~ A Little Hello from My Petite Maison ~

My name is Tracie,
I am the owner of My Petite Maison
I live in Wine Country (USA ;)

I love all vintage items that have been used,
worn and loved before and finding a new use for them.

My heart is especially drawn to items from France
and all items with a romantic feel
and a bit of quirkiness or whimsical flair.

An Old French Bucket

Photo © My Petite Maison

A French Vintage Canning Jar,
An Old Fleur de Lys Brooch
(thrown away without a care)
that's found a new home... for now!

Photo © My Petite Maison

A Vintage French Iron Piece

Photo © My Petite Maison

I've found while stocking my store
that I absolutely love the romance in setting up
the photograph... placing it... shooting it again...
and yes, finally being happy with it!

You can find me here (My Petite Maison)
here (My Shop Blog)
and here (My Personal Blog)
I like to keep my work blog separate from
"My Petite Life" as I call it...;)

I've met so many truly nice people in the land
of blog and I'm so happy to be part
of The Vintage Journal
with really great people that share

~ The love of all items vintage ~

Now, please come say hello!
xo~Tracie

WhisperWood Cottage Joins Le Vintage Journal Team

Hi, everyone! My name is Amy and I am a new team member for Le Vintage Journal! Perhaps you have visited me at WhisperWood Cottage or perhaps I have left a comment for you on your blog. If you are here, I'm guessing it is because you are a lover of vintage things! Well, so am I! We're going to get along wonderfully!

What do I bring to Le Vintage Journal? I'm glad you asked! I am a junker! What is that? It is someone who takes items that other people consider junk and makes them useful or beautiful in new ways! And I love it! You will find me at garage sales, flea markets, antique stores, thrift stores, and related places digging up the next item to inspire my creativity. Here are examples of things you will see from me...

VINTAGE CHRISTMAS TREE STAND

TURNED CHAMPAGNE HOLDER

VINTAGE COASTER

TURNED ORNAMENT

VINTAGE SKIS & BLANKETS

ARRANGED TO ADD FLAIR TO YOUR DECOR

VINTAGE FLASH CARDS

AS INSPIRATIONAL ART

VINTAGE DELI PAPER DISPENSER

TURNED TWINE & RIBBON HOLDER

I'll be posting about once a month here on Le Vintage Journal. I look forward to getting to know you! Please leave comments so I can visit you, too!

Music City USA & Antiques...

The Tennessee State Fairgrounds will be the new home for Antiques at Music Valley, February 19-22, 2009. For over twenty years, this nationally renowned show has been held in the Opryland area, but this site change gives the show a permanent home in climate controlled buildings. The new home features ample on-site parking, food services, and handicapped accessible restroom facilities all with easy access for the visiting public. The past October was the inaugural trial run of the show at it's new digs...and let me say that the climate control was the biggie for me!

I have been a part of this show for the past 5 years, and boy they have done some moving around! But hopefully with this past move it will be their last.

This show has had alot of changes over the years, but the newest change will be that the show that used to be connected to them, at the Fiddlers Inn called the Tailgate, will now be located near by in a connecting set of buildings and will virtually be one in the same. Much easier for the customers to shop the shows, and a single admission ticket will get you in to see both shows, which are jam packed with great dealers from all over the country.

In connection with Country Home Magazine, please come out and see all of the great dealers this Feb in Nashville and feed that Winter Antique Fix...

For more information about the show visit the web site for Music Valley Antiques Market, or also visit their blog...

Vintage Art

Hello everyone, My name is Lynn and Denise has graciously ask me to be a team member on Le Vintage Journal. I am a passionate vintage and antique hunter mostly for the cottage style of living. I have a boutique on line called The Vintage Nest.

