I cannot survive without art - I need objects that were created by a person, who was inspired by a place, or an idea, a feeling, around me. The objects with a soul. The objects that move me and make me think, and bring a smile to my face. One of a kind finds. To me a home without art is just a house. I love art, vintage and modern, I have too much of it (if there's such a thing), and there are not enough walls I can fill with it. Especially now, when I live in a rental (I avoid making more holes in our walls than necessary), I try coming up with many ways to see my treasures. If you're like me, and you love to be surrounded by your vintage art finds, read on: 1 - consider various ways of displaying art - it doesn't have to be on a wall! Art can be propped against walls or furniture, shown among collectibles, on bookshelves, in the kitchen, in the bathroom, entryway... 2 - it does not need to be framed; if you love it, you can buy it and take it to a frame shop (or buy a vintage frame for it); however you don't really need a frame. Sometimes an older painting looks fresher and more modern without it 3 - opposites attract - as well as various mediums, styles; photography next to oil painting, next to watercolor, there are no rules. Mix vintage art with modern, it will make for a great layered, eclectic look 4 - if you're new at it, remember that "Rome was not built in a day". Don't get discouraged, it's an adventure! (by Joanna) Would you like to share your ideas on how to decorate with art? Please comment - merci! The Vintage Art section in our shop can be found by clicking HERE To read our post on how to start a vintage art collection please go HERE. #frenchvintagedecor #shabbychicdecor #myfrenchmaison #howivintage #wheretofindme #frenchcountry #frenchantiques #collectedhome #notrevieauxpuces #eclectichomedecor #frenchfleamarket #passionforvintage #fleamarket #vintagehome #vintageart #collectingart #decoratingwithart

Dogs at the French flea markets... Lying in the sun, strolling around, visiting, belonging to the vendors, or to the market itself. Big, small, puppies, and silver around the muzzle. They guard the shops, snuggle on the chairs, walk bravely along their masters in the early morning. Dogs are everywhere at French les puces! They are guarding the property, even if you think their only obligation in the world is to bask in the warm sunshine and ignore the world. They could be posing on the vintage merchandise making you ask "how much is that doggie in the fauteuil?" There is one big beautiful dog we see at the Lyon market nearly every time we visit. Last summer we saw it was not doing that great - it had a big wound, scabbed over its long nose. It looked tired and was mainly lounging in the sun rather than wondering around the stalls as it was its usual way. But the wound was dressed, and there were stitches, so it seemed the dog was cared for. Still concerned we asked what happened to the beautiful creature? It turns out, the dog belongs to the market - it was hit by a car, and found by one of the vendors, who took it to the vet. All the vendors who have shops there helped with its care, and made sure it was doing well. So the creature recovered nicely, and again is guarding its market. He knows us now, so when he sees us he immediately finds a stick to play! We have to be clever to throw it for him far, and quickly hide, otherwise we would spend the entire morning playing with him versus shopping! And then there are the visiting dogs. All sizes and temperament, sometimes waiting patiently for their mistress to finish her coffee - And sometimes being quite impatient - "what is the big deal about this place?" they seem to be asking. The dogs, cats, and all creatures great and small - they all add the special flavor to the already special place - the marché aux puces. #frenchvintagedecor #shabbychicdecor #myfrenchmaison #howivintage #wheretofindme #frenchcountry #frenchantiques #collectedhome #notrevieauxpuces #eclectichomedecor #frenchfleamarket #frenchlife #dogs #mansbestfriend #dogphotography #passionforvintage #fleamarket #vintagehome

It's autumn again, our favorite season, when the evenings draw closer, and the mornings rise later, cool and misty.  The last of the flowers are blooming, the bounty of fruit and vegetables beckons from tables and farmers markets.  The days grow shorter, colder.  There is the change in the weather. The colors of the leaves are bright and beautiful, yet the melancholic mood hangs in the air like a foggy mist on a cold day. The nature draws inwards, and so do we. Cocooning, this is what we do.  We prepare our home for cold days, make it comfortable and cozy.  What does it mean for My French Maison “ladies of the house”?  Being in the metier of brocante, we have a compulsion to change things up almost all the time.  This time of year, this compulsion gets spun into high gear. For us creating more ambiance in our homes is it - for Dorota in Strasbourg it meant putting brand new art on the walls of her home (brand new for us means freshly found at the flea!), which made her see the colors and decor in her salon in the new light, so she is on a reupholstery kick right now. Joanna in Lyon brought out plenty of candles in all kinds of candlesticks she has been collecting - because on gloomy days we need to create our own sunshine!  