Sunday, March 04, 2012

Paris Flea Market

Today was run away day for Elaine and me.  We had not done a roadtrip for quite a while and were excited to hit the road for a visit to the Paris Flea Market.

This bicycle served as our welcome sign to the Paris Flea Market where I spent a morning of browsing and oohing and aahing and buying.






This Yo-Yo lap quilt reminded me that this is one of the many projects that are in progress at home and waiting for me to finish.





I got really excited when I saw these baby shoes.  I have my mother's baby slippers and my daughter's little shoes that I painted flowers on and her name.  They are now on my project list to get stuffed and covered with pretty lace and straight pins.  Into a shadow box they will go, and another project will be up on the wall.

When I saw these little white porcelain hearts I knew just what to do.  I have two small round plates just like these and soon they will become lovely French whimsies hanging on my studio wall.

The eye candy didn't stop.  From the first step through the door to a trip upstairs and then down again, our visit to the Paris Flea Market was a joy from start to finish.





After leaving the market, with treasures in hand, we explored Livermore's downtown and discovered that they have very lively and thriving establishments.  Here is Elaine in front of a tile wall in Livermore, CA.  The bricks on the bottom name the donors who contributed to its creation. 

Livermore is surrounded by wineries so wine bars were in abundance.  The restaurants represented every cuisine you could think of including Spanish (as opposed to Mexican).  Fun shops abound.  Fountains were everywhere and the hallmark of the main plaza was a fabulous tree covered in yellow ribbons.



All in all, Livermore was a total surprise to us and completely worthy of a return visit.  What we thought was a simple bedroom community for the Bay Area, turned out to be rich with history and exploration possibilities.

14 comments:

Janet said...

What a fun day you had! And it sounds like you got loads of inspiration for your own projects. I love the colors in that yo-yo quilt. They remind me of spring.

DHLOL said...

And I still have no idea of what she purchased. :)

Annie Jeffries said...

TeeHee. So, I showed him my bag of ribbons and a pretty little pitcher stamped hand painted Nippon. I love finding pre-WW II china.

Ginny Hartzler said...

I would have LOVED this. The things you saw there, your photos of them are so artistic. And I'm glad you showed us what you bought!

foxysue said...

Sounds like you have lots of happy times with your girlfriend and oh so many projects, good job you are retired otherwise how you going to fit it all in!?

Sue x

Pear tree cottage! said...

Annie, what wonderful pictures of a day well spent! I would say.....the joys of good company and truly adorable window shopping with a view to projects to do, now that sounds like fun to me......for too long here it has been too much work and not enough play! well my hours have changed and instead of working all week half days I now have monday-wednesday-friday off! yippee, now I can find some projects of my own to do. and maybe a little roadtrip or two as well.....(You inspire me!!) hugs as always from Australia.

Unknown said...

What a great place to visit, a real treasure trove of great products.

Marja said...

Oh what a lovely place with so much treasures. The pink bike loos a lot like a Dutch bike only the Dutch bikes have bigger wheels and saddles.
I adore the hearts so beautiful and the other things are so wonderful as well. You must have had a great time. ka kite ano (see you again)

Barbara said...

Looks like it was a fun day out with lots of inspiration for you.

Jeanie said...

Oh, Annie, if I ever come there will you promise to take me? Not that we'd ever leave it, so if you have to be home by dinner, drop me off -- but wow! Just wow! Way too much my kind of thing!

gma said...

Sounds awesome Annie. Would love to go exploring with you again some time.

Annie Jeffries said...

It's a deal, Jeanie!

Annie Jeffries said...

Me too, Gemma. The possibility is still waving out there.

Lea said...

What a fun day Annie! One of my best friends lives in Livermore, it is a thriving little/big hub of lots going on! And I know well... the Peet's Coffee just to the right of the "tie a yellow ribbon round the old" pine tree!