Friday, January 28, 2011

french linen sheets...what to do with them.... and how to keep your whites white

a rumpled stack of antique french linen sheets

Hello Everyone!
I hope you are all having a great week....
I wanted to tell you guys a little bit about how I got started collecting Antique European Linens and different ways to use them in your home....
This might be the longest post I have ever written....
be warned....
I started collecting antique European linens about thirteen years ago....At that time I couldn't afford to buy the sheets, so I started out collecting napkins and hand towels.......
At that time we lived in the Santa Ynez Valley... There was a shop called Persnickity in a nearby town called Los Olivos...
The owner of the shop was the sweetest person and had the most beautiful shop.
She always had antique dressers filled with European Linens.
... This sweet lady is the one who is responsible for helping me start my collection. : )
She actually closed her shop around the same time we moved to northern California...
I really wish I could contact her and thank her!
There are so many ways to use vintage linens in your home....
I wanted to share a few ways I use them in my own home...
Remember I started collecting linens 13 years ago....
It didn't happen over night...

a french oyster crate filled with lavender pillows made from french linens

I love using antique linen to make lavender pillows....
I call them lavender pillows because they really are like a pillow...
I have more lavender pillows then a person could ever imagine.....
These lavender pillows are all made with antique french linens....
except for the pretty pale pink floral printed pillow on the bottom right hand side of the oyster basket.
That print is a Cabbages and Roses Hatley Linen Print...... I just love how that print looks amongst the  antique linens...


My mother covered  this lampshade with a vintage linen hand towel....I think that was about 6 years ago... and it is still white : )
My Aunt Sonya (a.k.a. Aunt Mickey) actually shared a great tutorial on her blog, on how to cover a lampshade.


I think it is the cutest lampshade....


I used an antique linen sheet to reupholster my chair....
I actually wrapped the linen sheet around the chair to hide the hideous upholstery for almost two years before finally finding someone to reupholster it. You can read about my chair makeover here........ 

(I wish I was Marian from Miss Mustard Seed, because if I was, I would have been able to just do it myself, Marian never fails to amaze me : )) 


I am so happy with how it turned out.


Right now I just use a European monogrammed sheet to cover our down comforter.

I like how clean and simple it looks against the rustic doors.


I use European linen sheets to cover my couches...
I can't tell you how much I love these sheets...  They are truly a lifesaver and I think they are a beautiful way to protect your couches...
One of the reasons I use vintage sheets to cover my slipcovers is because I do not have a washer big enough to wash my slipcovers.... It is kind of a hassle and is somewhat expensive to run them down to the laundromat... I only have to wash my slipcovers twice a year.... I however wash my sheets about once a week......  Antique linens that are in good condition are really very durable..... They should last you a lifetime... Their texture gets even better with each washing....

On a side note....
I promise  you can live with white furniture and still have a young family (even a large family) and or pets....
We have a few rules that everyone has to follow in the house to help keep the furniture white....
We do not eat on our furniture and we take our shoes off before entering the house.
That is it.
I am not going to lie, when my white couches first arrived, I left the plastic on for almost a month....
You can imagine what my husband thought....



All of the pillows on my couch are made from antique European linens...
My sister has made most of the pillows in my house...


 As you can see this is a large couch...
It takes three sheets to cover this couch....
Each sheet is a different shade of white...
These do not come off when company comes either...
I think they are a beautiful addition to a white slipcovered couch....


I do not iron the sheets after washing them either... : )
I love that sort of rumpled look.
I think it makes the couches look even more inviting to sit on....


(I love using pretty french fabrics with touches of red in the pattern)
Basically I use vintage linens in every room in our house...

I also wanted to share with you how I keep my linens looking white and smelling fresh....
First of all I have to tell you I never have used Bleach on my linens.....


