Tea time

I always love a nice cup of tea. Paris has reallly nice tea brands to offer. Fauchon, le Palais de the, Mariage Freres and Kusmi tea. Thinking about what to get my parents for X'mas, I stepped into Fauchon for the first time. The big store in Place de Madeleine always looked a little scary with the disco deco... but, it actually was quite pleasant in the gift shop. I bought myself a Cocoa with vanilla, very special.

Mariage Freres is such a wonderful experience. I really love Marco Polo Rouge. Strong fruits and flowery aroma but smooth taste. The service in the shop is excellent!! Nothing like my local supermarket... I actually was treated like a customer.

Kusmi Tea has the best Chai. I got it for my friend's birthday and I got to have a taste. There aren't many places that serves Chai in Paris and I was missing it a lot. It was so lovely with lots of honey and soy milk...

To go with the nice cup of tea, there's Canele. Little funny looking cake from Bordeaux. I actually hated it for the first time I tried it from my local bakery. I could not finish it. until I had one from Lemoine. I got them as a gift and to be honest, I wasn't sure about it. However, this one is unbelievably delicious!!! Crunchy on the outside and moist in the middle. Not too sweet. PERFECT.

Vin chaud and shopping in Winter Paris

What good is it if you can't shop in Paris. The Winter set in, and I need to get some Paris shopping out of my system before I go back home. I was lucky enough to find out about A.P.C broderie (basically a warehouse sale) through my good friend. It was like heaven... Items were 95% off...
A handbag, boots, necklace and a pair of sunnies later, I felt like a new woman.

My Stockholm treasure is this ACNE dress.

And the sandals from le Comptoir des Cottoniers.

Stockholm

What an amazing beautiful city! Full of goodness. Good design, fashion, architecture and cafes. It's been a while since I had a good Cafe latte that I could actually taste the coffee... not a glass of milk with a dash of coffee.



My friend took me to this cafe Jin and Peeters. Newly opened by a Japanese wife and a Belgian husband. They have a unique menu of dumplings, Belgian waffles and roast chicken. Weird but good. So good.

It's dangerous shopping there... Could have spent few more days shopping (window shopping) in Stockholm. I really loved Grandpa. A select shop full of great Swedish designers.

Le Grenier à pain

It won grand prix de la baguette 2010. They serve the French president for the whole year.
I'd always love a good croissant. Although it was a grand prix de la baguette, but the croissants here are fantastic!! So amazing... they have a really good range of fruit loafs too.

Le Grenier à pain
38 rue des Abesses
75018 Paris

Quick London

I had the pleasure of experiencing one of the hottest day in London. 31 degrees. Yes, settle down everyone it's not that hot. It's beautiful. But yes, I can understand that people are not as used to hot weather.
It was a very quick weekend pop in to London. I went down to Columbia road and found this little cute cupcake shop. To be honest, just because I've been chasing all the face cakes and cupcakes, I had to smell them to know if they were real or not. They looked so perfect to be real. They have mini-cup cakes for 1 pound. I had one with a malteser.
Treacles
110 - 112 Columbia Road
London E2 7RG

Then, had a good strawl down to Broadway market and had my first "hot salted Beef".

June / July highlights

1. Amazing croissants at Au Levain du Marais. Okay, David Lebovitz did not fail me... When I'm in doubt, I ask David. It was delicious... I have had many croissants in Paris, but this one is very special. Not too flaky or plane. Just right.

Au Levain du Marais

28 blvd Beaumarchais75011 Paris

2. Drinking and People watching at Le PerleRight in the middle of Marais. Always packed in warm sunny days.

Le Perle
78 rue vieille du temple
75003
M: Saint-Paul

3. Drinking within budget at Pop in
Cute little indie favourite with their own beer "le Pop" 3 euros for a pint during Happy Hour. Yes, I did get 2 at once right before the clock turned 9pm and the Happy Hour finished.

Pop in
105 rue Amelot
75011M: Saint Sebastien Froissart

4. Talking to randoms and dancing to who knows what at Zero Zero Bar
It's open later than other bars in the area so of course it's going to turn into something like Pony...

Zero Zero Bar
89 rue Amelot
75011
M: Saint Sebatien Froissart

5. Broc Dej at le Comptoir General
It's happening every Sunday until the end of August. I had a stand there for my crocheted friends. Cute little place with a Melbourne dude making good Melbourne latte... oh how I miss it so much...

