Bookshops, Fabric, and Traveler's Fear: My First Week in Paris

Hello from France! Join me on my first few days exploring Paris on my own!
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[@toullieuxraphaelle9868]

Parisian art historian here! Paris is a beautiful place for architecture. 😍Walking everywhere is the way to go. For the construction, it's really a problem we have because many things were constructed for the Universal Exhibitions, therefore not meant to last hundreds of years. 😅That's why the Grand Palais was closed. But it's not a huge loss, this building is mostly used for exhibitions and events, nothing to visit there. The Louvre is a wonderful place if you stay clear of the "Grande Galerie". There is every type of art from Mesopotamian, Ancient Greece, furniture from every period in time, paintings, gems, etc. 🤩I've studied there, and I wasn't even able to do it all despite going every week for 3 years. But I still got panic attacks next to the Mona Lisa. The flea market is my favorite place to visit. ♥However, when I take people, I really emphasize that the entrance is NOT what we are here for. It's the opposite of what to expect from the market. And you are right, you should not buy things from those people. It's fake, stolen goods with even perfume made mostly of human urine 🤢 Anyway, the shop you are referring to is "Falballa". It's the most wonderful place with an amazing staff, they are passionate and love to talk about whatever you are buying from them. You will see that most vendors at the Puces are like that. They are passionate people, half sellers, half collectors. Some of them even opened shops to continue buying their favorite things without guilt (I knew a woman who loved to source old mirrors, but she didn't have any wall left in her house, so she opened a booth selling them). Anyway! I know your trip was a year ago, and I'm late to the game, but I loooove my city and I could talk about it for hours. Since the engagement is beneficial for you, I figured I could ramble in the comments. ♥

[@laetitiaproost7396]

French girly here ! Yes a coupon is a piece of fabric but it's also a coupon like you would use in English (yes we love to give multiple meaning to words). You can find small coupons (50*50) for patchwork and bigger coupons. The most popular type of coupon is the 3meters type: you can do a lot with 3m and because of the size of the coupon you can have a better price that what you would have by the meter. Some shops sells only coupons and other have a more "traditionnal" way of selling: by the meter. Love

[@wyw876]

Those larger "coupons" sound like what I've seen be called remnants, offcuts, or remainders. I.E., almost entirely what the NY fabric district is made of.

[@gettheetothestitchery]

Yay thank you for explaining! That's what I figured, but it was so weird to me that in my (very quick) research, I couldn't find any explanation of that!

[@hanapotomova6303]

@@gettheetothestitchery not French but studied it for a while and the only explanation I could come up with - "couper" is "to cut" in French, so "coupon" could be "a cut"? 🤔🤷‍♀

[@bittersweet3-]

Thanks 4 excellent explanation! Ciao.

[@softdruid3712]

I really love this video. Usually, when people post travel videos, they try to make it seem glamorous, and it ends up seeming fake. With this video, I got a sense of what Paris is really like. Very cool.

[@letitiarademakers6304]

Just say bonjour madame or bonjour monsieur, they will hear your accent and reply. It is always nice to meet someone from another country, so you will not be a bother but a nice new experience. (except in high touristy areas, there every tourist is a nuisance even if they speak french... The french have shifted from being ashamed of not speaking english (30+ years ago) to actually really wanting to use their english (sometimes their accent is so sweet). Seine is pronounced like sen, rhymes with Ben with a very soft neh after it. Mamma mia is not in french... Coupon literally means "cut of piece" (couper is to cut), and coupons were originally to be cut out of a newspaper, thats why they have the same name. Please take us (non US subscribers) on a trip to your shops once, like a Joans or Michaels, we don't have those here. I only know Moods from TV sewing shows.... I always buy my fabric on the weekly market, a fabric fair (indoor market) or thriftshop, I rarely spend more than 3euros for a meter (1.4x1m) of fabric, sorry don't know in yards.... I really love the open attitude you had in this travel review, and I didn't know about the fabrics in Montmartre. Need to visit Paris again.... It is a 5 hour drive from where we live, but not an impossible weekend trip.

[@gettheetothestitchery]

Ah ha! Thank you for explaining "coupon" - that makes so much sense!! And I love your idea of exploring the different ways to buy fabric in my area - it's going on my to do list for videos!

