Alexia Hollinger (3 rue Thérèse)
Beautiful fabric handbags and other goodies including jewelery, badges and zippered pouches.
This was the first store we visited in Paris and it was here I purchased my copy of Paris: Made by Hand.
I had ordered a copy online a few weeks before we left for France, but
just two days before our flight I received an email saying that my
order could not be filled. I was so disappointed but it was too late to
order another copy. Fortunately one of my classmates from the Julie
Arkell workshop had a copy, so I wrote down all the names and addresses
of the shops I wanted to visit - thanks Jone! I had planned to buy my
own copy when I got back to Sweden, but it just wouldn't have been the
same. You really do need more than just the names and addresses of the
shops - Pia's hints and tips that she includes in the book are invaluable.
Astier De Villatte (173 rue St-Honoré)
If
you are in Paris, do not miss Astier De Villatte! This has to be the
most beautiful shop I have ever seen. The interior is just stunning,
and everything they sell is absolutely beautiful. Just don't expect
good service - this was the only drawback to an otherwise
perfect shop (although they were nice enough to let me take photos).
La Droguerie (9-11 rue du Jour)
Another one
of my favourite shops in Paris, with an unbelievable selection of
ribbons and buttons. I nearly peed my pants with excitement when I
stepped inside... Somehow I managed to restrain myself and only
purchased a few pieces of Liberty tana lawn and one or two meters of
ribbon. I also visited La Droguerie on the top floor of Le Bon Marche,
but my favourite by far was the store at rue du Jour.
Junku (18 rue des Pyramides)
A Japanese bookshop with a fantastic selection of Japanese craft/interior magazines and books. This was a great find since there are no Japanese bookstores in my neck of the woods, and I purchased a few books I have had my eye on for a while, including the very lovely (and handy!) Paris Brocante (Jue de Paume, ISBN978-4-07-260400-7).
Jardin des Tuileries (Place de la Concorde)
Not far from our hotel and a nice stop at the end of a day traipsing around Paris. Especially good for the little one who deserved a carousel ride or two after putting up with a day full of shopping!
Le Pain Quotidien (18 place du Marché St. Honoré)
Our daily breakfast stop - can't recommend the coffee, but the pain au chocolat and croissants were pretty darn good! Oh, and the tartines. Perfect if you are craving something other than the sugar sweet pastries on offer! One thing I particularly loved about Le Pain Quotidien was that the menu was predominantly organic, which of course made up for all of the sugar and butter we consumed. Ha. If only.
I wander what's going on with the coffee in Paris? We tried a lot, and it ranged from mediocre to downright awful. Maybe it's the slightly sweetened long-life milk they use? The Parisians can do food, there is no doubt about that (we ate fantastic food the entire week we were there), I just wish the coffee situation had been better. If anybody has any coffee recommendations for Paris, send them my way please!!!!
The images of the Liberty fabrics are from Liberty of London.
All other images are by me.