I am an international flight attendant, mother of two boys and an avid Francophile. I love the French culture, the food, and of course le vin rouge. Having been taught the language by actual French nuns, in California no less, I finished college in Angers, a sleepy little town in the Loire Valley.
On a layover in Paris in the late 90’s, I was jetlagged and bleary eyed, searching for that very much needed cup of coffee. In the 16th Arrondissment, I stumbled upon a quaint boutique that was filled with tablecloths, bolts of fabric and objects d’art in the warm hues of the soleil de Provence. I splurged, spending the francs I had budgeted for coffee (and little did I know dinner too ) on my first tablecloth!
When I returned home, I set an elegant table with my beautiful new purchase.
I then watched in horror as my young sons spilled their juice and
my husband his red wine onto my beautiful new tablecloth.
It was at that moment that I realized
the value of this fine product.
I had purchased the cloth for its beauty
without realizing it was actually stain resistant.
Pure genius!
On every Paris layover thereafter,
I purchased another tablecloth to feed my new addiction.
My husband was heard repeatedly asking,
“Do we really need another tablecloth?”
“Yes,” I would reply, “and one day you will thank me!” Marie Therese, my landlady in the Loire
A few years later,a dear friend held a garden wedding reception with a Provencal theme using my tablecloths. The tablecloths were a huge hit with guests asking to purchase them right off the tables
And so began Linens of Provence! My friend and I traveled to the South of France yearly with my two young sons in tow looking for tablecloths. We wandered the French county side, always lost and in search for the "Gas station of Wine" as my boys humorously called "cave" where we filled our jugs of wine! My friend eventually retired in 2007.
Today, the business has evolved and grown immensely. My sons, Cailean and Ciaraan, who accidentally spilled juice on my new treasure all those years ago, now do so intentionally at our shows as they demonstrate the stain resistant qualities of our extensive selection of Provencal linens.
As for my husband…he finally thanked me!
Ciaraan Roche very happily intentionally
spills to demonstrate the stain resistant
quality of our tablecloths.
