battling the elements
bonjour dear friends! it’s my last day in paris although i fought and lamented the bitter cold, eventually i fell under the spell of the snow that dusted the city.
i spent the day visiting my favorite museum, musee carnavalet which is just down the street from the apartment. it draws me in every single time i’m in town.
it’s one of those places that’s pure soul food, full of inspiration. i must have shot 600 pics!
but what stood out in the edits today were not the interiors (i’ll share them tomorrow) but instead, the snowy shots. it seems to be a rare and disarming occurrence according to taxi drivers, locals, weather reports and airports.
and once i got into it, saw that it did cast a magical spell on just about everyone and everything.
looking through the paintings it’s obvious that a little snowfall never stopped this city from celebrating grandeur even on the bleakest and most overcast and snowy days.
painters were inspired to capture the elements and capture the moments of silent, white winter streets
i march through the city slush and sometimes take for granted what it took to build and protect it
before photography the painters were the historians, giving us a glimpse into a difficult but marvelous time
somehow without heat, running water and electricity the women were still able to look chic
and even bundled up were the essence of sophistication
i honestly don’t know how they did it, i couldn’t have made it without my uggs
i guess that’s why paris has always been the benchmark for elegance despite the weather
now it’s all about the right gear; duck boots, down jackets, hoodies and hand warmers
but the eternal beauty of the city will never fade and that’s the magic of paris i guess! well, see you on the other side, sweet dreams and stay warm!
museum quality
brrrrrrr! it’s downright bone chilling cold in paris! today was our final day trudging though the slush and snow at the markets all weekend but i can definitely say our mission was accomplished!
i was fully focused on shopping with the crew so didn’t get much but photo memories which is somehow ok, at least this way i’ll have them forever.. and as my guy always says, you can’t buy it all!
going through the shots i couldn’t help but see that this trip i was attracted to art, paintings, sculpture and architectural artifacts…
the markets are so rich and thick that it really feels like a living, breathing museum. it’s a place where you can find junk juxtaposed with truly fine art.
and it’s not what a piece is worth but the joy it brings
and who makes the decisions as to what’s valuable if not the beholder?
the way the market vendors curate their booths is much more than you’d expect at a typical flea market and this year many sellers are really stepping up their game.
all sorts of busts and statuary are displayed as if they’re uber important pieces in super simple vignettes.
of course you can always find the funky, fun stuff
and the french certainly have a sense of humor about their past!
and one piece can really set a regal mood. you’d never know these were flea finds!
i guess i do wish i could buy it all and surround myself in my own tiny museum
but for now i’ll settle for just enjoying the pics and thinking about ways to incorporate more art in my world.
as for the gang, we finished up our weekend with stephane who always brings the market to life and today he greeted us in the cold with champagne and oysters, using snow in an ice bucket and along a huge silver tray for the shells he shucked. we had a ball and everyone left happy and well overfed. i’ll clue you in when the time comes as to what we all did but for now it’s off to bed, a couple pounds heavier but i guess that’s what winter is for, n’est-ce pas? enjoy the rest of your weekend!
the other side of paradise
greetings from paris mes amis! it’s beyond cold, in fact it’s downright bone chilling! but not cold enough to stop the shopping and yesterday was an incredible adventure.
we went to visit my friend stephane blanc’s warehouses in a tiny village an hour outside paris. it couldn’t have been more picturesque and even better, full of surprises.
you never know what’s behind big old doors and we were not disappointed when he opened the vaults to the 1750s barns where he and his father have gathered incredible treasures from french châteaux and estates over the years.
stephane brings pieces back to paris and restores them to sell at clignancourt in his tiny, curated booth on rue paul bert. my mystery guests and i were the first to go behind the blue doors. although he was casual about the enormity of his collection, we were blown away.
every kind of imaginable style is stacked up in chilly, cobwebbed rooms filled with furniture, mirrors, doors, chandeliers, artwork and toys.
we must have been there for 5 hours going through every nook and cranny in the cold.
no one left empty handed and at the end of the day we were exhausted and tired but happy with our treasures.
as someone who loves to restore old pieces, i couldn’t help wanting to take it all home and bring it back to life myself.
still, my philosophy these days is ‘no projects’ especially since i’m preparing for my OKL sale in just a couple weeks.
so at least for now, the clocks and tables are safe and sound, sitting quietly in wait.
