Sunday, March 28, 2010

Would you like cream and sugar with that?


Yesterday we had a major mishap. Crash! Boom! SMASH! It was as if I was in a Batman episode and the words were coming across the screen....

Casualty: 4 broken depression glass compotes, 3 French drinking glasses and 1 very rare antique cake plate from the 1800's.

Culprit: A mama who was busy talking on her cell phone outside our boutique while she allowed her two 4 year old twin boys (who were darling, darling cute) to romp in our boutique unsupervised.

My heart breaks a little when set designers use our antiques for films wherein the items get run over, broken or thrashed (ala Johnny trampling our dishes in Alice In Wonderland). My heart breaks bigger when children use our antiques for batting practice.

Thanks to Friend Nancy, we now have a new sign for the boutique.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Chickie, Chickie Chickenwire

During my last three trips to France (over last 15 months), I spied chicken wire cloches in retail stores, at the Paris Maison & Objet gift show and in window displays at patisseries. In one such display, the cloches were down the middle of a long farmhouse table with burning votives underneath and the light down low....WOW. Instantly fell in love!

Fast forward to this past summer where my dad and I sat in the workshop attempting to create our own. After a couple of hours of cut-up hands and snagged clothing, we realized it was a lot harder than it looked to get the wire to match up around the diameter. Our results were so lopsided!

{Chickenwire Cloche Set -3; $69; includes metal zinc base}

Imagine my happy-happy smiles when I could finally find a way to bring them to the States that weren't going to cost an arm and a leg (the first artist whom I found would translate to a triple cost after shipping, customs, etc).

A party planner called recently after a bride saw them in the boutique...said bride is now going to plan her farmhouse wedding theme around them! What fun!
Each set includes a metal base. Now available at "Vintageweave Interiors" under What's New and Green Thumb/Le Jardin pages.

{Note: these have been selling like MAD, but new supplies shipping in weekly. If you have a bulk order,(+15) please call or email so that we may properly meet your event time frame: 323.932.0451 or vintageweave@aol.com}






When you crave Italian



I rarely, if ever, post topics about food or the restaurants at which I eat mainly because I know readers are from all over the world and really now, who wants to hear about my foodie cravings in / around Los Angeles? Boring. Yawn. Besides, I eat out A LOT and many chefs around town are friends+clients (Josiah from Melisse, Raphael from Jiraffe, etc...) so I have many restaurant favorites where I drool and get crumbs on my clothes. {A blog dedicated to food for another time another day....}

That said, every now and then a restaurant experience warrants a shout out. And not because said restaurant creators looked to Vintageweave to consult and supply merchandising items+displays for their adjacent MOZZA TO GO shoppe, and not because they both have numerous cookbooks that I occasionally sell. Simply because it's pure perfection at every turn.

Enter: Pizzeria Mozza and Mozza Osteria....creations by Nancy Silverton and Mario Batali.

(All photo collages courtesy of the lovely Dishy Goodness blog; I was too busy shoveling the goods into my mouth to stop and hold a camera.)

Course One> Tricolore Insalate. Tossed with fresh Parmesan Reggiano and anchovy dressing. KILLER. Not too salty or tart and dressing was so perfectly dispersed amongst the greens. We devoured it all in a nana second.

Course Two> Cauliflower Gratinate. Boyfriend initially scoffed the idea of a cauli dish, but when it arrived from the broiler and the smell waifed the air, he sang a different tune. Made with 10 gloves of garlic and Spanish onions, this was heaven in a dish. I kid you not. So much so, that I share the recipe below. Truly the best cauli dish I've ever tasted.

Two pies> Me: Gorgonzola dolce, fingerling potatoes, radicchio + rosemary.
Boyfriend: Fennel sausage, panne, red onion + scallions.
HOLY MOLY....to say Nancy Silverton is a bread goddess is an understatement (creator/founder of La Brea Bakery). Boyfriend and I both grew up in the Chicago area, so we know pizza. Nancy Silverton and Mario Batali have created heaven on crust. No other way to describe. No heavy red sauces or white sauces to overpower the ingredients. Just pure flavor combos that explode in your mouth.




Wine: You may ask the Sommelier at Osteria to help with a wine pairing, but the waiters are pretty well versed as well. Recommended Etna Rosso Outis, which proved to be a new all time favorite. (Warning: $80 at the restaurant, around $27 at a wine shoppe; this mark up is typical of restaurants.)

