19th and 20th Centuries, mostly in decorative forms, though many of them can still be used. The pieces we show here are indicative of the merchandise we can source; let us know if there is something that captures your heart that you must have in your kitchen~

My favorite piece among all is a Marmite, probably late 19thC; the color is so warm, almost pink. This would have been used for potatoes or meats; the lid seals tightly~

Everything is hand-made, the rivets and the strip holding the lid; the brass ring too~ see the maker mark at left, the only identifying mark on this piece~

Even the rings at the side, artisan-made~

More modern pieces, this bain-marie or double boiler, French porcelaine about 50 years young, but still well-made with iron handle~

Laura and I both found tea kettles on this trip, there is nothing like hot water from a copper kettle~

This kettle has a perfectly arched handle, and a beak-like spout~

Details on old copper pots are rarely seen today, such as copper rivets in the iron handles~

As with other French items such as baskets, copper pieces were often made for one particular function, such as this louche de miel or Honey Spoon~

The handle bears the maker’s mark, several times~

When people ask what they should buy for a “starter piece of copper,” I always recommend this piece, which is known by several names, including as a bassine a blanc (egg whites bowl), cul de poule (a reference to a chicken’s anatomy) or simply copper beating bowl. You will see them in various sizes and with one or two handles, or with ring attachments. This antique piece has a nice fat rolled rim and is entirely hand-hammered~

I use it for beating egg whites (the copper reacts with the egg whites to give them more volume), making cakes, any kind of mixing, really….here in Beaune the three girls got together and made molleux or molten chocolate cakes, also with the little bain-marie~

This piece is called a sucrerie, or sugar pot, for making sugar syrup, pralines or other kinds of candy; the pot is unlined for better conductivity, and the straight sides and small pour spout are made for working with the hot sugar syrup~

The maker’s initials are on the side~

France also has what is referred to as “yellow copper” or Laiton, sometimes called brass, but it is not the usual copper & zinc alloy we know as brass~

This is a beautiful 19C piece, a cauldron~

The handle is perfectly finished, in iron~

The entire piece is perfectly hammered by hand~

We hope you enjoyed a little copper tour; be sure to check our Laura’s molten chocolate cakes and Andrea’s lavender-lemon cakes today to see the copper in action~

Andrea & Laura

Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres

2011-05-19T11:16:00.001-07:00

France, I think, has a secret. For all that is made of Notre Dame in Paris, which justifiably IS a grand cathedral, there is another cathedral located about an hour away in the town of Chartres that rises far above anything that I have ever seen before. It is the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres (Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres). Even the approach is secretive. While you are traveling along the autoroute happily, content to look at the waving fields of wheat, suddenly the spires of the cathedral rise up and call out to you. Indeed pilgrims have been making this journey for far longer than the current cathedral, which began construction in 1193, has stood. Yes, you read that right, 1193~ which makes this stunning piece of architecture something of a miracle in my mind. According to tradition, a church has stood on the same grounds since the 7th century. Chartres Cathedral has housed the tunic of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Sancta Camisia, since 876. The relic was said to have been given to the cathedral by Charlemagne.

The town itself is unassuming, even faintly familiar in its charm, but then you turn a corner and suddenly face two towering spires. One, a rather plain pyramid, rises 349 feet (105 m) into the air and dates to the 1140’s and the other, a more flamboyant younger sister, built in the 1500’s, juts up 377 feet (113 m) into the sky.

The exterior of the building is primarily French Gothic in style. It features large hand carved stone blocks which have been transformed into magnificent flying buttresses, round and Gothic pointed arches, and swirling spires topped by a copper roof which is supported by a network of cast iron ribs. What makes Chartres Cathedral truly a wonder is that it is almost perfectly preserved in its original design and very few changes have been made to the interior or exterior. The cathedral has survived several revolutions and wars by what can only be considered the Grace of God. I encourage you to read further on the stories of survival which are miracles in and of themselves.

Chartes Cathedral has a total of nine portals (doorways). The cathedral is unique in that the front portal, also known as the Royal Portal, features a three portal layout which faces west. The sculptures on the Royal Portal primarily feature Jesus and Mary. The center portal depicts the Last Judgment and features Christ in the tympanum (a semi circular decorative wall element located within an arch or pediment) surrounded by symbols of the four evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. How does one dare enter such overwhelming loveliness?

The floor plan of the cathedral is laid out in the cruciform style. You enter into a two bay narthex (entrance) on the west end. This opens up into a seven bay nave (the central approach to the altar) which is the widest in France. This leads to the transept (an area set crosswise in an nave) which features three bays on both the north and south sides. The nave ends in a semi circular apse (semicircular recess) which also features several bays.

But all of this doesn’t really matter when you see it. Upon first entering the cathedral I was so filled with awe that such a structure had not only been created, but had continued to stand for over 800 years. The cathedral was truly majestic. Above all, the overwhelming peacefulness I felt in this grand space and the true gift of seeing SUCH beauty made me weep with joy.

The columns are just massive. The hand carved detailing amazing. But in quaint contrast were rows upon rows of simple rush seat chairs set out for the faithful.

However the chairs hid a secret. On the floor of the cathedral is a labyrinth.

Unlike so many of the ancient cathedrals, Chartes is rather bright due to the 176 stained glass windows that grace the walls. There currently is an extensive effort to rid the cathedral of its centuries of grime. Given that entrance to the cathedral is free, Andrea and I made sure to leave several coins in various boxes to help contribute to the efforts.

The screen which surrounds the choir, known as the chancel screen, features 16th-century sculptures.

To walk around the entire screen is to walk through the bible.

The sculptures are just RIGHT THERE before you. Some have been damaged over the years, no doubt by overzealous pilgrims. I decided to keep my hands to myself and just enjoy the beauty and pray that it remains as such for others.

The stained glass is beyond comparison to any other I have seen before. The tiny shards of jewel toned glass are amazingly intricate and provide outstanding detail in minute form. Yet the overall finished example is nothing short of spectacular. There are a total of three rose windows within the cathedral. The rose window below was a gift from Queen Blanche of Castille in 1230 A.D.

Ever closer you can begin to appreciate the delicate details that make up the overall beauty of this masterpiece.

The intricacy of art form and what it took to create the Adam and Eve panel astounds me. Remember, this window was created in 1230. Long before any advancements in the technique of creating stained glass existed.

