One of my best finds while shopping the Paris flea markets were these pretty vintage paper roses.
They are very, very old and it's amazing to me that something so delicate could have survived all these years.
I love the faded, crinkled petals on the roses.
And the pale pink buds. Someone clearly took their time to carefully hand-wrap each wired stem.
How beautiful would it be for a bride to carry a bouquet of these down the aisle?
Happy Tuesday!
:-)
Jessica
If you've been reading my blog for some time, then you know that Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic Couture shops are possibly my most favorite places on earth. When traveling to New York or Los Angeles, I never miss a chance to visit. This past trip to the UK marked my very first visit to Rachel's London shop. It is located on a quiet street near Portobello Road, home of the famous flea market. From the moment I saw the pale lavender awning waving in the distance, my heart was aflutter.
The shop is absolutely lovely.
While perhaps not as large as her other shops, it is filled with many wonderful treasures.
Every detail is attended to - from the gorgeous tags...
...to the hand-picked antiques.
Fortunately for us, the merchandise is basically the same as what you will find here in her U.S. shops...
Yummy ruffles.
The famous Union Jack pillows in a myriad of pretty fabrics.
The breathtakingly beautiful Petticoat tablecloth.
Piles of prettiness...
Fabric samples for the bespoke bedding lines.
Sequins and tulle, too.
Sigh. Until next time, Rachel...
:-)
Jessica
Yes, it's back to the sweets! Lola's was a must-see on my list when we were in London. I already had their cookbook and, from the look of it, I just knew it would be my kind of place. And I was right...
This pretty shop has a modern edge that I love...
And their "hand-crafted" cupcakes are truly delicious.
Lots of flavors to choose from, too!
I'll be back tomorrow to share my little early morning adventure to Target yesterday to visit "The Shops"!
XOXO
Jessica
OK, so after our lunch, we continued to shop the fabulous flea markets of Les Puces de Saint-Ouen.
As we went up and down all the little alleys, following various twists and turns, we came to what is perhaps my favorite market of all: Vernaison...
It is by no means the fanciest, but it is (in my opinion), one of the most fun. Here, you can dig through boxes of old millinery flowers,
search through stacks of vintage fabric,
and maybe - just maybe - find yourself something spectacular.
I love the "hunt" and this market provides that to the nth degree!
Here's just some of what we stumbled upon...
Now, I am by no means an expert when it comes to the Paris flea markets (and there are plenty of good guides out there that can give you plenty of advice on the specifics - like directions, transportation, etc..), but I do have a few tips...
1. Don't try to see all the markets in one day. Honestly, it's not even really possible. If you have the time, try to spend several days exploring them.
2. Bring cash (Euros) and haggle! I didn't pay full price for anything I bought and neither should you. Just be polite and make it a reasonable offer. I don't speak French (only took one semester of it in junior high before switching to Spanish!), but most dealers are pleased if you just greet them with a nice "Bonjour". Many do speak some English, but if not, you can still communicate by writing your offer on paper - so don't forget a small pad of paper and a pen.
3. Dress nicely, but not "expensively". In other words, leave the Louis Vuitton at home. If you don't, you won't get as good a deal. Plus, it's important to note that the area surrounding the markets can be a bit sketchy.
4. Bring a large tote to carry all your purchases. This seems obvious, but it's a must. The markets are vast and lugging your precious finds for hours on end can become a bit of a pain - literally!
5. Consult your travel guide and plan where to stop for lunch ahead of time. All that shopping and walking will undoubtedly leave you hungry for a snack and you don't want a bad meal or a bad experience (see my last post).
6. It's another no-brainer, but wear comfortable shoes! Seriously! One summer, I wore what I thought were a really comfortable pair of flip-flops to the markets, but by the end of the day I was limping and had to practically use an entire box of band-aids just to make it back to the hotel.
7. Don't get too frustrated. If you're like me, you'll want to take everything home with you and this will not be possible. Unless you plan to ship a container home (how fantastic would that be!), you will probably be limited to what you can fit in your suitcases. So, shop "small" and plan ahead. We always travel with either an extra empty suitcase or a large duffel bag that we can use to transport our treasures back home. And sadly, no, that beautiful French armoire probably won't fit.
:-)
Jessica
While there are a great many things that I love about Paris (the gorgeous architecture, the beautiful museums, the incredible food, etc...), the Paris flea markets have got to be at the very top of my list.
I consider myself a fairly experienced flea market shopper. I mean, I've been to Brimfield, I can tell the difference between reproductions and authentic pieces, and I can even bargain like a pro (well, kinda of). Yet, despite all the hundreds of hours I've probably spent antiquing, nothing really prepares one for the Paris Flea Markets. Each time I go, I am just completely blown away. Just the sheer size of the markets is awe-inspiring. They go on and on and on...the further "in" you go, the better they seem to get.
But it's really "the stuff" that makes them so incredible.
There are just so many things...and so many things that you would never find here in the States - at least not on a typical trip to the local antique center.
I could continue to blather on about all I saw, but it is probably best to just show you...
