The Paris Market & Brocante

Tea for Two - Christine's Baby Shower

2012-01-27T18:28:00.000-05:00

So besides traveling the world and bringing back the goods, we also design interiors and plan parties and events! Last week, we held a baby shower for Christine Hall - "Tea for Two" (she's having twins!) It was a little nerve-wracking taking photos for Christine Hall (of all people!), but I think I got some good shots. And she looked great! Earl Grey was brewed and served in vintage teapots and a beautiful set of floral mismatched china. Tomato and Cucumber finger sandwiches were served as were blueberry and cranberry scones with clotted cream; (Clotted cream! Delicioso!) made by Susie of of course. A real treat were the raspberry macaroons at the absolute apex of freshness, made by Papillote; so fresh they just crumpled and melted softly in our mouths. Sugar cubes wrapped in paper and little chocolates Marie Antoinette style completed the feted look. Erica Wilson, was the perfect host, having big boiling pots of water at the ready for all the tea, (and how much nicer to pour tea from a pot than dipping around a tea bag!) welcoming guests and doing up the bright pink table arrangements in mint julep cups. And Monica Lynch did these darling invitations!

Half the fun was chatting with Christine's friends - meeting new people and seeing familiar faces once more. Everyone agreed that it was a nice, bright, pleasant and relaxing shower, and a relief not to play "those shower games"

Congratulations Christine!

We had a great time doing Tea for Two!

Simple Prettiness: Mismatched China

2012-01-26T17:29:00.000-05:00

We recently aqcuired some new china pieces - in some very pretty floral and chintz patterns. These stacks are perfect for digging through and finding a few special pieces to add to your mismatched set of china. They're also great for stashing a few in your picnic basket so you'll be all ready to go when the mood strikes. And of course the florals will be pretty much perfect for any picnic occasion.

Come on in and take a look!

Peau d'hiver

2012-01-25T17:53:00.000-05:00

The nonstop sunshine (and heat) isn't here yet, but the air can be dry and now is the time to pamper - especially leading up to Valentine's Day. Cupid has the arrows, but you have to turn his head first! So what do you do for winter skin? Why you slather on everything nature made the previous summer of course! If you've caught any of our Favorite Things segments, you can see virtually everyone here is obsessed with the lip sugar treatment, but we also have some new additions to our skin care line that are just as delectable.

Some ways to enjoy the skin you're in...

Happy Pampering!

Rainy Day Muse: Overcast Overtures

2012-01-24T16:06:00.000-05:00

We have mostly sunny days in Savannah, and that's why I can really appreciate the occasional overcast day when it rolls on in; bringing its grays and smoky whites and tamping down the everyday hues. It's a nice calming and cooling for the psyche. A change in the weather is a change in me.

Overcast with a spot of sunshine:

A Few of Our Favorite Things

2012-01-23T17:58:00.002-05:00

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A Few of Our Favorite Things

Megan Cash

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Megan hopped on board last year during the Christmas rush and she has been invaluable ever since! From sewing up cushions and draperies to creating custom made bow-ties for cats, this girl is handy! She doesn't stop at a needle and thread though, Megan also paints and speaks Welsh! As you can see from her favorites, she has a penchant for the soft feminine classics.

1.For the Love of Old book, 2. Handmade Bow-tie, 3. Tocca Giulietta Eau de Parfum, 4. Crystal Drop Earrings, 5. Silver Pill Case, 6.Poet's Palette Writing Set, 7. Sugar Rose Treatment, 8. Lady WineStopper, 9. Chair Napkin Ring.

What are a few of your favorite things?

Our Candles have Arrived!

2012-01-20T18:38:00.000-05:00

Start the new year fresh with some great new scents from us! We just received a new batch of our signature candles and they will be going fast. Inspired by Paris, but developed and designed by us - all the way down to the graphics. They're handmade in the USA, 100% soy, and come in a reusable metal tin with a clear top. They are super cute! We have three scents available - Montmartre, St. Germain - des - Pres, and my personal favorite, Champs-Elysees. Exclusive to Paris Market. Very very soon we will have our signature page on our website where you can easily navigate to buy our aprons, canvas totes, t-shirts, candles, tea towels and of course our lavender sachets. We're excited to put it all up there for you and I know that 2012 will be the year you see all of last year's behind-the-scenes machinations come to shape.

Happy Weekend!

Proustian Elucidations

2012-01-19T17:52:00.000-05:00

We just received a new shipment of The Proust Questionnaire!

Upon reading through this book I learned that what is known today as the Proustian questionnaire, originated from a book entitled "Confessions: An album to record thoughts, feeling etc." Each page contained the same questionnaire of 24 questions. It was meant to bring hidden feelings to the surface and get a glimpse into the inner world of its participants. It was a popular parlor game and Marcel Proust participated in it twice. Once in 1886, the other circa 1890 (ish) The answers he gave at 20, (the final time he answered it) came to be known as Proust's Questionnaire; --I suppose when a surviving copy was dusted off and printed posthumously. This book includes not only how Proust answered the questionnaire at 16 and 20. (you can expect to find some good answers from Proust of course,) but it also contains the answers of various celebrated figures like Brigitte Bardot, Richard Meier, Lee Radziwill and Tony Parker. And in the original spirit of its ancestor, the book also comes with blank questionnaires, ready for you and family and friends to fill out. It would also be an interesting questionnaire to give to kids as they progress through life - say 5, 10, 15, 20.

Here's how Proust's answered a few of his own questions:

Your favorite virtue: All virtues that are not limited to a sect; the universal virtues.
Your favorite occupation: Reading, dressing, writing verse, history, theater.
Your pet aversion: People who do not feel what is good, who ignore the sweetness of affection.
Where would you like to live: One where certain things that I want would be realized - and where feelings of tenderness would always be reciprocate. (don't we all Marcel!)

It's in the store now, shrink-wrapped and ready for answers!

Chez Isabelle

2012-01-18T17:11:00.000-05:00

We're introducing Chez Isabelle because there are people like me who still have their Christmas Tree up (hey if it's still alive, right?) and could use some gentle nudging. If anybody knows how to make people feel at home its Isabelle, but she also does cool things with her house and knows how to create no-stress but special moments for her family. When I cover breaks upstairs she tells me what's going on and I always imagine one day being adopted by Isabelle. I think a lot of us do. Voici Isabelle in her own words:

(the presents have been opened but my Christmas tree is still up.
And the cat is still sleeping. Maybe I can hang hearts on it for Valentine's Day?)

Noel in the Closet

We celebrated Epiphany. It is time now to open your "Christmas Closet" and clean up what stays in the boxes every year. Time to box the ball ornaments together, wrap the other ornaments individually, pile up the christmas dishes, and put away the kitchen accessories and home accents. And don't forget the outdoor lights!
{{ We still have 50% off Christmas items, so stock up while your putting it all away! }}
In our home, we moved the Christmas Tree in the backyard. Then by a cold winter afternoon, we sit outside with "un chocolat chaud" around our outdoor fireplace, remembering stories of our family and celebrating the King of the Forests.

photo: real simple

Au revoir beau sapin, roi des forets!

à bientôt, Isabelle

That has got to be the most romantic way ever to say goodbye to your Christmas Tree and wrap up the season! Maybe I'll make some hot chocolate this weekend and finally get it out of the house. This is just the starter segment, we plan on shooting some video and doing other fun things à la Paris Market for Chez Isabelle!

Christmas in Paris

2012-01-17T14:24:00.001-05:00

As we enjoy the beginning of this new year and put the holidays out of our mind and in our attic, I still hang on to the memory of this past Christmas. 2011 held so much for me, two of which were marrying my best friend and enjoying our first Christmas together in Paris.

So this week, instead of my typical crafty how-to, I thought I'd present a how-to of a different kind.

Paris, though magical all year long, is especially sparkly during the holiday season.

My husband and I chose to travel to the city of lights this time of year because of the seasonal celebration that is dished out for visitors and locals alike to enjoy.

The city becomes alive with elaborate window displays, twinkling walkways, and a multitude of Christmas Markets. The Paris Christmas Markets are scattered throughout the city, with their inviting clusters of wood chalets offering custom holiday treats like mulled wine, gingerbread, sausages and specialties from various regions of France, and are an essential part of celebrating Christmas in Paris.

The Christmas Market on the Avenue des Champs-Elysées is the largest Christmas market within Paris's city limits. The market stretches from the Champs-Elysées roundabout to the Place de la Concorde. Open beginning on November 19th and lasting until January 2nd, this market is a must see during your holiday visit in Paris.

I recommend making a day of enjoying these spectacular markets.
Be sure to visit their multiple locations, as each and everyone is unique to their area. Some even include great activities for children, taking in a scenic winter stroll, or the opportunity to stock up on traditional foodstuffs, handcrafted toys, clothing and other gift items.

Some other Christmas Market locations are:
Christmas Market at La Défense (near the Grand Arche)

Christmas Market and Ice Rink at Trocadero (across from the Eiffel Tower)
Christmas Market and Santa's Village at place Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Christmas Market at the Montparnasse Tower (in front of Gare Montparnasse, facing the tower)
Christmas Market at Place de la Nation
Christmas Market at the Place des Abbesses

It was so incredible to spend my honeymoon holiday in Paris. I can't imagine being in a more romantic, charm filled city for Christmas. I scored some great gifts for family and friends at the holiday markets, and had enough mulled wine to last me until the next chilly Christmas season.