At the top of the rose sits King David, in what I would consider his greatest glory. Have you EVER seen such a gem?

But there was one window that left me breathless, as it has for million of pilgrims before me. I had her to myself for a good long while.

The Notre Dame de la Belle Verrière (Our Lady of the Beautiful Stained Glass Window) or the Blue Virgin window is the second window found in the Southern ambulatory. It dates to Romanesque times. Great mystery has surrounded the how's and why’s of how such brilliant colors were created during that time frame. It has been described as “The most beautiful stained-glass window in existence.” I myself agree. Again, the peace I felt upon viewing such beauty was indescribable. The window has been deemed sacred given that it survived the devastating fire of 1194 that ravaged a good portion of the cathedral.

Of course you must be eager to see the Sancta Camisia (cloak or veil of Mary) which also miraculously survived the June 10, 1194 fire which began by a bolt of lighting. Indeed the cathedral you see today was built in order to house the tunic in all its miraculous glory.

You cannot get any closer than what the gates will allow. I found the following image of this close up thanks to the internet.

There is a movie, “Two For The Road”, which stars the delightful Audrey Hepburn and Albert Finney. During a visit to the cathedral Finney’s character turns to Hepburn’s and says “Nobody knows the names of the men who made it. To make something as exquisite as this without wanting to smash your stupid name all over it. All you hear about nowadays is people making names, not things.”

Imagine a world where beauty is created simply for beauty and not fame. Today let’s try to create some form a beauty without the sake of recognition.

Andrea and Laura

As difficult as it may be to believe, the very best pictures taken by Andrea were not shown today. We are currently working on an E guide of France which you will truly love.

Linking to:

French Cupboard

French Country Cottage

Common Ground

The Charm of Home

My Romantic Home

Le Petit Trianon

2011-04-21T10:00:00.000-07:00

Le Petit Trianon (The Petite Trianon) was built between 1762 ~ 1768 ~ by architect Anges-Jacques Gabriel for Madame de Pompadour, King Louis XV’s favorite mistress. Madame de Pompadour’s goal was to create a getaway that would relieve the King’s boredom.

Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson, Marquise de Pompadour, painted around 1756 by François Boucher.

Sadly, Madame died four years before its completion and her successor, Madame du Barry became its occupant. Her enjoyment was also short lived as the King died from smallpox in May of 1774 and she was quickly exiled to the Abbaye du Pont-aux-Dames.

Madame du Barry painted by Elisabeth Vigee~ Lebrun.

This grand respite was then passed on to Louis XVI’s 19 year old Queen, Marie Antoinette, upon his ascension to the throne in 1774. It was Queen Marie Antoinette that truly left her mark on this piece of architectural majesty. It had been designed in the then fashionable Greek-style and features several classical design elements also known as the Neoclassical style. Petit Trianon is visible from all sides, which was a popular feature in architecture that was built at the end of the 18th century. The four sides are all visually different. The most sumptuous side faces the French Garden.

The Queen came often to Le Petit Trianon to escape the formality of court life. At Versailles, she was under constant pressure and judgment from the King’s family as well as the court. It is interesting to note that "de par la Reine" (by order of the Queen), no one was permitted to visit the Petit Trianon property without the Queen's permission. Yes, that included the King. However, the alienation of certain members of the jealous court would eventually lead to her downfall during the French Revolution.

But who could blame her for wanting to keep this lovely home as her own secluded retreat?

Throughout the gardens are lovely bits of bliss such as the Pavillon Français (French Pavilion).

The Belvedere, a small classical pavilion requested by the Queen and built by her architect Richard Mique between 1778 ~1781, was used as a teahouse by Marie Antoinette.

The delightful interior space was painted by Hubert Robert.

The Queen also commissioned the architect Mique to design and build this lovely Neo-classical structure, the Temple of Love, in 1778. It was here October 5, 1789 she learned that the French Revolution had reached the outskirts of Versailles and that she should return to Paris immediately.

It is quite evident that Marie loved her Temple as it appears in the background of several paintings, such as this one by Nikklas Lafrensen which commemorated a party on June 21, 1784 held in honor of Gustave III, King of Sweden.

This painting, by Adolf Ulrich Wertmuller, shows the Queen with her two eldest children. The Temple is in the upper right background.

Here the Royal family appears in a painting in which the Temple of Love also can be seen in the background. I am unsure of the artist. Anyone?

Now let’s take a peek inside the Petit Trianon.

Did you notice the lovely door handle?

Not to mention the elaborately carved wall paneling also known as “boiseries”.

On the first floor, the main room was a living room used for games and music~ especially in the days of Marie-Antoinette, who was famous for her musical abilities.

1774 painting of the Queen by Jean-Baptiste Gautier Dagoty

Honoré Guibert carved the trophies of music on the boiseries which was decorated with King Louis XV’s monogram. It featured two “L’s” in myrtle leaves entwined with three natural fleurs-de-lis under a crown of roses. The imposing mantle is made of purple breccia (large fragments of clastic sedimentary rock ~ or a large rock made out of smaller rocks).

The textiles used were a “three-color damask” from Lyon which was often used in Royal palaces during the 18th century.

Look at the gilded music stand. Gorgeous!

Also on the first floor is the Salle à manger (dining room) which features finely carved boiseries (ornate and intricately carved wood paneling) that are without gilding (gold leaf) to complement the bleu Turquin (blue Italian marble) mantle.

It should be noted that the dining room was designed so that the dining table could mechanically lowered and raised through the floorboards so that the servants would not be seen. While the table was never built, the delineation for the mechanical device can still be seen from the foundation.

The Queen’s bedroom, known as the “Trellis” room, is the last area on the first floor. Honoré Guibert had created the paneling with a botanical feel. A mahogany table made by Schwerdfeger is adorned with a frieze of sunflowers and thistle leaves. Dogs’ heads, representing the Queen’s pets, add a charming detail.

Here is a close up of one of the original chairs. Bonnefoy du Plan oversaw the creation of the furniture pieces which featured carved and painted trellises, basketwork, floral forms and rustic garlands. The furniture is called “wheat-ear” furniture, so named for lily-of-the-valley, pinecones, and ears of wheat found in the design.

The third floor is known as the Mezzanine and was for the Queen’s staff. Pretty posh digs for servants.