I only use oxiclean to brighten my whites.... It works really well for me...
It can brighten your whites in just one washing....
If I do get a stain that might need to be removed, I usually just add a little oxiclean to hot water and let the linen soak in the hot water oxiclean mixture for a couple of hours....
I always wash my linens with Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Laundry Detergent, and I of course use the lavender scent.  I am a big fan of Mrs. Meyer's cleaning products....
I also love their dish soap, hand soap, and all purpose cleaner....
The lavender scent is my favorite.
I actually discovered their soap after reading an article a couple years ago in the O at Home Magazine...
The story of how the company began is a very inspiring story....

After reading their story.... I went out and bought some of their products...
and I have been hooked ever since the first day of trying their cleaning products.


I actually do not like to use any sort of fabric softeners with my linens either....
I make my own lavender sachets to throw in the dryer with my sheets....
I decided to experiment and try using dried lavender in the dryer with my linens.....as I have an abundance of dried lavender...
I am now hooked on throwing those little sachets in the dryer with my linens.
It includes 6 lavender sachets and a bag filled with 3/4 lb. lavender, made from an antique french and or European linen hand towel, so you can refill your own sachets.
I think it would be a great addition to any laundry room....
I came up with the idea for this particular package because of Rie's laundry room....

 I hope you get a chance to look at Rie's laundry room.....

She really has a special touch she puts on every room.
I am sure it won't be long before we see Rie's  home featured in Country Living.


As you can see I am very passionate about Antique Linens....
I will be sure and show you in the near future what items we made for the shop with these beautiful french linens.
On another note....
I wanted to answer some questions that I get emailed almost daily about The Nate Show ...
I thought it would be easier to answer them in a post, as I have to apologize for not being able to get back to everyone lately....  I am having a very difficult time being able to keep up with my emails, and I am truly sorry for that.
I am trying really hard to get back to each and every one of you, as soon as I can....

First of all I need to apologize for ever telling you guys that you could watch my segment on the
I just assumed it would be put on their website.
My segment unfortunately did not get put on their website....
I then asked if the segment could be uploaded to you tube, and found out,
it cannot be uploaded to you tube due to copyright laws.....
I am really sorry for all the confusion.....
Anyway the entire trip to N.Y.C. was a trip my two daughters, two sisters, and I will never forget.

On a final note...
I would like to thank these wonderful bloggers for posting about my shop this week.... I am so grateful for all of your support.... THANK YOU!
Have a great weekend!
Take Care,
Maria

P.S. The drink I had in my mason jars for my last post....
was pink lemonade.... : ))

Monday, January 24, 2011

Waiting for Spring to arrive....



Hello Everyone...
I hope you all had a great weekend.


I can hardly wait for spring to arrive....
So I thought I would share these pictures I took of my dining room last spring for 
Sarah had asked me to give my house a beach cottage feeling for my guest post....

So I thought I would share with you how I tried to give my house a feeling of living by the sea..


I have a small collection of shells, so I sprinkled some shells down the center of my table.


My husband's friend let me have access to his property so I could cut some pretty flowering branches.


I used a lot of sea colored glass...


I set out a few of my sea shell candles. 


I added vintage fishing floats to the table.   I used a mix of my vintage white ironstone plates....
I used inexpensive white cloth napkins that I had found at Marshalls.
I have a few vintage napkins that have a touch of pink fabric, so I added those to the table too.


I added a mix of sea colored bottles to my french bottle carrier.


These little clay tags with the french script came from the sweet Ness, from Marley and Lockyer.


I added some sea colored bottles to my ladder...


It was funny to look back at these pictures... as 
I have actually changed this room around quite a bit since I took these pictures...
The clock and door have since found another spot to reside in the house.
I am also so glad I decided to paint the inside of  my cupboard...

On another note...
I would like to thank these bloggers for posting about my shop...
Thank you,
Sandy~ My Shabby Streamline Studio
Robyn~Whimages
Marcy~Stylesson
I really appreciate all of your support!

Hope you all have a great week!
Take Care,
Maria

P.S. Sorry for the extremely blown out pictures.... 

Friday, January 21, 2011

House of Fifty and a Thank You


Hello Everyone!

Today, I am a little short on time, so I have a quick announcement I would like to make...
I want to inform you about 
an online magazine that will be coming in
May....


