Comments on: French Linens

By: Five Favorites: Part Deux | After the Ecstasy, the Laundry . . .

Five Favorites: Part Deux | After the Ecstasy, the Laundry . . . — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 02:36:54 +0000

[...] French Linens (designmom.com) [...]

By: Taste like home… « Expat State of Mind

Taste like home… « Expat State of Mind — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 11:14:36 +0000

[...] French Linens (designmom.com) [...]

By: Mary T

Mary T — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 06:10:20 +0000

MORE! I am also drawn to any European linen. They look amazing, feel incredible and you can’t help but wonder what their history is….Who held them? How we’re they used? Did the stripes on them make them as happy as us? Do you know whether the stripes on them represent the family that owned them? I recently bought a Czechoslovakian grain sack, (my family pretends to understand how happy it makes me, which is very kind of them!) and I was told the stripes were used to identify the individual families when they would come and fetch their grain. I use it for a body size pillow cover and it sits in my window seat. Every time I walk into the kitchen I can’t help but smile….and wonder?

By: JenG

JenG — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 01:07:33 +0000

Quick question…we’ve used white cotton napkins in the past but stopped because I could never get them clean enough!! Bleach, oxi-spray, it never totally did the job, plus I hate going through so much laundry product. Any hints or suggestions? I’m wondering if linen launders better? Hmmm…
Thanks!

By: barbara wendell

barbara wendell — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 18:02:14 +0000

I have loved reading about your “French finds” that you’ll be bringing home when you return.
I am going to Paris in September to celebrate my 70th birthday together with a sister who has never been to France who will celebrate her 60th. I hope you will blog about about other special souvenirs.
I continue to be amazed at how much you do!

By: Brigitte

Brigitte — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 14:04:02 +0000

Interesting you should mention this. I recently dug out from my cupboard some old linens that I believe are French. They are incredibly soft and no holes, and amazingly have my monogram on them even though I think they date from before my birth. I had a French grandmother who died when I was one year old and I think they came from her. Anyway, my goal is to start using them. The napkins are huge by US standards. I love them, as I am a big cloth napkin user. And the tablecloth is generous also. On my trip to France I bought a little white teapot at a restaurant supply store just like the ones i had my tea in everyday. Kitchen stuff is a great souvenir.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 05:07:20 +0000

I love French linens. I think I would also be on the look out for vintage china. Maybe a tea set.

By: Sue

Sue — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 18:43:25 +0000

I have a friend who had an antique stall and collected/sold many vintage linens. She swore by denture cleaner to get spots out. Hope you have an extra to try out different products and techniques. Good luck!

By: Jenn

Jenn — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 18:00:11 +0000

Good luck!
I also haven’t stopped buying Linen, It is still my favorite fiber..
(I am just more wary when buying expensive sheets made of it)

By: Design Mom

Design Mom — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 15:33:09 +0000

We head back in July. I keep getting emotional when I think about it.

By: Design Mom

Design Mom — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 15:32:28 +0000

The shop owner assured me they were sturdy and washable, but we shall see. Wish me luck!

By: Design Mom

Design Mom — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 15:31:49 +0000

Oh for sure. I definitely favor souvenirs I can really use. I’m like you, I want to walk through hardware stores and buy cleaning brushes and tools. In Venice, we kept stopping in boat stores so I could look for rope — we found some great stuff that we’ll turn into bracelets.

By: Design Mom

Design Mom — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 15:29:54 +0000

Can’t wait to read it! Thank you, Megan.

By: Design Mom

Design Mom — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 15:29:27 +0000

Thanks for the confirmation that it’s a good price. I thought so too!

By: Kohana

Kohana — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 09:22:37 +0000

As an American living in Australia, I am collecting current and vintage napkins, tea towels, and other linens feature Australia’s distinct native flowers and birds and animals. When I was a girl and my family lived in Russia, my mother amassed various collectibles that she has gifted to us over the years. I hope to do the same thing for my children to help them treasure little memories from our years abroad.

By: Meg H

Meg H — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 07:42:35 +0000

I love the revamped and repurposed towels. We just moved back to the states from France and I covet my wooden hand carved bread trays and antique city view of where we lived in France. Are you heading back home soon? We thoroughly enjoyed our yrs in France but love being back stateside. We plan to live abroad again in the near future. Possibly a Spanish speaking country this next adventure abroad. Best of luck and happy shopping!

By: Béa

Béa — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 07:37:18 +0000

hahaa! Ours are virtually our family tree! From my side as well as my significant’s other side. From two, three or four generations ago. A funny map of France as well.

By: Mandy

Mandy — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 06:48:49 +0000

I love those! I have been looking for some just like that. Wouldn’t they make wonderful pillows and chair covers! Another great souvenir I keep from all the places we visit is tablecloths and little ceramic houses (if I can find them).

By: Jenn

Jenn — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 04:33:06 +0000

I love the linen napkins.
How will you clean them?
I have had linen towels and sheets both wear out sooner than I expected.
It was so sad, I hope you have a brilliant way to care for linen that I don’t know of.

By: Margo, Thrift at Home

Margo, Thrift at Home — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 02:59:34 +0000

oh YES, this is my kind of souvenir! These are gorgeous towels and I love how you’re going to use them (so GLAD you’re going to use them and not display them or cut them up).
I am inevitably attracted to the practical items in another culture and I want to go to the shops with the people and handle the things they use every day. My other weakness is paper goods like cards and postcards and notebooks. I’m afraid to look how many notebooks I actually have!