Paris Parfait

Win a copy of Paris Postcards

Leonard Pitt's beautiful new book Paris Postcards is photographed among some late 19th-century and early 20th-century Paris postcards.

Some pages inside Paris Postcards.

If you love Paris, you'll be enchanted by Paris Postcards! Pitt's book (Counterpoint Press, Berkeley) showcases unusual and historical postcards from his personal collection. Invented in the 19th-century, postcards changed the way travelers communicated. In the late 19th-century and early 20th-century, France produced a million postcards a day. Collectors started hoarding the unique and diverse images; today thousands of vintage postcards are for sale at every flea market in France.

The postcards featured in Pitt's book depict little slices of French history, along with colourful or witty messages to friends and family back home. Some cards are sepia photographs; others are hand-tinted. The postcards reflect changing views of the city's arrondisements, as well as lively scenes from cafe and night life.

Based in Berkeley, Calif., Leonard Pitt is not only an author, but an actor. His previous books include Walks through Lost Paris and Paris: Un Voyage dans le Temps. Pitt also penned A Small Moment of Great Illumination about the 17th-century Irish healer Valentine Greatrakes.

For your chance to win a copy of Paris Postcards, leave a comment about your most memorable experience in the City of Light. The winning name will be drawn from le chapeau on Friday, Nov. 20th. Bonne chance!

The Paris Opera.

Palais de Justice.

Don't miss the brocante at Bastille!

Papier-mache puppets at Sophie Pretelat's Anges et Demons stand at the Antiquities Brocante at Bastille. This is the last weekend, so get your skates on!  The brocante - with stands lining both sides of Canal St. Martin - is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Sunday. You can buy tickets at the main entrance on Place de la Bastille.

More papier-mache puppets, including one representing a drunk (below).

 

A rather morose-looking statue holding homemade candles, hanging from their wicks.

A giant brass Madonna crown and a small collection of plaster animals.

Early 19th-century papier-mache hat models. These are becoming hard to find.

 

19th-century oil painting of a buxom lass.

Framed woodcut designs on a Swedish desk.

 

The top of a Napoleon III gilt and mercury glass mirror.

A bust, cranberry glass carafe and glasses and blue gazing balls, for luck.

19th-century slate medallions; the one on the right is Napoleon Bonaparte.

An 18th-century well-worn wooden horse, with its original paint.

 

Mercury glass candlesticks.

 

Incredibly beautiful linens and lace at this stand. So tempting!

A tiny ray of sunshine

....in this otherwise grey and gloomy day in Paris. This is opening day of the Antiquites Brocante at Bastille. This morning the sun shone briefly, but before I could leave my apartment, it started to rain. Since it's not ideal to be at the brocante in the rain - much less shooting photos - I decided to go another day. Meanwhile, I'm catching up on editing photos, clearing out files, answering emails and running errands. Back later with another post. Hope you find some sunshine in your day!

Brocante at Bastille begins Thursday

Cozy knitted bottle covers, Merci, Paris.

If you're in Paris later this week, the Antiquites Brocante at Bastille begins at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 5. Take the Metro lines 1, 5 or 8 to Bastille or Quai de la Rapee or bus lines 76, 86 or 91. Parking is available at Opera Bastille.

You can buy tickets at the entrance on Place de la Bastille. Stands will be located on both sides of the Canal St. Martin. Stop by #514 and visit Gunnar Pettersson. My friend Sophie Pretelat's Anges et Demons is at Stand #403 and Natalie Cottier is at Stand 55. All three dealers have unusual antiques and collectibles, guaranteed to make you catch your breath in delight!

The brocante continues from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through Nov. 15th.

Scroll down the page for more posts today.

Two weeks on the South Coast

Fall's changing leaves, Oxford, England.

Have just spent two lovely weeks in the UK, visiting Oxford, Guildford, Chichester and various points along the South Coast.  Went antiquing (didn't buy a thing, although sorely tempted by an Italian gilt sofa); shopping (coats, clothes, boots and books and an extra bag to get it all home) and visited family. At a cozy little inn in Rigby (believe it or not!) where Lord Nelson stayed en route to the Naval fleet at Portsmouth, David and I ran into an old (French) friend from Paris.

We saw a colourful circus (sadly, rain prevented photographs) and stunning Roman mosaics - the Fishbourne Roman Palace - unearthed in an archelogical dig in the 1960s. We visited the historic Arundel Castle, climbing dozens of narrow, steep stone steps through winding passages to the Castle Keep. It was well worth the trek for sweeping views of the surrounding town and countryside. We toured the castle's interior rooms (where The Young Victoria  was filmed earlier this year), visited two chapels and walked in the landscaped Collector Earl's Garden.

We spent a week at a charming slope-roofed cottage near Merston, with the bonus of a flock of nearly 100 sheep in a pasture just ten feet away. I read books, watched documentaries and snapped photos of the sheep and resident roosters, while David went bird-watching. We visited an ancient graveyard and walked along the rocky seashore. It was peaceful and beautiful - but it took only two days back in Paris for me to become stressed, with computer issues, deadlines galore and some long-distance family drama.

I have hundreds of photos still to process (to resize, to discourage theft). Have decided to stop watermarking my images, after reading a Wired article ridiculing this practice. I also have email to answer and your blogs to read. Back soon with more photos and stories.

Red leaf-covered building, Oxford.

Flame-coloured trees on the grounds surrounding Arundel Castle.

Remnants of stone building near Arundel Castle.

