After a harrowing week-end, it seems like Houston and most of Texas is rallying incredibly fast and picking up the pieces left by the mighty Ike.

The Houston Antique show that was scheduled for this week, has been cancelled, unfortunately. The Round Top shows are all going on as planned, so we will see you there. We are at La Bahia, and you can get directions and more information here. We will be setting up on Friday, September 26th, and opening officially on Saturday the 27th at 8 AM sharp.

We have almost finished packing, and will be bringing over 500 (yes, FIVE HUNDREd) French linen sheets, some of them absolutely incredible. Some of the best merchandise we’ve had in years. Hundreds of vintage nightdresses and lingerie, towels, redwork, bluework, duvets, thousands of shams and more. We have a 26-foot truck and it will be full of nothing but linens!

Do come visit and stay a while!

The Touch of Europe team – feverishly packing, measuring, tagging, labelling, packing and checking more linen than they ever thought they’d see in a lifetime

One of the best part of our job (well, it IS the best part) is buying fine vintage and antique pieces in Europe. Second best, is unpacking them, often months after buying them, and rediscovering them all over again.

This past week, dozens of French linen sheets arrived, in preparation for the Texas show next month. Touching them, feeling their nubby or silky texture and admiring the workmanship, kind of delayed some other work, it was too much fun to resist.

The sheer art of the monogram is just breathtaking. And this particular crop of sheets is really special, some of the best pieces we’ve seen in a long time. Who cares if the monogram doesn’t happen to be yours. After all, someone, somewhere in your family tree maybe did go by that monogram. And if not, well, it doesn’t matter. What matters is the beauty and the enjoyment you get out of theses heirlooms. So just have a look at a few of these gorgeous little vignettes ~ real art~

We can’t wait for the rest to arrive, it’s going to be fun to unpack and decide how best to display these pieces to their best advantage.

See you in September in Texas?

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

A fragrance lamp, also known as a perfume lamp, effusion lamp, catalytic lamp or simply by the name-brand Lampe Berger,  is a catalytic diffusion lamp that purifies the air while imparting a fragrance.

Lampe Berger began in France in 1898 with a Parisian pharmacist, Maurice Berger. Trying to find a process to purify the air, he discovered the beneficial effect of the catalytic combustion of a specific product, ozoalcohol, and he filed the patent for a “new lamp system for purifying the air”.

Lampe Berger was born, along with its’ unique and constantly improved process that has proven its efficacy over time. Initially it was used only by the medical world for its antibacterial powers. At the same time, it came to interest the greatest designers of the time: Lalique, Galle, the Daum crystal glass works and Baccarat. .

The Lampe Berger became a feature at the salons of the Belle Epoque, and developed a new function, fragrancing, that made it even more popular. Each year more fragrances and Oils are created to meet the desires of everyone. With over 40 fragrances and Oils.

Today, whether in simple styles and materials, or dressed up by the great contemporary designers, the Lampe Berger is still equally as famous and its secret is passed down from generation to generation. Often copied but never equalled.  The only way to purify the air without overpowering perfume and chemicals.

To use your Lampe Berger lamp, follow these easy steps:

1. Place your Lampe Berger on a stable surface.

2. Fill lamp approximately 2/3 full with a Lampe Berger fragrance oil of your choice. With the new Air Pur System 3C Wick/Burner, you can fill your lamp full. Use Neutral (one of the bottles available) to soften any fragrance you find too strong, or to simply deodorize without any scent.

3. Insert the Lampe Berger wick into the lamp completely. When using for the first time, let the wick soak for 20 minutes before using.

4. Light the wick. After 3 minutes blow out the flame. Your Lampe Berger is now working to remove odors, purify and fragrance the air.

5. Put the vented cover back on the Lampe Berger. While the lamp is working, there is no smoke or flame, just a little heat coming off the top of the lamp.

6. Once your Lampe Berger has removed odors (after about 5-10 minutes) and added enough fragrance for you (usually about 20 minutes) remove the vented cover and place the solid cap back on the Lampe Berger. That’s it! Lampe Berger is truly an amazing product!

