Website Wednesday: Stencils to Fit any Budget!

Howdy all.

Do you ever wonder where your stencils come from?  And the circumstances surrounding their creation?  I'm sure that's all you ever think about, right? 

 You've probably imagined this amazing Maisondestencils factory run by well mannered elves on leave from creating Christmas toys.  Sadly, this is not the case.  We, (by we I mean our powerhouse staff of four) create all the stencils in-house with love and lots of coffee. 

So check this:  my oldest fell asleep in his room in the house and I have my new baby in a bouncer out in the garage (I know, mother of the year right?).  I am checking on my older boy via webcam (God bless technology) when the new baby falls asleep in the garage!   So little Theo and I are packing orders out here (I seem to be doing most of the work...) and I decided I'd take a break to tell you about another cool feature you can use at the new website.


Sometimes, you do not have a million dollars to spend on stencils.  We totally get it.  Maybe things are tight and you know that you have $25 you want to spend on a stencil, but you're really not sure what all you can get for that.  The good news is you can do exactly that on the new site.  Check it out.

Let's say you want to buy a new stencil in our Holiday category.

If you check out the bottom left, you will see a slider bar under the word Catalog.

That slider bar controls the price of the products displayed.  So you can slide it to the left to limit your results.  I slid mine to the left and set it to $24.83.  113 results, that's a whole lot of stencils you can still buy for under $25!!

That's all for now, stay tuned for more fun Feature Fridays and Website Wednesday additions.
 

Etspiration Wednesday: Damask-us Two!

Have I ever told you about our ladybug problem?

A couple preliminary things I should mention. 

1. We live in a mint green house (so relatively light colored).  
2. Our winters can get coldish. (20s at worst.  I know Midwest, don't judge me).  
3.  Our master bedroom has what's called shiplap.  It's tongue and groove solid wood paneling.  No plaster or anything.  So as you might imagine, the wall of our master bedroom that faces out has simply the wooden siding, wood frame, and shiplap interior paneling.  

I'm not sure if this is a Pacific Northwest phenomenon, but when the weather starts to turn, we start sharing the house with WAY more occupants.  Namely, ladybugs.  They are attracted to light colored houses and scoot their way into the house from our garden and we've never figured out where exactly they get in, but they like to party in our master bedroom.

So we'll be turning in for the night, the overhead lamp will have just switched off in the way that the light slowly fades and all of a sudden we'll hear the "plink...plink....plink" of the world's cutest bug infestation banging themselves against the lamp.

Seriously?  What do you do?  We cannot in good conscious fumigate against ladybugs.  I think there's a special circle of hell reserved for people who do that. 

But this year things are going to change.  My husband put up drywall on the exterior wall over the summer in an attempt to keep them out.  It's a little too early to see if the preventative measures will help, but I'm going to dress up the wall this weekend.  It's been a completely flat cobalt blue all summer and fall and I decided I'm going to use one of our damask stencils and do an all over pattern.

I've been looking at Etsy for color inspiration and I know we've covered damask before, but I just wanted to share some of these great items I found.

1A:  Damask Vinyl Decal for Mixer Image Courtesy LilPunkinCreations
1B:  Mahogany Finished Bergere Chair Image Courtesy LaVintageFurnishings
1C:  Damask M 12x12 Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils

2A:  Vintage Damask Pill Box Image Courtesy RosePetalResources
2B:  Damask Ironing Board Cover Image Courtesy PomegranatePlace
2C:  Damask G 12x18 Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
2D:  Damask Birds Painting Image Courtesy LoriaMcKee

3A:  Gray And Yellow Table Image Courtesy UniqueNotions
3B:  Damask O 12x12 Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
3C:  Damask Vegan Suede Journal Image Courtesy OxtonBooks

4A:  Damask Lace Cupcake Wrappers Image Courtesy SundayRabbit
4B:  Brown And Teal Damask Recipe Box Image Courtesy TheAdornedAbode
4C:  Personalized Wedding Cake Topper Image Courtesy ScissorMill

Thanks to the Etsy sellers, back on Friday for a sweet feature!

Etspiration Wednesday: Coffee!

