Tongue in Cheek

Islamic Art and Little ole Me

Yesterday afternoon I went to an antique dealer's home. Isa is someone I have known for years but we have never spoken more than ten words together. Usually we see each other at the international antique fairs where her hand is often holding something extraordinary and my hands are itching to have it.

She is one of the best hunters at the antique fairs.

The other day I saw Isa at a flea market. I broke the silence and asked her if I could come to her home and take some photos for a magazine. "Oui bien sur! Sans problem." She said willingly as she touched up her flaming red hair.

               

I  walked away rubbing my hands thinking of the wonderful things that I would see Chez Elle! I imagined 18th century Provencal antiques the type of antiques I have seen in her hands over the years. Small unusual delicacies such as religious relics, ivory chest pieces, gold thread lace, miniature oil paintings, things that Louis 15th had touched...You see Isa has a knack for finding the most amazing, impossible, incredible antiques... Antiques that have price tags on them that make my bank account look like bubble gum money.

          

But nothing, nothing could have prepared me for the mouth dropping experience of what I was about to see. Isa's home was not at all what I had expected. When Isa opened the front door to her home my eyes rolled out before me and I said in English, "Holy Shit!" (I shocked myself red!) Thank God she doesn't speak English bad mouth!

You know I felt like Alice in Wonderland except I was riding the Orient Express and my plain Jane little self seemed so so so soooooooooooo BORINGLY typical by comparison. I fell in love with Islamic art and color yesterday...and please tell me how I am ever going to look at grey white walls again?

             

             

             

             

Honestly, Isa's home seems to have belly dancers, ya ya sisters and mint tea pouring out of the every inch and nook and cranny. I literally stood speechless for 15 minutes and didn't breath.

To say it was a feast for the eyes just doesn't cut the mustard. It was alive, on fire, like a heart on a plate begging you to grab it and stuff it in your chest, and scream, "This is livin'!"

             

I should have known by her shoes that Isa was not an ordinary woman.

             

The endless stories, the countless details, the names of artists, styles, period of pieces washed over me as I sat and stuffed myself with her charm and exotic-ness. I simply could not contain everything she said... So I sat there drinking her in and loving every minute of it.

             

...even the kitchen sink spoke of another world far far away.

             

             

             

             

             

             

             

             

             

             

I took over three hundred photos of one room only. You might say these photos are the tip of the mosque!

Unbelievable! Oh and let me tell you her bathroom! I could die happy there, honestly I could. A sunken tube lined with enormous seashells... there was water in the tub and it was filled with flowers. I looked at Isa and asked, "Do you always leave your bathtub full of water?" She shrugged her shoulders like I didn't understand and walked away.

"Golly gee I am in for a wild and wonderful ride!" I laughed. Isa tugged my hand and said, "The train is moving are you jumping on with me or not?"

I am I am I am.........................

Photos:  Chez Isa. Islamic art and history. More to come as I absorb the experience of my new friend who talks a mile a minute and makes me feel alive.

Notes:

Islamic Art and History.

Clarke and Clarke

Islamic Culture

Travel North Africa here and here.

            

             

What you can find at any French Flea Market

               

At the French flea market you can find almost anything. It seems to me if you line up every linen bed sheet, dish, wine glass, table, chair, mirror, sconce, vase, painting, silver tray etc. etc... that you can find at the French flea market, into a single row... it would circle the world twice. I am not kidding.

Here are a few examples of French treasures you can find easily. French antique things that once use to be at the bottom of a cardboard box, or stuffed  in someone's attic before being sold at the flea market in France.

Bottles before plastic, reusable and made to be seen. A toiletry bottle, pharmacy jar and a small liquor bottle from a missing traveling set. Call me crazy but I usually pour the contents from the new plastic containers such as shampoo, lotion, liquid soap and such into antique pretty things. It is the way I live in my world, surround myself with flea market wanna-be treasures, making the ordinary seem like a holiday of simple wonder.