She is also sourcing some (vintage, bien sur!) fabric for the sprucing up of two antique fauteuils she was lucky to find recently (we will write later how to persuade your family to live among your vintage finds…)  And because we live in two different cities, we don’t get to see the results first hand right away, so we talk all the time and text pictures. Our home decor gets some overhaul - we experiment with changing things up on the walls, adding some vintage finds, taking up projects, and yes - cooking more, spending more time with family and friends, in the soft glow of candlelight, serving delicious French food on ironstone found at Les Puces. And it makes us proud when our creativity makes our friends go WOW! We know we are not the only ones who are getting the “sprucing up for fall” bug.  Do share with us - Is fall your favorite season?  Does it inspire you to make your home more especial this season?  How do you bring the coziness and the spirit of closeness in your home?  Is it the candles, piles of pillows and blankets?  Or is it trying new recipes to savor with family and friends?  Or stacking up new books to read on dark evenings?   Or filling up your social calendar inviting friends over to show off your new decorating projects? #frenchvintagedecor #shabbychicdecor #myfrenchmaison #howivintage #wheretofindme #frenchcountry #frenchantiques #collectedhome #notrevieauxpuces #eclectichomedecor

I ended my last post at the moment of my arrival at what turned out to be now our house. Yes, it felt like home. But even when it "feels like home" one needs to separate feelings from common sense, right? There was a myriad of thoughts going through my brain - is this the right choice for us? What if we are making a mistake? What if decamping to the countryside is not the lifestyle we can adapt to? On the train ride back to Lyon I made a long list of pros and cons. Back in Lyon the same evening I told my husband - "you have to see this house". We called the agent the next day and arranged for the second visit. How does one make big decisions like buying a house? One shouldn't be guided by emotions, it takes discipline. And it is so easy to get caught up in a fantasy. On vacation you see beautiful stone houses, with roses climbing a fence, and everybody around speaking lovely French. It is like a fairy tale, and if we fall in love with something we can talk ourselves into almost anything... When we started looking to buy we made a list of important - realistic - considerations that our future place will need to meet. After all, it is not going to be a vacation property, but somewhere where we will live full time. It is going to be our last property that we buy and live in (barring such circumstances as living in an old folks home later, possibly...) Jim and I approached the task rationally, "armored" with a list of criteria we talked over many times. We decided to search in Burgundy after I abandoned the dream of living in Provence. We spent a few days there in July and after I almost passed out of heat exhaustion, it became apparent that the climate is not for me. The crowds of tourists, the insane traffic, and skyrocketing real estate prices helped the decision to not to settle there. Provence will always have a special place in my heart, but for everyday living we wanted somewhere quieter. Settling somewhere off the tourist track where summers are still temperate appealed to us. This part of Burgundy, in central, rural France, is stunning, but mostly undiscovered by too many tourists. This suits us. I mentioned that we made a list. It was revised a few times over the course of the search, but the main points remained: being able to get a daily baguette by walking to a boulangerie It's so important to have the basic "commerces" (shops) accessible on foot. When you look at the real estate listings in France, there are plenty of charming country properties, many of them far from the nearest bakery. We were realistic - I would detest to have to drive every day to get my daily baguette! In our little village we enjoy having a boulangerie, an epicerie, La Poste, a pharmacie, la biblioteque, a tabac/brasserie, and two salons de couiffure... as well an a doctor's office and a team of nurses that will come to your home to draw blood or give you an injection. All necessities are right here. an ample piece of land where one could have a garden - to our delight our garden is a private, walled, area with plenty of room for a flower garden and a "potager", still a "tabula rasa" for me, will be a wonderful project to plan it and grow flowers and vegetables. A small stream flows at the bottom of it... with an unobstructed view of nearby forests, hills, and farms off-street parking, and "elements d'ancien". Check, check and check. The house dates to 1795, is built from the Loire valley stone, and has numerous original details that miraculously stayed. The front "cour" is gated, offers privacy and space, and with two garages the parking is not a problem. And there are plenty original details for the vintage and antique obsessive me. The oak floors, the original "tomettes" (terracotta tiles), the beams, the fireplaces, the cornices... some renovations were acceptable to us - there will be a big reno coming our way shortly.... with some other modifications that we knew were coming in a few years, but didn't expect to deal with them so soon... but that's another story. we were looking to have an accessible public transportation - this is the big compromise we decided to make, to accept the lack of it. We are 30 km away from a train station. The bus line is nonexistent. For every minus there are bonus points - being in a beautiful region, living close to nature, in a small village surrounded by forests, in an area rich in history. Being able to breath fresher air, go for walk or on bike rides on country lanes straight from our front gate. Pouilly fume vineries are nearby, and charming small towns are easily accessible