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

Une fuite!

Bam! Bam! Bam! This was followed at about 6:00 a.m. by loud French mutterings on the other side of the door of my high-rise Paris apartment. I stumbled awake and fumbled for my robe. I didn't see anyone through the peephole, so I turned on my lights and started to make coffee. I opened my door to the hallway to see if I could assess the concern. Two people came running toward my door with arms waving in the air. "S'il vous plait, s'il vous plait," the French man said as he pointed to the inside of my apartment, gesturing that he wanted to enter. I am sure I look confused and concerned. I recognized the woman at his side as the apartment maintenance person, Madam Hernandez.  (I  learned her name later.) She said "Desole, une fuite," as she pointed to the inside of my apartment and then back out to the hallway along the floorboard.

My French is okay, but not good enough to understand "une fuite."

Moments later Flavia, my neighbor whom I had never met before, arrived at the door in her robe. She began calmly explaining that the cold water to my apartment must be turned off immediately and permanently due to a leak somewhere in the bathroom that was damaging the adjacent hallway.

The plumber quickly went to work finding the valve.  Meanwhile, Mrs. Hernandez was talking with Flavia, who was talking to me while I was on the phone to the landlord, who said I would need to find another apartment as this one is no longer "suitable." Oh, and I was already unpacked, had one box that needed to be mailed home, and Adam was arriving in a few hours from the United States.  I must have looked deflated.

Flavia turned to me and said, "No need to worry Anastasia, you can use my apartment for anything you need while I am work. I would let you stay with me, but my daughter is coming for the weekend. However, whatever we have is for you and your husband to use while you are here in Paris. I will get you my spare key."

No, we had never met before, and yes, she was willing to leave for work and let Adam and I use her apartment as we needed.

Adam and I found another apartment.  That is a whole other story of a wonderful bunch of French folks -- whom we had never met before -- who came to our aid.

So, our answer is no, the French are not more rude than Americans. The French can be more reserved and can be more formal in their interactions. These cultural differences are often misunderstood by Americans. The French are a generous, kind and helpful people. We are so thankful for the many French people like Flavia we have met who open both their homes and their hearts to us.

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