Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

Brocanting: My latest discovery.

My Latest Brocante Find

 

 

Went for a drive, it felt good to get out of the house, a change of air.
French Husband asked, "Would you like to go to Saint Tropez?"
I shrugged, "Well, okay, but I would rather go to a brocante. I haven't had a dose of brocante for three weeks, and I don't think I'll survive much longer without it."

He smiled, as he drove towards the brocante shops.

 

 

 

My Latest Brocante Find

 

 

As soon as we walked in to the brocante shop I saw the greyish-white paint peeling, old window and knew it was coming home with me.

French Husband shook his head, "Do we need a window?"

Squinting my eyes and shaking my head as if to say, "no," I answered, "Decorative purposes only."

French Husband gave me that look that says, "I love a crazy woman."

 

 

 

 

My Latest Brocante Find

 

 

Saint Tropez or the brocante?

A window, or an object to use decoratively?

 

What side of the fence, or should I say window do you stand on?

 

My Latest Brocante Find

Doesn't Saint Tropez look lovely?

Comments

30 responses to “Brocanting: My latest discovery.”

  1. jackie

    Go with the brocante every time:)

    Reply
  2. Zosia

    How about a brocante IN Saint Tropez?

    Reply
  3. Brenda, Walker, LA, USA

    Brocante Drool!
    (Can so imagine the “I Love A Crazy Woman” Look!)
    There is a spot in my Dining room that would love the gray-white patina and shape of that window!

    Reply
  4. missy

    Saint Tropez will wait….things
    don’t wait for you at the brocante.
    You must be ready to swoop in for
    the jewels or faceted windows…
    whichever!! 😉
    missy from the bayou

    Reply
  5. Paula S In New Mexico

    Funny, I’ve been looking at old windows as well. I was thinking about square ones all hooked together and hung from the ceiling to make a room divider.
    Jeez, it would be a tough call for me, Saint Tropez or Brocante? How about both!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  6. Denise

    Well, I’ve always gone there for the beach but now that I know what I’ve been missing…

    Reply
  7. veronique savoye

    Well, since I live so far away from my beloved Southern France now, I would vote for St Tropez (particularly now, when the big tourist crowds have left). Better yet, I would choose to visit a brocante IN St. Tropez. See? Problem solved. Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)

    Reply
  8. Irina

    What a wonderful find! My ideas right away – mirrored; frame for old photos.

    Reply
  9. Rhonda P.

    Ah, the shabby window called your name, did it? It’s gorgeous and you will upcycle it in a beautiful way.
    I received a parcel from your shop yesterday. Let’s just say I was squealing with delight!

    Reply
  10. Amy Kortuem

    Have I ever told you about the time I was coming home from playing my harp at a wedding in a neighboring town and was going to meet a friend for dinner but saw a yard sale instead? Yep, I was in my black dress, high heels and jewelry with the concert harp lying in the truck and late for dinner, but I screeched to a stop anyway. The man was selling the most beautiful old oak dining table, round, warm wood. I bought it, 100 bucks. He took it apart and together we grunted and heaved the thing into my truck and wedged it in beside the harp (which is not small…). I drove very carefully on the way home. My nice friend even came over to help me unload it and put it together instead of going out for dinner.
    Oh, the sacrifices we make for old stuff…

    Reply
  11. J

    Brocante. Decorative. It was calling you… j

    Reply
  12. Brenda L. from TN.

    What a sweet guy FH is! He KNEW if he gave you the choice what you would pick…the brocante! But I’m with others on here …Saint Tropez’s brocante!
    The window is lovely tho…would look nice in front of a fireplace in the winter…

    Reply
  13. kim

    As I read the post I thought that FH was taking you to a brocante in St Tropez. Well – San Tropez will always be there but those brocante gems aren’t! I can’t wait to see what you do with that window.

