Is it smart to undertake an opening a new, albeit, online shop in the time of the pandemic? We won't know until we try it. For weeks we were getting ready, and then, boom, coronavirus times! Then we were waiting for the normal times to come back. But we think you will agree that the "old normal" is replaced by the "new normal". So we made the decision to go ahead and hit "publish" - Bienvenue! Why now? Because we all need some cheering up. Because we love sharing our passion for all things French and vintage. Because like many of you we are looking to freshen up and energize the space we are in. Because we seek comfort and simple pleasures of home, especially now. Making the world beautiful around you is what we live for. Sharing this little venture with you all also gives us hope that things that we came to love in France, will gradually come back. That flea markets and vide greniers will re-open, and we will find new treasures to share with you. That we will be able to head over to farmers markets and come back home with baskets full of fresh goodness and bunches of flowers. And, finally, that one day we will be able to share the bises! What will you find here? For the new shop we have been selecting objects that will add the French spirit to our homes. We focus on the items for the kitchen and table, for the home and garden, vintage, antique, and more recent. We want you to be inspired, energized, and let your imagination soar when you visit us here. A lot of what you will see in the new shop we have been accumulating over weeks prior to the lock-down. Some items are from our Etsy shop, because they are better suited to be here. For the moment we will be running both the Etsy and the new shop. The new shop gives us more freedom of what we can offer, how we can present it to you, and how we can direct the growth of My French Maison. We hope that you will like this new direction! Lastly - connecting with you brings us joy. We love getting your messages of encouragement, from all over the world. We love looking at your decorating projects, your blooming gardens, places where you draw your inspiration from. Take good care of yourself and your families, stay safe and well! Joanna and Dorota​​​ And now, because we live in precarious times, and it is NOT business as usual, please read: A VERY IMPORTANT NOTE ON SHIPPING IN TIMES OF COVID-19 Please expect an extended shipping time and delivery - as you all know, we live in complicated times right now. First of all, we are in the midst of the global health crisis - no news here. Second of all - the logistics of shipping are difficult to say the least. In France we are still under mandatory confinement till May 11th.  The post office operates but with some limitations and with reduced hours. If you decide to place an order and wait of its delivery, Thank You! We will let you know when it is on its way to you, and will provide you with the tracking number.  You can contact us with any concerns and questions. Merci! #restezchezvous #lifeintimesofpandemic #confinement #lavieestbelle #frenchvintagedecor #shabbychicdecor #myfrenchmaison #howivintage #wheretofindme #frenchcountry #frenchantiques #collectedhome #notrevieauxpuces #eclectichomedecor #frenchfleamarket #passionforvintage #fleamarket #vintagehome

Be forewarned - this is likely a first installment of many blog posts devoted to the doors of France! I know books have been written, and websites created, filled with beautiful images of French doors. I thought after many visits to France, and over a year of living here, the fascination will pass. But I still feel compelled to stop in the middle of the street and take a picture of a beautiful door... Even if I walked on the same street for months, I always manage to see a new detail. Here are a few beauties I fell in love with in my adopted city of Lyon. Enjoy! - by Joanna #frenchvintagedecor #shabbychicdecor #myfrenchmaison #howivintage #wheretofindme #frenchcountry #frenchantiques #collectedhome #notrevieauxpuces #eclectichomedecor #frenchfleamarket #passionforvintage #fleamarket #vintagehome #travelsinfrance #lavieestbelle #lyon #doorsoffrance

I meet a lot of people who love and are moved by art but are not certain how to go about buying it, and collecting it. They visit galleries, flea markets, second hand shops, thrift shops, or look at what we buy for My French Maison, but are having a hard time making a choice. As someone who shops for our online store and for her own home (I buy contemporary art from living artists, and vintage art as well), I always get a question - why is this painting in your collection? Why did you select this and not the other? And inevitably - how do I start? I don't have a lot of money, or space. I don't know how, I don't know what I like, what if I make mistake... First of all, there are no rules (well, just a few little ones!). So here are my "five cents", or "cinq centimes", on the subject: 1 - Buy what you like, and trust your instincts - you cannot make a mistake. Collecting is a very personal activity, and if it makes you feel good, nobody else's opinion matters (unless they're your life partner, but that's another blog post!). If you are drawn to a piece of art, if it "speaks" to you, I say go for it! 2 - It doesn't need to be expensive - you can build a unique collection of affordable pieces that doesn't break the bank. 3 - Take your time. There is no pressure, collecting is an ongoing process. It is also an exciting and enjoyable process, that can take years and become a passion (or an addiction, depending who you talk to). Don't feel pressured to acquire many pieces all at once (unless you love them, of course!), but... 4 - If you see that perfect piece right in front of you, go for it! It's very likely that you will never see it again, and will always think of it as the one that got away... 5 - Flaws can be good; buying vintage means being OK with little flaws and signs of time the piece usually comes with. Make peace with little imperfections that give your vintage find a little character. But - structural integrity is important. For example if a painting is stretched on a wooden frame which is in very poor condition, it may be very hard to have it repaired. If it has a huge cut right in the middle I would think twice... Same goes for dirt - if you're OK to live with it, it might not bother you. But if a painting could benefit from a good cleanup, consider your time and additional expense to bring it to a former splendor. Above all - have fun! Shopping for vintage is an adventure. Keep your eyes open, and enjoy it! Next up on our blog: Decorating with (Vintage) Art The Vintage Art section in our shop can be found by following this link: https://www.etsy.com/shop/myfrenchmaison?section_id=25222042 (by Joanna) #frenchvintagedecor #shabbychicdecor #myfrenchmaison #howivintage #wheretofindme #frenchcountry #frenchantiques #collectedhome #notrevieauxpuces #eclectichomedecor #frenchfleamarket #passionforvintage #fleamarket #vintagehome #vintageart #collectingart