by car. All waiting for us to be discovered! Our house search in Burgundy was nearing a year. After over five years in living in rental apartments in a busy city we yearned for a place to call our own. So the decision to purchase this house was reached with a heart and a head at the same time. My husband and I saw the house together almost two weeks after my visit there. I was on pins and needles, afraid that someone else will swoop in and buy it! Or that Jim will not see the charm and possibilities of this place the same way I do. We spent a few intense days in the area, weighing many details... We decided to make an offer. It was accepted immediately. That was April 2023. Yes, it does take a looong time to close on real estate property in France. We signed the final sales contract at the end of September. The madness of the big move to the countryside was upon us... To be continued.... Thank you for following along! xoxo Joanna

We see these pretty vintage toast racks when we visit the flea markets, and most people pass them by. Because, really, they are things of the past. We have electric toasters to conveniently pop in and pop out our slices or bread, all warm and deliciously crusty. No one makes breakfast a big affair. But what about the object itself? It is not a novel idea, mind you, but it begs to be mentioned again. Organizing our desk has never been so rewarding before with this pretty toast rack. It holds envelopes, pretty cards, just waiting to scribble a quick note to a friend. Which is a more personal form of communication in the age of texting and email anyway! We found this handsome piece - where else? - at the flea market. And now we can keep our paper bits and pieces all neat in one place, AND have a stylish addition to our desk. Our pretty toast rack/letter holder (made by renowned luxury manufacturer ERCUIS) is now in our shop, you can se it by clicking HERE. #frenchvintagedecor #shabbychicdecor #myfrenchmaison #howivintage #wheretofindme #frenchcountry #frenchantiques #collectedhome #notrevieauxpuces #eclectichomedecor #frenchfleamarket #passionforvintage #fleamarket #vintagehome #organizedhome

If I had to summarize year 2020 in one sentence, I'd choose one of my favorite quotes - "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans"- by John Lennon. How is life treating you, our dear readers? It has been many months since our lives started changing, for virtually everyone in every corner of this world. Our lives have changed, and we have changed, often by forces out of our control. What has not changed is our will to be together with our loved ones. And now with only a few days away from Christmas, it is the hardest part - it will be a very different holiday this year. I have started writing this blog post (the last one this year!) many times. I didn't want to sound sad, and I didn't want to seem too breezy. How does one strike the right balance, when we know so many things are wrong? You may have noticed there wasn't a new post since October. I have thought to write about things we found at the flea markets, things we are passionate about in our "brocante" world, and then thought - who wants to hear about antique napkins these days? There are more important things on people's minds, in this "annus horribilis" of 2020, in the year that turned everything on its head. So it's been quiet on the blog front for a few weeks. But then we have heard from some Instagram followers how they all appreciate distraction from grim news, and they like seeing crystal chandeliers, and embroidered pretty things, and stacks of old silverware... So as Christmas and the end of the year are approaching, we are reaching out with big thanks for being with us, ordering from us, following us, sharing the joys of antique beauty. We hope, and we are keeping out fingers crossed! that next year will bring favorable changes for the better, and the world will be able to start recovering. And although this Christmas will be different, the sobriety of this year does not mean that we must forget the joys that this time of year usually brings. This year's celebrations will be special but not complicated in our household. We will celebrate with just each other (and our dog at our feet waiting for a morsel or two). And we will do it with style, pulling out all the loveliest china, and linen, and silverware. I love the ritual of getting ready for this special time of year. Selecting china, silverware, linen... Arranging greenery, boughs of holy with its cheerful red berries, adding new ideas to our table each year as our personal collection of vintage and antique treasures grows... Giving these special, beautiful finds their spotlight again brings me joy - I can imagine how they were cherished by their previous owners, when they were part of family celebrations, adored year after year, and passed to younger generations. This year the ritual is the same, and gives me a chance to take my mind off the very serious state of the world as well... The end of the year is a time of reflection, and no doubt we will have a lot to think about this year. And as I am writing these words, I am thinking of all the lessons that this complicated time has given us. What the last few months have taught me that no matter how much effort you put into trying to change what cannot be changed, no matter how frustrated you get, there are forces that are out of your control, and one cannot change the tide; one must accept what one cannot change. And in these times when our patience, and believes, and values are being challenged, there are a few constants that I will always have faith in - human connection, friendships and kindness, and - to keep it light - the restorative power of chocolate and champagne! And I believe that better times are coming! - by Joanna As the year 2020 is winding down, we at My French Maison want to wish you all the best. Be healthy, stay well, stay safe! Merci! xoxo Joanna and Dorota #christmasdecor #frenchvintagedecor #shabbychicdecor #myfrenchmaison #howivintage #wheretofindme #frenchcountry #frenchantiques #collectedhome #notrevieauxpuces #eclectichomedecor #frenchfleamarket #passionforvintage #fleamarketdecor #vintagehome