The attic is in no way, shape or form a traditional attic. It was designed as a series of bedchambers and quarters for the Lords of the suite, although Louis XVI never slept there. However his sister, Madame Elisabeth, did use the space as well as Marie-Therese-Charlotte, who was known as “Madame Royale”, and the daughter of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette.

What I believe is the piece de resistance of Le Petit Trianon is the Théâtre de la Reine (the Queen’s little theatre). The lovely little theatre was built for her between 1778-1779. The interior features decorative pasteboard sculptures, a gold-embroidered blue silk taffeta curtain and a huge stage with incidentally is larger than the auditorium itself. Here she performed pieces by her favorite authors for her inner circle and to delight the King.

A fabulous book, if you are interested in learning more, is “Marie Antoinette and the Last Garden at Versailles” by Christian Duvernois.

Andrea and I will be leaving for France next Friday. We may or may not post during our two week shopping and research trip for Metis Linens and Tours.

We are of course hoping for a “Bon Voyage”,

Andrea and Laura

Linking to:

French Cupboard

French Country Cottage

Common Ground

The Charm of Home

My Romantic Home

Marie Antoinette’s Hamlet

2011-04-14T09:28:00.001-07:00

For all the grandeur that the Palace of Versailles has to offer there is something much more quaint and rustic that appeals to our beauty seeking souls. It is the Norman styled Hamlet, Hameau de la Reine, designed by architect Richard Mique for Marie Antoinette between 1873 ~ 1787 as a place for her to escape the daily rigors of court life.

There are a total of eleven houses that surround the Big lake. Five of the buildings were regularly used by the Queen and her guests. They included the Queen’ house, billiard room, boudoir, mill and refreshments dairy. The remaining four homes were for the working staff and included the farm and its annexes, the barn, the dovecote and preparation dairy. The farm was located just outside the village and contained eight cows and a bull, ten goats and several pigeons.

Each house came with its own complete garden. Crops such as cabbage, cauliflower and artichokes were grown. Most of the gardens were surrounded by hedges and chestnut trees. Small orchards of apple trees and cherry trees were also planted.

Climbing plants such as roses, grapes and wisteria covered the walls of the houses and on arbors to create shade on certain paths.

The Malborough Tower, named for the Duke of Marborough, was the point of departure for boat rides or fishing outings to catch pike or carp .

The Queen’s house is the most important building located in the hamlet. It is comprised of two separate buildings joined by a wooden gallery, decorated with white and blue earthenware flowerpots with Marie-Antoinette’s monogram. The ground floor featured the dining and billiard room. The first floor contained a large living room, a small living room, a Chinese room and a private apartment.

The Queen’s small house, known as the boudoir, features a thatched roof, a lean to, charming staircase and the back is surrounded by a closed garden.

The Mill was built at the edge of the lake and its wheel was used to grind the grain and also featured an interior laundry.

Again the staircases and balconies of the building featured rows of earthenware pots containing hyacinths, wallflowers or geraniums.

All of the cows, goats and sheep were brought to the farm from Switzerland. Various cheeses and cream were manufactured in the Preparation Dairy, which was destroyed under the First Empire. It was located across from the Refreshments Dairy which thankfully, still stands.

As to the hamlet’s historical significance, it was here that guards found the Queen and informed her she would be imprisoned and tried for treason. Sadly, the trial did not end well for her.

Happily her vision of simple beauty lives on.

Shall we visit the Queen’s other playground, Le Petit Trianon, next week?

Andrea and Laura

Linking to:

French Cupboard

French Country Cottage

Common Ground

The Charm of Home

My Romantic Home

French Fridays ~ Catherine Deneuve

2011-03-25T13:58:00.001-07:00

I have been an avid reader this week of the reports and analysis of the life, loves and work of Elizabeth Taylor. There are stars and then of course there are mega-stars. Just a few years behind Elizabeth we have iconic women like Sophia Loren and Bridget Bardot. Women whose work and presence rivets us, women with pure magnetism.
About ten years younger than Sophia and BB, we have yet another icon, that both men and women find fascinating, 67 year old Catherine Deneuve~

Today is the U.S. release of her latest film, Potiche, which has opened to very good reviews. While “foreign films” seem to get little coverage when they are released in the U.S., I was happy to see Catherine’s photo and an interview with her featured prominently in our local paper. What would you expect, I suppose, for a French icon? I’m still trying to find a cinema where Potiche is playing, but I hope to see it this weekend. I’m a little concerned that co-star Gerard Depardieu is going a little Brando on us, but the chemistry between these two stars is always, well, so French and so wonderful.
While Elizabeth Taylor lived and loved in the public eye, Catherine is extremely private about her personal life. This has contributed in part to her duality of being the “Ice Queen” while also being one of the most beautiful and watched women in the world. Her cool image was reinforced by her character in 1967’s Belle du Jour, a film which Alfred Hitchcock greatly admired.

Great women always have great company, don’t they? In her younger years Deneuve ran in circles that included the great director Francois Truffaut, her lover Marcello Mastroianni (father of her daughter Chiara), actor and larger-than-life personality Gerard Depardieu (her costar in The Last Metro) and iconic French singer/songwriter Serge Gainsbourg. Catherine remained close friends with Yves Saint Laurent until his death. Both intensely private people, with their own private suffering. Catherine was utterly devastated by the loss of her sister Francoise in a car crash in 1967.

While we see little of Deneuve here in the States, the French hang on her every word and action. She is revered like no other actress; it’s hard for me to name a French celebrity that is bigger than Deneuve. Can you think of one?
She became well-known in the U.S. with her Chanel perfume campaign of the 1970’s. Even speaking English, she remains somewhat aloof, somewhat detached, but at the same time fascinating, beautiful, elusive, refined…so French. Her movements and speech are natural, gracious, yet still reserved. Watching this old (1996) video clip of her, here, at the time her film My Favorite Season was released, you can see why she is so captivating. She communicates so much with just a few flicks of her eyelids and other facial movements.

Are you a Deneuve fan or have you seen any of her films?
In April we will be running a small series on French Cinema for French Fridays, including a few giveaways of classic French film noir. Check back next week for a mega post that will be very very fun~

Fabulous French Fridays ~ The Paris Flea Market

2011-03-10T07:57:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Fabulous French Fridays a wee bit early.

