Bleuette in Paris

I had just arrived in Paris, alone this time and was shopping at my friend's shop.  Her name is Marie Claude. She had some lovely things for me and I was totally thrilled.  Towards the end, as we planned dinner out together with her Douglas, she pulled out the ugliest doll I had seen.  I was not a doll dealer or collector so I was not too interested.  You should try this on eBay in America she said.  I had started doing eBay a month before and was thrilled every time I sold something there.  I took pictures in settings and really spent hours getting things just right and on to eBay.  So, I looked at the doll called Bleuette and said I am sure, since I am not a doll dealer, that I could not sell that doll if my life depended on it.  Why?  Because I sold only what I liked.  But Marie Claude said to take it home, put it on eBay, and if it does not sell bring it back on the next trip to Paris which at that time was every other month. I tucked her carefully into my trunk, not because she thrilled me but because she was going to make a round trip back in a couple of months and I didn't want her damaged. So to America she came and she took it by storm, but I did not know that at the time.  I put her on eBay and the auction was to end on a Sunday night.  Andy and I huddled around the computer and up she came for auction to the highest bidder.  She came on with a bang and there was a fight that ensued and her price rose up and up and my next field of sales, books, and interest bloomed in front of our eyes.  After the fight and the win, I sent Marie Claude a check.  I also faxed Marie Claude to please find and save every Bleuette and her clothes that she could find for me. Bleuette's clothes were very important (Bleuette's clothes were couture and one dress I had for her sold for $2500.)

Marie Claude got busy and when I arrived back in Paris without Bleuette, she had a load of them for me...twelve to be exact.  I bought them all and told her I wanted to be her best and only buyer for that doll and her clothes.  Le Bourget, the antiques show that was out of town was the next day.  I visited the money exchange to change from dollars to francs and was loaded for bear. I shopped the show and found wonderful items but no Bleuettes.  Now at the time I was certainly not an expert in the field and since Bleuette continued to surprise me, never really became one, but I never let one slip by me and suddenly I was the go-to Bleuette lady in America.  Le Bourget was especially fun that day because I was so relaxed.  In one day I had bought enough until the next trip.  I glided around the show after two hours of running and then I heard PSSST PSSST--not knowing it there stood my new best provider, Joss. We spoke neither language but she said she had Bleuettes in the car and I was afraid she would rob me if I got out there and she was afraid to let me in the car, out of the pouring rain for a reason I cannot fathom.  Instead, she popped the trunk and I nearly fainted.  The trunk was full of Bleuettes beautifully dressed in Couture. That would mean a total of 37 Bleuettes to take home to America.  The rain poured down, I was soaked and so was Joss and her side-kick. But, we could not get into the car for me to count out thousands of francs to line her pocket.  I bought the entire lot but I was short a couple of hundred dollars.  I asked if she could meet me in Paris tomorrow and I would take the dolls and meet her for lunch to give her the rest of the money--her side-kick told her not to let me take the dolls without full payment and the rain pelted on.  I was nearly ready to tell her to 'stickim' when she came to her senses and agreed to meet me for lunch and payment. By then our mascara was running down our faces or at least mine was and our clothes were actually ruined...or at least mine was.  I cared not!  It was a very good trip because I had also found a driver and he drove me on every trip that I made to London and Paris.  He, in fact, drove all my tours and friends every trip we made.  So I was set for five years worth of trips to Paris alone. He was so interested in every bit of each and every trip and he knew his way around France like no other.  One thing more not to worry about. All 37 Bleuettes arrived in America and sold within two weeks. So not waiting for every other month, back I went for more. Paris' doll world, I was told was in a frenzy finding everything that could be thought of as Bleuette so I had a lot of frogs to kiss before things calmed down. The French hated me taking their Bleuette dolls out of France but they could not ignore the money that their dolls made for them.

Note:  I hasten to say there are many beautiful Bleuettes and it was just the first one that threw me.  I enjoy the five full years of their popularity as well as the people associated with the field of Bleuette and her fashions. I thank the French for their hospitality and help.

Le Bourget

When Andy and I enter the show (brocante) Le Bourget Parc Expositions (not in Paris) in the dark at 7:00 a.m. my mind is like an engine pulling too many cars. Should I hit this dealer first or take it in order or try to figure out the row set up or go helter-skelter and let fate lead me to my choices of the morning.  I say morning because, by noon, it's over.  The French like to make their money fast and spend the rest of the day eating, smoking, drinking and having a good old time off in some obscure spot.  And should they be dining in their booth, don't ask them anything! Also, watch your feet.  The floor is covered with merchandise and I would hate to think that anyone was so silly as to expect the floor to be clear while gawkers everywhere were paying little attention to their feet.

So you might have guessed Le Bourget is inelegant as most French shows are.  In America we try to set up the most attractive show as possible, but here the merchandise needs a good wash, they may say there is no damage, butttt...buyer beware. Having written these negatives we have found some of the most glorious treasures in that building (or hut or airplane hanger.) I actually forget about the place because there are so many things to see, to buy, to bring home.  I loved it! Don't worry if the dealers seem to be packing up all the time.  I don't know why they do that but one thing they do do is bring out new merchandise through out the day.  Why they don't put it all out, I don't know.  Unless they don't have room for everything which is a good possibility or if they don't like your looks which is more likely.  You may think you have seen it all but go back and look again and there will be treasures that they have just unpacked. Go figure. You can speed by a booth and see nothing of interest and on the way back you buy 14 pieces of child-sized furniture. Look  again and there is the exact thing you want only dirtier than one could expect.  I have brought things home and before they go in the house I set them on the bricks and use the hair dryer or if sturdy the leaf blower on them.  They bake in the sun with baking soda sprinkled inside to make them smell better. After baking they get a final blow out.

I've written eight books about toy china, glass, furniture, and Bleuette and that is what we searched for.  It was the time of our lives and we enjoyed every minute of the experience right down to seeing the French spread their white linen table cloths on a shakey table, with a flourish, when lunch was in the works.  Writing about lunch I can taste the ham and grilled vegetables waiting for the dealers and customers...the ham so pink and succulent it made one forget to shop. We would order the lunch and drink a glass of wine (and I mean glass) while anticipating the meal. All this took place in a dirty setting, but one learns to dress for it, I always wore black in France and I fit right in; well not really fit in.  If you are not French you actually don't fit in period. Once you start buying big, things get friendlier and Andy and I had some great times with some of the dealers for many years, but one still feels American in a place where the French allow you to visit but expect you to go home.