Here is my fall tablescape featuring my beloved blue and white china AND fall colors.
If you’ve been following me at all, you know I love delft, and by extension ALL blue and white china. So naturally, when I visited one of the best flea markets in the world, I was on the lookout.
For any vintage lover or Francophile, le Marche aux Puces just outside Paris in St. Ouens is the premier destination for French flea market finds. And in 2015, I had the opportunity to spend a morning there. Here is my story. 😂⚜️
I got directions on how to get to the Marche aux Puce from this blog. And I am very thankful I did. Although my BFF Amy has lived in Geneva for years, and has been to Paris multiple times, she had never been. So when we planned a weekend in Paris, I was in charge!
Please follow the directions and don’t be scared as you wind your way through the less than reputable vendors on your way. Once you arrive, you will be met with a charming warren of truly French shops that offer an array of beautiful goods from authentic French households.
I was looking for some very specific items. First, blue and white china. Especially dessert/salad plates that could pair with what I already had. Second, FLAT items and small pretties I could fit in my carry-on luggage. (Yes, I packed only a carry-on for my trip to Europe.)
Look at these plates. I found these in a small shop full of dishes. They were in a precarious loft that I bravely climbed to find them. I allowed myself only six (although there were more). My friend, who is more fluent in French than I, especially in money, negotiated for me. Before I knew it, they were MINE for 45 euros! and then we had lunch in the flea markets!
I did acquire some other items at the marche, mostly small gifts (like postcards) for family and friends. But considering we hiked many miles that day after we left the Marche, it’s a good thing these plates were the heaviest thing I bought.
Here are the stairs to Sacre Coeur that I climbed while carrying these plates that day. When we finished touring that beautiful church, I offered to pay for the cab home!
That day will remain as one of the best days of my life. I talk about it often enough that my family has made a joke of it. (Wait, you went to PARIS???) I’m just thankful I have these plates — and the memory of that delightful day! ⚜️💙
Wexford Lane 