It’s a wonderful time of the year to visit our favorite small shops that have
put their all into gathering the best stock, reworking their stores, and
decorating their windows. I can always count on finding something
special at Chateau Sonoma, in Northern California, as well as being
inspired by the lovely assembled vignettes. In a cozy back room a bed
is topped with boughs, an angelic duo pulling aside the drapery that
falls below the crown, the bed tumbled with homespun pillows.
A 19th century French scrapbook’s pages were copied and used to paper the
front window display in sepia tones, touches of gilding on frames and book bindings…
More of the charming “wallpaper” alongside a c. 1890 French Opera House puppet theater,
and beneath one of several hunter’s trophy plaques.
Gorgeous selection or antique jewelry
Hand and rose of carved ivory…
click here to see rest of jewelry
This Saturday Chateau Sonoma will host an antique jewelry show from 10:30-6:00
…enjoy champagne and holiday desserts
while exploring wonderful antique jewelry brought
to you by Elizabeth Dmitrova and Michael Howard.
You’ll notice our very own fellow blogger Ulla Milbrath
from Ullabenulla here
A rustic thatched child’s chair set atop a table
nestling a nest and eggs…
I found out today that store owner Sarah Anderson just had a baby boy!
Congratulations Sarah, I’m sure he will be speaking French in no time!
My latest Chateau Sonoma “souvenir” …
a cloth lined stenciled burlap satchel… messenger styles were also
available…perfect for storing my favorite textile bundles between
monthly flea market forays
A large 19th century zinc statue alcove ensconced between fir and flower
off the gravel courtyard behind the store…
along with finials, canoes, rusty urns and Tunisian grates…
I realized later that the zinc alcove had subliminally influenced me to purchase the
Wisteria cross shadowbox. Wisteria’s book boxes (aqua above) are remarkably like the
very expensive faded vintage French flea market paperback bundles. I’ve been very
impressed by the quality of many of Wisteria’s items, and so grateful for an alternative to
the higher priced and out of reach vintage French flea market treasures.
I just brought both my Wisteria zinc table and iron birdcage indoors
for the winter. I’ll be sewing a canvas cover for the birdcage like this
one from Big Daddy’s Antiques (wish me luck!)
“Big Daddy” (Shane Brown) will be making his monthly trek
to the Alameda Flea Market this Sunday. His site at the flea
market is always the most gorgeous and most crowded. He brings
plants to plop in his urns, sets up rooms beneath his tents with
crystal empire chandeliers, rough Belgian linen upholstered
bergere chairs, medicine jars and books lining his bookshelves,
architectural iron reworked into lamp bases or consoles,
industrial carts and bins. If you’re going to the flea market, check
out his great website and let him know if you want him to pop
one more thing on the truck for you.
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Websites:
Chateau Sonoma
Wisteria
Big Daddy’s Antiques