I love coffee.  Cafe au lait the color of caramel.  Turkish coffee so thick a spoon could stand in it.  Fru fru lattes for when I need a sugar and caffeine pick me up.  I don't discriminate.  I think there's a time and place for coffee any way you brew it.  My mom and my sister both make a killer cup of coffee.  I think there's something about having someone else make you a cup of coffee that makes it more special.  Just like when I'm visiting home and my mom makes me a sandwich.  It's always better, you know?  Even if it's the same exact tuna fish I'd make at home. 

We found out we're going to have another little one, so my nose has been turning up at the smell of coffee these past few months.  It's very sad because I still love the idea of coffee, but my stomach wants nothing to do with it. 

So today I cruised around Etsy just thinking about coffee while I ate raisins.  It's all that sounds good lately, lol.  And pickles.  I'm such a cliche.

1A:  Bee Queen Coffee Mug Image Courtesy mudstuffing
1B:  Woodland Bird Coffee Sack Basket Image Courtesy BrinandNohl
1C:  Dutch Enamel Coffee Pot Image Courtesy NorthSeaVintage
1D:  Coffee Subway Art Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils

 I am blown away by how cool mudstuffing's ceramics are.  You absolutely have to check out the Etsy shop.  Great stuff!

2A:  Coffee Handmade Wooden Sign Image Courtesy ShopHomegrown
2B:  Espresso Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
2C:  French Peugeot Coffee Mill Image Courtesy ShopYU
2D:  Burlap Coffee Sack Africa Pillow Image Courtesy TheWatsonShop

 This Peugeot coffee mill is just off the rails.  I love the color, love the emblem. 

3A:  Cappuccino Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
3B:  Recycled Burlap Coffee Tote Image Courtesy TheGreenBeanBag
3C:  Syracuse Railroad China Demi Tasse Cups Image Courtesy Diantiques

 I don't think anything really needs to be said about how gorgeous the print on this recycled coffee sack tote is in 3B.  Wow! 

4A:  3 Red Enamel Canisters Image Courtesy BrimfieldFinds
4B:  Coffee Items Red Tea Towel Image Courtesy tlane
4C:  Mrs Claus Coffee Shop Holiday Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
4D:  Cafe Au Lait and Beignets Print Image Courtesy NolaTawk

I dig this red tea towel in 4B, which has sort of a 2D poppy Jim Flora feel.  Would look great in a bungalow kitchen.

That's all I have for today.  Got a snazzy feature for you on deck for Friday.

Etspiration Wednesday: Something to Crow About!

Hiya everyone!

Back in Oregon after back to back trips to Arizona and California.  I missed my pine trees.  I missed feeling cold!  I got back yesterday and there were crows perched on every roof and high wire.  I don't know a surer sign of Fall in the Northwest than that.

Crows are such a mainstay in Primitive art.  We don't do as much with them as our designs have more of a French feel, but we do have quite a few holiday listings with crows in them.  Etsy, as you might imagine, is chalk full o' crows.  I did some browsing today to see what crow treasures I could find. 

Here's some great stuff!

1A:  Halloween Crow Pillow Image Courtesy 112FarmhouseLayne
1B:  Paper Mache Old Crow Box Image Courtesy HanwayMillHouse
1C:  Crows Gather Here Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils

2A:  Three Crow Brand Allspice Tin Image Courtesy DownEastCollectibles
2B:  Primitive Halloween Burlap Bunting Image Courtesy SweetMeas
2C:  1851 Hand Colored Bird Plates Image Courtesy LandofNodStudios
2D:  Roland Bauer Feedsack Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils

3A:  Primitive Crow Candle Holder Image Courtesy HitOrMissTreasures
3B:  Blank Crow Note Cards Image Courtesy NatureGoods
3C:  Potting Shed Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils

4A:  Farm Fresh Pumpkins Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
4B:  Halloween Silhouette Pillow Covers Image Courtesy TheBobbinsNest
4C:  Crow Handpainted Ceramic Mug Image Courtesy OtisRein
4D:  Hitchcock The Birds Sign Image Courtesy ZietlowsCustomSigns

See you on Friday for a wonderful feature!

Etspiration Wednesday: Alphabets

I love letters.  I am a font junkie, can't get enough letterpress blocks.  I obsess over old broadsides and vintage Victorian ads, and all for the letters.  Half of the fun of designing a stencil is finding that perfect letter style to compliment the idea of what we're going for.  We've got a number of complete alphabet sets in our Alphabet category now.   We also have quite a few selections for big 12x12 individual letters in the Alphabet category as well.  We also do some custom monogram stencils!  But as you well know, found letters are also amazing.  Here's a look from Etsy at some amazing alphabets and individual letters that tie in famously with our alphabets!

