French la Vie

 

A year ago my friend Ruth, who I met through blogging, suggested that we share our passion for Provence and the brocante with others. Ruth came up with the name, "The French Muse Experience", and created a blog for others to join us. How fortunate I am to know Ruth, and to be able to share the "muse" that Provence is.

 

 

 

Walking along the century (1200s) old wall in Menerbes. 

http://www.abbaye-saint-hilaire-vaucluse.com/

 

Ruth and I searching for places to have picnics, and vista points of the Luberon.

 

 

 

The French Muse is a tailored made week long experience , and offered to small groups of four or five max.

We picked up our group who wanted to hit the ground running, and went to two homes for a private brocante and home tour.

 

Suzette adores linen. 

 

 

 

 

Our first stop was chez Annie's a long time brocanteur who I have known for over twenty years. The other day when I went to her home I picked her up along the way, she was walking her dog Dexter (Yes, after the serial killer.) For those of you who know my "love" for dogs, Dexter rode in the front sit next to me. I am a champion for conquering fear!

We had lunch in her home. Within minutes Charland exclaimed, "I will need to buy a few more suitcases!"

 

 

 

Annie had lovely linens from the 1800s.

 

 

 

Next stop was to Kristin's and Gerard's home outside of Aix en Provence.

Kristin is preparing for a yearly garden show at the Jardin d'Albertas, yet she graciously invited us into her home for a private brocante and home tour.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kristin and I have known each other for over twenty years as well. I met her while brocanting, she was selling cafe au lait bowls, and I asked her if I could come to her house. Yes just like that. We have been friends ever since.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Garden cushion galore, made by hand with antique fabric.

 

 

Kirstin is the queen of vignettes and displays. 

 

Kirstin has a way of putting unpretentious old things together in a way that catches our memory, taking us back to a time and place where life was simple, enchanting, a place where we stop and dream up ideas of our own, that correspond with our childlike wonder.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos from my artist, creative friend Kristin and her husband Gerard's home next to Aix en Provence.

See more by looking at her blog: http://cieldorage.canalblog.com/