We are in a part of year when the holidays are long gone, and waiting for spring seems to be unbearable. There is little greenery, and cold days do not encourage spending too much time outdoors. The hardest part for me it is the lack of color - especially the fresh green that signals the coming of spring. And especially this year... Fortunately there is plenty we can do indoors - the forcing of spring bulbs (which are available in many garden centers, and other shops as well) is so easy - just add water! And in no time they reward you with fresh leaves, colorful flowers, and heavenly scent. In the country side there are already signs of spring I am told - such as the tiny daffodils that we found at our farmers market in our "quartier" - that can be foraged in the woods, and fields. In a city such as Lyon we need to resort to purchasing the flowers (and support our local businesses by doing that), and - forcing bulbs! I always find it uplifting getting my hands a little dirty, touching soil, soft moss when I decorate the edges of my flower pots, and then waking up to smell the hyacinths... Good for the soul! Happy gardening! - Joanna #frenchvintagedecor #shabbychicdecor #collecting #myfrenchmaison #howivintage #wheretofindme #frenchcountry #frenchantiques #collectedhome #notrevieauxpuces #eclectichomedecor #frenchfleamarket#passionforvintage#fleamarketdecor #vintagehome #wintergarden #indoorgardening

What defines the style that has been around for ages? When asked what is exactly French Country style, I picture natural wood, stone walls, tiled floors worn by generations, everything in a muted color palette, touches of brass, shine of old silver, a sparkle of crystal chandeliers, buttery yellow of old stoneware, gleam of mirrors, texture of linen... There is an easy going personality about this style, never forced. It is casual, almost no maintenance, and soothing on the eyes. The style one can live with forever. Its is also a workhorse - no matter what you do, mess it up, work it hard, use it relentlessly, it only looks better and better. Nothing needs to be too perfect, polished, ironed and starched to perfection. Although there are many interpretations of this enduring style, the elements that are always there are natural materials of wood, linen, wicker, and thick ceramic can take abuse of every day life, and age beautifully. The more I collect the items that make my heart sing, the more I fall in love with this easy going and yet so beautiful way of decorating. And yet, this simple and elegant style can be achieved almost effortlessly. It has been around for centuries, and yet remains uncomplicated, balancing elegant and rustic, simple and sophisticated. I think of it as a white button down and jeans of interior design. Luxurious, but down to earth. Perfect in every room in the home, it works particularly well in the kitchen, where one can invest in a great set of copper pans (it will reward you with hard work, and improving looks, for years), stack up linen torchons in a wicker basket, and ironstone dishes high. Never buttoned up, ironed out, too polished, it encourages long conversations, candle lit dinners, slower pace of living... We are obviously huge fans of French country style at My French Maison. Many books were written about it, with excellent photography, so I am not even going to try to do a one better here! I have been a fan for over thirty years, and having lived in many types of homes - from a cottage to a mid-century modern home, I always managed to bring in some of the French country into my space. We now live in a hundred year old Haussmannian apartment, and te French country spirit lives well within its walls (next to a bit of Art Nouveau!). When I look for French country elements at French flea markets, here are the objects that are always on my radar: I simply cannot pass up on linen kitchen towels, white ironstone, blue on white transferware dishes, aged silver flatware, wood cutting boards, brass and silver candlesticks, copper pots and pans, wicker baskets... Naturally I prefer vintage and antique pieces that give the instant lived-in look to the space. And let's not forget the little things that although are not functional, add the texture and visual interest. Little wooden stools (chippy paint won't hurt!), wicker baskets, wooden petanque balls, big spools of natural colored yarn... It's the balance of rustic and refined of weathered finishes, natural materials, that give the casual elegant look of French country. The style has fluidity - after all decorating should be fun! - it ventures into rustic, dips its toes in "cottage" and "shabby chic". I have some personal favorites that I happily mix into the neutral, greige decor I prefer: the silver plated trays, antique white porcelain (preferably with the charming heads in the sides), antique books with faded illustrations and ivory white pages, and antique fabrics with romantic, garden elements, that I am becoming quite passionate about. Where to get it? For me the constant source of what for us is "French country", are (you guessed it!) the flea markets in France. Many garage sales by you will often have a thing or two... Same goes for charity and thrift shops, and don't forget listings for estate sales (the pandemic might have put a damper on some of these though...). And of course there is us :) and may other independent collectors and sellers on-line, passionate about what the do and offer. I am a bit too much obsessed with Pinterest , and of course Instagram (you can follow us there by clicking on the links). If you've read this post to the end, I know that you are already a fan of the French country style, or you're just falling in love... But if you're a sceptic, all I can say that even when you have only a small nook to play with, a bunch of fresh flowers in a white pitcher will take it into the "right" direction. - by Joanna