For more photos of my travels, stop by my corner of the web world. From this moment to next weeks how-to spotlight, this newlywed will be dreaming of Christmas in Paris.

xo, Jessica

Go with Garnet

2012-01-16T17:44:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday January Babies!

use a bit of go-go garnet to lift your spirits and jump-start your new year's projects.

1.Lighted Carousel Letters (which will be available on our website later this week!) 2.Tandem Bicycle, 3. Travel Suitcases, 4. Studded Velvet Chair (just in last week!) 5. Crystal Ladybug Paperweight, 6. Velvet Pillow 26" x 26", 7. Red Letter Plate, 8. Mexican Lux Votive

Ode to Malevich à la table

2012-01-13T17:37:00.001-05:00

I dedicate today to the artist Malevich, and what his artistic viewpoint can do for a table!

Kasmir Malevich:

Suprematist Composition: White on White, 1918

{ white on white }

{ gold on gold }

Happy Inspiration, and have a great weekend!

Magic Lantern Slides

2012-01-12T17:24:00.000-05:00

I recently came across these really cool hand painted slides in our back room of treasures.

Called magic lantern slides, they were illuminated by a lamp and magnified, and the glass slides created a world of glowing colour. By dissolving and superimposing images from up to six lanterns, simple animation could be achieved and exciting multimedia productions could be experienced. To give you an idea of just how cool this was before cinema as we know it I direct you to a re-telling of Phantasmagoria - the first show ever performed in public, in Paris, in 1799.

From Victorian Station:
The Phantasmagoria was held in an old convent that was converted into a magic-lantern theater. Dark passages decorated with mysterious pictures and the bones of dead monks led the audience to a catacomb hung with black velvet and lighted by a single lamp. The audience sat facing a screen behind which Robertson's magic-lanterns and assistants were hidden. He began by discussing "in scientific terms" the sensations created by thoughts of phantoms and witches. Suddenly the lamp went out. Thunder roared and lightning flashed. Church bells tolled, the lightning and thunder increased, and a tiny figure -- half-human, half-demon -- appeared in the air, shimmering and ghostly. Gradually the figure seemed to approach, growing larger and larger, until suddenly it disappeared with a wail. Bats fluttered on the walls, ghosts and goblins groaned, skeletons came hurtling toward the audience. The show was a smash success -- the toast of Paris!

Robertson's performance was staged with the help of several magic lanterns and six assistants, all hidden behind the screen, on which the images were rear-projected. To make the images change size, Robertson used lanterns fitted with special self-focusing lenses, and mounted on large wheeled platforms. The lanterns could move backwards from the translucent screen, making the goblins and skeletons appear suddenly larger, as though they were moving toward the audience. Other images were projected on smoke, which make them swirl magically. Others were projected on the walls with hand-held lanterns, so that bats could flicker in the corners and dive-bomb the women's hair.

Half a century later the Phantasmagoria was still going strong. Joseph Boggs Beale, the man who would later become America's leading magic-lantern artist, saw a Phantasmagoria show as a young man in Philadelphia during the 1850s. The Phantasmagoria intensified the tradition of ghost and goblin shows from the lantern's early days of the wandering showmen, and led to a whole genre of macabre magic-lantern slides. By the nineteenth century this genre was a standard part of the repertoire of the magic-lantern showman who traveled the country, playing in theaters great and small.

We don't have anything ghoulish, but we do have some cute little stories and nice pictoral scenes on our slides. Judging by the style they are probably of Beale's generation and can be dated anywhere from the late 1880's to the early 1900's.

It's interesting how projection is such an old technology yet still ubiquitously used today. I remember turning the slide projector at the beep in music class in 1986, gazing at the projections of picasso's painting in art history class in the early 2000's and of course suffering through the Powerpoint presentations of today. Not to mention going to the movies. I do appreciate though, that projection was first used to delight, and it's still the most popular aim today. Projection is a means of storytelling that never seems to go out of fasion.

The American Magic-Lantern Theater is still recreating the magic lantern shows of the 1890's. You can check them out here: http://www.magiclanternshows.com/

A Few of Our Favorite Things

2012-01-11T10:00:00.003-05:00

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A Few of Our Favorite Things

Molly Nichols

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Molly jumped on board last year and we're so glad she did. After spending two years in France, she now calls Savannah, and of course The Paris Market, home!

When she's not working here, you might find her teaching French at Armstrong University, running half marathons, trekking through the Sahara or building bookcases from old wine cases. That's Molly - an inventive and cultured soul. And here are a few of her favorite things!

1. Felt Garland (on sale!), 2. Burgundy Kantha-stitched pillow (sorry, she bought these today!) 3. Fresh Sugar Eau de Parfum, 4. Vintage Map, 5. Water Book, 6. Earth Book, 7. Growth Book, 8. Printer's Cabinet, 9. Comic Book Slides 10. Yarn Ball from India

What are a few of your favorite things?

The Resolutions Pile Up

2012-01-09T15:02:00.062-05:00

We recently put up a New Year's Tree where we could all join in the fun of re-creating ourselves and lay out our best intentions for the New Year. The result was a tree of cascading resolutions dangling for all to read. Here are some of them now. Cascading once more!

video by: Lauren DeRosa 
music: "J'ai Deux Amores" by Madeline Peyroux 

New Arrivals Coming In!

2012-01-06T18:12:00.000-05:00

Vintage China, Clocks, Corkscrews, & Hats!

{all the perfect elements for a warm winter garden party!}

Happy New Windows

2012-01-05T17:28:00.001-05:00

Hercules watching over Broughton Street

Fortune favors the brave
-Virgil, Aeneid

Resolutions that won't bring you down

2012-01-04T16:46:00.000-05:00

A few things we can cheerfully go about accomplishing in 2012:

Eating Better

Managing our Weight

Smelling Nicer

Sparkling & Shining Daily

Relaxing More

Traveling More

Hanging out with Friends more

Something I like to keep in mind:

"If you have two loaves of bread,

sell one and buy a hyacinth."

-Persian saying

Here's to resolutions we can keep!

A Few of our Favorite Things

2012-01-03T13:20:00.000-05:00

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A Few of our Favorite Things

Shannon Bryant 

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Shannon has been working on and off at The Paris Market since 2008! And we finally grabbed her today to get the low down on her favorites. When she's not concocting creative libations for our patrons, she's off studying English at UGA at Athens. Her favorite writer is Faulkner (!!) Watch out for Shannon y'all, she's serious! And here are a few of her favorite things:

1. Rose Chandelier, (I love this one too!) 2. Beetle & Butterfly Pillows, 3. Retro racing car, 4. Mustache Chair, 5. Our Collection of Vintage Magazines, 6.Dean & Deluca Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans, 7. Cleopatra Eau de Parfum by Tocca. (gorgeous scent!) 8. The Pearl Letters

What are a few of your favorite things?

It's a New Year at The Paris Market!

2012-01-02T17:25:00.000-05:00

Hopefully we all partied hard and slept hard these past weeks, because 2012 is here. And it's time to bring it! Here that means consultations about floor displays, what to buy, what not to buy, what we're all so over and what we want more of. Don't worry, we will always have the perennial favorites like the soap from Marseilles - we will never stop carrying that, and the Pearl Letters - even though we can't seem to keep them in stock and sometimes don't have the letter you want! In other news we have been absolutely bled dry of Tocca. Stella was flying out a few days before Christmas, but will return shortly. The jewelry is also selling quickly. I don't think we picked any stinkers this year! Our book selection has also taken a big hit. Some of our nice big glossy volumes have been snatched up. There are still some nice ornaments clinking around in nice shades of blue and purple at 50% FYI. But Santa has definitely blown through here. And its time to replenish. You know what Spinoza said: "Nature abhors a vacuum." And so do we!

Shelby, Christina, and Kelsey discussing notes and possible floorplans...and where all the new goodies will go.

Stay tuned for when we go shopping in a few weeks and get more goodies to bring to Market!

We have a lot of unique furniture pieces and items we find at estate sales, which I'll be featuring more of in the New Year, but here's to the Favorites that keep coming in and keep going out just as fast.

Our Marseille Soap - available in rose, lavender and verbena; the delicous brown sugar body polish, the lovable knitted dolls, the famous Pearl Letters, our coffee bar faves like white forest mocha, and of course the lovable mice - cozied up in their sleeping box.

New Year Countdown

2011-12-30T15:05:00.000-05:00

It was a big year for us!
The Paris Market's Memorable Moments of 2011
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London turned 2, and It was a zoo!

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Fashion Night Out was a big hit!
Re-live the night here and check out the fabulous windows here

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Jessie's Wedding Day! We have yet to do a post on her special day, but it was breathtaking. Jessie will also be reporting back about her honeymoon in Paris!

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The Writer in the Window perched for awhile and wrote on-demand.

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The Lettie Briggs Letterpress came to town!
Monica Lynch created beautiful and unique letterpress work.

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We launched our new website!

www.theparismarket.com

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Our Signature Candles also made their debut this year!

Read about the inspired scents here.

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Our trip to New York for The National Stationary Show was a blast.
Read more in Paper, Pastis, Proseco & James Franco

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And of course we had a lot of fun with our displays and windows.

