Objects of Desire
We’re opening the treasure chest tonight!
I’ve been gathering all sorts of irresistible pretty little things for our next Whatnot live show.
Petite boxes, sparkling bijoux, boudoir curiosities and those wonderful old treasures that make you wonder who owned them,
what precious moments they made, what secrets they kept… and memories they held for the past 100 years.
Our first live show was so much fun we’re doing it again!
Come by to say bonjour, bring a glass or mug of something delish and see what catches your eye~
À ce soir mes amis!
Between the sheets…and Whatnot
Allo friends, It’s been a while! I’ve been working on a new project, and I’m excited to finally share it with you. I’ve just come back from a summer of treasure hunting for The Paris Apartment, and along with posting goodies on Etsy and Chairish, I’m venturing into new territory, the world of live auctions on Whatnot! And what better place to begin than between the sheets? French linen sheets, that is. We’ve collected, washed, pressed and restored some extraordinary antique linens and the more I discover, the more enchanted I become with their history, beauty and those who created them.
Once upon a time, a young girl’s trousseau was practically a life’s work. Mothers, daughters and grandmothers spent years gathering, embroidering and monogramming sheets, pillowcases, towels, and napkins in anticipation of marriage and family. Heirlooms were created amidst the gossip, secrets, hopes and dreams woven and stitched into those beautiful old fabrics.
Every monogram tells a story, every tiny stitch represents hours of someone’s life. They weren’t just linens. They were love letters written in thread.
And then there’s the magic of linen itself. Made from flax, it’s been treasured for thousands of years, from ancient Egyptian temples to French châteaux. Linen was later used in hospitals and sickrooms, valued for its freshness, durability, and ability to withstand frequent washing. Even today, flax is being studied for its fascinating antimicrobial properties. It’s naturally breathable, cool against the skin, and somehow gets softer and more wonderful with age.
And here’s where things get interesting: linen is said to vibrate at an exceptionally high frequency, with some believing it promotes healing, balance and well-being. Whether you’re drawn to its energy or simply the delicious feeling of sleeping in it, there’s something undeniably special about this ancient fabric. Bye bye microfiber!
Our ancestors had an almost sacred relationship with their linens. Beautifully embroidered sheets were carefully folded into armoires, scented with lavender, aired in the sunshine, mended, cherished, and handed down through generations. They accompanied life’s most intimate moments: births, romance, illness, and those delicious Sunday mornings spent doing absolutely nothing.
Looking at these old paintings, I can’t help wondering about the women, their bedrooms, their rituals and the little worlds they created behind closed doors. There’s something wonderfully romantic about the idea that even an ordinary sheet could be a treasure cherished for generations.
So I’m opening the linen closet and inviting you in. We’ll be exploring a stack of antique French trousseau linens, gorgeous monograms, delicate embroidery, and all sorts of unexpected treasures on Whatnot, where I’ll be hosting weekly live auctions with stories, surprises, and a little French flea market magic.
Come on by to rummage through the armoire together and see what turns up that speaks to you. Let’s hang out and chat about their stories…Who slept under these sheets? Who embroidered their initials and scrolls and flowers while patiently putting her hopes and dreams into every stitch? Imagine the love stories, stolen kisses, whispered secrets and delicious lazy Sunday mornings these beautiful fabrics have witnessed. They hold the memories of the lives they’ve lived, the people who treasured and patched them, and the stories they’ll never tell. And now, after all these years, they’re ready for another chapter and maybe it’s with you!
https://www.whatnot.com/s/MXjBkPsn
Join me live on Whatnot!
Fantasie Suite
PANORAMURALS by Justyna, Poland
Allo friends, how are you? It’s been a long time since I’ve had a chance to get to the blog and as always, remembered how much I love being here. So what’s new? As usual there’s a lot going on but I’m taking a break today to get familiar with the Etsy Affiliate program. It’s just like any other affiliate program where you recommend your favorite items and talented sellers and receive a small commission. As an added bonus, you don’t feel bad about spending time on guilty pleasures, like Etsy! The great thing about this program is that they give a 4% comission on purchases that come from the products that affiliates recommend. It’s a great way for anyone who loves to get lost in the world of the clever and creative artists and shop owners on the site, and affiliates have a bit of a side hustle at no cost to the Etsy sellers.
