PARVUM OPUS

 

Such a wonderful little company, located right here in the U.S.A.... Michigan, in fact. The name "Parvum Opus" means little works of art and all of this company's functional, yet beautiful, products are certainly that.  The owner, Erika Stefanutti, is a studio artist with a deep love of books, and of the craft and design tradition.

  

The really terrific thing about Parvum Opus is that you can choose the paper that you want your items to be made with.  The In or Out Box above has a finial-adorned cover so prying eyes cannot gaze at your paperwork. We love this feature!

 

Storage/file boxes come in several sizes and provide a decorative way to store old paperwork, photos or documents. They look especially great stacked up.....all in one print or a combination of like-colored prints.

 

Don't you just adore the little brass feet on these pencil cups ? The interior is lined in cork to protect the bottom from pencil lead or leaking ink.

Tiny notebooks can be ordered in a multitude of designs and are a favorite for party favors. Just an extra little present for your guests to let them know you care.

Catch-all trays in two sizes are perfect for your desk and for your vanity as well. They can be made flat like the two above or brass-footed like the pencil cups.

 

I just love their desk pads.  Keep them with the design facing up when not in use, and flip over for a traditional blotter side when you are ready to work.  Additional blotters can be ordered.

Here are those great brass feet again, this time adorning a letter holder that has a super handy tray in front so you can store a letter opener, pen or pencil and some stamps and paper clips.

Legal pad holders perk up a mundane task like taking notes at a board meeting. This size holds a standard legal pad and has a side pocket for loose papers.  Smaller sizes can be ordered to leave in your guest rooms. You can stuff the pocket with brochures for local points of interest that your guests may be interested in visiting during their stay.

Double frames are hard to find, but Parvum Opus makes a really lovely one. Choose from any of their papers (one for the front and one for the back) or send them a paper of your own to use that will perfectly coordinate with your room.

Storage boxes for anything your heart desires come in various sizes. They can hold prized trinkets, tape and clips, makeup or receipts, for example.

We found that the larger size is perfect to store your greeting card collection. Make some dividers and store your collected cards under headings like BIRTHDAY, BELATED, GET WELL etc. You will always know right where your cards are and in the meantime, the box looks pretty on your desk.

A new style letter holder caught our eye. We thought this topiary-inspired box looked great! The owner, Erika, will even make you short or long pencils covered in coordinating papers to go with it. Personally, I would use this holder for all my paper items and order a matching square pencil cup for the matching pencils.

Obelisks have been traditional desk accessories forever. On a desk, in a bookshelf or flanking a great piece of porcelain on your mantle, a pair (or two) of obelisks would be très magnifique !

The wavy edge design is brand new. Everyone at the Boutique loves anything with a wavy edge (towels, bedlinens, notecards and now desk accessories). There is even a wastepaper basket that is part of this collection.

These are the little pencil holders I was telling you about. While they are adorable on their own, don't you think they would be a perfect companion to the topiary letter holder?

 

Another shape tray for your desk or counter-top is pictured above. Flat or ball-footed, they are decorative but oh, so functional.

Parvum's six-sided boxes have a ceramic-relief knob on top. It reminds you of a cameo and adds just the right "Italianesque" touch to these little gems. Great for paper clips, stamps, push pins, rubber bands as well as a million other little treasures.

The portfolio is a great way to store and present your work. It is so much prettier to pull your artwork from a linen-bound, Italian-paper covered folio than from an ugly black leatherette zippered case......a much more impressive presentation.

We all have found a lot of uses for accordian files, from receipt keeping to coupon storing.

Take a few extra minutes and label the sections to make your life easier.

Another variation of a desk blotter has sides that close. The advantage is that you can use it as a portable writing surface.

Now here's the fun part .... you may choose from any of these 27 wonderful Italian and French papers to cover your bespoke desk accessories and books. Erika is constantly adding designs to the mix so there is always something new.

We have an order on its way from Parvum Opus and I'll be sure to notify you when it is here. Until then, why don't you design a desk set for yourself and let her create it for you. Call me with your requests and I'll have your vision put into a working order. This company loves new ideas and challenges, so if there is something you don't see and you absolutely need, just let me know. Please call or email for prices on any of the above items.

XOXOX
LETA

Betty@lafinpb.com
561.655.7367

INSTAGRAM 5 
October 29

I'm hoping some of you have gotten the Instagram "bug", but if not here are some more visuals to wet your whistle !

Antique chest painted by our super talented artist, Zenon Toczek for a client who missed out on a similar chest at auction. Photograph by Erik Kvalsvik appears in "Traditional Interiors". Have you picked up your signed copy yet?

Also from "Traditional Interiors",  a bed canopy in a lively floral chintz from Brunschwig and Fils is repeated on the bedskirt and headboard.  Custom embroidered starfish linens designed right here at LAF !  Photograph by Erik Kvalsvik appears in the book.