    Reply
  14. Marilyn

    That window! Oh perfect for decorative purposes, for sure. How lovely to have a drive to the brocantes in Saint Tropez!

    Reply
  15. Victoria Ramos

    totally agree with you……brocante and window = happy!

    Reply
  16. Kathie B

    If I lived in Provence and loved going to the brocante (like someone we all know!), that would be my higher priority since, as others have noted, St. Tropez will likely still be there for next time.
    But as a foreign tourist — especially one not in a position to shlep an old window home (LOL!) — my choice would definitely be St. Tropez.

    Reply
  17. Sara

    Excellent find!!!!

    Reply
  18. Kiki

    I think I’d go with you too…. And you DO have the bestest FH!!! With all the love and understanding I have from my Hero Husband, he would NOT have gone along with that window. But of course, I too would have loved to have it – JUST for decoration purposes!!!
    Lovely

    Reply
  19. Cheryl ~ Casual Cottage Chic

    Same question as Zosia…is there a brocante(s) in or on the way to St. Tropez?? I would have snapped up that window too! I love old windows on a wall in a grouping with framed pictures/paintings. Tres chic!!!!! And especially in a chippy white.

    Reply
  20. Tamara Komuniecki

    Ohh I am not even thinking about this one – the brocante! I do love me some Saint Tropez but I am so not glam right now and I think I’d feel dumpy there. And, window as a decorative piece without a doubt!! As a matter of fact, I have two or three old windows somewhere around here too, taken from my parents’ collection when they sold our family farm a few years ago. They’ve moved with me and not been put to use yet but as I say, “one of these days…”!
    Corey, tomorrow is the Fieldstone Vintage Market an hour from me, and my boys are coming with me! If you were visiting, we’d make it a girls’ trip!
    http://www.fieldstonevintagemarket.com/
    I’ll be blogging about it later so you can see what you’re missing…
    🙂
    Tamara

    Reply
  21. Chris Wittmann

    That chippy old window would’ve come home with me too!

    Reply
  22. Tongue in Cheek

    Hello C and Zosia and all those of you who would go to the brocante in St Tropez…..
    If I had gone to St Tropez I would have missed the window. And if one is going to go brocanting then it pays to know where to go.
    🙂
    c

    Reply
  23. le petit cabinet de curiosites

    You are always so surprising

    Reply
  24. joy graham

    Hello, I am Joy and I am so happy that I some how came across your blog today. I so enjoyed your sense of humor and the photos. I have not been to your area and find it so interesting. Have a happy day. -Joy

    Reply
  25. patsy

    Wonderful window! I had to translate brocante and found it was flea market, and I would choose flea market anyday! Your husband is a gem! Patsy from HeARTworks

    Reply
  26. Dawn @ The Feathered Nest

    You know what’s lovely to me? Is that angel husband of yours knew what you REALLY wanted and granted your wish! And most of all, he let you bring home that precious prize with no lip even though it has no practical purpose whatsoever…that’s love girl. xxoo, Dawn

    Reply
  27. Marie-Noëlle

    I would have chosen St Tropez !!!
    Anyhow, the only choice left, after your taking the window !!!
    😉

    Reply
  28. Diane

    Oh Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am sick with the brocante bug!! Nice score. Florida has a real old window difficiency.

    Reply
  29. LA CONTESSA

    You my dear are my kinda of GAL!I would have picked BROCANTE over Saint Tropez too!French Husband should be happy I bet the day /window was cheaper then a lunch in ST.Tropez!!!!!

    Reply
  30. Rebecca from the pacific northwest

    I’m struck by the casualness with with FH can offer San Tropez — close enough to you for a day trip!
    I love the window. I bought several old windows at an estate sale — my husband put one (large rectangle, not arched) into the lovely garden shed he built, and the other one which had broken glass now hangs outside the shed on the opposite side. The appearance of window while maintaining lots of shovel-hanging wall space inside still.
    I hope you show us some time what you do with the window!

    Reply

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