Hats at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe

Traditional Qatari costumes. Qatar sponsored this year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe weekend at Hippodrome de Longchamp, Paris.

 

Fuschia hat at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Check back Monday for dozens of images from the festivities at Europe's biggest horse-racing event. Photos by David Holmes.

A hat shaped like the Eiffel Tower. While these two photos are slightly fuzzy, am posting them because  this was the most unique hat at the races.

This hat reminded me of the movie "Alien" or perhaps Medusa.

While I have to give this woman credit for originality, doesn't this shot look as though she's communicating with outer space??!!

Last day for brocante at Chatou

Antique gilt flowers centered with coloured stones are pictured at Gunnar Petterssen's stand at the 79th Foire Nationale aux Antiquites a la Brocante et aux Jambons at Ile de Chatou, France. The brocante ends at 7 p.m. Sunday, so hurry! Tickets are available at the gate.

More beautiful objets d'art  - including a petite dressmaker's leather-covered form - at Gunnar Petterssen's stand at Chatou.

 

Mirror frame covered with shells reflects a client, as well as a collection of vintage picture frames arranged in a glass case.

A box covered with sea shells and English chair.

A diverse collection of glassware and pharmacy jars.

 
A marquetry box, copper pots and moulds and in the background, a mosaic tray in various shades of turquoise and aqua.

Miscellaneous treen and a "perception" sign, which in French means a place to pay a form of taxes. I prefer the English definition.

If you miss Chatou, you can see Gunnar Petterssen's unusual antiques and collectibles at the brocante at Place de Bastille in early November (details to be announced).

Nostalgia and whimsy at Chatou

Vintage dolls, toys, games, bicycles and lamps are among the items for sale at the 79th Foire Nationale aux Antiquites, a la Brocante et aux Jambons currently underway at Ile de Chatou, France. The photograph below was inspired by a spinning top.

Admiring kitchen collectibles at Blandine Bavoux's Jolietrouvaille. Visit Blandine's stand at 72 Allee Nouvelle from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through October 4th.

Cafe au lait bowls in various colours and patterns.

I went to Chatou on Opening Day last Friday and again today with Di Overton and her daughter Charlotte. Some lovely finds both days. There's still time for you to visit! Get your tickets at the gate at Ile de Chatou.

Highly collectible: antiques, images, words

Dazzling turquoise now transparent, once guarded potions, elixirs.

Collection of vintage glassware and pharmacy bottles at Gunnar Petterssen's stand at the brocante at Chatou, now underway. See more of Gunnar's finds at 1-3 Allee Pele. The brocante continues from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through October 4th. Tickets are available at the gate.

The last few days have been a whirlwind of brocantes and dinner parties, with four sets of friends in town. Great fun, but exhausting! My husband is off to Oslo and Brussels this week, while I escort said friends to a secret brocante in Paris and again to the brocante and ham fair at Chatou.

This weekend is the stellar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp, Europe's largest horse racing event. I'll be there Saturday, shooting photos of dashing jockeys and sleek racehorses tearing down the track. On Sunday, I'll train my lens on chic Parisiennes wearing stylish hats. This year I won't be wearing a hat, as I'm more concerned with balancing the weight of heavy camera gear while wearing flat, comfortable boots!

More images of Chatou, as well as photos of the antique Madonna crowns that came home with me, soon.  I'll leave you now with "The Poet Always Carries a Notebook" from Mary Oliver's new book Evidence:

"What is he scribbling on the page?

Is there snow in it, or fire?

Is it the beginning of a poem?

Is it a love note?

This week, what will you scribble on your page - or see through your lens, paint with your brush or shape with your hands?

Chatou brocante begins Friday

Tutus, Covent Garden, London.

If you're in Paris, you may enjoy visiting the 79th Foire Nationale aux Antiquites a la Brocante et aux Jambons at Chatou. Opening day is Friday, Sept. 25th. The brocante - my favourite in the area - continues from 10 a.m. through 7 p.m. daily through October 4th.

Tickets are available at the gate. From Charles de Gaulle Etoile metro station, take the RER A1 train (direction Saint-Germain-en-Laye) to Rueil-Malmaison or Chatou-Croissy. Follow the signs at the exit and walk across the bridge to Ile de Chatou.

Or you can drive or grab a taxi from Paris. But don't count on a taxi bringing you back to Paris, unless you specifically book one in advance. More likely, you'll need to take the train back to Paris, no matter how much loot you've collected!

I'll be there opening day with an antiques enthusiast and store owner visiting from San Francisco. I'll also be there next week with Di Overton, searching for items she can revamp for Ghost Furniture. Stop by and say hello to my friends Blandine Bavoux (72 Allee Nouvelle), Gunnar Petterssen (1-3 rue Pele) and Geraldine Michelis (Une Chanson Douce). You'll be amazed at the stylish antiques and collectibles these clever dealers have on offer.

See you at Chatou!

Send in the clowns

Early 20th-century French children's game pins.

Remember the Stephen Sondheim song Send in the Clowns from the Broadway musical "A Little Night Music?"  I've never liked clowns and the song is a bit melancholy, about the rich irony of timing and choices in love and life.  Today is my birthday. And I've been thinking a lot lately about timing and choices and goals I'd planned to accomplish by now. On Wednesday - the all-important 09/09/09 - I was not heartened by the "magic" of a once-in-this-century day. In fact, I spent much of the day lamenting that time is flying at an alarming rate and I still have much to do.  We Virgos can be quite hard on ourselves.