I consider it a very happy day when I am out treasure hunting and run across an antique Victorian floral oil painting. Oh happy day, as I silently giggle and clap for joy. More passionate in conviction than technique, the late 19th century and early 20th century amateur paintings are still a subject of obsession today. We collectors hunt for these paintings on gut reaction, buying from our hearts without the aid of any experts. I can spot a floral a mile away. Often I am accompanied by a friend who will be on the look out for me, will spot what she thinks is one, come running, only for me to tell her it's from the 1930's or 40's or 50's or a new painting painted in an antiquey method. I once spotted a yard long in a sweet little antique shoppe in the suburbs of Chicago, while visiting my son, paid for it and held on to it for dear life all the way home to Virginia via air.

These pieces were painted in oil, often with varnished very dark backgrounds (my favorites) by amateurs studying still life, at their leisure and often on Sunday afternoon.....thus giving their work the name of Sunday afternoon paintings. Oil requires time, care and concentration and should the painter deliver less than a perfect stroke, it's very plain to see. Most of the ones I find I sell but I have one that I have kept which, frankly speaking, is pretty bad but I fell in love with it because of the pink roses and soft green leaves and the very elaborate gold guilt frame. The florals have become very popular with the cottage and shabby decorating style. They are less than perfect and easy to live with, just like some of my old antique furniture (and me). If you love it it works. Digging around in dusty antique places is my idea of a perfect outing. Pictured below is one of those now loved, but forgotten treasures I just recently acquired. This painting is of lilies and a tulip and executed on board. It measures approx. 15" x 12". For more photos of this charming antique painting you can go here. My personal quest is to find one of these lovely old paintings in white roses.

Antique Advertising

Well, I think I need to get myself one because I ate so much over the holidays. I'm feeling a little thick in the middle. Only $1.50 what a deal. LOL Denise Elizabeth

Dreaming of Spring

Are you like me and as soon as the weather starts turning pretty, you dream of Spring time. The birds were chirping so pretty yesterday at my house and the butterfly's have already started to be seen around my rose bushes, my jonquils have bloomed (very early I might add) and there's a sense of Spring time in my area. Of course here in Texas, if you blink the weather will change just that fast. The weather guys are predicting a cool front is supposed to hit Texas toward the end of the week, so I'll guess I'll enjoy the Spring time weather while I can.

The other day when I was watching Martha Stewart, she featured Petersham Nurseries. located in Richmond Surrey UK in Central London. I loved the way they have placed their nursery plants in settings you can really envision in your home with beautiful antiques, which are also for sale.

(all photo's property of Petersham Nurseries)

To inspire you ahead of time for Spring Time and to read more about this nursery, click here.

Featured shop ~Marionberry Cottage~

Hello all, Let me introduce myself. My name is Debbi and I hail from Sublimity, Oregon. I am a new team member here and I would like to share a bit of what my passion is working with vintage linens! What once was mom or grandmas treasured beauties are most likely, frayed, yellowed and the left overs at an estate sale, you can see me scooping them up ready to give them a new life. I launder and refresh the fabric, then cut away the bad parts, it is so incredible what is left over that is usuable with a bit of imagination.

It is my intent to share once a month a piece of fabric, lace, embroidery or crochet that I have rescued and restored some of its beauty into a new treasure that could become tomorrow's heirloom. Most of these items will be available for sale on my website that I will feature here.

TUSSIE MUSSIE with Truffles

Tonite I would like to share a pretty Tussie Mussie cone--almost everything is from bits and pieces of rescued vintage. (The cone, ribbon and the button are new)
I started with a piece of vintage Wilendur tablecloth fabric and wrapped the hard paper cone.


A small vintage hand crocheted doily forms a bottle ruffle anchored by a soft ivory satin ribbon. I added tiny red pearls on the loops of the doily too. The top features sections of small coaster doilies, and tiny scalloped lace too. A piece of red lace is adds a final touch along with some bling of a sparkly rhinestone button.
A sweet treat of 8 yummy Lindor truffles is included too!



This is available for sale on my website--Marionberry Cottage