Bright, Shiny things, Vide Grenier

 

Yesterday Solli_food & I went to the Vide Grenier at Mutualité Maubert. We didn’t care it was drizzling…better chance for bargains 👍 

Me, I was looking for a shiny, silver pitcher to paint like the one at Ladurée a few weeks ago.

Dream 😴 on Carol 🙏😂

Photo by Solli-food
Solli is always looking for kitchen utensils for her beautiful photography still lives.

We are always on the lookout for each other…

“Hey, quick Look at this Solli!” etc.😂

These pretty Quimper faience plates from Brittany weren’t right for either of us…

Solli was browsing old French postcards. The vender came running over, took them out of her hand and demonstrated how we were supposed to view at them! 

Puts you right off buying anything 😟

Meanwhile I spotted the perfect pitcher 🤸‍♂️ La la la la la

I pulled it out out for a better look…YES! 😋 

I asked the vender “Combien/how much?” 

She replied, “C’est l’ensemble. Quatre-vingts pour tous” 

😟 No way did I want all 3 pieces. Nor did I want to pay 80€ (!)

The vender was adamant, not to be swayed.

We gave up and moved on…but the wheels were turning 🧠 

The bank was nearby…what if I offer her 60€? I had the feeling it was a no-go. You can tell if someone is flexible or not.

I spotted a nice blue cup & saucer. Pitter-pat ❤️

“How much?” “Dix euros” Oh 😟 

Under the table, in a cardboard box 📦  was a darling straw basket 🧺 with a lacy cover tied on it. 

Perfect for Solli and only 3€. 

Solli said she’d think about it. 

Impulsive me, I’d have bought it immediatement. 

What if someone else came along?

I got to the vide grenier first and bought Solli a chocolate ‘Pavé’ at boulangerie Maison d’Isabelle. 

When she arrived, she said,”I’ll save it for when I get home” 

What?? 

Ha! I caught her nibbling on it later.

We wandered further down the street to the few straggly tables, with not much cover from the drizzle = bargain territory.

When you see stuff jumbled in cardboard boxes 📦 under the table, stuff that hasn’t made it onto the display, you know you’re in luck 🍀

When you see beautiful shiny things lined up in perfect rows, you better have pockets lined with gold.

Inside a box I found on a goldmine of  silvery pitchers & teapots 🤸‍♂️ 

I asked the guy, “How much for the little pitcher?”

He said, “3 €”

And how much for the others? 

5€ & 5€

“How much for all three?”

“20 €”  

Whatttt? 

“OK, OK 10€ for the lot, ma petite fille”, he said 

😂 🤸‍♂️🥂🍾

Oh Happy Day

Vide Greniers can be a lot of fun 👍 

We went back for Solli’s basket 🧺 

I offered the vender 10€ for the blue cup and the basket. Nothing doing. 

She said,“It’s vintage” 

Everything at the Vide Grenier is ‘vintage’ ! 

We went back to look at the 1st little pitcher…

Just for comparative analysis. You know how it is…

As I was picking up my newly-bought pitcher, a dealer, from the next table, came running over, shouting and grabbed it away! He thought I was stealing something off the table. 

The original vender was no where to be seen of course. 

Solli was busy looking at silk scarves. 

She turned and saw me with this big guy playing ‘tug o’ war’ over the silver pitcher!! 

SOS!

🙏 Solli ran over and saved the day! 

She explained in her excellent French, I had already bought the pitcher. Whew! 

He was about to make a citizen’s arrest 👮‍♀️ 

What a long shaggy dog 🐕 story 

My bright, shiny  things are waiting to be painted.

I wish I could send you a silver pitcher. Instead receive a Paris letter 💌 or watercolor in your mailbox 📬+ Paris goodies 🇫🇷

              ❤️  ❤️ ❤️ BONNNE MONDAY PBers ❤️ ❤️ ❤️