Category Archives: Antique and Vintage finds

Beautiful old things!

The Thursday Three – The Lustre of Faerie

Yes, it is many moons since I did one of these posts… But it is Thursday, and here are three things that I never, in my wildest dreams, expected to find in the Troc in Carcassonne. I have been looking … Continue reading

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Chairs

Comfortable but pig-ugly chairs. Wine Dralon seats. If you are familiar with that fabric, you will be sticking your fingers down your throat right now. After 13 years, paint colour and 19thc French fabric chosen. Probably…

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Wax on….Wax off

Clock case has been waxed and polished, inside and out. Although the two doors require minor attention to stabilise them and their glass reputtied, I could not resist getting some glassware in to confirm the validity of this repurposing project. … Continue reading

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The clock case

So, now Trev has finished panelling in the new wiring in the kitchen, I can fill, paint and finish this wall and the ceiling. My Unfitted French Kitchen story continues on this, the Wall of Worry ( put that into … Continue reading

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Details Details 2

I know I need to take these shots with a decent camera, but mine is under a pile of assorted stuff and the mobile phone is handy. Trev has returned to the tulip room ceiling project to start on the … Continue reading

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slub silk – dupion v shantung

OK, this post is a bit “niche”, but I had to share the thrill of unpacking more bargain buys from French ebay. These vintage curtains are made from silk dupion (dupioni) in a typically subtle ivory cream with cream and … Continue reading

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Episode 165: Bench Marks

Those of you who have stuck with this blog will know that the question of how we actually create the bench in the dining area has languished almost as long as the decision regarding the perfect off-white paint. The answer … Continue reading

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Bedroom decoration and refurbishment

Still no luck finding a new changeover person for the Argeles apartment, so doing that ourselves right now. As the apartment has not been decorated for a while, and the bedroom was just a white box, we decided to bite … Continue reading

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Window seat made with reclaimed materials

Long term followers may remember that we rescued a 19thc side table from a chapel on the point of demolition. Would have ended up in the skip if my brother-in-law and sister hadn’t spotted that we could do something with … Continue reading

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Morning- Campagne-sur-Aude

      Now and then the phone camera gets it right. The one above left might very well inspire a painting at some point.

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Three more old rooms

I have a need to gaze upon enticing old rooms; so here are three more. Just because. Laserow Blogspot mystery site (the link to which has been “deleted and purged”!) That sounds very terminal.   michaelpaulphotography         … Continue reading

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The Os de Mouton chair gets it’s new cover

Remember this vide- grenier buy from August 2016? An ode to the os de mouton chair The frame was great, though we did treat it for woodworm just in case. It wasn’t safe to sit on, only two working springs … Continue reading

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The Thursday Three- cushions for me

Last weekend I took a break from making up cushions to sell and used some pieces from my stash of antique and vintage embroideries to make up cushions for the French house. Left- large needlepoint woolwork panel in Arts & … Continue reading

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Monday, and the weekend’s booty

Saturday saw us trawling the big Vide Grenier that forms part of Espezel’s agricultural and artisan fair Foire Espezel It’s very beautiful up there in the Plateau de Sault, but at nearly 900 m above sea level, the drop in … Continue reading

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The Thursday Three- copper, verse and Turkish rugs

I know copper kettles are a bit of a cliché in French country kitchens but I do like the ones with indigo and white folk painted ceramic handles and was very happy to find this one whilst out trawling with … Continue reading

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The Thursday Three – French treasures- on Monday?

As my Thursdays are usually crazy, I am posting three today- One of my new range of textiles made with vintage and recycled fabrics and trimmings Left I have started on some of these table runners which I can make … Continue reading

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The Thursday Three – quilting, sanding, painting, waxing

More photos of this lovely piece fresh from France on our etsy shop (right) Very Petit Chateau. Trev has been working hard on our very brown coffee table Remember this table? Tutorial on request..        

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Salon update- and the mysterious disappearing Vide Grenier

I have mounted one of my latest acquisitions from a very good VG at Carcassonne. Poshbirdy and I spotted stuff we liked on a particular stall. Some deep thought (OK , we went looking for another VG and couldn’t find … Continue reading

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Wedding of the decade

No, not mine. I have had the privilege of being involved in the beautifully conceived and elegantly styled design and production of my friend Beverly Lambert’s French Rustique Vintage Chic wedding. A ceremony at Esperaza Mairie on Friday will be followed … Continue reading

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Housses de coussin and antimaccassars

Ok, what is an antimaccassar?  for those of you who may be less obsessed with the minutiae of textiles than I am. they are small fabric mats placed over the back of chairs to protect them. Mainly, in the Victorian … Continue reading

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Episode 159- Working on the salon door