It is a quarterly e-zine, produced by designer
Janell Beals, who is also the author of the blog Isabella and Max Rooms.
This quarterly e-zine will cover a range of topics from interior design to fashion, organization tips to favorite finds and tasty dishes.
 I will also be a contributor for the first issue....
Thank you Janell for asking me to be apart of your beautiful e-zine, I am truly honored...


AND...
Guess what??
You can subscribe for free....

If you subscribe before January 26th you will be entered to win 
a set of these Anthropologie mini Ikat Bowls....

Janell has a great design background....

Thank you Janell!


On another note....


I want to thank each and every one of you for taking the time out of your day to leave me such encouraging comments over this past year...
Those words of encouragement have helped me more then you will all ever know....
Thank you for helping make such a difference in my life...
This blog world continues to amaze me....
I just wanted to say thank you to these sweet bloggers for posting about my shop this last week! 


I hope I didn't leave anyone out... so please let me know if I did....

I am so grateful for all of your support and friendship!
Take Care,
Maria

Friday, January 14, 2011

Dreamy Whites Online Shop...I Finally Opened My Shop...


Hello Everyone!
I thought I would let you guys know that I have finally opened my online shop, 
I first want to thank Sara, from Sadie Olive, for designing my website, and my blog.
She really is such a talented designer, and it was so much fun to work with her.

I have been working on this little shop since last spring.
I am so excited to be finally open.

I still have a lot of items to photograph and add to the shop...
So I will be adding some new items over the weekend.
I wanted to share a few pictures of items you will see in the shop....














And many more items
I hope you enjoy my new site.
On another note....
I also wanted to announce a giveaway for a friend.....


My sweet friend Jennifer, from Keswick Country, is having a giveaway.....
She asked me if she could purchase some items from my shop for her giveaway.....
Here is what is in her giveaway....
1 ~ 8" by 8" french ticking lavender pillow



 A bundle of dried organic lavender


1 French Canning Jar


A genuine German Grain Sack from 1890.

You can enter Jennifer's fun giveaway by clicking on the link below!
Jennifer also has a great blog, I hope you get a chance to check Keswick Country out.
Thank you Jennifer!

On a final note....
I am about to celebrate one year of blogging!
I can't wait to share an interview with the sweet talented woman who got me started blogging.
Thank you guys for everything you have done for me this past year.....
Hope you all have a great weekend!
Take Care,
Maria

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Romantic Prairie Style~An Interview with Fifi O'Neill



An Interview with Fifi O'Neill
I wanted to share a special interview with Fifi O'Neill with you today!

What inspired you to write the book Romantic Prairie Style?
I have always loved the simplicity inherent to country life. Especially nature and animals. I was born in the city (Paris, France) and enjoyed some of the glitz and glamour but I am basically a loner and don't like crowds. So, I can only take big cities in small doses. Show me wide open spaces, pristine ponds, towering mountains and meadows of wild flowers and I come alive. 
The lifestyle associated with country  is also much more attractive to me because it's real, unlike city life, which is much too often superficial and status oriented. As I have said many times before: I am a "Prairie Girl" to the chore. 
In spite of the numerous (beautiful) decorating books available none featuring the Prairie lifestyle had ever been produced and, for me, it was a logical one to create. I set out to find the homes I had in mind and also demonstrate that, though one cannot always up and move to the country, the style and lifestyle is adaptable wherever one lives. Like many things in life the way w live is a choice we make. It's always a matter of values.

How would you describe  Romantic Prairie Style?
Prairie Style encompasses much more than decorating. It highlights the values of an honest lifestyle. It is about family, traditions, respect for the earth and the past, animals--small and large, the beauty of simplicity, the comforts of home and the appreciation of handmade and home made, not mass produced items.

