Category Archives: Les trésors: Collecting

Vive la layette!

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Nothing has a bigger "awwwww" factor than a baby's layette. Add a little French touch, and "awwwww" becomes "oh la la!" It also means a lot of fun for this new Nana!

For several years, I've collected French layette booklets from the '30s, '40s and '50s , and the one pictured at left is one of my favorites. It is filled with ideas for everything from knitted dainties to the classic styles in the center spread below. The soft tones of shell pink and powder blue make you want one of each.

I had the pleasure of learning to "knit in French" when I lived in Paris. French women love to knit, and there are shops with everything knitters and other needle workers need in most every neighborhood. (These merceries stock hose and stockings, too. No clue what the connection is!) I especially like the little knitted romper style, like the one below left, that the French call a barboteuse. I can see one knitted in cotton for our little Zoë.

I am particularly enchanted by this booklet. For years, the French knitting magazine, Mon Tricot, published an annual layette edition. The cover always featured a head of cabbage, no doubt a reference to where babies come from!

Many French women over the decades have saved pristine copies of their layette booklets. I'm grateful that a few of them have found their way to eBay!

à bientôt...Tatie

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Chintz: Beyond the slipcover

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(Important note: Zoë Josephine Lind was born to my daughter and son-in-law at 7:25 p.m., last Friday, as the Predators were knocking off the Red Wings. She weighed in at 11 lbs, 4 oz. A c-section was not required. Heroes do play here.)

Chintz brings to mind a down-stuffed chair, a sofa worn soft by family and friends. It's where a piping cup of tea is sipped, a novel is read, rain is heard on the window pane.

It's also a style of pottery that features "tightly grouped, highly detailed and vibrant all-over floral patterns," as described on the website for Royal Winton. There is plenty of chintz ware to be found in gift shops and among the department store tabletop displays.

But Royal Winton chintz sets the standard. Originally know as Grimwades, the artisans at the Royal Winton factory still produce this most English of tableware.

My first encounter with chintz ware was a bonbon stand not unlike the one at right, which I recently added to my collection. Details of the pattern, Royal Winton's Florence, below. The black background is particularly stunning, I think.

One of the richest patterns is Julia, below right and at top, from my collection. Like Florence, Julia is still produced. Notice the art deco influence in the shape of the nut dish, at top, next to my grandmother Mammy's portrait. She was something of an art deco design during her dance card days.


Note a couple of other patterns, below, from the Royal Winton website. Brings to mind clotted cream and scones.


Keep an eye out for Royal Winton or Grimwades chintz ware. eBay is a good place to browse and learn about the patterns, including old ones no longer in production. There are plenty of plates, dinner-size and smaller, and cups and saucers. I look for the odd little piece. Bargains are rare to non-existent.

But when you find one you can afford, don't miss out on it, especially if you like a plump, worn, slipcovered sofa on a rainy afternoon. A piece of Royal Winton chintz ware completes it.

à bientôt...Tatie

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Pink and green: a marriage made in ... Paris

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How special to find the interplay of favorite pastel colors captured on the blog, French Beauty Mark. Note the boxes, in palest green above and shell pink below. (A little personal tribute to my Alpha Kappa Alpha friends, my sisters under the skin!)
These delicious little containers are from Ladurée, a pair of pastry shops/tea rooms (salons de thé) on both sides of the Seine, in Paris. I'm especially fond of the rue Bonaparte location, below. (I described the exterior in an earlier post as robin's egg green!)
I have quite the little collection of Ladurée boxes myself, filled with memories of the incredible macarons they once held. (The green one in the back is a little faded -- it normally holds earrings.)
While pink and green are on my mind, I must share a serendipitous find. The Art Deco fan vases below did not come as a set -- I've had the green one several years, so imagine how thrilled I was last weekend to find the pink one! Also in the tableau: a doll size hobnail beverage set and a very vintage bride's maid, part of a complete little bridal party.
I don't know about you, but certain color combinations speak to my sensibilities. Not eye candy exactly (see below) but a visual treat you can almost taste.
à bientôt...Tatie - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

La Poste: Haberdashery, high tea and sterling

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Silver trays Fine silver along with rich wood and upholstery make a combination that hits on so many senses: touch, taste and, of course, visual. Perhaps there's no finer way to serve something for the senses than with vintage silver butler trays, above. Add an element of men's haberdashery for a peppery note, and you have the intriguing highlights of a recent Remodelista report. Fine shirting upholsters chair One item presented Obsolete, a Venice, California, furniture maker and their chair that's all tufts and men's haberdashery tailoring. This piece is upholstered in men's fine shirting. Silver tea setting It's not much of a jump at all to a table appointed for tea at the Wolseley in London, where late afternoon light reflects off a silver tea setting and an intimate gathering among friends. Library chair upholstered in men's suiting Then, it's back to the deep and delicious tones of Obsolete's library chair upholstered in men's suiting. I'm longing for crisper temperatures and the shadows they cast that remind me of a European autumn. These treats for the senses almost hit the spot. á bientôt...Tatie La Poste is an occasional feature of Atelier Chéri where I share a particularly good blog post or newsletter item from my email inbox.