and until i have the chance to come back (hopefully in warmer weather)!
i’ll just settle for getting pieces that are ready to go like these little treasures we found at the market. we’re heading out again tomorrow and sunday to vanves and clignancourt for a big day of shopping and shipping so i’ll keep you posted and take lots of shots! have a great day and happy weekend!
minuit à paris
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allo tout le monde! how’s your winter wonderland? i hope it’s warm and cozy in your world. i wish i could say this was me in the shot above but alas don’t think i’ll ever be that girl…but i just landed in paris and am about to go on the adventure of a lifetime.
i left miami today and snap, it’s midnight and i’m in gay paree! i vowed never to come again january but my most exciting flea market tour ever is about to go down. i don’t mean to play coy and am dying to drop the bomb on who i’ll be with but haven’t got the OK (hint hint) to post about it yet!
thefancy.com/things/274434105/Paris
we’ll be traveling to the markets and also going to the outskirts of town with a friend/merchant who’s had a stall passed down for over 3 generations at clignancourt. it’s a place i’ve always wanted to check it out and now finally have a reason to go.
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it was snowing earlier but once the jet lag hit i crashed and didn’t get to run around and shoot the beauty that is paris in the snow.
so instead of reinventing the wheel i searched for images of paris in winter and came across so many wonderful interpretations and moments captured over the years.
parisianfields.files.wordpress.com
while i’m here, i’ll be shopping for my next OKL sale which is scheduled for the week of march 3rd. if you want me to look for something special let me know!
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for now it’s off to bed. it will be nice to have the next few days at lorraine’s place with not too much on the agenda except enjoying the city for a change.
i’m hoping to get some flowers and take shots of her pretty little pied-à-terre that she has so beautifully maintained over the years. it’s like coming home and just knowing it’s here is such a dream. it’s right in the heart of the marais at the place des vosges.
she rents it out so if you come to paris and need just a little place to hang your hat, retreat or write, this is it. luckily not too many people want to come in january so this week it’s all mine!
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the clock is about to strike midnight so i’m heading off to dreamland, have a beautiful night and sweet dreams to you my darling friends!
infinite potential around the corner
an empty room has so much power
four walls can be absolutely anything
of course good bones don’t hurt! images above via pinterest:
morning guys and happy saturday! thank you all so much for your beautiful comments and good wishes over the last couple days. i’ll treasure them forever! there was no way i could hone in on just a couple winners for the giveaway so at a point i just cut it off and noted that everyone above that comment would get a book. i have to wait till they come out but will get a couple cases and send them over to you. that’s going to be a bit of a project so we have a little time to collect your addys and info. in the meantime i thought i’d share a bit of what we’ve been doing over here.
it’s been month waiting for the shipment from france and it prompted me to rent a space at a local antique mall for when it did come in. i chose the sugar chest. it’s open and full of great vendors and now our own empty space is filled with the pieces that finally arrived from paris over the past couple days.
the beds are stacked 4 deep and the armoire is full of linens, we did have a couple incidents with breakage but overall i think it will be alright and this is a good place to store it and shoot it for our next sale.
while we were waiting for our ship to come in, we couldn’t help tap into the gems that line the streets right here in the usa. we started putting collections together and had some fun with the freedom of not having to ship, do customs, have a broker, pay duties, taxes, fees, bills of lading, power of attorney and uncrating it all. it’s amazing what’s in our own backyards. how we skim over great pieces or think we have to travel far and wide to find and bring them back. it’s fun, don’t get me wrong, but we are jam packed with stuff right here, even at the sugar chest! this little collection was based on the etching above, an early coquette.
we started making her a glamorous boudoir of course! it’s been fun having everything around till it goes up on OKL (in fact i think some already is). my own apartment is kind of an empty space that keeps changing with what’s coming in and out. i love getting to enjoy them awhile!
i keep saying ‘we’ meaning candy and me so i thought you’d like to see who our mystery muse is! these chairs were her investment to the sale! well i better jet, i’ve got an impromptu trip coming up on monday i’ll tell you about later tonight if i can get back here. till then have a fantastic and memorable day and if you’re out antiquing locally, enjoy the freedom of it!!