               

The French flea markets are loaded with pretty little things. Hand painted glasses and dainty dessert plates. Imagine a feminine bar! Where the liquor is disguised as perfume and the liquor glasses hold powder puffs and Q-tips, and the dessert plates holds soaps pretending to be cakes?

               

My Belle Mere (Mother-in-law,) has the real deal. When I go to her house I spend hours admiring her pretty things. She has the antique bug worse than me, actually most of the things in her home have been passed down through generations. Lucky duck! The best part about her inheritance is one day it might belong to me that she uses these things daily.

The little broom is used to sweep off the table crumbs! Did you know that? I love that little broom.

                  

French Husband's favorite thing in his Mother's home is not the little broom, but that upside down bronze pig?!  The pig is a match holder, and you strike the matches on its underbelly. French Husband told me as a little boy he often lifted the pig's head, emptied the matches out, then turned it upside down and left it like this for his Mother to find. He still does it when he visits his Mom and his Mother HATES that!!

               

I think my Belle Mere is going to give me one of her antique monogram table cloths for my birthday, I wish it were the little broom, French Husband wishes it were the pig. Maybe all three? Though I highly doubt it.

Whoops I am getting off the subject of what you can find at the French flea markets... as I was saying...

                  

These type of pretty things are common, and very easy to find at the French flea market.

                  

Hardware too. Do you see the size of those keys?

                  

France's flea markets are loaded with pretty things. It never ceases to amaze me of the volumes and volumes of treasures it unearths each weekend.

                

For example, nightstands... the choice is endless, this one is unusual because it is oval, and has three drawers. Most are square shaped and have a large interior shelf, that is lined with marble or zinc, with a door to close it off. Inside this space is where one would put a chamber pot... a nightstand wasn't for a clock, or a lamp or a book...it was for a chamber pot first and foremost.

                

Another one of the those French classic beds that you can find in any second hand shop.

               

But this rates as the number one classic French bed set. The thicker and larger the shell on top of the head board the better it is... at least that is what they say. An armoire,  a bed, and a nightstand usually cost around a 1000 euro.

             

French ephemera...don't get me started. A mixed- media or scrapbooker's paradise. Personally I like books better than the cards, and antique letters better than lace.

             .....Okay, I'll post more later today when I come back from the flea market ....

A few more flea market finds that I saw today...

                         

French dining room chair with a new do.

 

One of the many shadow boxes with a million little things to gawk out. Do you see the teaspoon mold? The small liquor vask? The compass?

               

This oil painting and gilded frame (circa 1900s three feet x 2 feet) sold for 700 euro.

             

...and if the French flea market does not have French linens then it is not a French flea market.

See you tomorrow xx

               

Second Hand Shops in France

               

Second hand shops in France are one of the best places to find a steal deal. Don't be fooled thinking there are only broken down refrigerators and used sofas in such places, most antique dealers frequent these shops, though they would never admit that to you nor me.

The oval pedestal table cost less than a $100, though at an antique shop it would fetch close to $400. The wing back chair sitting next to the pedestal table cost... I won't tell you the price otherwise you might be on the next plane to France just to come to this shop! On the other hand if  you hop the plane let's make a deal, I'll give you the address if you can please bring me tortillas, chocolate chips and my little nieces with you. Fair trade isn't it?

            

Early nineteen century furniture is not very popular in France therefore it is a dime a dozen. This type of furniture is not my favorite, though I have seen some of these pieces painted and they end up looking rather nice. A set of six chairs, a table and the matching sidebar sold for less than $1000 at the second hand shop yesterday. If this type of furniture is your cup of tea, than you might think of coming to France, there is a ton of it for sale.

               

A pair of frou frou urns, this one had a cracked bottom but still stood proudly as I took it's photo. I dare say this is an Italian piece hiding out in France. That happens as France and Italy are neighbors, the furniture goes back and forth, but the style is evident, it is not French.