Bru Jne 11, a French doll who's pretty in pink

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Of all the French antique dolls, I believe the Bru dolls are some of the prettiest. That's why I enjoy recreating the 18" doll known as Bru Jne 11. Above is my latest version.

As a trained Doll Artisan, I paint the features like the original dollmakers did in the Bru atelier, or studio. The tiny lashes and brow strokes, the lips and the blush of the cheeks are as close as possible to a picture of an actual antique, which I go by when painting.

I did something new with this bébé, as this type of doll is called: I created handmade earrings from old Haskell-style nailhead beads. I found a huge lot of these beads on eBay, with doll earrings in mind, and this was the perfect opportunity to use them, since the original Bru Jne 11s also had pierced ears.

I love making the dolls, but my greatest passion is in designing and creating their clothes. I chose palest pink French organdy for this doll's frock, and I highlighted it with antique lace and a rayon ribbon trim. I used an unusual old length of lace from my collection, with antique lace insertion and edging already assembled to make just the right width for the collar and dropped waist skirt. I set the collar off with an heirloom knotted bow made of the tiniest rayon ribbon.

The bébé shows off her elegant ivory pointed French doll shoes that tie with pink rayon ribbon. I made her socks from a delicate piece of antique lace.

I found some wonderful wide French taffeta ribbon at Textile Fabrics here in Nashville. It makes the prettiest bustle to these old-fashioned dropped waist dresses. I repeated the effect with the bow in her hair.

This bébé doesn't mind showing off what she's wearing beneath her frock: a "combinaison" (one piece combination of bloomers and camisole) made from an old piece of eyelet fabric. Like just about everything else she is wearing, it is trimmed old pink rayon ribbon.

One other detail: She wears a handmade human hair wig. The old doll wigs were made either of combed mohair or human hair. I prefer working with the latter. After sewing wefted lengths of it to a wig cap, I cut and style it. I really like the chestnut color and natural curl of this wig. (I buy the wefted hair weave from hair supply shops.)

One of the great things about the craftmanship of antique reproduction dolls: It gives 21st century doll lovers a chance to own a doll that looks almost exactly like the antiques at a fraction of the cost. Unlike many reproduction dollmakers, I am particularly proud that I can offer these dolls to you at prices that are accessible.

I love sharing these beauties with you, and there will be more in the weeks to come. A great Christmas surprise for someone special!

à bientot....Tatie

Fill an Easter basket at Cottontail Cheri

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Papier mache robin's egg candy box with artisanal details Being German-American, I have a special affection for the holiday traditions from the homeland of my ancestors. Each year, I have a lot of fun applying my own creative touch to traditional German Easter treasures. This year, I have created Cottontail Cheri, an Easter market like those held in Germany. (Sadly, much of last year's collection was destroyed in the flood.) I particularly enjoy decorating papier mâché eggs my own way, like the one above. I started with a robin's egg treatment and added a curious medallion made of old German type and plaid paper rope (untwisted), centered by a tiny bunny. Martha Stewart's coffee bean-edged pink ribbon finishes it off. Papier mache Easter egg candy box covered with Florentine paper, blue metallic German Dresden trim. I really heart Florentine designer paper, and it looks just stunning on a papier mâché egg. Add Dresden foil trim, and you have a family heirloom. By the way, that fellow who's helping me show off my Easter eggs is a little replica of a longtime Reuther family heirloom, Bummy Rabbit, a wrought iron rabbit that my grandmother, Mammy, had in her yard when I was a little girl. The full-sized Bummy now sits in my patio garden, a proud survivor of last year's flood. Papier mache Easter egg candy box, bronze with paper medallion Here's the German script medallion again, this time with pleated Florentine paper, on a bronze painted papier mâché Easter egg. Scalloped green Dresden trim is the finishing touch. These eggs make the best candy boxes, to hold little treats and nestle in an Easter basket. Papier mache egg candy box with German diecut decoupage If you've followed this blog, you know what a fan I am of D. Blumchen & Co., where they specialize in imported German craft and holiday specialties. That's where I got my papier mâché eggs and German die-cut scrap, like the bunny on the egg above. I used a dimensional découpage technique to apply the little fellow to this robin's egg painted candy box, which is a little smaller than those above. The tall bunny showing off this egg is destined to become a family heirloom.   Papier mache Easter egg candy box with Florentine paper, small Again, beautiful Florentine designer paper, on a smaller papier mâché egg, finished with Dresden trim. Papier mache Easter egg candy box with elegant medallion, small The smaller bronze egg here has a German text medallion with pleated Florentine paper, this time centered by a prim little paper rose. I do hope you'll visit my Cottontail Chéri Easter market and make one of these creations an heirloom for your own family. Each item in the market includes a link to Etsy, where I am selling this collection. And stay tuned to Atelier Chéri, where I'll be telling you about some of the other Easter treasures at Cottontail Chéri. à bientôt...Tatie

