Paris was my first home in France.  I moved there when I was 18 to study at the Sorbonne, and ended up living there for five years.  Many years later Provence would be my home, but it was Paris that was my universe when I was a young ‘un. 

And now I’m excited to go back to my old digs as a grown up.  This May I’ll be taking up residence in the City of Light, both to go back to some old memories and to create some new ones.

If you plan to be there, drop me a line!  I’d be delighted to meet for a coffee or a glass.  I am also offering my vintage shopping services at a special rate (for my blog readers) of 100 euros for one or two people for the day.  I can show you around the famous markets of St. Ouen or to my off-the-beaten-track places for an adventure in bargains!

Hope to see you there!!

At the market the trailer got lots of attention – more than at Alameda.  Folks in Sac are distinctly different than in the Bay Area even though only an hour separates the two regions.  Sacramento people are more down to earth and openly enthusiastic.  On the other hand, they seem to have in mind to spend quite a bit less money at a vintage market.  It’s all good and I had a great time, and did good sales anyway.

I saw this girl walk by with her clever homemade market caddy.  I stopped her and asked if she’d mind if I took a pic of it for my blog.  She didn’t hesitate to say yes.  And the darling woman even let me take a picture of her with it (always more interesting). 

Her name is Lauren and she rigged this up with her boyfriend. 

Then, as if I’m starting to see a trend emerge, I see another lady walk by with this number.

Turns out it’s a Turkish olive picking basket she (Kim) got at Atelier de Campagne, a great market vendor that imports from Europe.

Kim said she always goes to get a new one at each market because she knows that undoubtedly whenever a friend comes to her home and eyes the basket, wants one. 

So Kim brings the luggage carrier to the market, buys a new basket, straps it on and she uses her friend’s future envy fulfillment.

Next market – Treasure Island.  See you there the last weekend of the month!

This does!  Ta da…..

Somehow I found and bought the most darling little trailer.  I’ll sell with at my markets in California.    It all happened so fast.  I had no idea last Thursday morning that I’d be the owner of a vintage trailer by the time it struck midnight.  I had even gone to rent a u haul cargo trailer at the end of the day for the upcoming Alameda market.  I was even excited about towing that to market.   But something got me looking on Craigslist and suddenly there were some sweet trailers in there needing a new home (this after months of nada).   One phone call lead to a few email exchanges and I was off to beat the competition  in a couple hours.

A 1964 Shasta is what I got.  Since I got her (or him, not sure yet), I’ve learned to hitch, tow and even back it into a space (though I’m still on the left end of a learning curve on this last one).  It’s a fixer upper on the inside and I’m happy to be in charge of that.

Here’s my darling’s début market.  It’s hard to shoot a market stall where it looks nice, but believe me it was a pretty homey feel despite this image which makes it look jumbly.

Anyway, I’m blessed to have this and loving it lots.  Hoping I get into the Sacramento Antiques Faire Sunday to set up again.  Apparently there’s a waiting list.   Fingers are crossed!

I’m learning that lots of people I know are into or have a vintage trailer.  Let me know if you own or want to own one.  I’ll be posting on the progress of the makeover as I go.  Would love some advice!

From Just Cuz Creations in Napa Valley.  This would make a neat dressing screen for a big bedroom.  And I love the idea for market displays – all the merchandise you could hang from them.  Just find some pretty old doors and add hinges.

Another homespun idea for decor and organizing: take an old cabinet and turn it into a jewelry organizer.  Just pound in some nails and presto. 

Imagine a little fresh flower bud in this blue bottle.   I like the cubbies added on the bottom, too.  This is a creation by Lela Shields of Trouvé in Marin County just outside of San Francisco.  You can visit the shop in the charming town of Fairfax.

The colorful object above is actually a mirror reflecting the mural across the room in the Treasure Island administration building.

It drew me to this Let Them Eat Cake tray creation by Tama Star Handmade  (clever).  Which then led me to her pretty typewriter key jewelry.  I bought my buddy Elizabeth this pendant. 

For you crafters, Allysyn at Artha Soaps (check her out for fantastic handmade hemp soaps!) was making these delicate paper flowers with her Martha Stewart craft punch.  The beauty of the punch is that the petals are irregular and so make some sweet results.  Allyson added a bead of glue between each of the layers – let the glue dry a little to create a tiny bit of space between each layer.  Fold up the petals on the top layer for more dimension.  Results are more darling than I could capture in the pic.

Oh and for the most fabulous wall décor, nothing beats French Vintage School Posters.  That’s my booth.

Next post – the characters you meet at the Treasure Island market. 

By the way!  I’ll be selling at Alameda this Sunday.  Booth to be announced early Sunday from the market.  Keep an eye on the Le Trip facebook page Sunday morning  for the booth number.  Come down to see the new exciting addition to my booth…..

