LE PETIT CABINET DE CURIOSITES

Ode to Provence

Provence is :

a corner of a quiet garden

Provencal potteries full of colors , of joy and happiness

the provencal pottery reflects our life , in particular the " santons " (little figures)

Pictures : Courtesy of my friend's Muriel , she collects all kind of provencal ceramics

PROVENCE is

Cooking , we have so much tasty food

"l'aioli"( garlic in the bed) I will give you its funny recipe

the bouillabaisse set , Vallauris pottery from the 60's ,

it is so kitch .I love it

PROVENCE is

linen : my souleiado ribbons treasure

provencal fabric is "indiennes "copy from the XVIII , cashemire , and boutis

PROVENCE is

a colorful and warm ambiance , that inspires so many wonderful painters

Painting from Raymond Allegre, a famous provencal painter  , Marseilles la Corniche ca 1910

SAINT AMOUR

TODAY in france we are celebrated the feast of Saint Amour ( LOVE )

So it is the perfect day to celebrate the feast of my family .

You have already " met" my DAD YVES , let's remember his work

Before and after : original XVIII th century Louis XVI chair with its original sheen ( on the left ) and the same chair but unfortunatly my dad will have to give a sheen to it .

My dad's creation : a Louis XV style " cabriolet" with a modern Designer Guild Fabric and he made the patina

my SISTER CLARISSE , let's see what she can do

THAT IS CLARISSE'S FIRST WORK THAT IS TO SAY FROM THE 1ST STEP TO THE LAST

PATINA ,UPHOLSTERY .... ISN'T SHE TOO GOOD ????

but I haven't told you antyhing about my MOTHER .

AS we say in french (I 'm going to translate it) I've kept the best for the end . Well they are ALL the best

Let's talk about my mother

She's a fairy ...she has "doigts de fée " (nimble fingers) as I have already explained you for my sister.

She sews all day long and she has such a good taste with a mix of techniques

She knows how to make a dream becomes a reality . She is not just an interior decorator , she creates .

she has wonderful hands ...She is sewing a strip on an entire handmade blind ( we call it store bateau)

here is the result . Look at my dad , he looks so young ...Well sorry for these bad pictures.

they are great upholsterers and interior decorators but not good photographers

I will show you more pictures of this remodeling in a next post

                          BONNE FETE AMOUR

And the winner is

WELL Nobody have found the exact solution.

You have come very close to it , We can say that Phyllis was pretty pretty close to it . I guess we can use them to make hats.

I love boxes because before opening it during 10 seconds you imagine what is inside ...

So GREAT

Ladies and Gentlemen it was just silky leaves

It comes from a private chapel's sacristy , it was I think to made religious decoration .

There was an old small metal box ...so sweet

I've bought some others incredible things ,among others religious linens ...

To be continued ....

Investigation

Guess What is inside this cute " BON MARCHE " box . I will reveal it tomorrow and it will to sell

I give you a clue ,it is in the picture below

I'm sure some of you are going to love it .

This bow was found this week end at the flea market in Hyères

Don't run to the post There is no picture of it ...SO let's play with your imagination

More about me

I'm still off . I will go to the beach today . Taking the sun . I love it . I can not live far away from the sea. I love particularly Cassis.

may be I will be bring back some pictures of this incredible place.

Anyway It has been one month since I'm writing this blog and I want you to know more about me .

So today a picture that sums up what I am , what I can be , what I hope to be

Sweet and kind like an angel

strong like an iron pot

peaceful like a dove

                                    Lights for sale in my little shop

8 things about me

I'm going to play Constance's game and to reveal 8 things about me
I would very quick as I'm at my friend's house
First : I'm the mix of several cultures and origins
2nd : I'm tolerant , my origins teached me to be tolerant
3rd : I'm a great listener , I love to listen to others' poeple life , their problems . and I try to help them each day
4th : I try each day to do something good , called in France "une BA " (bonne action) I try to help , to listen , to do something somebody likes ...
5th : I love to be free , I hate that somebody tells me what to do . I'm not selfish at all .But nobody leaves my life instead of me . It is may be why I'm single . I've lived a long time with a guy . But he was too heavy
6th :I love the others . It is almost the same that I'm a great listener ...I love to share with poeple . I'm a memeber of the rotary international . And thanks to that I help poeple almost everyday by giving my time , my experience , sometimes my love
7 th :I love blogging , I love to be a part of this community
8th : I'm funny , I take life as it comes . Everyday is a good day . Carpe Diem . I'm an easy living . Poeple say that about me . I love LIFE

antiques addcition

I have an antiques addiction ???

Is it bad

I do not think so .

Well my house is full .

My shop more or less

Today , I've bought a lot of things but I 've just taken some pictures in the flea market

Tell me what do you think about it

a XIXth century syrian chair ( that is just the back) I'm in love with this chair . For my orientalist ambiance . I'm going to keep it for me

a XIX th century terracotta flowerpot . I will take a better picture

some religious things ....

I will show you the rest later

Flea market on the french Riviera

This morning , I am at the flea market in Hyères , a town on the french riviera.

I love this town because it is the hometown of such a modern villa that is now a museum , it is called la villa noailles . It is just incredible . It is now a museum of "modern art decoratifs" .

I have dreamed about what I can find there .May be some provencal painting

                                   Detail from a provencal painting

As soon as I'm back I will try to write a post about what I've found.

When you come around here , ask me for good advice . I will give you the best spots to " chiner" ( buy antiques) and I can even come with you .

I love to share this passion

Joyeux Anniversaire

3rd of August : My best friend's birthday  : Cecile's day

I'm going to play Constance's game for my friend , but I will change a little bit the rules by just saying adjectives that matches perfectly with Cecile

• Friendly
• sophisticated
• hard worker
• strong
• fragile
• landswoman
• old fashionned
• so feminist

I have old pictures of her but I prefer to choose a picture of something which sums her up :

A corner in the Poterie Ravel

Their poteries are strong (they resist oustide) but fragile , they are rustic but so sophisticated , they are old fashioned but so modern .

Moreover I think that this garden corner could be hers

garden chairs and  XIX th century garden table from my shop

Cecile took english classes , she now supposes to speak very well so it will be the test !!!

Let's see if she can understand my mind ( it is not only language  ....)

OK let's just say

JOYEUX ANNIVERSAIRE

I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST ....AMONG OTHERS A PRINCE

UN JOUR TON PRINCE ... VIENDRA (this is related to her birthday's present ...come on it is not what you are thinking about )

MERCI

Thank you so much for your kind and friendly  comments and your support.

You have also helped me ...

I should have written also : I've thought about the future comments of my dear bloggers' friends ..

We are such a community .. it is great to be a part of it

The day will be pink ...La vie en rose

I will post a longer note later today

Mélanie

A silky and Svaroski's strass cushion and a little mouse . In the background

silf from P .Frey