Vaucluse Dreamer

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to hold a couple of pop-up events with my jewellery Vintage Silver Workshop in the pretty hilltop village of Saignon, which was great fun to do and just a good experience.

I should have booked others for last summer., but I must admit that my time was spent cycling and just enjoying everything the area has to offer, rather than thinking about jewellery (apart from the buying trips to Brocante markets of course)

This year though I’m back with my jewellery and have 3 separate pop-up events in very different locations.

Last week saw me back in the ‘Bibliothèque’ of the beautiful ‘Maison des Arts et Lettres’ in Saignon.

Setting up my displays across this beautiful space is always a pleasure and I passed a lovely few days there, chatting to visitors and finishing a few more small pieces when I had time.

I must admit some of the conversations tested my schoolgirl German language skills to the limit, but somehow I got by in a very multi-lingual way – with one conversation mixing French, German and English together!

This week sees me having set up my pieces in the second venue and I think this comes close to Poltimore House near Exeter for being a wonderfully atmospheric setting.

At the end of a corridor that leads away from a lovely old door in the centre of Apt…

….. Is a set of old stone steps that twists down into beautiful old vaulted cellars that support the pretty & traditional townhouse above.

Wonderfully cool, underground and away from the heat of the day it is the perfect space for me… And Millie… To pass a few afternoons.

The house above belongs to Jen and Chris Mallon, who showed me the ‘Cave’ when we first went to see them earlier this year, just after they had moved in, asking me if I would like to have an Expo here this summer.

At the time it was easy to see what a beautiful space it is, but it would also be fair to say that the beauty was hidden under dust, grime and a fair few bits and pieces left behind by previous owners. That said though, I leapt at the chance to set up my reworked silver there and started looking forward to it.

What I haven’t mentioned so far is that as well as the ‘Cave’ being in this state, a large part of the house above was too and that they were working tirelessly to transform the house into a living space for them, as well as a couple of stylish and comfortable apartments.

If I’m absolutely honest I wasn’t sure the Cave would be ready, but I was so wrong. Over the past 3 months (since our first visit) they have utterly transformed the house and even messaged me late last night to say that they Cave was finished, ready for me today. Nothing like working to a deadline!

Gone is the grime and the dust. The steps and stairwell have been repaired and painted, lights have been fitted and the Cave is a stunning space, perfect for my little Expo.

Upstairs as well bears little resemblance to the house I first saw, now stylishly reworked, the first appartment is ready with another to follow shortly. I must admit I love the beautiful high ceilings with their traditional Provençal beams, just so elegant.

So this is my home until Saturday afternoon and it’s such a lovely place to be…. If you are looking for a place to stay in the heart of Apt then take a look at their website Cent Cinq

Next weekend I will be popping up again for the third of my events… Not in a house this time, but hosted by the Galerie Daniel Adel in the pretty village of Lourmarin.

Certainly a very different location to the first two, I’ll be setting up at his Galerie just opposite Restaurant Le Numéro 9 on the Rue du Temple near the Chateau for 4 days over the Fête Nationale week-end and will be there on market day too Lourmarin Market

Daniel is a renowned artist & his detailed portraits are stunning, as are his abstract pieces too. The detail and light are incredible and we’d first been stopped in our tracks by them when he had a gallery at Lacoste a few years ago, so I’m thrilled to be sharing a little bit of space with them in one of our favourite little places. Daniel Adel artist

So it’s a busy few weeks for me…

Certainly not my usual style when I’m over here…Of course I’ve still been popping out on the bike in-between and even before events, pottering through the Lavender Fields…

Enjoying seeing the first Sunflowers starting to smile…..

And enjoying a pain au chocolat of two on the way.

I have though enjoyed popping up in different places, having a chance to show my work and to see pieces head off to continue their stories in new and very different ways. In some ways I will almost be sad once they’re all over, but at least then will be able to head back to the workshop to create some more, ahead of the August events back in Devon …

Chaque pièce a son histoire unique !