Finding "Frenchiness"...Parisian and Provencal

Today I am having dessert first and starting out by showing you my favorite find of the week...and a little peek into a big change that is coming for my bedroom! I immediately fell in love when I saw this lamp, but left the flea market without it. However, it later passed my “I really want it” test when I found myself thinking about it that night instead of sleeping! lol  I love it with the toile fabric…so frenchy! Doesn’t it look like it came out of a Paris apartment? I hope to make some progress this week and have something to show you soon!


This little frenchy boy was a $2.00 find at Goodwill! However, I couldn’t even photograph the before! He was unfired ceramic bisque that apparently was never completely painted and as a result…he was filthy! I gave him a good scrubbing to no avail! Sooo…


…I finally brushed him with a thin layer of gray craft paint mixed with water to shabby him up and help to tone down that gold trim! And here he is added to the vignette on my painted table in the living room! I think like him! Are you seeing a little lean toward a more Parisian style frenchiness at my house?  Where is that coming from? lol


Of course, I can’t abandon my real love…a more provençal Country French look! Nor, it seems, can I leave behind anything that is marked as a product of France, looks French or even seems to have ever been looked at by a passing French person! lol I can’t abandon it to some buyer off the street who might not appreciate it as much as I will!  So this hand painted olive jar came home with me! I have to wonder…how did it get to the US and why did someone let it go? Don’t tell me if you saw it at TJMaxx! lol


I can’t seem to take pictures of art to save me, so I am showing you this one from a photo I snitched from the web! I found this fabulous framed provençal print by Guy Buffet  called Hotel Mistral while Goodwill hunting! It was only $25…a real steal because the print alone can be $30…if you can find it because it’s out of print! Buffet is a French artist who grew up in his family’s Parisian restaurant. I hung this one over my kitchen sink because I have no window. Now I have a view of Frenchmen playing boules. And one of my other loves is even represented…goats! lol


Here is where my little brain start to stretch things! I’m sorry…but isn’t this just the frenchiest little domed silver butter dish you ever saw? This is another of those “really want it” items that I let get away the first time. So when I found one again at Goodwill, I didn’t hesitate!


Baby Kitty was really surprised when I opened it to reveal the little glass dish! The lid is attached and just rolls back. Do you know I found the silver domed part on one aisle and then went to the glassware aisle with my fingers crossed that the dish would be there…and it was! Woo hoo! I don’t know why they always separate things like that! I spent a total of about $5 for it.


And finally, my best bargains of the week…free!  Two of my friends were having a yard sale and decided that I  should have these wonderful vintage-looking kitty goodies! I love the paper dolls! If you know me, you know I love little animals wearing clothes! The paper dolls are marked “Victorian” but I don’t care…they look French to me! lol I mean…look at the costumes…do you see it? And I love the little kitty tin! It is a kitty version of Renoir’s painting La Loge!  I will have to find something special to do with these!

See? I told you! I find frenchiness everywhere…from the obvious to the absurd! lol Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed a little peek at my finds! 
Please visit these wonderful ladies and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants!
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Rhoda at Southern Hospitality for Today’s Thrifty Treasures
Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday
Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Laurie at Bargain Hunting and Chatting with Laurie for A Few of My Favorite Things Saturday
See you next time! A la prochaine!