Guillaume Bimar, the dynamic son and partner of Vincent Bimar, founding owner of Poterie de la Madeleine, is a proud man.  The Anduze Vase, long considered THE representational icon of French pottery is the foundation of his business, which actually produces pottery in a variety of designs and colors at their factory in the community of Anduze in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France.

Poterie de la Madeleine was founded by Vincent Bimar over thirty years ago when he decided to produce the classic vase first made in the 18^th century by the potter, Henri Gautier. During this time, there were many “free markets” in the South of France, near Marseilles.  In one of these markets, Monsieur Gautier saw Italian pottery decorated with garlands of flowers and fruit which inspired him to design his own interpretation which included the macaron gracing every Anduze Vase today.   Extensive gardens in Vauvert and Anduze were decorated with Gautier pottery and soon they were being replicated throughout the area, used primarily as citrus planters.  After a time, the “Gautier” pot fell out of fashion,  and for a few centuries were made sporadically throughout Southern France by artisan potters.   When the “Anduze Vase” once again started reappearing, small family-run factories sprang up in the village of Anduze, some of which survive today.

Poterie de la Madeleine was the first Anduze manufacturer to export to the U.S. and is now the largest producer of the classic vase.  Guillaume and his father employ 46 people, thirty of whom are making pots in ten different styles and 33 different finishes.  If you were to visit the factory, Vincent Bimar might be one of those working on the pots,  he is a quiet man and stays out of the spotlight.  His son, Guillaume graduated from San Diego State University and received his Masters Degree in International Business at the University of Madrid before becoming a partner to Vincent.  Father and son share their infectious enthusiasm for their work, designing both traditional and contemporary lines of pottery.  The traditional Anduze Vase, available in classic colors, is being used in garden design throughout the United States, lending its inherent grace to a multitude of applications, but new, ultra-modern designs in exciting colors developed by Guillaume and Vincent  provide sheer compliment to mid-twentieth design.

Guillaume is proud of his family’s success in preserving a traditional French product and proud that he and his father have made it available to those of us living outside the foothills of the Cevennes.  He has his father and himself to thank.

Guillaume Bimar, the dynamic son and partner of Vincent Bimar, founding owner of Poterie de la Madeleine, is a proud man.  The Anduze Vase, long considered THE representational icon of French pottery is the foundation of his business, which actually produces pottery in a variety of designs and colors at their factory in the community of Anduze in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France.

Poterie de la Madeleine was founded by Vincent Bimar over thirty years ago when he decided to produce the classic vase first made in the 18^th century by the potter, Henri Gautier. During this time, there were many “free markets” in the South of France, near Marseilles.  In one of these markets, Monsieur Gautier saw Italian pottery decorated with garlands of flowers and fruit which inspired him to design his own interpretation which included the macaron gracing every Anduze Vase today. Extensive gardens in Vauvert and Anduze were decorated with Gautier pottery and soon they were being replicated throughout the area, used primarily as citrus planters.  After a time, the “Gautier” pot fell out of fashion,  and for a few centuries were made sporadically throughout Southern France by artisan potters.   When the “Anduze Vase” once again started reappearing, small family-run factories sprang up in the village of Anduze, some of which survive today.

Poterie de la Madeleine was the first Anduze manufacturer to export to the U.S. and is now the largest producer of the classic vase.  Guillaume and his father employ 46 people, thirty of whom are making pots in ten different styles and 33 different finishes.  If you were to visit the factory, Vincent Bimar might be one of those working on the pots,  he is a quiet man and stays out of the spotlight.  His son, Guillaume graduated from San Diego State University and received his Masters Degree in International Business at the University of Madrid before becoming a partner to Vincent.  Father and son share their infectious enthusiasm for their work, designing both traditional and contemporary lines of pottery.  The traditional Anduze Vase, available in classic colors, is being used in garden design throughout the United States, lending its inherent grace to a multitude of applications, but new, ultra-modern designs in exciting colors developed by Guillaume and Vincent  provide sheer compliment to mid-twentieth design.

Guillaume is proud of his family’s success in preserving a traditional French product and proud that he and his father have made it available to those of us living outside the foothills of the Cevennes.  He has his father and himself to thank.

Anna Jarvis is credited with originating Mothers Day in 1907. Her mother died on May 9, 1905, and missing her greatly, Anna started a letter writing campaign to ask ministers, businessmen and congressmen to make Mothers Day a holiday to recognize all mothers.  With each letter, she would send a white carnation.

