a business trip to Paris

5 July 2012

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Husbono and I used to go to Paris between 2 - 4 times a year to exhibit RUST in Paris Fashion Week {Tranoi Exhibition}. It was a hard life back then {couple of years ago}, always struggling to keep up wholesale orders, dealing with buyers and waiting sometimes a year to get paid. We used to work right through the night on our new collections before catching the Eurostar at about 5am. We'd arrive in Paris like zombies and we didn't really get on with the whole fashion scene. Eventually, after about 6 years, we decided to stop wholesale orders {and Paris fashion week} and open up and sell from our own shops instead. A brave decision, but an excellent one! We now make much more income and make less items and cut out the buyers all together. We are much more in control of our business now...very happy about that!
So, anyways, this was our first trip back to Paris since then, and although it happened to co-incide with the Tranoi exhibition, we were doing something completely different, hooray!

Officially a work trip but much more relaxing than before...we went to buy diamonds at a jewellery show, visit a few jewellery finding shops and go to some flea markets...work/dream trip!

We popped into the very famous Merci shop. I bought a linen dress for my huge belly, and we had a drink in the caf.


We managed to find a shop that sells pressed brass plaques and all sorts. Its just like a museum, we spent ages in here. We had so many new ideas.

Up at 5am for the market...



{that dog was called Bon-Bon}

Dinner here in St.Germain.


Lots of walking around with our market goodies {well Nao did that!}
And this dusty floor which is everywhere in Paris, reminds me of Plimsolls cat litter ; )  I ended up with white feet.


It was great to walk around Paris just as tourists, and there was so much that we hadn't seen before, after so many visits.
We loved this romanchiku* bridge covered in padlocks with couples names on. We sat down here in the evening sun and watched all the goings on and passers by.



Another early start for another market! We bought so much, amazingly we managed to get it all back on the train. I was at this haberdashery stall for quite some time...



at Jardin du Plantes for a very nice lunch...

me preggers and in Paris. The little wriggler enjoyed the trip I think.




we mooched around a lot, stopping for drinks or ice cream and peering through shop windows.

I bought a little wooden boat for you know who, its handmade in Brittany, perfect for playing in rock pools {or the bath maybe}. Yes, I was tempted to launch it in the Seine.

We really enjoyed Paris, and my feeling towards the city has changed a lot now!
I hope to list some of our French junk findings on my Junkaholique shop very soon {meant to be doing it today but we'll see!}.

*this is not the name of the bridge! {as a few peeps have thought!} I find myself saying things in a funny Japanese pronunciation because some words i find too cheesy to say seriously! Lots of Japanese words are just English words but spelt differently and with a vowel on the end, I find this MOST entertaining! {I sometimes get the Japanese spelling wrong too}. I meant its a 'romantic' bridge, but the bridge is called Pont des Arts of course.

30 comments

  1. Lovely!!! I would be sick with envy if we didn't have a trip to Paris booked for December :-) Were the markets good? Would you mind letting me know the names of the ones you visited, I'm definitely hoping to bring back some lovely vintage things to Australia :-)

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  2. The first market was Porte de vanves but it is VERY expensive.
    The other one was a street market {dont know the name} which is a only a couple times a year. Im sure you can find more if you google - flea markets in paris or buy a good guide book!

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  3. Looks like you had a lovely time and your baby bump is looking splendid! xxx

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  4. Sounds like my idea of a perfect couple of days. I can't wait to go back to Paris and rummage in some flea markets. You are looking bloomin' lovely by the way! M x

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  5. Next time you come in Paris you should go to in the eleventh district: I live in a neighbourhood called "le village Popincourt" and there are flea markets all over the place! (actually it is not "markets", it is in shops but I don't know the english word for that..)

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  6. You are the adorableist and I so love your blog!

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  7. Melissa5.7.12

    Crikey what luck, I'm off to Paris for a little work/fun trip at the the end of August - it's great to have a few more ideas about where to go and what to look out for! Thanks.

    ps. Adore your blog and all the beautiful things that you make and find!

