For the Entertainer: Noël Napkins

Hunting for the special gift? Here's one from my Holiday Reve List:

For the Entertainer: a set of Noël flax napkins from Libeco-Lagae in Belgium. Comes in red or white embroidery on natural flax linen. I love their classic look and quality. $22/napkin. Purchase in-store, 415.383.9700 or info@maisonreve.com. Remember we gift wrap and ship. Check back daily for more of my favorite gift giving ideas! Yasmine

Vintage Holiday Workshop

Mark your calendars!

This Sunday, December 13, 11-12 noon for our Annual Vintage Holiday Workshop at Maison Rêve! Our Chief Inspirer and owner, Yasmine, will get you in the spirit with endless creative ideas - including her personal favorites - for bringing that special vintage touch to our holiday season.

From Vintage Decorating with red stripe grain seed sacks....

To Vintage Entertaining tips to create a very merry table for your guests....

To Vintage Gift Giving with personalized gifts that have meaning and inspiration without overstretching your wallet. Workshop is free but seating is limited. RSVP early info@maisonreve.com 415.383.9700. photo credits Country Living magazine.

Come laugh and share some bubbly with the girls at our annual Urban Farmhouse jewelry trunk show, Thursday, October 29, 6 to 9pm! We'll feature local artists Mishka and The Powell Girls.

Here's the story behind Mishka and a sneak peak at a few of the pieces we'll have that evening.

Mishka is a one woman story. Her name is Kaoruko Acker and she lives local in Marin County. In between driving her kids to school and soccer practice, she set aside time time in her studio to be creative.

All her necklaces, bracelets and earrings are made from natural stones. Inspired by the seasons, her unique designs are brought to life with her two loving hands. Kaoruko's daughter Ella sometimes helps Mom string some gems for fun or organize her antique print letter trays full of treasured vintage clasps.

Since each piece is one-of-a-kind and never made exactly twice, they are the rave among stylish Moms. We have a big following of women that can't wait to see her new collections.

This lovely blue necklace is definitely my favorite! The little "create" tag so inspires me. Each piece often carries a little word tag -- strength, laugh, believe, balance, inspire, breathe, diva.... It's a beautiful way to bring more abundance of that mantra in your life.

Mishka is known for her vintage clasps. She loves mixing new gems with vintage clasps from the flea markets each having a story of their own to tell. Her styles pair perfectly with our store of recycling old with new.

The inspiration for the name Mishka were Kaoruko's two former babies before her kids -- her dogs Misha and Kaya (now passed after very long and happy lives). Sometimes she finds vintage clasps with dog images -- always a big hit among the many dog lovers in town!

So come share some bubbly, ooh and ahh at Mishka's new collection, and hear from Kaoruko herself what colors and styles are in vogue this holiday season. Receive 20% off all her pieces that evening only. Her pieces make very special presents so bring your gift giving list. RSVP info@maisonreve.com.

Rachel Ashwell November Event Announcement

Rachel Ashwell is coming to Maison Rêve! Thursday, November 12th 5-7 pm. We can't wait -- already 85 people have rsvp'd to this event...

Rachel Ashwell has been a long-time inspiration for Maison Rêve. So its an honor to have her launch her new book, Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Interiors; My Rooms, Treasures and Trinkets, at our store. She'll share her personal thoughts behind her new book and lead a 'Vintage Holiday' workshop! Space is limited so spread the word and rsvp now info@maisonreve.com 415.383.9700. Stay tuned for weekly updates on the behind-the-scenes preparation for Rachel's visit.

Come Flea with Me!

Our customers had beaucoup fun at last month's Brocante! The sun was shiny just like the hot flea market days in Provence.
We shared our tradition of treasure hunting in France with a "pain au chocolat" in one hand -- always brings us good luck. We served them fresh from the oven to our customers. They were all gone in the first hour!
Pretty little mixed matched vintage teacups were very popular. We got these from a local estate sale.Our imported milk bottle crates from Provence were scooped up for their repurposed function as unique storage containers. We have a few left for this month's market.More people came early this time -- there was even a little line at 8am if you can believe it! Lots of customers took home these french jars and perfume bottles. They make a lovely vase in your bedroom paired with a simple bloom for your daily inspiration.

