Tuesday 14 May 2013

PARIS FLEA MARKET STYLE book review and GIVEAWAY!!

Claudia Strasser is an author, furniture designer, interior designer and lover of all things the Paris Flea Markets have to offer.


She started her career in 1993 when she opened a boutique in New York and today she travels to Paris several times a year taking small groups shopping and sharing resources. I have recently been lucky enough to receive a copy of Claudia's new book, Paris Flea Market Style and in even better news, I am offering a copy to one lucky reader of my blog!


If you haven't heard of Claudia then do check out her beautiful blog and website.  She has such exquisite style and years of experience decorating with flea market finds.  I often refer to it and drool.  It is what I aspire my home to look like and one day I'll get there!

Claudia's first book, The Paris Apartment, Romantic Decor on a Flea Market Budget was published in 1998 and was one of the first books I bought when I start collecting seriously.


 It still remains one of my favourite books today and if I have a quiet moment, I like to sit down and absorb all the wonderful rooms decorated with flea market finds and wonder at Claudia's ability to decorate with such finesse and attention to detail.  One of the things in the book I loved most was this photo of a doll.


It is supposed to be Josephine Baker and I LOVED it!  I wanted one and I was going to stop at nothing until I found it.  Well in the end nothing dramatic happened, I just kept looking on eBay until quite by chance I came by one.


 How wonderful not to mention lucky was this find!?  I have never seen one since and I love her pouty lips and fluttery eyelashes, not quite the same but close enough for me!

So back to the present day and Claudia's new book, Paris Flea Market Style.  Its been a long time coming but well worth the wait.  This time Claudia guides us through the mazes of the Paris flea markets and gives hints and tips on how to navigate the markets, what you'll find, how to negotiate prices and also how to get your new items shipped back home.


Claudia has taken all the photos in the book and manages to bring to life the Paris markets with her words and photography and you get a real sense of what they are about.  She finds beauty in the smallest detail and her love and passion of the markets shines through.

Old door hardware
Old mirrors
Old hotel letterbox

Claudia tells you how you could use these old treasures today.  For example the old hotel letterbox could be used as an organiser for an office or kitchen.  This is what I love about this book, it covers so many bases.  Not only is it showing you how to navigate the markets but also gives you ideas on how to re purpose your finds to fit in with modern day living.

Old French love? letters

As Claudia says, the Paris flea markets provide an insight into times gone by and if you love history then the markets offer unique insights into how people lived in a bygone era.  Today its so easy to press delete and erase photos and words but the old letters and photos in the Paris markets allow us a portal into lives gone by.  Who wouldn't like to go back to a time when your beloved sent you a love letter written in the most beautiful script instead of an impersonal text of today.  Claudia brings the romance of the markets alive with her photography, writing and passion for all the things the markets have to offer.

Antique chairs

She takes us on a journey round the markets showing us what we are likely to find including any type of chair you want to imagine...............

Antique pictures



Antique miniatures
.............Old pictures................

Old French linen

.............Old linens, textiles, lace and trims..................

Beautiful old silk lampshades

................Old lights and shades.

There is a separate section for each object making the book easy to dip in and out of.  There are also sections on collectibles, outdoors, architectural elements and hardware.  In fact anything you might find is in this book!




Would I recommend this book?  ABSOLUTELY!  It is well written, informative, personal and the photography is excellent.  As I've already said the passion and love of these markets that Claudia has, shines through making it an enjoyable journey for the reader.  You get sucked into the journey and it leaves you wanting more.  I just want to be absorbed by the markets and all the beautiful objets so if anyone out there feels the urgent need to pay for me to go to Paris to scour the flea markets and also give me an unlimited budget then please do get in touch, I will do my very best to fulfill that need ;)


Now how do you go about WINNING one of these signed beauties?  Well all you need to do is leave a comment on this blog post and I will put all the names into a hat and ask my glamorous assistant to pick one at random, its that easy!  There is only one book available and you have to be in it to win it so make sure you leave your comment by 7pm TUESDAY 21st MAY.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

31 comments:

  1. i was going to leave a comment anyway. Josephine Baker is my heroine.

