Au Revoir ~ The Le Bourdon Storefront is Closing

Sadly, I've had to scale back my commitment to maintaining my storefront because I'm pursuing another entrepreneurial venture called Great Minds Interactive, one that allows me to apply my Web talents in new and emerging technical and social mediums.
If you can, order what you can before the storefront closes and sale 25% over an above regularly and sale priced items (Promo Code: AUREVOIR) and all sales are final. I'm quickly selling out of iems and therefore it is first-come, first-served. I will continue to maintain the blog, when I can, and if I plan any other future events, I will post them here.
Best wishes to my inspired patrons. You will be missed!

Summer Schedule & Women Take Wing Feature

We're in the dog days of summer and for the month of August, Le Bourdon is taking a break! Fortunately for the inspiring minds at Women Take Wing, they're still working and have been gracious enough to feature LB as an entrepreneurial success. Thank you!
Visit them and read about some really talented women at Women Take Wing.

Country Home Magazine Feature & Open House Blowout Sale

We're excited for one of our products to be featured int the July/August 2008 issue of Country Home Magazine! Our linens are French sized (extra large) and durable in a heavy weight cotton/linen fabric. Very traditional and versatile, these linens are essentials.
This past weekend we opened our carriage house doors to our loyal following of Francophiles and had a blowout sale. We're very happy to report that almost everyone who came left with some inspiration and French finds (some with carloads!).
Thank you for coming in such inclement weather. It was great fun to see everyone, too.

June 28th Open House ~ Our Biggest Sale

For one day only, you'll shop our carriage house for furniture, lighting, garden pots, vintage French fabrics and home accessories and our lines of candles, soaps, and home fragrances, all at significant a significant discount. Almost everything will be marked down 40% with additional savings when you purchase one of our hand made cushions. We look forward to seeing you.
Get here early. We're expecting a big crowd for this event!
Saturday, June 28, 2008
10AM - 5PM
31 Toppans Lane, Newburyport
Directions

Find us in the Merrimack Valley Magazine~ March/April '08

We're happy to have had a visit by the editors of the Merrimack Valley Magazine and we're featured in their "Downtown" section (page 32).
"In “Shopping by Design,” Michelle Xiarhos Curran takes us to some of the best home design and accessory stores in Newburyport and Amesbury."

Going Green to Spring Clean ~ The French Way

As "going green" has gain more social acceptance, it has occurred to us that this is something that Le Bourdon Home & Garden has embraced as its central theme since its inception. By default, LB has adhered to the French lifestyle which has always been rooted in its natural surroundings. All of its centuries old methods of soap making and cosmetics have not changed and are still using all natural ingredients. More importantly, because we have a love for everything old, we strive to reinvigorate textiles and antiques so that they can be revered and discovered all over again by new generations!

In addition to our French line of products, we have embraced US-based Mrs. Meyers Clean Day products, too. For a limited time, we are offering their rhubarb scented spring cleaning kit as our way of promoting a green cleaning season this spring!

Make sure you learn more about all of our "green" French products, too!

Winter Doldrums ~ Mourning Curiosities

The winter doldrums are upon us and we are longing for the breezes of summer. We look for anything starting to think about coming up from the ground for a sign of Spring. Although the winter months of hibernation are good for the soul, mourning can be healthy too. When we take time to mourn, we can stop and appreciate what has gone past us and appreciate what is upon us.

I find that the winter months are essential to take notice of our interior space. Once the spring and summer months are here, we focus our creative efforts on what is outside. This is why I am providing a little sale to help to inspire some nostalgic embellishments and put you in the mood!

Hurry! The Winter Doldrums Storewide Sale lasts only 1 week!
This offer is valid until 11.59pm ET on Sunday 19th March
2008 and is not valid in conjunction with any other Le
Bourdon or Internet offer. Le Bourdon sale items are
excluded from this offer. This offer can be used only once.

Here are some French torchons assembled with textiles from our recent trip to Paris.

Bonjour! New French Finds & Inspirations

We've just returned from our trip to Paris and although we're feeling a bit jet lagged, we have renewed our souls (and stomachs) with a taste of the French lifestyle that is so incredibly appealing. This photo of the Eiffel Tower was taken the night before we returned as it sparkled at dusk. Just a quick note that shipments are on their way and listings will follow. We will share more photos of our tour of the best flea markets of Paris, too.

LB French Vintage Bellybutton Bears

Introducing our new line of hand assembled Bellybutton teddy bears lovingly created using vintage and antique french textiles and buttons . These memory teddy bears are inspired by textiles from France. These two bears are assembled with an antique quilt and vintage quilted bedding. View our vintage French bellybutton bears on our website.

The Story of Antique French Textiles

In order to have an appreciation for vintage and antique French textiles, it is important to know their significance in French history itself. The French love and lust for textiles has carried them through religious persecution (of Protestants who were active in textile design and production), violence, bans, and industrial espionage. Not even the French Revolution and the loss of many aristocratic clients could halt the demand for luxury goods that resurfaced with Napoleon I, the Restoration of the Bourbon dynasty, and the Second Empire under Napoleon III.

There is no substitute to understanding why the French appreciate their textiles other than to see, touch and feel them yourself. French textiles have always been important elements to the world of interior decoration. More than a staple that is almost always incorporated into any good design, French textiles adds a touch of history, uniqueness and character to our decor.
In decorating, there must be elements of the present and past to make it interesting. Whether it is adding a Provencal coverlet, a band of fabric on drapery, or a length of period matelasse toile made into a throw pillow - a few selected elements makes the room warm, inviting and interesting. An antique tapestry pillow with exquisite trim does wonders for a brand new sofa. The old textiles add a note of quality, luxury, and history that enhances the value of the other objects there.
It is the superior detailed designs of the older fabrics, their creativity and originality, and the skills needed to product them with labor-intensive techniques that can't be reproduced to that gives them their value and longevity. Fine antique passementerie (trimming) was made by yhand using old methods. This is what is fundamental to Le Bourdon Home & Garden.
Although there are few of us that take the time to find and restore these fabrics, there are even fewer of us that are experienced enough to work with them in creating stunning accessories for your home that continue to endure the test of time. We are inspired to provide new life to these old fabrics!