the sum of the parts

hi gang, how was your holiday? i hope it was really long and lazy!

between naps i started unwrapping my stash from  last month’s trip to nice.

it wasn’t till the last day that i picked up a few things for myself. (actually to sell but i can love them for awhile :)

i’m an ephemera-nut…i have a feeling you are too?  the menus, the cards, the love notes…i swooned!

i thought this one would make a pretty business card

super fun stuff at the fleas

and don’t get me going on the textiles!

ok i give in! there were incredible vintage fabrics (quilts, spreads, unused, patched) but as my guy says, you can’t buy it all…then again, there’s that container i’ve been dreaming of, and i’m having another OKL sale in november…

i can’t describe the gorgeousness of the linens. every one is a work of art. not to mention the preservation techniques and impeccable laundering.

i had to get this little tray when the woman told me it was used to carry in the mail.

i fell for these chairs, i love their curly whimsy!

i did manage to nab these pink shades that were still in their original 30s wrapping paper

and this black lacquer tray, made in occupied japan

i got this for you, dad!

there was an infinite variety of les coiffeuses

this one packed right up and rolled out!

furniture, doors, hutches

accessories, electronics, phones, vintage clothes

…and the books

i think i fell hardest for the books. these were all piled up and dirty but so pretty together. they’re all from the 1800s and seemed to have been a collection for a very long time. turns out two of them are a set, with hand painted hot pink covers, what’s left of them. but the insides are perfectly preserved. some are stamped and inked. all are magnificent!

i had to tie them with a satin ribbon right away.

they were my muses the past few days as i’ve been trying to understand my camera better

liz finally made me put them away

anyway it’s so the little things isn’t it? well i better get going. i could go on and on obviously! but for your notes, if you go to the region (by the by i’m heading back in august and september so if anyone is over and wants to rendezvous, let me know)! if you do go my advice would be to hit the first magazine shop and look at the brocante and antique magazines like aladin. check the local paper for brocantes, vide greniers and special markets.

and for those who aren’t going away, i hope you don’t feel like you can’t find anything here in the states. i was out last week and found this oil painting from vienna in a collective (among many other things)! there’s incredible stuff all over in the u.s., in every town, so don’t give up on yours and vow to find that one fab thing. hit your local consignment, thrift, collectives and antique stores even if you think they’re really grungy or way chi chi. ok better get back to it, have a great night!