French Linen Sheets as displayed in our store

We have worked feverishly to update the glossary and the results are wonderful (thanks Chez!).  Visit here to find out all about vintage linens from Europe:

Vintage European Linens Glossary

Pillow Wall in Store

Advent (from the Latin word adventus meaning “Coming’) is observed in many Western Christian Churches, a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas.

It is the beginning of the Western liturgical year begins on Advent Sunday.

The progression of the season is often marked with an Advent Calendar, a practice introduced by German Lutherans. At least in the Roman Catholic, Lutheran and Anglican calendars, Advent starts on the fourth Sunday before December 25.

The origin of the Advent Calendar can be traced back to the 19th Century. Religious families made a chalk line on the door for every day in December until Christmas Eve.

The first known Advent Calendar which was made by handwork dates from 1851.

Other early styles were the Adventclock or the Advent candle – a candle for each of the 24 days until Christmas, like todays Advent wreath.

Sometimes little pictures were hang up on the wall – one for each day in December.

In 1902 a Christian Bookshop in Hamburg, Germany published a Christmas Clock which was very similar to that published 1922 by the St. Johannis printing company. (Dominik Wunderlin, lic. phil. Swizzerland).

1903 appears to be the year of the first printed Advent Calendar.

In 1904 an Advent Calendar was inserted in the newspaper “Neues Tagblatt Stuttgart” as a gift for their readers. In the early days, Bible verses would often replace the pictures behind the doors.

We know that Advent Calendars filled with Chocolate were already available in 1958.

Fabric permanent Advent calendars can be reused and filled with small treats, to even small symbolic items to help teach children the meaning of the time of year.

The word Wäsche in German means Linens (as in generic linens, the term encompassing all of the linens in the household).  Frische Wäsche means clean (Fresh) linens.

This was often embroidered on cloths used to cover baskets containing clean laundry when it was transported to and from laundry facilities.  It was also useful for distinguishing between linens that had been washed from those that had not.

The embroidered cloths are almost always red or blue, less common is a combination of both or other colors.   Some have clothespins, or a depiction of a mangle (ironing machine), ladies hard at work doing washing or ironing, or Dutch motifs made to imitate Delft tiles…

Today the Wäsche cloths make great decorations for a laundry room, or in any room where linens are assembled or worked on.

Find step by step photographed instructions here

And a VIDEO SEGMENT HERE

We are thrilled that our Butterfly Themed items were shown in the article. What a lovely way to decorate an egg!

Raw materials

Finished product

Martha Stewart Living Decorating Eggs with Decoupage Article

Time sure flies when you are busy! And Texas Showtime is right around the corner again.

We will be arriving in Texas with no less than:

• 500 yards of vintage homespun linen on the bolt
• 100+ homespun feedsacks, with and without text, with and without stripes
• 300+ antique French linens sheets, from finest to coarses, monogrammed or not, small to large
• 250+ nightdresses and shifts, all thicknesses and sizes
• Amazing lamps, made with vintage linens, antique texts and sheet music
• Hundreds of great pieces made from recycled vintage linens, sachets, pillows, body pillows, bags and more

And so much more.

Our booth space is larger than ever, almost 1000 square feet of European market feel. So don’t miss us!

To find us at La Bahia, See directions here

These great gadgets help eliminate clutter in the kitchen and are heat resistant to boot.

Find them on Touch of Europe’s site

Measuring Cups Set

Measuring Spoons Set

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Touch of Europe

829 Pickens Industrial Drive

Suite 13

Marietta, GA 30062

770-794-4933

info@touchofeurope.net

Web-based retailer Touch of Europe announces 1^st Annual Open House

Marietta, GA- November 12, 2008

Save the date! Touch of Europe, a web-based retail operation with a large fan base announces its 1^st annual open house on November 28 and 29 from 9:00-6:00 in our fully stocked warehouse located at 829 Pickens Industrial Drive, Suite 13 Marietta, GA 30062, off of Allgood Road. Avoid the malls with their long lines and traffic delays, and instead  peruse our clearance room, our “good deals” room and our 5000 square foot warehouse packed to the gills with fine imported European antique linens, gourmet food items, office, paper and craft products, beautiful melamine dinnerware, unique table and kitchen linens, kitchen accessories…the list goes on and on!  Our items are unique and rarely seen in stores.

We will have a “close-out” area featuring beautiful French pajama sets and robes, adorable athletic type shorts, flannel boxers and pajama bottoms. We have great ideas for all of the children on your shopping lists including some of the cutest stuffed animals around! Our office items from Vera Bradley are in some of the best patterns of the season. Additionally, we have some handbags that are to die for! You will find items for everyone on your shopping list, including those hard to buy for people! We feature products from Baekgaard, Cavallini, Punch Studios, Reisenthel, Laguiole Cutlery and many, many more great names.

We encourage you to leave the kids at home (remember, we are in a warehouse…maybe not the safest place for your little ones!) and bring your friends for a fun-filled shopping experience. We will offer many incentives and door prizes to add to your enjoyment. You will not be disappointed with our selection and products! For additional information, and to see a preview of what is in store for you please see our website: www.touchofeurope.net. You may also call 770-794-4933 locally or 866-764-2975 toll free between the hours of 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. We look forward to seeing you at what may become your best shopping experience of the year!

Sign up for our newsletter at www.touchofeurope.net to get the latest news as fast as it comes out and get all the details for this unique holiday event.

Nouvelles Image is a French Institution. The company celebrated 50 years of existence in 2007. Most people who have lived in Europe or live there now,
are familiar with their photographs, beautifully colorful, whimsical, romantic, poignant, funny and everything else.

The creator of the company, Jacques Blanc, was one of the pioneer of the industry, one of the first to ask artists permission to license their work, and
reproduce it for the public at large. Initially this took the form of postcards.

As the company grew, so did the applications made possible by the images: framed, displayed in furniture stores, creating a while new industry in an area where nothing was previously available.

In the 80s, Nouvelles Images starts commemorating events, from World Cup Soccer, to political events, art happenings, society evolving.

Going against trends of the time, they then start editing and publishing more and more black and white pictures, at the time everyone said black and white is dead, only color exists.

Their latest venture is the whole phenomenon that has taken Europe, especially, by a storm, the removable wall decorations, “les éphemères”, with a complete line of decorative images for your walls.

View Home Stickers on Touch of Europe

View Nouvelles Images 2009 Calendars