Is it just us? Are January days the hardest? After the hustle and bustle of the holiday festivities, with lots of things to do, meeting friends and family, the beginning of a year is, by contrast, quiet, and maybe a little sad... Whenever winter doldrums get us down, we look at our summer travel photos. They remind us that the winter chill will be over in a few weeks, and the days will get longer. (although there is a certain charm to winter travel, we admit, and there may be an option to jet over to warmer climates for some). That's why, in this post, we are taking you, and us, on a mini trip to the sun-drenched Burgundy, mainly to Beaune, the cobble street town in the middle of the winemaking region of France. Beaune was one of our destinations last summer, and we really enjoyed getting to know it. This is not meant to be a travel guide, but simply a slow walk down a twisty sun drenched lane in the Bourgogne town... Beaune - easily reached by train (when you're already in France), extremely walkable, it greeted us with sunshine, charmed us with its winding streets, story book vistas, and numerous vintners. We arrived by train from Lyon, and from the tiny train station (where both local and TGV trains stop) walked over to our hotel. It was love at first sight. Although a small town, we quickly discovered there's plenty to do there on our short vacation - we loved visiting the Hotel-Dieu, the 15th century former hospital, now museum, showcasing works like "The Last Judgment" altarpiece by Van der Weyden. We visited a few churches, that provide stillness, moments of reflection, and stunning sacral art and architecture. We never felt hungry, but pampered with numerous cafes and restaurants. Beaune is surrounded by vineyards, and the whole town is full of charming "maisons de ville", with painted shutters, and tiled roofs. And we let ourselves dream a little - what would it be like to live in a small place like this one? Set amongst the vines, Beaune feels bucolic, and peaceful. We felt in the vintage and antique heaven visiting numerous antique dealers, mainly along Rue Carnot and Rue Monge. Peaceful streets, charming houses, inviting sidewalk cafes, and friendly people. You see, it has something for everyone. Stay in town for a few days, or make it your starting point to visit more of the region. Did it work? We are already planning a summer break. Are you? Where is your summer travel going to be this year? #frenchvintagedecor #shabbychicdecor #myfrenchmaison #howivintage #wheretofindme #frenchcountry #frenchantiques #collectedhome #notrevieauxpuces #eclectichomedecor #frenchfleamarket #passionforvintage #fleamarket #vintagehome #travelsinfrance #burgundy #beaune

Silver napkin rings to us are like jewelry for the table. We love when the patterns are mixed, and they've been gathered overtime from various sources (preferably from French flea markets!). Quirky, fascinating, in seemingly endless pattern choices, each one tells a story. We know they may be hopelessly out of fashion (but not in our book!). But linen napkins, better silverware, and napkin rings still elevate even the most mundane meal to a new level, there's no need to wait for a special occasion. Don't hamburger and fries taste so much better when served on vintage ironstone, with a linen napkin, and silverware? We have been lucky recently in our flea market searches, and have collected quite a few great vintage silver plated napkin rings. In many styles, and shapes. All of them are now available in our online boutique - My French Maison. Romantically mismatched, in sets of four, can be a special, one of a kind gift, an addition to, or a start of a collection. We think they will dress up any table, from modern to traditional! All our napkin rings are now listed and can be found in the the Cutlery and Silver section of our shop. You can access the shop either by going to the SHOP tab in this website, or visiting through Etsy directly at www.etsy.com/shop/myfrenchmaison #frenchvintagedecor #shabbychicdecor #myfrenchmaison #howivintage #wheretofindme #frenchcountry #frenchantiques #collectedhome #notrevieauxpuces #eclectichomedecor #frenchfleamarket #passionforvintage #fleamarket #vintagehome #frenchtabledecor #vintagesilver #vintagenapkinrings #passionforvintage

