Vintage Shopping List and Super Fun Finds

When you go vintage shopping it can be fun to go with a list and try and find specific items.  I was lucky enough to have 2 amazing shopping experiences this weekend.  Friday was the opening day of the Foire de Chatou, a 700 vendor event just outside of Paris.  My shopping buddy and I headed over for a quick trip and lunch.  

On my list was a vintage bottle drying rack.  I know they have been around for a while, but I still wanted one to work with.  I found a couple of smaller ones, but nothing that stopped me in my tracks.  Then I saw this giant.  I was told it is about 50 years old, but it is great condition.  I walked away to think about it, I was going to eat lunch before making a decision.  On the way to lunch I couldn't help myself, I had to go back and make sure I got it.  I am still deciding how I am going to style it, but you can be sure you will see more of this guy.

The other thing on my list was something enamelware.  I saw several pieces, perfectly nice pitchers, but nothing extraordinary in design or price.  Then I saw this guy.  This is a large round bowl with handles and lid.  At first I thought it was porcelain, but when I picked it up and it was metal I was hooked.  I picked it up and walked around the booth.  I always like to see if I can find more than one thing to make negotiating more fun.  I didn't find anything else, but I was okay with paying the price the seller had set.  I realize that going on the first day puts you as the buyer at a disadvantage, but the items I bought were decent prices and unique items.  I am planning on going back to the Foire de Chatou towards the end of the event, that is when I will hopefully get better prices on a few more things.  

The second amazing shopping experience this weekend was a day with a professional, Cat from Rabbit Hill.  Getting to meet a blogger you follow is a funny experience.  I had contacted Cat about attending a day of shopping with her.  My shopping buddies and I headed out to the coast of France before the sun was up on Saturday morning.  Meeting Cat and her husband was such a great experience.  We got to visit a brocante, a few stores and an auction house.  We had a delicious lunch in a picturesque French town and learned a few new things about treasures that we love.   

One of the first things on my list was a vintage toy rocking horse.  I was inspired most recently by Holly Mathis, and a living room she did for a client.  I saw many horses that I loved, but they were all 

200 + euros!  I wanted a horse, but not that badly.  I found this little guy at the end of the day and he fit my needs just fine.  

The suitcase is a new find as well, the best thing about the suitcase were the beautiful vintage linens it was filled with when I brought it home.

Here is a sampling of some of the linen I brought back this time, vintage torchon or kitchen towels, hand embroidered pieces and antique linen sheets.  I have quite a few more pieces and I am loving all of the linen white loveliness around my house.

One of my unique pieces from the day was my green garde-manger, or food keeper.  This would be similar to a pie safe.  

This piece of French newspaper is still stuck to the bottom of the inside.

I love this sweet little piece and shelf inside. 

Vintage shopping is fun because you never know what you are going to find, but I have been surprised that when I go with a list in mind I am almost always able to find what I am looking for.  

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Happy Sunday

Sunday evening photos.  I have been working on my fall mantel.  The tiny print at the bottom is the potato harvest.  I am enjoying the different metals, my vintage books, and some of my doilies.  I have found almost all of these items in the last month, I have been having fun!

Our sweet Malachi loves being outside.  

Garrett is so over me taking pictures of him.  

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Picking Apples in Paris

This week I got to go on a field trip  with my son Bennett.  The field trip was to Les Fermes de Gally.  This farm is outside of Paris, not far from Versailles and it is amazing.  

The apple orchards were so beautiful in the hazy morning light.

I did have my little helper here with me.

This is a popular destination for schools, I saw at least 6 buses unload before 10.  The little French children were so cute all bundled up in their jackets and scarves.

I met up with Ben's class in the main farm area.  When did he get so grown up?

The kids got to go through the process of washing, grinding and pressing apples to make apple juice.  

They do a great job with their class, each of the students got to do each job.

My little trooper was so tired, but he hung in there.

I loved the decorations around the teaching area, they have a gorgeous white farmhouse table with nice long benches.  These crates were a great color.   

They had these amazing vintage teaching posters all over the farm.  I am on the look out for similar pieces this weekend at the brocante I am visiting.

The apple juice was ready!  They had enough for everyone to taste,

even Malachi got a taste.

He was a big fan.

Outside we got to meet a few animals.  The kids got to pet a bunny and then they met this 36 year old donkey.  There were pigs and lots of chickens too.

At first I thought this was just an unfortunate chicken that had had a rough encounter.  But later I saw several more with the exact same 'issues'.  This breed of chicken just doesn't have feathers on its neck apparently.  

Next we walked out by a couple of ponies, cows, the sheep and then the goats.  This view was just gorgeous.  I am not sure how long this farm has been here, but I am sure it has been a while.

We got to walk through the pen with the sheep, but there was only one we could touch.  These three were so cozy.

These three had their noses touching.

This was the sheep, Dulce, that we were allowed to pet.  Dulce means sweet in French and this sheep lived up to his name.  

Next was the goat pen.  

This goat cracked me up, every time he 'yelled' he stuck his tongue out.  

The goats were a cuddly bunch.  The baby goats were a big hit with all of the kids.

Malachi wasn't sure what he thought about all the goats at first.  

Then the goats came up to him and started to nibble and he decided he liked them much better from up high.  

From there we went back through the chicken area, I love this green cart.

This guy was quite fancy.

While the kids finished their lunches I headed into the shop they have on site.  This shop is quite amazing.  

I was recommended to try one of these potimarron.  Apparently it has a chestnut like flavor.

I also got a butternut squash.

The displays were beautiful.

I am looking forward to going back for pumpkins soon.

Next it was time to pick some apples.  During the 2 minute ride down the road Malachi was out.  This little guy loves his naps, but he also loves to be on the go.

Here is a board with all of the fruits, vegetables, and flowers that you can pick.  This farm really is quite amazing.  There are wheelbarrows you can use while gathering your produce.  

There are bags and these crates around the property so that you can collect your produce.

The apples were gorgeous and plentiful.

They had several varieties ready to pick.

They had each row labeled with what variety was growing there and a small description.

Ben was so tired by the end of the day, but it was so worth it.  Now I am getting ready to do some more baking with all my apples.   

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Paris Map Dresser Makeover

I have talked before about some of my trash treasures.  During trash day one month a friend of mine texted me that there was some furniture out on her street.  My mom was here so we headed in her direction.  This little dresser was abandoned on the side of the road.  It was pretty rough and dirty, but we decided to put it in the car any way.

The dresser sat outside for a couple of days and then my mom brought it in and scrubbed the whole thing down.  And then she did it again and I think she might have scrubbed it once more after that.  I didn't have a place for it so the dresser stayed in the basement all summer.  

Last month I decided to rearrange the living room.  I needed a side table for the couch and this dresser fit perfectly.  I moved the dresser into place, but I knew it needed some work. 

I was spurred to action when I found twisted iron drawer pulls at the hardware store for 50 cents each.  They were a little too big for the original holes so I drilled new holes and filled the old ones.  

I had this map tucked away for future use.  The map was in pretty rough shape and would not have been a good candidate for framing or most other uses.  I love this map thought because it shows the smaller city names outside of Paris that are where we live and spend most of our time.  

Here is the dresser all put together.  I fixed a batch of homemade modge lodge using glue and attached the map to the drawer fronts.  Then the drawer pulls went into place.

Here is my dresser in its place in the living room.  It is not a show stopper or the first thing you notice when you walk in, but it is a fun and functional piece.  For a total investment of 4 euros and some time I love it.

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