French Flea Market in the Sweet Sweet South!

                                                   *** I've been away, see note below!

If you are lucky enough to be near the Sweet South Cottages and Farm, you will already understand why I am captured under its spell!

Owner Lisa Ard started her business four years ago with Annie Sloan Paints and a few antiques in one of the cottages on her large farm in north Florida. 

I drove out yesterday and found her bustling, growing and expanding to include new paints, art studios, wonderful newly painted old floors and lots of charming vintage things. The surprise was the huge greenhouse and butterfly house. Lisa is very busy developing "agricotourism" with tours of her charming Palais du Poulet and the butterfly haven, also on her beautiful farm, and I suspect we will see gorgeous plants coming out of her huge greenhouse!

The most exciting news for me is her annual French Country Flea Market...now in its fourth year, and expecting over a hundred vendors next month! Wish I were going to be here October 23 and 24, but I will be happily roaming around my beloved Provence in the fall. 

Here are some images of Sweet South Cottages and Farm and links to her market.  Enjoy!

le Palais du Poulet, or chicken coop!!

utterly charming vintage bicycle

sign says it all!

the main house on Lisa's farm

lacy wrought iron outdoor table and chairs, so pretty!

I wish you would look at that bed...huge tall headboard and sleigh-style footboard,
and those painted and stenciled floors!

beautiful dresser and those floors again

and whom among us couldn't do with...
a WING....

....and a PRAYER!

love the painted screen, the wall color and chandelier...

...and this beautiful Adams style mirror, picture taken from an angle 

stenciling brushes of every kind and shape...

little pot of hydrangeas...

the ubiquitous country truck seen in vineyards and country shops all over America!

are you brave enough to paint over hardwood floors like this? if so
Lisa Ard will hold your hand through the process!

and the French Country Flea Market!

***

Just wanted you to know I've been away a lot of the summer, caring for my 97 year old Mom! She's doing absolutely wonderfully, but it doesn't leave much time for blogging, right? Things are settling down with really great care, keeping her in her own home, where she still does a little cooking and knitting for herself! A thousand thanks for your patience and loyalty!