Back to the Chateau

Chateau Dumas

When I went to France as part of my birthday year celebration in 2011, I thought that would be it.  I had been to Aix and Paris with my brother years before and it was nice, but I didn't think I would return.

I was much more of an anglophile.

When my dad offered each of his adult children a trip anywhere in the world, I chose England.

I knew English horse racing from reading Dick Frances, and Regenecy history from reading Georgette Heyer, and the geography from hundreds of cosy English mysteries.  It was a world I felt comfortable in.

Then my birthday year happened and different artists I admired were part of two separate week long workshops in rural France.  I had to go!

In between the workshops I spent 10 days with my husband, mostly in the Langedoc Roussillon region -- Carcassone, Collioure, Ceret.  I love that it's also known as the Spanish Frontier!


The Fauve Walk in Collioure

We discovered a double-walled medieval castle; a town dedicated to "wild" artists and the views that inspired them; two museums featuring the amazing work of Josep Reira I Arago; a full set of Picasso ceramics; amazing food.
My husband, who told me before we married that he didn't like to travel, was bitten by the travel bug!





France is a beautiful country.  But there are a lot of beautiful countries.  What touched my heart were the people.  I speak no French (tho apparently I can say that sentence in French with an acceptable accent!)  Sometimes the people I met spoke no English, like lots of the flea market vendors or the deli owner who sold us wonderful take away food.  It was a surprise to discover I know the words for different meats (as a cook, I'm a vegetarian, so that ability is odd).  Sometimes they knew English, but  weren't comfortable speaking it.  I'd ask combien (how much)? And then have to ask them to write the numbers. . . I got good at charades!

What I found were people genuinely helpful, and kind.  They made me feel at home.
I love the climate and know a lot of the plant names (interesting how similar those aspects are to where I grew up)! Oh and have I mentioned the brocantes and flea markets?

So since the 2011 trip I have been to France and the Chateau twice more.
Paper/mixed media art workshops two years ago and last year Shibori.




 Shibori at the Chateau

So it is with a great deal of joy that I will return to France next week.
I'll spend 2 weeks at the Chateau assisting my teacher friend . . . 

. . . and about 5 days in Toulouse

Walking around, paying attention to art & architecture, taking in a yoga class (the teacher is from Australia -- I'm adventurous, but yoga in French is prob too much for me!), and hanging out at my favorite flea market on as many Saturdays as I can manage! 

I have never found the chateau's internet particularly robust!  Still it is my goal to document this trip as I am on it, so come back every couple of days and see what I'm seeing and doing!

Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val

Every Sunday there is a market in Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val, a town near Chateau Dumas.  It's often a stop for workshop participants, whatever the theme of the workshop.  There are fabulous fruits & vegetables; street musicians; people watching and brocantes (antique shops).

 View of the church, with my friend in the foreground.

 Narrow courtyards

are magical to me!

 This is probably someone's front window.

Not a shop, but a lovely display all the same!

This group was putting on some sort of pageant.
History related certainly, full of charming costumes.
My favorites are the little boy in the beret and these adorable girls ~

Next to a lovely antique shop.
I will add photos of my purchases later.

These pretties have given me ideas for kits for my next sale.

Satuday Flea Markets and a Little Pink

I am posting this as part of Pink Saturday.  And while the pink in this post is scattered about, there certainly are a lot of Saturdays!  To see who else is posting for Pink Saturday, go here.  And as always, many thanks to Bev for her support of this lovely group!
 A REQUEST:

Dear readers, would you please let me know, in the comment section, what you think of the size of the photos.   It's ok on my computer screen, but what about yours?  Thanks for the help!

I have always loved attending flea markets.  And until 3 summers ago, I was there to buy.  But starting in 2011, I set up with my friend Amy and tried selling at flea markets.  To be honest, selling is not as much fun as buying.  It requires tables and tents and boxes of stuff and getting up at 5 am and worrying about the weather.  There is also the packing and unpacking and listening to what people think of you and your stuff.  Sometimes buyers are lovely and then sometimes. . . 

But always the other dealers are wonderful!  They are a community I am glad to be a part of!

This summer we got to be next to friends at one of the fleas and that was a lot of fun!

 Setting up with French linens.

Pink Linens

 One Venue

And another

 

My Booth

 

Amy's booth.

She curates a collection of fabulous jewelry and displays to perfection!

Button, button, who's got the button?

I have a decided weakness for buttons and love showing them off in these wonderful dishes.

Moving them around and in and out of my car does tends to spill them all sorts of places!

Washi Tape, my favorite thing to sell!

Some of my artwork

It really is fun to look at these photos and notice how much of this stuff has sold this year!
Last Saturday we did our last flea market set up.
And as always we end with a hug and the words, "Another excellent flea market adventure!"
Until next year. . .