J'aime les Brocantes

In France, a brocante is similar to what you would expect at a secondhand flea market. I'm from a culture where the idea of things bought secondhand is frowned upon somewhat and approval of such is given only to the very destitute. Otherwise, everything bought should be unwrapped from the plastic as brand-spanking-new. For this reason, I felt restricted against fully exploring my interest in things old, despite being excited and inspired by them. Just having a look would cause superstitions to swirl in my ears.

Now, I freely skip over to any brocante I see happening, scanty or packed with hundreds. The hardest part of the whole experience is usually deciding how much is too much. You see, I have an eclectic spirit, I hate the feel of beeing classified. So I don't specialise, I like a bit of nearly everything and don't want to be weighed by a ton of old stuff in one outing. I like the feel of including these yesteryear accessories with modern pieces.

Brocantes can be like a market for junk, but they are equally the best spots to come across rare even vintage finds, antiques and sentimental pieces that are no longer available for order on the market. Most times the pieces aren't in the best of shape, but have attractive, streamlined and uncommon shapes whose finishes you'll be inspired to restore or personalise with your very own hands. Look at some of what I've found along the way.

Old Sneakers

Who would have thought of these as planter pots? Put those old sneakers to good use.

Freedom

It's the weekend! Shout with me: FREEDOM!

Time to chill, put your favourite records on and just enjoy the freedom of doing nothing or plenty of what you want to do. Call up your friends for a drink at yours, or get dressed and touch down on your favourite spot or even pop the cork at the park. Forget the onlookers and just live FREEEEEEEE. Have a good one.

emilyryan

How gorgeous is this little thing? I came across this button neck balloon dress in Emily Ryan's shop on Etsy. Doesn't it make you want to skip right into fall? I'm also feeling ruby heels to pair or even patent navy blue will do.

Emily Ryan is an independent designer based in Portland, Oregon. Each year, she puts out two small collections of all handmade pieces designed and created to last a lifetime or longer. Emily admits that she is "continually inspired by 1920's couture, science fiction, and Japanese fashions" and that she loves "modern sculptural designs that explore texture and shape, as well as artistic, comfortable, and cozy designs." Such inspiration reminds me of days when women owned less but specially customed handmade pieces that seemed to last.

Make sure you visit Emily Ryan today!

Bookshelf Obsession

I'm not a nosey one, but invite me over and I'll be all over your bookshelf. I won't touch or steal! I'm a book lover myself, so I understand being protective over such possessions.

I just have a weakness for staring, gloating, gooing and going gaga over collections of books --- love, love, love it. I get excited, a sudden rush of blood to the head. Seeing what books have interested others, taken them on journeys within their covers, introduced them to people, ideas and issues is a fetish I have. A bookshelf is like an open mind spread on a shelf and a showcase of what experiences we may even have in common. And they need not be limited to novels or books published in English. I remember once getting flushed seeing books on works by painters Modigliani and Matisse on the least expected bookshelves. It was like skipping into seventh heaven. Honestly, I wonder about the people who do not have even a few books collected around their home.


A bookshelf full of books I've read, touched and loved is a must-have for my tree-house dream office in my backyard. Can't hardly wait! In the mean time, here are a few bookshelves I've fawned over. The first two are bookshelves inside Victor Hugo's writing nook in the Victor Hugo House I saw on the Channel Island of Guernsey.

I Got Lucky

I'm loving this Remington vintage tyewriter with its gorgeous colour and shape. Doesn't it make you think of those romantic writers, punching away day and night (in between whiskey breaks) typing that bestseller out of their soul? Such are my dreams and guess what, this here beauty is all mine!!!

Renew Repurpose Reclaim

My good friend Sarah shared this awesome find with me. It's actually an old factory building sitting on the bankside of the beautiful Loire river in Nantes, France. Instead of allowing the building to fall derelict, the city endorses an initative to have sites throughout the city renewed and repurposed through the ideas of local artists and innovators. And from this was born the idea of attaching a black pendulum to this old building. While it injects additional interest in the quaint Trentemoult fishing village in the city, it also gives the accomplishment a sense of cultural ownership, reclaim and re-investment into what the city may have felt it had lost with the end of its shipbuilding workshops. Neat idea, isn't it? I think so.