New Items At Linen Haus

Hi Everybody!  It's Friday and I'm ready.  The weather is supposed to be great all weekend and we have plans to get out and enjoy it while we can!  We will be grilling both days, ignoring our huge to do list enjoying the sunshine and some new Seattle friends. 

I have added some things to the shop that I thought you all might like to see.  Here is a sampling of what's new:

The linens that inspired it all...rescued from an old castle in Bavaria, with a gorgeous sheen and lovely french ticking in a variety of colors (more coming soon).  These tablecloths are  ideal for everything from long, elegant dining tables to casual provence style outdoor settings.  Or, if you'd rather use them in a creative direction, they'd make beautiful fabric for pillows, throws and other decor.

Vintage books - in amazing condition!  Ideal for beautiful vignettes.

Vintage Botanicals on a large scale with vibrant colors.

Someone had better snap these up quick.  I am very tempted to frame them in a grouping above the bed in our master!

Monogrammed vintage tea towels with a lovely damask design.

A variety of Hungarian Seltzer Bottles - they add great character to a kitchen.

Stop by and take a look if you  have a minute. 

I'll be adding more in the next few weeks so there is more to come!

Have a great weekend!

Vintage Tins: A Few Decorating Ideas

Vintage tins have caught my eye at the markets both in the US and Europe.  Here are a few pretty, simple ways to use tins in decor:

Belle Maison Blog

Design by Sussie Bell via Adore Magazine

via

What a great subject for unique photography!

via pinterest simplygrove

jacksonofalltrades

This clever etsy person decided to make candles out of the old tins!

El Corte Ingles

 

Source: designspongeonline.com via Maggie on Pinterest

I hope you enjoyed these ideas - I thought they were fun, simple and a bit rustic which can be quite nice with spring flowers.  Have a great Wednesday!

Happy Day!

Just a single image today, to wish you a wonderful Saturday!

We are swamped with going away parties and packing,
but I'll be back on Monday for a few more posts before we fly on Friday.
Have a great weekend!

Just Cool

Hi Everyone!  I'm back from a few days of family time for Christmas...I'm still going at a slow pace - I think I could get used to that. :)  I hope your celebrations, regardless of what/how you celebrate, were wonderful!  

Today I bring you a few images I have come across on Pinterest that I think are just plain cool, beautiful or something else.  I thought you all might enjoy these for a change of pace:

A clever use of space!

Beautiful - love the marbling.

So unique.

Have you seen the movie Anonymous about Shakespeare? 

I mentioned seeing it in a previous post - it was a good flick.

Wouldn't this be a nice suprise gift on New Year's morning?

All of the literary greats from the UK.

Chalkboard paint on wine bottles - ideal for a wine tasting party.

Positively dreamy...

Enjoy your day!

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Gift Wrap Gorgeous!

Today I'm over at The Enchanted Home, blogging about some inspiring and beautiful gift wrapping ideas, including some fun ways to package hostess/food gifts as well as more traditional gifts.  Just in case you haven't wrapped all of your gifts by now, here are some images to whet your appetite:




Traditional Home

 

The White Company

via Splendid Willow blog

via older and wiser blog

Southern Living

I had a great time putting these ideas together. 

Hop on over to Tina's blog to check it out!

Giving With Purpose

Today's post is not design related.  :)  
I have held back on posting this for a few weeks because I kept thinking I'd come across as preachy - hopefully not!!!  Here goes:

I am drawn to charities that help womens' progress (and therefore their families) and I thought these might appeal to you, my fantastic readers, as an alternative to traditional gifts this year.  I chose these organizations because their efforts can change women's lives - and their whole families' lives - in a sustainable way.  
(All of the descriptions below in italics came directly from the organizations' websites.)

Give a necklace, created by women in Uganda from Bead for Life. 

I love this idea as a teacher's gifts or for others in your life where you want a smaller gift, but something lovely, to give.

{beadforlife.org}

Bead for Life eradicates extreme poverty by creating bridges of understanding between impoverished Africans and concerned world citizens. Ugandan women turn colorful recycled paper into beautiful beads. Women in Northern Uganda gather shea nuts and press them into shea butter for cosmetics and soaps. And people who care open their hearts,homes and communities to buy and sell both products.  The beads and shea butter become income, food, medicine, school fees and hope. It is a small miracle that enriches us all. 

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Give a loan to a small business owner in a developing nation from Microplace.

I love this idea for a teenager/young adult - it's money they will eventually receive, but in the meantime it's invested for a good cause.  On the other side they still get the money for something bigger later on. 

(Although you might need to pair it with something else like an iTunes gift card for instant gratification :))



{microplace.com}

Microplace:  Use your portfolio to finance a project that enables the working poor to move from subsistence-level living to managing their money– all it takes is access to basic financial resources. You get to invest in something you believe in while making your money back with interest!  

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Give an animal to a farmer in a developing nation from Heifer International. 

Do like I did, and give this to those relatives and friends who already have everything!

