Jeltje in Melay
In 2008, Jeltje started her Quiltshop 100 rozen on Walstraat in Deventer. In 2020, the shop closed and Jeltje moved. During the pandemic, she bought this Maison de Maître in Melay, Haute Marne, France. What started as a second home became her main residence in late 2024.
Jeltje felt at home there and decided to continue restoring the house, but now with a different approach. It became more luxurious, easier to heat, and more of a home than a studio. The Longarm moved to the first floor, and the quilt fabric room remained. The kitchen became a proper kitchen, and the bathrooms were upgraded. The embroidery room, with all the DMCs on the wall, also stayed.
And slowly, the exterior facade is also being tackled this summer. It is a large and richly decorated Art Nouveau house with 8 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. And a different atmosphere prevails in every room, which is emphasized with matching quilts, lace, and embroidery.
Once or twice a year there is an embroidery/quilt retreat, just because we can.
Beauty
There are many murals that we have carefully restored. On the left, you see the wall in the bathroom; David turned it into a beautiful whole. The floral vines in the hallways have also been restored with great pleasure. In this way, the beauty is fully restored in this historic building.
Art Nouveau
The ceilings are also beautiful. And they have been well preserved.
preservation
We preserve the history by retaining the rooms with their architectural details, antique furniture, and essence. It is the former director's residence of the international hardware factory in Melay. The forestry machines from 'Usine Mougeotte' were used all over the world. On the second floor, the records are still kept in large, handwritten ledgers. I also found hundreds of photographic glass plates there, which have since been digitized.
Comfort
To sleep well and do needlework, lighting, good mattresses, and comfortable chairs are a must. This, combined with the charm of the past century and French cuisine, makes your stay a relaxing week.