Le Comptoir General
80 Quai de Jammapes
75010
M: Jacques Bonsergent

6. Seeing Tour de Paris @ Hotel du Nord
I don't know if it that was called Tour de Paris... but they were a bunch of people having a bike race to Hotel de Nord.

Hotel du Nord
102 Quai du Jammapes
75010
M: Jacques Bonsergent

Merci

New friends that don't talk...

Charlotte has left me this cute little plant with a card from Merci. Love it. I've been watering and trying to get it to sun bath in my not sunny apartment. I went to Merci last weekend and got semi-depressed about the fact that I can't afford anything. Yet, it's a beautiful shop. My heart is set on buying new bathers from there. THEN, I realise that there's no beach in Paris. Maybe I should hire a car... left hand drive in Paris though, gives me a great deal of fear just thinking about it.

Merci
111 boulevard Beaumarchais
75003 Paris



I've been making new friends. Literally, making them. By the time I finish making one of these buddies, it feels as though I had babies...

Patterns are here if you wanna make them!

http://www5a.biglobe.ne.jp/~mite/gurumineko/4/amizn1.html

Brocante Heaven

I found this wonderful site that tells me where the flea markets in Paris are. They are everywhere in Paris specially on weekends and I was having trouble finding out where there's one. Specially on boring Sunday when nothing is open.
Try this one.
Brocabrac
It tells you everything. I love it.

My little crocheted friends were sold in Gambetta one today.

I've been busy crocheting for the market... took a long time.
Hence, no blog post of late...


There was also one near my house today and I found these lovely little boots... LOVE IT!

Window Shopping

Paris is getting warmer but my wallet is still quite cold after an amazing vacances in Barcelona and Paris. So only thing that i can do with now is window shopping...

Here are some that I found recently:


Kyrie Eleison
Beautiful dresses and good accessories.
15 Carrefour de l'odeon75006 Paris
Metro: Odeon


La Caverne a frips
25 rue Houdon
75018 Paris
Metro: Pigalle

Good range of 60's and 70's dresses. Not expensive either.

Base One
47 bis rue d'orsel
75018 Paris
Metro: Pigalle/Abbesses

Really cute hand made accessories. Personally, I'm not keen on their clothing stock but other things are great.

Birthday week

It was last week but hey I like dwelling on it for as long as I can.
The day before my birthday, we went and saw the strange boys. They were amazing. Such a good gig with good sound. They're coming back to Paris in June. can't wait.
Then we had dinner at this restaurant in Montmartre called le jardin d'en face. Highyl recommended. I had egg cocotte with frois gras and for main, a whole fish. And for dessert, white chocolate mousse. Fabulous!!!!
Le jardin d'en face
33 les trois freres
75018 Paris
M: Abbesses, Pigalle
Then, it had to be done. Disneyland Paris...

Space Mountain Misson 2 is ridiculous... so fast and nuts...

Then on Tuesday, we had a crochet session with the ladies. A night of crocheting and fine music and wine.

Back in Montmartre

Nice day for a wonder today in Paris. We went walking down to Abbesses and I found a really cute cupcake shop. Obviously it's new. The staffs were incredibly keen to be nice to you. Also found out that she is an American baker with a French husband.


When I was there, there weren't much choice but hopefully, they'll have more.
I had a coffee one. It came in a little box. YUM. Looks great but it tasted amazing too. it's not too big to feel bad about eating it either.

Miss Cupcake
1 Cite de la MairieM: Pigalle/Abbesses

Also found this Vintage shop as well. I think they might be English dudes.
Paul and Claire's Vintage
86 rue des Martys
M: Pigalle
There's another vintage shop just around the corner too.

Chinemachine
100 rue des Martys75018 Paris
M: Pigalle/Abbesses

And, I found this amazing craft shop near my house! no more hunting for good supplier far away. It was closed today, but I looked in the shop and they had yarns. yakes. Looks like they have lots of workshops there.
Matiere Active
59 rue du mont cenis75018 Paris
M: Jules Joffrin

Vintage Barcelona

There were so many vintage clothing and record shops in Barcelona. Timeout guide told me to go to carrer Riera Baxia and Tallers for vintage shopping. It seemed to me, the northern soul was quite big sub-culture. Ah, good old Gimme Shelter and Sweet Jelly Roll. There were so many amazing 60s shoes and dress that actually fits me. Holala! has 3 stores around Raval (though, I couldn't find the 3rd one anywhere.) They were quite reasonable and had good pieces.

