Oct. 11-14: "The Menacing Maison !"

France is haunted.

No doubt -- there are spirits in the air in France.

Don't believe me?  Then spend some time in the Paris Catacombs. This deep underground cave devoted to the bones of the dead is certain to make you believe in all things ghostly. How about Pere Lachaise cemetery? The cobblestone walkways between the ancient graves sometimes feel that they will cave under your feet. And what about some of the crypts that are no longer completely sealed? I dare you to peek inside one of them on a cold, crisp autumn night.

One of my favorite things to do when I visit Paris with my hubby Adam is to wander the narrow cobblestone streets of the oldest parts of the City of Light late at night and breathe in the history and romance of this ancient place.  Sometimes it's really quite creepy to look up at the dark, imposing shadows of the Concierge, where Marie Antoinette spent her last days imprisoned before meeting her sad fate . . . Even the river Seine has a certain eeriness about it when the wind is blowing and you can only hear the faint sounds of traffic above and the rippling water below.

Confectionique's October "The Menacing Maison" market is where the City of Light meets the darkness.  It's the first of our 2018 "Les Trois Fêtes" year-end holiday festivals at Confectionique!

What scares you? At Confectionique, we will do our best to creep you out just a little bit -- but with Paris style, naturally!

I hope you will join us on Thursday, October 11th from 5:00pm-8:00pm for Nuit Blanche and help us kick off our "Menacing Maison" market as we celebrate all things Paris, and all things Halloweenish.  (Or should we say "Hallo-oui-nish?)  Get ready for a spooky season filled with autumn delights!

October "The Midnight Chateau" Market Hours:

Thursday, Oct. 11:            5pm-8pm (Nuit Blanche!)

Friday, Oct. 12:                  10am-5pm

Saturday, Oct. 13:            10am-5pm

Sunday, Oct. 14:                Noon-5pm

a bientot,

Anastasia

Next: "Les Trois Fêtes" of 2018 !

Now that summer is winding down and our "Paris Apartment" market is behind us, we are excited to tell you what's next for Confectionique!  After hosting markets every other month for most of 2018, starting in October we'll be going monthly for the rest of the year.


We are delighted to present "Les Trois Fêtes" (the three festivals) of Confectionique for 2018!

October:  The Haunting, la première fête, is our annual Halloween market from Oct. 11th-14th -- this year's theme is "The Menacing Maison!"  Get ready for a spooky season filled with autumn delights!

November:  The Feasting, la deuxième fête, will be our annual celebration of holiday gathering from Nov. 8th-11th, this year with the theme "Home for the Holidays."  No matter how far you roam, there's no place like home for the holidays!







December:  The Giving, la troisième fête, is our annual celebration of holiday gifting from Dec. 6th-9th -- Bringing holiday joy to those you love!



In conjunction with each of these three year-end festivals, we'll be having special events and treats for you -- stay tuned for more information!  We hope you will plan to join us for these three very festive markets!

October "The Menacing Maison" Market Hours:

Thursday, Oct. 11:            5pm-8pm (Nuit Blanche!)

Friday, Oct. 12:                  10am-5pm

Saturday, Oct. 13:            10am-5pm

Sunday, Oct. 14:                Noon-5pm

a bientot,

Anastasia

Aug. 17-18: Bonne Chance 2-Day Market & Sale!

Feeling lucky?  You should, because it's your lucky week -- if you missed our August "Paris Apartment" market last week or just want to come back for more summer fun, we're giving you a second chance with our special 2-day good luck market (or "Le Bonne Chance Marché") this Friday August 17th and Saturday August 18th.   AND -- we're taking 50% off all remaining chairs,* lamps, art prints & paintings so you can make your own home look like a Paris apartment!

We'll be open from 10am-5pm each day so you can have a second lucky chance to enjoy our market before we close until our next regular market in October!

The idea for this special event came to me on a recent buying trip to Paris.  As I wandered single file through my favorite Parisian market, following along with the rest of the shopping herd and passing one vendor after another, my eyes could hardly focus on just one item at a time. Then I saw the most glorious old sewing basket, standing with its doors open wide.  Inside were piles and piles of old threads that were intertwined with vintage metal thimbles, needle cards, buttons and a pair of divine, intricate sewing scissors. Already, I was plotting. My hands were already filled with bag handles from other purchases along the way. I  foolishly told myself, "This late in the day, no one will buy it. I can wait and find my way back later to make that old sewing box mine!"   But, there would be no Bonne Chance pour moi and that sewing box -- it was gone when I returned!

We decided to at least offer you a second chance at something you admired, loved, or want to reconsider after thinking about it for days! Knowing we won't open again in June, here is your Bonne Chance to stock up on one of your French favorites or purchase a last-minute unique gift.

And don't forget -- all remaining chairs,* lamps, art prints & paintings will be 50% off.  After all, the holidays are coming -- we need to make room for new merchandise!

We can't wait to see you again!

August "Le Bonne Chance Marché" hours:

Friday Aug. 17:      10am-5pm
Saturday Aug. 18:  10am-5pm

a bientot,

Anastasia

*Does not include benches or stools

August 9-12: "The Paris Apartment" !

There is nothing that helps me soak in the French experience more than having our own apartment in Paris.  If only for one short week or for a long stay, having a place to "nest" and call home helps me feel as if I really am living life as a Parisian.

Just like Americans, Parisians (and the French in general) have a wide variety of tastes.  But something binds them together.  A love of the worldly, the cosmopolitan.  A flair for the eclectic.  A need for travel.  And a passion for practicality and efficiency embodied in style. 

We want to share our vision of the Paris apartments we have grown to love over the years -- please join us at Confectionique's "The Paris Apartment" Market August 9-12th!