Yes, we know you MEAN to do it, but somehow......... At least you will have your list all in one place!  Procrastinations Note Pad $24.


 

If you love the scent of Gardenias as much as I do, you will love this candle from Rigaud. $71. for a standard size.

TTFN (ta,ta for now)
XOXOX
LETA

Betty@lafinpb.com
561.655.7367

INSTAGRAM 5
October 23

Here we are near the end of October and, with a little bit of crispness in the air, our thoughts are focused on Thanksgiving. We posted these adorably cute cocktail napkins on Instagram recently to rave reviews !!  They are $12. for a pack of 25. Call or email the Boutique for a package (or two).

 

Our book is nestled on a bed of  Porthault (old and new) and a LAF custom-designed sham, trimmed in a Liberty of London floral. Don't forget to get a signed copy while there are plenty in stock :)

Speaking of D. Porthault, look at all the wonderful colors you can have your bed linens and towels trimmed with!

We have plenty of the neutral, blue and green in stock. If you'd like a set of the coral (or any other color.....maybe brown for Thanksgiving ??) contact me straight away and I'll order for you immediately.

Surprise balls for Turkey Day are in stock now. If fact, we are on our third batch. Call or email for your selection. They come in green, orange and yellow and are $18. each. Let us know if you would like a mix of colors or a particular color combo.

Till next week.....
XOXOX
LETA

SHARYN BLOND

Sharyn owns a wonderful little shop just outside of Kansas City that sells the most gorgeous, embroidered and appliquéd linens for the home. These linen cocktail napkins, guest and fingertip towels and bedlinens will make you swoon. Luckily for us, and for you, she lets us order them all through her to stock in our own store.

From 1932 - 1978 the Marghab company, owned and operated by husband and wife team Emile Marghab and Vera Way, paid their talented embroiderers by the stitch to create carefully constructed works of art on linen. All the work was done in Madeira, Portugal and done to perfection so as to meet the stringent standards of Vera.

Marghab linens were sold only in the finest department stores and 3 exclusive salons; George Jensen in New York, David Jones, Ltd. in Australia and Constance Leiter in Kansas City.

When Constance Leiter decided to retire, Sharyn Blond bought her business and to this day continues the Marghab legacy. The linens are still made by hand in France, Italy and mostly Portugal.

There is an extensive library of designs that are still in production with new creations added yearly. You will see certain popular themes done in several different colorways, each with its own charm and surprisingly taking on its own persona.

The edge trims, such as the embroidered square-cut one above, are so unique and charming that they add a whole other level to these prized linens.

I love these guest towels for a pretty Powder Room. The unexpected color combination is a little wild for me, but somehow, it just works :)

Monkeys are an iconic animal in the town of Palm Beach. Addison Mizner, the artichect who is responsible for many of the homes and buildings on the island, had a pet monkey, Johnny Browne, who was often seen riding on Mizner's shoulder. Johnny's image is displayed in the wrought iron gates of Mizner's former home and he is buried in the courtyard near our shop.

These monkey napkins and placemats, if embroidered in green edging on a white ground,  would look perfect with our Palm Tree China.

The Boutique has a lot of clients that collect things with frogs ! Here are some adorable guest towels to add to their collection.

Here are some more guest towels that I think would look fantastic as luncheon napkins. Wouldn't these be adorable in several different colored "Dragonflies" ? I can see them now with our Lunéville Tulip and Rose patterned china set on your patio table for a ladies luncheon.

I adore the brightly colored bees on the black linen. It really makes these guest towels sophisticated enough for an elegant powder room.

Appliquéd fish cocktail napkins really remind me of the 1930's. Such a perfect shade of blue for these ivory swimmers.

There is not one of these sea-themed creations that I do not like. What's not to like? Hinckley boats, nautical knots, maritime signal flags and lobsters (shown above) and ship's wheel and compass (shown below) all remind me of summer fun in Maine. All of these would be perfect for your yacht wherever it might be.

There are always great holiday-themed towels and napkins. Sharyn stocks them in abundance, so if you see something you'd like for Thanksgiving, let me know and I'll order it for you.

Sea life themed items are really big sellers. Not just here in Florida, but everywhere. Many of these will be in our shop in the next few weeks. I can't wait to see them all !

Crab guest towels above would be perfect appliquéd onto oversized napkins for a crab fest! In fact, if you make them lapkins, so much the better.

Such a crisp and bright version of the "Sand Dollar" design. It also looks very pretty in a pale blush linen with white or off-white sand dollars.

Here is "Queen Anne" as a Guest Towel and a Fingertip towel. Later in this post, you will see a beautiful placemat and napkin in this very popular design.

These great coral fingertips are in stock now and the matching guest towels will arrive any day!  Call or email me if you'd like to get them while they are here.