Walking through a French flea market you will notice heaps of beautifully embroidered vintage and antique sheets, kitchen towels, and table napkins, in linen or cotton. Many with intricate monograms, embroidery, and detailing that is not seen that often anymore. So much to choose from! If you feel a bit intimidated, are tempted to take a plunge, but are unsure how to take care of these textiles, I will try to explain in this post how easy, and rewarding, it is! (I am concentrating more on linen fabric here, although a lot of the observations can be applied to almost any vintage textile.) At a flea market I sift through these lovely stacks, looking for the prettiest embroidery, and for possibilities for future use. I look for pieces in good to great condition for my clients at My French Maison, and for myself. I am not discouraged by a little hole here and there, or a few stains. If the rest of the piece is solid, it has many more years to give, and be treasured. It is an easy investment, because unlike silks, linen is very easy to take care of, and keeps on giving. Disclosure - I am no expert in vintage linen, but I know a good thing when we see it. I use linen torchons in my kitchen, and I love the feel of this cool fabric on my bed. However - why would anyone want to use old fabric sheets and towels, you might ask. It's easy to go to a shop and get a new set of perfectly good ones. To me, nothing modern rivals the quality, texture, and feel of antique and vintage fabric. Most of the time it was homespun, and is linen, which has been a fabric of choice in Europe for centuries. If you travel through French countryside and see a field of tiny light blue flowers, most likely it is flax plant blooming, to be harvested and made into fabric. Old linen usually has the beautiful off white hue, with variations in texture, but you can also find it in other hues - from white, through eggshell, ivory, to almost beige. Sometimes it was mixed with cotton (this is called "métis" cloth). It is sturdy, absorbent, and a true work horse. I use antique linen torchons in our kitchen and they are almost indestructible. How to take care of it? It is very easy, one just have to keep in mind a few things - old textiles do not like modern washing machines and dryers. Nor do they like being dry cleaned, which can actually do damage. It does not mean that you need to wash everything by hand! But it does mean, that it's better to set your spinning cycle on low, and to not to dry your linen towels and sheets in the dryer. The heat may damage the fibers. Linen loves to be air dried, especially in the hot sun, which has the disinfecting properties as well. If you like the look of pressed linen, a hot iron is OK. You may spray the fabric surface with water for an easier job and a smoother look. If there is embroidery, iron on the reverse side. I mentioned stains - and there will be some on these beautiful old sheets and napkins. Some of them can be gotten out, some of them won't budge... It is up to you if you can live with them, possibly by using them for a sewing or decorating project. To get the stains out avoid bleaching the old fabric. Use the natural products when possible, such as lemon juice. I heard that baking soda also works very well. It's better for the environment too! Here are a few tips on what to look for and how to take of vintage linen (which can be applied to vintage cotton as well): - when buying vintage linen at a flea market, unfold it completely and check for stains and holes, as well as general condition; consider if you can live with small imperfections (if there are any - sometimes linens were kept as dowry, and never used, and it means you are very lucky to have found something in unused condition!) - if the piece is in poor condition, but you love the embroidery, it can be cut up and used in a decorating project - made into cushions, for example - wash linen in a washing machine (or by hand, if you prefer), separately, with hot water - use a gentle detergent - line dry, or flat dry, if you prefer to tumble dry do it on a delicate setting - drying your linen sheets in the sun will brighten them - linen looks lovely with its natural creases not smoothed by an iron, but if you prefer a creaseless look, iron when the fabric is still damp; iron on the hottest setting and use a steam iron; after hang the items up until completely dry, before storing - storing your linen in a cool, dry, well ventilated space is best. Better not to store in plastic bags, linen loves to breath. And if you add lavender sachets in between the linen pieces, every time you open the armoire you will get a delicious whiff of aroma... I like organic lavender sachets from Provence, especially when they come form my favorite L'Auguste Provence. Enjoy your linen sheets, towels, and napkins - the fabric is easy to love, and only gets better with age!

