Shopping the Paris flea markets : Porte de Vanves Marché

Okay, so I haven’t been holding out on you…I just haven’t had much time to process everything from Paris! So many photos! The images I’m going to share with you today were taken by my dear friend, Annie. She so graciously documented our Parisian shopping adventures for me. Overwhelmed and completely giddy, I knew I couldn’t shop, barter, attempt to communicate with the vendors AND take pictures so I will be eternally grateful to Annie for capturing these.

This was the first market we hit – Porte de Vanves Marché – in southern Paris. This market has been around since the 1920’s and is one of the best! Smaller and less intimidating than the famous Marché aux Puces St-Ouen de Clignancourt, I felt this market was a good place to get my feet wet.

It was a beautiful, crisp, clear morning. We arrived a little before eight. Vendors milled around, unloading their little white vans. Smoking cigarettes and sipping coffee while they set up folding tables and began the process of displaying their wares. Piles of linens, stacks of ancient looking books, jingling mounds of old French silverware, tired chairs, wearing their original velvet attire, gigantic mirrors, rows of earthenware dishes and bowls, vintage postcards, photo albums, bowls of skeleton keys, sparkling chandeliers – all these magical items unfurled as the sun rose and warmed our backs.

I got to try out my French…although most of the vendors spoke a little English and were happy to bridge the gaps in our communication. I wanted to buy all this gentleman’s dishes! What a treasure trove he had!

That cake plate went home with me and sold in minutes after listing it in the shop…pretty isn’t she?

More shopping…

and a little live music…courtesy of this guy…

By mid morning, our accumulation of goods was becoming rather heavy…but nothing was stopping us! I look so serious in this shot, as I scan the tables for precious items, while my friend Sherry (behind me) looks completely blissed out – and she was carrying the really heavy stuff! She’s a brilliant shopper, such a trooper! And my thanks to my fabulous flea market photographer, Annie! Thank you girl!

It was an absolute delight to shop this market and a successful outing – I managed to come home with many gorgeous items that are listed in the store now…

Getting back to our flat was another story…after attempting to lug our caravan of treasures back to the train station, we gave up and hailed a taxi! It was SO worth it.

This week I will share some more images from the famous Marché aux Puces St-Ouen de Clignancourt!

Have a beautiful Wednesday!

xo,

Paris streets…

Hello there. Happy Friday!

How has your week been? So far, so good over here. Got my family coming in today to celebrate Grace’s upcoming 6th birthday. Can’t believe she’s turning 6! I haven’t had much time this week to edit my plethora of photos but I wanted to share a few with you today.

While walking the streets of Paris it was impossible (at least for me) to watch where I was going…it’s a bloody miracle I wasn’t run over by a mini or ran face first into a local Parisian! I did almost walk into several poles, however – but it was all worth it – my eyes were on the absolutely gorgeous architecture all around me. Doors, windows, gates, cobblestone alleys, gas lamps, scrolling ironwork. It was a visual smorgasbord and my camera couldn’t get enough…

Okay…that’s it for now but more to come. :)

Have a beautiful weekend!

xo,

Home sweet home

Bonsoir my friends! Happy Easter! I hope you all enjoyed the holiday weekend.

I returned from Paris on Monday and I’m starting to get back into my groove. Forgive the delay in posting pics! I do have over 300 images to edit and it’s a rather daunting job, not to mention the mounds of Parisian treasures unearthed at the flea markets that need to be photographed and listed on my Etsy shop! It’s been a busy week but I couldn’t be more satisfied.

Paris was…amazing, dreamy, surreal, inspiring, overwhelming, breathtaking, exhausting, life-changing and incredible. I could go on…but I think you get what I mean.

We arrived at 2 pm. Dropped off by a friendly, somewhat amused (at us) cab driver in front of our Paris flat on Rue de Grenelle in the 7th Arrondissment. I felt like I had landed on a different planet. Jetlagged, pregnant and stupefied, I was overcome with how surreal it felt to actually be in Paris. My head was swimming as I took in our surroundings – beautiful old buildings with ironwork filigree, a quaint cafe across the street bustling with locals, a fruit vendor rearranging bunches of white asparagus, the aroma of fresh bread and flowers and the ever-present, gentle hum of the French language buzzing around us. I must have looked like a deer in headlights. I was in Paris. For real.

After settling into our apartment, we headed over to the corner bistro. Terrified, I approached the gentleman at the door.

“Bonjour?” My voice was barely audible. This whole language barrier was freaking me out…even after all my French practice.

He smiled and said in English, “Table for two, for lunch?”

I must have sighed rather loudly, because he chuckled. I nodded and he seated us at a sidewalk table and handed us English menus. Were we that obvious? I guess so.

With shaking hands, I managed to wolf down my first Parisian meal. Roasted chicken, scallop potatoes and a salad. Not that interesting but it did wonders for my blood sugar.

With a full belly we decided to stroll over to the Eiffel tower, ten blocks away.

Here comes that surreal feeling again. I stood in awe, gazing at this beautiful structure – the one seen through out my home on coasters, prints and pillows. There it was before me. Let me tell you, it is truly stunning!

As night fell, we headed back to our flat to (hopefully) sleep! I have never felt more exhausted and giddy all at the same time.

Here was the view from our bedroom window…

Sleep came quickly but I awoke at 11 pm to this sight…

Pure magic.

xo,

Au Revoir mon amis…

***

Oh boy…I can’t believe it but in three short days I will be in Paris! I’m not sure I will have time to blog but I will be uploading pictures to my Curate & Love FB page and taking a thousand others to share with you when I return!

For now here are some fabulous images from the French Flea Markets…where I am actually going to be this weekend!!!

Ooooh – I can’t wait!!! I promise to bring back some gorgeous treasures for the shop and I’m pretty sure there will be no shortage of hilarious/embarrassing situations that I get myself into. I will divulge all! ;)

This truly is a dream come true…so wish me luck!

Be well, my dear readers and enjoy the first weeks of Spring!

xo,

Flea Market images via here.

Featured in Somerset Apprentice!

With all the excitement about my upcoming trip to Paris, I totally forgot that the new Somerset Apprentice was coming out – the one in which I’m actually published! Eeek! I think I may have squealed out loud when this arrived in my mailbox yesterday…

I’ve been in the local newspaper but this took it to a whole new level! I adore Somerset magazines…to be in one is a dream! It felt so strange to open this issue up and see my name and artwork! Crazy!

It was fun writing the article and remembering my process.

This was a simple mixed media collage that I did two years ago! (Here is the original post about it.)  When Somerset contacted me about publishing it, I almost fell off my chair. It just goes to show the power of a blog…you never know who might be reading it! So share your passions and gifts with the world!

I am feeling like a very, very blessed girl these days. I am grateful. Thank you all for your kind words and encouragement.

Have a wonderful weekend.

xo,

My Vintage Obsession

Hello everyone! Hope you are all doing wonderfully. Don’t worry, I haven’t given up doing my art, I’ve just been putting a lot of time and energy into my Etsy shop. Sometimes I feel torn between all my interests and passions! I probably have too many irons in the fire…but hey, that’s just me, I guess. Anyway, I wanted to share with you what I’ve been up to. My studio is a complete mess from all the photos I’ve been taking for the shop…here are a few of the newest treasures I have added…

I really enjoy learning about each piece. Call me geeky but I love history and having this vintage shop has really taught me some interesting things, plus I adore photographing these beautiful objects! French antiques are really piquing my interest and I’m researching a future trip to the Parisian markets…like way in the future…hey, a girl can dream right?

Have a fabulous week!

xo,