"Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises." – Pedro Calderon de la Barca

 

Just wanted to start today’s blog with a big Merci! Thank you to everyone who took the time to tell me that they enjoy my blog. Your kind words and well wishes for my blog, my health and my family are wholly appreciated. However, don’t be afraid, just because I’m a sicky-poo with ALS, to send me comments of another nature. I can take it. I actually encourage it. It’s a free world…express yourself, I do. But, thank you, nonetheless, for the good-natured comments.

 

Continuing my obsession with dishes, today let’s take a look at French faience. In particular, French green faience.

Definition of faience: [fahy-ahns] noun. glazed earthenware or pottery, especially a fine variety with highly colored designs.  

As I mentioned the other day, my mother and I found, at the Parisian flea market (Marche aux Puces), a rare set of 18^th-century French green dinnerware. We were at the flea market on the first buying trip for our antique shop in Santa Barbara named, Circa. More on that later. Anyway, we saw the dropdead gorgeous set of dishes in a dealer’s booth…but he was closed! Typical. There was no way we were going to leave that booth without those dishes. So we waited…and waited…and waited. My daughter, Gracie, was with us and she was about to lose her mind waiting for this antique dealer to show up. What seventh grader wants to sit around a flea market waiting for some Frenchman to finish his lunchtime quiche and salad and 4^th glass of red wine for the day, only returning to begrudgingly sell her mother overpriced stupid green dishes? The only reason Gracie didn’t shoot me on the spot was because we promised her chocolate crêpes and a trip to Bonpoint in Paris for a new dress (obviously, Gracie can be bought). We work on a bribery system in my household and it seems to work.

The dealer finally showed up, opened up his little shop, and invited us inside. This particular seller only deals in vaisselle (dinnerware). His entire shop was floor-to-ceiling dishes. Dishes that you would commit crimes for. The shop was so jam-packed that we could barely make our way through…my favorite environment ever. I could have bought everything in the store, but we were on a mission for those green dishes. The set was complete, including dinner plates, salad plates, soup tureen, sauce boat, covered dishes, platters and dessert bowls. They were truly remarkable and in perfect condition. We asked the price. “Uhh, excusez-moi, how much did you say they were?” They were a small fortune, but we bought them anyway. Don’t feel too bad for me, I more than quadrupled the price when I sold them.

We had a private soft opening party for friends and family for our shop. Within five minutes of the doors opening, the dishes were sold. Sold, paid for, gone. I knew they were special. They were sold to one of my favorite interior designers. A few months later, lo and behold, they showed up on the cover of Veranda. This is a good lesson to learn to always go with your instincts, trust your intuition, and stay focused on the prize.

 

 

So what’s the big deal about these dishes? I have tried to do some research, but have come up short. There is not a lot of information on them. Maybe a reader out there has more information? If so, please send it my way. There is a sort of similar set available on 1^stdibs.com HERE.

 

 

 My mother was a little depressed that we sold them so she then decided to find the next best thing…a quality reproduction set that she could use as every day dishes. My mother ordered them in green and a warm yellow from a pottery factory in the South of France called Souleo de Provence, formerly Terre E Provence . The same family of producers have been using the same method of manufacture since the 19^th century. The style she chose is called Louis XV. She ordered about 5 billion of them, of course (I’m not kidding, I saw the old invoice today and she ordered 292 pieces). They are very heavy and the colors are super rich. You can order them HERE.

 

 

Okay, because I’m not a total snob, I’m going to tell you where you can also buy them fairly cheap, but only if you promise to mix them in with your good stuff. There is a company called Le Cadeaux in Los Angeles that sells these dishes in lots of colors, dishwasher safe, oven safe and virtually unbreakable. I’m rolling my eyes as I write the word “dishwasher safe.” However, they are not too shabby and will do the trick. You can buy them HERE.

 

More of my favorite dishes tomorrow… Hint: tobacco.

A toute!

Virgin Year in Paris

 

So, it’s official. I have lived in France for a solid year. We decided to move to France for a few reasons. The primary reason we moved is because my husband is French and his family is here. Secondly, his father was very ill and my husband wanted to be with him before he passed away. (Sadly, mission accomplished.) Thirdly, my daughter was accepted to The American University of Paris. So, off we went. We originally moved to Annecy, France and moved into my husband’s parent’s house. That, uhh, didn’t go so well, so we are now living in Paris. Before I moved to Paris in September 2013, I spent the entire month of August reading books on Paris. What I discovered before moving into Paris and have now realized is true, is that it takes a sense a humor to live in Paris.

Nothing will “go smoothly” in Paris. At least not on the first go around, that is. To get something accomplished in Paris it takes three or four attempts… Even for French people. Something is always closed, someone you need to speak with is always on a two hour lunch break, you don’t have the right paperwork, something was lost in translation, you didn’t provide enough information, you’re doing something the “wrong” way, you’re expecting too much, you’re in the wrong neighborhood, blah blah blah. I shouldn’t complain about living in the most beautiful city in the world because the good outweighs the bad. However, I thought it would be fun to detail the good versus the bad about living in Paris. It’s not all macaroons and roses.

 Let’s start with the good…

Good: If you buy something in Paris… A lipstick, a cake, a T-shirt, a perfume… It is always always always delicately wrapped to perfection. Even if it is not a gift, it is now. Don’t expect the salesperson to quickly throw something in a bag and you can be on your way. Not going to happen. (You’re not at Walmart.) Dedicate an extra five minutes to everything because your purchase is busy being "coiffed"… including your sandwich. Love this.