So without further ado, let’s go through some of the incredible talent on the site. I figured it would be best to stick with a theme and thought, where to start? What’s the easiest way to give a room a facelift? The fastest is paint, but why paint the entire room when you can use a mural or wallpaper to completely transform a room with just one wall? Etsy has so many peel & stick, DIY adhesives, murals, panels and panoramas it’s mind boggling! The only limit is our imagination…living in a magical fantasy world is right at our fingertips. Here are some of favorites from surfing today, but I’m letting you know now, it’s a deep rabbit hole!
My mom has wallpapered every room in our 150 year old house so as a kid watching it seemed like no big deal. When we talk about it now she says it was a ton of work with the paste and alignment, not to mention doing all on a with ladder with 9ft ceilings. Reading through some of these sellers’ comments it’s interesting to see how easy it’s become, especially with so many having the peel and stick or glue already on the back. Our first seller, Justyna from Poland is really intriguing as she’s got a few different shops on etsy, each with specific characteristics. The first is Panoramurals, panorama papers that cover corners instead of just a wall or panel. It’s a fun way to be fully immersed, like you’re living in a work of art! The top image is a vintage mural in done on about 3/4 of the wall in black and grey tones which gives a cool, edgy vibe. The one just above is muted but vibrant, vintage colors and runs from floor to ceiling with trees enveloping the room. What fun!
Justyna makes it really easy and works with her clients on every order. The paper comes in a variety of options and is either removable, traditional, canvas or textured.
And I love her sweet aesthetic. These clouds are ethereal and the effect is like an old master watercolor.
MarWALLous is Justyna’s other Etsy shop, a little different but full of wonderful options and I adore her staging! You can see this image above is a little like the first photo on at the top of the blog but the pattern and color is even more subtle and still goes around the corner in her panorama signature style.
Below, Royal Mural’s owner Ewa, also from Poland says to just “Measure your wall, select the size and enjoy beautiful wallpaper in your home”. It’s that easy!
She uses a beautiful blue and turned the image into a kind of a toile, so stunning and detailled, a great way to highlight a hall wall.
For lovers of the Italian Renaissance, who could resist living in a Boticcelli painting with the Birth of Venus alongside the bed? The paper is scaled to your particular size and the colors are true to the original masterpiece.
ArtDesign Wallpaper by Nevin in the US, offers this gorgeous, colorful Chinoiserie with flowers, trees and birds in vintage hues. He offers in traditional wallpaper as well as the peel and stick which can be removed in one piece. Custom sizes are available and Nevin is hands on in the process. The selection is varied so you can go in a completely other direction with something like this marble with gold accents below, giving a cool and elegant modern feel.
Below, Wallpapers for Beginners by Andrea Galiè in Italy is full of incredible, strong images like these magnificent flowers. He’s focused on traditional paper and his credo is ‘I wanted a truly 100% green, 100% recyclable and 100% vegan product.’
Michelle in the Netherlands runs AmsterdamElement and has a great selection like this irresistible antique tree botanical landscape made with either removable or non-woven or peel and stick.
She takes some of the complicated mystery out of it with the chart below
Her Pink Palm mural is so dreamy for those who love pink, it’s a great way to work it in with the earthy elements. I love how she did this vignette with the wood and coral.
She says: ‘Our Peel and Stick Wallpaper won’t tear, rip or wrinkle and can be repositioned without damaging the walls and leaves no residue. Perfect for renters but also for permanent use!
The same goes for out Nonwoven Wallpaper, easy to hang and easy to take off. All of our prints are designed to brighten up your walls!
Deco Murals is a world unto itself. Agnes in Poland is creating incredible fantasy options for your walls. She’s so creative and I love the images she chooses to reproduce. They’re all so rich and full of life. This is the Rural mural watercolor landscape. Removable or regular vinyl.
Don’t say i didn’t warn you!
Finally, DavidQuianArt, bespoke wallpaper, murals and wall art from Nottingham, United Kingdom. David is a purist and began by hand painting wallpapers and silks in the Chinoiserie style. I think this is pure bliss. Fully customizable. Below is the Garden of Cultivation handmade scenic wallpaper printed on non woven paper.
Anyway I could go on an on but then we’d never have Part 2’s right? I’d love to hear which style is resonates with you and whether you’ve used any of these or others we need should know about!
Well, that’s all for today, I’m going to try to get here more often and am really happy YOU stopped by! xoc
