Last week Papa was in Paris for business. At one time he was going there at least once a month but recently the trips have been more intermittent. We love France. Every time he’s headed over there we make a list of what we want him to bring back. The list varies but always includes clothes for the urchins from DPAM, some magazines for me, and underwear for the urchins from Petit Bateau. Actually one of Stefan’s French counterparts used to tease him about always going to Petit Bateau. Last week Gaétan offered to shop the Petit Bateau sale for us at the end of the month. Who says the French are snobby?
Unless he is just swamped with work Stefan is always successful with stuff for the urchins. My magazines though have never been successfully procured. It turns out the street stalls don’t stock children/parent or crafty magazines. But this time was different because a copy of Marie Claire Idées now lives with me. The timing was perfect too since the current issue came with a mini-mag about preserving. I don’t speak French but those photos sure look yummy.
So, now that Stefan has a magazine source I think I need to add another crazy thing to the list and I think that thing should be fabric. Does anybody know where the fabric stores are in Paris?
So fun to read this. I don’t know any farbic stores in Paris but sure know about DPAM and Petit Bateau. We relocated from Switzerland and guess where I used to shop for my kids. Have a good week!
Ah, there are some perks to having husbands who travel overseas! I bet there are some great fabric shops in Paris. We’re planning a trip to France next year so I cannot wait to stock up on some French goodies.
oh, I’m jealous. I’m a big old francophile, too.
Oh so jealous!! I love Petit Bateau and LOVE LOVE Marie Claire Idees!
How lucky you are!!! I haven’t been able to find a Marie Claire Idees yet. (OK, I haven’t searched all THAT hard.)
um, sorry, I don’t know of any paris fabric stores off hand.
you should email jane at jane and the ducks. she’s french and goes back every year, i think.
Lucky – I was just thinking that I need to search for a copy of Marie Claire to flip through. I have yet to go to Paris, but I sent my mother to La Droguerie for yarn and have heard tell they are a treasure trove of yarn, buttons, trim, ribbon, beads, jewelry supplies, felt. Fabric though, I can’t confirm. But I thought I would share my tidbit of Must-Visit.
Love it! We just got back from a trip to France (Provence and Paris) with our son. So nice he can bring you some fun goodies!
Hello there.
I live just outside of Paris. The main fabric shop area is up near the Sacré Coeur in the 18th arrondissement. There are many, many shops on and around the Place Saint Pierre selling fabrics and remnants etc (it’s a bit overwhelming actually). The two main shops are Tissus Reine and Dreyfus. People tend to refer collectively to these shops as “the Marché St Pierre”. If your husband can’t get up to the 18th, there is a shop called Bouchara right by the Galeries Lafayette and Printemps department stores near the opera Garnier. This store is more central but more expensive. There is also a chain of shops called TOTO which sell fabric at very good prices and in particular they sell african fabric (dutch wax, bazin etc) by weight – there is a TOTO at place de la Madeleine which is not far from the opera. I hope this is enough info for a start. Please feel free to email me if you have any questions.
Jenny
I’m thinking we should all take a field trip…Jenny could be the guide…ok, I can dream, right?
I’ll be in Paris in 2 weeks and I have been thinkign the same thigns! Wanting to buy marie Claire ideas and to find some fabric shops, seems like jenny answered our question!
Hi Jennifer!
I love France also. We’ll I have only been to Paris and Strasbourg. We plan to drive to Paris in a couple weeks. I’ll look out for fabric shops this time for sure and if I see something I think you’ll like, I’ll pick it up for you.
I found a bunch of shops in Strasbourg last summer, but the fabric was extremely expensive and honestly, not all that stylish. Paris must be better, but I am sure they are super spendy also.
Great to catch up on what you and the urchins have been up to. I am in envy of all your CSA goodies. That will be one of the first things I track down when we move back to the US.
Talk soon,
Sheree
of course, some French are not snobby !
(I’m French & living in France LOL)
as in the previous post by Jenny I confirm that the two biggest are Marché St Pierre & tissus Reine (these last ones also have an online site = http://www.tissus-reine.com/) which are situated right next to the Sacré Coeur. You can find a lot of little fabric stores on the streets going down South of the Sacré Coeur stairs.
Marie-Claire Idées has a foreign subscription page if you’re interested : http://abonnement.marieclaireidees.com/facturation.php
their winter issue is always the best one.
oh and by the way
our greatest kid stores with reasonable prices is Okaïdi