If I don’t write this post now, it will never get written. I keep on thinking about so much of the trip, but as each hour drifts by, I am starting to think more about things here at home. Milk, bread, dry-cleaning, work, washing.
We arrived home this morning. Everything in tact. All that now awaits is for the kids to come back from their holiday. Tomorrow I will see them and by then hopefully I will have readjusted to ‘downunder’ time.
So I’m going to keep this simple. In no particular order……
Orla Kiely, Paris
We took the Met to the Montmartre to do some sightseeing. Here in this district you can shop for fabric too. Catch the Met to Anvers station and head slightly north to the Marche Saint Pierre. I was told that the shop, Dreyfus was the best and as much as it had a good selection, I didn’t buy anything. What was there wasn’t anything that I couldn’t buy here and the thought of packing it into the suitcase was all too hard!! OK shops, but no wow factor. I forgot to write down the name of the street where the Orla Kiely shop was, and I knew that trying to find it was going to be like finding a needle in a haystack. I asked a few shop attendants, but they looked at me like I was an alien from another planet. Then, just as we were walking along the Boulevard de Clichy, I spied the famous Orla Kiely petal design on a shopping bag. I practically pounced on the poor girl who was carrying it. I had no idea if she spoke English as I rattled out my enthusiasm and eagerness at 100km per hour. But she understood my dilemma, it was her boyfriend that thought I was a crazy Australian! Anyhow, we walked up the hill and I was in heaven. So many beautiful things.
Enjoying a sunny day.
sitting on the grass under the Eiffel tower after a long walk from the Saint Germain des pres, along the Champs Elysees, then eating a long lunch at a really lovely find called, Oscar.
Milk Magazine
Fantastic and inspirational magazine about children’s décor, design etc. In French, but the photos are well worth the purchase if you don’t speak the language.
The range of children’s boutiques in Paris.
Some of which amazed me with their shop styling, use of space and products. A few that stood out and are well worth the look alone are:
Bonton. (the website doesn’t do this store justice)
Serendipity (could have easily bought a few things, but resisted the temptation....are you reading this Mr N ?)
Bonpoint (luxury. This store wraps around it’s own private garden. I didn’t look at the prices of the clothes. If I had bought anything from this shop, I would have to wrap my kids up in plastic so they wouldn’t stain the clothes)
Le Bon Marche.
Lovely department store. The top floor sells fabrics, threads, buttons etc, but I have to say the range was limited and expensive. The stationery section is great and also they have a wonderful range of handmade Japanese papers. I bought just three types but making that decision as to which three was very difficult. I kept them well rolled all the way home, carried them on the aircraft without a hitch until back home, when the roll fell out of the airport trolley and under the back wheel. They have survived, with only minor creases! Bugger.
Meeting some lovely people.
The first day in Paris I strolled up to Junkudo. Most people would think this a strange thing to do. Aussie girl looks for Japanese book store in Paris!!! (honestly it would have been cheaper to go to Sydney) Whilst there, I started chatting to two lovely ladies. Well I spoke to Nathalie, as she spoke English, the other woman, Christine and I conversed through sign language and the word crochet was understood! It doesn’t matter what language you speak, because the love of Japanese craft magazines is universal. We exchanged emails, blogs (Nathalie start a blog please) and websites. One Christine mentioned is Japanese Couture Addict. Well worth the look.
On the Saturday, we did some more Met hopping (and walking) to meet Erika. She had come to Paris for the weekend to be apart of a private market with some crafters and friends. It was such a blast meeting her. She sews and prints great stuff, and I could have easily done half my kids’ shopping here at this market if it had been at the beginning of my trip.
Ok, well this is getting to be longer than I imagined. I think I will continue writing some more another day. I need to keep my eyes open just now for a few more hours, then I can tuck myself into bed.