A. Bras on Broughton, B. Autumn Window, C. Christmas Window, D. Shelby's moth

A big thank you to all our Paris Market Friends and Fans for making 2011 so fantastic!

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Here's to another fabulous year in 2012
Cheers!

Chinese New Year

2011-12-29T16:26:00.000-05:00

Nine Dragon Screen, Datong, Shanxi, China.

I know that Chinese New Year isn't until January 23rd. But what can I say, I am in the New Year Spirit and we have a great little display downstairs in tribute to how the Chinese celebrate the New Year! I also like this idea of decorating for the New Year with lanterns. Seems very apropos. And p.s., come January 23rd, its the year of the Dragon!

Chinese New Year is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. In China it is also know as “Spring Festival,” marking the difference between the Western and traditional Chinese methods for measuring the seasons. Throughout the different regions of China, celebrations and customs for the New Year vary. One of these traditions include families thoroughly cleaning their houses to signify sweeping away ill fortunes in hopes of receiving the luck of the New Year. Entryways are decorated with red and yellow paper lanterns and cutouts with popular themes of “wealth”, “longevity”, and “happiness."

On the Eve of Chinese New Year, supper is a feast with families. Food will include such items as pigs, ducks, chicken and sweet delicacies. The family will end the night with firecrackers. Early the next morning, children will greet their parents by wishing them a healthy and happy new year, and receive money in red paper envelopes. The Chinese New Year tradition is to reconcile, forget all grudges and sincerely wish peace and happiness for everyone.

恭喜发财 - gong xi fa cai (pronounced go-ong see fa chi-ai)
"Wishing you prosperity"

万事如意 - wan shi ru yi (pronounced oo-an shee roo ee)
"May everything you do goes as you wished"

心想事成 - xin xiang shi cheng (pronounced sin see-ang shee che-eng)
"May all your wishes come true"

2012 Cometh

2011-12-28T10:00:00.002-05:00

I have to admit, Christmas was great but I'm happy to put the Christmas music away and focus on future endeavors. I'm a big fan of the future, mostly because I haven't screwed it up yet. Its floating slightly ahead of me, just out of reach -the way coyotes stay just far enough away from the fire so you can't see them. You can just hear them yipping and yowling and their paws scampering over the dusty dirt. And now I'm hearing 2012 a-yowling! Its less than a week away! This year was a big one for me. I was lucky enough to work on projects I wanted to work on, find a job (not always easy), battle my food allergies, make some great friends and be introduced to new ideas. Of course there's also stuff I'd rather forget, and turning the 2011 page, no matter how proverbial it is, helps me let go of all the ick. A fresh calender, a fresh stack of paper, a fresh year. 2011, You've made me happy, you've made me weary. Time to say goodbye.

We have a New Year's Resolution Tree in the store. Please come downstairs and share some resolutions / wishes with us. We love to read them and it helps us get inspired for the New Year too!

Some of our favorites have been:

~ to begin living (at 53) ~ Ray

~ Success is found in the least expected and treaded on my many, go there, succeed! ~ Keszie M.

~ LOVE fully, DREAM extravagantly, GIVE graciously, BELIEVE deeply, THINK creatively ~ LR

Let us know in the comments section!

Christmas at the Aerodrome!

2011-12-27T16:18:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite holiday recollections of all time is A Christmas Story by Jean Shepherd. I too, had a father who cursed mightily at the oil burner, snowsuits we couldn't move in, and a brother who'd sometimes return home bloody from neighborhood fights.

I thought I would find some good holiday stories floating around among us at The Paris Market, although sadly some people are out this week and I couldn't pick everyone's brain. However, Isa was in today and had the most charming Christmas story ever!

Isabelle Brassard: Now we know where she caught the adventure bug!

Christmas at the Aerodrome - as told to me by Isabelle Brassard

"I grew up in a small village in France called Vinon sur Verdon, it was only about 3,000 people. And my grandfather Alban, was president of the local aerodrome - a small airport for private planes and many people would fly in from England and Germany and the surrounding areas. But every Christmas, Santa would arrive by plane and land in the airfield! All of us kids would race out on our bikes to meet him - a group of us all pedaling as fast as we could, tearing down to the landing strip! We felt like we were in E.T. Like we were flying! It was so much fun. Then Santa -dressed in his red suit with his big bag of toys - would hand out little tea sets to the girls, and trains and things to the boys. Oh it was so much fun!"

Santa's view: Coming in for a Landing at Vinon de Verdon (image: panoramio)

LOVE IT!

Thanks for a great story Isabelle!

Bon Voyage Vanessa!

2011-12-26T17:21:00.000-05:00

Vanessa on her last day!

Our lovable barista Vanessa is leaving us for adventures in Portland! So Sad! We featured Vanessa and her Favorite Things here. Plus, she's the only person I know with a raccoon tattoo on her arm. I love raccoons! We are all going to miss little Ms. Cheerful. Have a great time in Portland and stay in touch!

Holiday Haberdashery

2011-12-23T16:45:00.000-05:00

100% cotton neckties and bow ties now for sale at The Paris Market!

Megan Cash handmakes these fabulous and unique items.

Learning of her handmade haberdashery skills, I asked if she could make some special pet bow ties for my two furballs at home, Philbert and Sunny Bear. They go to a lot of parties this time of year and they are always complaining that they have nothing to wear. So, I dug through my fabric stash and found these:

And voila, Megan worked her magic!

This bowtie is so amazing! How did you know it was just what I wanted for Christmas?

This bowtie is just purrfect. I love the color. I feel so fantastic!

Thank you Ms. Megan Cash!

A Crafter's Guide: Peppermint Package

2011-12-23T10:00:00.000-05:00

This weeks Crafter's Guide is in the spirit of gift giving.
It can be a challenge bringing that personalized Christmas cheer to faraway friends and family. Instead of wrapping up your gifts to-go the old fashioned way this holiday season, try this peppermint inspired package idea to warm the hearts of your loved ones and show off your Christmas spirit.

Supplies Needed

Colored Felt

Scissors

Gift Tags

Glue Gun

Ribbon

Candy Filler

Gift Boxes

Step One

Cut your colored felt into 1.5 inch strips. Proceed to then cut half inch slits down each strip of felt. Make sure to leave at least a quarter of an inch at base of each strip.

Step Two
Roll each strip of felt on uncut end to create a pompom. Dab a spot of hot glue at the end of strip to secure and prevent unraveling.
Note: Try alternating colors and layering to strips together to create a multicolored pompom.

Step Three
Using your glue gun, attach your tag and ribbon to the gift box.

Step Four
Coat the back of your pompom with glue and attach to your box. Use as many or as little as you want follow your creative instincts. Try off-setting your ribbon and decor or use different sized pompoms and create a covered package.

Step Five

Fill your mailing box with your festive gifts and use your candy filler to create an unforgettable backdrop and spread seasonal cheer.

I cannot wait until my faraway friends and family open their Christmas packages this year!

A few more tips to help your gifts reach their destination safely.

Don't reuse old shipping cartons. Package gifts in a new box that will stand up to the rigors of holiday shipping volumes. Old cartons may collapse and may display previous address and return address information that could misdirect the package.
Place labels directly on the shipping carton. Don't wrap shipping cartons -- old or new -- in brown paper. If the paper is torn from the box during shipping, the shipping label will be lost too -- and the package may become undeliverable.
Place delivery information inside the package, as well as on the delivery label. If the delivery label is lost, the carrier will still be able to complete delivery.
Duct tape is for ducts, not for shipping packages. Duct tape loses its grip in cold weather, and masking tape, painter's, and electrical tape are not strong enough to stand up to the shipping process.
No strings attached! Don't tie packages up with string. String can get caught in sorting machines, resulting in mangled packages and damaged contents.

Happy Holidays and as always Happy Crafting!

xo, Jessica

Last minute gifts for the hard to please

2011-12-21T16:56:00.000-05:00

For the Car Buff:

For the Young Archeologist:

For the Really Special:

For the Upwardly Mobile:

For Crafty Children of Designers:

For the niece or nephew you haven't seen in a few years:

For those who like a Polished Look:

For Vintage Lovers who have everything...except this:

For the Warm-hearted but Cold-blooded:

If they loved My Week with Marilyn:

For those with Something to Say:

For the New Arrival:

For the Cat Lady:

For The Paris Market Lovers:

For those who love to set a lovely table:

If you really have no idea: Get an ornament!

Good Luck Merry Shoppers!!

Seasons Greetings Y'all!!

2011-12-20T16:57:00.000-05:00

The Karma God or The Importance of Christmas Trees

2011-12-19T16:10:00.000-05:00

If I have a bad thought about someone, I immediately stub my toe on the sofa and hop around on one leg until I fall over. If I curse up a storm and yell “a pox on all their houses,” the cat knocks a thumbtack or a saw-tooth picture hanger off the table and my foot plunges right into it. My husband then has to come over and pulls these things out of my foot.

“Why are you laughing?” he often asks, “Doesn’t it hurt?”

“Yes it hurts!” I laugh, “God, it hurts it hurts it hurts.”

