Paris Parfait

Take the time

Giant ancient clockface at Geraldine Michaelis's stand Une Chanson Douce at the Antiquities Brocante at Place de la Bastille, Paris.

Come With Me
To the quiet minute between two noisy minutes
It's always waiting ready to welcome us
Tucked under the wing of the day
I'll be there
Where will you be?

Poem by Naomi Shihab Nye from her book Come with Me: Poems for a Journey.

Tara Bradford is traveling. In her absence, timed posts should appear. She will post occasional updates from the road.

More photos from Bastille

Images taken at Clement Rosenzweig's Chinez toutes les Tendances stand at the Antiquities Brocante at Place de la Bastille, Paris. The event continues daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. through May 18th. Tickets are available at the entrance. You can also visit Monsieur Rosenzweig's shop at Marche Dauphine, 132/140 rue des Rosiers at Clignacourt, St. Ouen, Paris. It is open from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

A 20th-century spiral staircase model handmade in mahogany.

Two zinc weathervanes and framed prints.

A horse's head and a zinc weathervane within a vintage frame.

Brocante beauty at Bastille

An artful arrangement of urns, sculptures, busts, 18th-century books and a sculptor's model at Sophie Pretelat's Anges et Demons stand at the Antiquities Brocante at Bastille. Pretelat's eye for acquiring unusual antiques and curiosities - and her styling skills - are frequently featured in books, most recently in Secrets d'interieurs by Michele Lalande and Gilles Trillard.

A 19th-century urn filled with lovely seashells. The brocante at Place de la Bastille continues from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through May 18.

Stone and plaster birds, an antique birdcage and candlesticks and lamps at Anges et Demons. Visit Pretalat's shop at 14 rue Notre Dame in Cunault, France.

An antique column, 19th-century frames, rolled-up tapestry and an embroidered altarcloth.

Mercury glass candlesticks, a hand-etched frosted-glass goblet, 18th-century books and a framed portrait make up this table display at Anges et Demons. Many more brocante photos to come!

Mother's Day / Fete des meres / Dia da la Madre

A vintage wooden toy truck at Geraldine Michaelis's stand Une Chanson Douce at the Antiquities Brocante at Bastille.

To my maman and all mothers and grandmothers who have tried their best to insure children have happy, healthy childhoods, then go on to lead productive lives and contribute something valuable to the world: Thank you. Merci bien. Muchas gracias. Bonne fete! Happy Mother's Day!

A brocante, a sculptor's model and pickpockets

Parts of 19th-century zinc weathervanes, along with an 18th-century wooden religious retablo, a copper figure on horseback and a 20th-century architectural model of a spiral staircase at the Chinez toutes les Tendances stand at the Antiquities Brocante at Place de la Bastille. The event continues daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. through May 18th. Tickets are available at the door. Check back Sunday for more brocante photos.

Be aware the "rakkai" or pickpockets are out in full force on the Paris metro, particularly on Lines 1, 8 and 9. Today I was returning from Bastille, carrying an antique sculptor's model. Two guys tried to grab my handbag, but I'd spotted them already and was prepared. I threatened to hit them with the pot. They grinned and said in French, something to the effect, "You'll break it!" I replied, "Et votre tete aussi (And your head too)." They laughed, but jumped off the train as the doors were closing.

Antique original sculptor's model for a piece ultimately made in silver. I found it at the inimitable Sophie Pretelat's Anges et Demons at Bastille. Thankfully, I didn't have to use it as a weapon against pickpockets on the train!

Pop icons at Galeries Lafayette

The Asian-themed window displays at Galeries Lafayette, Paris are filled with pop cultural icons from Japan, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and South Korea.

Beyond this place, there be dragons...

Elaborate gold gilt dragon currently adorning a vitrine at Galeries Lafayette, Paris.

