Rummage

After checking out Marché St Pierre, dip into Reine across the road and the 'coupon' shops littered along Rue Charles Nodier. It's easy to strike gold in the coupon shops as this is where the big fabric places sell their offcuts. The standard price is 10 euros for 3 metres - perfect for a wee parisian souvenir frock.
x

oh, yes and just when I thought we had reached the zenith of tantrums.

It's bloody lucky she's such a cute little parcel.

My mother-in-law has some quirky collections. These are some of my favourites. The pompadour belles are from the top of some very old powder puffs.
xx

 

The 18th arrondisement in Paris is probably not to everyone's taste. Straddling the Pigalle and Montmartre as well as sitting at the nexus of the North African quarter, the 18th is the loud, artistic, rapscallion cousin to some of the more refined and touristy arrondisements of Paris. Hang out at the chaotic open-air market on the weekend near the station or prowl Tati for a bargain, go to the Musée d'Art Naïf (Halle Saint-Pierre - 2, rue Ronsard) to check out some naive and folk art - don't forget the small bookshop inside the gallery entrance.

You'll get a wicked cous-cous, North African-style in this area as well as some charming Parisian bistrots that don't try too hard. Don't eat where your guidebook dictates, mooch around until the planets are aligned above your restaurant of choice. Gut instinct always wins out over pompous proslethetysing from guide books.

And then there are the fabric shops.
Lord have mercy. If for no other reason, come for these and these alone.

Marche St Pierre - 2, Rue Charles Nodier

The oldest, the largest, the greatest. This place is set out over 5 levels with virtual football fields of fabrics and haberdashery on each floor. You will see men and women marching about with long rulers in hand. Do NOT get in their way, they will mow you down as soon as look at you and whatever you do, don't (as I did) take fabric from one floor to another. This is heresy punishable by death if you are French, luckily my foreigner status granted me immunity.

Sounds scary? It is. But worth every minute. If you are short of time, or have a toddler or two in tow, focus your energies on floors 1 and 3. When I was there, the first floor had a range of African waxed cottons at 2.50 euro per metre and gorgeous plaids from Madras at 6.95 a metre.

The 3rd floor held fabric from many regions of France including heavy Provencal cottons and striped canvas from the south. There's also spectacular toile de jouy, linen tickings and amazing embossed velour. The prices for all of these fabrics were 4 or 5 times less than what they would cost here in Australia.

I was also lucky to find packets of the original Cholet teatowels - 6 for 17 euros and rolls of heavy linen used for sheeting and napery for 5 euros a metre. Frankly, if the Frenchman hadn't come in and dragged me out I think I'd still be there.

Am back but in denial. Hence the new banner.
All the travel posts start tomorrow.
Missed ya!
x

So much for bringing you along with us. I have hardly touched a computer since being away. Luckily, I've had the camera working over time so there are lots of posts to come. These are some photos taken around Paris about a week ago.

PS. Remind me to tell you about my trip into the fabric distric on the border of Montmartre & Pigalle soon, quelle bliss! Thanks to those lovely readers who gave me some tips. x

Back in Paris now with an armful of photos and stories. I'm too tired for the stories now but some photos follow. These are from today out and about in Paris. Visting the FNAC, Galleries Lafayette and lolling about in petit bistrots. You'll be pleased to know that the Frenchman has reverted to form in his driving and we approach traffic lights at Mach 10 and gesticulate wildly out the window at fellow drivers. I have a new, lengthy vocabulary of naughty words to use in French when the need arises.

I hope all is well with you. x