la Brocanteuse

Showing posts with label Brocante finds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brocante finds. Show all posts

Jun 6, 2010

Sunday Brocante

We travelled south east today to visit the Chateauroux monthly brocante....
Along little roads between large patches of trees,mottled green and yellow corn fields, patches of the last red poppies amongst white lace flowers,past huge gates to Chateaux and sign boards to local wineries and Cave..








 road signs to make sure we are aware..... there was a lot of "zig zag" driving..




We saw wild Reindeer next to the woods near a still sleepy village. It took  just under two hours to reach our destination via all this beauty, and we nicknamed our driver (husband) " Mr Bean"  -since even with the help of "Penelopy" (the GPS lady) we still had to do a lot of "u-turns" and reversing once into a field!
 The narrow roads does not allow for uninformed curious brocante searchers to make a gracious turn when needed. 

Finding parking is another obstacle to overcome once arriving at destination, and we did find a good space a  few blocks away right next to an  attractive gold Republique Francaise  sign..



Unfortunately for us, and all sellers and browsers out today, rain came pouring down which continued for at least two hours. Dealers started packing up and by 11 o'clock  most  dealers had left and  browsers dissapeared.
 I'm sure they must be the locals that  know next month all these dealers will be back, or where to find them at another village, another weekend.
I did not mind the rain after yesterday's heat. I kept going ,peeping under the plastic covers that covered the few tables of sellers sitting it out, since it will be a long time for me before I get to visit this brocante again.
One very relaxed seller of religious objets, just poured a glass of wine,   sat next to his table with his black brolly, watching everyone flapping around. Perhaps being in the company of all those objets, just kept him calm and happy.. I loved everything he had on display and left with these..






..another happy lady/seller who had plenty of shelter and did not rush to pack all her goods away, had heaps of linen on trestle tables. Old and new mixed together with florals and one had to dig in. When she saw that I was trying to find the one and only monogrammed anything, she called me to her van, and pulled out a box of what I thought were lenths of old linen edged with beautifull handmade lace. I new immediatly I was onto a good thing and I suppose - not very wisely- did not even unwind the tightly rolled pieces with only the lace exposed- but what I saw was enough for me! Communication was problematic but the love for lace was shared..




When we arrived home and unpacked, we discovered they were all Priest's Albs   and some Coir boy's smocks ! I LOVE them! my daughter claimed a small coir  smock for herself, and I keep on touching them- all different, antique linen, handmade lace and really special...

"Mr Bean" could not resist this LIMOGES Bisque Chopin on blue enamel collumn- on his way to bring the car closer to us girls still browsing in pouring rain.



A most wonderfull day it has been!...

A Bientot

 Colette

Jun 5, 2010

Arriving in Paris..


Mona Lisa welcomed us
at Charles de Gaulle Aerogare

In Paris ...
CDG was colourfull and posters everywhere.

We collected the rental auto for our departure to our first  linger
 in  the Loire Valley.
Next to the road we saw this view...

Two hours later and halfway to
 Mont Louis sur Loire,
 we made a stop,  to stretch legs, and get some refreshments,
very tired after being in transit for more than 24 hours..

Another bright picture complete with background oiseaux  tjirps...in the rest room!



Rest Room doors
click to enlarge and see all 

 
a welcome note from our friends in their/(our) Loire Maison for the next few days...


wishing us a  wonderfull stay..



Fresh Pain from the Artisan Boulanger - Patissier



the first day was spent taking it all in....the view's, the smells, and comment from my DD (darling daughter age 7 and well travelled brocante lover)
"it sounds just like the french movies..!"
Today we visited our first Vide grenier in Tours...
I will share the  trouvaille later..
Travel mate  DD took the next two pics...,
a landmark , as well as phone numbers just in case we need it in the future,
she took note of my ways...how adorable is that!







Early to bed tonight, early rise tomorrow and travelling south  to the first Sunday- once a month market in Chateauroux looking for some more trouvaille.....

A Bientot

Colette

May 22, 2010

Shopping list and pointing fingers


I try my best.......
Before we take a trip, I print a "picture" list of things to do and especially for the markets..I will include all the "Brocante finds" as I call them..images collected as I come across them and saved for referral later...
It makes it a lot easier for me to just point with my finger at the picture when lost for words...not because I'm so in awe of all the goods on display..but some times it is really hard to explain what it is your looking for...




pictures can explain so many unknown words...


                                                                       image - moi

like monogrammed ruban, or wooden bobbins, 18th century handwritten documentaire,handmade dentelle or le marriage dome,  jardin cloche or just old boutonner


                                                                                     image source - unknown


Anja-Old stuff shop

I can highly recommend this.To just point at  the little thumbprint  on your contact sheet...will definitely get you some reaction...(after you have greeted properly of course!!) 

I have been given hand drawn maps with directions to a certain Madam or Monsieur who will certainly be able to help me...even if it is only to be sent  off  further down little alley's past  stalls with difficult to pass without entering  store fronts...often a  new piece of scribbled paper in hand of which I normally don't understand a word!..but I can tell you that almost every time I have found what I was looking for after the treasure hunt was concluded.

image - moi
I even do this for my  dealer friends who kindly offer to look out for perhaps a tapestry canton, (love those) tapestry embellished chair,

image - moi
                                                                                                 image - moi
a Gilt Louis xv1 Trumeau in just the right size and proportions to hang above the fireplace in our bedroom....

image - moi
I have had a lot of success with this method. It all started one day when my husband was  almost out the door on his way for a last minute sortie to my BF (Beloved France), when he kindly offered to bring back a specific book on French gardens I was trying to obtain ,and a new perfume that was not yet available in our sunny South...he took a "contact sheet" with him compiled eagerly by moi- complete with options and a few extra things added like a pretty pink and very delicious la boite de The Marie Antoinette from Laduree.A full description of specific handles only available from BHV, and a picture of the fountain tap he had to go and find..somewhere...
He came  home with all and the contact sheet was returned to me complete with little tick marks as he worked through the list, as well as prices compared. He actually enjoyed this little shopping list/treasure hunt!
                                                                                     image - moi
I have started to compile my list for the upcoming  trip ....more about that later.I will be happy to add your wanted item to my contact sheet...


A Bientot

Colette