Even when I haven’t done anything wrong, I’m mired in something –like last year’s Christmas for example. We didn’t get a Christmas Tree because it just didn’t make the budget. I had discussed this with my husband, wondering if it would be an especially tragic event. We decided that while it was too bad, it was something we could forgo. I didn’t get that upset about it, despite constantly hearing stories that opened with “We didn’t have much, but we always had a Christmas tree…” And though I felt more than a tinge of irritation when I saw a tree lighting up the window of our neighbors upstairs, I just put it out of my head. I really didn’t feel truly bad about it until I needed something in the basement and I came across all the ornaments lying dormant in their boxes. I suddenly regretted having kept the lid on an occasion to celebrate. They sat there limply missing out on their one and only purpose. It felt like a sad waste, and I wished we could have gotten a tree.
Then, on Christmas Eve I got a voicemail from Trump Tower in New Rochelle. They had a package for me. They were sorry, but they had mistakenly signed for it in the “Christmas Rush” and that they would hold on to it for me. They would keep it refrigerated, per the box instructions, and wait for my call. I knew it was medicine that I was expecting. I was so grateful that it hadn’t been returned to Fedex for another round of return and re-delivery that I called on Christmas and said I would be right over. So we drove up to Trump Tower and I ran inside and stopped short and drew back my breath at the sight of not one, but two twenty foot Christmas Trees, reaching high into the ceiling, bedecked, bejeweled, betwinkled with white lights and red velvet bows running all around. I had to laugh. Behold the Karma God, the trickster who comes in all directions. -lauren de rosa

Here's to Christmas Trees and the joy they bring they us!

Susie goes to Amsterdam

2011-12-16T15:13:00.000-05:00

Well it happened again. I blinked and Susie jetted off to Amsterdam to rendez-vous with her husband Chris. Si chic, non? She did a lot of chilling, went to the concertgebouw, visited coffee shops and did a little shopping. On the food report, there was lots of Indonesian food, Good Thai food, a plethora of Argentinian Steakhouses and a new Dutch favorite for her: Hutspot! (Potatoes, ground carrots with sausage) Sounds like some delicious comfort food to me. She made it over to Rijksmuseum and the famous Concertgebouw, known to have some of the best acoustics in the world. Here are some shots from her trip!

detailed and leaning buildings built on canals, and gorgeous wood shutters

to market to market, to buy some fresh food...

Salut Susie!

When you get tired of walking around and visiting coffee shops (haha) There's also plenty of art to see:

Hanging at the Rijksmuseum: Vermeer's "Humble Milkmaid"

Of course you will find some Rembrandt there too; "The Night Watchman"

And don't forget to check out this guy at the Van Gogh Museum

Happy Adventures this holiday season,

wherever you travels take you!

Celebrate the Season: Israel

2011-12-15T15:15:00.000-05:00

The Festival of Lights!

Hanukah is a holiday of freedom and faith, celebrating the Jewish victory over the Syrian-Greeks and commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. According to tradition, when the Jews cleaned the temple, they found only a small container of oil, enough to light their holy lamps for just one day. Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days, until new oil could be made and purified.

Often called the Festival of Lights, it begins on the eve of the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev (usually in December), and lasts for 8 nights. Hanukah begins on the 21st this year! This holiday is usually celebrated by the kindling of the lights of a unique candelabrum, called the Menorah or “Hanukah” Traditional Menorahs consist of eight branches with an additional branch to hold the candle called a “shamash”, Hebrew for “attendant”, which is given a distinct location, usually above or below the rest. The shamash is used to light the other candles, lighting from right to left. A candle is lit for each night of Hanukah, celebrating each night the oil lasted.

It’s popular for children to receive gifts for each night of Hanukah, and to spin the dreidel, a four-sided top with Hebrew letters written on each side. Chocolate coins covered in tin foil called Gelt are part of this game. And because Hanukkah celebrates the miracle of oil, it’s traditional to eat fried foods such as latkes. Latkes are pancakes made out of potatoes and onions, which are fried in oil and then served with applesauce.

Enjoy the Season!

A Crafters Guide: Greeting Card Garland

2011-12-14T17:56:00.000-05:00

Hello again Paris Market readers!

It's Jessica your go-to how-to girl, bringing you another holiday craft that will swing you into the seasonal spirit.

I love the detail of decorating during this time of year. Every surface covered with the twinkle and magic of Christmas. One of my favorite holiday adornments is the garland. Whether strung up on a tree or lining your mantle, these little strands of seasonal cheer really can create a special atmosphere for you and your guests to enjoy.

This week we will be creating our own unique garlands out of greeting cards and vintage bits to send the message of Christmas for all to see.

Supplies Needed

5 vintage holiday greeting cards

75 inch strip of grosgrain ribbon

Vintage magazine, newspaper, or printed paper

Craft Glue

Scissors

Star shaped cookie cutter

Glitter

Colored twine

Step One

Using your star shaped cookie cutter, trace and cut 16 stars out of your vintage magazine. I chose to just use black and white images since all my holiday cards are in color. I thought the contrast was really interesting. Have fun with the images you choose to cut out. Try pairing just plain text with a picture of a snow covered hill or maybe a christmas tree ad.

Note: If you don't have access to vintage magazines, try finding some printed paper that inspires you at your local craft store.

Step Two

Using a small strip a glue, adhere your greeting cards to your length of grosgrain ribbon. Space each card roughly 8 inches apart.

Note: My garland is made for a 65 inch long mantle. When making your own custom garland, measure your mantle or hanging space first and then adjust length accordingly.

Step Three

Cut 8 pieces of colored twine. With a brush and your glue, coat one side of your paper star. Place one end of twine at the top of your star and then sandwhich the twine with a second star. By doing this, you are hiding your hanging twine and creating a clean polished look. Continue this process until you make 8 completed stars.

Step Four

Create an accent star for your garland. I chose to use a set of wooden stars found at a local craft store and covered them in glitter. Make your garland your own by choosing a foiled paper or a small ornament.

Step Five

Grouping 3 stars together (2 paper and 1 accent), tie a knot onto the grosgrain ribbon in between each greeting card. I chose to layer each star at different heights to give them a falling look. Repeat this step 4 times until each space between your greeting cards is full.

And Voila! Now it's time to trim your tree, mantle, or doorway with your handmade greeting card garland!

I can just feel the crafty christmas spirit taking over!
Tune in next Wednesday for another holiday how to and be sure to pop by my blog home, Strawberry Moth for more how tos, vintage love, and handmade projects!

Happy Crafting!

xo, Jessica

A Few of Our Favorite Things

2011-12-13T14:42:00.000-05:00

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A Few of Our Favorite Things

Paula Danyluk

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I know, y'all thought we would never get to her right? Well we were saving the best for last! I once called her the "idea lady" Paula Danyluk is the woman who started this whole ball of vintage wax back in 2005, along with her husband Taras. Inspired by her love of world travel and world cultures, she brings back the most luxe, the most interesting, the most unique, in short the Creme de la Creme from her travels and we get the spectacular and inspiring feast that is The Paris Market. She also let's everyone who works here be as creative as they want and even once entertained an odd writer who wanted to sit in the window with her typewriter. Go Paula!

I'll let her take you through a few of her favorite things...
1. Fresh Tinted Lip Treatment in Plum:  Love the translucent color.  Keep it in my purse at all times. Rub a little in on my cheeks as  needed during the day.

2. Fresh sugar scrub: A must before every party or when you are showing a little more skin than usual. It gives your skin a silky feeling and glow which is perfect for the holidays.

3. Love the vintage perfume bottles and case from India. The faded velvet interior make this piece feel so nostalgic.

4&5 The new felt and leather bags we got in. I bought the carry all for myself and the iPad cover for my husband!

6. Beaton: The Art of the Scrapbook. This book is just plain fabulous! In the course of his decades-long career as a photographer for Vogue and Vanity Fair, as well as a British war correspondent, Cecil Beaton documented lives both famous and quotidian. Composed of his own prints and clippings from magazines, newspapers, and playbills, the pages are a rich narrative of his creative process. Love it.

7. My daughter loves this little french doll, "Jeanne". Her hair looks like ours when we wake up!

8. I love, love, love vintage dishes. The more the merrier. I don't want anything to match but every piece should have some age.

What are a few of your favorite things?
 

And the stockings were hung by a young opportunist.

2011-12-12T17:02:00.000-05:00

Handmade stockings by Jessie Matz - Cotton and Burlap

As a young(er) one, I learned that if you hung up your stocking, Santa would come and fill it up with goodies. Cogitating on such a wonderful phenomena, it hit me that this would be a great way for all the family pets to get something too! I mean, how would Santa know there were pets to be gifted if they didn’t have their stocking hanging up! Assuming the mantle of goodwill to all, I cut out two pieces of white felt and stitched one up with red thread for my cat Smokey. Sewing felt together was hard on a seven year old’s hands, and I wasn't sure I could finish many more by Christmas Eve, so I snooped around in the cabinet underneath the record player and I found three little stockings that had come with our McDonald’s happy meals. The hamsters Thumbelina, Hunkamunka and Jasper would all have to share one. The other one went to the three parakeets we had: Sweetie Pie, Honey Bun, and Cutie Boy. And the fish would have gotten a stocking too except right at this glorious moment a voice from the kitchen came: “I don’t think the fish need a stocking. I mean, really, what’s Santa going to bring them?”
Anyways, Santa came through. The hamsters got treats-sticks, the cat got toys, and the birds got a new cuddle bone. Success! And the poor fish didn’t get anything-----because they didn’t hang up a stocking! Thanks a lot Mom! Wow, only seven and already playing the system. I have no idea why I write. I should have gotten my MBA.

