La Vaissellerie

Metro Saint-Sulpice, original watercolor, 9" x 11"

I'm not talking about actually eating on the Metro, though I've seen it done often enough, ahem

I'm talking about eating ON TOP of Metro place mats. Like the ones I bought at La Vaissellerie at "Saint-Sulpice"85, rue de Rennes 75006, last trip. At first I was a little disappointed by their rather stark graphic aesthetics. But then lunchtime became a trip in itself full of plotting and planning of future Paris trips. One way or another I always drop into La Vaissellerie to check out their latest treasures.
And with 4 boutiques in Paris proper it's pretty easy to stumble on a shop. I was smitten with French chocolate pots, I found this lovely number at Vaissellerie...The nice thing is they have tons of stuff to make you feel you're having a very Frenchie petit dejeuner like these chocolate bols. Or these polka-dot cups.
Why are polka-dots so Frenchie? I got some magnet Paris street signs bien sur.

But I resisted the Provencal sachets.

Just next door on rue de Rennes you can grab a chausson aux pommes - my new fixation.

At this gorgeous no-name boulangerie. A PB reader says they have great sandwiches as well.

Around the corner on rue du Vieux Columbier, you can find all sorts of other Metro paraphrenalia at a papeterie.

Is this Paris dog is wearing a ballerine or just one red rain bootie.

If you do cross rue de Rennes directly across, you will find these not so bad and rock-bottomed priced ballerines! I meant to go back for the grey.

Paris dogs in the Metro don't have to bother reading maps - that's one advantage they have.

BONJOUR LUNDI!

Spring Green

Paris color post today. "Spring Green" was all over town in March and since Spring is passing so quickly I thought I better get on it VITE!
When you see a trend in Paris it shows up in EVERYTHING.

Head-toe.

Like these "baskets" or high tops for your feet...
And in this eye shadow...
Spring green Japanese tea pots...
Giant green cups for your green tea...
Sirop de cactus in Galeries Lafayette. What the hell is that?
Spring green chocolate boxes at Cocoa et Chocolat..
Ordinary spring green vegetables look chic here...
And the REAL Spring green in the flower marche by the Seine...

*This is a repost from May 20, 2008. I'm trying to catch up on commissions and paint, paint, paint!!! Merci :)
BONJOUR PRINTEMPS et Bon Week-End!!

Ballerines = Macarons

As obsessed as I am of Paris macarons...
I have an obsession with Paris ballerines. I cannot stop taking pictures of either.
The above balerines come from this boutique on 28, rue du dragon 75006
And Kate, Katherine and Caroline all got their ballerines here.
They have these sweet little ballerine purses for us obsessed nutcases...
I tried my hand at combining macarons and shoes over at Zazzle...Hmmmm
I love these but I've yet to see a leopard 🐆 spotted macaron...
Pastry chefs, take a hint!

But savvy Paris ballerine shops have yet to follow suit.

Nor will you find ballerines stacked up to look like the Eiffel Tower!?

Truely I think rue Vavin should be renamed rue Ballerine, there are that many ballerine shops.

In all price ranges.

When you're done shoe shopping you can walk to the end of the street to Jean-Paul Hevin and buy matching macarons...

I haven't seen any Paris dogs wearing ballerines and I'm not going to hold my breath either.
BONJOUR BALLERINES!

Moulin Rouge

Moulin Rouge,original art, 5" x 7"

Montmartre expert, Peter guided me to Place Clichy.

To see the Moulin Rouge. I don't think I've visited since my first trip to Europe.

On a grey Paris afternoon, we just browsed a bit like everyone else.

"Les Girls"

Around the corner, the boutique awaits.

Thanks Gawd I'm no longer under the hypnotic spell of mini-mania. This would have been hard to resist.

Here's a chance to toast/trinquer with glasses full of gold glitter. Of course you know better than to ever toast with plain water! Unlike some people :( Peter writes that the Moulin Rouge is the biggest champagne buyer in the world - around 350 000 bottles a year - more or less 1000 bottles per day. That's a lot of trinquer going on!

This red Moulin Rouge mug gave me pause... I love red big time. should I do over my apartment in Moulin Rouge style rather than Eiffel Tower decor?

Fortunately there were no large essential items on offer, like pillows or lamps etc. Decision resolved in favor of the Eiffel Tower motif!

I'm not that big on ashtrays but this reminded me of.

All the wonderful prints and posters Toulouse-Lautrec created.

For the Moulin Rouge in the late 1800's.

Too many to count notable performers have taken the stage at the Moulin Rouge including La Goulue, Josephine Baker, Frank Sinatra, Yvette Guilbert, Jane Avril, Mistinguett, Le Pétomane, Édith Piaf and others.

So it's only natural that the backdoor will have it's "stage door Johnnys" awaiting.

BONJOUR MOULIN ROUGE!