               

Textiles, especially old ones like this one cause me to daydream and stare into space. I would still be there if the shop keeper hadn't grabbed my arm and shook me, "Eh, Americaine cava toi?" (Hey American are you okay?)

This piece is the an unfinished seat cover. Wool thread, hand-drawn design (note: there isn't any color chart or numbers in those little squares!) I am guessing this piece to be 150 years old. Of course I bought it. How could I not?

               

A divine desk, a drop leaf writing table. Inside there are little drawers with locks to hold ones secret love letters. It is a sweetie. The design is older than it is. Imagine with the industrial revolution reproductions started to be produced, and those reproduction are antiques now. If you cannot afford a real Louis 15th writing table you might consider buying an old reproduction of that period. A hundred year old reproduction costs far less than the real McCoy.

            

A mercury glass candlestick. When I first started buying antiques I couldn't afford even a reproduction from IKEA let alone a reproduction from the 19th century. Though the desire to have old things verses new things was stronger than me. I started buying small bits and pieces. Items that I would use everyday, things such as a clock, dishes, a pillowcase, a candlestick...little things that I could use daily and that made me feel that I was surrounded by beautiful antiques (Insert: Daydreamer in her castle.)

               

The trick about buying at a second hand shop is that you must go often. Luckily for me there is a second hand shop right by the grocery store that I frequent. Every time I go to the grocery store I stop by the second hand shop. The trick is that out of the five times that I stop at the second hand shop I might only find something once. Nevertheless, when I do find something I usually forget about the grocery store!

Pure delight is finding a piece like this and paying less than peanuts for it. Who needs peanuts anyway?

                

My Mother loves country style antiques, what about you what is your favorite style? If you tell me I will try to find it and post it for you.

               

Do you like vintage garden ware? A pair of lions to guard your door? Urns in which to plant toparies or maybe a wheel-barrel, or a gnome?

               

Often when you find something at a second hand shop chances are that you will need to add some TLC to the old piece. It is part of the course, paying less has its price.  Though when I find something I like at a second hand shop I consider paying less a double bingo prize. Re-painting, or re-wiring doesn't break my heart though seeing something I cannot afford at a refined antique shop does.

             

Though at such places one can also find mundane things such as wooden spools, canning jars, baskets, books, or frames...that is the real beauty of a second hand shop: Someone's junk might be your treasure.

            

Those items might inspire you. Look at this antique hand-crafted spool shelf. Did you know you could use spools to make a shelf?

            

Hickory dickery dock the mouse ran up the clock, baby!

This sort of clock face goes inside a clock case.

         

The second hand shop that I go to is never arranged. The items move to fast to be put in any grandoise order. You have to have a good eye, or have a good imagination to see the item cleaned up and properly placed.

Imagine the bed set up with a crystal chandelier overhead, white cotton sheets with lace trim, and the bedroom window wide open filling the room with the breeze of a new day.

         

A small day bed with points de capiton, "upholstery buttons". These buttons, this design is the most expensive to create in upholstery. Older models, like most antiques are styled on both sides, front and back. The fabric was royal blue satin.

         

Each region in France has its own style of furniture, its own look, specialties... Where I live, in the south of France the style is called Provencal.

       

So after walking around taking photos of whatever caught my eye in this second hand shop I realized that I had better stop and go to the grocery store, otherwise the beauitful antique cupboards at home were going to remain bare like Mother Hubbard's cupboards.

Tomorrow photos of the market, or maybe just desserts.

             

France and where I live...

               

"No, nothing can be that lovely. I will have to come and see for myself..." Lee.

I live in a typical non-touristic small village in the south of France. It has been around for over a thousand years. Our home is a maison de village. We live down a very narrow impasse. The sidewalks are cracked, people hang their clothes outside their windows and cars are parked every which way. It is not romantic, nor chic...but it does have a simple charm to it.

Sure I over look the telephone wires, garbage cans, the graffitti on the walls, and the plastic planters on the window sills...Beauty is where you find it. I hope you will visit the south of France Lee, I know you will find it lovely too.

