The Reason My Cousin is Dumping Out Her Suitcase in Provence

            Brocante 

The reason my cousin is dumping out her suitcase is because of the French brocante.

It was a simple plan: Buy only that which was small, non-breakable, not heavy, and that she could not find in the antique shops back home.

In less than one hour that plan (though strictly followed) caused her to dump out the personal contains of her suitcase. Keeping only the bare necessities: One pair of pants, a shirt, a jacket and a pair of shoes is all that one needs.

Her suitcase is bulging at the seams, and we still have Paris!

            Cafe-au-lait-bowls 

Linen sheets, monogram pillow cases, tablecloths…notice the "s" on the end of these words.

Cafe au lait bowls, lace, vintage toys, old papers, Vichy water glasses in straw cases (it makes the glasses seem non-breakable and so it fits into the plan) old photos, postcards….

            Inkwell 

Inkwells, ink-pens, bed warmers,

            Cigalle 

18th century hand-spun linen, a bronze symbol of Provence… a "Cigalle",

           Inkwell-glass 

Wooden boxes, inkwells… (did I say that already? Well hey my cousin bought about ten of them!!), books (which didn't fit the plan BUT since they are in French that changes everything….) 

           Painting-provence 

Picture frames without pictures and ….Paintings of Provence without frames…..

The list and the photos continue… Maybe she can bring you something? What do you want? Remember non-breakable and lightweight……



Comments

49 responses to “The Reason My Cousin is Dumping Out Her Suitcase in Provence”

  1. Massilianana

    I’ve been waiting for this post all morning ! I love the cigale and the pink inkwell . And the monogrammed linen sheets . What could your cousin bring me , let’s see….an old porte-plume ( penholder ?..mmmh dunno if it’s the right word) maybe ? Wrapped with the smells of the autumn breeze of my native South of France. Yes , that’s it .
    And, yay ! There is still Paris to go crazy with more treasures ! Looking forward to this part of the tour !

  2. What fun you are having! The pictures of your finds made my heart jump. In my dreams, I would find a lovely Art Nouveau pendant..something I would wear everyday. I too would have to leave my clothes behind in favor of belle objects.
    Elle

  3. a menu page of all the great salads served in the sidewalk cafe’s of Aix…now thats not too heavy or big !

  4. Fancy French collars for the poodles, a usable enamelware coffeepot,monogrammed pillowcases, antique door knocker, Provencal tablecloth and napkins, ,all cushioned in the suitcase by tons and tons of lavender sachets. In my purse would be a box of macarons, fresh sumptuous chocolate and almond macarons (a new addiction)

  5. Ooooh la la so gorgeous

  6. M-Noëlle

    What about having her own stall at the next brocante ??? Your cousin could sell her personal contents and buy more stuff…

  7. I am trying to contain both my drooling and my jealousy!!! Could she fit some santons and door knockers!!!!

  8. So many wonderful finds! only in France! 🙂

  9. Monogrammed linen sheets – oh my they are just gorgeous. Have you ever tried to find them for a reasonable price here in the states? If only her suitcase was bigger.

  10. That is so funny. Every time we have gone to France we declare the same thing. Although we end up filling up our empty suitcases and also buy another on the streets of Pigalle in Paris or at the flea market of Montrueil. Some lessons are never learned, but it is okay, because as you said…the things are French!!!

  11. One of each of those please!

  12. I think she needs to find an old suitcase or two? I’d be just like her – how could one resist? Especially with you right there too!

  13. The painting. That painting. Awesome. Beautiful. She needs to run back and forth between France and the U.S. ….not a drug smuggler but a courier of beautiful things from France. Yes. That’s the plan.
    – Suzanne, the Farmer;s Wife

  14. oooooooh i love what she got!!!!! i would buy another suitcase! hehehe
    xxnancy

  15. Gorgeousness all around!
    No wonder Judy is emptying her suitcase!
    :o)
    Love*

  16. I must be different from everybody else here…..I still prefere the flying 🙂

  17. Julie Ann

    No wonder you were late today ! I was so looking forward to the finds ! I can almost taste the excitement. What happy irreplacable memories you will send with your cousin back to the US. Thanks, Jx

  18. Recipe for successful shopping:
    Ship everything you brought with you back to home.
    Handwash the danties each night.
    Punt the washing of the rest.
    Keep shopping!!
    The painting is divine. The glasses in their own baskets so exceptional and unexpected. If I had to, I would stop there and feel lucky.

  19. I would have to ship it all back here. I wouldn’t be able to limit myself.~~Dee

  20. Mais enfin, pour ne pas exagérer, your cousin could just give that café au lait bowl to moi! Corey, I found your site in an search for café au lait bowls and have been a frequent visitor ever since. I am going back to Paris, where I spent ma folle jeunesse, next April and would love to hit the Porte de Vanves. Look forward to your report. Your cousins are obviously having wonderful time with you and FH as guides. Eclatez-vous alors!

