Pretty linens and baubles - a big thank you!

<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNoVlhVRhJbf7YvtEne9dE_MO_bp5_-e8OFGBipJwnt9FowTBlaBgs2uGSm9sJ6M-oW5lIemwl9V8JkW9zCh_pmnwvYzUCSgTfvmbsiRsF3LdJ1HGptlH9NPDwZZIbCthwttHCjO2OqX4w/s1600/DSCN5895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNoVlhVRhJbf7YvtEne9dE_MO_bp5_-e8OFGBipJwnt9FowTBlaBgs2uGSm9sJ6M-oW5lIemwl9V8JkW9zCh_pmnwvYzUCSgTfvmbsiRsF3LdJ1HGptlH9NPDwZZIbCthwttHCjO2OqX4w/s640/DSCN5895.JPG" width="580" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><b><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-large;">I </span></b>wanted to send a big <span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;"><b>thank you</b></span> out to Andrea Drexelius from <a href="http://www.frenchbasketeer.com/" target="_blank">French Basketeer  </a>and <a href="http://metislinens.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Metis Linens</a> for sending me this beautiful package of vintage linens and vintage French brass curtain rings that can be used as napkin rings.  I won these lovely items in a giveaway on Karen Albert's blog <a href="http://artbykarena.blogspot.com/2011/12/on-sixth-day-of-holiday-giveaways.html" target="_blank">Art By Karena</a>. The brass rings are incredibly gorgeous and the two linens towels have the most beautiful texture to them, owing to their age and use. Something that cannot be replicated. They are also huge and could nearly be used as small table cloths!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJsRLbDtm1a9iZqmDfbb2YpXINa8Mb2jXBfR05FGw5vwYNyT8f9qN9Qaygc7NN6VRmpL7f1fvm7VKG9IKIvaQLBwN8a0b3XtWsQPxESTLsHYSA5_cS1xqCIrjx8kRgsC2oY_432DDrXc/s320/Napkin+Rings+with+Holly.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJsRLbDtm1a9iZqmDfbb2YpXINa8Mb2jXBfR05FGw5vwYNyT8f9qN9Qaygc7NN6VRmpL7f1fvm7VKG9IKIvaQLBwN8a0b3XtWsQPxESTLsHYSA5_cS1xqCIrjx8kRgsC2oY_432DDrXc/s320/Napkin+Rings+with+Holly.JPG" /></a></div><br /><a href="http://shop.frenchbasketeer.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">T</span></span></b>he French Basketeer,</a> in business since 2008, sells authentic French baskets and totes. Their chic totes come in many amazing colors and styles:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://shop.frenchbasketeer.com/images/1214864200197-929966510.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://shop.frenchbasketeer.com/images/1214864200197-929966510.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://shop.frenchbasketeer.com/images/1214933015926-1754501807.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://shop.frenchbasketeer.com/images/1214933015926-1754501807.gif" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">T</span></span></b>hey also carry the classic rolling market carts as well, seen in French markets and US Design Centers everywhere. (A side note, a past client of mine sent me one as a gift as I'd mentioned in passing that I wanted one - wasn't that nice?!?)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.frenchbasketeer.com/images/web/Picture%20226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.frenchbasketeer.com/images/web/Picture%20226.jpg" /></a></div><br /><a href="http://lemagasindemetis.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">M</span></span></b>etis Linens Boutique,</a> aka Le Magasin de Metis,  is a partnership between Andrea of The French Basketeer and the lovely Laura Ingalls Gunn, interior designer and writer of the blog <a href="http://decortoadore.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Decor to Adore</a>. Le Magasin offers French textiles and they "<em>sprinkle in a few fun and flavorful antiques"</em><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jyIYP1-t1W0/TOSieNf-x2I/AAAAAAAAMQk/nKeOjEXXAfI/metis%20candle%20how%20to%20014_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jyIYP1-t1W0/TOSieNf-x2I/AAAAAAAAMQk/nKeOjEXXAfI/metis%20candle%20how%20to%20014_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jyIYP1-t1W0/TOXjXsfqVXI/AAAAAAAAMRg/qGr8gNJWBdw/metis%20keys_thumb%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jyIYP1-t1W0/TOXjXsfqVXI/AAAAAAAAMRg/qGr8gNJWBdw/metis%20keys_thumb%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJZkySIq-ED69vb7_uAuRrVcwDhHazHcnmP2jDnjvlnWw204EPC6-NUOdAY3NXj2q9CgaoRcOGigGeD_6LnbTZ-LqIwrrZ4Lq5WmMkwdaPDcQL3gjgqisi9z3HtE9YHpQN-5wc19fmg/s400/IMG_1631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJZkySIq-ED69vb7_uAuRrVcwDhHazHcnmP2jDnjvlnWw204EPC6-NUOdAY3NXj2q9CgaoRcOGigGeD_6LnbTZ-LqIwrrZ4Lq5WmMkwdaPDcQL3gjgqisi9z3HtE9YHpQN-5wc19fmg/s640/IMG_1631.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtqTn38iEUMUqD_mEDUNxcObdxKz6ZfRzAyErRaIwUO-IE43yDqgRMS6ni1DsfRgWYST-vje8BTii1wISsQg-l_VqRR4kM7tm1Eb4iZ2cAuX6e1SScXmk35MfP1q8xGrNQyY8lY0FBgwjb/s1600/Karena.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtqTn38iEUMUqD_mEDUNxcObdxKz6ZfRzAyErRaIwUO-IE43yDqgRMS6ni1DsfRgWYST-vje8BTii1wISsQg-l_VqRR4kM7tm1Eb4iZ2cAuX6e1SScXmk35MfP1q8xGrNQyY8lY0FBgwjb/s1600/Karena.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">I</span></span></b>f you've not yet heard about blogger Karen Albert of <a href="http://artbykarena.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Art by Karena</a>, head on over there now. Karen is one of the blogosphere's most supportive bloggers - supportive of artists and artisans, small business and other bloggers. Her blog offers some of the best giveaways around, which in turn introduces large audiences to artists and small business vendors that we might not otherwise hear of. An artist in her own right, Karen manages to read and comment on about a million blogs a day and always has a kind word for everyone.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Again, <b style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">thank you</span></span></b> to all the ladies above - I love my prize! </div><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">I</span></span></b>f you would like my help on your design project, I would love to chat with you! Please <a href="mailto:linda.m.merrill@gmail.com">email me</a>. Thanks!<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a>

Pretty linens and baubles - a big thank you!

I wanted to send a big thank you out to Andrea Drexelius from French Basketeer  and Metis Linens for sending me this beautiful package of ...

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