From a music school in Aigues Mortes, France (on the Mediterranean coast) vintage French sheet music from the early 1900 -1920s. The sheets of various musical tunes/songs are mounted on cardboard so they could rest upright upon the music stand while the band was playing along. Wonderful to collect for display or for your art or scrapbooking projects. We love these framed as well. Most of the music cards have music on both sides; a few with music on just one side. These music sheet/band cards are very old, with some stains and minor tears. Lovely patina to the paper. Each measures approx. 10 inches by 7 inches. You can purchase them on our webshop now, but they won't last long!
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09/27/2011
09/16/2011
Bye, bye birdie!
Just added to our webshop, a fabulous vintage French metal bird cage (circa mid-1900s) in a lovely shade of robin's egg blue; still has its original wooden perch swing and loop handle for carrying. Found at a brocante in the southern regions of France and still in wonderful condition considering age and use. Bottom tray slides out on one side; door slides up and down on one side. We love the legs of this metal bird cage! Perfect for display on a table or bench. Fill it with a small potted plant or display other small treasures inside the cage. Measures 11 inches wide by 9 inches tall; 6 inches deep (front to back).
09/08/2011
Braderie de Lille: The Biggest Flea Market in Europe
Just an hour outside of Paris by TGV, the town of Lille is home to one of the most anticipated events in France: the annual two-day Braderie de Lille. As the largest flea market in all of Europe, this vibrant event dates back to medieval times and now attracts almost two million visitors each September.
The “Braderie” (French for “sell at a low price”) offers over 10,000 exhibitors with everything from knick-knacks to treasures. Saturday kicks off the Braderie de Lille, and as with any yard sale, the first day offers the best selection. With over 62 miles of vendors, the Braderie de Lille is divided up into sections: the smaller boulevards, the friendlier non-professional vendors (where you’ll find smaller antiques, records, and books), and the larger streets where there’s a huge selection of new ethnic items for sale, including fabulous artwork and paintings.
Antiques are displayed along Jean-Baptiste Lebas Boulevard, while décor furniture can be found at la Facade de l’Esplanade and Deule Canal. There’s also a large gathering between the streets of La Porte de Roubaix and L’Opera where professional vendors specialize in antiques from the U.K.
The Braderie de Lille brings about a carnival atmosphere where participants enjoy bargaining for deals as well as eating their fill of “moules” and “frites” (mussels and French fries). The traditional competition among local restaurants is to build the highest pile of empty mussel shells from their own restaurants. Everywhere visitors go, they are met by huge mounds of shells piled in the streets of Lille to the tune of an estimated 500 tons.
Reminiscent of Mardi Gras, the Braderie comes to a close on Sunday night at midnight when the official street cleaners make their way along the boulevards. But before you leave Lille with your memories and great finds, take the time to explore the charming town by walking or via a minivan tour. Visiting the local restaurants will bring forth tasty culinary delights (besides mussels) like “waterzoi’ (veggies & chicken), or “carbonnade flamande” (beef stew with beer).
The only time of year to take part in Braderie de Lille is in early September, which is also a perfect time to visit Paris. Only an hour away by TGV, it's possible to visit both cities easily. Lille offers a lot of charm and makes for a great extension to your vacation after visiting the more chaotic Paris. This year the event was held on the 3rd and 4th of September. Plan now to attend next year's event!!