1A:  Custom Framed Cursive Alphabet Card Image Courtesy Oliverpoodle
1B:  Custom Spencerian Letter Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
1C:  French Decor Alphabet Book Coasters Image Courtesy CheltenhamRoad

 Love this Alphabet card in 1A, takes me right back to grammar school.  Fun fact:  My mom's handwriting actually looks like this.  Mine is basically illegible chicken scratch. 

2A:  French Animal Alphabet Print Image Courtesy ChildsTouch
2B:  Alphabet Softcover Notebook Journal Image Courtesy momentinthesun
2C:  Deco Style Winged Wooden Letter Image Courtesy EdiesLab
2D:  Serif Style 3x3 Alphabet Stencils Image Courtesy Maisondestencils

I dig these winged letters that EdiesLab does.  They can do a whole alphabet that way and I want to buy every single thing in their shop!!

3A:  Deco Red Alphabet Tape Image Courtesy KaynisKreations
3B:  Alphabet With Bird Letterpress Broadside Image Courtesy BigWheelPress
3C:  Ornate Western 4x4 Alphabet Stencils Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
3D:  Handmade Embossed Card Set Image Courtesy MichelleMach

 That alphabet tape is Washi tape, which is some of the coolest stuff around.  I'm not much of a scrapbooker, which is one of the primary applications I've seen for Washi tape, but the possibilities are endless! 

'

4A:  Custom Gothic Letter Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
4B:  Sign Language Custom Tote Bag Image Courtesy lilimandrill
4C:  Vintage German Wax Mold Hornbook Image Courtesy catsandthecradlesoap
4D:  Plastic Acrylic Sign Board Letters Image Courtesy willworkfordecor

This hornbook in 4C is pretty amazing.  This item was my requisite "I learned something" in the making of this blogpost.  So hornbooks were these handheld primers that small children used to learn their letters or religious passages, so called because they were protected with a thin layer of horn or mica.  (mica is a transparent-y sort of mineral).  Now most hornbooks were kept for quite some time, passed down, and are collectible today.  But this particular listing is for a horn book mold, which cake batter was poured into.  So you could have your cake and learn something too!

Thanks as always to the Etsy sellers for use of their images.

We've got a lovely feature coming up on Friday, stay tuned!

Etspiration Wednesday: Bees Bees Bees

Around the corner from my house, we have this old church with a steeple that was converted to a residence at one point.  It's on our walk route we take the little one on, so we walk by it most every day.  We started noticing around a month ago that there's a hole in the siding with bees flying out of it.

The first time we saw it, we were thinking, "Huh, I bet they're bummed.  They've got bees in their house."  Then, being the worry wart that I am, we started monitoring the progress of the bees.  Then we realized, the bee house church was vacant.

What to do?  Let the bees exist there?  Inform no one?  Was it really even our business?  Bees need a home too, and bees are not really thriving the way they used to.

In the end, I called the police department because I couldn't really think of a better place to warn about bees.  We don't have a bee hotline here.  When I called, they literally said, "You've got bees?  Oh yah, here's two numbers."  So I guess this was not nearly as random a question as I thought.

I ended up talking to a really nice beekeeper who removes and rehomes bees for free. 

I've always liked bees.  They pollinate flowering plants.  They give us honey.  They're pretty much terrific.  And while these bees were all cozy up in their church house, they needed a new hive.

After the bee saga, I took to etsy to see what buzzworthy listings I could find.  Here's what I came up with!

1A:  Leather Journal featuring Vintage Bee Image Courtesy inblue
1B:  Vintage Guerlain Eau Imperiale Bottle Image Courtesy Villavillacolle
1C:  Beautiful Honey Bee Hive 12x18 Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
1D:  Antique Printers Block with Bees Image Courtesy Reclaimability


This bottle in 1B...wow!  It is gorgeous.  You've got to check it out.  And you know I had to throw in a printers block.  From what Reclaimability states, that printers block was from a high school.  What a cool school crest!