               

" ...I know from looking that you have marvelous things to take photo's of but I do believe you could make the most mundane item look beautiful." Darla. I don't know about that. Though my son Sacha says, "Anyone can take a good photo of France, they need only to go outside and click their camera, France is beautiful."

Darla, If I could I would tell my neighbor to take down the plastic Santa Claus. Then I would "photoshop" the telephone and electricty wires away. But since I do not know how to do that, I usually take photos upclose as it prevents one from seeing the things one doesn't want to see.

               

               

        (Photo: of the fountain in our garden, that we created using old stones.)

"Corey, have you lived in France long enough to have gotten used to it. You know, so that you take everything for granted and don't notice the different and beautiful details any more. Are you still in a state of awe?"~elaine~

France has a soul. It has history, it welcomes the new. It has the wisdom of an older person, yet the spark of a sixteen year old. Yes I am still in awe, though there are things I don't like and I wish my family in California weren't so far away... I must admit that France has stolen my heart. After twenty years of living here I can honestly say that I am more awestrucked than ever!

               

"...my favorite would be a peak into your blue/gray armoire and the shelves with the old book pages and white china/pottery...i would so love to have those old pages...is that your design or was it the magazine stylist." Cre8Tiva.

My home is my own design. It is my canvas.

               

Luckily I grew up with an ultra creative Mother, who could create masterpiece vignettes using anything from my Dad's barn, such as bailing wire and an old tool box. Also I have a French Husband who doesn't mind if the house leans towards the romantic femine side, or if I stripped it down to a sleeping bag on the floor.

note: The crown is from Ribboned Crown.

               

"I have a perpetual question. Are all your {and French, in general} walls a shade of soft gray-ish? It seems so, from your photos. It seems so, from other French blogs I have seen. And with small spots of color added, against the pale background of these walls?" Mari-Nanci

It must be the natural light in France that gives that hint of grey. Because the walls in my house, with the exception of the kitchen, are painted flat white. Simply because I can't decide what color to paint them.

               

                                                       photo: A rue in my village.

more photos to come...

               

TACE wrote, "...How can there be so much detail on a chair?? Gorgeous. Makes me wanna start hammering those upholstery tacks into everything I own!"

Out of all antiques, French armchairs are what I love most.

               

"I'm curious, Corey, does your wardrobe, what you choose to wear on yourself or perhaps buy for French Husband to wear reflect your decorating sense? ... Also, do you frame your photographs and hang them up throughout your house?" Susanna.

I do not have any of my photos, nor of others hanging in my home. Though I have recently thought of hanging some photos of the children when they were little.

Regarding my wardrobe... I love to go shopping for others but not for myself. My clothes are basic, and mostly black which is easy to manage.

                

Miz Booshay, "Is your bathroom also antique? I was hoping to see your kitchen."

Next week our bathroom is going to be re vamped. I am excited because I found an old claw foot tub for a song. After that the kitchen will be remodelled...if you look at this photo you will see there isn't much of a kitchen counter to work on. Plus there is one cupboard which is under the sink.

more later...

               

Maison de village: A home in the center of a French village. Maison de village usually shares at least two walls, nestled in between two homes. The wall are at least three feet thick of stone. Which means the shared wall is six feet thick. Sound proof and natural insulation assured. The Maison de village are typical three to four stories high. Ours has three floors. Usually they have a vaulted basement in stone and a bird's eye view from the attic.

" I really enjoyed these shots. I NEVER imagined your living in a "maison de village" -- I figured it was an old country home with a huge garden, like so many expats have and/or aspire to. It's interesting the images we get in our minds..." Betty.

"Do you happen to have those sweet French blue shutters on your home too?" Teresa asked.

             

Blue shutters rule, then green, after that it is a toss up. Ours are green.

French Style

Since you have been asking to see more photos of French style I thought I would do just that.

