Blooms & Scents for an Inspired French Decor ~ A Unique Gift Idea

For a rustic, highly designed or romantic living space, flowers are always essential in completing the decor and adding a warm and lovely touch. The trouble is, flowers are an ongoing expense and their peak blooming time is extremely limited. I set out to find flowers that have been preserved in their natural state that can last and provide that burst of color and texture that is so desired. I found such a shop in Paris and for more than 35 years, Rosemarie Schulz's flowers create stunning bouquets and scents for our spaces.

What sets her apart from anything you'll find anywhere is that these flowers not only look like they are fresh but they also have the texture of living plants without stiffness. Her arrangements are exceptionally beautiful and because these are almost still living, they have maintained their scent.
Anything from her line would make a gift that can can keep giving for several years. The versatility of these bouquets is endless but if you simply want to lay a bouquet or sachet on a side table, that can be enough of a statement on their own.

Le Bourdon is the sole distributor of her products in the US. View our complete line from Rosemarie Schulz.

A French Holiday ~ Noël

We've been getting ready for the holidays at Le Bourdon Home & Garden! Our advertisement will be in print in both magazines, France Today and France-Amerique during the months of November and December.
We've been assembling new and vintage Christmas decorations and gift packaging and will be posting on our web site during the next couple of weeks. Free gift wrapping services will also be offered to inspired e-mail members.
Remember, our design shop hours are by appointment. We encourage you to call us for those one-of-a-kind gifts!

Antique Transferware of Europe

With its striking patterns, rich colors, and romantic patterns, it's no wonder English transferware has stood the test of time. From its onset in the late 1700's to the late 1800's, transfer-printed earthenware was developed as an affordable alternative to hand-painted wares from China. Transfer-printing patterns could be applied easily and repeatedly for the working-class who saved to buy a piece at a time.
The first color was blue; later came brown, black, purple, green, red and even pink and yellow.
In the early 1800s, dinners were usually served a la française, that is, with most of the food set out on the table beforehand which is why there are so many purpose-specific pieces in a transferware set.

Important Facts

• Pattern Marks - upend pieces of early transferware will include the factory's name (or initial). Use a guide to help track down both the maker and approximate date of the piece.
• The Rarest - yellow is the rarest romantic transferware color and is also the priciest.
• The Process - once a master pattern was engraved on copper, it was glazed with color and transferred to thin paper, which was then applied in sections to a piece.

Transferware is highly collectible and can be used as display or for fine dining.

The French Sensibility - Feeding the Soul

For a space to inspire you, it should provide a sense of comfort and speak to an individual creative style. Because the French have a sensibility to conserve and an aesthetic that is foremost in their values, vintage style can add both a sense of comfort and provide the texture and personality that can speak to anyone who enters that space.
So much of what we do today is about creating moments, experiences, and memories we can share with our families and friends. A handcrafted approach using vintage textiles and materials makes our homes more beautiful and a place where people are drawn to gather and socialize.

"Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful and believe to be beautiful."
— William Morris

The rural experience of France is rooted in the organic and a sense of home. The inspiration of Le Bourdon Home & Garden is a picture of this old sanctuary where natural elements such as woven textiles, garden flowers and herbs, and soaps are incorporated into a decor. This creative space can allow you to pursue your own style in an inspiring atmosphere!

French Embellishments - The Signature Scarf

"For centuries French kings and queens were jewelry junkies. They wore big outrageous crowns, chunky medallions, slinky bracelets, and jeweled earrings. No wonder the French girl instinctively knows how to accessorize.

These days, it's impossible to imagine the French girl - or boy, for that matter - without a trademark scarf - twisted, tied, folded, looped or thrown - ads a finishing touch to anything. It's sophisticated yet bohemian, simple yet luxurious." a quote from Entre Nous - A Guide to Finding Your Inner French Child

If my husband is lucky enough for me to take him to France for one of my buying trips, he gets a lesson on how to fit in (or not to stand out like a typical American man). Specifically, he leaves his sneakers home and replaces them with leather boots or loafers, he takes along casual blazers, vests and a scarf. More importantly, he learns how to tie the scarf and before you know it, he embraces the fact that not only does it look great, it's warm!

For me, I've always loved the versatility of a scarf not to mention that I'm always cold so a scarf is my best friend. This important accessory is not just an item you put around your neck but should have a deep personal meaning. It is an extension of yourself that can express how you're feeling. The versatility it brings to your wardrobe depending upon how it is worn can transform you from a day to evening look with a different wrap!

Feel free to find your inner French girl and look different. The French girl is confident and aware of her unique style and she embraces it...so can you!

Linen's Benefits Extend Beyond It's Inherent Beauty

Linen derives from the woody stem of the flax plant and is a natural "cellulosic" fiber. It is one of the most challenging textile fibers to produce; however, linen's benefits far outweigh the complexities of its production. From fiber to finished fabric, linen is uniquely satisfying.

- Linen is a naturally strong fiber with excellent resistance to abrasion.

- Linen is highly absorbent. It accepts dyes readily, and wicks moisture away from the body, making it both beautiful to the eye and comforting to the touch.

- Once dyed, linen offers superior color fastness, and resists fading better than many fibers.

