I had an absolutely magical time in Santa Barbara at Jermaine Chastain’s lovely Italian Villa for the first French Kissed and Trouvais French Summer Market. The water fountain outside the open double front doors gurgled, the breeze flowed in past sentinel Italian cypresses…outside a gravel courtyard was all old world grandeur with aged iron armchairs and birdcages and baskets…and wine crates laden with old silver and vintage porcelain.

On every table and past thrown open cabinet doors there was gold edged porcelain and silver..silver…silver..Jermaine’s treasure hunting specialty..

 The gamut of price ranges…but each and every piece fit for a queen…

Hostess gifts and wedding gifts and gifts for…ourselves!

 As always…the best part of these events is meeting the stalwart new and old friends that made the short and long trips to attend! Susan from A Blooming Rose Musings was there to help, and Jermaine and I loved meeting the fabulously charming Rié of the brand spanking new blog Portobello Design. Check out her latest post and you can see more photos of the event. Though being somewhat too far away to attend, my wonderful friend Karin of La Pouyette in Perigord, France wrote an informative post on some of the antique linen I brought to sell that is rare if not exclusive to the US market. Karin sources these wonderful uniquely woven white, indigo and azure striped linen towels from the Basque region. Both Jermaine and I appreciate all the support, far and wide! 

It was a lot of work and pure joy!

Jermaine and I were separated at birth…but you can see who has the ballerina genes…as she modeled a so, so very flattering pair of antique bloomers…

Much, much more to come….