2A:  Bee Love Paris Pillow Cover Image Courtesy TheWatsonShop
2B:  Vintage French Honey Carton Image Courtesy candly
2C:  Bee Crown Laurel Wreath 12x12 Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
2D:  Recycled Vintage Mug with Honey Bee Image Courtesy ReCycleCeramics

ReCycleCeramics takes old mugs and china cups and sand carves small graphics on them.  The results are very clean and sweet.  Love this bee mug.  They also have really cute mugs with trees and bikes on them.

3A:  Bee Lady Letterpress Card Image Courtesy FerdinandHome
3B:  Honey of Brittany Bee Crest 12x12 Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
3C:  Blue Bees on White Fat Quarter Image Courtesy MakingStuffUp
3D:  Wooden Box for "Mad Bees" Image Courtesy BlueberryBeastie

I think that every home needs a wooden box for containing mad bees.  You never know when you'll need to threaten mad bees, and who would believe you unless you had a tasteful wooden box dedicated to such a purpose!

4A:  Pair of Bee and Skep Candles Image Courtesy SweetBeeHoney
4B:  Vintage Bon Bon Label with Bee Image Courtesy StellaTheresa
4C:  Queen Bee 12x12 Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
4D:  Natural Raw Honey from Columbia Gorge Image Courtesy Vyne

This bon bon label is stunning!  I love the art nouveau motif!  Love the color, love the gold leaf.  Perfection! 

We'll be back with a bee-autiful feature on Friday!  Stay tuned!

Etspiration Wednesday: The Equestrian Style

Bonjour!

We're having a mini celebration this week for two reasons.

1:  We've discounted all our Keep Calm and British stencils in the store.   Everything in those 2 categories is 20% off in celebration of the close of the Olympic Games!  I watched a lot of the coverage and I have to say, I'm so not athletic.  LOL!  I tip my hat to those Olympic hopefuls who trained for years to get where they are.  I have just enough athletic wherewithal to walk my child on the river for half an hour a day.  In any case, celebrate the spirit of London with our Olympics sale.  They sure did a great job beautifying the East End.

2:  We've launched a new category.  It's small at the moment, but we're proud to present, Equestrian Stencils.  We're shooting for the category to be a meld of American country and French equestrian tradition.  I did some designing these past few weeks for the category and when I was done, I scoped out Etsy to see what wares I could find there that were horse related and I was pleasantly surprised.  There are so many great items, particularly lithograph tins for soaps and such.  I wanted to buy each and every one them.

 Check it out!

 

1A:  Vintage Fairmount Park Horse Racing Booklets Image Courtesy TotallyVintage

1B:  French Alphabet Le Cheval Print Image Courtesy barkdecor

1C:  French Horse Racing Program Image Courtesy wilshepherd

1D:  French Vintage Welcome Sign Image Courtesy lapomme

You simply must check out barkdecor.  Really amazing prints.   Love her color choices!

 

2A:  Horse Trader 12x18 Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils

2B:  Pony Express Pillow Image Courtesy StacieAnn

2C:  Monogrammed French Horse Notecards Image Courtesy No9DowningStreet

2D:  Ethiopian Repurposed Burlap Bench Image Courtesy bDagitzFurniture

I want to mention here that StacieAnn (feat. in 2B) has awesome pillows.  My personal favorite was, "I like big books and I cannot lie."  As a former librarian, I can attest to the truth of that statement.  Someday I'll do a books Etspiration and throw that pillow in!

 

3A:  Antique Horse Remedy Tin Image Courtesy bellusvanitas
3B:  BF Equestrian Bucket Image Courtesy Bravura
3C:  Propert's Saddle Soap Tin Image Courtesy TroutsJunkShop
3D:  Hippodrome De Longchamp Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils

 You've got to look at the Horse Remedy Tin (3A) close up.  The type is fantastic and that horse is skeletal and so macabre!  I love that there's a line on there that says, "Death to heaves."  Prescription bottles nowadays are so sterile and boring.  Death to hypertension!  Death to arthritis! 

4A:  Dala Horse Red Swedish Pillow Image Courtesy LilleputStudio
4B:  Scandinavian Dala Horse Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
4C:  Vintage Hippodrome Circus Poster Image Courtesy KingPaper

I adore this Dala Horse pillow in 4A.  It's so cheerful and it's even got little rams on it.  Too cute! 

Etspiration Wednesday: Grains and Mills

First things first:  We had a little flub with our coupon promo code, but it's fixed now.  Use code july2012 on our website for 20% off your purchase, now through July 30th!