When you think of a Paris apartment you may imagine white furnishings, chandeliers and gold mirrors -- it can be these things, certainly, but a Paris apartment can also have a modern or minimalist look.  It is not unusual to find a centuries-old wardrobe next to an Eames chair, for example.  In the end, a Paris apartment is about using the elements of design in a compact space that is aesthetically beautiful, well-designed and functional.

Parisians are experts at making little spaces seem big. They do this with multi-use furniture, getting by only with what they need (most Parisians would consider art and decorative pieces a need ) and bringing this all together in a cohesive and useful manner which showcases one's individuality and -- above all -- remains stylish. After nesting in a smaller space while living in Paris, it does make me wonder if I really need so much stuff at home.

Since summer can be the time of year to begin thinking about moving into your first college apartment, fixing up the bedroom your college-bound child just vacated, or planning for the upcoming holidays, our Paris Apartment market is the perfect decorating market for you.

Our goal at the Paris Apartment market will be to have stylish yet functional furnishings, linens and decorative pieces that really give your space a sense of individuality.

We hope you will join us at our "Paris Apartment" market where you will feel inspired to live in style!

"The Paris Apartment" Market Hours:

Thursday, Aug. 9:   5pm-8pm 

Friday, Aug. 10:       10am-5pm

Saturday, Aug. 11:   10am-5pm
Sunday, Aug. 12:      Noon-5pm

A bientot,

Anastasia 

Coming June 7th-10th: Our "French Summer Home" market!

For our next 4-day market June 7th-10th, help us welcome the arrival of warmth and "le soleil" as we celebrate a vintage French summer!

School is almost out.  Flag Day.  Father's Day.  The 4th of July.  Patio cookouts.  Vacations.  Picnics.  The great outdoors.  Even Bastille Day.

At long last:  Summer!


Join us for Nuit Blanche on Thursday June 7th from 5pm-8pm while we kick off our long-awaited summer with our "French Summer Home" market.  We love Paris, but we just might love the French countryside even more!



The market continues Friday June 8th from 10am-5pm, Saturday June 9th from 10am-5pm and concludes on Sunday June 10th from Noon-5pm.



"French Summer Home" Market Hours:

Thurs., June 7th:      5pm-8pm (Nuit Blanche!)

Friday, June 8th:      10am-5pm

Saturday, June 9th: 10am-5pm
Sunday June 10th:      Noon-5pm

A bientot,

Anastasia 

April 19-22: "La Belle Jardinière" !

"Gardening is a folly whose goal is to provide delight."  -- Deborah Needleman.

At long last Spring has finally arrived, and we're actually beginning to believe that the warmer weather is finally on the way.  To celebrate Spring's long-awaited arrival, the theme for our April Market is "La Belle Jardinière" -- the beautiful gardener, which we will feature from April 19-22!

In addition to gardens and gardeners, the coming of Spring evokes all manner of flora, fauna, and the ground and air coming alive again in so many ways.  Our April market theme weaves all of these together into one tapestry of garden decor and Spring delights -- with a French twist, of course!

And remember -- Mother's Day (May 13th) will be just a few weeks away, and we'll have a boutique full of lovely gifts from Paris.  Let us help you fill your basket with vintage, Parisian and handmade treasures!

Join us on Thursday, April 19th from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm as we kick off the "La Belle Jardinière" market with our traditional Nuit Blanche celebration!


Our "La Belle Jardinière" Market Hours April 19-22:  


Thursday, April 19:   5pm-8pm
Friday, April 20:         10am-5pm
Saturday, April 21:   10am-5pm
Sunday, April 22:       Noon-5pm

a bientot,

Anastasia

Mona Lisa Smiles

Bonjour friends, we have a very special announcement, but first, a little background.

While in Paris, Adam and I decided to spend several hours in the Louvre. It had been a many years since we saw some of the greats: Venus de Milo, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, and of course, Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. It was a Wednesday night -- a night the Louvre was open late. We took our time. We wandered past the sculptures, the Egyptian antiquities and along the wall of vast canvases painted by da Vinci, Raphael and Goya.

As we moved into the brightly-lit Salle des États,we found a crew removing the Mona Lisa to be packed away. A docent told us mademoiselle Lisa is going on the road for the first time in decades and would be shipping to the Art Institute in Chicago for a special exhibition "Mysterious Women through the Centuries." I jokingly remarked, "Well, you could have her at our little French market in Wisconsin for a stop over." Adam chimed in, explaining that Confectionique is located inside the Morey Middleton Airport, which would be quite convenient for the crew shipping her to take a rest before traveling on to Chicago. Adam and I looked at each other, laughing at our silly suggestion.

Getting her ready for travel!

As Adam and I continued to amuse ourselves with the thought of the Mona Lisa at Confectionique, the docent had snuck away to fetch President-Director of the Louvre, Jean-Luc Martinez. A few moments later, we were stopped by Jean-Luc, who wanted to know more about our airport location and our brilliant idea.

Coming Soon!

So, we are delighted to inform all of you that the fragile early-16th-century portrait, thought to be of the Florentine beauty Lisa Gherardini, will be making a journey from the Salle des États (under the protective eye of curators and security guards) to Confectionique for only one day (under the protective eye of Anastasia and Adam and the Middleton police department) before heading to it's final destination in Chicago.

Since we are not being given full details as to the arrival of Mona Lisa at the airport, we will not have an

option to set up a special exhibit or sell tickets to fund our next trip to Paris, however, we will make the announcement as soon the museum's jet, Louvre One, lands and is safely on the tarmac in Middleton. If you are in the neighborhood at the time, perhaps you can come to see this masterpiece of da Vinci perfection. Now that certainly makes us smile!

a bientot,

Anastasia