A fainting couch in the hallway at my home.

The corner of a very loved Louis 15th chair.

A French screen at my favorite restaurant in Marseilles. The fabric has been removed and glass has been added in its place.

A door knocker on a faded red door. You know I love these.

Wall art. Original paint. Hangs in my bedroom.

A tarnished silver medal on a linen hand towel.

A group of chairs waiting for your visit.

Apothecary jars filled with eye candy.

A face of a lock to a dresser.

A lamp post at the train station in Marseilles, Notre Dame de la Gare in the background.

A typical bakery chalkboard.

A miniatures portrait of Josephine.

I am on a roll with images today, I'll add more later.

What would you like to see?

Photos: Taken around, about and near my home.

________________________________________________

Because you asked:

For: Merisi's  who asked, "Oh, the kitchen, pleeease!" Here is a sneek peek.

"Miroirs & chandeliers ! la réflection de la lumière." Okay Delphine Douche a photo of "la lumiere chez moi."

Julie Ann wrote, "I would like to see ... the garden."

"Eye candy!" How about that Kim?

"I would love to see more of your vignettes. I remember last year or earlier you had a tray with little glasses filled with bits and pieces....it stuck in mind mind." This is for you  Colette . One of the first things I ever bought at a French flea market. A letter opener.

More to come....

The Lace Thing

               

Lace, that starts your hands to itch because you long to pick it up, and at the same time starts your heart a pumping to be creative. The sirens go off in your head, "I could add it to a sheet, or at the end of a towel, maybe add it to a tee-shirt..."

It is the type of lace that screams, "Create!" When I see lace I hear that message and instantly I want to scoop it up and take it home.

               

Though there is a twofold dilemma... I don't need anymore lace, and I rarely have the heart to cut it up! Most the time you need to cut it to for a project. Therefore it sits screaming at me and I stand starring at it. A love-hate relationship you might say. I just want to admire it, and it wants to be used.

               

Ah the lucky day when I find lace that is already put to use. Dyed and sewn. The creation complete.

               

The French antique markets are full of bits and pieces of hand made lace. It adds texture and tenderness to the objects it surrounds.

               

French hand made lace.

The nimble hands, the creative dancing hands! The needles that formed the heart song into reality. How could I dare cut into a piece? Like I said, lace and I we stand and stare at one another. I want to create something with it...but I cannot.

               

A box of lace temptation. How can I resist? Layers, depth, yards upon yards of someone's creation waiting to be put to use. To adorn, to add, to give texture, to unfold... how cruel it is to tempt me.

               

The lace thing, the pretty thing, the soft and sexy, the baby's gown, the young bride's veil, the pillowcase trim... the added flare to a package, the extraordinary ruffle, the collar, the bodice, the table runner...endless ideas haunt me.

               

The lace thing. It is hard to resist, don't you agree?

               

Doesn't it speak softly? Doesn't it remind you of a gentle moment lost in time? How can I cut into that tenderness? In the end I pass it on and am happier to know that someday someone will use it in a creation and it will be made complete because of it.

Photos: French lace awaiting creative endeavor!

The Unopened Letter

               

Rummaging through a box of old letters at the French antique market, a cloth envelope intrigued me.

The paper address label was sewn on and read in French:

"Echantillon sans valeur - Sample without value."

               

I felt a ting of guilt opening the sealed 1900s envelope... I didn't expect to see this little boy, nor the regard of his brown eyes.

The things left unsaid speak the loudest... when held within.

LE GUIDE CHINER- Where to buy antiques in France?

               

When you come to France there are a few words you will need to know to find the places to buy antiques. Here are a few to put in your pocket:

Vide-Greniers - Is a flea market type fair where anything from toys, clothes and hidden treasures appear... where the locals empty out their attics. An attic sale is like a garage sale without the garage. Vide Greniers happen in most villages (once a year) since private garage sales are not allowed. Vide-Greniers take place on the street.