Our friend the mill.  Without mills, we wouldn't have grain.  Well we would, we'd just get it much, much slower.  Without grain, we wouldn't have grainsacks.  And where oh where would we be design-wise without grainsacks??   I can't bear to even think about it.

Compiling an estpiration based around anything to do with mills or grains is treacherous because the market is so, so saturated now.  Also, typing in moulin (that's French for mill, dontcha know) automatically gives you a bunch of results for Moulin Rouge and while I love the cabaret as much as the next person, that's not what we're aiming for here.  So I did a bit of creative etsy crawling to get some interesting stuff here.  Getting back to the heart of mills and grainsacks and I found some great stuff.  Check it out!

1A:  Authentic Windmill Vane Image Courtesy DancingBumblebeeCottage
1B:  Moulins De Provence Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
1C:  Rooster Windmill Weight Image Courtesy AtHomeInNapa

So that is a real Windmill Vane.  89 inches long!!  Complete with bullet holes! (hopefully a result of target practice.)  I absolutely love the faded type.  Just perfect.

2A:  Antique Green And Red Hemp Grainsack Image Courtesy AVintageObsession
2B:  French Grain Feedsack 12x24 Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
2C:  Elton's Stone Ground Tin Image Courtesy BluefieldVintage
2D:  Windmill Red And White Woven Ribbon Image Courtesy MarieLampette

I think this windmill ribbon is just darling.  MarieLampette has tons of great ribbon in her shop, including this adorable woodland ribbon I have to scoop up for my son's nursery.  You did see the growth chart Laura and I made for the nursery, right?

3A:  Ochre And White Grainsack Fabric Image Courtesy AlorasAdorables
3B:  Moulins De Bouvet Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
3C:  Primitive Wood and Galvanized Grain Scoop Image Courtesy PoppyHillFarm
3D:  Antique French Farm Printers Blocks Image Courtesy PushingButtons1

I have a printers block obsession.  One day I will have a letterpress.  I hope.  If my husband gives in.  But until then, I can dream and comb etsy for these amazing treasures.

4A:  Vintage French Farine Box Image Courtesy CatsInTheCradleSoap
4B:  Ets. C Bailly 2 Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
4C:  Bull Windmill Weight Image Courtesy KansasWheatField
4D:  Vintage French Mangle Cloth Image Courtesy AniseSprout

You absolutely need to check out a larger view of the flour box in 4A.  The type is just stellar!

Thanks to all our etsy sellers for use of their images.
We've got a great feature for you this Friday.

Don't forget about Etsy Craft Party 2012!  Astoria's is going to be amazing.  We've got a glassblower, a blacksmith, fiber arts, papercraft, kid crafts.  We're pretty much the least interesting thing there and we're fabulous!  So that's telling you something.

Etspiration Wednesday: The Opera

Hi all, happy Wednesday!

I finished a great book recently and thought I'd give it a mention.  It's called Bel Canto and it's written by Ann Patchett.  In a nutshell, it takes place in a South American country and concerns the birthday party of a wealthy Japanese executive who is an opera devotee.  A famous soprano is scheduled to perform at the event, but a rebel faction takes all the party goers hostage, including the soprano.  The standoff is lengthy, and people on both sides of the hostage line form lasting bonds.

I love reading books about which I know nothing, and here that includes pretty much everything, including opera.  I think prior to reading it, my only exposure to opera was that Bugs Bunny cartoon based off the Barber of Seville.

It's so beautiful though.  And universal.  It doesn't matter if we're listening in Italian or French, just the sound of opera is poetic.  I've come to discover that the look of opera is pure poetry as well.  While doing this etspiration, I became rather obsessed with opera librettos (the programs that explain what the heck everyone is singing about).  Take a look at some nifty opera themed items I found this week.

1A:  Lucky Folding Opera Glasses Image Courtesy TheVintageDogHouse
1B:  Piero Fornasetti Opera Coasters Image Courtesy EyePopVintage
1C:  Serenade Me Music Pillow Image Courtesy WordGarden
1D:  Opera Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils

These opera glasses are just the coolest.  I love the box as well. 