"Beyond this place, there be dragons!" These words once were found on every map, at the place where the mapmakers' known worlds stopped. These words sparked the exotic mysteries that beckoned every adventurer, every dreamer, every person curious to see past their immediate environs. It is the place that the discoverers sailed beyond and were rewarded for their bravery by finding the Americas.

I am about to embark on a journey that is different from the hundreds I have taken over the years. Yes, some of the roads will be familiar; other parts unknown and a little scary. But this journey is important, as it marks a huge passage, not only in my daughter's life - as she presents her first fashion collection to critics, including designer John Galliano - and graduates with honours from college. It also marks the culmination of a journey that Jordana and I have traveled together - just the two of us, on our own. Occasionally we had help from family and friends and when Jordana was 15, David came along as a father figure. But for the most part, it was just Jordana and me.

We navigated a long and sometimes difficult road, living in other countries, frequently traveling, adapting to changing circumstances and for Jordana, new schools - not always easy, but worth the persistent effort. I am thankful for Jordana and so very proud of the bright, talented and engaging young woman she has become, despite all the odds, some might say. Some well-meaning people once suggested I should stay in one place and suppress my dreams to insure more stability for my daughter. I didn't listen to those people; I chose my own path and by extension, Jordana's.

I always believed that as long as Jordana felt loved and safe, she would be fine. And I think she would argue that all the travel, the adventures, the ever-changing situations made her more courageous, tolerant, flexible and able to cope with any situation. I think Jordana would tell you that she's gained a multicultural world view that serves her well, wherever she goes. I think she would agree that while she may not have had as many material luxuries as her friends with two working parents, she gained invaluable experiences while living and traveling in some of the world's greatest cities, meeting many fascinating people along the way.

For Jordana, I pray her best adventures are still to come. And I will be cheering her on, along whatever path she chooses.

For me, the three-week journey that begins in Savannah also heralds major changes. Some thrilling challenges and creative opportunities are unfolding and I will see many friends, both old and new. Much excitement ahead! My laptop and camera are accompanying me, so barring technical glitches, will be posting on Paris Parfait comme d'habitude. Hope you'll come along for the ride!

Barnacle sculptures at Selfridges

In keeping with the shipwreck-themed window displays at Selfridges, the London department store, lighting designer Stuart Haygarth created these unique light sculptures. Black barnacle (above).

White barnacle.

Harpon 321 by Stuart Haygarth.

Best of the brocante

My Swedish friend G. Pettersson - who has an extraordinary eye for beautiful and unusual objects - at his booth at the brocante at Square des Batignolles, Paris. While Monsieur Pettersson lives in the Southwest of France, you can telephone him if you're interested in purchasing anything you see here: (011) 33.6.11.19.89.86. If your French is a bit shaky, not to worry - he speaks excellent English! And if you're in Paris in May, you can check out his wares at the antiquites brocante at Place de Bastille.

Meanwhile, the brocante at Square des Batignolles continues daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. through April 6. Take the Metro Line 13 direction Asniers Gennevilliers to Brochant.

A handsome pair of English Chippendale chairs, recently upholstered in plaid.

Another view of the chairs, as well as a small cabinet, perfect for artist's supplies.

The Napoleon III globe, two petite confits de canard and blue pharmacy jar came home with me. Before I'd even paid for the items, two French women offered to buy the confits de canard from me. I declined, as the small ones are rare and will increase in value.

Monsieur Pettersson shows a hat rack to a customer.

A grouping of unusual frames and objets d'art.

An aqua crystal flower chandelier.

A vitrine filled with beautiful frames and precious decorative objects.

Strong women and society's dictates

Perhaps this is some French guy's subversive sense of humour or even a political statement - a naked and battered female doll suspended by her shoulders from bungee cords at the recent brocante at Ile de Chatou, France. Whatever impression the seller was trying to make, the rather disturbing doll certainly attracted attention - most of it negative - from passers-by.

