I hope you had a lovely weekend, and one which lingered long enough to make Monday morning a little brighter than usual. As promised, this evening we scribbled out the names of all of you who shouted ‘pick me!’ for last week’s $100 craft voucher draw, and placed the folded scraps of paper into Harry’s top hat. And he drew out…
…Riara! Congratulations; an email will be winging its way to you with all of the details, and I’m trusting you to spend it flamboyantly and decadently on the loveliest things you can find.
This weekend I’ve also been enjoying the last bursts of scent and colour from my gorgeous Mothers’ Day flowers (Mothers’ Day in the UK falls in mid-March); my husband ordered these in Harry’s name and then took him along to collect them, tightly clutching his piggy bank. Harry tugged out the stopper and offered the florist £2.15, a couple of euro coins, a slightly furry M&M and a fistful of buttons which had been fed, unnoticed, into the slot; she assured him that this was exactly the right amount, causing him to swell with pride. He strolled around the house that evening chuckling to himself and pausing occasionally to whisper ‘Shhhh!’ theatrically whenever I entered the room. Happy days.
..and also planning a decadent weekend break to Paris in June with my best friend; decadent because it means 48hrs of being grown-up, footloose and fancy-free in one of my favourite cities, with one of my favourite people. We’re already working out how to make the most of each minute, but if you have any insider-secrets or favourite haunts then please do let me know…
… and feeling giddy with joy at my latest junk find; this dilapidated former market stall / flower cart which I found by chance on eBay; it needs TLC and a cosmetic overhaul, but there are so many things I want to do with it (some thoughts below..). Impractical? Yes. Unnecessary? Absolutely. But still, a unique and lovely thing which cost considerably less than a garden bench but will be infinitely more fun..
It needs a canopy, parasol or roof of some kind but renovating it will be a labour of love. We love having parties in the summertime so I’m picturing it hung with flower baskets and stacked high with pitchers of drink and cupcakes, strung with fairy lights to glow as the sun sets.. the possibilities are endless.
pictures above via Pinterest
… and finally I’ve been breaking in my newest happy find; raspberry-coloured Converse hi-tops, to replace my holey and battered much-loved pair. Raspberry (not red, and most definitely not pink) is my favourite colour; a starchy shop assistant once warned me that this was “definitely a play colour, madam, and one you should wear sparingly when you don’t need to be taken seriously”. Pooh to that, say I, and wear it whenever possible, even if it means those around me wincing at the brightness. Even so, these need a bit of scuffing and mud to reduce the box-fresh glare; I’m sure Harry will oblige.
Mud is plentiful at the moment, as we endure the final throes of winter, complete with unpredictable frosts and torrential downpours. Despite this, the prospect of spring is imminent and intoxicating, and we’re busy with Easter crafts and preparing for the arrival of guests. Harry’s nursery friends will descend for a garden Egg Hunt when the clouds abate, a prospect which thrills him.
Back later this week with some of our plans and crafts, and a few ideas to share; have a great week in the meantime!
Kate
LOVE THOSE SHOES!!!!
Oh my goodness I can’t wait to see what you do with that cart! xo
Love that old flower cart! Seriously, what a find. And it’s only March so you might be able to use it this summer. Can’t wait to see what you do with it. xx
What a fabulous pair of shoes – and I want the flower cart (not sure where I would put it though just know that I’m adding it to my dream house wants).
Paris is lovely but I’ve only been once my first holiday with my now husband and we spent a lot of time just walking the streets admiring everything.
The cart is lovely! I can’t wait to see what you do with it. And let’s not forget the shoes! A big yippee for them. I just got myself a turquoise pair of Converses. I was also told those were shoes for kids. pooh I say to that as well.
That flower cart is a fantastic find and those shoes… I love the colour!
I love your new shoes! great colour!
And Paris! My favourite city too – I have lots of posts of my travels there on my blog – with one all about all the crafty shops I visited…..my favourite is Entree des Fournisseurs in the lovely Marais – where you can also buy from Florence Finkelstajn’s beautiful bakery on Rue Rosiers or have falafel from the most famous falafel shop in Paris.
