Paris Pop-up Shop

Paris Dreams Shop, 9" x 11"

I planned to open an 'imaginary' Pop-up Paris souvenir shop pre-Christmas. I didn't get around to it, but it's not too late right? I planned to import real French bollards to put in front of the shop...
It would be nice to have a little cafe corner.
There will be FREE/gratis petit fours for everyone.
But you will have to pay for the caramels beurre sale
And Carambar caramels.
This 'imaginary' shop will only carry Parisien tchotchkes (under $20). It will include all the junk I meant to pick last trip but never got around to, like these Comptoir de Famille hot chocolate bowls.

Any tchotcka with 'Paris je t'aime' on it...

Or Paris dogs makes the grade.

Plus those adorable street sign magnets but bigger. Paris has much better postcards than NYC.

Do you agree?

Very girly.

Very pink.

I bought my ticket to Paris yesterday for March, so maybe next trip I'll bring back tons of Paris junk and really open a pop-up shop.

Wouldn't that be a hoot?

What's YOUR favorite Paris junk? Do tell.

Facebook Contest!

Looking for le FB Bonheur, watercolor, 9" x 11"

We're having a contest at PB today!
We're on FACEBOOK at last but...
We're there (really a miracle since we understand ZIP)
And it took us ages (BEAR & moi)
For one PB's FB is NOT connected to PB.
Go figure
There are no annoying widgets (Fs) all over so you can
"Really, really LIKE me"
How do I do that?
Another thing is my FB PHOTO STRIP is bummed - the photos disappeared
WHY did U do that to me FB?
PBers can U help?
SOS!
See how unconnected I am?
So here is the contest.
You know we rarely have contests at PB so we must be desperate!
PLEASE Leave helpful tips to fix my FB in the COMMENTS!
If your tips is TERRIFIC it will merit a prize!
The prizes are PARIS TRASH! YAY
Who does not love REAL Paris Trash?
This is good stuff from Pierre Herme-Jean-Paul Hevin etc.


Prize #1 - a Jean-Paul Hevin macaron guide + signature ribbon
Yahoo
Prize #2 - an 8" x 8" foldout macaron guide + signature ribbon + biz card
Prize #3 - a Pierre Herme ORIGINAL Jour du Macaron guide from 2010 It's Vintage!!
Prize #4 - A very vintage Pierre Herme macaron illustrated guide to flavors!
Last but not least, Prize #5 - if you can give me major help with Facebook = an original Paris breakfast watercolor sketch, 6" x 9 1/2"

So dear PBers,

Put on your Facebook thinking caps

Come up with some GREAT tips

IN THE COMMENTS PLS.

Help Parisbreakfast come up to speed like everyone else out there networking socially.

And may the BEST tips win some Paris Trash where ever you live!

BON CHANCE et WEEK-END!!

ps

I'm trying to be professional...ahem

WINNERS ANNOUNCED on MONDAY!

Parisian Gift-With-Purchase

When you're lying on the floor for a week.

(Because your mattress is on the floor and you've got sciatica)

Your perspective changes.

You notice you're surrounded by 'Paris Trash'!

You get a tremendous urge to do something about it.

A massive clean sweep seems very appealing.

But then it occurs that perhaps others would enjoy...

These French ribbons, biz cards, napkins, shopping bags, Gerard Mulot postcards and Gawd knows what else.

Lurking within boxes and files of saved Parisien bits and pieces.

So henceforth, any PBers buying a watercolor at Etsy or from me directly, will receive a surprise Gift-with-Purchase of some of the above. I can't guarantee exactly what you'll get and supplies are limited, but I promise it will be pretty and fun.

If like me, you can't bare being engulfed by Parisien Souvenirs, you can always enjoy them vicariously in a book - Shop Image Graphics in Paris. I wrote about it here.

BONJOUR PARIS TRASH!

Photo courtesy of Jeanne Long

Paris Trash

Most people bring back chic stuff from Paris - designer bags, shoes, gloves, perfume, couture socks blah blah blah. I bring back trashy souvenirs from pastry shops, tea salons, candy stores. Like those plastic gelato spoons - these are all my Paris treasures.

I bring home paper sacs. Hey, they're free. Well almost. You do usually have to buy something. Sometimes there's a momento crumb still left inside...sniff

Souvenir napkins. Tell me you NEVER brought back a souvenir napkin from Paris. They are light weight. The red napkin is from tea at Hediard.

Shhhhh, I did once dumpster dive on Place Madeleine for a perfectly excellent macaron box - it called my name.

Stickers-I LOVE French stickers / Les autocollants. I never forget to snag some. Many places have more than one design - candy / confisier stores are terrific for these.

Carte de visit/ de magazine - you can pick up them on the way out the door. French biz cards are the best.

Don't forget you have to ask for the l'addition / bill in a French restaurant. Don't sit there and expect it to show up. And don't dare get up and walk out impatiently. You can land in jail for not paying. Doing dishes is NOT an option in France unless it's behind bars. The exception is in a cafe. They will bring the bill with your order in a special designated dish like instantly.

My l'addition from Hotel Meurice - only thing you can take away that isn't nailed down is this tiny Canderel sugar packet. No sugar cubes, nuttin! You've already seen enough of my sugar cube collection.

Another trash collection gem - a paper bag from a no-boulangerie.I tried to smooth out the wrinkles for you :)

This little bag says it all - the care, the attention, the wit that goes into the small, quotidien things of French life..?

What did you bring back? Tell all.

BONJOUR PARIS TRASH!