Here's Johann Hari's insightful article in The Independent lamenting the demise of strong women as portrayed by both Hollywood and the media. I agree with the premise that society's dictates, particularly in Hollywood (and in politics) often undermine women and their talents and strengths. What do you think?

Spring fever

Have just come home absolutely drenched from a walk in the rain - the pouring-soak-through-your-shoes kind of rain that leaves puddles of water everywhere - but I am smiling, because it's spring, with all its accompanying joy and possibility.

Flowers are blooming, new chapters are being written and leaps of faith taken. The heady delirium of spring fever can't be diminished by a few rainshowers. And listening to this makes me happy. What is making you smile today? Whatever you're doing, hope you have a lovely weekend ahead!

Chantepleure

Vintage French dress forms at the recent brocante at Chatou.

The French word chantepleure means to sing and weep simultaneously - something most women completely understand. What the article doesn't discuss is how French women often adopt an air of bravado to mask deep insecurities, including uncertain situations in their marriages. French inheritance laws provide for the children, not the wife. In the event of divorce, it usually proves difficult for the wife to assert her rights and achieve any sort of financial parity with her husband. So it would seem that French women can never get too "relaxed" when it comes to their assets, physical or otherwise. They typically have more at stake than their British or North American counterparts.

On a completely unrelated note, watch this very clever video!

And here's a scary video about a serious subject that directly or indirectly affects us all.

The bliss of unexpected finds

Last week when giving blogging friends a brief tour of Ile Saint Louis, we discovered a little antique shop on a side street. My lucky finds included this 1906 Art Nouveau silver-plated claret jug, made by the German company WMF and an 18th-century French beaded bag in near-mint condition. Above is an illustration of the claret jug from the book Art Nouveau Domestic Metalwork. I have a small collection of six WMF-produced Art Nouveau pieces, all but one found in France.

Chatou collectibles

A marble bust, table and assorted beautiful objets d'art at the 76th Foire Nationale aux Antiquites a la Brocante, now underway at Ile de Chatou. On opening day on Friday, I shot nearly 200 photos. Check back every day this week for more brocante delights. No time to edit and post more today, as I'm going to a birthday party/early dinner.

My friend Kelly sent me this delightful Open Your Heart video, along with the message, "If Suzi Blu doesn't make you smile, than your smiler mechanism is on the fritz and you should really get that thing fixed!" Thank you, Kelly!

Sunday sampler

This morning I was struck by the fennel's sculptural symmetry, courtesy of Mother Nature.

The pottery bowl is from Italy, by way of London.

Visit my friend Maddie's Persisting Stars for an uplifting start to your day, "When the world opens up."

Here's one writer's take on why we love vintage. "Retro is about rediscovering an everyday beauty we may have missed first time round. Retro is a loving exhumation, a bringing back to the light, of the world we saw – or fancied we saw – around us, before the modern world kicked in and we had to grow up and take responsibility for something called The Future," John Walsh writes.

Read about the curse of the yummy mummy, that ridiculously unobtainable fiction.

Rarely have stark bare trees, blue sky and hawks looked more appealing than in Stephanie's photographs from Colorado here.

Check out this article about Barack Obama by one of his friends and fellow law professors. (With Super Tuesday Part II coming up, you didn't think I would forget about politics, did you?)

And consider Rumi's words from The Book of Love:

This being human is a guest house
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture, still,
treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing
and invite them in

be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

Spiritual symbols and religious icons

A tableau of religious icons beneath the apartment's foyer wall of crosses, milagros and prayer ornaments. The pewter tulip tray at right is by Serge Nekrassoff (1895-1985), the Russian-American metalsmith. It serves as a catch-all for mail. A 19th-century French church altarpiece, stitched in gold threads is beneath the trays.

