Tip-Toeing Back...

V i e w  o f  P a r i s  f r o m 

G a l e r i e s  L a y f a y e t te

I've wondered how I could ever come back to this blog after being away for 10 months.  But since my friend Anita has encouraged me, and since there will be a fabulous Fête in the French Countryside on her blog coming soon, [and there's no place I'd rather be than in the French countryside] I have tip-toed back into blogland with some photos from the two trips to Paris which I have made since my last post.

July 2012

I finally found this tiny, narrow street, 

and returned to this iconic place

  

Found this on l'Isle Saint-Louis in the middle of the Seine

as well as this

smiled at this...

and this.

Did not do this...[ and why not?, I ask myself in retrospect]

...but did a lot of this.[Oh. That's why.]

Went window shopping

but didn't buy a thing.

Photographed and emailed pix to strangers

Visited Jim's grave at Père Lachaise at the request of a former student

Saw lots of art...

But our favorite artist was this photographer, exhibiting in Bercy

Sacha Goldberger

who uses his 93 year old grandmother as a model

I love the trompe l'oeil on the sides of 

Parisian buildings

and the window boxes

we walked down rue Montorgueil

and I was shocked to see this!

I had mixed emotions...

...as the last time I had photographed this building in 2011...

it was deliciously shabby chic!

 And speaking of buildings, we stayed in a marvelous apartment in the Marais, 

          with a huge private courtyard terrace

 and a library filled with books

            and with antiques...

and a salon filled with original art

and even a dancer's barre

[ DO NOT try this at home.

uh, that is to say, I nearly broke my neck]

If you care to watch this video, it will show you the kitchen down in the "cellar"

http://youtu.be/Nz-XJcMinzg

Since I cannot comment [ even to respond to comments on my own blog!] due to something weird between my server and Google, I have decided to disable commenting.  If you really want to reach me, I invite you to "like" my 

French at Heart page on Facebook. I can talk with you there! [I'm also adding the "follow by email "option.]

It's nice to be back, and I do so look forward to Anita's 3rd annual French Party!  It's Simply Irresistible!

à bientôt,

dawne

Queen of the Fleas!

When I say "Queen of the Fleas" I'm not referring to myself [ too bad!] but rather to the most outrageous flea market in Paris or any other place , for that matter.  Of course,  I mean 

Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen

de Clignancourt

With nearly 3000 stalls there is something for everyone, and indeed, the occasional bargain.

Overall,prices are cheaper out in the provinces, but for sheer eye candy and breath-taking antique decor ideas,

Les Puces is like a real-life walk through one of my Pinterest boards!

I certainly wouldn't want to live in some of these rooms, but

I marvel at the styling and mise en scène, especially knowing that everything is for sale

...well, almost everything. Although, that adorable man certainly looks like he's part of the styling!

Now wouldn't BooBoo love this!!

well-styled vignettes  

look at the old machinery parts mounted as sculptures

If I owned a petit château in France, I'd have bought these oeil-de-boeuf mirrors.  Oh, that, and if I were a millionaire.

But of all the stalls, my very favorite is owned by antiques dealer

Elsa Halfen

coming to Elsa Halfen's booth is like stepping into the pages of The New Eighteenth-Century Home

Her taste is impeccable, and her styling is classy, with that quirky French touch that we love so much 

My photos just don't do her styling justice.  I was enjoying talking to her so much that I wasn't paying attention to camera settings!!!

You can find Elsa at the 

Marché Paul Bert

Stand 121- Allée 2

Do go and see her!

And tell her I said "Bonjour"!

à la prochaine,

dawne

The Paris Party!

Bienvenue, mes amies!

If you've been to this blog before, you've see my little thumbnail over to the right that says "in my head, I'm in Paris"

Well, tonight, I'm linking up with the fabulous 

ANITA

and her 

Paris Party

and I really am in [a virtual] Paris with many other Francophiles!

This is a bon fête!!

This is one of my favorite parts of Paris...

le Marais

I also love 

Les Invalides...

...and the Latin Quarter...and

The staircase at the Gustave Moreau Museum

or the feminine feeling of the Musée Carnavalet

Once the private home of
 Madame de Sevigné.

I love the "pain, vin, and frommage" of Paris

and the lure of the shop windows

the galleries

and the graffiti...

and the guys.

And, yes, the girls

the lovers...




and the lonely.



The cars

and the carousels

the Metro

and Montmartre

at night...




or day...

and of course, La Tour

at sunset.


These are just a few of the reasons why I love Paris. 

And I'm not the only one...  
Of course He does!!


 If you want to see more of my photos of Paris you can join me at my photo blog 
French at Heart


THANK YOU, ANITA
for throwing this party again!!  I met you just one year ago HERE!!!

Au revoir, mes amies,

dawne