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  8. This post brought back so many memories. I haven't been to Paris for years :-(. One time I went when I was very newly pregnant (that wriggler is now 19!) and had such bad sickness that I spent nearly all my time in the hotel - the smell of food on the streets kept making me feel sick. Want to go next year as it is our 25th wedding anniversary & Paris was where we deciced to get married... Love that city x

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  9. Also meant ot say - you are looking beautiful x

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  10. Love Paris! I was there a month ago and this post makes me want to go back :( That bridge with all the locks is the Pont des Arts, its just outside the Louvre I believe.

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  11. I am glad you ditch the wholesale and went for the direct sell. I just took part in Pulse the trade fair and the more i do the more i realise my business model is not wholesale. I am happy working from my studio and offering very good customer service and working and making new designs. So well done on you both for growing the business and not giving up. Trip to paris looks gorgeous

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  12. You look beautiful.

    It sounds like you had a great trip, you got some good pics.

    I would have been in heaven with all those antiques and bits and bobs!

    x

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  13. Charlotte5.7.12

    my city!!! well, close to....

    it's nice to see a picture of you!!

    i hope you enjoyed!!!

    Charlotte

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  14. You look radiant, and I love your skirt! Did you stay anywhere nice? We are off to Paris for our wedding anniversary in August and trying to find a bargain but amazing hotel or apartment. Would love to know if you have a recommendation! x

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  15. Thanks :-) Maybe I should google HEAP Paris markets and see if anything at all comes up :-) You look fab by the way, I'm always in awe of people who manage to stay in shape during their pregnancy, I got massive with mine!

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  16. Should say CHEAP PAris markets!

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  17. My husband and I were in Paris in May and it was MAGICAL! I love it so much! so nice to see your pics.

    You're looking so lovely by the way! :)

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  18. I'm in love with Paris. I went last year for the third time and I'm dying to return.
    The city has a special charm, and the markets are great. I bought a beautiful handmade bag there, you can find unique things in them.

    onmydancingshoes.blogspot.com

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  19. Anonymous6.7.12

    I bought a very similar wooden boat for my little boy. I need to tell you that the wooden mast is a hazard in the tub. While playing with another toy, in the tub, my sweet toddler, somehow, SAT on his mast!! Very painful and potentially disastrous. Please be careful...

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  21. Anonymous6.7.12

    Paris flea markets are very expensive. For real bargains head out of Paris to the smaller towns/villages in the suburbs which have brocantes/vide-greniers from March - June and then from Sept to end Oct. That's where the real bargains are to be found (Val d'Oise in NW subs of Paris for example !)

    Zena

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  22. I just got back from Paris! I did go to the flea markets but found the prices to be way higher than in Aix where I also went.

    Good to see you doing well! Take care!

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  23. Don't worry folks, we found a tone of bargains at the street market! What I meant was - stay away from the famous ones as they are getting full of tourists and the prices are going up each year. It's the same with any city really.
    You have to do a bit of research yourselves ; )

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  24. Anonymous8.7.12

    Can we be expecting any new Rust rings soon with the diamonds you found on this trip? :)

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  25. such a lovely trip xx

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  26. Any chance there is a website where we can buy a boat like that? I would love one for my son!

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  27. Melissa26.7.12

    @Emma, I hope you don't mind me saying, but there's a lovely place called Appartement Blanc on i-escape.com. My friend just came back and he absolutely loved it - might be worth a look. Also they've got a pinterest competition where you can win free vouchers. Hope it's useful x

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  28. I love your blog Artemis. So nice and natural and unpretentious and inspiring. Addicted to junkaholic. I even added a link to you on one of my posts, my husband thinks I am a bit crazy, you guys make me realise I am not so much. Thanks & Cheers. Sandy
    PS heres the link if you wanted to take a look.
    http://urbanrusticblog.com/2012/07/24/junkie/

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  29. Could you share the shop that sells pressed brass plaques? I would like to visit in Paris:)

    Cheers!

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  30. artemis, would you like to share the brass plaques shop you found? it looks so lovely!
    -lisanne

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