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    1. She is fantastic isn't she. I watched a documentary the other night and she was in it, a beautiful lady

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  2. Is Mark the glamorous assistant perchance?!!! I NEED this book Fi...! xxxxx

    p.s. am thinking....road trip to France...buying? What do you think? xxx

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    1. Haha how did you guess? Is it because he is very glamorous!

      The book is excellent and will be needed on our road trip to France!! I am absolutely up for a road trip to France, I may not come home! xx

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  3. Lovely to see you last week. Can I come on the road trip to France with you please, I will carry your suitcases? That book looks stunning, would love a chance please.
    Jo xx

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    1. And you Jo and I don't think you'd be carrying the suitcases, more like the huge trunks! Hope I see you soon.x

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  4. oh my goodness!! I must have this book! Just reading your review has made me want to go to Paris ....with the book, and spend a good few days rummaging!

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  5. You know what Lucy, I'm coming with you! That was exactly what this book made me want to do :)

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  6. What a fabulous book this would be...if I don't win the giveaway I will buy a copy !
    Lynnette x

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    1. Do Lynette, it is wonderful. I would also recommend The Paris Apartment if you love the french style, just beautiful and timeless.

      Thanks for posting!

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  7. Your description of the book has made me feel as though I can't live without it!! Perhaps we should hire a coach and all go off to France together ... ?!
    M x

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    1. You can't! I think we'd need to hire two coaches, one for us and one for all our buys. Actually better make that three coaches!

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  8. Wow,it looks such a fab book. Would really love a copy - will keep my fingers crossed I am lucky enough to be picked - otherwise I shall have to buy myself a copy.

    Rosie x

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    1. Rosie, It is a lovely book and comes highly recommended. Good luck and thanks for posting :)

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  9. what a lovely review of an inspirational and beautiful book...hope I get lucky but if not, let's all go and check it out first hand. Vive la France. JJxx

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    1. Thanks Julia! Can you imagine if we all went on a road trip, it could result in carnage! Don't think our husband's would be keen on us going, all encouraging each other!

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  10. What an inspiring book. Hope I win but if not will have to search it out. Jude

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    1. Good luck Jude and definitely search it out if you don't win, a great book!

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  11. The Paris Apartment is one of my favorites. In fact, whenever I can find a copy or two I buy them so I can sell them in my shop. Needless to say I never have them very long. And this new book looks to be every bit as divine as her first book. Would love to have a copy.

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  12. Have the app, now need the book! What a WONDERFUL giveaway!! Would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! Thank you! Janet

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    1. I need an iphone to get the app Janet! I'd love that app! Good luck and thanks for posting :)

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  13. Absolute French Shabby Chic, all that is preloved, devine and delicious...

    A girls best friend, long summer days of buying all things vintage and long evenings full of dreams of where to buy more (and of course planning where to sell as it is my business!)

    Love, love, love...

    Lovely to see you at Pop Up Vintage Lewes!

    I have your 'Victorian Wig Stand' saga... wish I had bought your quilt!!!

    Lisa x

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    1. Lisa!!

      Wonderful to see you too and I apologise for my near melt down over the wig stand, I've only just let it go ;)

      BTW you described my perfect day above, I could do it all day everyday!

      Hope I see you soon.xx

      p.s still have quilt!

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  14. Oh to be in the northern hemisphere and have the opportunity to visit flea markets and find such treasures. To receive the book would lessen the gap a little. I would love to receive this book - please pick me :)

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  15. You'll have to plan a trip Yvonne although I think you may need some extra baggage allowance for all your new treasures!

    Thanks for posting and good luck :)

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  16. Countryandchic antiques17 May 2013 at 15:31

    It would be a delightful book to own, all that lovely information and beautifully illustrated. I will keep my fingers crossed - maybe one day we will meet up - Penny

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  17. Looks like an amazing book. Fingers crossed for me xx

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  18. I can't believe you found that Josephine baker doll - so adorable! Claudia Strasser is my antiquing idol - I found her first book at my local library's yard sale, and i had just begun collecting antiques, and I instantly fell in love. So gorgeous her designs and decorating schemes are. Sorry I missed the new book giveaway:(

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    1. I found the Paris Apartment just as I started collecting too and fell in love with it! It just seems timeless and still completely relevant today. Sorry you missed out on the giveaway but if you get a chance to buy the book then I highly recommend it :)

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