twenty years in the making
where does the time go? hi gang, ca va? how’s your brand new year going? it’s off to a pretty good start here. it’s officially 20 years since i opened The Paris Apartment and all these years later i’m still grateful to have it. it’s been my raison d’etre on so many levels, being both work and play, it gave me a reason to travel, focus my passion and was my very own muse. but how is it possible that every day for two decades i’ve gotten out of bed and straight to work from my 20s to my 40s!?
you’ve been so patient with me talking about coming out with a new book for sooooo long. i’m happy to say the new baby has finally arrived!
i only have one copy at the moment but it can be pre-ordered on amazon. of course i couldn’t resist hosting a giveaway since they’ll be here in a couple weeks, so if you’re interested let me know and we’ll draw 5 names next week. if you’d like to host a giveaway on your blog, just say the word!
it will probably be a month or so till they’re here so in the meantime, leave a comment i’ll get in touch with you directly to coordinate it. (just make sure you’re email is live when you leave it)
you can see some of it on amazon but here’s a sneak peek:
i’ve only skimmed it myself
and will share more
you may recognize some old friends
and finds
well in the meantime i’ve got to go collapse now cause the container of goodies from paris came today and we’ve been unpacking it in prep for another big old OKL sale.
suffice it to say it’s time to decompress and exhale this day. so have a great night and good, deep sleep!
the energy of the mind is the essence of life -Aristotle
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…those greeks sure could sum it up! good morning and happy monday guys! i hope your weekend was wonderful. mine was relaxing having barely cracked laptop. before i went to bed i did a little free flow surfing. this quote led me on a picture path i hope you’ll enjoy!
it got me thinking about untapped energy. we probably put out lots of vibes we’re not even aware of.
so instead of starting the day like this, hitting the ground running and looking for the closest extension cord,
i’m looking for a little more of this…taking a minute before jumping into the fire. setting up a spot to stop and get centered before going head first into the day. (ok mine was just rolling out the yoga mat but it’s a start)
not that it has to be a meditation room
but you could go all out!
just a space to be alone and silent is plenty
even if it’s just a couple minutes
do you have a place that’s sole purpose is to center you?
elevatedexistence.com/blog/2012/10/04/creating-sacred-sleeping-space
accidentalcreative.com/inspiration/defining-your-sacred-space
it can be uncomplicated
or bejeweled
maybe an ancestral wall to contemplate
or one on one with nature
sage smudges are a good start for clearing the air
and when all else fails there’s always outside
this would work!
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well whatever you’re up against or thinking about today i hope you can take a minute to yourself.
at the minimum there’s always a sunrise or sunset to catch and an exhale to make. in between, have a beautiful day!
an abundance of emptiness
images: pinterest.com/parisapartment-likes
good morning guys! how’s your brand new year going? i have to admit i’ve made and broken a couple resolutions already.
i think for success there has to be a balance
we have so many options and stimulus coming at us at all times
it’s so easy to fall into old habits. it’s easy to miss what can be found when there’s not much around
pinterest.com/55something/snowflakes-exquisite-evanescent-fancy-by-god/
my only resolution today is to look for the in-between spaces, listen for silence and find ways to be quiet.
i hope your day is filled with a lotta nada if that’s what you’re craving too! whatever your day brings, have a great one!
millions of moments
happy new year guys! it’s been a long season and this is the first time i’ve had to sit and just enjoy some downtime at my laptop. it really is the world at your fingertips isn’t it? well i got to cruising pinterest for a pretty pic and of course fell down the rabbit hole. guests are already arriving so i have to go but luckily pics speak volumes so here are some favorite shots. i hope this year holds wonderful things for you and that we remember to stop, breathe and enjoy every moment for as long as we’re here. happiest new year darling friends!
good friends and good cheer
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hi guys, happy saturday. it’s cold in nyc! my guy made a fire and it’s all i can do to leave the apartment. the happy reward is getting to see old friends all around town.
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how is your holiday prep going? i hope it’s stress free. that’s my goal this year. i slept for a good long time when i got here. i think it’s been a really emotional time for all of us. and on top of it, life will just not stop! i find a nap such a relief sometimes.
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when i finally came back to life i ended up on pinterest and realized i was thinking about my mom and her holiday table. she aways has a beautiful centerpiece. she and my dad are putting the house together. i know how much work they’re doing and enjoying it at that.
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i believe simplicity is the key to a stress free holiday. so is appreciating the fleeting nature of it.
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i’m glad to be here with you this year. please don’t forget to do something for yourself. and i highly recommend you take that nap if you need it!