Andrea is currently touring Italy this week. Dreamy sighs. She has signed up for three separate cooking classes. She’s also hoping to hit a few Italian antique stores and markets. But I can’t imagine that they will come close to anything like the French flea markets or as they’re known in France ~ marché aux puces (pronounced “mar-shay ōh poose”). The literal meaning of marché aux puces is “with fleas” or “Fleas’ Market”. The name is believed to have originated when rag-pickers, (known as crocheteurs aka pickers or the more romantic 'pêcheurs de lune' aka fishermen of the moon ~ meaning those who dumpster dive at night) began trying to peddle their meager treasures on the fringes of Paris several decades before the area became officially designated as a public marketplace in 1885.

The flea market on the north side of Paris is known as Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen (“sant – ooh – ĕhn”). It is one of the largest in France, with over 3000 dealer booths and it is filled with the crème de la crème of antiques. Prices are somewhat higher than the lesser known markets throughout France but many of the dealers also accept credit cards in addition to euros. If you take the metro (subway) you will want to get off at Porte De Cligancourt (“port – duh – glee – yan – coor”) on line 4. The main street for antiques is Rue des Rosiers.

The market is open:

Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm
Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm
Monday from 11 am to 5 pm (but with limited dealers and often by appointment)

Many of the stalls close around lunch time ~ but as you should start right when the market opens, you will be ready to eat yourself.

A good website can be found HERE.

You can also get a Keys To The Fleas ap for your phone from apple.

The flea markets are generally a notch above the French garage sale which is known as a brocante. We will cover brocantes in a future post.

Laura Tips for Successful Flea Marketing Adventures

Wear comfortable clothing and shoes.

Bring a basket. The French do not do plastic bags. The very best baskets are of course found at French Basketeer.

Bring water. Not only to drink, but to wash off your hands. Things worth digging for are not always in a clean pile.

A handkerchief can come in quite handy too.

A pad of paper to write down information such as a booth number.

A camera to record items of interest.

A measuring tape.

Snacks if needed.

If you are shopping for silver, bring a magnet. It will not stick to true silver.

If you go with friends or family choose a designated time and meeting point if you separate.

It is recommended to attend the markets in morning as they often become crowded in the afternoon.

Hide your wallets under your shirt or sweaters around your neck if using cash. But most dealers accept credit cards. However do not bring your passports.

The French love to negotiate. But you need to be respectful and of course speak the language. It is ok to say you are a dealer if you are.

Happy Shopping!

Andrea and Laura

French Fridays… Dressing for France

2011-03-03T22:41:00.001-08:00

I posted pics this week of my parents in Paris in 1959. A little freaky for me, yes, but dang don’t they look cool?

I am prepping for Italie and striving for a little of this look~

Notice, no tennis shoes. Suit and tie not required now-a-days. Sensible shoes, etc yes. How do you dress when traveling in France?
Are you a classic? Or Contemporary?

Fabulous French Fridays ~ The Art Of The French Dining Table

2011-02-25T03:00:00.000-08:00

I have dining tables on my mind. I keep folders of things I love and thought perhaps you might enjoy a peek into one of my little collections. Generally, when you visit Metis, Andrea and I often write detailed and hopefully informative posts on things authentically French. But in thinking about the French dining table (whether it is authentic or just a grand interpretation) I think that there is no right or wrong way to prepare for a meal. One can however immediately sense when it has been done beautifully. So this week we will let the images speak for themselves.

May you enjoy a weekend full of feasts, friends, and family,

Andrea and Laura

The winner of our Chiens de Paris books is Karena! If you don't know he lovely blog Art by Karena, please stop by for a visit...

True Random Number Generator Min: Max: Result: 6 Powered by RANDOM.ORG

French Fridays ~ Les Chiens de France & a Giveaway

2011-02-17T17:41:00.001-08:00

Did you happen to catch any of the Westminster Kennel Club’s 2011 Dog Show this week? If you know me and Laura just a little you know that we are absolutely mad about our poochies! So, it only seems fitting this week to talk about les Chiens de la France
and have a fun little giveaway too….

What comes to mind at the mention of “French Dogs?”
Perhaps the iconic French Poodle...here preparing to dine on a morsel of Brie; the poodle may be a perfect representation of French…grace intelligence and style, in a dog suit~

Napoleon had a black poodle named Moustache, which would accompany him into battle. Moustache was decorated with a medal for his numerous heroics in the battles of Marengo, Austerlitz and Iena, including once crossing enemy lines to bring back the remains of le drapeau or flag. His name is also inscribed on the Arc de Triomphe. I understand that the remains of Moustache were stuffed by a taxidermist and now sit in Les Invalides in Paris. Unable to find a photo of this, I instead have a cute gravure to show you of Moustache being presented to Napoleon, executing his “jump over the sword” trick~

Besides poodles, the French have a great love of hunting dogs. This is one of my favorite dog paintings, by Constant Troyon (1810-1865). Troyon started as a painter of porcelain in Sevres, but became a fantastic Barbizon painter.
The breed here is called an Aregieous Hound~

As with this year’s winner of Westminster Kennel Club’s show, the Scottish Deerhound, the French use all sorts of dog breeds for hunting rabbits, fox, deer, pheasant and other game. Here, another painting by Troyon dated 1854, which is found in the Musee d’Orsay in Paris; in English we call it “the Game Keeper” but its French name is Garde-Chasse Arrete Pres de Ses Chiens.” "Game Keeper stopped near his dogs."
A beautiful painting showing the relationship between man and his dogs and Nature~

Yes indeed, the French of all ages have a love affair with their dogs….

