american in paris

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So I mentioned back here that I am going to Paris- less then 2 weeks now! My life has gone into warp speed. Crazy!

I’m getting psyched. I borrowed some cds from the library to see if I could remind myself of some basic French. The conversation that I am learning seems to lean heavily toward picking up the mademoiselle. Hmm. I might have to see if they have Conversation for Middle-aged Lady who likes Needlework. I took out these movies too. I just find it difficult to make time to actually watch them.

I’d love to meet up with any like-minded people if you are near Paris during the last week of June. I’d love any suggestions for fun places to go, especially related to what I do. And I speak virtually no French and will be on my own for the weekdays. I know there are lists of a sewers guide to New York- is there something similar for Paris?

And on the life front- I feel like I am just settling down from Renegade. There is so much to think about. I continue to be amazed at how fantastic it was. Travel plans always make me feel like I need a new wardrobe, so I’ve got a pile of fabric and maybe it will turn into some shirts and skirts in the next 1 1/2 weeks. The garden needs me- the weeds are taking over and I still haven’t got all my dahlias in the ground. The tomatoes are looking very happy though. And, my intern has started- 2 days a week.  I have the projects that she can help me with and the other projects. I’m going to do dolls with her and my other projects when she isn’t here. That means the dolls will get finished slower but hopefully everything will move forward. Yes, it is busy around here.

23 thoughts on “american in paris”

  2. Wish I had thought to bring you my paris book when I saw you. The area by Sacre Coeur is where the “fabric district” is supposed to be, but it was a bit sad and I don’t know that I would have been okay there by myself – well, just the walk there actually. Sacre Couer itself was perfectly lovely and safe – don’t miss it if you can help it. Also, I cannot recommend the Musee d’ Orsay enough. It is the train station where Jewish families were shipped out by the Nazis. The history was so dark the building stood empty for 40 years. It is now a museum, steps from the Louvre, with a fabulous cafe on the roof with a stunning view. Start there and work your way down was the advice we received and it was spot on! One thing we didn’t do was the flea market and I have heard it is spectacular…

  3. Hello, I’m french but not from Paris though.
    I will mention on my blog that you’ll come to Paris soon and maybe some people will be willing to meeting with you and show you around or at least give you some good address… I wish I could have come myself to meet you :(
    Anyway, I’ll ask for some advice and needle shops and I’ll keep you informed…

  6. Hey Mimi!

    I’d love to have you if you want to come and visit your doll here… I live in the suburbs, very close to Paris and easy to find.

    I’ll be back in town on the 28th of June, will you still be there? Send me an email if you’d like to meet up.

    Have a great trip!

  7. Before you leave, get a DK (Dorling Kindersley) guide to Paris.
    It will have an excellent street map + will show individual maps
    with things to see of the important arrondissments (districts)
    of the city. First morning after you arrive, get on a city tour by bus, as this will familiarize you with what is where in reality.
    Once you see where things are, you can plan to explore areas of special interest more thoroughly.
    Also, use GOOGLE befure you go.
    Google things like Doll (and toy) Museums in Paris France or fabric and sewing in Paris France…etc.
    I didn’t have GOOGLE before I went to Paris (2 visits).

    Also, most shops and restaurants speak English as well as French. If you great people with “Bon Jour” and say “Merci beaucoup, or Merci (thank you very much, or Thanks) and are your usual polite self you will be fine AND you will learn some French words. One place in Paris you might love for a treat is FAUCHON, famous for pastry and chocolates and other gourmet fare. I could go on and on and on, but just get the guide book NOW!! Bon Voyage!………. sigh

  8. I second Carolyn. Most people speak English and are very nice. The one recommendation I would make is to take in the Musee de l’Orangerie. It is a small museum that has none of the pandemonium of the Louvre. The main attraction is several (very large) Monet Water Lilies, but there is also a lovely collection by some of the greats downstairs. It was a nice stroll from the Louvre, but check your map before you start, if you come out of the wrong entrance, you may be a lot further away than you think. Also, if your allotted time for museums is short, opt for Rodin, Orsay, and/or Orangerie over the Louvre.

