Everybody loves candles. Certain fragrances evoke times in your life such as the scent of vanilla and the cookies you baked with your mother during the holidays. Do you know the best way to care for candles? Our candle making friends recommend the following: Cut the wick to 1/4” before relighting to prevent soot and debris in your wax. It also keeps the candle burning evenly. Place your candle on a flat surface and out of reach of children and pets. Do not leave your candle unattended or burning for more than four hours. Keep the lid on when not in use to help lock in the fragrance and to keep the candle from drying out. More importantly, buy eco-friendly candles from candle makers who use 100% soy wax, quality fragrance oils and a cotton wick. A candle should not contain any chemicals that may harm you, your family or your pets. Read the label carefully. Also, look to purchase from your local candle makers in the area where you live. They have a passion for candle making and it shows in the quality of the candles they make.
Wrapping a Wine Bottle in a Dish Towel to Give as a Gift
‘Tis the season! Are you gifting someone a bottle of wine for the holidays? We have a suggestion that will be quite lovely. Place a bottle of wine in a beautiful dish towel such as this linen one from Tessitura Toscana Telerie. Tie a pretty ribbon around it (preferably with wire in it so you can make a bow anyway you want) and you are done. The wine gets consumed and the dish towel will be used, and when it does, the receiving party will remember the lovely evening enjoyed by all. We have over a dozen designs of dish towels in store and online. This idea is also great for baked goods.
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Introducing Chez Moi Italia!
Seven years ago while visiting relatives in my mother’s hometown of Trieste, Italy, I ventured into a charming store called Jardin Privè. The owner, Emmanuelle, had exquisite taste and I was immediately drawn to the linen and lace placemats and table runners made by the Italian company Chez Moi. I bought a few of these items to take home as gifts for friends. When I returned home, I contacted Chez Moi to inquire about ordering directly from them. At that time, My Chic Farmhouse was a pop up in the Mendocino Yarn Shop where I worked. I was so excited when Chez Moi agreed to work with me and we have been doing so ever since. In the beginning, I ordered primarily placemats, napkins and table runners. When six months later the Mendocino Yarn Shop moved to a smaller location, My Chic Farmhouse had to find a new home. Five months later, we moved into the Apple Shed on the property of the MacCallum House Inn where we have been ever since. Over the years My Chic Farmhouse has expanded its Chez Moi inventory by bringing in shawls and pillows while continuing to carrying beautiful table linens by this amazing company.
Ten years ago, Chez Moi started as a dream by husband and wife team, Alessandro and Sheila, to create home decor linens and garments that were beautiful and elegant, and of course, strictly Made in Italy. Over the years, they have expanded to clothing, bedding, bathroom towels and more. Design and production are entirely headquartered in Carpi, near Modena, in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Below is one example of the beautiful, elegant, high quality placemat and napkin sets made by Chez Moi. They are available in our shop and our online store.
Last Day of 2021 Gratitude!
I’m just a girl standing in the doorway of her shop feeling grateful. Grateful to the customers who have supported My Chic Farmhouse this year by shopping or by saying kind things to me about my shop and the merchandise I carry. Grateful to the owners of the MacCallum House Inn for allowing My Chic Farmhouse to be in the Apple Shed on their beautiful property. Grateful to the other business owners who are open to discussing various things with me as we navigate retail’s ups and downs. Grateful to my American and Italian vendors who provide me with new products to keep my merchandise interesting. Grateful for being able to give financially to the amazing local nonprofits who provide needed services especially those supporting our community’s children and animals. And finally, grateful for living and working on this beautiful Mendocino coast. Simply put as 2021 comes to an end, I am grateful.
Photo Courtesy of Nik Z Photo
Meet Margherita Rossetto!
Six and a half years ago, my sister and I ventured into Margherita Rossetto’s pottery shop in Venice, Italy. We were immediately struck by the beauty of her pottery. She had many different items in all sorts of designs. I was especially drawn to the pieces that had pansies and violets on them. I ended up buying a few pieces of pottery to sell in My Chic Farmhouse’s pop up which was located in the Mendocino Yarn Shop. Months later I would open my own shop in the charming Apple Shed on the MacCallum House Inn property. Over the years, I have continued to buy Margherita’s pottery. In 2021, I ended up bringing in more of her pieces into my shop such as pitchers, platters, wine bottle coasters in addition to the popular items already on display such as vases, soap dishes and spoon rests. Many of these pieces can be found on our online store if you are not located here.
So who is Margherita Rossetto? She is a popular Venetian ceramicist who has been written about in many Italian publications. Margherita opened her shop-workshop in 1993 after graduating from the Institute of Textile Art in Padua and the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice. You will often find Margherita painting while in her shop. She hand paints each item and no two pieces are the same. If you go to Venice, be sure to stop by Margherita’s shop to find that perfect piece for your home or a gift for someone special. It is must do while in Venice.
What Is So Special About Our Chic Farmhouse Table Linens?
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and so is noticing the fine craftsmanship of the products we sell at My Chic Farmhouse. When it comes to linens, we first look at the fiber used to make them. We especially love natural fibers such as linen, cotton and hemp because of their sustainability and easy to care for functionality. There is something special in the way these fibers feel when they are touched. Because we buy from respected Italian linen companies, we know their products are environmentally safe.
