From Russia With Love...............

Nothing could have prepared me for what my trip to Paris had in store for me.....I thought we were going Christmas Shopping! We set off on the 9th December and John said we were staying overnight and to pack a bag...so of course HOW excited was I?! Thinking we were breaking the journey because of the distance from here...and the traffic. He took me on a Fabulous sightseeing drive around the stunning Paris by Night...the Christmas lights were spectacular and I got all emotional as we ended up parked right infront of the Eiffel Tower,all lit up-it was Magical....

The traffic was crazy and most of the photos have a blurred edge to them as I used my I-phone as we whizzed from lane to lane & around huge free- for -all roundabouts.....wheeeee!

We passed the famous Department Store where we have found so many Antique treasures from & sold them on our site in the past-Les Galeries Lafayette-their exterior Christmas decorations were amazing!...

and on and on we travelled...until we reached the Tour Eiffel-what an awesome sight in the dark!..

and after walking the dogs underneath it and all around we finally grabbed a bite to eat & collapsed into our Hotel room bed,Dita parked neatly between us and Esto padding & panting around the room all night like a Tiger (he hates Hotel rooms).Dita on the other hand in total contrast calmly climbs on the bed,crosses her front paws like a lady,grunts and goes to sleep every time without fail, usually with a huge sigh of contentment! She knows when she's got it good!

Next morning the surprise continued and I expected we were heading for the City Centre,but no-we were heading for Charles de Gaulle Airport....Terminal 2E to be precise....to collect my Christmas Present which was coming in from Moscow????

and as we waited.....a delightful young Lady came walking towards us pushing a Large trolly with an equally Large Flightbox on it which contained my dream come true......a Cropped Eared Dobermann Puppy from Russia who just happens to be Dita's niece! Wow! Never in my wildest dreams did I think this would ever happen but I have the most beautiful little girl called Dashuta........who is just 5 months old! John certainly knows how to spring a surprise!The best Xmas Pressie he's ever given me-I'm over the moon!

Her ears just need a little support for a while by way of gentle taping with plaster-which is taken off regularly and replaced & then she will look like her stunning illustrious Father-International & Russian Champion Sant Kreal Zvenislav...........

and her mother Russian Champion Gera Russkaya Dusha....

and so we came home with this gorgeous squidgy squashy puppy and just a day later I had to leave her with her daddy & go back to the UK for a week for my gorgeous Granddaughter's 3rd Birthday Party!!......it was all go,go,go.......
I landed at John Lennon Airport and spent three days with my parents,shopping till we dropped in Historic Chester......what a beautiful City it is....

we had to stop for refreshments to re-fuel,this Xmas shopping lark is hard work!....a Long Hot Chocolate & toasted teacake went down very well,especially with my mum!

Teacakes are a luxury we don't find in France....more's the Pity...I LOVE them!As you can see-mine was literally the size of my plate!

then there were the droves of people to wade through to get even close to shops so we  took retreat for a while in the calmer Arcades full of Christmas Decorations,pretty stunning we thought...

Street Sellers & Artists were out in force-this Sand Sculpture I thought pretty Spectacular & popped a donation in the talented Italian's hat for his sheer brilliance....!

And so we shopped till we dropped & stopped later for good old Fish & Chips on the way home-ooh,another Luxury we've had to give up living in France!

...it's all Moules & Frites here..(Yuk!)
But it all had to come to an end and after another busy four days with my son & Family and darling Granddaughter Princess Erin with her Birthday Celebrations I had to bid them all Farewell & fly back home to France.......and now I have to catch up with Listing some new goodies to tempt you with,always a pleasure as I love my Work!
It will soon be that Special day on December 25th,so may we take this opportunity to wish all our valued Customers a very Merry Festive time-thankyou you all for your custom throughout the Year and hope to see you again in the New Year 2014!

Bleary-eyed & Blurred Vision............

It's getting harder & harder to drag ourselves out of bed at stupid-o'clock in the hunt for Treasures,and to be honest we have enough stock put by to warrant a lie-in at weekends,but it's the thought of  tracking down that elusive piece of  France that spurs us on.....and a few Espresso's later,I'm usually awake......I tend to fall out of the van at whatever destination we arrive at.....and can't seem to focus straight away.........!

 Aaaagh!

France has too many tempting Patisseries-I am slowly munching my way into another dress size-and no amount of walking around Brocantes is going to cure it.....but when you havn't had time for breakfast,and a lovely Festive Window entices you in......it's hard to resist!

and then when you get inside and bump into THIS guy,it kind of brings you to your senses.....

Yes-I've been good,I've been Very,very good! ....(except for the Tarte au Citrons......)

We travelled to three different Brocantes in three different areas this last weekend......and gradually,from being frozen to death at 6.00am, began to thaw out as the morning went on-it was positively beautiful by dinnertime with the wonderful blue skies....

we found lots of new and interesting things,many of which will trickle onto the site over the coming week. We bumped into an Antique Dealer friend of ours on our travels and he passed me these delightful Tiebacks out of the back of his van-I had bought a bagful from him the previous week when we'd met up to peruse through his latest stock and he'd forgotten to show me these in the depths of his van....so he'd saved them just for me!-they're just so LUSH! 