{Paul & His Dog, Nadar (Gaspard Felix Tournachon) 1854}

Of France’s 8.1 million dogs, it seems many provide steady companionship to their owners rather than hunting or other utility functions~

{La Poet Jacques Prevert au Gueridon, Robert Doisneau 1955}

Does it seem that when life is tough, as it was post-War,
people cling to their beloved dogs for some cheer?~

{Avenue de Clichy, Edouard Boubat 1948}

One thing that can surely be said for the French, they have a low tolerance for ill-behaved dogs or children. Why does it seem that the dogs in France are much less hyper and more calm than many other places in the world? Even this little Jack Russell for sale at the Marche in Louhans last year, 9 months old and calm and sweet as could be…~

With dogs as with children, there is a certain social pressure that guides the French; keep your children and dogs under control, or you get nasty glaring looks from those around you. Are the French dogs bred to be calm, or do they just not tolerate any squirrely dogs?? There are very strict laws for any dogs showing sign of aggression; otherwise, dogs are allowed just about everywhere, in cafes, on the Metro. But not in the Louvre. And technically not in some food stores, though that is not strictly enforced as long as the dog behaves~

{Restaurant; David Seymour 1952}

To be sure, the French love to promenade with their dogs,
usually in style~

{Fevrier, Paris, Avenue du Bois du Boulogne, le Matin; Jacques Henri Lartigue 1912}

Laws regarding dogs on the street have started to change. In 1992 France instituted a Poop Law, requiring you to pick up after your dog. Plainclothes sanitation officers fanned out over the city, issuing citations. The French paid about as much attention to the law as they do to the parking regulations (that is, very little attention) and today you still see sanitation workers on their motorcyles ("motos") with suction hoses attached.
Et voila! Pas de Poop! Merde or crotte in French.

In Paris though you still see the signs; this one means Keep your Dog off the Sidewalk. At least if the dogs poop in the gutter, the motos or the street cleaners can get to it before someone steps in it~

This sign means "No Dogs, Even on a Leash."
You frequently see this on playgrounds or in some parks~

But do French dogs, which are informally called “toutou” ~ sort of like our word “doggy,” bark with a French accent? Bien Sur! A French dog does not say Woof Woof it says Wouah Wouah. A French cat by the way does not say Meow Meow it says Miam-Miam. And while we are on the vocabulary, a puppy is called a Chiot and a kitten is called a Chaton. Regardless of what they are called and what language they speak,
you can't help but love the personality of many French dogs!

{Donio, Dresseur du Chien, Robert Doisneau 1946}

Most of the photos from this post are from a sweet little 8" square book called Les Chiens de Paris by Barnaby Conrad III. As a treat, we are offering a copy of this book to one of our Amis who leave a comment on this post.
What could be more French than a pair of French Bulldogs with fur collars?~

{Simone avec Lily et Zett, Avril 1913, Jacques Henri Lartigue}

You will love the cover alone;
a perfect French poodle again, ready for cafe~

{A La Terrasse des Deux Magots, Edouard Boubat, 1955}

Winner will be chosen by Random Number one week from today, next Friday; last entries midnight Thursday. To enter, please leave a comment on this post; you can comment on French dogs or tell us about your own dogs. Multiple entries are fine and will each be counted.

Bonne chance a tous~

Linking to:

Tuesdays Show and Tails

French Fridays~ Valentine’s Day in France

2011-02-11T03:00:00.000-08:00

Oui, the French do indeed celebrate St. Valentine’s Day. It is no secret that the French are well known for amour. There is even a pretty little village known as Saint~ Valentin located in the heart of Champagne Berrichonne, in the Indre department.

A popular belief dating back to the Middle Ages in both France and England is that young lovers noticed that birds begin to mate in mid February. This was considered a lucky sign and people began exchanging tokens of love during this time.

During the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, French poets began creating a romantic image of one special day in the minds of the people.

A peculiar custom that arose was known as "une loterie d'amour" or “drawing for love”. Unmarried people of all ages would go into houses facing each other and begin calling out from one window to another and pair off with a chosen partner. If a young man was not particularly enthralled with his new valentine, he would desert her. A bonfire would be lit later and the single ladies would burn images of their ungrateful lovers and shout abuses at them. The ritual was eventually abandoned when thankfully the French government handed down a decree which officially banned the custom.

It is believed that the Valentine card originated in France. A young Frenchman, Charles, Duke of Orleans, is said to have written the first Valentine's Day poem to his wife while imprisoned in the Tower of London after he was captured at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. The tradition continues today with the French exchanging cards which contain sweet messages entitled “cartes d’amities”.

Joyeuse St. Valentin!

Andrea and Laura

Linking to:

French Fridays~ Valentine’s Creme Puffs

2011-02-03T22:31:00.001-08:00

In case you are wondering, yes, of course, the French also celebrate St. Valentine’s Day. The modern tradition is said to have started in ancient Rome, with the Festival of Lupercus, god of fertility, who appeared dressed in sheep’s clothing. Mention of Saint Valentine first appeared in XIVth C England. But you can look all of that up later, today we want to show you something excellent to make for your Sweetie, Hubbie, Children or Best Friends to show your amour~
Simplicity, perfection, in French tradition; the humble creme puff~

The creme puff is basically foolproof to bake. The finished or filled puffs can be refrigerated or frozen, giving them great versatility. These puffs were featured for our shopping guests at our recent Long Beach Flea booth, to rave reviews and a dusting of Laura’s pant leg!
The pastry to make the creme puff is referred to as Choux, and filled and prepared, on the menu in France, you will often see them called profiteroles. They can be filled with whipped cream (flavored or not), creme anglaise (custard), or soft ice cream. The savory version incorporates Gruyere cheese, and is worthy of a separate post.
You might be surprised at the ingredients to make these delectable delights…pufs are very easy and inexpensive to make, and most fun when you have two or three people to share the task.
So, on y va! Let’s Go and make some creme puffs according to Julia’s Child’s recipe, from Mastering the Art of French Cooking~
As we say in French, le mis en scene, the setup:

Medium sized saucepan

1 pastry bag with wide round fitting

1 cup water

6 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces

1/2 teaspoon salt (I use a generous pinch of French sea salt)

1 teaspoon sugar

dash pepper, ground

dash of nutmeg

1 cup flour, sifted

a wooden spatula or spoon

4 large eggs, room temperature

1 large egg yolk, slightly beaten, with 1 tablespoon water added

STEP 1: The DOUGH

Place the water, butter salt, sugar, pepper & nutmeg in the pan, bring just to a boil (make sure the butter has melted). Nutmeg is the secret ingredient in these choux; it gives a wonderful flavor versus a bland dough~

Remove from heat, add the flour, all at once, and stir with the wooden spoon to incorporate the flour.

The dough will form a mass; continue to stir until the mixture is smooth, about 1 minute.

Return to the heat and stir the dough, turn and mash the ball, to dry it out a little.

Turn the mixture out into a small mixing bowl (Cuisinart or Kitchenaid Mixer); add one egg at a time to mix well; you will need more time to incorporate the eggs for the 3rd and 4th eggs. The mixture should be smooth.