Marché aux Puces - Outdoor flea market. Before the rooster crows the fair starts, bring a flashlight. Usually they are held in a grocery store's parking lot, or some odd place like that. At the "Puces" you have a very good chance of finding something for nothing. I dig these.

Trocante - A chain store that sale second-hand goods and antiques on comission. The stores are all over France. (Online too.)  They sale anything and everything... even the kitchen sink. Trocante is my middle name. I have found some amazing things at these stores. Sure it is hit or miss, you never know what you are going to find. It changes daily and it is worth checking out.

Salle de Vente - Auction house. They set up a few days before so you can visit and see what they have.  I am going tomorrow for the first time... wish me luck.

Enchères Achat, vente, échange d'objets neufs et d'occasion - Auctions to buy and sale, old and new.

Brocante - A fair that is better than a flea market but not as chic as an antique fair. On any given Sunday in France there are probably over a couple hundred happening. If you go to one you will not leave with empty hands. See why I LOVE France so much? We speak the same language...B-R-O-C-A-N-T-E!

Belle Brocante - Like a brocante, though the main color of the furniture is brown (read: walnut wood) and usually pieces from the turn of the century. Since I like original painted furniture, and things that are not so Belle Brocante looking I usually pass these by.... A belle brocante is held indoors, over a long weekend.

Salon des Antiquaires - Professional dealers set up at this type of an antique fair. The "Salon" is set up in advance and is often located at a fair ground. They take place a couple times a year. An entrance fee is charged.

Journée marchande des Antiquaires - The cream of the cream of antique fairs. A very large gathering of (500 to 1,200) international antique dealers plus buyers from all over the world, several times a year, mainly in the south of France. This is the best place to buy, pure heaven.

----Other French terms regarding antiques:

- Les Objets De La Maison - Household items

- Les Bonnes Adresses - A good address to buy.

- Foires Grandes Manifestations - Large Fair.

Online site with addresses for antiques in France.

Go get 'em, Allez Allez!

Vintage Shoes

               

At an antique fair I noticed these silk wedding shoes posed on a hand crafted wedding pedestal, (where a bride of the 19th century usually placed her wedding wreath.) How curious, how unusual?

The bride placed her white silk shoes on a pedestal.

The journey is worthy... every step of the way.

The French Flea market

               

A massive flea market is taking place in the south of France TODAY!! This massive, glorious, once a year flea market is not far from where I live....

The Announcement:

84	CARPENTRAS  (15 Km de L'Isle sur la Sorgue)  GRAND VIDE-GRENIERS DE L'HIVER - Marche Gare - Route de Pernes Les Fontaines - 7h-18h - Extérieur - Entrée gratuite Tel : 06.80.85.89.22 - 04.66.53.54.92 - Fax: 04.66.53.54.92 1200 Professionnels + Particuliers + Habitants

In English it reads like this:

84 (The county department number.)

Carpentras, (is the name of the town.) Then it says it is 15 Kilometers away from a more known town called, L'Isle sur la Sorgue.

It goes on to say:

Large Winter Flea Market- to be held at the market place by the train station - Pernes Route Pernes Les Fontaines - 7:00 a.m to 6:00 p.m. - Outside - Free entrance.

Telephone number : 06.80.85.89.22 - 04.66.53.54.92 - Fax: 04.66.53.54.92

Then the cream de la cream of information... The announcement says how many dealers will be setting up: 1200 Professionals antique dealers, flea market dealers and locals will be selling. Be still my heart! Yes folks this is heaven. This is a dream. This is my idea of a lucky, good day. 1200 professional antique dealers, plus other local dealers, and car boots, and garage sales all wrapped into one day in one place.   I am so sorry you cannot be here. Honestly I am. I bet it is enough to make you green. If it is any consolation, if it helps at all to know, I cannot go either. So sad, so true, so not what I had plan to do. Now who has chocolate to share with me?

photos: Buttons. Maybe only buttons will be for sale at the flea market... that would make me feel better.