Day 6 ~ Buying Antiques in the south of France!

From Avignon to the Montpellier Antique Fair! Dealers and buyers alike rush into the Exhibition Hall as the foghorn sounds the opening of the Fair! What a mad house! This fair is the pricest of the fairs here. But still I managed to find some wonderful things at reasonable prices.

Last minute tagging and finishing our inventory and customs list. As our shipper closes the door on our treasures. We wave au revoir to our friends & say a silent prayer for a safe closing of our goodies...we'll see you again in October....and it will once again seem like Christmas!

Tomorrow, before dawn, we'll head back to Paris and then our crossing the Atlantic to Atlanta.

It will take a few days to recoup, do inventory, edit photos, etc. Then we'll begin listing the small items we are able to bring back on the airplane.

Thank you all for joining my week. And MERCI for all the kind & funny emails you've been sending! I enjoy hearing from friends when I'm far away from home. Au revoir France...a beintot! Je t'aime! Lee

DAY 5 ~ South of France!

Up at 4 am (that's 10pm Atlanta time, friends!) this morning to drive to the Avignon Antique Fair! Is this anyway to spend Labor Day? Mai Oui!
A fabulous fair! Bought lots of Hottes from the Wine country and Wine Bottle Dryers! Can't keep these in stock! Huge antique paperbound books, circa 1859, in Latin! More paintings, and some surprises!
Ok, enough work for today...time for some down time.....

Day 4 ~ South of France

Day 4 ~ The second of this first fair is a great day for bargains! Something that had you drooling yesterday ( if it's still there) can be had for a much more reasonable price before the dealers pack up and leave. Between the adorable boys from Portugal and the flirtatious men from Italy, I may have to change my name to My Italian Villa! I bought the mother load in antique gilt fragments! I couldn't stop myself! Some will made stunning lamps, others will be great just hanging as a grouping on a wall.

Me trying to get the perfect inventory shot!Going to bed soon as my wake up call is at 4AM. Driving to the next fair....a demain!

Day 3 ~ The south of France

Day 3 ~ Perfect weather! Cool in the morning as we arrive. Such a crowd! The wind has died down and it's going to be a lovely day. Let's hope the dealers will be in a good mood too!

Tagging and doing paperwork for our shipper is the hardest thing to do all day! It takes time and all we want to do is run to the next booth to fine more yummy things! Dealers from all over France, as well as Italy, Germany, England and Belgium too! Running into friends I haven't seen since last market...and making new friends too! Tres fun!!!

Starburst mirrors are still so popular with Interior Designers...just a sample of the many that I bought!

DAY 2 South of France

Day 2: We all meet up after a rainy morning in Paris to brillant sunshine, a strong breeze, and moderate temps. Almost perfect! A quick stop at our hotel and them we're off to visit some sweet little villages for some antique shopping and dinner. We shop and visit with friends we have made along the way... long past dark, we finally find our way to a charming restaurant that used to be a manger but looks more like a wine cellar. Lovely!

Back to the hotel, finally...a wake up call coming in at 5am so we can be first in line to the first day of the antique fairs! Don't think I can sleep, I'm so excited! What will I find that will be perfect for you, mes amis!!!!

South of France Buying Trip - September 3-8, 2009

Join me as I discover a truck load of treasures from a few quaint villages and 3 major antique fairs in the South of France. I'll be sending photos of just a sampling of the goodies that I have found through a daily newsletter.... So check back each day! Some will be shipped and a few lucky items will come back on the airplane avec moi, next week. If you see anything you have a question about, please do not hesitate to inquire. Day 1: Arrive Paris at 5:20 am! Just time to check into my hotel, a quick nap, then off to meet with a couple of my dealers. Many paintings and a few more Napoleon III Papier Mache Trays!