France trip: the secret spot

Okay are you ready for the HIGHLIGHT of my trip to France?! Well here it goes... We went to a Millinery that had been closed down for 20 years and were able to purchase anything and everything that we laid eyes on... Okay let me set the scene. We had a day shopping around a nearby village popping in and out of little shops, had an espresso in the town square and were heading home... so I thought. Lizzie {the owner of the Chateau} mentioned that we were going to make a quick stop, {still not knowing were we were going} we arrived at a run down two story building in the middle of a neighborhood. Long story short we got there and this is what we found. Two floors of millinery supplies... cases and cases of the most exquisite, OLD, FRENCH, velvet and grosgrain ribbon you have ever seen. I think I said "I am freaking out" {out loud} more times then I would like to admit. I was sticking my hand in dark places and taking no prisoners. Rat droppings, spiderwebs and all. This was, hands down, the highlight of my trip. I could tell you where this place is but then I would have to kill you ;). We were all sworn to secrecy. It is kind of like when you find the perfect wave. If you tell everyone about it then the wave will be over crowded with photographers, jet skis and surfers. So I guess in many ways my trip to France was like a surf trip ;).

Brocante shopping in France

My favorite part of the day in France is when we would all come back to the chateau after a long day of brocante* shopping. We would have a glass of wine and we would all show off our finds of the day. I loved seeing things that caught other peoples' eyes. I might have seen the same little jar laying in a basket, but when one of the fabulous ladies showed it off I saw what they saw and grew an appreciation of something new. Kaari taught us that if you had your eye on something you would ask the vendor about 5 other things and then right before you walked away you'd ask about the thing you really wanted. On a pad of paper we would write the price that we were willing to pay for it and then we would have a little back an forth negotiation even though neither party spoke the same language. I was so nervous at first after an embarrassing mishap on our honeymoon {We were at the Paris flea market and I seriously insulted a Frenchmen when I offered 40 euros for something that was (apparently) worth more... any way he NO JOKE pushed us out of his space. I was horrified and from then on had my tail between my legs and felt like an 'Ugly American'} Anyway, I digress. Kaari taught us to be aggressive and showed us that we could still shop even without knowing French {which was so much fun}.

And speaking of shopping. One of my friends from the trip is having a sale in Santa Barbara {Summerland} tomorrow {November 20th}. Kaari's mom and sister will be there selling goodies and my friend Carla will be there with all of her yummy canned goods. I think we might even make the drive.

*A brocante is what they call their flea markets although some are in people's yards {which was so much fun}

Lizzie's art studio

The owner of the Chateau, Lizzie, is an artist and extremely talented. Many of the groups that come spend hours crafting in her studio. We actually didn't see it until the 3rd day and I still can not get the experience out of my head. It is two stories and on the bottom floor there is a beautiful little sitting area, with hats, books and other such notions. When you walk up the painted stairs you still have no idea what awaits you and then there it is... the most beautiful crafting room I had ever seen. I could not stop saying {out loud} OMG! OMG!! In the hallway there was stacks of fabric, ribbon, hats, and every supply that one would ever need. It was paradise. There were nights that we would finish dinner and all of us would decide to go back to the studio to do more crafts. Most nights we didn't go to bed until 1am. If someone was in the craft room I would stop what I was doing just to go play {I didn't want to miss a thing}.

the food.

So did I mention that the food was amazing?! The first few days I was being really good and just eating what was on my plate, by the end of the trip I was getting seconds and even eating off my new friends plates. Needless to say if I was there one more day I would have had to purchase another seat on the flight home ;). Feast your eyes...

Chateau Dumas {part two}

Chateau Dumas {part one}

As I was organizing all the photos of the Chateau I decided that I am going to need to show the Chateau in 2 parts...

The Chateau was purchased by Lizzie {our tour guide as well} 4 years ago. For the last 4 years she has worked on the design herself. She actually told me that she and one other man painted the entire interior {which is seriously incredible}. There were so many little details everywhere you looked that I could have taken 500 pictures of just the Chateau, and looking back I really wish I would have taken more.
Lizzie rents the house out to groups of 12-24 {12 in the slow season, April and May}. She can make your trip as custom as you want. For example if you want a crafting week, yoga week, shopping {flea market or Brocante} week... whatever. Also she works with 3 amazing chefs that will come and cook as many meals as you want. We were spoiled with all three meals {food will be an entire post in itself}.
The Chateau has been the backdrop of weddings, fashion photo shoots and is actually in House Beautiful {August 2010}. It is really the most magical place I have ever been.

Click here for some more photos on Molly Meng's {one of the gals on the trip} blog, First Girl at the Party.
Click here for Chateau's website.