Heifer International's mission is to work with communities to end hunger and poverty and care for the earth.  With gifts of livestock and training, we help families improve their nutrition and generate income in sustainable ways. We refer to the animals as "living loans" because in exchange for their livestock and training, families agree to give one of its animal's offspring to another family in need. It's called Passing on the Gift – a cornerstone of our mission that creates an ever-expanding network of hope and peace. 

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I just picked my top three favorites but of course there are many, many more.

Let's spread the word:  What's your favorite way to give with a purpose? 



The Latest From Linen Haus

As you might have read earlier this week, we ended up coming back a day early from our trip to Slovenia.  That meant missing the market in Lubljana on Sunday, which was disappointing.  However, the upside was that I could visit some of my favorite contacts (and discover new ones) at our monthly local antiques market here in Munich.  I found a few things to round out the Linen Haus inventory:

A beautiful set of appetizer/dessert plates from Villeroy and Boch.

Set of six, each with a different fruit motif and french writing.

Almond colored, vintage damask tea towels with crimson monogramming.

Set of two, but will be sold separately. 

Crisp white set of eight napkins with a subtle art deco gemetric pattern. 

 Antique German leather bound book with gorgeous textured paper front and back

and beautiful illustrations throughout.

Vintage Tea Towel with Art Nouveau design, monogram and beautiful sheen.
These are quite long so they also make a beautiful table runner.

Two vintage German grain sacks with indigo striping.  

Ideal for pillows or upholstering seat covers!

Antique latin linguistics book from Vienna, 1844.

This book had a nice surprise inside:  I found an invitation addressed to the "Hochgeboren" - ie those of "high birth" - introducing the start of "the season"...I'm thinking probably for the debutante coming out season at that time.  I thought that was a pretty cool, and unexpected, piece of history.  I might have to frame it.

And, last but certainly not least, four more beautiful tablecloths. 

I sorted through many, many linens with stains, holes, etc. and brought home only those without flaws. 

More good news:  I have decided to go ahead and open up Linen Haus this month! 
I'm putting the finishing touches on the photos and descriptions.  An announcement is coming soon so stay tuned!

I've Been Busy...

...at the antiques markets lately!  I'm very excited to share with you all my latest finds for Linen Haus.  I'm still working on the inventory, but if you're interested in any of these products before the shop officially opens, please contact me!

And, in case you want inspiration on how you might use these products, I have also included (where available) posts that provide ideas.  :)

Photography and Styling by Barbara Jordan Dettweiler, Haus Design

Twelve volumes of "Lessing's Works" from 1890.

They are in remarkably beautiful condition with gilded printing and marbled covers. 
Lovely!
Ideas for decorating with books can be found here.

Photography and Styling by Barbara Jordan Dettweiler, Haus Design

A little detour into Asia...an antique, restored Water Well Bucket.

This would be ideal for storing blankets by a fireplace, holding pinecones or something else from nature in a corner, magazines next to a couch or towels in a bathroom...there are so many possibilities!

Asian Decorating Ideas can be found here.

Photography and Styling by Barbara Jordan Dettweiler, Haus Design

I bought this linen fabric because it's so versatile and beautiful.

I think it could fit well into a neutral traditional setting, a playful modern setting or even as an oversized oblong bolster on a tween girl's bed. 

Photography and Styling by Barbara Jordan Dettweiler, Haus Design

 More gorgeous dough bowls...and HUGE.

Photography and Styling by Barbara Jordan Dettweiler, Haus Design

A venetian-style, hand painted tray with gilded detailing on a deep scarlett background. 

Perfect for vignettes and bookshelf styling...even holiday decor.

 

Photography and Styling by Barbara Jordan Dettweiler, Haus Design

A burlap monogrammed runner - ideal for setting a rustic Fall table!

Photography and Styling by Barbara Jordan Dettweiler, Haus Design

Photography and Styling by Barbara Jordan Dettweiler, Haus Design

More seltzer bottles in aqua and emerald green that look great in a bathroom or kitchen. 
I love the unique shape of these!

Photography and Styling by Barbara Jordan Dettweiler, Haus Design

Hand made, blown glass German Christmas tree ornaments in a very pale silvery-lavendar hue.

I like to use ornaments like these attached to a beautiful package, at each place setting at a holiday table, or attached to a bottle of wine as a holiday hostess gift for a special touch...

Photography and Styling by Barbara Jordan Dettweiler, Haus Design

A gorgeous, gilded vintage French-style mirror.

You may remember this gilded mirror that I already bought for Linen Haus.

This one is similar, but much larger.

Photography and Styling by Barbara Jordan Dettweiler, Haus Design

More of the beautiful botanicals from Austria...

Photography and Styling by Barbara Jordan Dettweiler, Haus Design

Another seltzer bottle - notice the cool writing that claims Bucarest as its original home.

Photography and Styling by Barbara Jordan Dettweiler, Haus Design

Something about this vase just kept drawing me back.  I think it's the unique etching, gorgeous sea-inspired blue color and the generous size.  I envision it in a Phoebe Howard type space such as this one below.  Too see more beautiful blue spaces look here.



Phoebe Howard

I'd love your feedback on these additions to my inventory (constructive criticism is also welcome:)) so please leave a comment and let me know what you think!