Little lace for little girls and little dolls

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Tiny antique lace edgings Time to make more antique lace available for you at La Dentellière, our lace market here at Atelier Chéri. This round includes an array of my favorite tiny selections -- all less than 1/2" wide. Antique lace edgings, trim This is something of an eclectic selection of antique laces, like the styles above. The first two could be used along the edge of an heirloom creation or as a row of fine applique anywhere you need a touch of old lace on a garment. The last one on the right is somewhat similar to the middle piece of lace edging below -- both with the tiniest, airiest use of the lacemaker's finest thread. Petite antique lace edging Today's new old stock from my antique lace collection will be available for a time on eBay, at a special price. Check out my auctions here. Tiny antique insertion lace When you are creating a fancy band for your French handsewn baby gown, you'll need fine old French antique insertion lace, like that above. The method involves building a band with several rows of these straight-edge laces, finely sewn together by hand or with a tiny machine zigzag uniting the edges. Just about the best book ever on the handsewn technique is French Handsewing by my dear friend, Mary Frank King. It's out of print, but you can still find a copy on Amazon.com. Art deco antique lace If you'd like to give a bit of an art deco touch to your French handsewn heirloom, the French antique insertion lace selections above are the perfect touch. group of unusual antique entredeux Vital to heirloom sewing and French handsewing is entredeux, pictured above, which literally translated from the French means "between two." Makes sense (the French always do): You'll use it to attach lace edging to a tiny collar or cuff. It is correctly pronounced ahn-truh duh, but you may need to call it ahn-truh doh for many American heirloom sewing shops to understand what you need. The first two styles, above, also can be used as shaped lace tape by pulling a thread on one side to make it curve. antique entredeux from Au Bon Marche The entredeux above is an extra special piece. It is still wrapped and tied to its original card and carries its label from the French department store Au Bon Marché. (The old packaging is not for sale.) Unusual antique trim for lingerie The two selections above came to me on a card labeled Vogue Lingerie Braid (more packaging that I'm keeping for myself), and I believe that refers to the twill tape at top. The other piece looks more like antique lace entredeux or beading, through which a tiny ribbon can be woven.

Now is a good time to pick up this  old store stock French antique lace that you'll be needing for that heirloom child's Easter dress or a christening gown or a special antique doll. It will be available on eBay for several weeks, then the pieces that don't sell will be available here at our La Dentellière lace market.

Thanks for looking. à bientôt...Tatie

La dentelliere: Antique lace now on Etsy, eBay

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antique French lace, ivory The new year always makes me want to sew baby clothes. Perhaps because I began a great passion in January 1982, when I was first able to get out of the house after delivering my beautiful daughter. First on my agenda: Start her wardrobe of Southern handmade classics. I quickly learned that the only lace worthy of trimming her classic couture was the real thing: from France, all or mostly cotton, preferably old. antique French lace, ivory Over the years -- long after she decided she was too grown to wear the classics -- I have continued to collect antique French lace, much of it bought at the fabled Paris flea market. Now, it's available to those of you who've got that same great passion for handmade children's heirlooms. I've just listed a trunkful of antique lace at Etsy and on eBay. Best of all are the interesting prices. antique French lace, ivory Do you need the perfect trim for a baby daygown? Are you beginning a big project, a christening gown or a French handsewn Easter dress? Or do you just need a bit of old lace for a collar or sleeve on a smocked Bishop dress? antique French lace, ivory Maybe you need just the right piece of French antique lace for an antique doll or antique reproduction -- a bit of trim for a Bru or Jumeau, or a touch of Valenciennes lace for Bleuette's new frock. antique French lace, ivory Take your time browsing the ateliercheri shop at Etsy, or looking over my auctions on eBay. antique French lace, ivory Of course, there is plenty more antique lace and vintage trim right here, at Atelier Chéri, in the La Dentellière shop. antique French lace, ivory As always, I'll keep you updated as I make more of the lace, currently stored in old doll trunks and vintage Barbie cases (stay tuned for blog on those), available in my shops. à bientôt...Tatie