Don't forget to hang up your stocking!

Celebrate the Season: Argentina

2011-12-08T13:48:00.000-05:00

Argentine Christmas traditions are a combination of European, American and Hispanic conventions. Christmas dinner is served on the night of December 24 and normally includes roast pork or peacock as the main dish with stuffed tomatoes, mince pies and iced beverages. A favorite traditional dish of the people here is 'Ninosenvuettas' - a steak preparation served with minced meat, onions, boiled eggs and spices. Other food attractions of the event include special toast prepared with a variety of fruits and blended with juice and cider and a grilled meat dish called 'Parrillada Argentina'. The desserts mainly include regional delicacies like 'Turrons', which is a type of candy, and 'Pan Dulce' or 'Panettone', which is a sweet bread topped with fruits and nuts .

Traditionally, Argentineans observe the holiday with most of Christmas Day spent in Church services. At the stroke of midnight, families gather to attend church services and celebrate "La Navidad"

The twelve days of Christmas celebrations last until January 6 and ends with extravagant feasts and dinner parties for 'Three Kings' Day'. As in other countries that use the Julian calendar, the Magi bring the Argentinean kids gifts on Three Kings Day. On the eve of January 6th, children place their shoes underneath the Christmas tree or beside their beds. They leave hay and water outside the house so the horses of the Magi who bring them their gifts will have a meal as they journey toward the Christ Child in Bethlehem.

A cloche worthy of a king

Christmas in Argentina is warm and because there is no snow, the locals decorate their evergreen Christmas trees with cotton balls to simulate snow on the tree branches. The Christmas trees are also decorated with flowers, laces, balls and candles. The ‘Pesebre’, or the replica of nativity scene, is placed underneath the trees. Wreaths, in green, gold, red and white, adorn the living rooms and kitchens while scented candles are lit to brighten the rooms and red and white garlands are hung on the doors. Another unique Christmas tradition is of lighting ‘globos’ — colorful paper lighting made of flying paper that is used to light up the night sky during Christmas.

Stars and candles make a nice combination for the holiday table:

And keys to remind you of all the doors there are to open in life:

And a set of delicate gold bowls I just love. You just can't go wrong with gold...or frankincense and myrrh, I suppose.

Enjoy the Season!

A Crafters Guide: Holiday Centerpiece

2011-12-07T17:54:00.001-05:00

Hello Paris Market Readers!

My name is Jessica. I am a Paris Market shop gal, vintage fanatic, and how to guru. I have flown over from my blog Strawberry Moth to bring you a series of weekly projects to jump start your handmade heart and spread the holiday spirit.

The holidays are an extra special time for me and my family. I love to decorate my home and create Christmas crafts to add something special to my festive decor. One of my favorite projects is to plan out my table and create a memorable centerpiece. This year I will be creating my very own table tree using my collection of vintage jewelry and antique beads to add a sense of old to the new year to come. This is a great craft to share with friends and little ones, so pull out your jewelry junk drawer and join me on making this unique centerpiece.

Step One

Gather your supplies!

Supplies Needed:

Floral Styrofoam Cone (found at most craft stores)

Glue Gun

Straight Pins

Tube of Acrylic Paint

Paint Brush

Craft Glue

Beads

Vintage Jewelry (Grab bags available at Paris Market)

Any other buttons, gems, or pieces that inspire

I love incorporating vintage pieces into any project! Try using some family hand me downs to add a touch of sentiment to your centerpiece.

Step Two
Using your craft paint, coat your floral cone from top to bottom (I chose white to give my vintage jewelry a pop).

Let your cone completely dry. Use this down time to enjoy a hot cup of cocoa.

Step Three
Once the paint is dry, begin adding your vintage pieces. I chose to use a collage of antique brooches and earrings. If you are using special family items, try just pushing the pin back into the cone avoiding any glue. This way you can preserve your treasures and take them off later.

Try mismatching textures and tones! Or for an extra crafty look, try using vintage buttons!

Step Four

Add some strands of faux pearls or old necklaces to create the shape of garlands. It is a fun way to use up any broken bits you have lying around and will create some depth and detail in your centerpiece.

A glue gun can help string this step along quickly, but for more precious strands that you want to keep in tact try using straight pins to tack down your treasures.

Step Five

To fill in the spaces between your vintage jewelry, try using an assortment of beads as your filler. I chose to use this collection of different sized faux pearls. They make a great contrast to the colors I have chosen for my centerpiece and the different sizes make it possible for me to create various patterns.

I used simple straight pins to attach my beads to my centerpiece. This allows me to move the pearls if needed and also keeps my fingers safe from the hot glue gun. If you're doing this project with you're little one, straight pins are a great way to attach all the pieces and avoid any sticky situations.

I just love all the different textures together!

Step Six

No tree is complete without a star! Once you have finished attaching your pieces you will want to craft a top to your centerpiece. I chose to make my own using a wooden star (craft store find) and some sparkle. When choosing what to use as your topper, try an over sized star burst brooch or your family initial. Whatever you choose it will bring that extra something special to your Christmas creation!

Now step back and admire your craftiness!

We used a palette of silver, whites, and greens to decorate our holiday table. The use of textures and light catching surfaces will give your guests an extra dose of Christmas cheer!

Tune in next Wednesday for another handmade how to, and be sure to come visit me on my blog for more vintage and project love! Happy Crafting!

xo, Jessica

Celebrate the Season: France

2011-12-06T17:21:00.000-05:00

Noel en Provence

When Christmas comes to Provence, every town and village is animated with Christmas markets. Adults and children can find handmade gifts, Christmas ornaments, jewelry, and of course local food.

images: sablethome

But the best part of all is the “Santons” -little figurines dressed in provencal fabrics made from the fine clay of Marseille. The Nativity Scene can represent all the people in the village, such as the mayor, the policemen, bakers, butchers, etc. Homes and animals can also be represented.

skynetblogs

During the month of December, markets remain open to the rhythmn of “pastorals” (songs of Provence) until the Kings are added to the nativity for the Epiphany on January 6^th, an occasion called “The Cake of the Kings”

The big dinner is served on Christmas Eve and requires real staging. The table contains many symbols: Three candles for the Trinity, small balls of red holly, and bread and wine on a white tablecloth. The meal takes place until the hour of midnight mass. It is a meatless meal, as Christmas Eve is a day of abstinence.

Traditionally, there are seven lean dishes with seasonal vegetables, fried cod, mullets with olive, snails along with cardoon, artichokes, stew of eel, octopus stew, gratin of spinach, lentils, omelettes…Each region of Provence has its own customs.

Then there are the 13 desserts! The number 13 is symbolic of the Last Supper - Christ and the 12 apostles. And when the clock strikes midnight on Christmas Eve, Father Christmas fills everyone’s shoes with wonderful gifts!

The Thirteen Desserts

Presented on the same table after the great supper, accompanied by mulled wine.

~ Oil Pump – The “Poumpo”

(based on flour, olive oil, water, orange blossom and brown sugar)

~ White Nougat with Almonds ~

~ Black Nougat with Almonds from Provence ~

~ Candied Lemon ~

~ Calissons of Aix: Candied Melon ~

~ Nuts (represents the order of the Augustinians) ~

~ Almonds (represents the order of the Carmelites) ~

~ Figs (represents the Franciscan order) ~

~ Raisins (represents the order of the Dominicans) ~

~ Winter Pears ~

~ Apples ~

~ Oranges or Mandarins ~

~ Dates ~

Enjoy the Season!

Inspiration at The Paris Market

2011-12-05T16:45:00.000-05:00

Our whole raison d'etre at The Paris Market is to inspire people. From the creative team designing displays (Shelby and Kelsey) and doing special projects (like our fabulous windows) to creating espresso magic at the coffee bar, we love to put our energies and talents together to create an inspired and energetic atmosphere alive with possibilities. So, I get excited when the enthusiasm spills over and people respond to our ambiance by incorporating The Paris Market into something that's special to them. From cheeky photoshoots to weddings to wacky writing projects, The Paris Market has inspired a gamut of creative manifestations. It also allows me to see the store through fresh eyes and gain a new perspective on things. And of course, they always bring their a style and panache all their own.

Vintage inspired shoot with Perla Middleton

Love the angle on this shot and the kicky red heels!

photos: Joe Burke at Seraphim Imaging

model: Perla Middleton

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A pic sent to us via our twitter feed:

photo: Allie Morris

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photos: Lily Lewin, more at her blog ojobox

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Kelsey's wedding: getting ready at The Paris Market

Jessica Keener - Jessica Keener Photography

love this shot!

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And of course, me: I thought it would be the perfect place to write. And it was!

It's all about inspiring people. What's better than that?

What inspires you?

Celebrate the Season: Russia

2011-12-02T16:02:00.000-05:00

Celebrations in Russia

The Russian Orthodox Church follows the Julian calendar and Christmas is celebrated on January 7^th. It is both solemn ritual and joyous celebration. At the onset of the Soviet Regime, religious practice was greatly suppressed and Christmas along with ALL other religious celebrations was banned for many years. It wasn't until 1992 (roughly 75 yrs later) that Christmas was openly celebrated again.