Back when I had much more time, quarterly progressive dinners with friends was a mainstay (progressive dinner=a different course at a different person's home all in the same evening). While time no longer allows, I still enjoy the experience of moving and sampling. So when I come to the Mozza enclave, I tend to eat my meal at Pizzeria Mozza and scoot next door to Mozza Osteria to enjoy wine + dessert at the bar.
Having eaten all over Italy and France, it's hard to find places that really knock my taste buds on the floor. Mozza does it time and time again. And did I mention the service is SO friendly--no LA 'tude.

Reservations hard to come by, but you can usually grab a seat at the pizza counter/bar during non-peak hours. Be sure to stop in Mozza 2 Go to see all of Vintageweave's baskets, pedestal plates and glass urns in the display and merchandising!

Bon Appetito!
"Mozza"
La Brea Avenue (at Melrose)
Hollywood, CA

*Cauliflower Gratinate (6 servings)

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
1 Spanish onion, peeled, halved and cut into 1/4-inch slices
10 cloves garlic, peeled and thinly sliced
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 head of cauliflower, stem removed, cut or pulled into 2-inch chunks
2 cups heavy cream

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place a heavy saucepan, preferably 10 inches wide with a 3-to 4-quart capacity, over medium heat and combine olive oil, butter, onions, garlic and 1 teaspoon of salt. Cook over low heat, covered, for 3 minutes.

Stir in the cauliflower, heavy cream and remaining 1 teaspoon of salt. Bring ingredients to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, until cauliflower is tender. Using a slotted spoon, carefully remove the cooked cauliflower and put it into a medium-sized mixing bowl.

Continue to cook until the cream is reduced by half (about 3 to 5 minutes). When the cream has reached a rich, thick consistency, add to the bowl with cauliflower, stir to combine, then place into a casserole dish and bake for 30 minutes, until brown. Allow to cool for a few minutes. Serve to ohh and ahh.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Feeling English



Anything with black, white and crusty all over makes us swoon. Black just makes decor ever so chic. Vintage English ironstone tureens from the 1920's-1940's have just the perfect patina....rust and crusty with small cracks here and there but no holes or major cracks (will hold water).

These petites would serve as lovely vases, or used alone for display. I took a slew home with me, but saved some for you! Find a bounty now at "Vintageweave Interiors". Free gift wrapping at your request if these are to go into a special Easter basket or for Mom!


Monday, March 22, 2010

Spring has Sprung!

{English Antique Rose Markers- Classic; $33/ea}


In Southern California 'tis true: it's pretty darn beautiful year round. That said, there's simply something special about the arrival of Spring regardless of where you rest your feet....Hawaii, Provence, Lake Como, Los Angeles, Chicago....
  1. My dogs frolic more freely;
  2. Birds chirp louder;
  3. Spring Air smells cleaner;
  4. Potting soil cooperates;
  5. New buds stand taller;
  6. The day is longer!
Just in time for Spring plantings, my favorite English Garden Antiques Dealer spied these lovelies.....
Nestled in Central England, the bounty is vast and mind-boggling. We think English garden ware pairs perfectly with French lavender, sage and rosemary, n'est-ce pas?


{English Antique Rose Marker - Large; $39/ea}

Available in Antiques Section at "Vintageweave Interiors"

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Côté Bastide Sets a Table





{'Cote Bastide Soup Tureen $250}


Côté Bastide Tabletop.............ohlalalalalalalala........................



When these cream beauties were spyed at the Paris Maison & Objet show in January, drooling ran down our cheeks and into the isles.....




{Cote Bastide Dinnerware: XL Oval Serving Bowl; $65}





Now the bounty is here to share!

{Dinner plate; $48 and soup bowl $37}



Mixed with a variety of their linens and found vintage linens, your table is sure to sing songs of happy! All designed by the masterminds in the South of France, then hand fired in Italy, where the artisans know how to make the most perfect pottery. As with any fine pottery, hand washing is always recommended. Sturdy and lovely. What more could a table want? You might even create an incredible coq au vin to serve!



Now the bounty is here to share! Check out our new TABLETOP SECTION AT THE SHOP NOW online store!

Available now at "Vintageweave Interiors"


Los Angeles

323.932.0451

We ship worldwide!

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Gimme' More Mercury, Please!