Today I woke up realising that yes, while there is much to do, I am on the threshold of achieving one particular dream I've been chasing since childhood. And exciting new opportunities are unfurling, defying all expectations. Travel and adventure remain staples of my life.

My daughter is happy and healthy and following her own dreams. I'm married to a good man, who loves me.  I'm fortunate to have many friends scattered all over the world.  I live in Europe, where women are valued more for their talent, intellect and contributions to society than for any Hollywood faux ideals of youth. As long as I take care of my health, the only limit is my imagination (and suppressing that annoying perfectionist tendency; a curse of being born a Virgo).

I'm joining with other September babies in making a birthday contribution to Charity Water, which helps provide clean drinking water around the globe. What better way to affirm that what matters isn't one's age, but how you expend your time and energy?

P.S. Stayed up until after 3 a.m. Paris time watching President Obama's address about health care reform. Brilliant speech; now let's see ideas transformed into actions. Shame about the distractions of GOP moron(s) rudely interrupting the speech either by shouting, waving pieces of paper or texting. As President Obama said, "When we can no longer even engage in a civil conversation with each other over the things that truly matter, we don't merely lose our capacity to solve big challenges. We lose something essential about ourselves."

Scènes de ma cuisine

Collapsing wirework basket and late afternoon shadows.

Lemons in an English stoneware jelly mould, vintage wicker-covered bottles, a pastry tin and sardine chocolate mould (a French tradition).

Cherry tomatoes in the pan of la balance, an enamel kitchen scale with its complete set of original weights.

Textiles in Amsterdam

A row of trims and lace at Westerstraat Market, the Jordaan, Amsterdam. The market originated in the 16th-century as a textiles market, although its offerings now emcompass food, clothing and antiques and collectibles.

 

Gingham in many colours.

 

Rolls of brocades for furniture upholstery.

 

Bolts of fabric stacked in a van.

 

Curious combinations.

 

Seersucker and plaids.

 

Chiffons and lace.

Fall preview

Bikes, boats and canal houses at twilight, Amsterdam.

You may not be ready to kiss summer goodbye, but the prospect of fall fills me with excitement. In September, it's not just a birthday that makes me happy; it's the sense of possibility; the first hint of a chill in the air; the colours; the clothes. To mark my birthday, I'm joining other September babies in donating to Charity Water, which helps provide clean drinking water around the world.

My fall diary looks promising. First, there's a week-long photography course in London, fall clothes-shopping and chatty dinners with old friends. Later in September, there'll be teas and dinners with friends visiting Paris. I'll meet my blogging buddy Marilyn for the first time.  My friend Joan, the fascinating proprietor of San Francisco's Timeless Treasures will be in town.  I'll also be escorting my partner-in-crime Di Overton to the brocante at Chatou, hunting for goodies for Ghost Furniture.

Photo shoots in both Paris and the Loire Valley are planned for an upcoming book about French antiquaires and their private spaces. Early in October, David and I will holiday in Scotland and various points in England. In Northumberland, we'll visit Di and Harvey. Can't wait to see their renovated cottage (and sneak a few photos)! In Oxford, we'll visit David's daughter Marie-Claire, as well as Barbara and Barry, the lovely couple whose wedding the gorgeous Gillian and I were privileged to witness last December in New York.

November kicks off with the usual brocante at Bastille. I'll be brushing up on my Arabic in preparation for  spending Thanksgiving and early December in Amman and Petra, Jordan, working on interviews and photo essays. I'll also make sure arrangements for our expedition March 1-8, 2010 are exactly as expected.

We still have two or three spots left; want to come along with Alex and me for an unforgettable adventure? Check out our Journey to Jordan website, then email me with any questions.

This fall I'll also be making a concerted effort to walk and bike more to build up my stamina (to carry heavy photo gear around for extended periods of time); to clear more clutter by selling some antiques and collectibles and to read more and worry less.

What's kick-starting your fall? Any plans for travel or launching new projects or creative ventures? Do tell!

P.S. If you like books and appreciate Brit humour and irony, you may enjoy Me and My Big Mouth. I especially like his criteria for getting rid of books. Note to self: Must do this!

More typefaces and fonts

I took this photo of a sign above an entranceway in Amsterdam, simply because I liked the typeface.

As many of you know, I am mad about fonts and typefaces. Must be my newspaper background. I own several books about typefaces and collect vintage printer's letters. I also have about 20 beautiful and unusual fonts that I rarely get to use. If you have the technical savvy to use CSS within Typepad to manipulate fonts in the sidebar, as well as a hassle-free way to combine various fonts within selected posts, please contact me.

Meanwhile Argentinian Alejandro "Ale" Paul is the latest innovative designer in the spotlight at MyFonts.com. Read the interview and follow the links to view Alejandro's extensive collection of unique fonts.

Hatred and lies at church in Tempe, Arizona

In Europe, Muslim leaders who incite hatred in mosques are arrested and sometimes deported. But this hate-filled "pastor" in a church in Tempe, Arizona seems proud of his racism, ignorance and stupidity. Steven Anderson is apparently suffering no legal consequences, despite publicly praying for the president's death!

I see nothing remotely Christian about Anderson's despicable behavior and pity those who listen to his delusional rantings.

Strange things

An abundance of red in this Amsterdam shop. Truth be told, after nearly ten years in Europe, I have amassed enough antiques and collectibles to open an antiques store - a very large antiques store (see below).

