Brocante at the car rally

Isn't it typical? Having enjoyed fabulous weather all summer, our guests have arrived from Wales and the weather is gloomy, rainy, cold and windy...we took them to a nocturnal market this week in Montbron. It was a car rally/brocante and although lots of cars turned out, the market traders were a bit thin due to the promise of rain.

Still, I managed to get a few little vintage bargains, but I'm not supposed to be working this week, so I'll show them later.




We once had an MGB - but in about a hundred pieces on the garage floor!


This one will do for me...


Nice, but a bit small for all my shopping...


Everyone is wearing warmer clothes - it was cold.


Can you see this fabulous old pram? I was very tempted, but so difficult to pack and post!


I looked at this ciel du lit (drape mounting/frame for over-the-bed) but it was absolutely riddled with woodworm, so I declined to buy it. Bit of a shame really as I have been looking for one for ages, but even with treatment, it was too far gone.

Well, off now for more tourist stuff - I'm working later in the week.

Visitors from UK

Just to let you know that I am out of the loop for a few days due to visitors from Blighty (Yeay - it's lovely to see them!) and so my shops on Ebay and Etsy aren't stocked at the mo - if there is anything on the blog you would like, just email me.

In the meantime, we're just off doing touristy things with our guests!

A few new bits and pieces

Sorry, but this happy couple are sold
A French wedding cake topper dating from the late 1930s/early 40s - the lady I bought it from said they had been used for each family wedding until her grandaughter eloped in the 80s and never married at all! It has had several repairs, and a new base - I haven't listed it yet but email me if you would like to buy at £10. The separate wax flowers - used in a buttonhole - are £5.


A cute little bedside lamp from 1940s - with the original bakerlite switch - more details here The colours of cream, browns, green etc are great for a study or guest room, perhaps where pastels may not suit.


just needs a new bulb holder - easy peasy!

Kitsch or what! Looks like the inside of an Elizabeth David cookbook...


Sorry - this piece no longer available (Happy Christmas Wendy!)
This is a great 1960s or 70s tea-towel or torchon rack - perfect for a retro kitchen or a collector of kitsch...you can see the Etsy listing here.
I love the kitchen utensils and 'stonework' behind...SO retro...


So sorry, but this item has sold already!
This is a lovely celluloid prayer book, dating from 1909 - you can read all about it here.

There are two prayer inserts, one is dated 1863 and made from a lace doiley. The Missel still has its original clasp.

I have got lots more stock to list - this is just the tip of the iceberg - but we have guests from Blighty arriving in a day or two, and a ton of tomatoes to bottle, beans to freeze, chutney to make and apples to pick, so please, bear with me...

French Chateau-chic for the winter season...

*****Find out more - and you can buy a copy here...











******Find out more - and you can buy a copy here....

I've been selling back copies of a particular French interiors magazine for a number of years now, in response to an American customer who asked me if I could find a copy for her - she had lived in France for some years and after returning to the US, was then unable to find it in her new home town.

I just cannot help but be inspired by all the simply divine interiors in this favourite magazine of hers and mine: the French periodical 'Campagne Decoration'. It is such a delicious mix of the antique, the rustic charm of the countryside, the French flair for the original shabby-chic...

The interiors are just fabulous - everything from chateaux to cottages, family farms to mountain ski-chalets, and are usually French, but it often features properties in Scandanavia: the Gustavian look is very sought after in France...

If you need inspiration too - for making seasonal gifts for family and friends, or maybe Christmas ideas for crafts or interior items to sell, then take a peek at one or two of these winter editions of 'Campagne Decoration' - time is running away with us already and you'll need time to craft and sew...plus packing and posting in time for Christmas!

PS Don't you just love the bathrooms?