Maison European Antiques

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Collected....Antique & Vintage Boxes

Antique wooden boxes of all kind always grab my attention....From antique European Tea Caddies...writing slopes...traveling boxes to former fruit and cheese shipping boxes, they often have a unique look and beautiful patina. I love the fine ornate English & French boxes as well as the naive rustic utility ones. I collect English 19th c inlaid Tunbridge boxes & European tea caddies. I love to display them & use them for a collected look especially with antique leather books. This week at a local antique fair I found a beautiful late 1800s American box with beautiful patina inside & out..the interior has the original olive green pigment wash..its really beautiful & rare in its untouched condition. These days its harder to find the early American boxes...in Europe antique boxes and caddies of all kinds are easily found even though they have become more expensive. Sharing with you a few of my fave ways to use these beautiful boxes...

At Rue 27 Maison this week, pink geraniums fill an antique utilitarian box...

Rue 27 Maison...

Late 1800s American wood box with original olive green pigment wash...

Rue 27 Maison

Boxes are wonderful to hold antique books...

Vintage fruit crates hold serving pieces for a French country buffet at Rue 27 Maison...

Antique Tea Caddies...English writing slope & inlaid English Tunbridge boxes at Rue 27 Maison...


Vintage biscuit wooden crate At Rue 27 Maison...

Until next time...Cheers!

Friday, January 2, 2015

A New Year...2015

A fresh, shiny & bright New Year is here...2015...I know many of us have made our New Years resolutions by now...I found a pin on Pinterest that really spoke to me & I decided this is my promise to me for 2015...

Each one of these resolutions are important to me this year..the last three are my faves...I plan on keeping this on my desk & to look at it each morning :)) New years Eve in SoCal was very exciting...we got our first real snow in almost ten years...not a slight dusting...a fluffy six to twelve inches...it was stunningly beautiful and a perfect ending to a wonderful celebration of this year's Holiday season. New Year's day...we had black eyed peas or Texas cavair...delicious & hopefully good luck for the coming year. I also made one more holiday dinner...my Grandmother's southern turkey & dressing...after all these year I believe I finally captured the savory deliciousness of the dressing. It was a wonderful & festive New Years...I hope all of you had a beautiful & meaningful Holiday season...Wishing each of you a 2015 that brings out the very best in you & brings joy in your life. Sharing with you a glimpse into my New Years at Rue 27 Maison...Cheers!

Gorgeous...on my way home

Almost ready to light the candles...

Black eye pea cavair with warm tortillas for good luck...

Rue 27 Maison...

There it is...the delicious dressing!

Roast turkey...sweet potatoes...brandied peaches....garden peas...all the backdrop for the dressing!

New Years cheer...Rock Sugar Sticks to swirl in your Champagne

Happy New Year...Cheers!

Monday, December 22, 2014

Noël en France

Noël....I love a French Christmas...my husband & I have celebrated several holidays in France...our first Christmas, we were in Paris..it was beautiful with lots of lights, lots of people...everyone was in the holiday spirit. As we strolled the streets we passed by the Chestnuts vendors...roasting chestnuts...what a wonderful smell! The large stores Printemps & Galeries Lafayette were both stunningly decorated and filled with shoppers. It was very beautiful...a large magical city that felt intimate...all reveling in Christmas. The other times we celebrated in the countryside of France...it was very simple & very memorable...I loved everything....the food was simple, delicious & amazing, as were the decorations...Père Noël greeted everyone in the main street of the village on the morning of Christmas Eve....the entire village gathered in the centre ...shops had all their goods outside even though it was very cold...the butcher shop had fresh seafood iced down in front...large trays of prawns & fish...large containers of fresh greenery and fresh fruits were everywhere. Every shop closed at lunch on Christmas Eve. The main Christmas meal, called Réveillon, is eaten on Christmas Eve or early Christmas morning after people have returned from the midnight Church Service...roast turkey with chestnuts or roast goose, oysters, foie gras, lobster, venison and cheeses are usually on the menu. For dessert, a chocolate sponge cake log called a bûche de Noël is normally eaten. On Réveillon we had a fabulous dinner, with too many courses to count...each course more delicious then the previous...candles were everywhere...the emphasis was more on the celebration then gift giving. On the morning of Dec 25....the Christ child or enfant was placed in the creche in the town centre. It was authenic...thoughtful and beautiful...one of my fave Christmas ever...Sharing with you a few faves of a Noël en France...Wishing all a very Merry Christmas...Happy Holidays and Joyeux Noël...

Beautiful & simple French country fireplace..for Noël

Christmas tree in Nancy, France

Noël

Provencal fruits & cheese for Noël...

Edith Mezard's Shop...Lumiere at her Chateau de L'Ange in Provence

Beautiful French table set for Réveillon...

Noël candles in the garden...


Simple gifts for Noël ...French marmalade

Simple & elegant French dining at Christmas...

Antique French silver...for Noël

Simple French Noël sweets wrapped up in antique linen...

Fabulous French altar candleholder...

French Noël dining at Christmas...Château de Moissac

Château de Moissac


Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, love divine.. Love was born at Christmas, Star and angels gave the sign...

Christina Rossetti 1885

Friday, December 19, 2014

All wrapped up....Christmas

This week at Rue 27 Maison...Christmas gifts....Christmas bows...tinsel...paper & wrapping....Most of us celebrate this beautiful and holy season with exchanging of gifts...some of us shop all year & others enjoy the excitement of shopping the few days before Christmas...I always say I will be finished shopping well before the rush....somehow each year I am tempted to join in the crush of fellow shoppers...it's crazy....crowded and I always feel the spirit of the holiday in the chaos...I am done shopping this year & now its all about the wrapping....I love beautifully wrapped presents...I love to use vintage ribbons, tinsels & ornaments...I was fortunate to find several bolts of vintage French tinsel and I love to use it with matte silver wrapping paper and simple brown craft paper...I love the contrast...this year I also used old keys, framed Joyeux Noël script & mercury glass ornaments with the tinsel...Sharing with you a few faves of this season...Wishing each of a very Merry Christmas!

Love the fresh greens on this gift from Craftberry Bush....

Beautiful & white with Christmas pine...

Rue 27 Maison this week...

Antique keys & vintage tinsel....Joyeux Noel framed print adorn gifts at Rue 27 Maison

Fabulous sequined paper with simple hemp ribbon...

A gorgeous gift...winter berries with vintage Christmas silver spoon...

Simple brown paper all tied up & stenciled makes a big impact...


May Peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through...Cheers!

Saturday, December 6, 2014

The Greens of Christmas...

Fresh Christmas greenery...nothing quite like that beautiful smell...it sets the tone for all the holiday festivities...looks fabulous with all colors & brings a fresh fragrant into our homes...This year I am using lots of greens....fresh greenery...pine, boxwood, cedars & holly...green ribbons and of course a green Christmas tree. I always use several wreaths, the wreath shown above is fresh boxwood & is at Rue 27 Maison this week..I also love fresh garlands of pine...I love to hang them over mirrors & artwork...pine garlands also look fabulous down the dining table or on a buffet...a bouquet of fresh greens looks festive tucked into an arrangement of white roses...I am finishing up decorating this weekend & right now, I love the smell in my house...the fragrant of the fresh greens are a welcome to the season and remind me of Christmas past...Sharing with you a few of my fave Christmas greens...