Strange things have been going on these last three days. Five packages intended for me have gone missing; each supposedly delivered on different days. I dreamt of a friend and the next day he emailed me. Someone else emailed me, after discovering my blog through a mutual friend. I haven't heard from this friend in many years; surprising (but nice) to learn he's been following Paris Parfait (JL, please contact me!)  And I found a shiny green shamrock on the kitchen floor. Is it something in the air or some odd planetary storm or astrological phenomena?

Meanwhile, I gave away four huge bags of clothing and still am culling my wardrobe. I am being ruthless about tossing clothes I don't wear, even brand new ones. This is part of a general clear-out of the apartment: I'm going through practically every single thing I own and discarding things that either no long suit me or I don't need or want.

I have two beautiful early 19th-century pieces of furniture that are such high-maintenance, I'm selling them. Their beauty simply isn't worth the effort. I want things to be simple, streamlined and elegant, not so fussy that constant vigilance is required. I have better things to do than examine furniture for woodworm, buckling wood veneer and cracked leather. Don't get me wrong, I like imperfect furniture that bears the rich patina of time. But caring for these two pieces has become too much like hard work, not to mention expensive.

Some other valuable antiques will be sold; some treasures given away; other things donated to a local charity. With every item that leaves the apartment, I feel a little lighter; a bit more free. It really is true that one can become weighed down by possessions, so I'm on a mission to lighten the load.

I've also taken a step back from friends who delight in criticising and undermining, rather than supporting and encouraging. I've learned that some so-called friends have nothing at all to say when one accomplishes something good, but can be quite critical and discouraging on a regular basis. I try to give people the benefit of the doubt, but finally have understood that their behaviour has less to do with me and more to do with their own jealousy and issues of self-esteem.

What about you? Are you now or have you recently gone through a similar "cull" of your surroundings and/or friends and acquaintances?

Himalayan Odyssey

Statue, Westerstraat Market, Amsterdam.

"In our struggle for freedom, truth is the only weapon we possess." - The Dalai Lama.

I've been watching documentaries about Tibet, hoping to travel to the region (Nepal and Dharamsala, India). If you haven't seen Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion, I highly recommend it. Until I saw this film, I had only a vague general knowledge of the Tibet-China conflict. I knew about the thousands of Tibetans who had been killed and the temples, religious shrines and buildings that had been destroyed, but hadn't seen actual footage of the aftermath.

The film features heart-wrenching interviews with monks and nuns who were imprisoned and tortured by the Chinese. It talks about Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger abandoning US funding, support and training of the Tibetan resistance for commerce with China. Basically these men traded human rights and justice for money.

Of the litany of injustices, what struck me most was that the Chinese government - after kidnapping the child the Dalai Lama had identified as his successor - had the audacity to name a surrogate child for the role - this from a Chinese leadership that doesn't even respect Tibetan traditions, religion and freedom. The Dalai Lama responded by calling for a referendum to name his successor, breaking 600 years of religious tradition.

Werner Herzog's film Wheel of Time is another must-see. And BBC's The Lost World of Tibet contains rare archival footage before China's invasion and subsequent attempts to destroy the heart and soul of Tibet, turning it into a psuedo-Chinese state.

I'd really like to go on a Himalayan Odyssey with Seattle-based photographer David Samuel Robbins. Just look at the stunning images in his gallery! Robbins and his camera lens capture so much beauty and spirit, even amidst poverty and suffering.

Watch Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion on Google video here.

Dutch market

Scenes from the Westerstraat Market, the Jordaan, Amsterdam.

A market trader selects oranges to make juice.

Porcelain bowls from Japan and modern desk lamps from France.

A vintage bike and plump cushions.

Brass bells and vintage tools.

A table covered with silver, pewter and flatware.

Embroidered linens galore.

A vendor takes a tea break.

Bronze ballerina.

Portrait of a Dutch woman preparing a meal.

Religious icons.

Sparkling chandeliers.

Wedding dresses for 20 euros each.

Art deco mannequins.

Floral blouses in bright colours.

Summer dresses in floral prints.

Gypsy print and ruffled skirts.

Yarn and felt ties.

Center of attention.

A vintage Coca-Cola sign.

Pia's Paris

My clever friend Pia Jane Bijkerk created this Eiffel Tower from sturdy pieces of cardboard. Read her behind-the-scenes account of the tower's construction here. I'm amazed the tower survived the train journey from Amsterdam to Paris without a hitch. The display - currently gracing WH Smith's rue Cambon vitrine - showcases Pia's stylish new book Paris: Made by Hand.

If you're in Paris,act fast! Paris: Made by Hand is practically flying out the door. Who can resist Pia's gorgeous photographs and insider tips about Paris ateliers and shops featuring unique creations?

Another passer-by admires the decorated window at WH Smith.

Always a brocante...

Brocante, Amsterdam. Wherever I travel, if there's a brocante in the vicinity, chances are I'll find it!

If you're lucky enough to be in Paris in late September, the famous brocante and ham fair at Chatou begins Friday, Sept. 25th and continues daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Sunday,Oct. 5th. My friends Blandine Bavoux, Geraldine Michelis and Gunnar Petterssen will be there with more unique finds.

The location near Paris is easily accessible via R.E.R. train A1 direction Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Exit the train at Rueil-Malmaison or Chatou-Croissy and walk the short distance to the Ile de Chatou. You can get a taxi from Paris, but don't expect to find one to take you home. Brocante tickets are available at the entrance gate at Ile de la Chatou.

Watch this site for further information about the Foire Nationale aux Antiquites a la Brocante et aux Jambons.