Molecules that cause bad smells are inherently unstable and the fragrance lamp’s flameless, low-temperature catalytic combustion speeds up the decomposition process, converting odor molecules into harmless substances (such as carbon dioxide and water). Research has shown that the catalytic process can also effectively eliminate up to 85% of bacteria in a room for up to 30 hours after initial operation has stopped.

While the medical use of the technology has waned, modern innovation has found a new application for the lamps in homes and offices. Using an unscented lamp fuel a catalytic diffusion lamp is surprisingly effective in eliminating bacteria and various odors (pets, food, tobacco). With fragrance added to the isopropyl alcohol based lamp fuel the catalytic burner lamp becomes a fragrance lamp, diffusing aroma into the air while it purifies. Some perfumes are based on natural aromatics (essential oils), giving the lampes an aromatherapy application as well.

The fragrance lamp’s process is initiated by lighting the stone burner seated at the mouth of the lamp. After a few minutes the flame is extinguished by blowing it out but the heated burner remains active as the flameless, low-temperature catalytic combustion process simultaneously purifies the air and diffused aromatics. The lamp’s normal operational temperature is too low to combust virtually anything (including alcohol), making the fragrance lamp much safer to operate than scented candles. The low operating temperature also means that, unlike scented candles, the aromatics are diffused very efficiently into the ambient air without being burned.

Proper Care and Precautions For Use:

The lamp fuel contains more than 90% isopropyl alcohol and should be regarded as a highly flammable liquid. Furthermore, to start the catalytic wick according to the instruction it is required to put on some real flame until the catalytic wick reach operation temperature. Proper care is required to prevent any kind of possible hazards:

• Make sure the device (fuel bottle) is in perfect condition, perfectly tight and not leaking.
• When not in use, make sure the air tight cap is on at all time to prevent evaporation.
• Do not leave unattended during operation.
• Do not use in non-ventilated room, carbon dioxide as a product of alcohol combustion is harmful.
• Do not inhale, ingest, or use the lamp fuel in any other purpose.
• Take extreme caution while refilling the fragrance lamp, open air, no open flame, no spark, and no smoking
• In case of any spillage, collect leaking liquid in sealable containers. Absorb remaining liquid in sand or inert absorbent (paper towels) and remove to safe place.

These beautiful lamps are meant to be enjoyed for generations. Scentier offers an unparalleled warranty (life-time) and will replace the wicks free of charge (see instructions enclosed with any package).

Griottines - Morello Cherries from France

Griottines are Morello cherries pitted and macerated in a liqueur. The recipe is a closely guarded secret but their flavor and their versatility is no secret anymore!

Buy Griottines

1. Storage tips and suggestions: you can serve them warm, or at room temperature or even chilled (if you plan to add to a cocktail for example).

2. Simple serving suggestions:

• Scoop one up in a spoon and enjoy it simply there and then
• On the rocks or even frappe (in blender) in any cocktail
• An added refinement to a glass of Champagne
• One measure of vodka, one ice cube and a strip of lemon – garnish with a Griottine kiss
• A sandwich with a flew slivers of foie gras and rocket, with one or two Griottines
• A salad with walnuts, apples and Roquefort
• Add to a mix of smoked fish, lemon, radish
• Great on yogurt or a scoop of vanila ice cream (try them warm on the ice cream)
• Dip a griottine into chocolate fondue
• Or put into the center of a grenadine jelly mold
• Garnish one or two griottines on a slice of melon
• Enhance a cup of coffee with a griottine or two

2. Something more elaborate?

1. Griottines and Raspberry: one part raspberry syrup, one part Griottine ‘juice’ (the liqueur in the jar) – mix both liquids and chill (or beter yet, freeze). Serve garnished with a cherry or two
2. Simple cream cherry dessert: 65 g (about 3.2oz) of fine crystal sugar, 10 gr (about 3.3 fl oz) of vanilla extract, 1 liter (35 oz) of whipping cream. Whip cream with other 2 ingredients. Garnish with the Raspberry and Griottine mixture in 1.
3. Griottines Sunrise: 1 part Griottines liqueur, 3 parts orange juice. Mix in shaker and pour over ice cubes. Garnish with cherries