A Great French InstaSale

The Christmas season will soon be here, and to give you a jump on some French shopping I am having a 72 hour sale Monday through Wednesday this week.  I’m also going to Beaune and Paris soon and so hoping to lighten up on a little merch so I can support the French economy as much as I can and bring lots of French goodness back with me.  Details are noted below, shipping is free on all items and everything will be sent out on Friday after Thanksgiving.

1.  The basket style I call Saint Tropez is as classic as the town of Saint Tropez itself.  This basket is as sturdy as it is beautiful, with a herringbone weave, riveted handles, covered corners and a cotton drawstring closure on top.  I have it for you today in winter shades of Rust and Yellow, in three sizes.  I have limited other colors, including pink with natural leather handles so email me if you are interested in other colors.  Great for winter and all year long.  These were featured in Coastal Living Magazine and are made of seagrass with simulated leather (vinyl) handles, riveted handles and covered corners; a great French classic~

Here you can see the colors; this is a stack of two large and one small; the yellow basket has a matching yellow liner.  There is also a small interior pocket:

These are hand-made (so sizes will vary slightly) by a women’s cooperative in Madagascar and are Fair Trade:

Large: 19.5" L x 12" W x 14" H 4" drop handle

Medium: 18.5" L x 10" W x 13" H 4" drop handle

Small: 14" L x 9" W x 11" H 4" drop handle

Click here to purchase; all prices include FREE SHIPPING in the continental U.S.:

 

SIZE

Small $48.00 USD Medium $58.00 USD Large $68.00 USD

COLOR

Rust Yellow

Fair Trade made in Madagascar

 

2.  The tote style I call Cap Ferrat is named after the chicest little peninsula in the South of France.  These are here in yellow and fuchsia, great for winter though I have other colors in stock.  Seagrass with colored raffia outside and natural raffia lining (no drawstring closure).  Riveted handles and covered corners, handles in black simulated leather.  This is a great all-purpose and very sturdy tote.

FREE shipping in continental US.

Sizes vary slightly as these baskets are hand-made:

Large: 15" L x 11.5" W x 13" H 6" drop handle

Medium: 14" L x9" W x 11.5" H 6" drop handle

Small: 13 " L x 5"" W x 10" H 6" drop handle

 

Choose one

Small $42.00 USD Medium $52.00 USD Large $62.00 USD

COLORS

Fuchsia Yellow Option 3

3.  The style called Eze is made in Morocco of seagrass and trimmed in lambskin.  The most sought-after basket I stock.  In three sizes, this is the no-fail, can’t go wrong style.  The smallest is perfect for a few bottles of wine and cheese or a quick dash into the grocery store.  The XL will carry all your farmers market goods in perfect French style.  In the extra-large size this also makes the perfect tote for a man at the farmers market.  Current stock has a slightly shorter handle than this pic; but you will recognize this style immediately:

FREE shipping in the continental U.S.

Sizes are approximate as these are all hand-made. 

Extra Large: 20" L x 11" W x 12 1/2" H 4 1/2" drop handle

Large: 16" L x 9" W x 10" H 4 1/2" drop handle

Medium: SOLD OUT

Petite: 13" L x 6"" W x 8" H 4 1/2" drop handle

Choose one

Small $48.00 USD Large $68.00 USD Extra Large $84.00 USD

 

4. One of the best baskets I stock has only been available at the farmers markets and never online.  Here you can finally buy one.  It has long lambskin handles and a fat lambskin strap with a buckle.  Here it is having lunch at Gjelina in Venice, after a stop at the Venice farmers market~

this is a completely awesome basket made of palm fibers, in Morocco.  It’s just like the one Jennifer Garner bought from me, except for the strap to close off the top.  I never gave her a name; maybe we’ll just call her Gjelina for now….

I have good stock in this one, but it’s limited.   $68 and free shipping in the continental U.S.

You can also see two of my baskets in the Greige Shop, including the best-selling Marseille tote HERE. and the Saint Remy tote HERE.  And of course you will find all kinds of other great goodies in Christina’s store...

5.  Early 20th Century French copper mixing bowl from my personal collection; marked for Mora et Cie, Paris, patisserie stockist.  40cm in diameter at top, with generous hand rolled rim and light hammering  around this piece.  Totally handsome.  Rare; this is the only vintage Mora copper bowl I have ever seen, so of course I bought it, but now I’m going to find a perfect home for it.  This is the most-used item in my kitchens, for mixing salads to making cakes or whipping up eggs and egg whites, and when  guests see this in your kitchen, they know there is some serious cooking going on.   Once you have one, you will swear by it.  Email for future stock; I will be stocking certain pieces of 18th and 19th century French copper in 2014.

 

SOLD  

 

5.  French Rolling Carts

I import these carts from a third-generation basketry and caning family in Burgundy.  If you can find these in Paris, they are about 300 Euros and you will have to arrange transport.  I stock the natural-color reed as well as the brown, with lid.  Very solidly built and beautiful; many uses in addition to weekly shopping; the handle fits perfectly over the passenger seat headrest of your car.  Free shipping these three days.  The Rolls Royce of French rolling carts, you will love this basket for a long time.  Here is the natural color as I had it styled at the Pacific Palisades, filled with Jennifer’s roses:

and here is the brown version with lid; this is the cart I sent to Joni of Cote de Texas, with the vintage liner trimmed in antique vestment trim.  Don’t ask me to make any liners right now!  But I can help you select some vintage French linen if you want this look.  The lid is held on by two leather straps and can be removed:

{image via Cote de Texas} this was a thank you for the fun giveaway Joni hosted; see her amazing post HERE.

Choose one

Natural $300.00 USD Brown, lidded $300.00 USD

6.  French Paperweight and Inkwell

I bought this pair of desk accessories in Nuits Saint George in Burgundy a few years ago.  The paperweight is old, clear yet very very slightly smokey as old glass can be, and makes a nice paperweight on a desk.

But I would put someone special’s photo underneath it.  Then it becomes a magnifier, like this photo below.  This would be a great little French Christmas gift for someone, which is why it’s here.  The white spot in this pic is from the light above; 2 3/4” in diameter. $25 and free shipping.

The companion inkwell has a silver-tone top with some scratching, but it’s old, and French.   Marked “TY 839” on the bottom.  3 1/2 inches in diameter.  $25 and free shipping.

The Inkwell is SOLD.

 

Choose one

French Paperweight $25.00 USD French Inkwell $25.00 USD

And last but not least, if you are looking for a big ticket item for your home this holiday, I am including photos of an armoire and buffet that a friend would like to sell, at a price that is a fraction of what you’d pay in an antiques store:

The Armoire is 18th C Burgundy, walnut, 9.5 ft tall, 58" wide, 23" deep, original hardware and inner shelves, purchased at the flea market at Clignancourt, Paris.  The buffet is 19th C, cherry, 38" tall, 26" deep, 50" wide, original hardware, purchased at Suisse Village, Paris.  I have seen these pieces in person, and the photos with the flash don’t do them justice; they are both beautiful, especially the buffet~

 

If you are interested in either one of these pieces, please call Raquel at 858 500-2280; they are located in San Diego.

 

Hope you have fun browsing my shop items today.  I am preparing to relaunch the French Basketeer website in 2014.  If you follow my blog you know I took the site down when Mom shattered her arm so badly last year.  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving week; I have some great posts for you coming this week as well~