Special treats from Amsterdam

On Monday I had a long lunch on Ile Saint-Louis with the fabulous Pia Jane Bijkerk, whom I met in June in Amsterdam . Pia is in town on a whirlwind visit for her beautiful new book Paris: Made by Hand. You can pick up a copy at WH Smith on rue de Rivoli. Be sure to look at the imaginative window display Pia created in the store's rue Cambon vitrine.

And Pia hand-carried her friend Riley Salyards' gorgeous pottery, all the way from Amsterdam. Talk about special delivery! Visit Riley's new blog Roe. Her work is for sale at a lovely antiques shop at 827 Prinsengracht, Amsterdam. More details here.

Raku featuring my favourite aqua and an interior imprinted with vintage lace.

This bowl is imprinted with natural materials Riley found during walks with her young son.

Paris: Made by Hand

Pia Jane Bijkerk, June 27, 2009, Amsterdam.

Just back from Amsterdam an hour ago and can't wait to tell you about our fantastic time there! For now, here are photos of the fabulous Pia Jane Bijkerk, author, stylist and blogger extraordinaire. I took these photos Saturday afternoon at the book-signing in Spui Square for Pia's new book Paris: Made by Hand.

If you love Paris, you'll adore this book! It's brimming with insider tips about more than 50 Paris shops and studios that feature hand-made or unique goods. I've lived in Paris for more than eight years and thought I knew my way around many of the hidden gems and treasure haunts. Thanks to Pia, I've learned about some new must-visit places. Her experience as a stylist and her eye as a photographer combine for a must-have guide for your next shopping excursion.

Read Pia's account of her first book-signing here.

Pia decorated an American Book Center vitrine with a DIY (Do It Yourself) theme. Alas, these photos don't do her creative work justice. It was a bright, sunny day and I had only a telephoto lens with me.

Check back Tuesday for more photos and stories from Amsterdam.

Merci Paris

A little red Fiat loaded with plants in the courtyard at Merci, 111 Bd. Beaumarchais, Paris. My lovely friend Di Overton and I visited Merci and were struck by its intriguing mix of merchandise and innovative design.

Marie-France and Bernard Cohen, founders of the children's clothing boutique Bonpoint, decided to put their retail skills to good use, while raising funds for charity. Proceeds from sales at Merci go to aid poor women and children in Madagascar.

The view from the second floor.

The store's main entranceway. The large loops on either side of the door are radiators, from the building's days as a factory.

A book-filled cafe.

A tall stack of paperback books.

Red chairs.

Bottles made of recycled glass.

Chandelier constructed of wire and clay beads.

Vintage crystal chandelier.

Painted wooden tables, with paper-covered tops.

Vintage grocery sign.

Mid-century folding webbed fabric and metal chaises.

Lawn chairs from the '50s and '60s.

An antique iron garden chair.

Old steel school lockers.

A wirework birdcage filled with pigeon lights.

A child's bed on a ledge.

A clothesline displaying summer essentials.

Merci spelled in twigs and wire. The store is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Take the metro to Saint Sébastien Froissard.

P.S. I am in Amsterdam for a few days. Back soon with photos and stories.

Decluttering a small space

Recently I have been trying to simplify and de-clutter, particularly in my tiny studio/guest room (which formerly was my daughter Jordana's room). Previously, the space was very lively and colourful - but overcrowded. The early 19th-century wine-tasting table from Bourgogne serves as a work surface for art and photography. The baskets beneath the table contain a netbook, books and photo files.

On the wine-tasting table are two 19th-century glass items: a pharmacy measure and cloche covering an orchid in a porcelain pot. Also pictured: a Laura Ashley glass lamp; a handmade journal, a gift from Karen Cole; an oil on panel painting by Taos, N.M. artist Greg Moon; a Pottery Barn retro telephone; a John Derian decoupaged tray, bought at The Paris Market in Savannah, Ga. and my Sony DSLR-A900.

The oeil de boeuf window with leaded glass (one of two) is originally from a chateau in Bourgogne. I hope that someday they will serve as windows in a house. The framed heliogravures are Lehnert & Landrock images of early 20th-century Egypt. Two Moroccan vintage sequinned wedding blankets purchased from Maryam Montague are on the bed, as well as an "eye" pillow by Julochka in Denmark.

I put one blue wooden chest of art supplies inside a closet; other supplies and photo equipment are in this chest of drawers from Agape Deco. The iron arched window frame is from a French chateau. The painting - which reminds me of a Spanish flamenco dancer - is by Vanessa Valencia. The pottery pitcher is by a Santa Fe artist and the numbered books are by Noel Solomon.

The art dolls sitting on an old wooden box are handmade by Christine Alvarado and the framed photograph is by Madelyn Mulvaney. The antique iron book press is from Scotland.

But lest you think my job is done, that's just one room; the rest of apartment also needs de-cluttering. I have put some furniture in the cave (wine cellar) and am selling a few antique pieces. As any Parisian apartment dweller can attest, finding enough space to breathe is a never-ending quest!

P.S. Karen Kingston's book Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui will make you want to clean out closets, clear shelves and ruthlessly toss things out to create space.

Mirror images

Three-way mirrors, fourth floor, Liberty, London.

Stack of painted wooden chairs, Liberty.

Like all big cities, Paris struggles with issues related to globalisation and immigration. The latest issue of the online magazine Triple Canopy explores the phenomenon of monoactivite: Chinese textile wholesalers taking over the Sedaine-Popincourt neighbourhood.

Local residents, angered by the displacement of boulangeries, bistros and longtime businesses, want the Chinese businesses gone. The French government is trying to further regulate the Chinese wholesalers, who sell garments only in bulk and block streets with trucks loading and unloading merchandise.

