The other day I received an email that totally made my day. It was from a (blog)house reader named Natalie who is a freelance graphic designer specialising in book design. Originally from Auckland but now residing in Sydney, Natalie had recently spent a little time in Paris with her partner, and used Paris: Made By Hand as one of her travel guide companions.
Natalie wrote such a beautiful email describing the moments when she first received the book (which her partner ordered for her and had sent up from Melbourne, how sweet!) and the trip itself a few months later. She wrote:
“…we had both been to Paris before so we were freed from having to visit all the tourist spots. Instead we wandered … and had a really wonderful day seeking out some of the ateliers that you recommended. My partner even came with me, and he had as much fun as I did, (luckily he took care of the road maps, and metro stops and I could just wander and soak in the atmosphere … it was perfect!) I think in the end we made it to about 5. Which in the scheme of all the fantastic looking places in the book wasn’t many. But each we went to was just perfect. And all the shop owners were lovely.”
How beautiful is that? I asked Natalie if she’d mind sharing with us all some pics of her time in Paris, and she obliged! Here they are, above and below with some captions…
“I saw these little pottery heads in a window in St Germain and thought they had the sweetest expressions. Unfortunately I didn’t write down who the artist of them was.” I don’t know the artist either, anyone? They are rather gorgeous.
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…inside Le Petit Atelier de Paris.
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“One of the other ateliers from your book we visited which was a wonderful experience was Alexia Hollinger with her gorgeous vintage fabric bags. Alexia herself was away for the day, and her mother was looking after the shop. It was her first day, and she was very eager and so warm and welcoming. Her English was not so good, and our French even worse, but together we had a lovely conversation”. Pictured above in Alexia’s atelier/boutique.
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“We went to Les Papilles for dinner, I highly recommend a visit. A wine bar with a menu that is only one option! but beautiful, like having a rustic home cooked meal in a warm bustling café. ”
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Sunset over the Seine.
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Thank you dear Natalie, I am thrilled that you enjoyed the book and were able to visit some of the featured boutique ateliers. I hope you will get as much pleasure out of my next Made by Hand book. Yes, you read right, there is another in the making…
xx
just recently stumbled upon your blog…it’s so beautiful. i’m enjoying it.
October 29th, 2009 | #
That’s sooo exciting! I’m guessing Amsterdam is the lucky city?
October 29th, 2009 | #
I dream of wandering Paris with your book in hand. Lucky Natalie. And I’d love to know if you discover the artist behind those pottery heads. They look so inquisitive. I love them!
October 30th, 2009 | #
Your nooks and crannies of Paris remind me of the ones I used to seek out. But one of my favourites was spending long evenings on the Seine in the cold with the Russian artists… Thanks for a little Nostalgia. I shall have to learn to look for the same in Toulouse!
October 30th, 2009 | #
Oh Pia…I can hardly wait! Paris: Made By Hand has only made my desire to return to Paris (and explore my grandmother’s birthplace further) more intense. Where next will I be transported to…x
October 31st, 2009 | #
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November 1st, 2009 | #
You have such a wonderful eye, Pia! I second Amanda–if you ever learn who makes those lovely pottery heads, please share!
December 20th, 2009 | #
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August 16th, 2013 | #
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August 17th, 2013 | #