Pylones

It's Piu Piu's birthday today!

A year ago I found Piu Piu in PYLONES' window and couldn't resist...

I discovered PYLONES 17 years ago when I admired cookbook author Dori Greenspan's plastic necklace at a party.

Next trip I made a beeline for PYLONES' then tiny closet-size shop in Galerie Vivienne.

Now they have 6 shops in Paris, 2 in New York + Hong Kong + THE WORLD

I got the necklace, the earings, and the bracelet.

I still wear them and I still get compliments.

Pylones was created 20 years ago

with the intention of making small colorful items, especially animals - useful toys for adults.

I wish I'd gotten this kitchen grater last trip...

Whether you buy something or not...
Their merchandise never fails to amuse.
It's Yellow Bird's birthday too,
He's a New York bird from Elie Zabar's Kids store on Madison Avenue...
I saw this big 16" wide bag the previous Paris trip but resisted.
Naturally I was thinking about it for months...
I had to pick it up at PYLONES and it did carry home alot of treasures
It's made by www.LAMARELLE.net
Isn't it funny how you can obsess about THE ONE THING you didn't buy...
And the next trip's sole purpose is to get that ONE THING!?
Here are PYLONES hours...
Open EVERY DAY!
YAY

Feathered Friends

Feathered Friends..., watercolor on paper An older watercolor of Piu Piu... I saw birds and other animals all over Paris in the windows...

A sweet little birdie holding onto a bit of lace.

...a bit of lace undies. Finally a naughty picture at Paris Breakfasts!

This proud bird resides in the copper pot department at E. Dehillerin - the best Parisien professional kitchen supply house at 20, rue Coquillière, 75001.

A lucky duck at Dihillerin, this one in the window. Don't you love the jaunty red chef's neckerchief he's sporting..?

This wonderful sign on rue Montorgueil...

These two Magpies stopped me in my tracks at this left bank shop window! I did see a pair of giant black Ravens early one morning on Boulevard St. Germain. They were on the street, not in any shop window. Looking for a Paris breakfast croissant I guess...

Love Birds...

Love Birds..., watercolor on paper

This is the week of the Thanksgiving bird, the BIG BIRD. Last July I was nuts for little birds, sparrows in particular. In May I found a Parisien bird to bring home - Piu Piu. So this last trip I went looking again...

Back to the Marais Pylones, to find a friend for Piu Piu in New York..  But somehow these other Piu Pius (French for tweedie Bird) didn't do it for me.
 

There were all manner of silly things to choose from: Bunnies, ducks, cats, elephants. But not my dream bird.

I went to the newly renovated Musée Des Arts Décoratifs. There was "my bird" on the 2nd floor amongst the vintage toys, waiting. Luckily the museum shop had a similar one called Blue Bird made in China.
These two birds hit it off instantly. Piu Piu is magnetic and "Blue Bird" is tin and the rest is history. I used to collect vintage rubber duckies.

Then Rudi, my Belgian Sheepdog, in a weak moment, woolfed them down.

Guess they were like chocolate for him :)

Your Comments...

"Anonymous" inspired yesterday's post. I often get my blog ideas from your comments...I'm easily influenced. EVERYONE wants to see more Paris macarons. And more on Ladurée...
Ms. Glaze did a post on cherry clafoutis and I remembered all the cherries I'd seen and painted in Paris...
Someone said they'd like a look in my sketchbooks...
Ed in Australia said, "I love your wine sketches. So...wine sketches went on the menu.
M. in Paris asked me...
Is Piu Piu still singing?

Let me know if you have a favorite topic on Paris, pastry, paints or anything at all. Someone said they'd like to see my studio...
Maybe tomorrow if I can straighten things up a bit.
I'm easily influenced :)