Chinese employers operate sweatshops behind elegant facades, piecing together goods arriving from China in partially-finished condition and adding “Made in France” labels. The goods are then shipped to developing markets. Jules Treneer, an Oberkamp resident, writes about Parisians' views on French culture and their ambivalence towards immigration and the global marketplace.

Human trafficking

It just boggles the mind that modern-day slavery - also known as human trafficking - is so widespread. Read Megan Butel's eye-opening blog post "Stop! Where are you going with this?"

Who's afraid of a book?

Think book-banning and book-burning is a relic of another era? Not in West Bend, Wisconsin, where a few dunces are determined to censor their local library's selection of books. Read Laura Miller's piece about the groups fearful of Francesca Lia Block's book Baby Be-Bop.

I find it infuriating that a small group of ignorant and judgmental people try to impose their narrow views on everyone else, never mind if civil liberties are violated in the process!

Anges et Demons at Saint-Sulpice

Aqua verre, a marble sculpture and a plaster medallion at the extraordinary Sophie Pretelat's Anges et Demons stand at the 32nd Foire aux Antiquaires at Saint-Sulpice, Paris. The event continues daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. through June 15th. Take Metro Line 10 to Mabillion and walk two blocks to Place Saint-Sulpice.

Aqua glass candle or flower hanging goblets and 18th-century documents.

An 18th-century wooden plaque from a ship, an antique urn and 19th-century pharmacy glass.

A tablet of vintage glass, candlesticks and a father-and-child sculpture.

An antique writing desk, decorative boxes and lamps.

Vintage boxes and cylinders and an embroidered band of ribbon.

Amber etched-glass goblets.

A vintage wooden ship, cricket balls, fish plates, shells and framed illustrations.

Two chairs with needlepoint seats.

Le petit maison.

A surprisingly-comfortable 19th-century Swedish daybed and an oil painting.

Check back Monday for more photos from Anges et Demons and other curiosities at Saint-Sulpice.

Yes, we Caen!

A pop art take on Barack Obama's presidential campaign rallying cry "Yes, we can!" in a shop window.

To honour President Obama's visit to Normandy for D-Day ceremonies this weekend, the City of Caen has changed its road signs and town banners to read "Yes, we Caen!"

Agape special sale

Today my friend Gabrielle and I went to Agape's vente emphemere at La Biscuiterie de France. Alas, there were so many enthusiastic shoppers, I couldn't take a photo without someone stepping into the shot. These photos were taken in May when Di Overton and I went to Agape.

Tableaus at Julie Isore's Agape.

If you're in Paris, Agape's special sale continues from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and from 2 to 6 on Sunday. La Biscuiterie's entrance is at 60, rue de Billancourt in Boulogne-Billancourt. Take Metro Line 10 to Jean-Jaures or Pont de Saint-Cloud.

Diva

My friend Sophie's dog Diva in an antique urn on opening day of the Antiquites Brocante at Place Saint-Sulpice, Paris. Like many divas, this one couldn't be coaxed into posing for the camera.

Sophie had to hold Diva so she would look at the camera lens. Check back later for more photos from the brocante.

Leave the white sneakers at home

We witnessed an incident in which an Australian tourist became distraught over something and argued loudly with an antiques dealer. She said, "You're only doing this because I speak English." And an audible collective gasp arose from all the French stall-holders nearby, who demurred, "No, Madam, not at all. We all speak English. You simply misunderstood about the price." But the tourist flounced off, shaking her head and muttering about how they were trying to take advantage of her.

She was wearing khaki trousers and pristine white sneakers/running shoes. A word of advice: leave the white sneakers at home when you come to Paris. They are unacceptable here, unless you're on court at Roland Garros. And if you don't understand something, don't shout at the proprietor!

Thank you, President Obama

I listened to the president's speech in Cairo and was impressed by his respect for other cultures and customs, as well as his evenhandedness in approaching the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I think his speech did much to begin restoring dignity for the United States and our reputation in the Middle East.

At the same time, I was thinking how the narrow-minded right-wingers in the US would have a field day, simply because President Obama quoted the Koran (he also quoted the Torah and the Bible) and spoke a few words of Arabic.

Update Friday, June 5: Add an Oklahoma senator to the list. He must have been listening to a different speech and living in a different reality the last few years, since he seems unclear about how war in Iraq began.

More revisionist history from the Cheneys

Will the Cheneys please stop lying - for that matter, just stop talking? Why is Dick Cheney sending his daughter out to rehash the same false claims and failed talking points??!! Why is the news media giving her a forum, without someone to refute the falsehoods she's spouting? Completely irresponsible journalism by MSNBC, not to mention deceitful behaviour by the publicity-mad Cheneys.

Peace begins at home

Paris apartment, June 1, 2009.

"I believe that to meet the challenges of our times, human beings will have to develop a greater sense of universal responsibility. Each of us must learn to work not just for oneself, one's own family or nation, but for the benefit of all humankind. Universal responsibility is the key to human survival. It is the best foundation for world peace." - The Dalai Lama

Scroll down the page for another post today.

Maroc in Paris

Sign in an old doorframe, Merci, Paris.

Thank you for your lovely comments about my Moroccan-themed window reflections posts. Some readers apparently skimmed the posts too quickly and had the mistaken impression the photos were taken during an actual journey to Maroc. While I have been to Morocco, I was not there last week! The series of photos were taken at Galeries Lafayette, Paris.