What the Putz? It takes a village

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Putz cottage with blue dresden trim

The Icycle Cottage, above, an original Putz cottage available at Chez Noël, is a creative twist on an old tradition that likely dates back as far as 1910. traditional Putz village One of the "Christmas gardens" at our house, above, includes little cardboard structures -- houses, churches and other little buildings -- that typically make up the make-believe villages with the odd name of Putz. I've collected them on eBay for the last few years, where the prices run the gamut. There are plenty of elaborate reproductions on the market alongside the vintage models. Pink Putz house

I'm especially fond of the ones with the Arts and Craft Bungalow detailing, like mine above.

Unusual Putz village

I found this odd and enchanting little set of Putz houses a couple of years ago.

Unusual Putz house

Each is cut out of what looks like cardboard from an old Christmas box. I find it particularly charming the way the creator of these Putz houses used the graphic design of the cardboard to trim the outside of the house. The cellophane covered windows (often damaged in the old models) are typical of true Putz houses and churches.

Putz cottage with florentine trim, detail Putz church trimmed with florentine paper

That's what inspired me to create my own Putz cottages and churches, like the Florentine Cottage and Eglise Florentine, above. I gave several away as gifts last Christmas, and this year, I'm making them available at the atelier chéri shop on Etsy and at Chez Noël, the Christmas market here at Atelier Cheri.

Putz church with fleur de lys trim Putz cottage with fleur de lys, Paris map trim

Collect a house and church, like the Eglise de Lys and Fleur de Lys Cottage (available at the atelier chéri shop at Etsy), with a common theme. I especially like the cottage, covered with pieces cut from an old Paris map reproduction. I make liberal use of lacy German Dresden trim on my Putz houses.

Putz cottage with William Morris wallpaper trim Twinkle Putz cottage

Or start your collection with one of these elegant numbers, Burgundy Cottage and Twinkle Cottage, above, each covered in reproductions of William Morris wallpaper from the Victoria and Albert Musuem. They're available at the Chez Noël Christmas market here at Atelier Cheri.

Putz houses and churches are such a fun way to bring the vintage spirit of Christmas into your home. Whether you collect the old ones or start your collection with one or two of our artisanal styles, I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

à bientôt et Joyeux Noël...Tatie

Chez Noel: Stop by our holiday market

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A special Christmas market

In the centuries-old tradition of the European Christmas market, Atelier Cheri presents Chez Noël. Click here, and stop by for a visit.

Stuttgart Christmas market

The European markets, like the one above in Stuttgart, offer stall after stall of traditional handmade Christmas specialties. So it is here at Chez Noël. Munich Christmas market

Our specialties, like the ones sold at the Munich Christmas market on the Marienplatz, above, are all handmade.

Candy cane bib/collar

Hand-embroidered Christmas wear for children reflects the Southern tradition of heirloom children's clothing.

Eyelet ruffle panties trimmed with embroidered wreath, knotted ribbon bow

Details, like the little knotted-ribbon bow that adorns the Christmas wreath on the eyelet ruffle panties, above, come from the Southern children's clothing tradition.

Vintage ice skater paper doll

We're taking custom orders for our Belles of the Blade: Les Patineuses Christmas ornaments crafted from vintage ice show illustrations, which I wrote about last year.

Putz cottage with blue dresden trim

Looking for something a little different for your Christmas village display? Our Putz cottages and churches are one-of-a-kind collectibles.

Lady Flutterbye, Marguerite doll on a bottle brush tree

And, of course, our dolls get in on the act, giving a special touch to vintage bottle-brush trees.

Simone gift box

We've also got some petite gift boxes with the especially chic styling of the classic Kelly handbag.

All in all, we're pretty excited here at Atelier Chéri about Chez Noël. As Christmas markets go, it's pretty special, a tribute to the creativity and craftmanship that we celebrate here. So, fix a nice cup of hot cocoa or rum punch, and treat yourself to a visit to our marketplace. Here's hoping Chez Noël will become a holiday tradition that you look forward to year after year!

à bientôt...Tatie