How would you describe your own personal style?
For better or for worse I have never fit in a "mold". I guess you could say I live my life my way may it be in the way I dress or decorate. It's always the result of a feeling, never a trend. I happened to love rugged and rustic mix with soft and feminine but definitively not what I call "chichi-pompon," which you can translate by overly frilly and busy. However, I must confess that I am also a "girly-girl." What I mean is that I do love to pair faded and relax  (like old jeans) with beautiful fabrics (like a Ralph Lauren top or a Chanel blouse---neither of which I can afford).  The concept is that even if your pocket book won't allow extravagant purchases you can find inspiration from many sources and create your own look, both for your home and your wardrobe.
Though I grew up in the "Hippy" era, I never was one, which doesn't stop my sister for calling me  an "aging hippy!!" She and I are complete opposites. She is very "proper" and "tailored," always on the look out for the latest trend, and she loves labels. I, on the other hand, would not be caught dead wearing anything sporting a brand name---not even Chanel! I feel the same way about decorating. 
It brings up an interesting point. Though we have access to many beautiful style--from Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic to Pottery Barn and the new trend in Scandinavian decor-- if people furnish their home with EVERYTHING from one specific designer or a design trend their home ends up looking like a catalog. There is nothing wrong with the above mentioned styles, in fact they each have much to offer, but the key to creating a home that is yours is by taking what you like from one style (or several) and expending on it with other unrelated items that help define your  individual look.
Where do you look to for inspiration?
It may seem odd but I get these "notions" in my head. It might be from a piece of jewelry, clothing or even an ad in a magazine. Could be a color, a fabric or even food or a lien in a book describing a landscape. One thing or another sparks an idea. Then slowly but surely it starts to take shape and evolves into a project....... But, the most amazing thing is that once you get started things take a life of their own. 

You not only wrote the book, but were also the stylist for your book...... Do you have a favorite Romantic Prairie Styling tip you could share with all of us......
That's easy: KEEP IT SIMPLE!! That being said it doesn't mean you have to opt for a bare look. Just don't clutter. Let things stand on their own. Keep the palette subdued and accessorize with items with pleasing shapes and harmonious hues. Sometime an abundance of similar things--like a massive bouquet of one type of flowers in one pitcher or several vases of varied sizes holding identical flowers will make a stunning statement. In this cases repetition creates visual unity.
As a rule, I never know what I am going to do--styling wise--until I walk into a home. Just remember that when we (the photographer and myself) go on shoots we have never seen the house in person before hand and that I don't have a clue as to what might be in the cupboards, cabinets, attic or basement that will make the perfect prop! Since we only have one day to shoot a whole home I have to improvise, discover, cut flowers in a nearby field (or the neighbor's garden........hum!!!) or run to a local grocery store. It's always eventful. Never boring. Sometimes daunting.

How do you hope to inspire others with your book?
It might sound corny but I hope it will make people take stock, realize how much they already have and, hopefully, give them some insight on revamping, if need be, what they own. I also wish it will bring them a sense of peace and comfort and take away some of their daily stress.





When can we expect to see the book released?  Where can the book be purchased?
Romantic Prairie Style will be released April 2011. 


Who is the publisher?
It is published by Ryland Peters & Small/Cico. The main office is in NYC but I worked with their London office. It was a wonderful working relationship. All terrific people to wok with.

What can you tell us about your photographer Mark Lohman?
Mark was a dream to work with. I could not have picked a nicer, funnier and gifted professional photographer. We traveled from coast to coast and everything in between, got up at the crack of dawn and finished when the moon came up (often 14 hour days) and he NEVER complained. Furthermore he often came up with great solutions to problems related to a location (including rattle snakes and bats....) Mark is also a terrific driving companion who doesn't mind asking for directions, though, unlike myself, he is great with a GPS.... I am clueless......(in fact, I got lost while on shoots on my own more than once!!) 
Mark has been shooting for national magazines for many years and continues to be much in demand. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife Janet and twin sons.
And, lat but not least, I owe my very first martini to him. Hard to think I never had one in my life until we were shooting in Ione, CA. We ended up in a diner late one night and I decided to be a copy cat and try one (Mark like his martini after a hard day's work.) That was last summer and I have had 4 more since. I now call him "Martini Mark."

Do you have plans for writing a second book?
Absolutely! I am already working on it and, of course, Mark will be doing the photography.