In my Ready for Adventure? post, I offered a prize from Morocco and a prize from France, the latter worth 200 euros. The winners drawn from le chapeau are Maia (Morocco) and Leau (France). Felicitations to both of you! Please email me your mailing addresses and I'll get your packages off toute de suite via La Poste.

Scroll down the page for an additional post today.

Les fleurs de Mai

Bouquet of roses, Merci, Paris.

Piviones and assorted flowers, Merci.

A single blossom, Merci.

Flower boxes in a courtyard, Merci.

Lavender allium, Hotel de Ville, Boulogne-Billancourt.

Window boxes for Claudia's Flowerbox Faceoff, 3rd arrondissement, Paris.

Peony in a teacup, my apartment.

Today the Cannes Film Festival will announce its 2009 prize winners. And the French Open tennis championship begins at Roland Garros, Paris.

La magie du Maroc

Oh the dazzling sights and sounds of Maroc!

A little girl peers into a shop window.

Tree branches holding lanterns and candles.

Decorative birdcages are popular...

...whether or not one keeps a bird.

...or three or four.

An assortment of silver, brass and glass candlesticks of various styles and heights.

A globe light fixture by Yahya, who sells his work in a boutique at 61 rue de Yougoslavie, Passage Ghandouri, in the heart of Gueliz, Marrakech.

A traditional costume.

Perhaps a walk and browsing in bookstores?

Wall of mirrors.

Golden bougeoirs.

After carrying all those heavy parcels, shall we visit the hammam?

Would you like some cool and refreshing cucumber water with mint?

Tea, then more sightseeing and shopping?

After all that shopping, sightseeing and exploring, have you worked up an appetite?

Let's have dinner at a restaurant featuring these beautiful place settings created by Myriam Mourabit.

Hmmm, spicy chicken couscous! Bon appetit!

Tea after dinner?

Photo of birds in a cage at Merci, Paris.
Photos of cucumber water and spicy chicken couscous at my home in Paris.
All other photos, vitrines, Galeries Lafayette, Paris.

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Did you hear about this New Zealand bank's mistake? When living in Jordan, I was expecting a transfer of funds from my employer in the UK. The accountant, who was converting dinars into pounds into dollars, mistakenly sent $210,000, rather than $21,000. As it was deposited into my personal account, technically the money was mine to keep.

I phoned my boss, who was traveling and left a message saying, "I knew you were pleased with my work and planning to give me a bonus, but I never expected anything like this!" About an hour later, he phoned me from Spain, desperately charming, to make sure I returned the money. Of course I did! But in the week of bureaucrarcy required to transfer funds back to the UK, I made about $1000 in interest and got a big bonus. And I received two marriage proposals. Ha ha!

Gunnar Pettersson's collection of treasures

Black Forest bears from Germany at Gunnar Pettersson's stand #514 at the Antiquites Brocante at Bastille. The brocante ends at 7 p.m. today.

More Black Forest examples. If you missed the opportunity to visit Monsieur Pettersen's stand at Bastille, you'll have another chance at brocantes at Chatou in September and Bastille again in November.

A Morrocan bust on a wooden base.

Scientific and mathematical instruments and decorative frames.

"Vaseline" glass.

Hand-painted wooden boxes.

Souvenir treen from various regions of France.

More wooden treen, originally used primarily to hold toiletries.

Provencal pots for storing duck fat.

These little volumes are actually flashlights.

Seashell frame on an antique mercury glass mirror.

A shell-encrusted box.

A decorative beaded glass frame, mercury glass candlesticks and cranberry glass.

A porcelain menu placard for dinner parties.

An assortment of enameled objets d'art behind glass.

Frames galore in a glass case.

A handpainted wooden frame.

Decorative trays with vintage glassware.

Weighing the balance

Louis-Phillipe scales with the original weights used to measure gold (more weights are in a small compartment beneath the wood piece on the right). I purchased this rare example from Gunnar Pettersson at the Antiquites Brocante at Bastille, as an anniversary present for my husband. Visit Monsieur Pettersson at Stand 514 for many intriguing finds, daily through Sunday, May 17th at Place de la Bastille.

Since returning to Paris, I've been trying to catch up with deadlines and email. Am still feeling very much in the breakdown/breakthrough mode I wrote about recently. So please bear with me, as I try to get back on track. I'm also bothered by a carpal tunnel issue in my left hand, so any posts will be brief.

Meanwhile, some news of note:

The bright and light

The Cannes Film Festival opened and French television has full-blown coverage, with virtually non-stop interviews and photo ops.

Is the "French Elvis" really bidding adieu to his fans?

The dark

Blame the victim. This is just wrong, on so many levels.

A humanitarian disaster is brewing in Sri Lanka.

President Obama, what are you thinking??!! Surely you learned what NOT to do from your predecessor's bad judgment!!

And why is anybody listening to that torture-loving and fear-mongering former vice-president Dick Cheney? Seriously: enough is enough!

Industrial charm at Bastille

Remember the American folk song " I've Been Working on the Railroad?" As children, we learned it in music class.

Industrial furnishings at Cedric Grare's Art Atypique stand at Bastille.

Specimens, both from nature and hand-forged.

An iron star on a stand against a backdrop of 19th-century gilt mirrors and frames.

Painted driftwood sculptures remind me of Native American feathers.

A 1960s jukebox in good working order.

I was captivated by two identical oeil de boeuf leaded-glass windows at Nina Nattaf's Les Impedimenta stand at Bastille. Iron cross bars help support the glass in each window, which - despite their age - have sustained only one tiny crack. The wood frames encasing the 19th-century treasures are four or five inches thick. The windows came from a chateau in Burgundy, France.

