A total triumph for Miss Bunny..............

Well of course  she did it - and we always knew she would!!! The gorgeous Miss Bunny of tedandbunny fame [ http://www.tedandbunny.blogspot.com/ ] was the organiser of the wonderful vintage fair that we attended last  Monday. [ http://vintagevillagehall.blogspot.com/ ]   I hadn`t stood a fair for over 15 years - so it took a very special person to drag me back over the Channel with my treasures!
 Firstly, for those of you who have not met her,let me tell you about Miss Bunny. She is a very modest person - but I think  you should know a few things about her. 
She is one of the most hardworking, inspirational and stylish people I have ever met! One of the very few people I can rely on to tell me the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth - however good ( or bad!) it is When other people are pandering to me with "Oh yes, that`s wonderful" she is the only one who will say "Take it off, you look ridiculous!" !!!!  If ever I need an impartial, realistic view I simply ring her because I know she will always tell it as it is. She will listen to me babble on for ages then give me her answer, straight, but in a nice way if you know what I mean!
She carries off vintage clothing with such panache that she makes me want to throw myself under the next patisserie van in dismay! We once attended a "ladies who lunch" vintage fair where she wore skinny jeans, a vintage sailors jacket with a matching sailors hat and she looked absolutely divine.
With her tumbling 1920s curls, she has a zest for life that makes you flop in a chair with exhaustion. Living in a deliciously stylish house in the grounds of a stately home with the gorgeous Mr Ted, she is also one hell of a horsewoman. She also happened to be my wedding organiser. She was determined not  to allow us to simply sneek over to the UK to marry and then return as quietly as we had arrived. Instead she organised the most memorable day for us - even down to baking us a fabulous lavender wedding cake. Honestly, if I didn`t love her so much I would hate her for being so capable! She is also the strongest person I have ever met , not physically (in the manner of someone running around in a striped leotard with a French moustache lifting dumbells - well she might in the privacy of her own bedroom,who knows? ) - but strong in standing up to and facing what life has thrown at her; and I can tell you that it has been thrown to her in huge dollops. Her resilience is truly remarkable.

So, enough of that (or she may not be able to get her head with its perfectly formed curls through the door)  - and back to the fair. Miss Bunny  had rung me in the Summer to say she was thinking of organising a vintage fair with very carefully selected dealers whose wares would all compliment each other - and would I be interested? Without a second thought I told her to count me in!
We arrived at the village hall last Sunday afternoon direct from the ferry where it was obvious that she was fully  prepared and had thought of absolutely everything;  and I mean EVERYTHING!!! We soon had the hall decked with beautiful homemade, brightly-coloured bunting,  the tables for the exhibitors placed out and the kitchen prepared for the home-baked delights. She had even thought of putting out lavender and soft hand towels and even a large mirror for the ladies facilities which doubled as a ladies changing room for those customers wanting to try on  their vintage clothing. And to cap it off, putting out wonderful vintage tea cups and saucers so that even the teas were befitting of the day!
I spent the whole afternoon ribbing her saying : "Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh what have you done?.......oooooooooohhhhh what have you done"!!!! But I knew it was all going to be fine as she had worked SO hard in the weeks beforehand promoting the event,  distributing leaflets when and whereever she could. Even road signs were made and painted (but I will just say  one word to Mr Bunny regarding the shape of one of his arrows painted on a sign ....PHALLIC! ].
I was sure Miss Bunny wouldn`t sleep that night worrying whether  anyone would turn up. I, too, found it difficult to sleep - and I almost sent her in text in the middle of the night saying "oooooooooooh what have you done?!!!!". When we arrived at the hall early the next morning she confirmed that she hadn't slept at all the previous night and, like me, had almost sent me a text at 4.30 am! Great minds and all that.

Miss tumbly curls Bunny in the background as we prepared the night before...............

Although it was a cold and frosty morning the sun was bright - and the hall looked divine with all the other dealers in place. Everything was set for the 10am opening and Miss Bunny, I might add, was looking as chic as usual wearing grey tailored wool shorts, woollen tights, a gorgeous knitted sweater, boots and with her trademark 20`s curls perfectly coiffed!

Her efforts at publicising the event had clearly paid off. People  began arriving early and by 9.45 a large queue had already formed. Miss Bunny gave us all a 5 minute 'warning' and then, at 10am, the doors were opened and, within seconds, the hall crammed full of eager visitors. I had had no idea what to take with me to sell but, ooooooooh la la, I really wish I had packed more!

It was fabulous to see some of the other stand holders who I haven`t seen for many years - and a particularly nice suprise to meet Tracey again   http://vintagebothy.blogspot.com/ who I hadn`t seen for well over 15 years!!
It was such a pleasure to meet other bloggers too especially Denise and her husband  of http://abuncandance.blogspot.com/.
Overall, a fabulous day.  Many, many congratulations to Miss Bunny; and I am so much looking forward to the next fair you are already planning in the Summer.
A la prochaine mes belles from a snowed-in petit chateau in Normandie!