Once the dough is made, spoon it into a pastry bag fitted with a large round tip, any kind will do; the largest one in my set says Wilton 10 so that’s what I use~

Fold the pastry bag back before you fill it; this will let you fill it up without getting the dough all over the sides~

Once filled, fold the top of the pastry bag back- left corner, right corner, center, and wrap the folded top in a paper towel; this lets you pipe without the dough coming out the top of the pastry bag; if I am too 101 I am sorry, just took pics all along the process~
By the way, notice the wooden spoons I use are from Dehillerin Paris; this is the cookshop that Julia Child shopped at when she lived in Paris; it is where Williams-Sonoma first bought their wares; Laura and I will be taking orders for these indispensible yet inexpensive spoons for our loyal readers during our trip to France in May; each spoon is stamped Dehillerin Paris with their address~

Pipe a little over 1” diameter and 1 1/2” high and about 1 1/2” apart. Make one quick firm shape, not “around and around;”I use sil-pat style bake sheets.

Puffs can be made in all sizes, but Laura and I love the small bite-sized versions. You can use this dough to make the larger puffs, but the centers must be scooped out prior to filling. The tiny ones we show you here are easier….poppers….this recipe makes about 75 puffs.
If you don’t have a pastry bag, no worries, you can spoon small balls of pastry on to the cookie sheets.
When the puffs are piped out, use the lightly beaten egg and water to “top the tops”~

That is to say, dip your pastry brush in the egg mixture and just tap the top of the puffs; just to flatten the little peaks; this also gives the puffs a nice golden color and crust on top. Do not let the egg run down the sides of the dough, or it will prohibit the “puffing”~

Into the 425 degree oven, your choux will look like this~

10 minutes or so later, until they are golden and firm, they will look like this; cooking times vary. It’s the heat and the egg that make them “puff”. Look for firmness, and testing one is the best way to know~

Puffs can be left to “dry” in the oven with the oven door open for a few minutes up to 10 minutes if you want them more firm. I like them softer, so I take them out of the oven when they are brown.

Step Two: The Filling

Mis en Scene:

1 pint whipping cream

1 chocolate bar (71% or better, bittersweet)

Fruit sauce, jam or fresh fruit to taste

3 tablespoons powdered sugar

I swear by Valrhona Chocolate; I used to buy it at Zabar’s in NYC but now you find it at Trader Joes in the 71%, my fav.

Melt one bar in a small bowl over simmering water (double boiler). Whip the cream and divide it in half, if your guest like a choice :) Mix half the cream with fresh fruit or in this case, strawberry/raspberry sauce from last summer. This is equally delicious on cakes, waffles and pancakes~

Mix the other half of the cream with most of the melted chocolate, to taste. Which do you prefer, chocolate or berry?

Using the pastry bag again with the large round fitting, fill the pastry bag and then fill each puff, insert the tip into the puff and fill ‘er up~

You will get the hang of it quickly; you will end up with a bunch of this~

Dust with powdered sugar, which hides all errors, then drizzle with the last bit of melted chocolate~

As Miss Biscuit says, Mmmm mmm Good! It was her first birthday yesterday, so she got creme puffs….

Bon Appetit and email us or comment with any questions about this delicious little pastry!

Linking to:

Gollum's Foodie Friday

Chocolat and Other Sweets

2011-01-27T19:37:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Fabulous French Fridays. When you think of Chocolat what comes to mind?

Of course Johnny Depp and Juliette Binoche in the movie of the same name. But what about true chocolat? What country comes to mind? Switzerland? Belgium? It is interesting that both of these countries are next door neighbors to France. Even France’s neighbor across the channel, England, has France to thank for its first chocolate. The London chocolate store, the Coffee Mill and Tobacco Roll, was established by a Frenchman in 1657. The chocolate sold there was so expensive only the wealthy could afford it.

France has a long history with chocolate. Indeed some of the finest treats such as chocolate mousse, the chocolate éclair and chocolate truffles were all made popular by the French. The 1615 wedding of Louis XIII to Anne of Austria (the daughter of Phillip II of Spain) was where the French court discovered the strange brew known for its revitalizing and aphrodisiacal properties.
The first "Chocolatier du Roi" (Chocolatier to the King) was a Parisian tradesman by the name of David Chaillou. In 1659, King Louis XIV bestowed on Chaillou the title of "Chocolatier du Roi" for 29 years, granting him the exclusive privilege to make and sell chocolate in France. Chaillou opened a shop on Rue de l'arbre sec, not far from the Louvre, where he was the first to serve hot chocolate in a Paris chocolate house. In 1780 that royal appointment of chocolates was revived when Chaillou's great-great-grandson Sulpice Debauve became the official chocolate-maker of Queen Marie-Antoinette. Sulpice Debauve, established a chocolate shop in Paris. His chocolate was so revered that he was able to open additional shops and had established 60 shops just four year later. His nephew, Antoine Gallais, began partnering with him in 1823. The name of the shops were changed to Debauve and Gaillais. Louis XVIII, Charles X and Louis Philippe all appointed Debauve and Gaillais as the Official Chocolatiers of the French Court.

French chocolate must be made with at least 43% cocoa liquor. No animal or vegetable fat is allowed. Many French chocolate makers use up to 80% cocoa liquor as the higher the percentage, the richer the final product will be. This standard creates a chocolate without rival.
Another famous chocolate and pastry boutique in France is La Maison du Chocolat. Robert Linxe was born in Basque country and completed an apprenticeship in Bayonne. From there he completed his studies in Switzerland and returned to France and opened a shop in Paris in 1955 called Marquis de Presles. It was sold in 1977 to Gaston Lenotre. I would like to imagine that the lemon tart featured below is being reserved for “Laura”.

In 1945, Maurice Bernachon opened the Bernachon Chocolate Factory in Lyons, France at the age of 26. He was trained in the art of chocolate making by his parents. Sixty years later the Bernachon factory is still famous for its delicious chocolate.

Richart Chocolate began in 1925 on the Croix Rousse hill in Lyons France where Joseph Richart, created and maintained his laboratory. The company is still family owned by the children and grandchildren of Monsieur Richart.

Saving my personal favorite for last is Ladurée. This famed French institution came onto the radar of many American’s after their luscious treats were showcased in Sofia Coppola’s film “Marie Antoinette”.