Let's be frank - at this time of year a visit at the Flea Market is a real challenge. You may even want to call it an escapade. A very well planned escapade, with thick socks, thick soled boots, hats, gloves, scarves, and a shopping cart! It is cold and wet in the morning and everything is drowned in fog. Warm clothes must be worn to keep comfortable. In addition we have to leave very early when it is still dark. The cozy bed beckons, but one must keep an eye on (a potential) prize! This cold and damp November morning it was both of us - Joanna and me. Something surprising and beautiful is on every corner! As you can imagine finding the rare pieces that correspond to our tastes is never guaranteed and as we arrive at the flea, thinking that maybe this time we will return with nothing... It is still semi dark when we arrive. But the vendors are already there, and so are the buyers. Many of them with flashlights! We think that although we have arrived early, maybe we are too late already? But as we start to turn into the alleyways we come across the first find: beautiful wine glasses with delicately engraved design. There are 12 and they will be for me!!! (A challenge to transport on the train, but they did arrive safely in Strasbourg). Joanna's eyes widened as she opened the first book on the stack on the ground and discovered it was "The Count of Monte Christo" in six tomes, the edition of 1882, in French, her favorite book ever (and now an addition to her home library). Spoils of one of our flea market escapades After three hours we are half frozen but on this visit the luck really smiled at us. We come home with lots of things for our homes and for My French Maison. There are embroidered sheets with Art Deco motifs, a small pink vase in the shape of a magnolia flower, gilded dessert forks, Art Deco silver plated cake servers, and richly decorated tea spoons... Warming up at a flea market "buvette" No visit to "the flea" is the same. But each time it is an adventure! And it is so much better with a friend :) by Dorota #frenchvintagedecor #shabbychicdecor #myfrenchmaison #howivintage #wheretofindme #frenchcountry #frenchantiques #collectedhome #notrevieauxpuces #eclectichomedecor #friends #womeninbusiness #lespucesinwinter #frenchfleamarket

It's December, the days are shorter, and the beautiful windows decorated for Christmas start twinkling earlier in the day. All the restaurants, bistros, cafes, boutiques, are in white and gold, with shining lights, and evergreen. In larger cities there are Christmas markets through the month, beckoning with locally made made sweets, crafts, and "vin chaud". The magic of Christmas seems to be sprinkled everywhere. We love the rituals we go through before the end of the year - meeting friends, thinking of something special to give to loved ones, planning the holiday table and menu, reaching for family recipes, decorating... We hope that amid the hectic preparations for the holidays, you - and us! - are taking the time to celebrate the short holiday season, enjoying all the beauty it has to offer! Let's take a stroll through town, look at all the pretty lights, with (or without) a cup of "vin chaud". #frenchvintagedecor #shabbychicdecor #myfrenchmaison #howivintage #wheretofindme #frenchcountry #frenchantiques #collectedhome #notrevieauxpuces #eclectichomedecor #friends #womeninbusiness #lespucesinwinter #frenchfleamarket #frenchlife

We have a list of dreamy treasures we hope to one day to just stumble upon... What a wish! But something just like that happened a couple weeks ago. We stumbled upon a wonderful antique wicker basket with black lettering CHAMPAGNE LOUIS ROEDERER, and drop dead gorgeous drapes tie backs with tassels. The basket will be for me (for my very own French maison!), the tie backs are now in our online boutique - here is the link: https://www.etsy.com/shop/myfrenchmaison You just never know, right? #frenchvintagedecor #shabbychicdecor #myfrenchmaison #howivintage #wheretofindme #frenchcountry #frenchantiques #collectedhome #notrevieauxpuces #eclectichomedecor

For us the first snow of the season is magical. It falls slowly, dusting the streets, trees, and accenting the beautiful details of old buildings. It transformed the story book streets of Strasbourg into something out of a fairy tale. We managed to snap this image before it all went away... #frenchvintagedecor #shabbychicdecor #myfrenchmaison #howivintage #wheretofindme #frenchcountry #frenchantiques #collectedhome #notrevieauxpuces #eclectichomedecor #strasbourg #firstsnow

This website, boutique, and blog are the result of long talks between friends, and the passion for beauty they’ve shared since the school years.  So now it’s a reality - and as we get inspired, we hope to pass this excitement for charm of the yesteryear, and inspire whoever stumbles upon this space. This is the result of our exploration for beauty that is almost gone.  The poetry of objects that are disappearing, the histories that most likely will never be retold, the little mysteries we uncover when we visit flea markets around France, the world we created here - that links the past to the present, art to creation, the imaginary to reality, and the world that allows us to revive childhood memories. It's never too late for your dreams to come true. We hope you will be inspired by the universe of things that are almost gone, and will want to follow us on our adventures here.  More to come! A bientôt - #frenchvintagedecor #shabbychicdecor #myfrenchmaison #howivintage #wheretofindme #frenchcountry #frenchantiques #collectedhome #notrevieauxpuces #eclectichomedecor