Just in time....................

We arrived back in France very very late last night and just in the nick of time as the snow closed in behind us and closed the roads. So, we are snowed in!! Charles le Baron du Breuil was too small to go out last year and had just has his little kittens paw amputated so this year is his first time in the snow................

What on earth is this stuff in the garden?

I`ll just sit and check it out............................

Actually.......................it`s quite fun..............................

Whey hey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I`ll let you know all the news from the vintage fair tomorrow.
A la prochaine mes belles.....

All packed and ready.............

I have spent the last two days getting ready for the first fair I will be standing for over 15 years!
Vintage at the village hall looks as if it`s going to be a wonderful event!! I had no idea what I should be taking and hope I have packed the right treasures. I wanted to have something very special to display and I found this divine angel figure on my travels last week.....

I am secretly hoping she doesn`t sell and I get to keep her!

I`ll let you know how it all goes when I get back from the UK next week.

A la prochaine mes belles...............

Divine petite pantoufles............

These are the divine little antique French textile slippers I discovered on my travels last week.............

.................never used and just packed away for years...............

....................simply adorable little textiles treasures with a little corsage stitched onto the frou frou frills.......

.........................................from a more elegant era............

As I type Tartellette is in the air mid-flight back to the States. She told us she has always wanted swans in her garden at home and just before she left a pair arrived on the marsh near the house! She grabbed the nearest footwear and like a lunatic ran out to photograph them.......

Its a good job she found some wellies before my toile pantoufles!!!

I am gradually catching up with my listings and for some reason ( due to someone being mid air?!) the chateau is once again a haven of calm and quiet!

Gorgeous daughter Kate has listed a few delicious little vintage French fripperies on her own Ebay site now ( Huh!!! I am no longer required and it appears that having been raised in a house constantly filled with my brocanting treasures she had a very good eye and can run faster than me at the brocantes!!! Note to myself.....lock the armoires!!!.) Her Ebay name is passionatelyparis.........not so much a chip off the old block as a tassle off the old portiere!!!!

A la prochaine mes belles.

Visions of macaroons....................

I am finally home after a whirlwind week and I must confess I feel as if I have been run over by a steam roller!!! The house is crammed with not only my weeks worth of treasures but also Tartellettes that we are frantically trying to package as she leaves for Paris today.
Lisieux was fabulous despite the early rain and as usual the car was crammed to bursting point. My favourite find of the day? A box of little boudoir slippers that date from the early 1900s, three pairs in all ... unused.............. so delicate and beautiful.
But sadly the temptations were not just of the "brocante" kind as our hotel sat above the most delectable "open all night" chocolaterie and patisserie.........................

How is a woman supposed to get any sleep..................................

.......knowing all those hand made delights were below..........

What is that little ditty?.........Oh yes.......I remember........

May visions of macaroons dance in your head......and you simply chateau....stay firmly in bed!!!


Over the next few days I am going to try and get back to normal ( whatever that is?!), get some treasures listed on my auction site and get ready for next weekend when we leave to stand the first fair I have done for well over 10 years.
So what do I chose first to photograph?

Save me.................save me....................

This week has been an absolute whirlwind and everything has gone to rats with my Ebay listings but I simply have not been here at all!!!

We arrived home after two huge trade fairs late on Wednesday, spent all day Thursday preparing some divine fripperies with a Marie Antoinette theme for the Vintage at the village hall fair I am attending next week ( see link left) and yesterday we hit the road truffling around all the local brocantes.

Last night we hosted an aperitif party in Tartellette`s honour and it ended up a very, very raucous affair and we all got to bed at about 2am! 

 I was very wicked to Tartellette and told her that we had invited "The Countess D`Amfreville" to meet her and we were amazed and honoured that she had accepted the invite. As there is no such person we had arranged for a good friend Lynn to glide into the party in a fur coat looking as regal as possible. I told Tartellette that she had to be very respectful and if the countess should offer her hand she should lower her head and kiss it! She was to be polite and not touch her or speak to her unless spoken to! Of course we were all in on the joke and when "The Countess" arrived we all fell silent as her chauffeur ( her husband John!!) removed the Countess`s fur and I could see the terror on Tartellettes`s face as Lynn approached her. How Lynn managed to keep her face straight I will never know!!! She greeted Tartellette regally in French and put out her hand, Tartellette took her hand solemnly bowed her head and in her very best French said "Bonsoir.....Comment Allez Vous?". The whole room exploded in hysterics as I told Tartellette that we had set her up!!! Needless to say that was how the rest of the evening went!!!