It has been over five years for us already in beautiful France. And it took five years to find a place to call own own. At first we traveled around to get to know various regions better - Normandy, Provence, Alsace. The regions that we knew from previous travel to France as tourists, but now we were looking from a different angle. We were looking for a home. Then the pandemic happened... with numerous travel complications and "confinements". Two and a half years later and the real estate became scarce. The houses that were available before were bought out during the pandemic. The real estate prices increased. But we soldiered on. We narrowed our search to the Burgundy region. I combed through the internet daily. I looked for a small village with some shops accessible on foot. I wanted the charming elements of an old French house - the fireplaces, the beams, the tomettes... And enough land to have a garden. Some peace and quiet. What I saw was either a complete ruin, or a house that was changed so much that you could call it an advertisement for IKEA. The real estate listings rarely have good quality photography here. The images are blurry, the descriptions incomplete, and the calls to the agents were many times unanswered. After we travelled to see a few disappointing homes, one day I stumbled upon another listing. We just came back from vacation, our suitcases, still unpacked, cluttered the hallway. The images were hard to read, and the house was over three hours from Lyon, but I made a call and made an appointment to see it. I arrived at a small train station on a spring Saturday afternoon. There was noone around. The agent, who agreed to pick me up and show me the house, was almost a half hour late, making me think that I would have to turn around and come back to Lyon wasting the day. But she showed up, apologizing. The road was closed, and there was no cell phone reception where she was stuck. We drove among gentle hills, covered in "colza" (rapeseed) in yellow bloom. Part of the way the road was going under a cover of forest trees. This was the part of Burgundy we didn't venture to. A few kilometers to the west and you're out of the region. The road bent and followed a gentle slope down to a small village, with a church steeple making the first appearance. We stopped at the gate of a house just across it. I looked at the pretty house, with it's pleasant "cour" (front yard) covered in gravel, rows of windows with wooden shutters, and a tiled roof. Two elderly people came out to greet me, suddenly the language barrier didn't matter. As we walked through the rooms, and I saw the open doors onto the garden, I felt that I have arrived - the house seemed to say "welcome home". What happens next in our French adventure? This is an ongoing story, and the next chapter is coming soon! xoxo Joanna

It has been in the plans since we arrived in France - to find a place of our own. Then the pandemic came, and then we faced a changed real estate landscape that made finding our French maison complicated. But after a search that lasted almost a year, I am happy to tell you that we have bought "la plus jolie"country home ever! We will be leaving Lyon after five years of being in this big city. This fall will bring major changes to my family life. What does it mean for the boutique? Other than a change of scenery, My French Maison shop will continue. Moving is never easy, so there may be a pause in operation, or a delay in shipping time. I will try to keep these to a minimum. And after a while I may even be able to have a small space to welcome you by appointment if your travels take you to Burgundy, which is where I will be. Here is what will be happening - throughout the move my Etsy shop will remain open for you to browse and place orders, however there maybe some delays in shipping your orders. I will contact you right away if there is a need to extend delivery. If you don't want to encounter delays please place your orders before the end of October, before all my inventory is packed away. Before I pack, I would like to mention that if you'd like to purchase a few things at once, to be shipped together, we can negotiate :) drop me a note on Etsy with links to listings you love, and we can talk. I will have less to pack, , and you will enjoy some beautiful items to love, for less. All orders must be placed before the end of October! Follow me on Instagram at @myfrenchmaison to be up to date on the schedule. And you can always contact me on Etsy if you have any questions or concerns. And wish me luck! My family and I are very excited about this change in our lives. La vie est belle!