2A:  Vintage Metropolitan Opera Libretto Image Courtesy ChesapeakeVintage
2B:  Three Opera Composer Busts Image Courtesy StevesStoreOfStuff
2C:  French Opera Theatre Image Courtesy BurlapLuxe

You really do need to click on the link for 2C to get the full effect.  It's a child's toy.  Apparently, it was la mode in the late 19th France to stage tiny operas with dolls in these amazing little theatres.  I don't know about you all, but I had lincoln logs. 

3A:  Tall Stack of Music, Opera, and Ballet Books Image Courtesy BeJoyfulVintage
3B:  Cast Iron Singer Sign Image Courtesy Luckyjunk
3C:  Opera With Crown And Address Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
3D:  Portuguese Opera Program Booklet Image Courtesy PetiteBrocante

The libretto in 3D is amazing.  It's a little slice of Art Nouveau brilliance.  I love the type, love the color choice, love everything about it.

4A:  Civic Opera House Program Image Courtesy DitzyDarlings
4B:  La Boheme Poster Magnet Image Courtesy LabelStone
4C:  Opera Poster Fabric Panel Image Courtesy FleaMarketTrixie
4D:  Opera Municipal Marseille Address Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils

LabelStone takes vintage fruit labels and posters and makes magnets out of them.  This La Boheme poster is really terrific.  The composition is just great. 

Thanks to all our lovely Etsy Sellers for use of their photos.

Have you been reading any good books lately?  I am always on the lookout for a great new read!  Drop us a comment!

See you Friday.  We've got a fab German feature for you all.

Etspiration Wednesday: Our Friend The Chicken.

The noble chicken.  Always delicious, always a mainstay of home decor.  Chickens were king through the primitive craze.  They dominate in farmhouse kitchens.  They even have a sizable place in French Country decor.  Why do we love them so much?  They aren't smart.  They're kind of dirty.  (Really, they take dirt baths.)  They aren't that cute.  Have you ever really looked at a chicken's face up close?  Yikes! 

I think the reason chickens are so prevalent in decor is because they are ingrained in our culture.  Hear me out as I go all art history on you.  Chickens are far and away the most ubiquitous farm animal.  In a simpler time when subsistence farming was a way of life, having chickens was almost essential.  So packaging and dry goods and all sorts of printed matter reflected this... chickeny existence.  Egg carton, put a chicken on it.  Grainsack, put a chicken on it.  Fruit labels, put roosters on them.  (Sometimes the correlations aren't even clear!) 

Now modern design trends look and borrow heavily from these past traditions.  Where does that leave us?  With chickens.  Chickens on pillows.  Chickens on tote bags.  Roosters on coffee bags.   

For what it's worth, I love them.  We eat a lot of eggs here at the Maison and I'm sure my husband is sick of me asking him to build a chicken coop.  One day!  So in praise of our feathered friends, here's a chicken tour of Etsy.

1A:  Bantam Rooster Pillow Image Courtesy PluckyKid
1B:  Wooden Chicken Wire Cabinet Image Courtesy MozTreasures
1C:  Vintage Rustic Egg Basket Image Courtesy UptownVintage
1D:  Ets. C. Bailly 2 Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils

I think the possibilities for that Chicken Wire Cabinet are endless in a kitchen.  Pie safe?  Curio cabinet?  Trinket pantry?  Who knows?  I love it!

2A:  Robins Egg Blue Chicken Pillow Image Courtesy Squirrelonaledgetop
2B:  Poulet Pillow Image Courtesy TheNestUK
2C:  Antique Chicken Wood Molds Image Courtesy NachoKitty

I'm pretty much in love with these chicken molds.  They are the real deal, you can just see the age on them.  And they're all together, which is exceedingly rare for something that's been around the block like those have.  If you visit the listing page, NachoKitty talks about the design process these paper mache molds were used for.  It's really interesting!

3A:  Ets. C. Bailly Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils

3B:  Rooster Divided Caddy Image Courtesy L2Country
3C:  French Rooster Burlap Sack Pillow Image Courtesy PinkPig

Love this burlap rooster pillow.  Great, great graphic image.  I love how bold all those old feedsacks were.

4A:  Fresh Eggs Wood Sign Image Courtesy FYHeartWoodworking
4B:  Vintage Chicken Antique Painted Sign Image Courtesy ZekesAntiques
4C:  Le Coq French Rooster Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils


You've got to check out ZekesAntiques.  He does faux antique painting and it's amazing stuff.  They have the feel of old advertisements and folk art. 