After an intense morning of shopping, we needed a break and the girls were hungry, so we stopped for lunch at a really cute cafe. And aside from the fact that the waitress totally lied to us and told us we could only order full meals for all four of us (while the French couple at the next table sat down and just ordered coffee!), the burgers were still pretty delish!
I'll be back tomorrow with photos from our afternoon shopping and some helpful tips...
XOXO
Jessica
Ah, Paris in the Springtime....the beautiful architecture, the magical Seine river, the blossoming, flowering trees...
And, oh yeah, the RIBBON shops!!!!
Yes, I'm not sure if you all remember, but several years ago we took another trip to Paris and I was so looking forward to visiting some haberdashery shops that I had always dreamt of seeing in person. I was so excited and filled with anticipation - camera in hand, Euros in my pocket and ready to be spent. The only problem? The shops were all closed. Yup. Every single one of them. It was August and unbeknownst to me (who had never been to Paris in August before) - everything closes down while the Parisians escape for "holiday"! So, you see, this recent trip was to be a corrective experience for me. I chance to get it right. And so I did. Behold, Ultramod...
Can you believe all those ribbons? Many are new, but some are definitely vintage,
Love the old, green storage boxes. I have no idea what was in them, but I can imagine it was lots of beautiful things.
They had an incredible selection of buttons. One woman in the shop was looking for a replacement for a her Chanel jacket.
The shop was pretty pricey (especially given the exchange rate), but these little beauties were a bargain...
Gorgeous vintage velvets.
I never did find a website for Ultramod, but it is located at 4 Rue de Choiseul 75002 Paris, France.
And, if you go, please call first to find out if they're open. :-)
XOXO
Jessica
Yup, more candy! Today's featured shop is especially beautiful - old-fashioned in style and in my fav color palette.
My visit to Mrs. Kibbles Sweet Shoppe may have alone justified my airfare to London! :-)
One look at those rows of glass jars filled with pretty candies and I just about keeled over.
So much pastel prettiness in one small space!
XOXO
Jessica
I did promise you lots of sweets, didn't I? Well, Hope and Greenwood is one of my very favorite candy shops in London.
It is oh, so very British and so very charming...
Their packaging is so cute!
I was seriously debating just how many of these jars I could get home in my luggage!
And the displays are so cool...
Jar after jar of traditional British treats line the walls...evidently, the "Shrimps" are very popular!
Buckets of colorful candy choices abound...
What can I say? I did warn you all. Sweets really were a big part of our trip...
...and there are even more to come!
:-)
Jessica
While in London, we went to the cutest cupcake shop ever...Primrose Bakery.
While I've been to Primrose in the past (and have both of their beautiful cookbooks), I never pass up a chance to visit. I especially love their location in Covent Garden. Situated on a lovely corner, the bright yellow bakery is so cheerful...
It's the perfect place to enjoy some delicious baked goodies. We love the yummy mini sprinkled cupcakes...
So many pretty toppings to choose from - sugar flowers, confetti, hearts, etc...
You can even pick up a pastel candy necklace or two...
The interior is absolutely adorable - vintage, shabby, and retro!
Gotta love the pink neon sign!
They also have a nice selection of fun gift items and pretty stationary...
Primrose is just such a bright and happy place to be - I can't wait to go back!
:-)
Jessica
If there was a theme to our European vacation, it would have had to have been "sweets"!
I know this will hardly come as a surprise to most of you, given my love for all things confectionery and sprinkled. :-) Long before we left on our trip, I compiled a very detailed list of all the places I hoped to visit while in London and Paris. And it was a VERY long list! I am always excited to check out the newest bakery or find some new-to-me sprinkles to add to my ever-growing collection. Luckily, I have a husband who tolerates my "sweet" adventures and daughters who are always happy to tag along whenever a cupcake is involved.
Today, I just thought I'd show you a few pictures from one of my favorite department stores in London - Fortnum and Mason. One look at the building exterior and the colors of their brand packaging (see above) and you'll see why I love it so much...
Pretty minty-aqua green abounds...
So very whimsical!
But once inside, you'll find all sorts of glorious treats and sweets. The main level is filled with gourmet chocolate counters, tins filled with tea, exotic coffees, and gift items galore. Just take a looky at one of the candy counters...
Those pastel almond dragees are sooooo pretty! Fortnum and Mason also serves an excellent tea in their lovely dining room. And the basement level has some beautiful prepared foods, fresh flowers, and even baking supplies. Check out their selection of food colorings...
So, if you find yourself in London, Fortnum and Mason should definitely be on your must-visit list!
BTW: I really recommend making a detailed list of places to visit before you travel. I always note complete addresses and opening days and times. This helps in planning your itinerary and also avoids inevitable disappointment at finding that your favorite shop closed an hour before you arrived or isn't open on Sundays. I even like to plot out all my destinations on a map before I go. This saves precious vacation time and makes it easy for you to hit all your favorite spots.
Lots more sweets to come...
XOXO
Jessica