- Linen is dimensionally stable, resisting stretching and distortion in use.

- Over time, linen textiles have been found to become softer and actually improve in comfort.

- Linen is virtually lint-free, non static and non-allergenic.

- Linen is naturally resistant to damage from moths and mildew.

- Ecologically speaking, linen is a boon to the environment: a renewable resource using non-polluting growing techniques, biodegradable, with every part of the flax plant used, eliminating waste.

Now, gone even are complaints of wrinkling; today linen's unique creasing and undulating folds are simply chic. It matters not if the product is slipcover, draperies, bedding, household linens or garments. Linen reigns as the perfect synthesis of fashion, function, and ecology.

Le Bourdon uses linen in almost all of it's textile creations because of its durability and texture. Linen's timeless qualities make it a necessity in the French Old World design that LB cherishes. Find this understated elegance in our custom creations.

Le Bourdon's Linen Textiles

Caring for Vintage and Antique Fine Linens

When handling older textiles, take great care because old linen fibers are weaker and prone to damage. The French linens sourced for Le Bourdon are typically tightly woven and of high quality so their durability is exceptional. Hand-washing is the recommended method or using the delicate cycle on a washing machine is also acceptable for large textile pieces. Le Bourdon linens have been washed by hand using the methods described and using Le Blanc Linen Wash and/or
Le Pere Pelletier Marseille French Soap Flakes in Tin.

General Stains and Yellowing

Soak the textile in a mixture of Biz and a gentle detergent like Le Blanc Linen Wash. Soak for up to 3 days or until the stain is gone. Dry and brittle fibers benefit from water and from immersion. Replace the water as the the dirt loosens. Rinse thoroughly and place the linens on a towel. Pat the textile to remove as much water as possible (do not squeeze). Roll gently into a dry towel and place them on a flat surface or cover with a white sheet if drying in the outdoor sun (the winter sun is weak but is also a preferred method).

Ironing

Have a good quality iron and one that is perfectly clean. For the best results, iron when the linens are somewhat damp to make the job easier and the results better. Iron on a clean, smooth surface. Use a large white soft towel if you are ironing embroidery, and place the piece face down, so the embroidery does not get flattened. Use the correct setting, and work slowly from one end to the next. Fold or place item on a hanger, and let it sit until bone-dry (it's not quite dry even after ironing). To enhance the scent of the textile, use scented linen water.

Specific Stains

· Rust ~ Sometimes rust is not actually rust. There are real rust spots of course, caused by metal and water coming in contact with fibers. Humid environments are also very damaging to linens. The other 'rust' is simply a storage problem and usually a gentle soak followed by a treatment with one of our recommended products will be enough, unless your item has already been so damaged by these spots that they degrade even further.

· Yellowing, Brown Smudges and Stains ~ Caused by storage, wood, age, humidity and more. Can be especially noticeable in folds. A good soak followed by one of our recommended products for more stubborn stains.

· Ink ~ Special ink removers are available if a simple soak and spot treatment does not work. Vinegar can be useful as can hairspray. Spot test first.

· Dye Run ~ Pieces where the dye has run are not necessarily ruined. It requires patience and some elbow grease but they can be saved. If the run is recent, Ritt makes an Excess Dye Remover. However it is not appropriate for all pieces, nor will it always work. Rinse thoroughly and use vinegar in the rinse to help neutralize the bleach.

Stain Removal Tips & Tricks

· Briefly soak the stain in a mixture of lemon juice, rinse thoroughly with water and dry in the sun. This process is not appropriate for very old and delicate pieces but especially works well with rust stains. You can do the same with vinegar and both methods work well but require caution.

· An old family recipe for many Europeans is as follows: to whiten yellowed linens, soak them for 48 hours in a solution of ½ cup sea salt per 1 gallon of water. Rinse carefully and then dry in the sun if possible, on a flat surface.

A Few Words of Caution

· Avoid bleach and products with bleach and optical whiteners. They will damage your items more than they will help them. Bleach destroys fibers by weakening them and the damage is not worth the results.

· Do not starch items that will be stored away. Only starch if you are going to use them soon. Starch attracts little bugs known as silverfish. They will feast on it and eat the fabric too!

· Fold items carefully if storing them, and refold often if storing them so that the fold lines don't weaken the fibers. Store in a dark dry closet (remember the sun bleaches). Never allow linens to come into direct contact with wood and make sure they are stored in a dry place. If you can, store them in acid-free materials, rolled up in the paper and in a cardboard box (acid-free). Also, do not store your linens in plastic bins or in anything plastic. Linens and textiles need to breathe.

I want to hear from you...

This is my first blog entry - ever - and it's hard to know where to begin! Since launching my website in November 2006, I've had lot of success in expressing the inherint beauty of vintage textiles. What is hard about having virtual customers, is to really know what they think of the relationship we have. I want nothing more to exceed their expectations so I've launched this blog in hope to create a forum where we can chat about what you like (or would like more) about Le Bourdon Home & Garden.

So, I invite you to tell me why you've been inspired and appreciate things French and vintage. I'll do my best to write on a regular basis where I find my inspiration, too. We, Francophiles, must stick together...