Early September, my last day in Paris. I was tired and pledged not to overdo it. Take photographs. Write notes. Draw sketches.
But Paris has a habit of luring me up streets and around corners.
In the end I walked about 1o miles.
The weather was good—the morning rain turning to sunshine, warm, no wind.
So walk I did.
First I wandered all over the Marais—one of my favorite areas in Paris, with its narrow streets, beautiful squares, and eclectic shops. Then I took the Metro north to the top of Montmartre. I had been here in April in dismal weather and wanted to explore it more. The area around Sacré Coeur was overrun so I started down the steps from the hilltop.
I missed a turn for a Metro stop, and since Montmartre is on a steep hillside, I chose to keep walking downhill instead of climbing hundreds of steps.
If I hadn’t made that mistake I wouldn’t have stumbled upon Petit Pan, a tiny shop of enchantments. A mobile of handsewn dotted mushrooms (I love mushrooms!) in the window drew me in to a narrow shop lined with bolts of ditzy print fabrics, patterned paper boxes and journals, silk butterflies hanging down from the ceiling. Further in there were inventive children’s clothes and bedding. And that’s what I can remember. There was so much more.
The unusual color combinations and pattern mixes the designers used raised my blood pressure. My head was buzzing with ideas. I bought a few small things with my dwindling cache of euros, and bid farewell to the friendly women at the counter.
A short distance away I settled into a bench in the square near the Abbesses Metro. A jazz guitarist played a familiar tune. The late summer sun slanted through the tree tops and glimmered on the carousel nearby. Page after page in my little notebook filled with sewing ideas, art sketches and things to tell friends. All percolating from my visit to that little shop.
Petit Pan
9 Rue Yvonne le Tac
Paris
There are several more locations in Paris. Perhaps you will stumble on one my design or by chance!
The photos above include items from Petit Pan, with a few from other places.
They are clockwise from top:
1. Haute Nouveauté vintage fabric sample, Porte de Vanves flea market
2. Patterned bias tape, Petit Pan
3. Vintage 35 ribbon, Porte de Vanves flea market
4. Soft aqua pink floral fabric, Liberty of London
5. Three rolls of patterned fabric, Petit Pan
6. Vintage button card, Porte de Vanves flea market
Ahhh thank you for this sweet walk through Paris streets. That lovely city so has its hooks in me.
Oh I love this shop! The first time I saw their goods was in their store rue du Bac.
It always makes want to go to China… And the quartier des Abesses is one of my favorites in Paris. Great Post Sue! Also your pictures are beautiful, as always.
It is thanks to you that I went toward Abbesses Metro!!! I ate at MILK before going to Petit Pan. xox
Lovely post! Yet another reason to travel to Paris…
So much to love about Paris…. Funny that I just landed in KC on my way to Kansas for Thanksgiving!
Beautiful buys! Would love to return to Paris. I last went as a student over 25 years ago!
This is just serendipity.. what a perfect shop for you to stumble across accidentally. I would love just such a store. We have a few here, but nothing so unique. I fear fabric arts are losing popularity. I wish we had something like that store here! I’d be in there weekly! xx
I feel the same way!! Our local fabric chain doesn’t get me fired up in the least. xox
I was referred from Just a Smidgen blog and what a lovely blog you have!! I have never been to Paris. I enjoyed your summary!! I love every single picture!
Merci beaucoup! I love your blog name. Heading over to snoop in the chocolat right now….
You do these mosaic images so well. It is an inspiration every time.
I’m discovering your nice blog 🙂 Also love ‘petit pan’, you can always find lovely things there!