Seahorse looks great in turquoise, but I have seen it in white on Khaki, Coral on White and Marine Blue on White......all are fabulous.

Ditto for the starfish....this is a fingertip, but it can be ordered in a guest towel or cocktail napkins. Yellow starfish on white ground would be adorable.

How sweet are these Japanese umbrella cocktail napkins ? It would be a great touch to add a very teeny-tiny monogram to these. Always a good idea for cocktail napkins that you cherish. This way if it winds up in someone's pocket, they will know who to return it to, once discovered.

Can you think of a more perfect cocktail napkin, then a "Cocktail" napkin? There are several drink designs, one cuter than the next. Order a mixed set or all of one style.

Bamboo is a recurring theme with Sharyn Blond Linens. Looks great as a cocktail, guest towel, fingertips towel, pillow and on bedlinens. Which color would you make it in ?

 

Birds of a feather... (and in a Bird Cage) are one of the very original designs produced by Marghab. We even have some vintage ones in our shop in a turquoise and yellow combination.  C'est magnifique !

Peacocks are near and dear to my heart as many Floridian neighborhoods have wandering flocks of these magnificent birds. They also roam free in all their feathered splendor at our local zoo.

There are many duck, quail, pheasant and assorted other fowl if you are a huntsman or woman.  I love the jagged edge on these cocktail napkins.

A reminder to me of the series "Sex in the City" and Carrie's extensive shoe wardrobe. She would have loved and worn every one of these styles ! Wouldn't they look perfect in your dressing room or your best friend's powder room ?

I happen to love the simple, clean design and neutral coloring of this "Mistral" placemat and napkin. The charming square shape is made in an English size to allow for the flatware to be on the table itself. However, you can resize these anyway you choose. Make them larger, smaller, or even rectangular.

Vivid orange and yellow linens are only a couple of the rich colors that you can choose from for any of Sharyn's products'

"Queen Anne" is shown here in white linen with an ivory linen border and embroidery in a coral shade. However, my daughter, Sallie, has these is shades of grey. The changing of the colors makes for a more subtle and sophisticated set.

Beautiful floral-inspired design, "Estrada" can be embroidered on any color linen. You may even decide to be bold and have each one of your set in a different color !

"Atlantis" has an unusual border and an inset voile border showing off the wave design that encircles the placemat.  Another perfect style for your coastal home.

We sent Sharyn a guest towel with appliquéd and embroidered sailboats that we had in our shop and she was able to have her workroom translate the design onto a large round tablecloth and matching napkins for one of our favorite customers.

Although all Sharyn's bedlinen designs can be created in linen, they are usually made in the more livable and easier to care for percale. She uses only the finest white or cream, long-staple Egyptian cotton percales as the base for her creations, which ensures that the bedlinens will not wear out before the beloved design does.

The "Sand Dollar" percale sheets and shams above, have been inlaid with a border of green linen. The embroidered accents on the sand dollars themselves have been perfectly color-matched to the linen.

We have samples of the Bamboo pattern above in linen at the Boutique, but the boudoir sham above is another example of a percale sheeting with a flange and and appliquéd design in a terracotta-colored linen. The bamboo is then over-embroidered in a darker thread to accent the design.

Here is a yellow and white "Kensington" sham with a hand-embroidered monogram. I love this color, but keep in mind that if yellow is not your thing, then you can have it made with linen trim in any of 15 other colors.  If that is not enough choice for you, Sharyn can custom order 100 other linen colors!

A dear client asked us to have a monogram created especially for her new home, which was to be named "Hollyhock". Our favorite artist, Zenon Tozak, went to work to create the above monogram which the client had us use on linens, towels and stationery for her home. 

Sharyn then had her hand-embroiderers stitch the design in all white on linen cocktail napkins that have a hand-drawn hemstitched border. So classic and beautiful, no?

 

Another darling customer needed crib sheets for her new baby. She wanted a theme fitting for her Florida vacation home and Sharyn did not disappoint. Little appliquéd crabs, lobsters and starfish adorn the four corners of the crib sheet for this little princess.

One of Sharyn's most unique hem is on the pattern "Euegenie". This color combo of terracotta linen with a mint green embroidered accent was created for a lovely woman with exquisite taste to match existing fabrics in her master bedroom. A complete bed set in this design is simply stunning.


We are expecting an extensive collection of guest towels, fingertip towels and cocktail napkins to arrive in the Boutique any day now. With a few exceptions, most Guest Towels are 15"x21" and retail for $72., Fingertips are 9" x 14" and $52. each, and Cocktail Napkins are 5"x8" and $40. a piece. We will have lots of choices for you to buy for Christmas presents, hostess presents and to use in your own home for special gatherings.

Hope to see you soon !
XOXOX
LETA

Betty@lafinpb.com
561.655.7367