The tray at left with angels at either end is Mexican silver, found in Sevilla, Spain. The tray contains various glass and hammered-silver candleholders, as well as tin milagros from Santa Fe; a 19th-century French silver and gold religious icon; a 19th-century cobalt glass and silver Spanish communion chalice, found in Sevilla and a Spanish crucifix icon of tin and brass, the latter found at the secret brocante in Passy, Paris. The tray also holds an antique French ivory-and-silver rosary and a modern aqua-beaded and silver Spanish rosary from a convent in Sevilla.

A white folk art cross from Guatemala, also found in France is flanked by two silver hearts linked by a chain. One of the hearts still holds a handwritten prayer request. The hearts are from a former convent in Marseilles, France. The wooden monk figure is from a former French monastery. The silver cross draped around his neck was a gift. The framed drawing of a hand holding a pen dripping blood was a gift from Syrian opposition political cartoonist and publisher Ali Ferzat, with an inscription in Arabic.

No, I am not Catholic! As a child, I went to a Baptist church; when I was nine, my mother took us to a Presbyterian church, of which I am still a member. But I am drawn to religious icons and symbols from world religions. One of the things I like about Santa Fe (which of course means Holy Faith) is the little prayer niches or shrines in so many beautiful old adobe houses. Some of these homes even have their own chapels. Two of my favourite books about collecting religious icons are Mary Emmerling's Art of the Cross and Laura Cerwinske's In a Spiritual Style.

P.S. Speaking of religion, John McCain has made a bizarre choice in embracing the endorsement of Rev. John Hagee of Texas. Hagee advocates wars based on Biblical mandates; rants against the Catholic Church, as well as Islam and claims that Hurricane Katrina "was, in fact, the judgment of God against the city of New Orleans." Really, one has to wonder about McCain's judgment in aligning himself with such an extremist.

Birthday wishes

Wishing a very Happy Birthday to Kelly at Soul Humming! She and her husband are celebrating with a spa weekend, but won't you stop by her blog to leave a bit of cheer? Kelly and I share an appreciation of religious icons. Photograph of a narrow foyer wall, with a growing collection of crosses, milagros and prayer ornaments from Santa Fe, New Mexico, Spain, France and Italy.

Another brocante at Chatou

Detail of an 18th-century French painting.

The 76th Foire Nationale aux Antiquites a la Brocante et aux Jambons will kick off at 10 a.m. Friday, March 7 at Chatou. The twice-yearly event is my favourite of all the French brocantes and antique fairs. Among the many exhibitors will be my friends Blandine Bavoux of Jolie Trouvaille and Julie Isore of Agape.

The brocante will continue daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. through March 16. 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. Tickets are available at the gate.

Restoration work at York Minster

Stones and gold gilt-painted gargoyles awaiting restoration at York Minster Cathedral, York, England.

Love after love

Victorian Valentines and romantic tokens from the Castle Museum, York, England.

The time will come
when, with elation,
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror
and each will smile at the other's welcome,

and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you

all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,

the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.

Love after Love by Derek Walcott from the book Soul Food, Nourishing Poems for Starved Minds, edited by Neil Astley and Pamela Robertson-Pearce; published 2007 by Bloodaxe Books.

One World, One Heart

A heart-shaped bottle from a Paris brocante and a vintage postcard featuring roses and a lucky horseshoe will be awarded on February 14th as part of LisaOceandreamer's annual One World, One Heart giveaway. An identical bottle is featured in vignettes in the Secrets d' Interieurs (French version) and The New French Decor: Living with Timeless Objects (English version) books by Michele Lalande and Gilles Trillard.

To enter, simply leave a comment on this post. On February 14th, the winner's name will be drawn from a hat. And stop by Lisa's Heart of the Nest for links to other participants and the chance to win prizes at their websites! One World, One Heart - It's all about spreading the love! Bonne chance!

P.S. Speaking of love, French President Nicolas Sarkozy has married his girlfriend, singer and former model Carla Bruni. The ceremony was performed today at the Elysee Palace.

Kewpie doll by Sandra Evertson.