The Provence Antique Market
Today we went to our first large Provence Antique Market. We found lots of wonderful items and I found lots of linens and my new favorite item!
We had a wonderful day at the Villeneuve-Les-Avignon flea market. It was similar to many of the flea markets I have attended back home but it was a little harder to negotiate as I sadly don’t speak french!
The Provence Antique Market
You all know how much I love to shop at a vintage flea market. I always joke that it’s my favorite way to get some exercise because I usually walk non-stop for about three hours! Today was very similar.
There were a lot of vendors at the market. The items for sale were varied but there were a lot of linens and art and ironstone and more.
The prices were good. In fact, I thought they were quite similar to what I might find at a flea market back home. Except that everything was French, of course!
How to Shop the Provence Flea Market
The market wasn’t as big as many of the ones at home so I was able to make a quick loop all the way around while looking for any one-of-a-kind items I couldn’t live without. I also had a chance to check some prices to get a feel for the cost of items such as ironstone and linens.
Are the prices negotiable? Yes. You just need to be polite and don’t insult a seller. If something is priced at €30, don’t offer them €15. You might suggest €27 or €25.
I was pretty bad at negotiating because my French is so bad that I don’t even know the numbers. So anytime a price was quoted I literally had no idea what they were saying. Most often the seller would pull out euro and show me how many I needed for the price. So that was very helpful.
Also, cash is pretty much what you need at all of the markets here in Provece. So a visit to the ATM is essential.
Here are some of my favorite booths and items I saw.
I am going to share my purchases at the end of this post because I bought some things at a Vintage Fabric Shop and a shop in Sorgue.
Our Favorite French Inspired Finds!
Comfortable Shoes and Market Baskets are a Must for a Flea Market Day!
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The Vintage Fabric Shop
Tracey from French Larkspur took us to a vintage fabric shop which I absolutely adored. I wanted to find some linens for gifts and some fabrics to make pillows for the beach house.
I think I have a new addiction … finding embroidered linens with the initials of people I adore.
I bought the ones in the photo above for gifts. And yes, the initials are of people I adore!
Their selection was incredible.
I found some wonderful ticking fabrics in sage green and tan. The colors are kind of hard to see in this photo but these fabrics are amazing. I bought enough fabric to make about 12 pillows for the beach house and I cannot wait to make them!
Of course, I will share them when I get around to doing that!
Here is an assortment of the linens I bought. I am going to be making some bags like the ones Tracey hangs on our doors in the morning (filled with fresh croissants)! Most of these linens will be used to make the bags.
Here is what Tracey’s bags look like. I can’t wait to make my own for the beach house. If you end up staying at our beach house you will likely find one of these bags filled with goodies on your bedroom door when you arrive!
I found these wonderful vintage metal hooks that I am going to use at the beach house as well. I think they will be in the bedrooms and bathrooms for the new robes I am ordering.
My Favorite Purchase Today
There is no doubt that all of the lavender fields we have visited this week are affecting my purchases. The minute I found this lavender ironstone serving platter I knew I had to bring it home. I had already found the lavender ticking fabric earlier in the day (it’s underneath the platter!) and I cannot believe how well these two items go together.
Isn’t that serving platter gorgeous?
Here are some photos of the antique shop we visited after lunch.
I do have some news on the chandelier I have been wanting to buy for our beach house. I found a beautiful chandelier yesterday at the same store where I found the napkins with my initials.
I loved it but wasn’t sure if it was the one. After shopping today and seeing a lot of chandeliers, I knew it was the one! So the owner is bringing it to the flea market we are attending tomorrow and I am so excited!
And yes, we are off to another large flea market tomorrow. Wish me luck!
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Oooh love all your finds. How will you get everything home? Does your tour lady Tracey help you with shipping at the end?
I love the linens and what a wonderful way to preserve them and treasure them in a useful manner! Those bags are totally awesome….
If you were looking at vintage embroidery is there any easy way to tell if the fabric is still good? A couple of times I have purchased beautifully embroidered pillow cases just to wash them and see that they were becoming threadbare when I was not able to tell that prior to washing…
Hope you keep having a great time!
I love the beautiful linens. The bags are wonderful.
Thank you for sharing.
Love seeing all these chandeliers. I’ve seen 3 now that are what I want. I sent you a DM about it. Was just trying to get a feel for pricing. They are just gorgeous!❤️ I am living vicariously through you.
This trip looks like so much fun. I’ve been to France once and would love to go back..
It has been so lovely!
Wow! I would have been in heaven! I adore beautiful French linens. Everything that you chose is beautiful.
It really is heaven!
That platter is the prettiest I have ever seen, sooo gorgeous!
Thanks Judy!