Best.Haberdasheries.In.Town

Starbucks Opéra, Paris, Feb. 17th 2009

Yesterday we went to Paris, only Chris & I, taking advantage of the presence of my mom, who could stay with the boys while we were there. We had the most wonderful day ... something that I will never forget. After arriving (by express train, 40mn to go there, from where we live) we went to Starbucks Opéra, to have a latte + whipped cream. Oh my, yum. (see photo on top) Then, I started my hunt for trims, cotton tape (to stamp on), crochet lace & fabrics. I have a special dedication to address to my sweet hubby, who really deserves a ver big star for being so ever patient with me, in each & every store we went. He's been adorable & lovely all the way, and for this, I am truely blessed. {thank you so much my love, I know you'll be reading this from Corsica}

The shops we went to were recommended by a sweet French lady on Flickr, who shared her best haberdasheries addresses in Paris with me, so I'm sharing them with you too, along with some photos (not always allowed I must add, but I'm faster than fast when it comes to take pics ... so if some are blurry, that'll be the reason why ! LOL)

We walked a lot. Believe me, A LOT. We're used to walk a lot now, but yesterday evening, we went back home with achy legs & blisters on the feet, ouch !

Our first haberdashery stop was :
Des Fils et Une Aiguille
- website here
- address : 1 rue Chabannais. 75002 Paris
There you could find : lots of gorgeous trims, patchwork fabrics & accessories to hang patchwork, cross-stitch kits, wooden buttons & handmade buttons, linen ribbons & table-runners by the meter ..... lots & lots to see (and buy !!)

Our second haberdashery stop was :
Mokuba
- website here (PS : inexistant)
- address : 18 rue Montmartre. 75001 Paris
The photo is not terrific, I know, but I didn't want to show I was taking a pic !! This shop is filled of the biggest number of ribbons I will ever see in my own life. You could find ANY kind of ribbons there. Silk, satin, cotton, leather, anything. Mokuba is Japanese, and there are only two stores in the world, one in Tokyo, and the other one in Paris. Amazing, totally. I found the cotton tapes I was looking for, for 01.46 euros the meter (01.50cm wide), in many different colors.

Next stop (just the street around the corner) :
La Droguerie
- website here
- address : 9 & 11 rue du jour. 75001 Paris
There are soooo many gorgeous things there, but it's so tiny, and oooh so ever crowdy ! I would have bought things there, but I really didn't want to wait for 30 or 45 mn to get served. (a bit diva here, but I don't care, that was too much to wait)

Then, we were a bit thirsty & hungry, so we stopped by an Irish pub next door, and had a beer.Then we walked a lot again, to reach quartier Saint-Paul, where we wanted to stop by the Jewish delicatessen I had talked about once, and which is closed on Saturday, the only day we can go to Paris when Chris works. (all the time that is to say) So we went there (Florence Finkelsztajn - 24 rue des Ecouffes. 75004 Paris) & shared a poppy seed baygel. Simple but oh so delicious !!Then, we had a stop by Fuxia, our favorite Italian restaurant, and had a caramel panna cotta & an expresso. Mmmm ... (no pic, sorry)

Our next haberdashery stop :
Entrée des Fournisseurs
- website here
- address : 8 rue des Francs Bourgeois. 75003 Paris
There, I found the crochet laces I was hoping. Not in all the colors I wanted, but nevermind, there were gorgeous laces & trims there !

Then we took the Métro & went to my favorite fabric store :
Marché Saint Pierre
- website here
- address : 2 rue Charles Nodier. 75018 Paris
It's huge, there are 5 floors, 2000m2, and that's where I find color linen & polka dot cottons.

Then we walked around Montmartre, and stumbled upon Saint-Jean-de-Montmartre church, which has an amazing architecture ! (built 1894-1904, designed by Anatole de Baudot - address : 19 rue des Abbesses. 75018 Paris)Then we ... uh ... got a bit lost (shame), and walked way more than we should have (hence the blisters !!) ... and finally found our way to a Métro station, to go :
Le Bon Marché
- website here
- address : 24 rue de Sèvres. 75006 Paris
(no photo)
I got threads there, and we went to the Grande Epicerie, accross the street to get some things. (huge international deli)

And, then, finally, we went back home .... Phew !
It was so nice to be only us two, all day long, hand in hand ... sweeeet ;-)

Chris has left for Corsica this evening, and I hope it won't be too hard for him to be there, on his own, and working all day long, and working in the evening at the computer too (for another project). I'll be thinking about him so strong, all the time, and I hope time will fly by till the moment he'll be back home with us.

Tomorrow I will share the photos of what I bought. :)

I hope you had a nice first half of the week !! I'm sorry if I owe you a visit, but it's been two busy days over here, with that day in Paris, and today preparing Chris' luggages & stuff for his trip to Corsica. I hope to play catch up tomorrow & the next few days. Sorry about that. xoxo lots of hugs !