vide-greniers – The Vigneron's Wife

Greetings…

June 9, 2013June 11, 2013The vigneron's wife

Paris postcard found at a 'vide-grenier' - 'Place de la Republique' — old Paris postcard found at a ‘vide-grenier’ – ‘Place de la Republique’

Up early this morning and dashed out to a village ‘vide-grenier’… it’s a type of garage sale, but instead of just one household selling their wares on the street, it’s a whole village full! If you’ve never been to one, they are just brilliant and full of potential treasure – and trash (as many would say!).

I’ve got to say I’m a little hooked and it’s one of those rare mornings where I’m ready to spring out of bed at 6am. There’s even get a slight adrenaline rush as I jostle for a car park close to the sectioned-off streets and head towards the first stand displaying its wares. I’m on a mission – my purse is heavy with coins and my chest is literally bursting with excitement. Sicko, you might say. But really! Vide-greniers (this translates as ’empty the attic’) offer all sorts of wonderful objects. And hey it’s in France, so for me that makes it totally exotic (mind you, being far from home, kangaroos and gums are also completely exotic for me now). It’s not everyday you can buy the old scribbled-in picture books from the elderly monsieur’s childhood collection, or the 60s flowery frock from Madame’s hand-me -downs. I’ve even picked up a whopping Le Creuset cast iron pot for 8 Euros (now this find was in the half-dark it was so early and I had a torch!). Mmmn, a post on vide grenier treasures will follow!

These ‘village garage sales’ are held on weekends (Sunday is the big day for our region)and start from around 8am, with people beginning to pack up around 4pm. But if you want to find the ‘better’ stuff and real bargains, it’s best to head out as early as 7am (ie 8 Euro cookpot) – the time where you’ll rub shoulders with the ‘professionals’ already out for the hunt.

Here’s a few pics of some local vide greniers to whet the appetite for some…

vg 8 — aaargh!!! this is a sight that sends me CRAZY

vg 7 — I just loved this lady’s pricing for her old linen

vg 12 — Lilas’ already an old hand at these things

Today the weather has been pretty dire, so I headed out early and came home early (it has been raining much of this weekend – not something we’re needing when it is already difficult to access the vineyards by tractor, we’re hoping the forecast for heat for this week dries everything up).

I came home with a few postcards amongst my finds.

This first one, above, was actually written (from the 60s?) on today’s date!?! Woh!

Reading over the cards from this mornng over a coffee, I noticed the date marked was today's — Reading over the cards from this mornng over a coffee, I noticed the date marked was today’s

But have a look at these beauties…

'Rond Point' — ‘Rond Point’ (the guy on the far right side is to blame for this purchase)

...not much to be said — …not much to be said

guitar chick — You go girl, stroke those strings…

frenchie loveeers — check those fellas (mounds of muscle)

…and on the above theme,

...love an old recipe postcard — …love an old recipe postcard

But I do love a pretty card too.

another old Paris postcard: 'Marche aux Fleurs de la Cite' — another old Paris postcard: ‘Marche aux Fleurs de la Cite’

wrapped in France #2

September 24, 2012November 9, 2012The vigneron's wife

“1. a bundle or parcel. 2. that in which anything is packed, as a case, crate, etc. 5. to put into wrappings or a container.” – ‘Package, packaging’ from the Macquarie Dictionary, 2nd Edition, 1981

Do you remember when I let it slip that I have a thing for packaging? Mmn, yep, still have it and lately I feel like I’m being bombarded with even more wonderful examples of it, everywhere. At home, at the markets, at the vide-greniers (the village garage sales – something I must absolutely tell you about soon), at friends’ houses, in the guise of gifts from friends… everywhere.

Colours, texts, fonts, old, new, shabby or shiny… I can’t get enough of it – and if there’s a text or a word here or there in French, even better! It’s amazing how much you can improve your vocabulary just reading the fine print! (and probably a lot more educational than my dippings into, shock, horror – Voici).

