Bird on the Wire

Bird on the wire is a cute little boutique in the 4th, on the river side of rue St. Antoine, which I happened upon the other day. Filled with great gift ideas including notebooks, jewelry, knitted objects, fun Japanese candy and gadgets. I loved the tights from Les Queues de Sardine with handprinted clouds, flowers or rain and the retro mobiles from petit collage. They have a good selection of the lomo cameras as well and an hysterical game called "are you a bitch".
The boutique is perfect escape from chilly weather or just to unwind for a bit and get lost in all of the fun, quirky, cool objects on hand. www.botw.fr

TenOverSix

If you are in Los Angeles I recommend a visit to TenOverSix, a funky, quality boutique with a great selection of men's and women's clothing as well as accessories and objects and art. If you are not in LA you can check out their online store. A mix of cutting edge labels like Rachel Comey, Vena Cava, as well as their own line, TenOverSix, is combined with choice accessories including jewelry from Aesa and objects for the home such as this great Ursa the Bear toy. It is an open and inviting store to browse through slowly as M and I did over the holidays.

OFR

Librarie OFR is one of my favorite bookshops in Paris. Every time I walk by I am drawn in and spend a minimum of 15 minutes (usually way longer even if I am late somewhere) browsing their selection of books and magazines covering all ranges of design-graphic, textile, furniture, object, fashion, as well as art books and monographs. They also have artists books, including "Paris" by Ami Sioux in which the artist asked friends to draw a map of their favorite place in Paris and then she used the map and went and photographed the site. Maps range from minimal sketches to elaborately drawn treasure-like maps with personal instructions and added splashes. It's a clever and creative idea and has become a regular gift item to friends. In the back of the shop is a big space dedicated to art installations as well as fashion designers for a salon or fair. OFR, 20 rue depetit thouars, 3rd arr.

Paper goods

I realized I never blogged about Intaglio, an amazing printer (imprimerie) in Batignolles and now just opened on rue de Fleurus in the 6th. Intaglio does custom cards, stationary, business cards and invitations for all occassions (we had our wedding invites done there), as well as selling individual cards for the holidays, new year, thank you's, etc. They also have a selection of cards which have recipes for madeline's, chocolate cake and other French specials, and little boxes which look good just as objects if not used to offer a small something to someone.

They do engraved press as well as regular printing and though they can do the traditional cursive style, their overall look is bold, graphic, contemporary design. Their website is very helpful, showing the range of colors and typefaces possible if you are creating invitations. I highly recommend checking out their holiday cards this year which I saw decorating their vitrines the other day. If you have any attraction to paper goods you will be drawn in like its candy.

Cherche Midi

On rue de Cherche Midi-between Blvd. Raspail and Blvd. Montparnasse, there is a series of second-hand boutiques called Chercheminippes. Many may already be in the know. I discovered them about a year ago when I took that street towards the subway after my Alliance Française classes. I happened to be in the neighborhood yesterday and once again took pleasure in these stores. Scattered along the lower portion of the street, closer to Montmartre then Raspail are separate boutiques for children, home, men + three for women which more or less include shoes and accessories, designer label, and more casual wear. Today I saw a vintage Gucci valise with the classic red and green strip and brown fabric- asking price 671 Euros but I also saw a great pair of navy Antik Batik pants for 35 Euros and Isabelle Marant top for 65Euros. The men’s store is fantastic-finds include Hugo Boss or Armani dress shirts for 30 Euros. Not everyone gets that thrill of finding a designer skirt or blouse in perfect condition but for a fraction of the price but for some reason I do, and so if you do, I suggest you check out Chercheminippes.

Khadi + Co

Khadi + Co is a lovely boutique in the Marais which is run by Danish textile designer, Bess Nielsen. Khadi refers to a type of cotton (but can also be silk or wool) that is a traditional Indian cotton, locally harvested and handspun. It appears to have begun in 1918 and served as a symbol during India's struggle for independence, representing village industries and possibilites for the country and Ghandi himself is known for having promted and worn the Khadi cotton.(source for this info from www.khadicotton.com

Nielsen has been working with a cooperative in India to produce her elegant, classic designs which she sells at the boutique, 37, rue Debelleyme. Through the 21st of March is a special presentation of Indigo fabrics and clothing, titled "Vivre en Indigo." Scarfs, tunics, blouses, skirts and linens are available in this gorgeous blue, or patterns of indigo and white. She is constantly creating new designs and travelling to India, and so it is almost essential to make the store a regular visit to see what is the latest addition. There wasn't much available online about Nielsen nor the store, so I will try to get some further information to share. www. khadiandco.com, khadiandco@hotmail.com