Before we settled in beautiful France a few years ago, we traveled here almost every year. And of course every time I had to do a little bit of shopping here. Usually done at the airport, because of the détaxe, my Longchamp pliage bag collection comes from those years. Beauty products, some Hermes scarves... There are a lot of iconic brands that will remind you of France, there is something for everyone and for every budget. And you don't have to splurge on Hermes or Chanel to keep memories alive. Recently I was making a trip to my home country, and I wanted to bring a little piece of France to my family and friends. I tried to select items that speak "France", and that are also not such an obvious choice. Many of them are smaller brands. You may call my selection an "insider's list" if you'd like! A bonus - most of these brands can ship to where you are, for you to have a piece of France whenever you like. Here is what I selected: 1- while champagne is very French, I chose to bring a few bottles of crémant to celebrate our reunion. Crémant is sparkling wine made outside of the Champagne region, similar in taste to champagne, this rosé crémant came from Burgundy, but there are eight regions in France that make crémant sparkling wine. 2 - when I want to show a bit of the region has to offer, I choose samplers of local sweets in decorative boxes from one of the oldest "chocolateries" in Lyon - Voisin. This time I chose pralines (the Lyon version is pink, made out of sugar and crushed almonds), and quenelles (candy made from pralines and hazelnuts coated with a thin layer of white chocolate) to gift to family and friends. "Chocolat Voisin" has numerous boutiques in Lyon, and they also have a website https://www.chocolat-voisin.com/ 3 - Mariage Frères teas were another selection. The company has been making luxury teas since 1854. In many many flavors, known for their unparalleled aroma and taste, the teas come in elegant shiny black boxes and cans, with yellow labelling. www.mariagefreres.com 4 - Elegant lavender sachets from "L'Auguste Provence" - I was introduced to the company by a friend, and quickly became a fan. I love lavender and its aroma is synonymous with Provence. Each fragrant sachet comes in a little gift box, both are printed in the unique watercolor pattern from Provence. Such a beautiful gift! The company does not have a shop, but you can order on their website, and several shops around the world stock their products. www.laugusteprovence.com 5 - a beautiful cashmere shawl from Eric Bompard - another great French brand, with gorgeous cashmere sweaters and accessories in a myriad of colors and patterns. French ladies wait for the sales to stock up, invest in Bompard, as the styles are classic, and the quality amazing. www.ericbompard.com 6 - and of course a few flea market finds - for someone who I don't see often enough, I filled a flea market wicker basket with a couple of bottles of wine, Mariage Frères tea, lavender sachets, and sweets of course; I also found round ironstone ornaments made from chipped dishes, and used them as embellishments tying them off wine bottles, and around praline boxes. I think they will also be fabulous as Christmas ornaments. I found them at one of my favorite shops @tresorsdedadou (head over to Instagram, enter the name of the shop to see the amazing selection she has). 7 - a box of colorful macarons - this was a tricky request from my mother; they had to stay refrigerated, and since they have a short shelf life, I bought a box right before our trip, and kept them in a small fridge we always travel with in the car. They survived! I chose to purchase the macarons at Chocolats Pralus, a chocolaterie where the famous pink praline brioche was invented. www.chocolats-pralus.com 8 - French skincare - enough articles and blog posts were written about the amazing French pharmacy products, and I have to tell you it's all true. My favorite brands are Avene, Bioderma, and La Roche Posay. They are available in the USA, but as I understand, at higher prices. When in France, head over to any bigger pharmacy to stock up. Thank you reading this post! I hope it was fun, and will give you some ideas for bringing a bit of France home with you when you visit this beautiful country. Would you like to tell me what your favorite things are to bring from France? Please comment! A bientôt! To see the French flea market finds in my shop please visit: www.etsy.com/shop/myfrenchmaison