First of all, this is a relatively new show.  Angie and Charles are the market directors/head honchos and are as nice as nice can be. That counts big in my book – their vibe seemed to spread throughout the show as everyone was in a super mood.  Anyway, I’m excited about being part of their first indoor show (only happens three months in the winter, otherwise, it’s all outdoors) and also to continue with their market as it grows.  For the moment the market seems to not be that well known even amont San Franciscans, which is incredible given its stunning location and million dollar views of the city.

The market takes place in and around the administration building, which was built in the 1930′s. 

It looks like the poor cousin of the Trocadero in Paris. 

Both have the fabulous glamourous “bones” and awe-inspring views (the Trocadero looks directly across the Seine to the Eiffel Tower and the Treasure Island admin building is directly across from the Embarcadero of San Francisco)…hey, Trocadero/Embarcadero…  

Photo credit Stephane Pironon

But while I felt like royalty at a party I once went to at the Trocadero, I certainly felt like a commoner in the Treasure Island building.  Nothing wrong with that though, eh?  Especially when selling in a market, that’s about as common as it gets.  I love markets.  Like my brother was saying, they’re about as old as man and as basic and traditional as human interaction gets.  So many stories…. but that will have to be for the next blog.

This was a two day affair.  The market starts at 10 am (so civilized – I do not get why we need to be out there selling at 5 am!  Do you?) and goes on until 5 pm.  Perfect!

So stay tuned. The next blog posts will be about some of the characters and great things to see, taste, and buy. 

A bientot!f

If you’re in the Bay Area this weekend, come on down and say hi to me at booth 116.  Here are free passes for two.  Print out and bring to door or tell the door person that Jill from Le Trip sent you and you’ll get in free.

Am getting the car loaded now.  It’s windy out there!

Not hitched like that.  Hitched like I’m all set to tow now. 

It must have been Colleen, one of my favorite bloggers, over at Fresh Vintage who got me day dreaming about vintage campers (and selling at markets out of them) before I even left France.  Here’s probably the photo that got me started on my little obsession.  (If you’re thinking about getting one yourself, check out her post on her own search – great tips. I’ve also used her methods for lots of other items online.)

Now that I’m in California a good half the year, I’m focusing at selling at the local shows of California.  So I bought myself a beautiful tow vehicle, added a hitch, and am loving thinking of ways to display. Can you imagine how cool it must be to have a camper like that at your booth?  I try to imagine, a lot.  But now that I’ve had a chance to get an upclose look at the practicalities and my budget, I’m actually going to opt for a little cargo trailer for now (way more boring but I’m even excited about that) until I see how the market selling goes over here. 

 So far in 2012 I’ve sold at Alameda, Sacramento, the two pop-ups: Room with a Past and Paris Flea Market.  Next weekend (last weekend of the month), am very excited to be part of the first ever indoor Treasure Island Flea.   I just got word that I was accepted today – woo hoo. ( There’s a market geek stirring inside me, I can feel it.)

The Treasure Island building was built for the 1939 World’s Fair.  My dad was telling me that they built that island just for the world’s fair (by just piling rock upon rock for a year straight), then it got brought into military service in WW2.  I’ve never been inside before and bet it’s a beauty.  I’ll let you know on that after the show. 

Once I have info on my booth number, I’ll post it in the blog – in case you’re planning on attending.  I’d love to meet you.

A bientot!

This last year was an excellent one, if a little tight in the budget.  We managed to have a lovely New Year’s Eve dinner regardless.

We had seltzer water toast to a prosperous 2012.

Wishing you a fun and creative, prosperous new year.

P.S. I’ll catch you up on my news soon.

At a small dinner party at my apartment in Aix, Judy asked for some salt.  Lacking salt and pepper shakers I just poured some on a plate for the table (I’m a stickler for keeping things pretty on the dinner table). 

We used our fingers and Nanette said the plate looked like art.  Sort of Japanese, I thought. 

Nanette said next time to use a black plate for the salt and white for the pepper.  Next time I’ll have little dishes of each color for the s&p, for each guest.   

Nifty idea, do you think?

I’m so lucky to be able to come here.  It’s the place Richelme in Aix, and I live a few blocks away.  This morning (and what a beautiful morning) I brought my bike and filled my bike basket with wonderful salad fixings.

Got some goat cheese from Manosque.

The marché in Place Richelme has been going since the 14th century.  These days it’s every day, even Sunday, rare for a French market. 

Here’s a picture I got from the web.  Today there were less vendors as usual, has to be due to the long holiday weekend – it’s All Saint’s Day tomorrow and, lots of commerces in France are closed down.

Tomorrow friends are coming into Marseille on a cruise ship.  I’ll bring them to this market and the bigger market that takes place in Aix on Tuesdays.  Then off to Les Baux de Provence for olive oil tasting at Castellas (supplier to Williams Sonoma)  and a visit to St. Rémy.

A bientot!