Last weekend I went to Paris to lead a French Mini Muse. I was joined by eight lovely women from Sacramento. Most of them did not know that I was from California too.
Our rendez vous was at their lovely hotel over breakfast, within two seconds past; "Hi. How are you? What is your name?" we talked up a storm about clothes. Yep. Because why not when you're in Paris to talk about clothing? I am not just a brocante nut to crack, I do like other things.
Really I do.
First, we went to a brocante market, because at that hour the shops are closed… within seconds after arriving at Porte de Vanves brocante market everyone split in a different direction, because that is what antiquing is about: The Hunt. Jewelry was a big attraction: Easy to carry, light weight and one more necklace never hurt anyone.
The entire group of women had been to Paris many times over. The monuments they knew by heart, and every jazz club too. I do not think they every slept. A fun group, I should write that in caps.
At the brocante a taxidermy fox with a "Le Parisien" newspaper in his mouth. This stand had a vast variety of things. And his style was picture worthy. You will agree.
One of the women in the group bought this paint palette. The price was right, the scarf was right, the smiling dealer a plus. Most the things in his stand spoke of humor.
"Design Hint" as I was told: "It is good to have a tease in every room, something that takes the edge off of serious or stuffy."
The thing is with the French Mini Muse, I often learn something about something I never noticed before, and also miss out on somethings as I am busy counting heads, making sure the others are okay, and actually get distracted from the brocante as we venture through it.
Questions arrive, bargaining takes place, and purchases are made.
Though, I did buy a stack of books that I carried around like a ding dong the entire morning. Brocante bug ding dong that is.
A few of us stood around jars full of paint brushes watching an artist, with an air of expertise picking a few of them out. Eventually the other half of the group joined us giggling, they announced that they had found the perfect gift for one of the ladies in the group. Then as if they pulled a rabbit from a hat, a psychedelic chandelier appeared.
The group of women are friends and have known each other a long time. They know how to be with one another and how to add spark to every moment. They cracked up laughing and then they each try to find a bag for their friend to carry/haul it back to the hotel.
It was a good thing they were friends, 'cause I thought my bag of books were crazy to carry around… imagine that psychedelic chandelier.
Or
Imagine the story to tell in the years to come.
They found a bag, we hailed taxis and off we went to the find some cool clothes… a spontaneous bunch that suited me just fine.
How I wish I took more photos, especially of them trying on coats, a baby blue cotton linen mix, and the scarves to match.
They hope to come again, which is fine by me.
Thank you Eileen, Nancy, Dorothy, Jenny, Ginny, Nancy II, Lynn & Patti.
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