Food markets – another place I love to go – the market on Rue Richard Lenoir, near the Bastille on Sunday mornings or
As for things to eat – guimauve (homemade marshmallows) from Au Pain du Sucre are definitely one of my favourites and having lunch at the Mosque du Paris..or Rue Mouteffard and Place Monge. Try ice cream from the amazing Berthillon, Rue St Louis on Ile de la Cite.
Fantastic list, thanks Di! I’ve just found the online site for Entree des Fournisseurs at your recommendation and it looks like somewhere I could spend the entire weekend – divine! And thanks for the food market tip; I have a book which lists a myriad of different ones dotted across the city so you’ve helped me avoid simply sticking a pin in the book and taking potluck..
I should have written that it is also a market at Place Monge and Rue Mouttefard – Rue Mouttefard is more shops that spill out into open spaces, with a small number of market stalls at the bottom and on Place Monge which is just around the corner. And yes, Entree des Fournisseurs is amazing! I love their wool felt (which is the same as you can get at Cloth in Soho but lots more colours) and their ribbons. If you want to go to La Droguerie it is often better to go to the one in Au Bon Marche, the department store in the 6th arrondisement which also has a good selection of fabric and wool and a lovely foodhall!
Love Paris, you simply must visit Les Cocettes by Christian Constant! Fabulous low-key modern French food. We loved it, as has everyone we told about it.
Reviews are stellar as well:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187147-d783857-Reviews-Les_Cocottes_de_Christian_Constant-Paris_Ile_de_France.html
I love that expression – a ‘play colour’! Fab shoes, even fabbier cart! Can’t wait to see what you do with it. I’m imagining bunting, some sort of shelving to create height for whatever you choose to use it for, ooh yes and a brightly coloured, striped awning… eek! so many options!
Jones x
Please pass on big thanks from me to Harry for drawing my name! Very exciting and I shall enjoy choosing some lovely things to buy. And love the shoes, BTW.
You always take such beautiful photographs. Love ‘em shoes!
I stopped by to say thank you for following Wine and Cheese (Doodles) and stayed to read. Your blog is beautiful, and honestly, it intimidates me and makes me feel a bit like a slacker mom
. I also needed to point out that I love how the shoe saleswoman told you not to wear that color Converse when you wanted to be taken seriously, as if black Converse would convey a more serious tone in say, a job interview….Great stuff. I am now following, a little because I am a bit of a masochist and a little because it’s too gorgeous not to.
What a lovely idea… A cart for any occasion…
I love everything about this post.
Kate, your shoes are awesome ! And the cart … i just cannot wait to see what you do with it ! Your ideas are so great !!! I LOVE YOUR BLOG !
Audrey
I lived in Paris for a year and was dreaming the other day of the Carl Marletti bakery at the bottom of Rue Mouffetard – http://www.carlmarletti.com/. The Grand Mosquee has a gorgeous courtyard where waiters bring runs trays of mint tea and you only notice time has passed when what was your sunny spot becomes shady and the sun moves round. If you pass an Amorino ice cream parlour, you won’t regret it (hot chocolate/coffee is fab too). Le Rouvray fabric shop has lots of amazing things, mainly fabric but some antiquey bits too: http://www.lerouvray.com/fabrics/french.html. I’m so jealous, I want to go back!
La’s due Falafel for the best falafel ever on Rue de Rosiers in le Marais– then get a crepe suzette from the gentleman in the little blue shop on the corner of Rue de Rosiers and Blvd. due Temple. Gerard Mulot for macaroons, Henri le Roux for salted butter caramels (to DIE for!!), and Briezh Cafe in Le Marais for scrumptious Brittany buckwheat crepes and bowls of cider. Avoid most touristy things… just walk everywhere and take every turn you would like. So jealous you get to go! Enjoy!!!