We've already found some fabulous treasures for this month's market. So save the date and spread the word to your friends -- August 29th, 8am - noon. Why not make it easy on yourself and just go ahead and mark the LAST SATURDAY of every month on your calendar for the Maison Rêve Flea Market. As I always say, "Come flea with me!" Yasmine

Paris je t'aime

We just finished watching this fabulous french movie and had to share. Its called Paris je t'aime (check sundance channel for times). It has 18 seperate short stories each one by a different international director -- but all filmed in Paris. Very witting and entertaining. Great cast...juliette binoche, gerard depardieu, steve buscemi, natalie portman... It made me want to book a flight and fly to Paris tonight. Paris je t'aime aussi!

July Flea Market This Saturday

It's that time of the month! Our July Flea Market is this Saturday, July 25th 8am-noon in the back garden of our store. Come early -- we had a line at 8 am last month.

Our "Maison Reve Inspirers" (left to right Courtney, Yasmine, Lisa and Michelle) loaded a 14 ft truck of fun finds for the brocante and store. Rummage through French foosball sets, a vintage cocktail shaker, crock pots, enamel containers, sap buckets and fishing baskets (great storage) and even a 10 ft sailboat with colorful oars --now wouldn't that be nautical in a kids playroom!

We'll have lots of pretty boxes and creative storage containers too!

After picking the perfect Find, slow your life down and relax for a leisurely brunch at a local cafe in charming Mill Valley. We recommend Small Shed Flatbread or The Depot across from our store if the weather is nice. Live like the French. See you at the Flea!

OOBA - The Power of the Flower!

Our new friends, Janet DiGiovanna and Danny Rubenstein, pictured here with Stan Williams, made a very generous donation of OOBA to "The Find" book signing party. OOBA is the world's first sparkling hibiscus beverage and is rich in the ancient healing power of hibiscus - a powerhouse of antioxidants. As guests nibbled on organic goodies from the local farmers market, they were treated to this delicious hibiscus drink.

Janet and Danny are the founders of dash - Advisors to Innovative Food and Beverage - they are strategists, business builders and entrepreneurs. Danny was one of the original partners of "Naked" Juice, the COO at Odwalla and together with Janet has advised many companies such as Whole Foods, Pom Wonderful and Tazo.

After meeting Stan and learning more about Housing Works Thrift Shops, dash Advisors made a large donation of OOBA for the next Housing Works benefit in NYC. Housing Works is the largest community-based AIDS service organization in the United States. Here at Maison Reve, we feel so blessed by the generosity of our new friends. Cheers to Janet, Danny and of course, Stan!

Maison Reve and "The Find" Book Signing Party!

A farmhouse table filled with local organic cheeses, figs, grapes and breads, hand-picked from the local farmer's market that morning. Even the plates are compostable, helping to make great soil for our garden!

Re-purpose vintage items, like this scale, as a serving platter.
Serve your guest with pieces that are unexpected.

Stan Williams talks about his passion for vintage pieces and what led him to write "The Find". He says " love what you have in your home; don't feel obligated to keep anything that doesn't feel good to you".

Yasmine speaks to our guests about how she was inspired to create her style of
Urban Farmhouse Living.

The audience participates in the lively discussions.

We love this farm trolley that was repurposed as a coffee table for the evening.

We made the cover! July 9th Book Signing Event!

Come and be inspired by Stan Williams, author of “The Find”.
Thursday July 9th, 2009
Time: 6:00 – 8:00pm
Maison Rêve
108 Throckmorton Ave
Mill Valley, CA 94941
415.383.9700

The Find by Stan Williams is sub-titled ‘The Housing Works Book of Decorating with Thrift Shop Treasures, Flea Market Objects, and Vintage Details’ - that just about sums it up. It’s been said that this beautiful book “will make you wish you had an empty house that you could decorate from scratch - or at least an empty room.” Stan will let you in on secrets about what to look for, and how to identify a great piece. Followed by Yasmine McGrane, owner of Maison Rêve and inspiration for the cover of The Find, speaking about Urban Farmhouse Lifestyle.