Check back Thursday for more photos of the Antiquites Brocante at Bastille, currently underway. The event is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through Sunday, May 17th. Get your tickets for eight euros each at the main entrance on Place de la Bastille. The brocante extends along both sides of the picturesque Canal St. Martin.

Anges et Démons at Bastille

The inimitable Sophie Pretalat's Anges et Démons stand at the Antiquites Brocante at Bastille is filled with precious and rare objects, mostly from the 18th and 19th centuries. Mme. Pretalat's unique style and her amazing collection of antiques have been featured in numerous books and magazines in France.

Visit Anges et Démons at Stand 403 along the Canal St. Martin, facing Place de la Bastille. The brocante continues from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through Sunday, May 17th. Tickets are available at the main entrance at Place de la Bastille. Take the Metro Line 1 to Bastille or Metro 5 or 8 to Bastille or Quai de la Rapee. Bus lines 76, 86 and 91 go to Bastille and parking is available at the Opera.

I brought home a couple of 19th-century mercury glass candlesticks to replace some that were shattered. Last October a guest accidentally knocked five antique mercury glass candlesticks and a painting to the floor. Two candlesticks survived the incident; thankfully, the painting sustained only minor damage.

Check back later for more photos of the brocante at Bastille.

In search of the unusual

A quirky industrial lamp at Cedric Grare's Art Atypique stand at the Antiquites Brocante at Bastille, Paris. I would have snapped this up for my desk, if not for the 950 euros price tag!

This was Opening Day for the popular Antiquites Brocante at Bastille, Paris. It was lovely to see some old friends, as well as beautiful antiques and collectibles. I have some unusual finds to show you, but it will take time to post all the photos.

Haven't had a chance yet to go through all Jordana's wedding photos; hope to do that later tonight and post more on Friday. Thank you all for your lovely comments for the previous post, featuring Jordana in her wedding dress. Both Jordana and I really appreciate your felicitations and good wishes.

The Antiquites Brocante at Bastille continues from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through May 17th. Stands positively bursting with fabulous treasures and conversation pieces extend along both sides of the Canal St. Martin. Tickets for eight euros each are available at the main entrance on Place de la Bastille.

Preparing for Bastille

Constructing the foundation for the main building at the Antiquites Brocante May 7-17 at Place de la Bastille, Paris. I shot these images last week.

Under construction: tents and other temporary structures are being erected along both sides of the Canal St. Martin, as well as facing Place de la Bastille.

Visit Toma at Antiques Diva to see my photos of last May's brocante at Bastille. The images she posted were taken at Sophie Pretalet's Anges et Demons stand. Stop by Stand 403 and say hello to Sophie - maybe I'll see you there!

Muguet des bois

The first Muguet des bois (lily of the valley) of the season are not quite at their best. In France, nosegays of this delicate perfumed flower are presented to friends and family on the first Sunday in May. But my husband got these early examples at the market today, as we'll be in Savannah next Sunday. Hope you are having a lovely Sunday, wherever you are!

Look closely...

...but don't count on television news for truth and accuracy.

Glass photographic plates from 1910-1918, found at the flea market at Vanves, Paris.

In recent years, the mainstream media - particularly television news - in the US has veered dangerously off course. Gone is the objectivity that's drilled into our heads in journalism school; instead, money, power, influence and politics have corrupted the news agenda. And I'm not talking only about Fox "News," which is known for its right-wing slant. I'm referring to ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC, as well as Fox.

The most recent example of abysmal reporting concerns the television news coverage of the Putlizer Prize. David Barstow of The New York Times deservedly won for his "tenacious reporting that revealed how some retired generals, working as radio and television analysts, had been co-opted by the Pentagon to make its case for the war in Iraq and how many of them also had undisclosed ties to companies that benefited from policies they defended," according to the Pulitzer Committee.

But, as Glenn Greenwald of Salon noted, the television networks "kept completely silent about Barstow's story, even though it sparked Congressional inquiries, vehement objections from the then-leading Democratic presidential candidates and allegations that the Pentagon program violated legal prohibitions on domestic propaganda programs. The Pentagon's secret collaboration with these "independent analysts" shaped multiple news stories from each of these outlets on a variety of critical topics. Most amazingly, many of them continue to employ as so-called "independent analysts" the very retired generals at the heart of Barstow's story, yet still refuse to inform their viewers about any part of this story."

American television networks simply eliminated Barstow's name from their Putlizer coverage or any direct reference to Barstow's honor. Obviously, to do so would shine a spotlight on their own cupability, as outlined in Barstow's investigation.

NBC's Brian Williams was one of the worst offenders,prompting Media Matters to call him out for his so-called "reporting" on the pervasive impact of the Pentagon's program on television news coverage. Greenwald called Williams' behavior "disgraceful on this issue, almost certainly due to the fact that some of the 'analysts' most directly implicated by Barstow's story are Williams' favored sources and friends."

CNN ran a lengthy story on the Pulitzer winners, conveniently omitting any mention of David Barstow's prize for uncovering corruption at the core of CNN's Iraq War coverage, as well as its reporting about other military-related matters.

Such disgraceful, shameful and unethical behaviour on the part of American television news! It seems many, many pronouncements of television reporters must be taken with a healthy dose of skepticism. If you want the true story, best to check in regularly with Media Matters, which does an excellent job of dissecting the mainstream media's reporting and separating fact from fiction.

Scroll down the page to read about Kelaya's story and how you can help.