So today we leave for Lisieux, 2000 + stands of brocante through the streets starting at 4am tomorrow morning. It`s always a very very hard one to do as it`s so large but it never dissappoints and we usually come home with divine treasures year after year. The local townsfolk empty their attics, small time dealers bring out their stock and top notch dealers unload what is not worthy for their high class stores ( It`s always more than worthy for me!!).

I promise to get back to normal (whatever that is!) next week. Tartellette is threatening a guest blog on here before she goes. Heaven help you all!

Bon weekend mes belles!

Heaven........................I`m in heaven...............

Today was divine.....simply divine. I saw so much wonderful brocante I don`t know where to start describing it to you so you`ll just have to look for yourself. ( If you want to look closer just click on the photos and they will enlarge). We have just got home and the car was so packed with treasures that you could hardly see tartelette on the back seat, I had two cast iron urns under my legs in the front and a lap full of bags!!!  I need my bed!!!!

Just a little update................

We arrived at the station in Chartres to see someone standing there in the entrance hall with mountains of bags wearing Gustavian grey wellington boots with hoards and hoards of 19th century gold wire tassels draped around their neck and we knew................Tartelette has arrived!!!!!!
She bought those divine tassels in Paris just before she got on the train and simply had to wear them!!!! I shall be confiscating a few!
I forgot to unpack my camera for the fair this morning but ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...............................I found divine things.....................
A batch of hand quilted 19th century Toile de Jouy with cute children vignettes, the most amazing 1880s scrap book brimming with crowns, crests, monogram letters and  decoupage scraps, an old oval toleware cuisine clock, a bronze angel, hand loomed linens, a 1950s tea dress and matching shoes, enamel jugs and matching soap dishes, embroidered chateau muslin curtains, photo frames, a beautiful desk calender dated 1888, a feather- filled huge boutis quilt,ten fabulous old quirky shaped bottles each etched with a cross and the list goes on.
We are now in a hotel ready for the next huge fair early in the morning..........................let me at `em!!!!
A demain mes belles and hopefully I`ll remember the camera!!!!

Almost.....................

Okay...................so I take it back! Late last night a very dishevelled and exhausted farmer knocked at the cuisine door to apologise for the hedge and the mess his cows had made in the garden. I felt so sorry for him - standing there in the dark, bitterly cold and lashing rain! What's a hedge between friends?!!!! (a much deflated me!)
Tartelette has arrived in Paris today and we have just managed to get the attic bedroom into some kind of order for her visit. It`s been a very close shave and Mark is still painting as I type! If the three flights of winding stairs don`t kill her then the paint fumes will!!!
And to think, when we moved in, the space had not been used for over 180 years, you could see the sky through the roof tiles and the floor was a thick layer of soil resting on the ceilings below! But now - what a transformation...

And as for furnishings?  I bought this armoire (below) a million years ago for £50 ( $100) . The mirror had broken but I still had to have it, still with its original old grey paint and such divine rose garlands on the outer doors.

I had the door secured from behind and upholstered the gap with some treasured 19th century toile with cherubs................

It is a panel I have been hoarding for a long time - and I managed to use the textile for the background on my website and my Ebay auctions - so it`s pretty special to me.

We have given Tartellette a little light reading (!)...............

It has been nice to finally unpack the corbeille bed that has been stashed away since we moved here. I love those tapestry, rose-filled urns.

There is still so much more to do up there, but at least it`s comfy for Tartelettes arrival! 

 When we first started the work we realised that George the girouette (weathervane) had been secured by a large bolt that comes straight through the large beam in the ceiling of the room. When the rain was very, very heavy a few plips of water were coming in and landing on the soil floor. We asked a few roofing companies to come and fit a zinc collar around the base of the pole on the roof so that the rain would drain away but no one had a ladder long enough to get to the top of this high pointed roof!!  So, as part of the renovation, we sealed it from below. But with the terrible lashing rain we have had this week it has brought on another problem. It seems that the water has found another route and we went up there this morning to see a wet patch on the ceiling further down the wall..............
( look below the chandelier)

It`s too late to deal with it now as we leave for Chartres tomorrow to meet Tartelette. However, when we get home I am going to search until I find a roofing company that has the right equipment.

So - off tomorrow 'on the road' truffling for treasures, and I`ll take some photographs as we go!

A la prochaine mes belles..................

The last rebel.....................

Well the hedges are trampled, my lawn is like a colander and there is one rebel heffer left. He had evaded capture last night and stayed on the marsh all night shouting for his friends. The farmer and his team arrived  to collect him and once again he has crashed through what is left of the hedge onto the lawn and I saw him pass the cuisine window laughing as he went.
They managed to get him back onto the marsh and of course by then it was 12 noon and time for the great 2 hour lunch break and everyone has disappeared for the most important part every Frenchman`s day........food! Whilst they are away we have managed to find some green wire fencing to try and fill the gap ready for the afternoons capture.
Has the farmer just nipped in to say "desole" .... sorry? Has he figgy pudding! I`ll let you know what happens.......................