New Quimper Faïence Catalog

One of our favorite lines of products is the Quimper Faïence from HB-Henriot. Following a tradition of more than 300 years, the small company based in Britanny, France, still makes and paints every single piece by hand, one brush stroke at the time. While their work is rooted in tradition, the company has embraced new technologies for staying in touch with their customers. They just released their new 2010 catalog and put it online for everybody to see. As it is impossible for any retailer to have all their products in stock at all times (though we keep adding more on our website on a regular basis!), we can now bring you the entire catalog through the internet. View or download their catalog and let us know which pieces you are interested in and we can add them to our next monthly order. Follow the link and see for yourself: QUIMPER 2010 CATALOG

New Ad in The Orange City News and The Current

We are expanding our advertising reach this week by publishing an ad in two Orange County Register community newspapers, The Orange City News and The Current. The Orange City News covers the city of Orange (obviously) and Villa Park.  The Current covers Corona Del Mar, Newport Coast, Newport Beach and Costa Mesa.

Our  ad is the same as the one we have been running in the Tustin News and the Irvine World News. It will run today in the Orange News and tomorrow in The Current. Take a look and tell us what you think….there is a coupon on the ad too! (Good in-store only, and not online or by phone).

Our ad in the Orange City News & The Current

Make Your Own Fabric Sunflowers

A blogger I love to read, Skip to My Lou, recently published a tutorial for crafting fabric sunflowers. She suggests sewing a pin on the back to wear on a lapel, but I was thinking they would also make fantastic accents for table place settings! A sweet reminder of the fields of sunflowers across Provence and many parts of France.

Fabric Sunflowers from Skip to My Lou

Here are some tablecloths from I Dream of France that feature sunflowers!

Vent du Sud Coated Damask Tablecloths / Napkins - Valernes Soleil

Le Cluny Coated Tablecloth - Sunflower Red

Vent du Sud Coated Tablecloths / Napkins - Valensole Marine

La Lavande French Scented Soaps

La Lavande Round Soap

Those of you who visited our store lately must have noticed how good it smells. This is due to the wonderful soaps from La Lavande. The La Lavande soaps are all natural, made with enriching vegetable oils (shea butter, sweet almond, olive & palm oil). They are moisturizing, beautifully scented with a luxurious lather, beneficial for all skin types (especially dry or sensitive skins), and come in various sizes, shapes and scents. Check out heart and egg shaped soaps, as well as round and bar shapes, in scents such as eglantine (wild rose), lavender (with flowers embedded in the soap, or plain), honey, ocean, lemongrass, linden, and verbena. They are hard milled, very long lasting and are made in Provence, France. The best part is the price: all are under $5! If you are in the neighborhood, stop by the store to see (and smell) for yourself. If you plan on placing an order with us online, why not add a bar or two? Enjoy a special treat for not much money.

Photo courtesy of SeenbyLam.com

Le Cluny is in!

  

Le Cluny French Country Collection

 

Le Cluny has been importing and selling fine Provencal table linens for nearly twenty years. Located in North Carolina and French owned, Le Cluny imports French fabrics by the bolt and does the cutting and sewing on the premises, allowing them to be more flexible and competitive, and to control the quality of the finished product. Like other French manufacturers, most of their tablecloths are available with an acrylic coating for easy care.

We are very proud to offer their French Country Collection tablecloths, placemats and eyeglass cases, as well as their “toile de Jouy” design tablecloths. We are in the process of entering their products so make sure you keep visiting I Dream of France; you won’t be disappointed!

Sud & Co Provence Pottery is back!

 

 

Sud & Co Provence Pottery

We have some great news to start this new year… The wonderful Sud & Co Provence pottery from the small French town of Cassis is available again!
We will be adding new products to our website over the coming days and weeks. Most of the items that used to be available will become available again.
Please contact us if you would like to inquire about a specific piece, and check our website regularly for updates.

Marc Jacobs to be Knighted in France

American fashion designer Marc Jacobs is going to be made a knight by the French government to thank him for his services rendered to the fashion industry!

Women’s Wear Daily

Lots of new products for 2010!

We are only two weeks into the new year, and we can already announce new lines of products and new products for existing brands for 2010. We just came back from the Atlanta Gift Show, where we happened to see Karen Lee Ballard in person, and found two new lines of table linens.

First is Le Cluny, who cuts and sews Provençal fabric (imported from France) in North Carolina into a wide range of table linens. The majority of our new tablecloths from Le Cluny are acrylic coated.

Second is Couleur Nature, designed by Parisian designer Bruno Lamy and manufactured in India. These are fantastic block printed designs.

Couleur Nature Block Printed French Tablecloth

We will soon be carrying a new line of French soaps named La Lavande. Despite their name they offer many great scents, not just lavender, in various sizes and exciting shapes; genuine Provence soaps at great prices.

Our Laguiole knives were a big hit last year and we are adding more products, such as a cheese set, to our selection.

Our line of La Rochere glasses will receive a new pattern called “Anduze,” as well as pitchers and carafes in our bee and Fleur de Lys pattern.

La Rochere Anduze French Glass

We are excited to announce that all the Quimper Faience patterns will now be available this year in the US. That means a huge selection will now be offered. We will be stocking some of their products, but since it is impossible to carry everything, we will take orders for what we don’t currently have. Delivery time for these orders is between four and eight weeks.

All Children’s Clothes 40% Off!

Breaking news! ALL of our children’s clothes for girls and boys are 40% off their original prices! Shop French brands Berlingot, Alphabet, and Sophie Catalou, in size ranges 3 months – 24 months, and 2 years – 8 years.

Alphabet Princesse d'un Jour Dress

Sophie Catalou Kartoons Airplane Romper

Atlanta Home Decor Show

Our Tustin boutique will be closed until this weekend, as we are going to the home decor trade show in Atlanta! Many French companies will be showing their products in Atlanta, so we will find new and wonderful things for you.

You can still place orders online if you need something right away. Otherwise, see you back in the boutique on Samedi (Saturday)!