  21. Oh that pretty pink ink well is ever so divine. I’d be the same as your cousin and probably couldn’t contain myself to just one suitcase of brocante.
    Anna 🙂

  22. What a treasure trove!! I love boxes to put treasures in, maybe
    antique french jewelry. I would be on the lookout for French art
    like etchings, engravings, oils, watercolors. I can’t wait to see
    what your cousin finds in Paris! I think I would try to find an old
    suitcase to fill.

  23. oh.my.goodness! Now I collect ink wells…and I KNOW they are not light…most are very heavy…so how did that happen? It’s OK though…just send the heavy ink wells to me! 🙂

  24. The cigalle. Can I be the first to make an offer on the cigalle?

  25. I would love a journal..and maybe a teacup..I know it could break…but tea and writing..divine…I just love the boxes too….oh Paris..I can’t wait to see what she finds there…she better buy another suitcase
    love and blessings

  26. I’ll take all those monogrammed French linen…….you don’t even have to wash or iron it 🙂

  27. Being a calligrapher, ink wells would be my first choice, though I also can’t resist dainty tea cups and monogrammed linens. Oh, the shopping delights you two are having!!!

  28. Wow; I love all those things, but especially that little cigalle.

  29. Oh my am I jealous. I haven’t ‘antiqued’ for years mostly because my family has so many and I’ve been ‘full.’ Your blog has reinvigorated my interest in antiquing….
    What wonderful finds. What a wonderful life.

  30. I’d say it’s time to buy a new suitcase. Oh wait! Can’t she just toss out her husband’s non-essentials and start filling his valise? After all, you’ve still got Paris! ; )

  31. lol! how about a plane ticket to Provence? It’s lightweight and nonperishable 😉 I could even bring an empty bag into which your cousin could put all her “extras.”

  32. Bon Jour Mon Ami Corey!
    🙂 Oh… I wouldn’t pack anything except the treasures. The clothes could fly home Standard Air Mail. Perhaps she could even wear some lovely antique lace home. Or maybe she can wear some of the linens, thus making way in her suitcases for more?
    😉 xoxo~
    Abbie

  33. Did she think to throw out her husbands clothing too? If not, I wholly suggest it. What the hey, have her buy an extra bag and hang the cost its weight, after all, there is still Paris! I am wondering if a lot of naked people leave after visiting you because their bags are bulging with brocante treasures?

  34. Oh my Gosh,
    You girls are having so much fun! I am drooling over all those linens and ink wells…I can’t stand it! More pictures please, hugs Pinkie

  35. That pink ink well is amazing! I’ve never seen anything like it.Someone has a good eye.

  36. I love all of the items. Just bring me back one item say an old letter in french script. Glad you cousin and all of you are having a wonderful time. Wait till she gets to Paris!!!
    Kris

  37. becky up the hill

    The linens make me swoon..that double fancy monogram..I suggest she even get rid of all her clothes and wear the linens back home..with a few pins I think she could manage an outfit..eccentric but it would be a way of bringing home more linens..lol..I’m sick!

  38. Last summer when I was in Paris with my daughter we were the luckiest two people on the Planet because the gal DIDN’T weigh our bags. She was so busy chatting that she just reached around the end of the counter and grabbed them and put them on the belt. We were so far overweight that it wasn’t even funny! Now that was just fine but the gal that scanned our carry on bags…well she didn’t look at the screen on the machine because she was chatting. I didn’t dare say a word for fear being detained for being a smart ass American and then having my bags reweighed!!
    Maybe your cousin will get lucky like we did!
    Dana in Virginia

  39. What a treat… can I be your cousin too?

  40. I wouldn’ wake up on sunday’s morinig ! I love “your trouvailles”

  41. Wrap up all the breakables in the linens and ship everything she’s bought back home. Then, go to Paris with empty suitcase(s) and fill them up! Love the finds so far.

  42. Oh Corey! My heart is singing and I am swooning over that newfound collection of beautiful treasures your cousin has acquired!

  43. Oh my, oh my, oh my. Did I say “oh my” ??
    *sigh*

  44. at least one of each, please!!! I would love to be shopping with y’all right now.

  45. What can she bring me? ‘Oh please, gold charms for the charm bracelet my heart has been dreaming of creating all these years

  46. Elizabeth

    As for me? A pink macaroon will do just fine, thank you.

  47. Oh, the linens. Definitely the linens for me, if I can only have one type of thing. The cafe au’ lait bowls are a close second… Isn’t it wonderful to live in a world with so much beauty? A little photo soul-trip – thank you for that.

  48. Inkwells, inkwells, INKWELLS! I am on the search for the perfect inkwell, and now I know they are in France. They are all there, and I am here. I shall have to explain to my husband that I need to go on a business trip to France, because, after all, an inkwell would be a business expense…
    … would that make the plane fare tax-deductible?

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