Holala!
carrer Riera Baixa, 77
Barcelona
carrer Tallers, 73
Barcelona

I really liked this shop though in San Pere. Good range for boys as well. Heaps of Member's Only stuff. I found this beautiful light green trench coat with pretty lining inside. So good!!!
Product National Brut
c/Ramalleres, 16-20 08001
c/Avinyo, 29 08002
Barcelona

After going through a couple of narrow alleys trying not to get lost or mugged, we found this amazing little shop "Ann-Lena" this young girl makes most of the stuff including crocheted animals. She says she now doesn't have time to make everything so she designs it and get someone else to make it for the shop. They also have lots of cute little things from Germany. Adorable.


Ann-Lena
carrer Sant Antoni dels Sombrerers, 2
carrer Banps Vells
Barcelona

Les Puces du Paris Saint Quen

I have once tried to go this flee market. But then, it was much like the bad part of Victoria Market. Then, my Paris friend told me that I was in the long end and the market goes for miles the other way.
Look it up, check the map and it is actually 5mins walk from my house!
Apparently, it's the biggest flee market in Europe. That is a big statement to make. But it's true. It's so big. Anything and everything that you can think of are there. Private sellers to black market dudes. Track suits pants to amazing vintage/antiques. I have made some good purchase today.
This is what my 8 euro has got me.

Crochet crazy...

I've been busy. I've been very busy crocheting... and I am totally obsessed! So obsessed that I stay up till 2.30 in the morning crocheting.
In the process, I have learned a lot of new French word which are necessary in making my crafts. Yarns, needles, cotton (for stuffing) etc. I have also found many beautiful craft shops in Paris.

La Droguerie
9-11 rue du jour
75001 Paris

They have really good range of yarns, beads, buttons, felts etc. It is a little bit pricey and it can get very busy on weekends but it's good quality.They also have a store in Le Bon Marche 3rd floor. In terms of yarns, Bon Marche has much more range and easier to get served.

Le Bon Marche
24 rue de Sevres
75007 ParisMetro: Sevres-Babylon

Another beautiful store in the hidden courtyard.Entree des Fornisseurs
8 rue des Francs Bourgeois
75003 Paris
Metro: Saint Paul

The buttons are quite expensive there... I found that it's too much. Then just around the corner, there's an amazingly good priced beads/button/accessory shop.
Matiere Premiere
12 rue de Sevigne
75004 Paris
Metro: Saint Paul

Marais is a full of whole sellers for craft materials. Lot of them don't do retail selling but this one does. Full of beads and jewelery making goods.


La Perlerie
22 rue du temple
75003 Paris


I've gone nuts and started making everything! from teddies to food... they're the practice ones so it's not perfect yet. But soon. Soon I'll get better. (I hope)



This little shop is an inspiration to all my obsession. It's a knitted finger puppet shop. I found it last time i was in Paris, but then it moved! I recommended it to a friend, but because of the move, I couldn't find it. Then, walking around Saint Paul the other day, I found it!!!

Marionnettes du Marais
15 rue Elzevir
75003 Paris

what more could a girl want?

I possibly had the best girlie day with my friend Jacinta yesterday. We went to Printemp MAC section to find new liquid eye liner. I usually use the one that's from Japan. They have cheap and not nasty cosmetics. But the problem is that good liquid eye liners are difficult to find. Specially ones that lasts and stays as bold as when it's applied. I don't wanna sound like an infomercial lady, but damn this is good. Me and Jacinta both got one. Highly recommended. It's worth investing in a good eyeliner.
I got this make-up base as well. I didn't mean to get this one... I wanted to get the oil control base this but I picked up the wrong one... However, this is amazing as well. The foundation goes on the skin so smooth after this. I should get a job at Mac... This lovely lady at the counter even gave me a discount. Turns out that she lived in Japan for 3 years in Nakamegro, met her French husband and now she's in Paris.

Gallery La Fayette has this great gourmet section. As you walk in, you can smell all the spices, chocolate, macarons etc at once. I don't know if that's a good thing...
Patisserie Sadaharu Aoki makes incredibly beautiful sweets. It's like this Japanese obsession for Paris, sweets and cute little things all mixed into their creation of their products. So colourful and beautiful to look at. One thing I really wanted to try was Chocorons!
Yes, they are macarons coated with chocolate!!! It is so delicious!!! I had a cafe flavour. I'm going to try all the flavours by the time I leave Paris. This is going to be my little treats from now on.
Jacinta with her wasabi flavoured macarons.

Patisserie Sadaharu Aoki
35 rue de Vaugirard
56 boulevard de Port-Royal

Gallery La Fayette
48 boulevard Haussmann 75009 Paris