In May of 1914, President Woodrow Wilson made Mothers Day an annual holiday. Traditionally, if you were a mother, you would wear a carnation on Mothers Day – a white carnation if your mother had passed away and a colored carnation if your mother was still living.

Throughout history, flowers have been linked with motherhood, symbolizing purity, beauty and life – all of which we attribute to our mothers. Love your mother and always remember that she began loving YOU  before you were even born.

It’s hard to sum up the difference between Milan Design Week and Paris’ Maison et Objet. They are both huge, but I’d give the edge to Milan. There are definitely more interior designers and small retail buyers in

Paris while Milan has few small vendor type exhibitors but lots of small design manufacturers. Paris is for retail and Milan is the cutting edge of design.

Besides the exposition center at Roh the entire city has exhibitors tucked in nooks and crannies all over the place making sight-seeing a whole new sport. Nothing like going into an exhibit–say from Japan–with two dozen designers showing prototypes and small new manufactures looking to attract attention and walking out onto the street and going next door to a local restaurant for lunch or dinner. That’s another thing: in Milan, the party goes from 10am to 10pm with the partying spilling into the streets, especially in the Tortona district. Right next to our exhibit are the offices of designers like Fendi, Emilio ermanolia and other big names. It’s alive and kicking for sure.

Tomorrow I will visit the Brera neighborhood, probably the trendiest area of Milan for local shopping. There’s a gelato store there that has the best zabillione on the planet.

Arriving late in Milan after a full day of flying and being able to walk from the baggage claim through two doors and arrive at your hotel is a real luxury. No, I’m not in the Centro, nowhere near the action and have to travel each day by train a half hour plus to and fro but my room is clean and modern and after a long day of meeting people and walking the exhibitions it’s nice to have solitude. I’m an SPG man staying at the Sheraton. Whether in Rome, Paris, San Francisco or Milan there is a hotel if not in the airport, nearby.

I move heavy and large pots and other weighty things everyday, I don’t want to lug a giant suitcase all over Europe, too. I don’t need to travel fashionably; I’ve learned to launder in my room. Another advantage of staying at the airport is the other travelers are not there for a convention and all of the ancillary activities that many go for but working stiffs just like me.

Sitting in the bar with a dozen or so guys, watching Barcelona play Madrid, drinking beer and eating pizza and pasta doesn’t get much better. Everyone is here for work. A virtual global dining experience: beer, football, BO and camaraderie. An oil and gas guy from Norway, a

Frenchman from Nice here buying vales for pipeline work. A couple of Spaniards, another American; we’re all here to work.

Speaking of work, that’s me with Brent with Marcello from Terrecotte San Rocco. The buzz around San Rocco is exciting and there is a new color too: Ash. A light off-white, with a more grayish finish that the designers should really go for. More big pots. I love their scale. Come see them in person at our exhibit with Terrecotte San Rocco at Milan Design Week.

Who doesn’t dream about living to a hundred? With all of the wonder in this world, the multitude of invention, the quality of our existence and the amazing number of fabulous cook books available, who wouldn’t want to live forever, especially in the garden?

I have friends who live to play golf, crash mountains on boards, get dragged behind a boat going a hundred mph and torture themselves in a myriad of ways they call pleasure. Not me. I dream of being in my garden. Gardening increases your lifespan, according to Dr. Mao Shing Ni, a 38th generation doctor of Chinese medicine. In his book Secrets of Longevity Cookbook, he says: “Centenarians around the world come from many different backgrounds and professions, but one of the most common hobbies among them is gardening. As exercise, gardening strengthens the muscles, as a discipline it requires patience and cultivates fortitude; and in the end it brings rewards and joy to its practitioners. Studies show that gardeners have a lower incidence of heart disease and osteoporosis than non-gardeners.”

I doubt I’ll make it to a hundred but I’m not too worried nor is it the point, I only want more time in my garden to relax, get dirty and breath. I’m waiting for the chives to bloom so I can sprinkle them on salads and eggs. I’m looking forward to warmer weather so the basil will grow (I love fresh pesto!). I may live to one hundred but I’m looking forward to “this” spring, to my garden, to the prospect of vine-ripened tomatoes in just a couple of more months, to the trees blooming. One day at a time in spring is what I’m dreaming of right now.