Bad: Parisian cafés apparently have a hard time with the concept of ice. If you order a drink, you will get no ice. If you “rudely” ask for ice, you are going to get two miniscule cubes that melt within seconds. Hate this.

Good: Parisian gardens are not for drug dealers. Parisian gardens are for mothers with their children, elderly people, chic hobos, dogs, workers on a break from their jobs, lovers, rich people relaxing and families. I never feel like I have to “watch my back” in Parisian gardens. And everyone throws away their trash. Love this.

Bad: I don’t like when Paris tries to Americanize itself. I don’t like seeing Starbucks, food trucks, juice bars or Chipotle in Paris. I do, however, go to every one of those examples on a weekly basis. Hate this.

Good: Museums are crowded. Why is this good? It’s good because it proves that culture, art and history are still respected and appreciated in Paris. I should also point out that crowds do not bother me at museums, because I get in first and free. First and free! Thank you ALS. Love this.

Bad: There is no Target, J.Crew, Whole Foods, Home Depot or Staples in Paris. Sometimes you just want to go to one shop for everything. There is an IKEA by the airport, but who goes to IKEA? (I do.) I want to choose to go to a boutique, not be forced to. Hate this.

Good: Gas station food. Swear to God, my husband actually looks forward to his “favorite carrot salad” at the gas station. French gas stations have toubouli salad, ham and cheese baguettes, café au lait, fresh croissants, gâteau au chocolat and fruit. Love this.

Bad: Gas station food. One time my husband was running into a French gas station and he asked me what I wanted. My response was, “A cherry Slurpie, nachos and a sweaty hot dog.” The look he gave me was priceless. Unfortunately, you’re not going to get any of that deliciousness in French gas stations. They don’t even have Doritos! How am I supposed to enjoy my road trip to Normandy without my Cool Ranch Doritos? Hate this.

Good: Parisian men dress well. Even Parisian teenagers. No one wears jeans so low that you can see their privates. No flip-flops. No baseball hats. No golf shirts. No printed tees. No tank tops. No gold chains. No board shorts. Parisian men seem to make an effort here… An effort all on their own. Fitted trousers, baby blue button-down shirts, scarves, respectable shoes, colorful blazers, chic shades, cool hair, no socks or colorful socks, suits and ties. Love this.

Bad: Everything is closed on Sundays. What the f*ck! Hate this.

Good: Everything is closed on Sundays. Parisians definitely enjoy their Sundays. Take Luxemburg Garden for example… Children are sailing their little boats in the pond, families are having a picnic on the lawn, the tennis courts are used, teenagers are making out and smoking cigarettes politely, boule is played with wine in hand, children’s playgrounds are packed, ice cream cones are licked, books are read leisurely in a perfect green garden chair, strolls are taken hand-in-hand, and the pace of Paris slows. Parisians even enjoy their Sundays in the winter…They just add hot chocolate. Love this.

Bad: I hate when French people take an American word and try to make it French. For example, le shopping, le week-end, le picnic, le jogging, le smoking. Hate this.

Good: No one tries to rush you out of a café. You can sit at a Parisian café nursing a cappuccino for four hours smoking 900 cigarettes if you want to. Love this.

 

Even if you don’t live in Paris or plan to visit Paris, it’s fun to see how Paris operates. It’s bizarre. There are a lot of entertaining books about this subject that I can recommend because I’ve read every single one of them… Here they are.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, I read all of those books… in a month and a half (except three of them I read later). Clearly, I had a lot of time on my hands…on account of my retirement (hint: ALS). They are all utterly entertaining and give you an unabashedly true slice of life in Paris. Guess what? You can purchase all of them in my Have Some Decorum Bookstore HERE.

Merci, Paris for a beautiful and interesting first year.

A toute!

I Don't Hate This at All

“Well, I’ll be.” That’s what they say in the South when something is rather impressive. That’s what I said in my head when I saw this photo editorial in Lonny Magazine. My second thought was, “Well, isn’t that lovely.” My third thought was, “This Bastille Day party makes me miss the United States a little bit.” That may sound weird, but it is true.

Event planner extraordinaire, Tara Guérard, planned this Bastille Day party in the heart of Charleston, South Carolina. Yes, it was definitely a French themed party but there was something so “Americana” about it. Maybe it was the red, white and blue. Whatever it was, I loved it. It wasn’t over the top, it wasn’t kitschy. It was just a perfect summer soirée combining the best of a Provençal French fête and a good ole American southern lowcountry celebration. Take a look…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Isn’t that just the nicest little party? So French. So American. So charming. Or, as my grandmother would say, “Isn’t that divine?”

Bon Week-End!

Yeezus.

Uhhh, yeah, this works. I love discovering super creative people and this Madame does not disappoint! Not only is Claire Basler a phenomenal floral artist but she is also a closeted interior decorator and florist. She has converted an old dilapidated former schoolhouse on the outskirts of Paris into a magical interior design feast! The flowers, the colors, the house… Oh my! The dogs, the cat, the paintings… Oh my! The staircase, the murals, the fireplace… Oh my!

 

Mme. Basler studied at the famed Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris. Her work is inspired by French 18^th-century paintings, Watteau in particular. According to The Telegraph, “In her garden, she witnesses nature’s fight for life against the wind, the rain, and the sun. This is what Claire Basler portrays in her paintings: the strength and the frailty of a flower, the reassuring nature of a tree, the metamorphosis of a simple poppy."

 

 I have heard that Mme. Basler also owns a château somewhere in France. I will try to get to the bottom of that and report back to you. I’ll just call her, right? Would that be considered investigative journalism or interior design stalking? Who cares. A tout!

www.clairebasler.com