Do you remember the truly hideous door in the salon? This did not say “hello, I’m a French village house salon door” in any language. It’s sole merit was that it fitted, and adjusting reclaimed doors, or their frames, to fit … Continue reading

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Rideaux de porte- door curtains

I though you might like to see my  “new” door curtains. You may recall that we have a “Jack & Jill” shower room on the second floor at the French village house. We now have functional locks on the access … Continue reading

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Vintage French linen cushion on etsy

New in our etsy shop-see top right of this page. The Madame de Pompomadour cushion!  Made with vintage French linen fabrics and trimmings Brocante chic

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Fabriqué en France- les housses de coussin arrivent

Well, a bit later than planned, here are the first of my cushion covers made from old fabrics. I plan to use at least 50% vintage /recycled fabrics and embroideries on these cushions. I am offering the option of covers … Continue reading

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21st century schizoid plans

I had a brilliant trip to Toulouse on Thursday with bride-to-be Bev#1  (who loves fabric and old stuff as much as I do)  and Welsh Bev#2 ( who comes from the same South Welsh valleys as my Mother’s family). There … Continue reading

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The Terrace Bedroom- La Chambre Terrasse

Never let anyone tell you that you can do nothing with a room 2.3 metres wide and five metres long, except perhaps turning it into a bathroom. Remember this painted door from an earlier post? That’s on the other side … Continue reading

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First furniture piece from the French studio

Here we have the first furniture rescue project since we installed ourselves in France. This little console table has been sitting around waiting for repair and tlc for a few years but kept being sidelined for major house projects. More … Continue reading

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The door stalker

So, dear readers and loyal blog-buddies, you know that I like a bargain; and the bestest bargain is a freebie. Recycle, Re-use, Restore, Repurpose. Just after we arrived in France last month we noticed these three doors/windows stacked against an … Continue reading

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Episode 155- Chez Nous le dimanche

The reality of being here in France, and not having to fill every waking day with work on the house because we go back to the UK tomorrow, is kicking in. Little milestones (we will have been here a month … Continue reading

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The Thursday Three – Esperaza Vide-Grenier

Let me just say that I am not unaffected by what is happening in the world. I may be idyllicly located now, but life is not rose-tinted and terrible things are happening elsewhere. My child works an inherently dangerous and … Continue reading

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All manner of pretty things

You are going to see lots of posts like this. If you aren’t keen, look away now; I am not at all offended if you un-follow or un-friend me or whatever it is you can un-do. In the middle of … Continue reading

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Je suis obsédé par tissu, fils à coudre et passementerie

I cannot imagine that you haven’t noticed this fact. This is why I need my Giant Vintage Woolwork Sewing  Box/Footstool. See my post- Selfie with footstool I decided to edit through this old sewing basket, formerly my mother’s. Not her … Continue reading

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The Thursday Three – and some thoughts on storage.

I don’t think you have seen these? The bug lamp, the Art Nouveau copper dustpan, this little painting? Actually you might be able to help me, I have been looking for a copper handled brush to match the pan, does … Continue reading

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A brief lull on the crooked path to our great escape

Francetaste, you might want to look away now. I know you want to see the bigger picture but the detail is all I have right now. I’ve just packed the penultimate box . Or rather repacked a box that had … Continue reading

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Hints

It is chaos here. Twice as tough because I’m moving both home and office.  There are some silver linings to this whole debacle though; amongst other treasures I bought for the French house and which I haven’t unwrapped in ten … Continue reading

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The Thursday Three- and why do I have a teaspoon in my pocket?

So I put my hand in the pocket of my dressing gown and there’s a teaspoon in there. Why? I haven’t a clue. I know I’m extremely distracted right now and any hope of preserving the normal is out of … Continue reading

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The Thursday Three – 1930s woolwork embroidery panels

I have just taken delivery of these three woolwork panels, completed around 1939. Classic designs for France. Not in greatest condition when they arrived, stiff with dust and some odd marks. All have come out with a delicate wash. This … Continue reading

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A few French antique textiles for your delectation

Look at this link sent to me by Blog-buddy Lynda.  lovely stuff! Hope Lori from Humble Quilts ( as above) is OK with me posting this link. I can’t find anything on her site that discourages it; but, as ever, … Continue reading

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The Thursday Three – velvet and verdigris

I will miss aspects of the cottage in the UK. Although the cheap white walls and dark brown carpet upstairs are not my choice, they are an OK backdrop for photos. As you might know, I have been sourcing curtains, … Continue reading

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Architectural ironmongery – and four more for Friday

Wise words for French house restorers, with a wider message I think. I am not of any traditional religious persuasion myself but I found this piece of embroidery from a Welsh Chapel; presumably it hails from a period when the … Continue reading

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