Prior to 1992, Christmas was celebrated under the guise of New Years instead, and St. Nicholas was replaced with Ded Moroz or Grandfather Frost- the Russian spirit of Winter - who brought presents on New Year’s Day. He looks very much like a western Santa but is dressed in a blue suit. He is accompanied by Snyegurochka, or the snowmaid Few, who helps distribute gifts. Of course, the Christmas tree (or Yolka) was also banned, so to keep the custom alive, people decorated New Year’s Yolkas instead. The trees were trimmed with handmade decorations and fruit.

Two interpretations of Ded Moroz "Grandfather Frost"

images left-right: All Creatures and Chrism

When the clock strikes midnight they write their wishes and desires for the New Year on a piece of paper and burn it with a candle. The ash is mixed into a glass of champagne and consumed. Toasts are made for the old and new year to come. Popular beliefs are to return debts before the new year and to wear brand new clothes on New Year’s Day. People celebrate with fireworks, champagne, lavish dinners and gifts, and listen to the President count down the final seconds of the old year. The bells of the Kremlin then chime, ringing in the New Year. Russians welcome the New Year by saying "S Novim Godom" which means "Happy New Year to you" or "Best of luck in the New Year"

Enjoy the Season!

Wrapping it Up

2011-12-01T17:19:00.001-05:00

Some people shop a little all year and then they're completely done by the time Thanksgiving rolls around and they're all ready to go carousing around town enjoying the season without any stress. I am not one of those people. I like shopping in general, for myself, for others...but I have to be psychologically pumped and primed with christmas music, holiday cards, hot chocolate, temperatures below 70 and maybe a little bit of glitter before I get going in full force. I have the most fun when I just go to stores with no lists from anybody and I see something and its just perfect for my mom or for one of my friends that would normally be impossible. Of course we have lots of cool stuff at Paris Market that will make great gifts, but we also have really cute paper and stickers for when your ready to wrap it all up and give it away.

Celebrate the Season: Germany

2011-11-30T10:00:00.002-05:00

This year, we decided to decorate in the spirit of the season around the world, highlighting a few different countries and taking our inspiration from them.

Christmas in Germany

Traditionally, the day of gift giving in Germany is the 6th of December - St Nikolaus day. The night before, children leave their slippers or shoes out by their door or window and in the morning they are full of candy, fruit and small gifts. St. Nikolaus, who wears a bishop’s hat and red velvet robe is followed around by a dark sidekick. In some areas of Germany it is "Knecht Ruprecht", a man dressed in dark robes and a dark beard who carries around braches to beat children who have been bad! An even scarier version is "Krampus" a devil like character who fills the same role.

illustration by Kelsey Garrity-Riley

Krampus!

Advent is a very big part of the Christmas celebration. Advent wreathes (Adventskranz) are very common- made out of pine branches, berries and ribbon with four candles, one candle gets lit each Sunday up until Christmas to mark the waiting for Christ's birth. Advent celebrations are also common in villages - at night booths are set up in the main square, and logs are stood around and lit on fire. Everyone drinks warm spiced wine, eats bratwurst and the children stick dough on the end of long sticks to cook over the firelogs.

In general, the aesthetic of the holiday is a very natural and nostalgic one- famous German ornaments are made out of shiny glass or carved wood, and houses and towns are decorated with fresh trees and berries and branches.

The Christmas tree itself is of German origin (called Tannenbaum). They are typically set up on Christmas Eve and decorated with lighted candles, tinsel, and candy etc. The song "Oh Christmas Tree" is of German origin as is the popular Silent Night.

Enjoy the Season!

Cozy up your computers

2011-11-29T12:32:00.000-05:00

We have some really fabulous bags to put under your tree this year. Felt and leather totes, laptop covers, ipad pouches and little phone cozies. They feel beautiful and these covers are an instant classic in their simplicity. Choose from these bright cheerful colors, or go with a sophisticated neutral. These will be a big hit this year I can tell. After all they do for us, don't our little machines deserve something cute and cozy?

Our Christmas Windows are Up

2011-11-28T16:39:00.000-05:00

...and the Holiday Season is officially here!

Windows by artist/illustrator Kelsey Garrity-Riley

Stop on by and take a look!

Black Friday Bounty

2011-11-25T13:25:00.000-05:00

Okay, so there was no "midnight madness", but we definitely have Black Friday Bounty going on. It's been a busy and festive morning. I still have to get a shot of the new windows to show y'all - they look great by the way - (early next week I promise) but for now, here's some shots of The Paris Market on Black Friday Morning!

En route the The Paris Market:

Sure honey, If you don't make me shop, I will happily watch your bags:

Just happy to be here:

One cute couple:

Serious shopper checking out our insect books, with Lemonade the Dog looking on:

Our magnificent elf dancing over the coffee bar!

One happy girl finds a treasure:

Santa's helpers on soda break:

Happy Holiday Weekend. Enjoy your time together!

Take a seat at the Table

2011-11-23T10:00:00.001-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Safe Travels, Good Cheer and Many Blessings to All.

(And don't forget to be nice to your family!)

Weekend Adventures

2011-11-22T14:55:00.001-05:00

This book could not have come out at a better time. So many times you have just a few days in a place (like during Thanksgiving travels) and you want to get to the good stuff right away, or at least have a jumping off point; it's also great for when you fly in somewhere for a weekend wedding and just have no idea where to start. Taken the from the popular "36 Hours" column in the Travel Section of the New York Times, this books offers up ideas, practical itineraries and and advice for 150 Weekends in the USA and Canada in you guessed it, roughly 36 hours. They break it down into days, with maps and photos to whet your tastebuds. You can easily construct a weekend getaway or simply thumb through it to get ideas exposed yourself to places you never even thought about going to.

Inside:

Ahh, Such is the beauty of travel, you go for one thing and you find so much more. You just need that one little seed to get you started. When I did my little stint through Europe, I bought a Lets Go Europe book and while I was aware that Botticelli's Birth of Venus was in the Uffizi, I had no idea I could also go see the Michelangelo's original "David" across the way at the Accademia Gallery. Also, that book let me in on the fact that I could get my tickets to the Uffizi online ahead of time, thereby passing the horrendous line of people with a 2 hour wait. Travel books are totally worth it. And when I went on my honeymoon, (we had longer than 36 hours) I was only thinking about going to see the giant redwoods in California, and upon further poking around with research and maps we found that Joshua Tree might also be worth the drive since we were already in California and had all our camping stuff with us. What started out as a trip to The Great Sequoias turned into a full on road trip hitting up Palm Springs, splurging for dinner at St. James, and continuing on to Desert Hot Springs where we drank mineral water you could really describe as "delicious" We camped out two nights at Joshua Tree where we saw the sugary Milky Way take on dimension and heard the coyotes yipping by our tent just shy of being visible in the campfire. It was totally worth it and equally amazing. So if I've learned anything, it's READ BEFORE YOU GO!

Here's some of what you'll get in 36 Hours

Practical recommendations for over 600 restaurants and 450 hotels
Color-coded tabs and ribbons bookmark your favorite cities in each region
Nearly 1,000 photos, most of them from The New York Times archive
Small enough to throw in your suitcase, big enough to enjoy from your favorite reading chair
All stories have been updated and adapted for this volume by Barbara Ireland, a veteran Times travel editor
New illustrations by Times illustrator Olimpia Zagnoli of Milan, Italy
Easy-to-reference indexes
Detailed city-by-city maps pinpoint every stop on your itinerary

Happy Traveling!

Holiday Spirit is Here

2011-11-21T12:45:00.000-05:00

These cards definitely get you in the spirit! Black Friday cometh!

Something for the Hostess - the envelope please.

2011-11-18T17:11:00.000-05:00

So the gatherings are upon us and Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Are you ready? All this talk of comings and goings, travel destinations and who's hosting who reminded me of a funny story.

I had a reclusive and paranoid great uncle Jay who normally only drove out of the Bronx to come to our house for holiday dinners. He never celebrated with anyone else and he was kind of a character. He was a good uncle though, he always gave my sister, my brother and I envelopes with money in them whenever he came. He was also vegetarian which drove my mom nuts. One Thanksgiving he was particularly generous and we each found a 50 dollar bill in our envelope. "Wow, holy cow." I exclaimed, "Mom, look at this! Uncle Jay gave us a 50!" Then my mom called out of the kitchen, "Hey Uncle Jay, is there an envelope in there for me?!" He answered in a sort of Bronx Arthur Fonzerelli tone. "Heyyyy, now Mary, that's just for kids. No envelope for you!" And then he started laughing. It didn't occur to me until that moment that Uncle Jay had never given my mom anything when he came to dinner. I mean aside from a few tubs of Carvel ice cream for dessert that she quickly chucked into the freezer. So you know, its nice to bring a little something for your hostess. Don't piss her off! Here are a few ideas:

1. Regal Evergreen Candle, 2. Kashmiri Floral Ornment, 3. Lip Sugar in Passion, 4&5. Caldrea Handsoap and Lotion in Crimson Pear Ginger, 6. Rosette Serving Papers, 7. Kusmi Tea, (nice to add to the table and for the host to enjoy afterwards) 8. John Derian Decoupage Tray "Unchanging Friendship"

or you could just get an envelope and stick some money in it! A lot of moms would be totally fine with that.

Les Femmes de Paris Market

2011-11-17T13:51:00.000-05:00

because women make the world go round.

gorgeous photos by Lily Lewin

Something For the Road -to Lacoste!