Modern Design in the 18th

K.O.P.F is a tiny boutique in the hilly rue Lamarck, on the non-touristy side of Montmartre.
I don't actually know what the name stands for, but the store stocks
second-hand, mostly mid-century modern furniture, including a lovely
square, glass coffee table, a laMies Van der Rohe , a beautiful
Danish-style writing table, a slick, black leather lounge chair and
more. Also on hand is a small selection of vintage clothing and
accessories. The only non-vintage aspect is the contemporary jewelery
by a local designer which uses leather and silver. The owner is in the
process of moving to Brussels to start a store, therefore, all the
pieces are not only on sale forles soldes, but are marked down further (maybe even negotiable?) until all of the stock is gone. You don't find deals like this on classic modern furniture. KOPF- 87, rue Lamarck. metro: lamarck. www.kopfparis.canalblog.com

Boutiques-17th

Boutique: Désordre Urbain,
96, rue Nollet,

Désordre Urbain is a small boutique on rue Nollet. Inconspicuous on the outside, the “boutique and atelier decoration,” presents creative household items and personal accessory pieces from a variety of European designers. For the table anything from the white ceramic assiette “slice” or “plate slice” designed by the ever amazing Atypyk, www.atypyk.com, to colorful ceramic egg cups, and thin, elegant diagonal glass vases. Bright, graphic fabrics adorn pillows, aprons, tablecloths and small change purses. For the walls there is requisite display of wall stickers (a very popular item throughout Paris at the moment), but here clever versions such as large keys, an old fashioned telephone or mobiles are for sale along with flowers and tree branches, they also have little mirrors that read “fucking princess” and “welcome to my boudoir,” and would make a great gift for a friend. Creative and affordable lighting options are on display. Two particular favorites are the Lampe “Ascidie,” whose organic form constructed in white rolled paper suggests some ocean dwelling sea anemone, and the more modern Lampe Tabouret “Nomade,” which is simply a gray, cement cinder block with a light bulb placed on the lower edge. It’s sort of a reconstruction-minimalist piece that would fit in almost any home. Thankfully all of these items can be seen and purchased on their detailed website, www.desordreurbain.fr. The site is all in French but it is relatively easy to navigate.

Side note: the Atypyk site is not to be missed. I could spend hours just looking and laughing and loving everything they offer, from the wooden crucifix that serves as a door stopper to the bearskin as doormat to the rolls of shut-up tape. They are truly revolutionary.


Yoming
95, rue Nollet
Yoming was one of the first shops that grabbed my attention and shot a little spark of inspiration for Deux Frontieres, as well as for my own attempts at creating things. (Yes, you’ll soon be lucky enough to view the development of these projects and I will also be seeking your help on technical issues).
But back to Yoming)…
The owner of the boutique is a designer, primarily furniture but also fashion and household objects. The front part of the store displays some of his fantastic variations on lighting and furniture. Hanging in the window display is his take on a contemporary chandelier in which red and blue cables intertwine like a falling coils with a simple, bare bulb tucked inside. The Dada Chair is in fact a stool shrunk down Alice-in-Wonderland style. On each tiny piece are written French words such as “cul” “hop” or “la” in black text. The stools can be bought individually but the idea is to have a set to give a complete, silly French phrase such as “pose ton cul” (sit your ass down). A popular piece is the Strapbands Chair in which the seat and back of a simple, wooden dining chair have been replaced with woven bands of cream, brown and green canvas army belts with metal clasps. The canvas belts are thick and soft enough to make this chair not only original but also very comfortable. On the fashion front there are ideal overnight tote bags in sturdy cotton fabrics suggestive of vintage army uniforms in green and beige and the more unique, for lack of a better word, jumpers which are actually vintage hospital gowns (unused), which were once made in course linen and with full coverage. Here the gowns are first dyed in colors of rose, red, blue, etc. and then minimally, if at all, altered and are made to be worn as a long shirt with jeans or perhaps as mini dress with a belt and boots. The concept is truly unique and practical. Little knick-knack items such a buttons that read 'Made in Batignolles' for the lover of the 17th like me, and selection of minimalist designed silver jewelry for men or women. www.yoming.fr