Salon International de la Maison de Poupée /SIMP-Expo

 

Yesterday, on Sunday, I went to the 1-day Summer doll house fair, Salon International de la Maison de Poupée /SIMP-EXPO.

I was looking for tiny roses 🌹 my current obsession 

Our Lyon

 

Last Saturday morning we set off for an overnight in Lyon (7:34 am). Voila! in 2hr5 minutes we arrived ready to conquer French cuisine!

First stop, a short walk from train station Part-Dieux - Paul Bocuse Halles. So much praliné!(sugared almonds)a Lyonnaise classic.

A spin around will show you the Lyonnaise specialties (Saucisson de Lyon (sausage), Rosette lyonnaise, Saucisson brioché) you Must eat. Plenty of free tastes and all upper crust quality. 

Ever onward to our reserved lunch at Le Nord, one of Paul’s bouchons. 

I had the ‘fix or formule’ (32€). An incredible froth of mushroom soup with bits of foie gras, and baked Cod. Carolyn likes to be independent and ordered a French steak. We both had tarte citron meringue for dessert. A superb lunch. Not an intimidating place. All very relaxed locals. 

On to the old town/Vieux Ville. No way could we eat dinner, so we combed the tiny medieval streets studying menus for Sunday’s lunch like everyone else. 

Next day this little bouchon appealed (Vieux Lyon). I’m not sure you can get a bad meal in Lyon. 

My ‘fix’ lunch (21,90) was salade Lyonnaise (lettuce with bacon, croûtons and a poached egg.), classic quenelles(ground, poached pike). We shared the profiteroles with home-made vanilla ice cream😊 Carolyn had onion soupe.

Then more wandering.

Old Lyon has exquisite hidden alleyways and alcoves to explore.

Traditional Lyonnaise silk shops of course.

Everyone was carrying a candy bag from Francois Praulis, so we did too.

I wanted to see the Musee de Cinema et Miniatures

Which was a marvel and close by.

Lyon is known for Guignol, its own punch and judy show. We visited the musée des Marionettes too. Don’t miss the secret garden on the top floor. 

It’s 31 March and I am still working on the March letter art 💌 Last day to buy a watercolor and make a contribution to Ukraine Red Cross. For the few PB readers who misunderstood, I do not have your names or email addresses, much less access to your Paypal accounts. None of your funds were taken. Sorry if I gave that impression. The black cat skills of Cary Grant are not mine. I did once paint an oligarch’s yacht in Cannes if you want to see it. 

Coming home to the Seine never disappoints.

Salon International de la Poupée, SIMP, International Dollhouse Show,

Are you obsessed with dollhouse things? Who buys a miniature radish at a dollhouse show? 👋

Then you should have been at Espace Champeret today for the 1-day only Salon International de la Maison Poupee. 

Bear was insistent we go. After all there were 100 dealers from all over the world present. Including PBer Marie-Paule who made these exquisite woven straw bits and pieces.

Isn't it fun pretending Summer has arrived? Miam miam

So many miniature-smitten, obsessed visitors.

One obsessed visitor couldn't take her eyes off this jam jar cupboard.

Look! French cheese-making was going on onsite.

Brit craftswoman, Angie Scarr gives classes in Andalucia (where Summer has arrived by the way, a very good reason to go).

A perfect miniature of a patisserie tradionnelle with glass paintings.

Many amazingly detailed miniatures I've never seen before.

Teeny, tiny hand-cut silhouette pictures to hang behind your spinet while you pound out Mozart.

I fell head over heels for these little puppet theatres.

They look just like this real one in the Butte Chaumont park.

These were brought to the Salon by Argentinian Reina Mab.

Bear fell head over paws for these handsome mini bear musicians.

You could so easily break the bank at the miniature salon. At least no calorie counting.

Wouldn't it be nice to pack up all your things in mini Vuitton trunks? 

Tiny green Luxembourg garden chairs.
I’m Carol Gillott, an artist living in Paris. Every month I send out beautifully illustrated letters that capture the true Parisian experience. Sign up to receive these whimsical treasures in the mail.

Thanks for reading PB ❤️

☕️ If you’d like to support my work, you can buy me a KO-FI here  ☕️  ❤️ Thank you so much!❤️

Frederic Desessard of Giverny

I used to be quite obsessed with miniatures.
 

Painting them...collecting them
 

So in the massive gift shop at Monet's Giverny

When I came upon a miniature version of his atelier.

I was smitten.
 

Never mind. As I headed back to the bus for Vernon

The very road I'd been in such a tear to get to Monet's maison looked completely different.

Well I hadn't noticed it at all.

Or the enticing signs for B and Bs along the way.

Sometimes taking the road less traveled leads you past the bus without realizing and you make wonderful discoveries.

Like this little shop of Frederic Desessard, full of miniature tableaux.

Each more charming than the next!

Lots of little greenhouses and conservatories of course.

All very Victorian of course.

Full of British bits and bobs.

An Eiffel Tower is required.

Mini painting sets anyone can afford if you can't spring for the full room.

Every single item is made from found objects.

In M. Desessard's own words:

The miniature life scenes that you are going to discover in this gallery are made from waste-materials such as cork, plastic, metal fragments, wood, cloth, paper and cardboard.

I hope you will be surprised to see what we can accomplish with these every day objects.

My work is usually concentrated in the years 1940s and 50s.

During that period there was a multitude of original objects found in houses, barns, garages and on verandas unique in their style.

Please enjoy you visit and if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask me.

Bonne visite a tous

F. Desessard, Giverny

What a delightful obsession!

Sometimes it works out for the best to wander a off the beaten path. Of course I found the bus eventually.
Frederic Desessard
L'Universe Miniature
81 rue Claude Monet
27620 Giverny