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 

June 15-16: "Bonne Chance" Market!

Feeling lucky?  You should, because it's your lucky week -- if you missed our summer- and vintage-themed 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 June 15th and Saturday June 16th.  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 August!

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 your Dad -- the Fête des Pères (Father's Day) is Sunday June 17 -- get the Francophile in your life something special for Father's Day!

We can't wait to see you again!

June "Le Bonne Chance Marché" hours:

Friday June 15:      10am-5pm
Saturday June 16:  10am-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

March 15-18: The Lapin Market !

Believe it our not, by the time of our next market Spring will be just around the corner!  The days will be noticeably longer, it will be warmer out, and the sun will feel just a little bit brighter.  To celebrate the coming of Spring, Confectionique's March market theme is "Le Lapin" -- the bunny!





What's more quintessentially Spring than visions of bunnies, chicks, and lambs?

Remember, Easter is Sunday, April 1st this year!  We'll have tons of Paques (Easter) merchandise -- let us help you fill your basket with vintage, Parisian and handmade treasures!

We hope you will join us on on Thursday, March 15th from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm as we kick off the "Le Lapin" market with our monthly Nuit Blanche celebration!

March "Le Lapin" Market Hours:
Thursday, March 15:             5pm-8pm            

Friday, March 16:                   10am-5pm

Saturday, March 17:              10am-5pm

Sunday, March 18:                 Noon-5pm

a bientot!

Anastasia

The Eye of the Beholder

I so enjoy shopping La Motte-Picquet market. It spans the length of the elevated Metro stop and sits comfortably between the 7th and 15th arrondissements.  The aromas of the market range from fresh-baked baguettes to roses, from fresh fish on ice to Italian leather. The stalls are colorful with wares such as shoes and French cheeses.

A man in his 60s -- I will call him Monsieur -- has owned a jewelry stand at the market for as long as I have been visiting. Monsieur likes to sing old American show tunes from Broadway. This was a cold morning and his breath was visible as he sang "Chicago, Chicago....." emphasizing the CHI. I asked him to sing me a French song and he gave me a sour face. "Non," he said, "I love America!" He proceeded to take out his phone to show me his pictures of his visit to New York many years ago. Oh, how he loves New York. Oh, how he loves Manhattan, Broadway, Times Square. I have seen these pictures many times. I roll my eyes and say, "But you are in Paris, the City of Light!" He shakes his head and moves his hand, side to side, as if saying, "Meh."

Then, he makes me wait patiently as he swipes through his phone to show me yet another reason he loves New York City. Oh, yes, he loves the food, the music, the culture, the people -- but he most wanted me to see one thing. He wanted me to experience watching the video of the grandeur, the creme de la creme of New York, the masterpiece of architecture, the amazing feat of man over nature, that beacon of towering creativity. He searched his phone, putting his hand up, urging me to wait.

He smiled as he found it: a video of the Empire State Building. He looked at me and said, "Have you ever seen anything more beautiful?" The video he took starts at the bottom and pans all the way to the top and lingers there for several moments, Monsieur clearly having been stunned by the sight of the imposing edifice. I looked at him, my mouth open in shock. He thought I was shocked by the beauty of the ESB. I said, "But Paris -- the Eiffel Tower!" He shook his head and just waved his hand from side to side as if the say, "Meh."

a bientot,

Anastasia