Tapestry found at an intersection
French Flea-market finds:
My friend deals with vintage fabrics: silks, cottons, printed linens, boutis, and tapestries. She piles them in heaps in the back of her van. She goes wherever there is an antique market; Avignon, Béziers, Lyon or Montpellier, once there she lets her long blond hair down, straightens her Chanel and steps out in high heels. Not the usual attire for those who sale at the fair, but then she is not the usual attire type of woman!
Her home reflects her personality, cushions are covered in antique toile de Jouy, silks are framed as artwork, rock crystals sconces, her furniture is all 18th-century- except her blue Smeg frig, and in her bedroom, roses have climbed the outside wall slipping through the window sill with such force, it is as if the roses are wallpaper!
Pretty woman/friend calls me- we must talk! Urgently! When I arrive she pulls me inside, as if life is close to death, telling me she has met a man! Her van had stalled in an intersection, he pulled up dashing in his sports car, "After he helped me... he asked me out! Of course I said yes, we are to go to dinner this evening! And I haven't anything to wear!" I looked at her sideways, giving her a loud thought, "You have nothing to wear, you who wears Prada like I wear jeans!" She reinstated her need, "...nothing to wear and I MUST go to Christian Lacroix and pick up something smashing!"
I think to l myself, because she is already on the planet of "Hot-Date-Ville," he hasn't seen all your clothes, he only saw you in your van, what did you have on then: Your blond hair, mile long eyelashes and some one-two outfit, do you think he even remembers what you were wearing?? Then it hits me like a champagne glass thrown at the mantle: my opinion is not what she is after.
"Corey," in her charming English accent she teases, "You've often admired my tapestry?" Stunned, I beg her not to sale her tapestry for a drive-by-date, "You'll regret it! You'll only wear the outfit once! And then it'll pile up with your other fashion plates! Just go to your closet, close your eyes dig around and pull something out, I am sure it will work!"
I roll the tapestry and gently put it in the back seat of my car.
Several months later, my friend dines with us chez moi, at my house, with Mr. Sports car. He looks around admiring, he likes tongue-in-cheek-antiques, points to the tapestry and asks, "Corey, I love your tapestry! Don't you honey? Where did you find it?" I look at him him and laugh, "You won't believe this, it found me, the day you found her at an intersection..."
PS The tapestry is partly shown, I doubt I would sale it, and certainly not for clothes!
I just love this image! The way she is finely dressed yet holding the tree reminds me of Marie Antoinette. With all her pomp and finery her REAL love was actually seen in a longing for nature and kindness and simplicity in the little cottages she spent so much of her time in. I have been thinking of her lately, and may use this image in a post about her if that is okay with you...
Posted by: wendy | August 23, 2006 at 06:16 AM
One more wonderful story..........so exciting to meet someone like this....
Posted by: Jann Mumford | August 23, 2006 at 05:17 AM
what a great story...how amusing for all involved!
xo mary ann
Posted by: mary ann | August 23, 2006 at 03:20 AM
LOL!! What a great story! How funny! Funny funny funny! Did he think it was charming? Did he give her a bog 'ol kiss??
:)
Posted by: Amber | August 23, 2006 at 01:50 AM
this story is as big a find as the other two!
Posted by: mikaelah | August 23, 2006 at 01:37 AM
Lovely post - and I wouldn't want to part with that tapestry either! I saw some gorgeous tapestries at Blenheim Palace in England and in the private apartments of the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough.
Posted by: Paris Parfait | August 22, 2006 at 11:56 PM
That is just one of the best "how we met" stories I've heard in ages and a "rescue" thrown in too!!
Posted by: AnnieElf | August 22, 2006 at 09:37 PM
The tapestry is beautiful!
I can't imagine selling it for more clothes, but we all have our passions and they aren't always easily explained.
I will often buy another old thing, while my friends will say to me..."You need to buy more clothes!"
Posted by: Mrs.Staggs | August 22, 2006 at 07:26 PM
Some people are just meant to meet. Great story and beautiful tapestry.
Posted by: deirdre | August 22, 2006 at 05:59 PM
You are a very, very good friend. What an angel!
Posted by: josephine | August 22, 2006 at 05:21 PM
Your friend a lady of luxury that surrounds her but it takes a friend like you to make her see the tapestry!
Posted by: naturegirl | August 22, 2006 at 04:49 PM
What a beautiful part of the tapestry. The whole thing must be sublime. Great story!
Posted by: candy | August 22, 2006 at 04:33 PM
Oh Corey, well worth repeating again and again! Travel home safely - wish I could have seen you again - next time!!! My thoughts and heart is with you and yours...
Posted by: Ulla | August 22, 2006 at 04:09 PM
wonderful, as always.
Posted by: stephanie s | August 22, 2006 at 04:02 PM
This is a perfect story - one that sets me imagining the holes that appear in her decor as her closet burgeons and Sports Car beams.
Posted by: Rebekah | August 22, 2006 at 02:43 PM
Wonderful story..haha, I am always saying there is nothing to wear when my wardrobes are almost packed to the brim! That's the tragedy of being woman :) Love the tapestry, your friend's house sounds amazing.
Posted by: cruststation | August 22, 2006 at 01:56 PM
Oh , a story!
So, I sat comfortably in my red arm chair by the fire. I put on my specs and read....and read....and read. Corey, please my dear, WRITE A BOOK. Maybe you should put this story on paper and attach it carefully to the back of that glorious tapestry. It is part of it's provenance afterall!
Posted by: herhimnbryn | August 22, 2006 at 01:52 PM
You're a living novel, Corey :)
Posted by: Shannon Lewis | August 22, 2006 at 01:44 PM
too funny !!!
Posted by: diana | August 22, 2006 at 12:38 PM
that is a great story like all the ones you tell us...
Posted by: wishesheros | August 22, 2006 at 09:24 AM
Such a funny ending to a great Corey-story!!
Posted by: gracie | August 22, 2006 at 08:57 AM
I just found a libray computer to read a few mail before starting my studies today. Your story made a great start of my day :-) Greetings to your friend and Mr.Sportscar.
Posted by: Britt-Arnhild | August 22, 2006 at 08:43 AM