At the moment I’m getting a buzz out of OLD packaging and the eg’s here are from either home (my mother-in-law is a great help here) – or from stands in the markets and vide-greniers. I understand why people start up businesses selling this stuff – there are crazy people out there, like me, who love it! But a lot of it can be quite expensive so I’m happy to admire it and ask permission to take a photo or two. Yes, I think I am mad!

So here’s a second instalment of boxes, tins, bottles I’ve seen here in France lately. I should add however, that not all these products are French. Some come from next door in Spain (thanks to Vincent who is aware of my condition) or further afar. But they seemed too lovely to leave out.

I hope you enjoy them!

tins of pois chiches — Tins of ‘pois chiches’ (chick peas) at the supermarket yesterday. I thought you Miss Nick might like these!

Pineau de Francois Premier — I love this bottle of Pineau from the Charentes – “Pineau Francois 1er” Not only is the label just fabulous, but the sweet, fortified wine, a speciality of the Charentes region (near Cognac, not far from Bordeaux) wine inside, is DELICIOUS! It is a family-run winery, established in the 1930s by Gaston Riviere, with the wine now made by his grandson (who greets you at his cellar in leather pants). He said it was Gaston himself who designed and drew the label and there is a great quote on it – by him?… the ranslation:
“Women often change, Mad are those who trust them. Only this Pineau remains faithful to his King.”

Olympic Thermor iron — Don’t need one, but loved this box for an iron at the vide-grenier

Ortiz El Velero tuna — Ortiz ‘El Velero’ tuna.
Merci Vinnie.

bonbons! — a few old ‘bonbons’ tins (sweets, lollies or candy to us)

deux pigeons — ‘Les Deux Pigeons’ (the two pigeons) allumettes – an old matchbox found amongst other treasures at my mum-in-law’s. Merci Christine!

Chromex hair dryer — …don’t need this either. But just love the bangs and make-up.

Ippodo tea — Adore this tin.
But it went back home with V.

carving knife — I almost wanted to buy the old knife just so I could have the sleeve it slid into!

Lipikar — My body moisturiser. Mamy put me onto this. The ‘pharmaceuticals’ look is big here, but I love it for its smell

apple box — Spied this at Emmaus. Tres simple, no text but I LOVE red apples

Sanchez Romate sherry vinegar — Another item from Vinnie in Spain and oh so delicious, “Sanchez Romate Vinaigre de Jerez” – sherry vinegar

old packets for bonbons, dried beans, cream cheese…

LEO dried peas — no, it’s not a French product but it made me laugh when I saw this at the supermarket… the first time I read the box I thought it said ‘with sleeping tablet’
You try it!

Kusmi teas — a favourite at home – the whole range is great together

Saw this Offenbach record, “Gaiete Parisienne”, in Emmaus and loved the image

Caille and Yoghurt — The ‘Caille’ desserts are delicious. Seems like this style tub has been used for much longer than I realised.

vw car collage — Once a VW owner, always a fan.
Certainly didn’t need this, but I fell in love with the radio-controlled VW at the vide-grenier. It is the sedan version of my very first car, a Type 3 station wagon that I called ‘Fritz’. The price was extremely high. But the man was kind enough to let me take the photo.

Some things don’t change

May 13, 2011July 20, 2011The vigneron's wife

I’ve been flipping through a few of Lilas’ books lately and loving the illustrations of Alain Gree. If you’re into 60s and 70s artwork, you might like it. I’m crazy about him at the moment and can’t get enough of his books!

If you look hard enough at the local ‘vide-greniers’ (’empty the attics’ – literally the whole village holds one giant garage sale in the the village streets), you might be able to pick up an old dog-eared copy. Otherwise, they’re becoming quite collected on the net and you have to be quick to find a bargain.

I opened up to this page up yesterday, and it reminded me of last week’s trip to the market!

Can you see why?…

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