Louis-Ernest Ladurée began his career as a miller (one who operates a flour mill). He began his bakery in 1862. After it burnt down in 1871 it was rebuilt on the same location, 16 rue Royale, in Paris. Jules Chéret, a master of Belle Époque poster art, was responsible for the famed interiors. The ceilings feature cherubs dressed as pastry cooks which went on to become the companies emblem. Ladurée’s true rise to fame was in 1930 when Ladurée’s grandson, Pierre Desfontaines, created a double decker macaron with a creamy ganache filling. Desfontaines also opened a “salon de thé” (tearoom). The pastry and tea shop was a great success with the ladies as they were not admitted to the French cafés at the time.

In 1993 the company was sold to the Holder Group which has expanded the number of tearooms to now include locations on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris, London, Monaco, and Italy among others.

I have long coveted their wedding cake couple available only to those who order their cake from the esteemed bakery.

I am also eager to sample their famous macarons during my trip this spring as it would seem I am once again being beckoned by an “L'”.

Who else would like a bite?

Thank you for joining us on French Fridays.

Bon Appetite!

Andrea and Laura

Pretty in Pink

2011-01-21T15:37:00.001-08:00

My laptop and camera decided this week they no longer wanted to talk to each other, so my apologies for the delay in getting this post up. Did you all enjoy Laura’s post this morning about the creme puffs and such last weekend? Here she was early in the day, smiling prettily despite having basically no sleep the night before~

Arriving at 5:30am, we spent several hours assembling the booth, and setting out all the lovelies; here Laura’s pretty balloon chair~

Vintage French eyelash trim on vintage grain sacks~

The finished booth was stuffed with merch~

Oh yes, did we have antique French linens….

Dyed, ombres, neutrals….Stacks and stacks….

And pink….the Pantone Egg, vintage French medals hung on silk ribbons….

The little scooter…

Pink was splashed all over around the booth, including in the Evian bottles left from Christmas, filled with colored water, with Cupid’s Arrow~

Pink lemonade for our shoppers….

For our Valentine theme we had bottles of “Elixir d’Amour” (those Champagne bottles!)~

Grain sack pillows made with new old stock 1920’s puffy monograms set off the white linen stacks; other letters are available; pillows to order~

And about the most adorable vintage French footstool you can imagine, covered in the same vintage grain sack~

Laura had little gifts ready for our blogger-visiteurs~

And we fluffed and tied and sold a lot and fluffed some more~

Until after noon, when Laura started to worry, “Will Eddie Ross ever come by?” Chin propped on her hand, she looked something like cute little Opie in this pic~

Until….ta dum…. a chance encounter with the lovely Amy Meier~

Lucky Amy, she found a fine French linen sheet, with her initials!!

And happened to share with us “I know Eddie Ross, and Jaithan is still here!”

Left to right, Laura, Jaithan Kochar, Amy Meier and Jaithan’s lovely Mother, with a sweet little French Basketeer basket full of Metis gifts and Point a la Ligne candles for Eddie and Jaithan~

Suddenly, Laura’s expression was sort of like this~

Thrilled, I believe, yes, is the word, both of us! Our neighbors wondered “are those girls drinking?” No we said, it’s just the pink lemonade, with a dose of meeting a few Blogger Idols.

We are in the middle of revamping our online store. Please email us regarding specific items, and look for more spotlights on merch soon!

Linking to:

Beverly's Pink Saturday

at How Sweet The Sound

French Fridays ~ Pointe a la Ligne

2011-01-20T20:57:00.001-08:00

The French are very serious about their lighting. Paris is called “the City of Light” primarily because of its education and new ideas in the Age of Enlightenment, but also because of its early adoption of street lighting. Today the monuments and civic buildings and Tour Eiffel are perfectly illuminated at night, highlighting their architecture. Here the perfection of the lamp posts of the Pont Alexandre III~

Lighting is a key aspect of French entertaining, though it is never forced, it always seems natural~

‘

Sorry for the grainy pics, which are from Pointe a la Ligne.

The French and especially the Parisians love their scented candles and tapers. The French use tapered candles whenever possible, often in color. In classic decor, you will often see shades of ivory, amber, orange and even black; in spring, all shades of pink, green and other lighter colors come into play.

While the US is into neutrals, the French often use candles for pops of seasonal color~

In Paris, the Candle of choice comes from a company called Point a la Ligne. Say “Pwant a lah LEEgnuh.” Their shop is at 67 Avenue Victor Hugo, in the 16eme near the Arc de Triomphe; You can see their current French catalogue HERE. In the catalogue and in the store in Paris, you will find candles in every color of the rainbow and in all sorts of shapes. Point a la Ligne candles play heavily into the French love of whimsy and fantasy, as you’ll see by the cover of their Winter Catalogue (there are two collections each year)~

I was thrilled to find Point a la Ligne tapers at my local Ace Hardware store this year; they are not expensive, about $1.50, and as in Paris, they come in varying lengths and in every color of the rainbow. They make a perfect gift; I’m crazy about the orange~

And oh, the pink, in 12” length; these will soon go on a large candelabra wrapped in florals and vines. They are smokeless, dripless (unless you leave them out in the breeze), and clean-burning, and made a wonderful color complement to our booth last Sunday~

Point a la Ligne candles are available to retailers in the U.S. through their distributor HERE. Opening orders are $350…the line would make a nice addition to a French style store. We sold most of the candles we brought last weekend, though they were intended for display! You can also call for retailers~ 401.619.3339

You’ll see more of these candles from us this spring.

Lovers in Love, Long Beach Style

2011-01-19T12:49:00.001-08:00

There were no disappointments at the Metis Booth at the Long Beach Flea Market on Sunday. Many shoppers commented on our sharp & pretty booth, sales were brisk, and wonderful connections were made. Versus our usual neutral array of merchandise, Sunday was all about color, a small gift of warmth to all our Chers Amis living in colder climes. Pink was our focus, and with Valentines Day approaching, we were on the lookout for Lovers in Love. Tomorrow we will post shots of the booth and merchandise, but here today we show you a little Love from Long Beach, starting here with a romantic little bloomer set under a sun dress, yes it was a hot day~

The LA-area flea markets present perfect people-watching opportunities, shoppers who look distinctly “Los Angeles.” This couple, for example, would they be found in Kansas City? I was afraid to ask for a pic, and I was after a shot of those heels & seamed stockings anyway, juxtaposed by her burly man….