  10. I thought of you while watching Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations, streamed via Netflix…the first show of Season 1 is about Paris, and it is quite good! It might have some hints of good places to visit for some very authentic food while you are there! (It might be on Hulu too…not sure)

  12. Hello,
    i’m french and ex parisienne, i live now in Rennes, Bretagne and i like your work.
    There is in Paris a store where you can buy materials for 1, 2 or 3 euros for a meters.
    Some wonderfull and high qualities, some just wonderful, some useful and some uglies.
    I love the uglies too……

    STOP Tissu
    62 Boulevard de Belleville
    Métro Couronnes (Ligne Nation-Etoile par Dauphine)
    01 46 36 23 01

  14. Hi Mimi,
    funny that we both will be in France at the same time.
    I guess I won´t make it to Paris, as we will stay in the South of Bretagne.
    Anyway I wish you an inspiring time! Maybe you have the chance to visit Nathalie Leté in her studio? http://www.nathalie-lete.com/
    Have fun, X Sandra

  16. I will be in Paris then too! We will only be there very briefly as we are driving to Deauville for a family reunion (lucky me!) and then off in to the countryside for the rest of our visit. My favorite place from the last trip to France was Saint Chapelle. It’s a tiny little church with exquisite stained glass and troumpe l’oeil painting. My niece and nephew loved the bateaux bus – we got a day pass and rode up and down the Seine via boat all day. Fun stuff. Have a great trip!

  17. Mimi, My favorite food/foodie blog is the one written by David Lebovitz (http://www.davidlebovitz.com/), the contemporary American in Paris. Even if you’re not a foodie, he’s got some great posts about life in Paris, the neighborhoods, the shopping, the culture, not to mention… the chocolate!

  19. Another great (etnographic) museum: Musée du Quai Branly, near the Tour Eiffel.
    The architecture by Jean Nouvel is quite special.

    http://www.quaibranly.fr/

    There’s a nice cafe in the garden, with good food: Le café Branly.
    And the souvenir shop is nice too, with etnographic books, toys etc…

    You will need a month to visit all these things! ;-)

  20. Hello dear!
    Don’t know wether you’re still behind you scren or not, but if you want a few addresses, I can send you an e-mail, please let me know. Benedicte wrote a note on her blog about your trip to Paris. A lot of blogfriends already mentioned some of the “mythical” places for needlework lovers (La Droguere, l’Entrée des Fouunisseurs, le marché St Pierre…), but you might also like to have a little quiet stop in some “inspiration places”, such as “le musée de la vie romantique” (museum of the romantic life), the very small garden of the “Musée Bourdelle” (a very small place in Montparnasse dedicated to Antoine Bourdelle, a famous sculptor), or the fabulous “Musée des arts forains” (museum of the circus arts). I already organized a party for my company a few years ago, when used to live in Paris, but I’m not sure it’s open to visits. But at least I can send you the link to their site and ask them for you if you can visit that faboulous place.
    Well, talk a lot, and it’s ’round midnight here in France, so I wish you a…
    Joyeuse nuit (joyous night, litterally translated)!

  21. Hi Mimi,
    La Droguerie in Les Halles down the street from St. Eustache is a must visit; also Les Puces and if you want to visit a high-end fabric store Rodin on the Champs-Elyseé is full of gorgeous fabric. Do go to Au Nain Bleu, the fine toy store on the Right Bank. And there are really, really cool shops-not necessarily for sewing- but for other inspirations and little restaurants in the Marais. Other places of note: La Muse´des Arts Decoratifs , the Mokuba ribbbon store in Ste. Germain, the organic farmer’s market on Blvd Raspail Sundays, Marriage Fréres tea shop, Poliane bread and La Maison du Chocolat- arcane and exotically flavored chocolates and one of the first to make them (and best!) Ah! Je me manque Paris! Have fun there for me, too.

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