Hello everyone! Like Tia Mary, I've just had a trip confirmed. I'll be spending a total of 9 days in London and Paris in March. I plan to do most of the 'regular' touristy stuff (we're staying *right* by the Louvre :) ), but does anyone have any shops they'd recommend? I found an old listi n the archives for Paris, but it's several years out of date. Heather in NY
Hmmm- I used to have a favorite artsy shop - I'll have to think of where it is - kind of behind the embassy on a side street. Used to love a little good restaurant called "Chez Tante Louise" . Just be prepared to walk - a lot. The best, best, best way to see Paris. And if you're a museum type - get a museum pass - it expedites lines, and saves you some money - IIRC you can get it here.
Have a great time. I cannot tell you how jealous I am.
FWIW - the big department store Printemps - up on Blvd Hausmann used to have some needlework stuff. They also have nice linens. Tons of little shops for things like lingerie, perfume, cosmetic. I'll try and think about it. One of our friends still has an apt in town - he might have some ideas.
Ellice
I can't help with the shops in London I'm afraid, though I plan to go to the V&A next time I'm there to look at the old embroideries. When my brother had a short break in Paris he found
Thanks Carrie and Ellice! Heather
Hi, Heather: I've been to London a couple of times. I haven't really found any embroidery shops there, although John Lewis has a nice selection of needlepoint and Liberty has some interesting kits. The places I found worth visitng were Habadashers---these shops have threads, fabrics, ribbons, buttons, etc. Some have more than others but all were interesting. Also, Benton and Johnson's is tucked away in a corner of London (call for directions and use your A-Z map). They make gold and metal threads and have some books and kits on goldwork. I got some scrap packs in little glassine envelopes for a very nice price and it's fun to play with as I learn. It's also fun to look at their displays---they make all sorts of badges, buttons and insignia for uniforms and hearldry. Almost a museum in itself. Representatives from B&J have taught at EGA national seminars.
The Victoria and Albert museum is a must-see if you do samplers. I had read for years about the very famous, very old Jane Bostock sampler---you can almost hold it in your hands here. It's in a pull- out study drawer! The textile room has scores of these pull-out drawers with textiles you can look at or take to study tables to study closely. The V&A also has frequent special textile or costume exhibits, lots of Arts & Crafts style items, rooms of amazing embroidery (plus statues, domestic arts, Oriental art and a lovely tea room and a great gift shop).
Check out their website for what's doing. It's close enough to walk to Harrod's, which is just fascinating. (although I didn't see any needlework at all, I may have missed it, the place is huge). The Tate is nice, the National Portrait Gallery great. One of my favorites is tea in the crypt of St. Martin in the Fields, just opposite the National Gallery. The tea is good and you can do brass rubbings in the gift shop.
On my last trip I went up in the London Eye, which was just brilliant! I was worried about being motion sick but it moves so smoothly there's very little sense of motion and no jarring starts and stops like a Ferris wheel. Oh, there's just so much in London! Check out Buckingham, sometimes they have shows in the gallery of things like the Queen's gowns.
I found a lot of needlework shops outside of London. I loved Burford (there's a needlework shop there) in the Cotswolds and I went to a lovely place in Wales. Viking Loom in York. The Costume Musuem in Bath is great, too. What I did before my trips was go to Borders or Barnes & Nobles and buy a couple of the needlework magazines and read the ads to find shops. A lot of the historic houses don't advertise it but they have lovely needlework to see and some of the National Trust gift shops have lovely kits.
If you have time, you may take a course for a day or two at the Royal School of Embroidery. They have day classes at Hampton Court:
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