When Brocante Bloggers Meet

Mary in the shop

Photos and Text by Corey Amaro.

When brocante bloggers meet they get right down to business, straight pass the how are you and right into… What did you find? Was it expensive? Do you want to sell it? 

Brocanting is like a good wine, it gets better with age and allows the conversation to flow. Mix that with blogging buddies and the world is a mighty fine place, mighty fine.

Mary and her husband Jim, came to Bluffton to meet us. We met in front of Lynn's shop. The first thing Mary said after, "Hello, I feel like I know you from childhood," was…. "Can we go inside Lynn's shop?"

I knew we were on the same page, brocanting is a bug as you know, where being contagious is just another word for friendship.

Antiquing

The brocante bug is Mary's middle name. Look at her looking: That serious look we all get when we are looking at antiques…. Observing Details: Is that peeling paint attractive or is it just peeling?

Mary's brocante passion is French country style, her home looks like it came plucked from France. Besides furnishing her home with French antiques, Mary loves quilting, French Boutis to be exact, and has traveled to France for classes to fill in her collection.

The other day I found something unusual, it was sterling silver… in telling Mary about it I learned that the piece I had found was a highly collectible boutis needle. I had no idea what it was, and the French Dealer that I bought it from in France thought it was a hole press for baby shoes. But while looking at pictures that Mary brought of her home and books about boutis, I recognized the needle as something I have.

Mary told me how hard and valuable it was. "Did I want to sell it?" she asked. With a big gulp I told her I sold it to a jewelry maker not so long ago. 

We both wanted to scream, "Ding dong!"


 

Brocante guys

Mary and lynn 

Mary's husband Jim and French Husband got along fine, while we women folk talked shop.

Meeting bloggers, meeting friends, I tell you the world is a mighty fine place, mighty fine! Especially when one of them who has been looking forever for a rare boutis needle finds out that her blogging friend has sold it… I am lucky that Mary likes Ding Dongs.



Comments

15 responses to “When Brocante Bloggers Meet”

  1. it is nice that you both enjoying the trip.
    hope there will be no rain in Marburger this year.

  2. Blogger meets must be so fun and I think I would feel exactly like Mary, like I had known you forever. I was just cleaning out my email last night and came across an email I got from you over a year ago and I was thinking about how fun it will be to meet you someday, where and when are unknown and inconsequential but I’m hoping to make it to Margurger next year!

  3. How fun to meet friends you have been corresponding with online ….
    …glad you and Yann are enjoying your time together meeting up with friends…old and new and getting to hunt for treasure in new digs!
    Have a great time!
    🙂

  4. Such a fine, fine adventure and story to tell of the rare and wandering boutis. Friends and I are hitting the Sandwich Antique Fair in St. Charles, IL this weekend and we will laugh and chatter and find treasures galore – and I will be thinking of Corey and Mary and the evasive boutis.

  5. No ding dong, just life itself. We live and learn. It’s good to keep learning no matter how old you are.
    You are having so much fun and with French Husband by your side. Priceless memories.
    Hey, I know that look, I always call it, I’m on a mission look.

  6. Now that you know I am guessing your eyes will be looking for another needle (in a haystack). How wonderful for you to meet Mary and share your passions together.

  7. yikes!! I will have to see if I can find one of those needles. Could be hard in Kansas!! hahah
    Heading out of town in the morning to search for more wonderful goodies, shopping where we have not been before. Hopefully I will find, something!
    Enjoy your trip and thank you for sharing your stories.

  8. Mary is such a wonderful person . I’m glad all of you met.
    I would have loved to be there

  9. You are living the dream !
    Your “blog people” are groupies for your fabulous photographs, your creative and interesting observations, your travels, and your treasures. I read your blog daily …
    I live in Roseville, CA. When you get to Willows, I’m hoping for a time/place/or ?? that your “groupies” will get a chance to meet you. My cousin Diane (N. Carolina) will be so jealous !!

  10. jend’isère

    Treasure flops are part of the chase. May your hastacks be filled with magical needles this week.

  11. So great to see you again.
    Hope you liked Dop.
    And we hope to see you in France sooner than later.
    Travel safe.
    xo xo

  12. What a great tale. We were so pleased to be part of ya’lls day. So glad that Yann and you enjoyed our part of the country. (Lynn helped make that possible) We look forward to the adventure to continue in France this spring. I hope that ya’ll will be part of it. Good luck in Marburger and I know that the tale end of your trip in Willow will be the best!

  13. Sounds like the four of you had a great time treasure-hunting. So what did you both find?

  14. Brother Mathew

    O.K. Enough of the word BROCANTE! I mean the word does not exist in the U.S. When stateside the term is Antiquing or Flea Marketing or Yard Saling or Treasure Hunting or Rummaging or for heavens sake, looking for old things but surely not BROCANTING!

  15. goodness, it will take me forever to catch up with all the gorgeous words and pictures in your site! i am completely new to this but finding it all rather beautiful and inspiring… thanks for the lovely thoughts, and unknown to you – the encouragement to continue
    teresa
    http://upstixtofrance.blogspot.com/
    p.s. my husband has promised that once we’re settled in france i too can become a “woman of wonderful things”

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