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