2011-11-16T10:00:00.001-05:00

Congratulations to The Paris Market & Brocante Scholarship Recipient:

Joshua Callandret

Every year, a deserving SCAD student continuing their studies at the Lacoste campus in France gets a little extra cash ($1000) to help them out with their expenses. If anyone deserves a boost its this guy! He's a writing major with two minors; one in creative writing and the other in printmaking. He writes for the SCAD student publication District, works as an RA and is also an employee at Five Guys. He has also worked for SCAD radio as a training director. Phew. I can just imagine him jetting around town, but he has this to say: "I have been refreshed by learning to slow down, take time for myself and defy the hustle and bustle of typical American life. It's quite difficult to do, but I'm starting to learn how imperative it is to have down time and to take a day of rest." Bravo Mr. Callandret! and Congratulations!

A peek at the SCAD experience in Lacoste:

I wanna go!!!

Secrets with Nothing Left Out: The Photography of Lily Lewin

2011-11-15T17:02:00.002-05:00

Every once and awhile you come across some truly evocative images that take you somewhere you've never been, or somewhere you've been, but haven't quite been able get back to. In Lily Lewin's photographs we view the world through a lens of childlike innocence and curiosity, but a viewpoint cognizant of all the raw power and beauty alive in the natural world, In short, her photographs evoke a secrecy where nothing is left out. I invite you to check out Ojobox, for a state of being that hangs on the tip of your tongue.

"template"

"the glassblower's whisper"

"the cross of Caravaca"

Ojobox is the blog of photographer and writer Lily Lewin. In her own words:

"This is a project I've been working on, a compilation of photographs taken of all the flora and fauna in our courtyard and presented like an old catalogue buried away in the bottom of a sea chest. It's a sort of homage to Edward Gorey and Victorian taxidermy through the scratched lens of early photography- solemn and slightly menacing and naive all at once. A kind of sampler the illegitimate love child of Beatrix Potter and Jack the Ripper would do while hidden away from the world in a cottage."

And Ms. Lewin tells me that lovechild's name would be Agatha (!!)

Perfect, right? I know. Can't get enough.

OJOBOX! OJOBOX! OJOBOX!

Chic et Classique: a snug little home for your iPhone

2011-11-14T17:07:00.001-05:00

A while back I did a post on these great leather tablet folios that reconciled the new tech with the luddite tech and included a pad of paper as well as a spot for your iPad. Which is really nice. Sometimes its so much easier to scribble stuff down then to open up your electronic notes, find the section, yaddy, yaddy. Anyways, I neglected to mention that we have a similar zippered cases for phones! (also accompanied with a nice pad of paper.) This is like the super updated version of the old telephone table! Way cooler of course. You can also feel better about just tossing your phone in your bag when its nicely protected like this. And we have it in black, white and gold. The gold is my favorite.

Veterans Day down Broughton

2011-11-11T14:02:00.000-05:00

Taken at 10:58, 11 November 1918, just before the Armistice went into effect; men of the 353d Infantry, near the church at Stenay, Meuse, wait for the end of hostilities.

In 1918, bells worldwide were rung on the 11th month, the 11th day, at 11 a.m. to celebrate and recognize the ending of WWI, "the war to end all wars." To commemorate that peaceful pledge, bells were rung around the world on November 11 for over 35 years. The U.S. Congress declared November 11 a holiday in 1938, "...a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." By 1953, World War II and the Korean War had created millions of war veterans in addition to those of the First World War and on June 1, 1954, President Eisenhower signed the 83rd Congress' Amendment to the Act of 1938 by deleting the word "Armistice" and inserting in its place the word "Veterans"

Thank you Veterans!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

2011-11-09T14:22:00.000-05:00

everywhere we go...

Autumn Textures

2011-11-08T15:44:00.000-05:00

Faux fur collar - $32 (only one left) Perforated furniture cube - $122.50 Pheasant feathers - $4/each, Pumpkin potpourri - $2/scoop, Tallow branches - $8.50/bundle, Ross Bark pillow (24" sq.) - $200, African knob -$4/each, Mini gourds-$2/each

The Monday Monacle: Autumn Artistry

2011-11-07T15:56:00.001-05:00

Sometimes I just really miss art school. Seriously. Three times a week you got to sit in a dark room - usually after a five hour studio - and view masterpiece after masterpiece on a large screen. Ahh...those were the days. Well, I'm bringing art history back! Or at least some of the experience I got to have. (I won't make you memorize dates) Today it's an autumnal theme. Some more literal than others. I hope you like some of the paintings I've chosen...I know there is a ton of great work out there and I'm only capturing a smidgen, so let me know, who did I miss?

Autumn Leaves, John Everett Millais, 1856

Boatman of Mortefontaine by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot.

Stapleton Park near Pontefract, John Atkinson Grimshaw

A Golden Beam, John Atkinson Grimshaw

This one is by Pollock, titled Autumnal Rhythmn, but Blue Poles below really captures autumn for me.

And there's no one like Rothko to create a mood:

an early Van Gogh - Autumn Landscape with Four Trees, 1885

It was after this painting that Vincent wrote a letter to his brother Theo saying: Well, never before was I so convinced that I shall make things that do well, that I shall succeed in calculating my colors, so that I have it in my power to make the right effect." Also, attention late bloomers: Van Gogh started painting in his 40's, so...you know, it's okay if your a little slow coming off the blocks.

Fractus, Bert John, 2010 (hanging behind the register)

And finally, a favorite artist of mine Andrew Wyeth:

Autumn

Enjoy your Autumn Days!

xo,

lauren de rosa

Snacking (sumptuously) with Susie

2011-11-03T15:53:00.000-04:00

Susie recently took a much deserved break and hopped over to Europe for a few weeks. She ate a lot of really good food. And she took a lot of really good pictures. Here we are in France. Peruse at leisure...

"The amount of respect they have for food here is just unbelievable."

Susie's favorite hangover meal: Roasted chicken and potatoes...

Oeuf en gelee,(poached egg with ham wrapped around it!) and Crab with foam and celery root and baby vegetables:

Ile flottante, Butter three ways, et un cafe bien sur.

Le chariot du Fromage:

Oysters in Cannes:

Susie; not letting anything slow her down:

The Beauty of Telling It Like It Is

2011-11-02T17:50:00.000-04:00

Most times you don't have to sweat bullets trying to be overly creative and overly complicating your designs to achieve something beautiful. If I've learned anything, good design is more a process of continual reduction than anything else. You simply have to show it (or tell it) like it is, and let the beauty speak for itself. Like this really cool vintage eye poster from Dresden, Germany that we have downstairs. and on our website ---> here

Printed at bottom is: Copyright: Deutsches Hygiene-Museum Dresden. Mid-century, linen.

Also in our possession is this wonderful book in the same vein: The Art of Instruction, by Katrien Van der Schueren, owner of voila! Gallery in Los Angeles. The book is a compilation of her carefully curated vintage instructional poster collection. Also very cool.

a peek inside:

This dandelion just looks so full of life and the black background lends such an air of mystery to its various cycles of life. And this cat poster just slays me. Not only does it describe the retractability of a cat's claws, it also illustrates the weird looks they always give you. Haha.

Tablescapes: Earthy Mosses and Sky Blues

2011-11-01T10:00:00.009-04:00

{:::: Tablescapes ::::}

I know Halloween was just yesterday and we are starting to cozy up for fall,

but any day in the 60's is still a bit of Indian Summer to me...

New Windows: A cozy place

2011-10-31T15:12:00.000-04:00

Who tells the little dear mouse
when summer goes away
that she should fix a cozy place,
a comfy place to stay,
and fill her cupboard shelves with seeds
from berries, weeds, and hay?

from Dear Mouse by Aileen Fisher

It was a race against time and pesky colds, but the new windows are up and looking spectacular. Kelsey and Shelby always do such a great job and this window is especially endearing. Shelby created the papier-mâché pumpkin house and Kelsey made all those cute little critters to live in it. Come by and take a look!

Things are really starting to heat up. Holiday time is officially here -after Halloween there's no fighting it - and in addition to a daily dose of new arrivals to be unboxed, fawned over and then put out on the floor, there are also more projects beginning just about everyday. I don't have any specific projects going on right now, so my plan is to make a "stay well" kit to keep by my desk for everyone. You know, like Airborne, Vitamin C, Green Tea, tissues, etc. Everyone is already swatting away colds to stay in the game, so I gotta keep the team en bonne sante. Any suggestions for the kit?

Absorbing the Design World (ALL of it) of Grace Bonney

2011-10-28T16:55:00.000-04:00

So a bunch of us Paris Market girls headed down to Arnold Hall (SCAD) last night to hear Grace Bonney - creator of DesignSponge - speak about the evolution of her blog and how it was borne out of an interest in all the cool, craft-oriented, grass roots design going on, specifically in her neighborhood, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and the fact that nobody was talking about it. Seeking to fill the void, Grace Bonney picked up the slack and started reporting her observations on her blog *Design Sponge * In part, it was a rejection of high end design, with furniture pieces costing in the thousands, but mostly it was an embrace of design that was not only more economically realistic, but cooler, more interesting and craft oriented. Pieces that showed a little risk-taking behind it, or humor, interesting materials or were just plain out of the ordinary. Whether they were being created in shops or studios, on dining room tables or in basements, Grace Bonney was inspired by it and wanted to share her findings.