Don't forget, our typography giveaway ends tomorrow.  Comment to win!

Etspiration Wednesday: La Poste

I love stamps.  I'm not a proper collector or anything like that, but do go out of my way to buy the 'neat' looking stamps at the post office.  I think my husband is sick of hearing about the Pixar Forever stamps that are coming out in June!  (Seriously though, they are awesome!)  Even more than new issue stamps, I love vintage and foreign postage.  It adds a really cool dimension to any scrapbooking or papercraft project.  Of course, the postal look has been adapted to everything from pottery to fabric.  We've got a swell collection of postal themed items today for our Etspiration. 

1A:  Australia New Zealand Postage Stamp Pillow Image Courtesy Anettascraft
1B:  Postage Stamp Soup Mugs Image Courtesy JustMare
1C:  Paris Postage Stamp Shadow Box Image Courtesy MyAlterEco
1D:  Euro Postmark B Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils

So the Shadow Box in image 1C is super amazing.  I actually had planned to feature a different listing in MyAlterEco's store, but I think Etsy ate it because I can't find the listing anymore.  All her stuff is so, so cool.

2A:  Hot Air Balloon Print Image Courtesy KathyPanton
2B:  Blue Postage Stamp Frame Image Courtesy Suzstamps
2C:  French Postcard Bird Pillow Image Courtesy Sherrisboutique
2D:  La Poste France Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils

 Kathy Panton's collages (2A) are double, extra amazing.  She does great art for nurseries and such. 

3A:  Mounted Postage Stamp Letter Image Courtesy Stamposaurus
3B:  French Postcard Black Ticking Pillow Image Courtesy JulieannasCreations
3C:  Euro Postmark Bermuda Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
3D:  Vintage Postcard Market Tote Bag Image Courtesy PlumfieldShop 

PlumshieldShop has an amazing selection of postal themed totes.  It was hard to pick just one.  I love how timeless this one (3D) looks though.  The fabric reminds me of Victoria's chair on Revenge.  (Are you watching Revenge?  It's my guilty pleasure.  I'm like 5 episodes behind though, so no spoilers!)  

4A:  French Postage Stamp With Crown Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
4B:  Decorative Accent Postcard Pillow Image Courtesy judibdesigns
4C:  Postage Motif Ceramic Bowl Image Courtesy WhimsyDeluxe
4D:  London Stamp Jubilee Tote Image Courtesy CraftStall

Love this ceramic bowl!  (4C)  I try to feature ceramics quite a bit in our Etspirations even though strictly speaking, they are stenciled on far less than other media.  My hat goes off to potters who can make this kind of stuff.  Everything I ever threw in pottery class was more lopsided than the leaning tower of Pisa.

A big First Class maybe even Priority rate thank you to all our featured Etsy sellers.  We'll see you signed, sealed, delivered on Friday!

Etspiration Wednesday: Damask

We love damask here at Maisondestencils.  I don't think that's any big secret.  This elegant pattern so well known as a fabric is a perennial favorite.  But damask is not exclusive to fabric.  It can transform a space when stenciled onto walls.  It looks great in formal and casual rooms.  It lends itself well to pretty much any color scheme.  It looks French if you're doing French.  Arabesque if you want to give a hint of Eastern culture.  Gothic Revival if you're all about a little Medieval flare.  Damask really is universal and we've got a little Etsy tour of some nifty items that feature damask patterns.

1A:  Damask Pink Magnetic Board Image Courtesy ShugabeeLane
1B:  Damask N Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
1C:  Neapolitan Damask and Stripe Trio Frames Image Courtesy Dragonflydivas321
1D:  Pink Damask Sachet Image Courtesy Fansydesigns

2A:  Vintage Damask Drum Shade Image Courtesy Fondue
2B:  Green Damask Pillow Cover Image Courtesy CottonColors
2C:  Damask A Trio Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
2D:  Tiny Damask Ring Bowl Image Courtesy Dgordon

3A:  Rustic Damask Wood Placeholders Image Courtesy DazzlingExpressions
3B:  Damask Ornate Wallpaper Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
3C:  Orange and White Damask Jewelry Box Image Courtesy Bloomingtons04
3D:  Orange Fabric Damask Placemat Set Image Courtesy Kirtamdesigns

As always, thanks to our super terrific Etsy sellers for use of their images.  See you Friday!