La Belle Brocante

Hiccups {a curable condition}

I've had the hiccups.

Big Cartel, as I currently have it set up, allows the same item to be sold more than once. 

Okay when I have such an embarrassingly large number of French documents to call upon for backup.

But generally speaking, not such a good idea.

I'm sorting the next bundles of letters and will list them as soon as I've gotten over the hiccups.

The ones above are 1700s-1800s and will be included in the next shop listings.

I've found a wonderful bundle of more personal letters, many written to Chère Thèrèse ... which I will be able to share with you as well.

 

xoxo

 

Love Letters

Love letters to you, from the brocante.

I'm toying with a new shop format ... much as I love Etsy, listings are much easier on Big Cartel, so I'm going to try it out for a bit and see if it's a good fit for a tiny business.

There's a Shop link over there, on the right.

Thoughts?

 

xoxo

 

 

French Ephemera Giveaway {a guessing game}

This month's giveaway is an 1800s ephemera bouquet of handwritten sepia script documents, fiscal stamps & cachets, and a charming postcard beauty ... a sampling pictured above.

For any Dear Readers or Instagram Guests who have not played before, here is the Guessing Game, Brocante Style!

I have a new brocante treasure. 

With absolutely no hints, it's your job to figure out what it is.

Think 20 Questions, but older (and possibly mustier).

I will answer your questions with a yes or no (or sorta maybe, if necessary) as often as possible throughout the day.

We play until you've figured out what the brocante treasure is - after that it's prize time!

Everyone who plays will be in the running for the ephemera giveaway. I will draw a name at random once the Guessing Game is finished.

Sharpen your pencils and fire off your questions - Bonne Chance!

 

xoxo

 

Messageries

A little cutting and pasting while I organize our next guessing game ...

It's going to be a good one, I promise!

 

xoxo

 

Hundreds and Hundreds {a reason to share}

Oh, Friends ... Paper Heaven!

I've bought a wheelbarrow full of French ephemera dating back to the 1500s. More than 500 documents, thousands and thousands of handwritten pages in the gorgeous old script that I love so much. 

I will be unpacking in a couple week's time and look forward to sharing some with you. We'll have a little blog party with a wonderful giveaway package, and you'll be specially invited!

Be well, play nicely, and don't run with scissors.

 

xoxo

 

 

1572 {Botanicals}

Hand-tinted botanicals from an encyclopedia dated 1572. The paper is as soft as velvet and the colours are beautiful. Ornamental letters and lovely indents make the pages perfect for framing.

I was able to buy seven of the pages and will include them in the next shop update in March.

 

xoxo

 

La France Maritime

Details from volume 2 of La France Maritime, published in the mid-1800s, and full to bursting with engravings. 

This particular volume is falling apart. It seems that a previous owner squished plums or spiders, or some other mysterious (but juicy) small objects between the pages. A heavily damaged volume leaves me free to snip the best bits and pieces for my little collage project. No guilt. No crimes committed.

I will post the details of the February Giveaway in the next few days ... handwritten script ... frothy pink covers ... a Valentine for French Ephemera Lovers!

 

xoxo

 

Uniformes de la Garde Nationale

Let's face it - he joined up for the uniform!

 

xoxo

 

Ephemera Winner

The photo I had hoped to share with you is not uploading so we will have to make do with a tapir.

Worse things could happen, I agree.

The winner of our lovely Ephemera Giveaway is Captain Argente from a far off continent.

Many thanks to all who played along. Please stay tuned for our next giveaway which will be happening in February - a lovey dovey pink ephemera package!

xoxo

 

Étude Fricaudet

Ephemera Giveaway winner announced on Tuesday, if that suits everyone?

In the meantime cutting, pasting, and painting continues ...

 

xoxo