I laughed at a recent email received from a regular client of ours who resides on the East Coast:

"Dear Kathy and Staff: I received yet another treasure chest box from you today and fell in love with everything. I have been logging onto your website every couple of days to see what other things I absolutely need to buy and hide from my husband. Please leave the comforts of your home and go off searching for mo' stuff to feed my addition. Cuz I need Mo Mercury, please!"

{She actually wrote "addition" but we're not sure if she meant "addiction"!!}
Crazy Lady! We love you, Ginger!

To comply, here's a sampling of the latest offerings of this delightful silvery goodness:
{St Germain Candlestick}

{Back by popular demand, Mercury Petal Votive--a favorite with event planners and brides!}


{9" Mercury Pedestal Plate}



{St Germain Candlesticks...wowsy!}

{Mercury Floral Hurricane -available in large shown and a medium size}

{Tulip Vase--just yesterday ordered in large bulk for a wedding, we have very few remaining before this one is retired}

{Normandy Candlesticks available in Tall, Medium and Short; Tall is shown in very first photo in this blog post. This style is NOT distressed as our other offerings always are....}



All pricing and sizes available within descriptions of each item on the website, found under SHOP NOW and in pages MERCURY GLASS as well as WHAT'S NEW......"Vintageweave.com"

Friday, March 12, 2010

French Rentals


Having recently returned from France, I reflected on how blessed I am to always enjoy the luxury of staying at a client's apt in the heart of Paris. Spacious, beautifully furnished (ahem--Vintageweave to thank for this!) and immersion in the French lifestyle.

There's nothing more exhilarating than shopping at the local outdoor market and cooking your own meal in "your" French kitchen.

While my client's apartment isn't for rent, here's a great source to check out. I just fell in love with their offerings:

"Haven In Paris Rentals"

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Hot Cocoa Goodness


If you aren't familiar with Maurecourt, France, you NEED TO BE.

In this city is produced arguably the finest hot cocoa powder ever created....and as our hips can attest, we've sampled many! Belgium, Italy, France, Denmark, Switzerland, Mexico, the United States and Greece all make a mighty fine hot cocoa. BUT...Maurecourt, France holds a special place in our heart.

Enter, Les Confitures a l' Ancienne.....

Raw brown cane sugar, incredible French roasted ground cocoa beans and natural vanilla. That's it. No special spices. Just pure yumminess. And with any proper hot cocoa making, please leave the water in the faucet as milk is the only thing that should touch this creation (besides whole, lowfat and soy work nicely, too). Dollop of real whipped cream and you'll send me a thank you note.

Now available in a 2.2 lb canister, this baby comes with its own scoop for fool-proof goodness.
$31


"Vintageweave"
Go to SHOP NOW, then page French Cupboard.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Umbrellas That Make you Wish For Rain!

{Alexandra Sofjer Umbrellas}

Le plus grand faible des hommes, c'est l'amour qu'ils ont de la vie. {Man's greatest weakness is his love of life.} ~ Molière

These designs make us love, love, love life riddled with rain! I feel fortunate to have taken home a few lovelies from this infamous Parisian Umbrella Designer. In a word: WOW....

Drool, Drool, Awe, Ohhh.....



"WISH YOU WERE HERE" did a lovely write up on Alexandra which we ran to share with you. His shop is a MUST STOP visit on your next Paris travels....


BRING ON THE RAIN!

{Thanks to Paris Popcorn, Wish You Were Here, and Alexandra Sofjer for the photos!}


Alexandra Sojfer
218 boulevard Saint-Germain, 6e
Paris, France
Tel: 01-42-22-17-02

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Divine Kitchen Inspiration

Crazy for the 2-tiered metal linen rack juxtaposed with the wood island!

Gathering ideas to help a client do a mini makeover of her kitchen. Nestled way up in the Hollywood Hills, the kitchen has great bones and fabulous layout. Just needs help with the accessories and she wants to incorporate lots of French antique bits and bobs.

Found inspiration in looking at old clippings from Cottage Style and Traditional Home (all 2008 issues). I pulled these clips as at Vintageweave Interiors, we have many similar items as shown in the photos, but always hunting down inspiration on new ways to use them. Enjoy!

Killer sink!!! Love the use of nature on the wall and copper tureen below the island table!

Antique wood stool has me especially swooning!

While I'm typically more of a fan for French reds with a splash of rich French blue, this color POPS and just love it!


Love the clock and duck cotton lamp shade over the sink!