I can only imagine that when she first started, she was an even more important voice in the conversation, when left of center design was happening, yet going by and large unacknowledged; when perhaps at that time even the design community didn't know how far they extended, let alone those outside art/design worlds who may not have been hip to what was happening. Pages from the book:

The biggest thing that stuck with me, was that it was her keen interest in filling the void in this burgeoning DIY community, from which DesignSponge grew, which ultimately translated into filling a greater void in the design community. I like when new things grow out of seeing a need. That is the best design. When just a little spark of "Hey, how come nobody know about this" grows into a full on fire of idea sharing. Grace Bonney was wanted to get the word out, and she did. She wanted to provide resources for newbies, and she did. She wanted to foster talent, and she does - with a scholarship with no strings attached. This woman's energy/ideas/talent is exhaustive and so is her blog, so if you don't know about Design Sponge, please go take a look! ---> HERE Look how cute these illustrations are for her categories! And below another pic from her blog:

My favorited part of the lecture was when she said that she was definitely not inspired by ICCF (me neither) and was instead looking to student shows of Pratt, SVA and Parsons in NYC and also RISDE and SCAD for their fresh approaches.

For those of you who feel like you've been hopscotching around on your career path, and are feeling unanchored (fret not, I honestly think those make for the most interesting, ground-breaking, idea-pushing people), before DesignSponge she was a lover of Phish, worked at a record label and studied journalism at NYU, before working in PR. She kept following her interests, and they blossomed into something bigger - not that she had a plan or was searching for fortune and fame - she just kept feeding her appetite for interesting design, she followed up on everything that inspired her and chased her curiosities. Bravo Grace! Thank you and Congratulations on a wonderful book!

Take Two: A Page from Casual Living

2011-10-27T16:24:00.000-04:00

If you're taking a page from Judith Wilson's book, Casual Living, (which we have for sale) then take a look at what we have here at Paris Market! ---and create some casual, joyful comfort in your home...

top, l-r: Saffron Handstitched Coverlet from India, Moroccan pillow, Faux-silk pillow

bottom. l-r: Indigo Blue Handstitched Coverlet from India, Deer Jewelry Holder, Metal Trunk

center image: Ryland Peters & Small

New Aprons!

2011-10-26T18:01:00.000-04:00

We just got in these fancy new aprons in great colors. It's a Sunshine meets Coral kind of palette. They're a linen-cotton blend and will stand up to whatever you throw at it in the kitchen. You can get one for the chef in your life, or drop a hint to someone who isn't. haha. <---this happens to me all the time. The first year I was married it was aprons and cookbooks from both families. I tried being the hostess with the mostest, but it just didn't take. These are pretty though - I could give it another go with these...

They will be up on the website by next week!

Beautiful Objects: the Handmade Tops of Collin Garrity.

2011-10-25T12:40:00.000-04:00

Check these out. Are they beautiful or what?

Collin Garrity makes these gorgeous tops entirely by hand. You may know that name from his sister Kelsey Garrity-Riley, the Paris Marketeer who is also an illustrator and paints and makes dolls. Collin, currently a student at Warren Wilson College, creates these beautiful little things using wood found in the scrap pile as well as Maple and Rosewood harvested at the college.

I thought these were too small to possibly be made on a lathe, but yes! they are in fact made on a lathe ---very carefully. "I probably broke about half of the ones I had when I first started." he says. Collin starts by gluing several different woods together, cutting them to a rough size, and then pulling the forms out on the lathe. Several grades of sand paper get them smooth, and a high friction finish gives them just that little bit of shine.

So I got to play with these tops when I took the pictures, you know, just to see if they work and all -they do and they spin perfectly. The thing I love about beautifully proportioned objects, other than the fact that they're nice to look at, is that the form itself tends to evoke many different things at once. When they're all lined up they look like ballet dancers ready to take their turn dancing in the center, and when they battle each other out and are starting to come down, they look like little break dancers, and other times they resemble musical instruments or little mushrooms. They really have their own presence and personality.

They are drop-dead beautiful objects and industrial designer inside me is sighing. Seriously. I had a friend in design school who during critiques if someone just blew everyone out of the water we would look at each other and say "I am the Walrus" like from the Beatles song as if to say "This person is the walrus and hath destroyed us all." haha. Can you imagine showing up at Form Studies or whatever and this guy is in your class! Egads! He'd totally ruin the curve!

(these remind me of pointed toes)

These will be available at the store soon, and hopefully the website. Check out Collin's other artisticness (writings, ramblings, musings and general hi-jinks) at the The Pale Blue Atlas Club -fresh entry today! (also recommended)

Tablescapes: Harvest Fire / Halloween

2011-10-24T11:06:00.000-04:00

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The chandeliers are lit, the table is set, and the bones are hanging from cobwebs.

We're ready for Halloween!!!

Accoutrements pour l'écrivain

2011-10-21T15:11:00.003-04:00

Loving these luscious leather folios that just came in!

They are gorgeous, and there are two large slots - so you can carry your iPad, AND a good old fashioned fresh pad of paper! (or whatever you want) I want one of these so bad! Definitely going on my Christmas List.

I have so many notebooks getting all grimey and worked over in the daily ruffle-shuffle of my bag - my old fashioned planner from the Met, my notebook for the store where I scribble down quick notes and things that need doing. Then there's all the random biz cards and post cards I pick up for various events and openings going on around town. There's a space for all of that in here and it all zips up! I would probably just keep it to strictly writing and maybe some sketching. It'd be great to have a nice little space dedicated to my writing on the go, and I would be reminded that my work is important and my efforts deserve something classy.

The white is really quite classic, (kind of Audrey Hepburnish) as is the black. You can't go wrong with black. But being a Leo, I would opt for the glittery gold. (did you get that family?) Getting a nice folio like this for the writer friend in your life will make them feel better about not making any money and elevate their energy to that of their craft. I do recommend them, I do, I do, I do.

Jewelry Bar: Inside the Collection

2011-10-20T14:22:00.000-04:00

We have a great new jewelry bar in the store!

...Jewelry that celebrates spirit, nature, service and love. Earthy, spirited talismans that celebrate the animus/archetypes of our collective minds and shared civilizations are always a bit more fun than your standard beads on a string. This collection is designed by a family from California - A mother and her two children. who in their own words:

"We decided to develop a brand based on ideals rooted in unique designs, community service and the love of nature. We seek to create only the highest quality jewelry and clothing – employing American workers and using ethically sourced materials."

With each sale, a portion of their proceeds support a rotating roster of charities - some of which have been The Salvation Army, Action Aid and Doctors without Borders.

What I love about this jewelry is that you can pick out what charms you like and leave what you don't. The necklace strands are wire wrapped pearls that come in a multitude of colors and the charms slide over them easily. The collection has a sort of nouveau hippie feel to it. But of course it's all how you wear it. You could keep it simple and choose just one charm or load up on magic with a cluster of them. They also make nice gifts when you find a piece that symbolizes your friendship with someone special, memorializes an event or when it represents a wish you might have for another. There are some unexpected charms in here too, it's not just the standard heart and crown and key kind of thing. There is a griffin, a sand dollar, a Shiva, a tree of life, a coiled snake, a claw, a butterfly medallion and a Seraphina to name a few. There is really something for everyone, so come take a look before its slim pickings. And all the charms are made from White Bronze, a metal stronger than silver that won't tarnish and which has been used for thousands of years to make both swords and jewelry! How appropos for this line! Hooray!

Wishes for a charmed life as we head into the weekend!

Tablescapes: Earthy Neutrals

2011-10-19T15:54:00.000-04:00

{::::: Tablescapes :::::}

Makes me crave a gorgeously huge dining room table. And I love the gold chargers.

p.s. that little green rectangle represents the succulents on the table. They're just a punch, but I think they're a nice, fresh counterpoint.

The World of John Derian

2011-10-18T15:21:00.000-04:00

John Derian is a world unto himself, but right now we have a big piece of that world - just arrived is a fresh batch from the découpage master himself. While they're usually in the case upstairs, we have so much that it has spilled to downstairs where you can take an unfettered perusal of the new goodies. We have the red letter plates, and a great new set of teddy bear trays. And even some nice paperweights that take clever advantage of the way the crystal dome bends light to give the piece added interest - like the apple and the globe...Of course we have all those old favorites too, trays you might like for your bathroom or to put on your dresser for assorted sundries etc. There is a nice quick article about him from the Times here. The John Derian Company was started in 1989, where in his own words from the aforementioned article he started out with just the thought: "Hey, if I sell a plate a day, that will help pay the rent." Is "undersentiment" a word!!? Bravo, Mr. Derian. Bravo!

from left to right: Diamond Queen Tray, Parrot Paperweight, Unchanging Friendship Tray

Come take a look!

Little Luxuries

2011-10-17T11:36:00.001-04:00

If you like Low Country Luxe, you'll love these little medallion candles which make perfect little gifts when you want to give someone a little luxe from the Low Country. Inspired by the movie "The Help".

Mississippi Magnolia

A floral heart of the southern Magnolia, sweet Vanilla & Oak wood over soft Gardenia blossoms.

Living in High Cotton
An uplifting citrus combination of Lemon, Lime & Grapefruit blended with a fragrant bouquet of white florals.

Southern Spanish Moss
The inviting warmth of amber & woods combined with sweet Apricot nectar & an infusion of Vanilla earthy mosses.

photo credits: Chic Luxuries