We delved into our saved Treasures this past week and have listed most of our Stunning Church Altar Bougeoirs...we thought them very Festive and quite in keeping with this Emotive & Religious time of Year...

The Enamelled Piece is really something quite special..

the detailing is Amazing....

And so I'm working hard in preparation for a few days off next week.....to go Christmas Shopping...apparently .....I'm being taken to...... PARIS!!!!! (Woooooooh Hooooooo!)-Can you tell I'm excited?!!!

So I will remember to take my Camera ......and until Next Time...Au Revoir!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.................everywhere you go...!

Sunday morning saw us up at 4am and out of the house for 5am travelling Northbound for 2 hrs searching for Treasures to a  beautiful City which reminded us of Paris with its' stunning Buildings and Tree-lined Avenues.We actually got there a little TOO early and the Vendors were still  trying to wake themselves up gathered round the Buvette clutching their cups of Cafe & Chocolate Chaud & munching on warm Crepes & Croissants.Our dogs were yawning away in their warm beds in the back of the van wondering why thye'd been woken up so early but needs must & where we go,they go!

The Christmas decorations were hung from the trees,the streets looked spectacular lit up like a Magical Wonderland but guess who'd left the camera at home so the I-phone had to do and mine doesn't take great pictures unfortunately.......so I apoligise in advance for any blurred visions....

It gives you some idea though........!

We had a lovely time at the Brocante and found some lovely pieces which will trickle onto the site over the coming week or so......but one particular item I found won't be going on site unfortunately,instead it is going to light up my mum's face on Christmas Morning...she will LOVE this Handpainted & Hand Enamelled signed Art-Deco Limoges Brooch.......I couldn't resist it for her....

 but we have more similar treasures so don't worry!

...this equally beautiful Handpainted piece will be online this week....

and as the sun came up it slowly became warmer & easier to peruse the delights on offer strewn all over the pavements and stalls in a way only that just invites curiosity & I just love this work,whether done with frostbitten fingers or not! I couldn't feel my feet despite two pairs of socks and furlined boots-but do I care?! Of course not!

his delightful trio of Petit Creme Pots were simply strewn in a wooden crate amongst Remnants of material and household items-Vintage Hand-decorated & Gilded Theodore Haviland Porcelaine Limoges Ware-they cleaned up a treat and amazingly were completely undamaged!

and gradually blue skies and sunshine appeared after the cold & frosty start.......

and we started to spot things we'd probably first walked past earlier in the half-light........like this wonderful Art-Nouveau Bust....."Faneuse"......

.....I loved this little Silk Cigarette Card but left my gloves behind on the stall after taking them off to examine it and had to rush back quickly before someone bought them!

and this interesting Picture or Mirror frame caught my eye glinting in the sun on the floor of one stall.....

gorgeous Ribbon Bow Garland tops this delightful piece which would enhance any wall in the home....

and so eventually after endless walks back and loading the van to the Rafters,we headed off home.We let the dogs out in the garden (what's left of it!) when we got back and they proceeded to hurtle round their new self-made Racetrack Circuit...........

Dita took a well-earned five minute break before the next 100 laps,closely followed by Esto......oh the joys of dogs and the mud they bring in the house......grrrrr!

Anyway-that's all for now folks-got to get listing all these goodies or you won't see them before Santa makes an appearance at this rate!Au Revoir for now...x

Halloween on the Flood Plain............

 Well it's been quite an eventful week here.......Halloween came and went and for the first time in years we had no little callers at the door despite being armed with a large basket of Treat Bags all neatly tied up & a pile of Lollies...apparently the Village children had gone to a special event in the NEXT Village until quite late whereby their parents had decided it was too late by the time they got home to knock on any more doors...so the Basket of Sweets sat staring at us on the kitchen table...and well,let's just say temptation got the better of us and we succumbed.....but there were more than enough to go round and I delivered the rest the next day to delighted recipients.....

As for the weather.....well I HATE RAIN......and it came with a vengeance........

just to annoy me I think.......

This was the view outside our front gates after the downpour.....grrrrr!

Meanwhile we've been out and about all over the place in search of more treasures....this is just a small selection of  Religious & other  Jewellery & Brooches I found at a recent Brocante-it was a Good Day for Tresure hunting!.....

Of course we have to cater for all Tastes & Pockets so we try to bring the Varied & Different into your lives.....some of the nicest recent finds....

all of which will find their way onto the site at some point or another soon.......!

Of course the current weather is putting paid to outdoor photography to a certain extent so I am dodging in and out between rain showers and when there IS a rare glint of sunlight or Blue Sky-I'm there,like a shot!.....

Our friends in the UK say it's payback time for all the nice weather we've rubbed our faces in for most of the year whilst they've been hiding under their umbrellas.............!

And finally before I go I am appealing to any of our customers in the United Kingdom to read the following Poster and please be vigilant and spread the word for our dear personal friends back home who are going through hell at the moment following the disappearance of their beloved Stella-they are totally heartbroken and devastated as are everyone who knows them.....we are all actively campaigning through the Internet,Police,Rescue Organisations,Pet Detectives....etc to try and find her and reunite her with her family-for any animal lover you will know this is an owner'r worst nightmare......if  any of you can do anything to help it will be greatly appreciated-please contact them on the numbers provided.

And So,on this sad note- until next time.....Au Revoir!