a la brocante Provençale!

Peeking into the far corners at the brocante at l'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, you might find some wonderful treasures. That's just what we did and discovered Madame's wonderful little off the beaten path shop.... one of the joys of being in Provence is discovering these breathtaking little treasures. 

Come with us next time and see {and buy!} for yourself! Or stroll into her shop with me here now... and let me know how many of these little French treasures you would like to take home with you! As for me, the chandelier called my name... but also that mirror, those horse heads, that clock...

fantastic 19th century toilette set for a very fancy French lady!

the very charming Madame is proud of her beautiful shop full of gorgeous things

love the bookcase, the mirror and the color of the walls!

painted chest with those horse heads on the wall... love this! (sorry image quality
not so great, took these all with my iPhone!)

something about this mirror I love!

it wouldn't be a Provençal brocante without a religious statue.. and tis one of Mary is wonderful, large...

the chandelier that captured my heart if not my pocketbook!

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Consider joining us in Provence... you need this, cherie!

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Chic Provence Design Tour 2013

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Au Nom de la Rose Gâteau!

Perhaps you have something extra-special to celebrate this Christmas season (an anniversary, birthday, wedding, baptism?). This incredible rose-covered gâteau would be a stunning centerpiece for your magical fête. What on earth could be more appealing than fresh roses tiered with ladyfingers all tied up with a shiny ribbon?

The best part is that this showstopper is not difficult to make. Really.

Au Nom de la Rose, the fabled shop on Rue du Bac in Paris, has provided us with a quick little instructional video, below. Yes it is in French, but just take a look at how simple this is to construct. Hey, you could make a couple of them, non? :) If you do, you MUST send me pictures!

And, non, cherie, you may not actually eat this confection! It is a feast for the eyes and nose only!

this looks almost impossibly beautiful, non? perfect

for a rustic-chic celebration as well as something

more elegant... and you could use different colored

roses & ribbon combinations, bien sûr!

a singularly lovely rose

masses of roses

the storefront on rue du Bac, Paris

a basket casually dripping with roses, luscious!

as you can see, the ladyfingers are held

onto the form with rubber bands that

mademoiselle has tied together then

covered with a wide ribbon

won't your family and friends just

be floored when they see your masterpiece?

au nom de la rose

46 rue du Bac, 7e, Paris

see the short, brilliant video here

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thanks for visiting! Kit

The Brocante at Isle-sur-la-Sorgue

Flea markets are the same the world over. Vendors are often more interested in each other's gossip than in selling stuff to you:) Sellers have always "just left" to get coffee, leaving their neighbor to watch their stall just when you desperately want an item. Lunchtime rolls around and all vendors everywhere pull out delectable lunches they have brought in, only to make you notice your hunger pangs as you settle for a local skyrocket-priced carnival food. And, of course, everywhere there is much posturing and haggling over prices... all part of the fun!

The brocante in l'Isle sur la Sorgue at Easter was just like all the rest of the flea markets I've been to... except for the things you can buy, the setting, and... yes, the lunches. This was not our local Alemany Flea with corn dogs on a stick!

We had an unforgettable adventure there on the Chic Provence Design Tour... come with us next spring!

the entrance to the park where the flea market is held

in Isle sur la Sorgue, France

OK so we did just fine for lunch...here at

the Cafe de France!

we drooled over these hand blown wine jugs from

the early 20 C....and one of us bought one

this 19th C small rug is now a table runner for

one of our Tour attendees...isn't it beautiful!

great old planters were everywhere

the statue and the setting are so elegant..wait

until those vines are filled out and blooming!

loved this little grouping of vibrantly upholstered

furniture...looks like Designer's Guild

I think these are hitching posts...and not

sure what the curvy iron is..but love it!

original tile floor in one of the

buildings in town

metal cafe chairs, always chic!

rusted old garden statuary

highly styled mid-century stall

I love "terre melee" and this vase is

a superb example of the mixed clay

technique from Vallauris

funny little mid-century Michelin Tire guys!

(what are they up to anyway?)

the selection of vintage silver was phenomenal

at this stall

this wonderful Gustavian bench would look

great with cushions in a Swedish frame of mind

more tile floor from around town

pillow covers made from vintage

French sheets and grain sacks

love this navy and white tile floor

the magical view up the Sorgue River

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thanks for visiting!....Kit

Sunday is Macaroon Day in France :)

I know, enough with the macaroons already! But we cannot help ourselves...they are such delectable little morsels, so beautiful, so... darn happy! The French love them so much that Sunday, March 20 is the 5th Annual Macaroon Day in France! You can taste different macaroons all over Paris...if you happen to be there. If not, you can enjoy this video from Ladurée sharing their secrets (in French) to making the beloved macaroons in their famous kitchen. Be sure to visit their site too, it's a great little diversion at the end of a very difficult week for us all.

Enjoy!

***

this is enjoyable, even in French, and the chef's kind of cute too...oh

the Kate Winslet bit at the beginning is in English:

click here to

Thanks for visiting! xxx Kit

Pretty in Provence: Almond Green & Rose Pink

I have to confess I am just not an autumn colors girl. There, I said it. Black & orange, black & brown, burnt orange & brown, rust & olive. Not only do I have crunchy dark autumn to deal with, but now Halloween is upon us with its very restricted palette:)

Which brings me to this lovely respite at Campagne Francaise: could there be a lighter, lovelier, springier or more feminine interpretation of our beloved Provencal* style than this? Are you with me?

like a watercolor, this living room is ready for teatime

thanks to the Holy Trinity of Fabric Designers:

linen curtains: Pierre Frey , chairs in Manuel Canovas,

pillows: Designers' Guild

dining room bathed in sunlight; Pierre Frey linen at the windows,

table found at the flea market at l'Isle sur la Sorgue then covered

with a sheet of zinc (love it!!)

soft and intimate atmosphere created by grey tones with white

and brightened with raspberry. upholstery by Pacific Compagnie

a little theatrical vignette of a screen

and a lampshade which

evoke the spirit of Venice and the 18th C.

love this original fireplace from the 30's in chinoiserie style;

Japanese tea cloth on the wall, Asian lamps with lavender shades and raku,

and that black chair against the almond green..fabulous!

love this inviting sleeping alcove with headboard and

curtains in Manual Canovas fabrics

***

all these gorgeous photos by

Stephen Clement

* this beautiful home is on the

northern coast of France, in Honfleur

selected fabrics to love from

Pierre Frey Manuel Canovas

Designers' Guild

by Kit Golson

Chic Provence Design!