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Kelli and I in the Tea Salon

Inside the boutique

Mmmm...mmmm! These look irresistible! The macarons are delish and made by a local French woman with imported ingredients & made exclusively for the tea salon. I just acquired her phone number and I wonder if she will make some for a party!

While I was strolling around the picturesque streets lined with antique stores and old buildings, I realized that after spending the afternoon with Kelli she made me realize a lot of things. After hearing Kelli speak French and talk about old haunts, I realized that I had forgotten so much of that beautiful language. I was totally insecure about even attempting to speak a language I had used exclusively for 3 years (although a very long time ago). I need to start practicing and re-learning my French!

I also realized that the Paris that I know is most likely not the Paris I will visit again. So much has probably changed over the years and I am such a different person now. The things that interested me then are not at all the same as what would interest me now. How did I never think of this before? I would have a much deeper appreciation for the beautiful city now. Well, that's just more motivation to get me to really push hard and try and go to Paris with Claudia in August/September! Now I'm extra determined! It did make me a little bit sad to miss Paris so much and come to the realization that I had forgotten so much. Maybe a trip down memory lane with my old photos will help.

This dress form covered in bows was in front of a shop owned by two fun sisters! I had to post this because it reminded me of Sande from A Gift Wrapped Life! So pretty!

Shopping was great and I found tons of things I wanted to bring home. I was very good and only purchased a pair of....you guessed it...light fixtures! I'll save that pic for last though! :)

I was walking along and saw this plaque on the ground. ??? It made me smile :)

Such pretty buildings and homes where everywhere I turned.

This store had TONS of old windows, doors, and hardware. Dreamy to say the least.

I instantly fell in love with her! She was some sort of mini broom, her skirt was made of the bristles!

This trophy was so pretty in person. It had to be at least four feet tall.

I'm a sucker for feathers

This hat was too cute and in it's original box, never worn! The original receipt was tucked into the tissue paper as well. Darn if I didn't look to see how much it cost back in the day!

This kiosk had tons of sheet music but I just about fell over when I saw this beautiful cover.

She was tucked away in the downstairs portion of a store behind ridiculous amounts of furniture and random stuff. She is so pretty she should be out showing off! :)

It was love at first site for me! I love the Orange sherbet tattered velvet on this settee. I wrestled with the idea of giving a good and loving home for quite some time.

Finally!!! My Chandelier illness made me do it! I got in trouble when I got home from the hubby but I don't care! Feathers, crystal, lighting, and a great memory of a wonderful day and meeting a new friend! How could I resist? I don't know if it was the feathers, an overdose of imported tea, the euphoria of spending a child free day antiquing, or having just met Kelli, but I had to take these home with me! I forgot to pick up some macarons on my to the car so this is a small consolation!

I would love to get together again with Kelli and if anybody else who wants to join us! We can meet here (it's right next to the tea salon). It's called PJ's abbey and it is a wonderful restaurant that used to be a church! They say eating there is "heavenly"! It is so cute inside and it's quite an experience.

Until next time!

xoxo

Judith~

dominomag.com

The word "Chandelier" comes from the French word for candle holder. These Wedding Cakes of light usually only appeared in churches, mosques, or only in the grandest of palaces. Oh to be in Versailles to witness those famous chandeliers flickering & fluttering with diamond droplets of light!

Source Unknown

Dutch traders began to introduce chandeliers to the nouveau riche in the late 16th century. The first crystal chandeliers were made of transparent quartz. Today, to find one of these irregularly shaped crystal stone pieces is a rare find. By the 17th century, artisans learned how to cut this rock crystal but it was very difficult. The French eventually replaced this rock crystal with glass, but the name "crystal" stuck & continues to be used to describe both kinds of chandeliers.

www.theparisapartment.com http://parisapartment.wordpress.com

You MUST check this site out if haven't already! It's the end all~be all!

Murano, the famous Italian glass makers, upped the ante as they were the first to make chandeliers entirely out of glass. A crazy nugget of info~ they used to threaten to send assassins after any artisan who took their glass making secrets abroad! Can you imagine! Also in the 17th century an English glass maker named George Ravenscroft discovered that by adding lead oxide to glass it would make the glass easier to work with & more reflective. This lead to making more ornate and less expensive fixtures. People could now light their home with incredible chandeliers dangling with pendants in the shape of fruits, bells, beads, and flowers!

The likes of Edith Wharton, Henry James, & Baccarat to name a few, helped to create the popular image of fabulous parties illuminated by glittering, sparkling, chandeliers that hung over ballrooms like shimmering diamond earrings!

www.ZGallerie.com

That's all for today! Have a dazzling day!

Bisou Mon Amis!

Portions of this post excerpted from Traditional Home Magazine October 2004