One important thing we love to point out to our customers when showing them an item is its artistry. For example, we have been buying table linens from Tessitura Toscana Telerie, a world renowned linen company in Florence, Italy, for years. When looking closely at any of their rectangular or square tablecloths and runners, you will see the fine details in the sewing of them. The corners are mitered. The stitching is straight and perfect. The quality is such that you know you will have the item for a very long time. In fact, you may choose to hand it down to another family member who has always admired it because, with the proper care, it remains in excellent condition.
Here are two photos showing the fine workmanship of a Tessitura Toscana Telerie table runner. One is the outside corner of the table runner showing the perfect stitching and the other is the inside showing the mitered corner. We believe quality is important. It is one more layer to the beauty of the item and one we certainly appreciate.
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"Shop" Other Rooms in Your House
Do you ever “shop” other rooms in your house? Recently I ordered a new sofa for my living room. As I sat down and looked around the room I noticed one of my chairs will not go with the new sofa. I then walked into the guest room and my eyes focused on a chair. This chair will be perfect with the new sofa. The chair currently in the living room will be perfect for the guest bedroom. I’ve moved things from one room to another to give a room a fresher look. It makes the room come alive. Sometimes it’s unnecessary to buy something new. “Shop” your house to change the look of something that no longer serves you. You will be amazed by your own creativity. What are you waiting for?
Oh Christmas Tree!
I wanted to try something different this year. Instead of buying a tree, lugging all the ornaments out and holiday decor items, I decided as the owner of a home decor shop to decorate a tree on a budget to show how it can be done. The Charlie Brown tree is from our property. The 30 gold and silver ornaments cost $7 at the dollar store. The lights were purchased elsewhere for $12. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Create your own beauty.
Buying an Heirloom Tablecloth for the Holidays and Beyond: 4 Tips to Remember
Have you ever thought about buying a quality heirloom tablecloth that you can use on special occasions and then pass down to the next generation when you are finished with it? What are the things you should take into consideration? Here are four tips when buying a tablecloth for the Holidays or for any special occasion:
Table size. What is the size of your table? Measure the width and length. What drop do you want? Do you want the tablecloth to hang 10” from the edge of the table to the bottom of the hem? For example, if you have a rectangular table that measures 68” long and your desired drop is 10”, multiply by 2 to factor both sides of the table (10 x 2 is 20). Add 20 to the length of 68” which is 88.” Your desired tablecloth length would be 88.” Standard drops in tablecloths range from 6” - 12.” Less than 6” and the tablecloth looks too little for the table. Too long and the tablecloth may fall in the laps of guests which can be catastrophic if they get up to leave the table and the tablecloth goes with them! A round table’s size is calculated a little differently. Multiply your desired length by 2, then measure the table through the diameter from one side to the other. If your round table has a 50” diameter and you want a 10” drop, the calculation is (10 x 2 = 20) plus 50” equals 70.” Your tablecloth should be a 70” round one. The rule of thumb for all tablecloths is if you cannot find the exact size you want, then size up to the next available one.
Quality. What to look for in a quality tablecloth. When buying an heirloom tablecloth look for one made of linen, cotton, or a linen-cotton blend. Inspect the weave of the fabric for consistency. For a rectangular tablecloth inspect the corners. Are they mitered for a finished look? Are the stitches even and straight? What about the colors in the design? Are they vibrant and the same throughout the tablecloth? Is the design one you won’t tire of? Will it stand the test of time?
Price. Prices will vary. A tablecloth of great quality produced in a mill that inspects all of their products before leaving the mill will be more expensive than one that is mass produced. France and Italy are famous for the quality of their linens. Look for linens from these countries and you will easily see the fine details that make them so exquisite. Remember, it may seem like an expensive investment when you first purchase a fine tablecloth, but over time the cost will be minimized by the number of times it is used and the length of time you will have it. If your budget does not allow for this one time purchase, buy what you can afford. If you don’t love the tablecloth, don’t buy it. You will not use it if you truly do not love it.
Care. Always launder your tablecloth before storing it. Make sure to inspect for stains beforehand and treat them accordingly. Store the tablecloth away from light and dust. Many heirloom tablecloths are machine washable. Check the label on the tablecloth and follow the washing and drying instructions. If you are uncomfortable doing this, then seek the assistance of a professional.
My Chic Farmhouse sells rectangular, round and square tablecloths made in Italy. Our prices are very reasonable. Come in and we will show you the intricacies of our tablecloths and why our customers who buy them are never disappointed!
Let's Talk Pillows!
Have you ever bought a zippered pillow cover that you really liked and then bought a pillow insert the same size as the pillow cover? Did the pillow go flat after a few months of everyday use? The reason for this is the pillow insert is the same size as the pillow cover. We suggest when buying a pillow insert, buy one two inches longer in the length and width than the pillow cover. Your pillow will be plush and firm. All of our pillows at My Chic Farmhouse have a pillow insert of 22” while the pillow cover is 20.” The Totally Chic Pillow by Chez Moi is an example and can be found here when you click on the link. Happy decorating with pillows!