Or this couple; ok perhaps this fits a few other metro areas around the world….

this couple had a trolly full of black stuff; black antlers, black sheepskins. Still very stylish, and there were very nice, LA store stylists. It was only fitting to have a shot of them in front of the black & white awning stripe of our booth~

There were international shoppers too, who stood out in the crowd; this gentle couple is from Germany, and they left with some of our French merchandise~

These lovers have been dating long-distance for 13 years! She lives in Japan; cool Batman shades, no?

Love comes in many forms, here two best girl friends out for their Sunday Flea shopping in retro clothes and hats~

And some Lovers were not in love with another person, they were in love with say, the Color Pink. This shopper came with her mother and had a $10 budget. She bought our little scooter for $5, to go with her totally pink wardrobe. It was fun to see her ride off with a smile from ear to ear~

The scooter was actually a street find, discarded by someone after Christmas and had been spray painted black. It became one of our presentation items, to display the Pantone Color of the Year, “Honeysuckle.” This is the actual Pantone paint, and it sure does pack a punch, though it also perfectly matches the pink Cannes basket behind.

There were plenty of true lovers in the crowd; these two~

And these two, awww~

Check back tomorrow for our booth shots; here is a preview, our super egg painted, what else~ Pantone Pink!

Au Revoir!

French Fridays~ The Fabulous Scarf

2011-01-14T04:00:00.000-08:00

Beinvenue to the second Metis Linens Fabulous French Fridays. There has been a resurgence of scarf wearing (and subsequent decorating) in America.

I have to wonder if this is due to the fabulous fashions worn by the lovely ladies on Mad Men.

Or perhaps it is the inspiration of a few film stars who add a bit of style to their everyday ensembles.

Either way it is a finishing flair that French women have always worn.

Joining Bridget Bardot as a perfect example of a French scarf wearing woman is the glamorous Catherine Deneuve. (Can I say Rupert is adorable too? :)

There are also a few favorite fashion icons that come to mind who also regularly wore scarves.

Of course not everyone can rock the Babushka look like Jackie did. Nor can everyone wear the head wrap.

But I could be tempted to wear a sweet style reminiscent of Rosie the Riveter.

But truly it is the French who have cornered the market on the scarf. Coco, as always, ever classic.

The House of Chanel regularly shows scarves on the runway and in ad campaigns.

There is but one name that is synonymous with the quintessential French scarf. Hermès. Of course the original Hermes was a Greek god who protected and took care of all travelers. Hermès International, S.A. is a high French fashion house which was established by Thierry Hermès in 1837. The family, originally from Germany, established themselves on the Grands Boulevards quarter of Paris as a harness workshop which catered to European noblemen.

In 1880 the company moved the shop to 24 Rue Faubourg Saint-Honoré, a location near the Palais de l'Elysée. Here Hermès has remained. It is a location that I long to visit as much for the design and architecture, as for the beautiful products displayed there.

In 1900, the company began offering the haut à courroies bag which was designed specifically for riders to carry their saddles with them. By 1922 Thierry Hermès grandsons were running the family business. When Émile-Maurice's wife complained that she could not find a handbag to her liking, he created an entire line of bags.

In 1935, the leather Sac à dépêches, made its debut. It was later renamed the Kelly bag in honor of Princess Grace who carried it always.

Then in 1937, the Hermès carrés (scarves) were introduced. The company purchased raw Chinese silk that was spun into yarn and woven into a fabric which was twice as strong and heavy as other scarves that were offered at the time. Designers spent years creating new patterns. Each scarf features a design which is screen-printed with vegetable dye. One color is applied and then allowed to dry for a month before the next color is added. Some designs feature up to 40 separate colors. The most colors ever used on one scarf was 43. It is easy to see how the Hermès scarf costs such a pretty penny.

The long coveted signature orange boxes featuring the company logo, the duc-carriage-with-horse, were introduced in the early 1950’s.

In the 1990’s Hermès began releasing two new scarf collections each year, some of which were limited edition designs. The scarves often feature equestrian themes in a nod to the companies heritage. Flora and fauna are also popular designs. At this time, I can’t afford a Hermes scarf~ even on Ebay. I believe that someday the sun will shine brightly as I enter a thrift store and I will find a forgotten gem awaiting me. Possibly tied onto a Birkin bag. But that is another post in and of itself.

Until then I am channeling my inner Audrey Hepburn.

Lovely ruffled scarves made from our favorite Metis Linen will be available at the Long Beach flea market this Sunday and then perhaps the online shop.

Do you wear scarves?

Andrea and Laura

UPDATE: To assist those who emailed:

1. Hermès is pronounced Heir Mez.

2. Here is a fabulous site that shows several ways in which to wear a scarf.

3. Anyone of any age can wear a scarf.

Fabulous French Fridays

2011-01-07T04:00:00.000-08:00

What comes to mind when you think of all things French?

Iconic landmarks.

Charming petite maisons.

Impressive chateaux.

Haute couture.

The certain je ne sais quoi every French woman seems to posses.

Marie Antoinette and her Petit Trianon.

Modern French interior design.

Fresh French cuisine.

Fabulous French Flea Markets.

France means all that and much, much more to Andrea and I. We are truly passionate about not only capturing the essence of the French lifestyle, but authentically living it. This is at times hard to do in a world where much of what is presented as French may well come from China. So here we are, two friends that have come together to share what we love.

We would like to point out that we are by no means experts, only terribly enthusiastic. Andrea lived in Paris and studied the three year course in art history at the Ecole du Louvre. (Yes, that Louvre.) She has a wonderful home in the Burgundy region and I can tell you firsthand the girl has mad culinary skills. I of course eat, sleep and breathe French design, architecture and possess a huge desire to master French in this lifetime. I was blessed to have lived near the Alsace~Lorraine region of France for three years and still dream of moving back. As we prepare for a springtime trip we thought you might enjoy a virtual ride along. So with that we have created Fabulous French Fridays. We will explore and share everything we love about France, every Friday and hope you’ll join us.

What does France and French style mean to you?

Andrea and Laura

Bonne Année from Metis Linens!

2011-01-01T08:12:00.001-08:00

We would like to wish everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous new year!

Andrea and Laura