Fifi's words of wisdom....
If there is one thing I can pass on to anyone is how important it is to be true to yourself, believe in yourself and ignore whatever negative things people might say about you, your career choices, your style....BUT always take great care not to do anything hurtful to others. In fact, try to help, encourage, guide and/or mentor someone. And SHARE! I believe  "what goes around comes around," good and bad.  But, just because you do something nice don't do it with expectations of gratitude. Life takes care of things.....Sometime it's fair and sometimes it's not, but that's life. Just knowing you did the right thing is enough, though not always easy. We all know the difference between right and wrong. So, no excuse!
Last but not least, don't let age be an obstacle. I am no "spring chicken" (will be 66 next May) but rather than being a deterrent it's an advantage because I know so much more today than when I was in my twenties. And everything I have done and every lesson I have learned (most of which I never knew would be useful) are priceless. I have learned from my mistakes and benefited from my (few) accomplishments. Remember: if I can do it YOU can too!! 
Don't you just LOVE her!

Thank you Fifi for including our home in your first book,  I feel blessed to have had this opportunity !!!!  
We are also honored to have our living room make the cover of the book!
THANK YOU FIFI!  You and Mark are the best!
A few links for you to enjoy

On another note....
I just wanted to answer a few of your questions about the Nate Show....
The segment I am on will air today, January 12th, times vary depending on where you live....
Thank you again to The Nate Show for having me on the Show!
Thank you 

Take Care,
Maria

Sunday, January 9, 2011

New York City and The Nate Show


Hello Everyone!
I want to say thank you to each and every one of you that stopped and left a comment on my last post!
I know my parents appreciated all of your sweet comments as well....
THANK YOU so much for taking the time out of your busy day to leave me a comment!

We have all been pretty sick ever since we got back from Montana....
and unfortunately we are all still a little under the weather.
so I am going to try and keep this post short.

I wanted to tell you why I went to New York City.....
I was one lucky girl....
I was invited to be a guest on The Nate Show!
I can't tell you too much about it, except the segment I am on will air January 12th.
If you want to find out more about the show that airs on the 12th, you can do so by clicking here~
I have been a fan of Nate Berkus's work for so long.
One of my favorite homes Nate has decorated was featured in the Domino magazine.
I sure miss that magazine....


It was Katie Lee Joel's home.


I still have this issue, and I can't tell you how excited and honored I was to meet Nate Berkus in person.
I want to say a sincere thank you to The Nate Show for inviting me to be on the show.
It was an experience I will never forget!


I thought I would also share a few more pictures with you of my trip to New York City....




I couldn't get a very good shot of this building, since I only had a fixed lens with me.

It was the Bergdorf Goodman Building.


As you can see the sidewalks were crowded.


This is the Rockefeller Center....
I just couldn't believe all the people.....


I tried to go down into the crowd to get a straight on shot of the Christmas Tree but 
I never did get a very good picture....




My girls really wanted to ice skate, however, the line was soooo long.
We decided to go to the top of the Rockefeller instead....


We didn't go to the top of the Rockefeller until midnight.
It was a little crazy because we kind of had a hard time catching a cab back to the hotel at midnight.
We were a little scared to say the least.


This is a view from the top of the Rockefeller....
It was an amazing view...


A picture of my two daughters and my two sisters in Central Park!
I can't tell you how much fun we  had together.


My sister Monica, brought her son Michael, Monica has nine kids...
She is truly one of the most amazing women I know.
Anyone who knows her will tell you the same.


My sister Liz, who is a registered nurse in Atlanta, GA, she is also my seamstress : )  
Liz is pregnant with her first child,  we had so much fun shopping for maternity clothes, at Destination Maternity.   
Thank you girls for going with me!


This really was a trip we will never forget.....
I wouldn't have ever had this experience with my sisters and daughers in New York City,
if it hadn't been for The Nate Show!
Thank you!

I will post some of those Anthropologie pictures soon...
Sorry I didn't get them posted before Christmas!
I hope you guys are all staying well.

Take Care,
Maria