[@KJayPlays]

I’m gonna go to Paris. You have inspired me. Thank you. I live on this continent, I have always wanted to go. I’m gonna ignore the stigma of going alone. I’m saving up the money and only packing the bare minimum, and I’m bringing fabric home! Thank you 🤍

[@gettheetothestitchery]

Yaaaaaaaas I freaking love that!! Ignore all the stigmas, have an absolutely amazing time, and get all the fabric!

[@styleme3375]

I hope you go. Paris in springtime is absolutely stunning. I took my cousin after she graduated and we spent so much time just wandering around or riding on the river taxi. Just being out in the city is a good time. I highly recommend booking a fancy dinner in the Eiffel Tower as the sun goes down. You get to skip the lines going up the lift and don’t have to waste a day standing in line to go up. The louvre stays open late a couple nights a week and the lines die down and you can walk around much more freely. We were able to walk right up to the rope and see the Mona Lisa closely. GO. You’ll love it.

[@allie9855]

As a fellow introvert who is not gifted with language (that is my sister's talent) I TOTALLY get the traveler's fear! But hearing you talk about it helps so thank you!!!

[@BizzymomStudio]

I hear there’s an app that translates both ways!?,

[@melusinenoArashi]

Not sure if someone told you that in the comment, but the reason Paris has buildings all at the same height (the exception being skyscrapers in the 13th and 15th districts) is due to Baron Haussmann who in the 19th century redesigned Paris and made a rule about how the building should look. Also, since the 70s, you are not allowed to build anything higher than 8 floors.

[@gettheetothestitchery]

I had never heard that, thank you for sharing!

[@kfulweiler]

I just love your videos - so fun and relatable no matter what the content. I also completely agree with you about introvert shopping. I don't want to talk, I just want to look and let my brain spin around all the possibilities of what I could do with the clothing item or fabric. I will literally walk right past the store I intended to visit if it appears I'm going to be the only person in there. I don't want to be the sole target of aggressively "eager" salespeople. How would I even know if I need any help without having time to wander and look first? And if they start trailing me and making suggestions, I head straight for the door.

[@gettheetothestitchery]

Oh my god, I've done the same thing!!

[@AngelCCD]

Me, too! And yet when I worked at a large craft store, customers would ask me for things obviously without looking at all. Hey pushy sales people, go help those people and leave me alone to buy more than I planned!😂 Bug me and I’ll leave without anything

[@kathyjohnson2043]

Re language when traveling: learn a greeting and a blanket apology and then be as pleasant and graci😂ous as possible. Even when I know some of the language, for example, the word I used most in Japan was 'domo'. It translates to 'very' but can be used alone in many situations that you could feel like you are being a bother.

[@CootiePootieTootie]

Ahhhh, it reminds me of when I lived in Italy. The buttons were stored the same way! Italy and France really work to live not live to work. So creative and flamboyant! I miss it!!!

[@fayewhite-willinger8068]

The Dior exhibit is truly amazing. I saw it several times when it was at the Brooklyn museum (one of the unknown gems in nyc). I recognized a lot of the views. The toiles alone were stunning. And like you said. The last room… chefs kiss

[@aksez2u]

This is so relatable to me. I am grateful that so many people in other countries speak English (especially in the travel industry) but at the same time, of course, I don't EXPECT them to speak English, so then I feel like I'm causing a lot of trouble. These days there are some great apps to help with this, though, so I look forward to the help with communication next time I travel abroad.

[@tricialinden]

Very impressed by your solo outings in Paris. I could spend hours in the fabric stores, and want to buy way more than I could use in my lifetime. (Being older, not so much time left but want to keep creating until the end.)

[@dorothyyoung8231]

“Coup” means “cut”. So a coupon of fabric is pre-cut just as you cut a coupon out of the newspaper.

[@valeriedjabri2222]

OK, I'm impressed. YOU WALKED FROM LA DEFENSE TO ARC DE TRIOMPHE !!!! Sometimes, I did it. (But I'm crazy; after that, I continue to the Louvres). And Damned, now, I'm forced to go to Tissus Reine and Marché Saint-Pierre on Saturday.

[@44Lisbeth]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣I love how you are pronouncing french words...i sound just like that 🤣The church in short is Sacre Cour. I love that district, becuae of the fabric stores. Last time i was in Paris they had a great big exhibition at the Opera. It was showing how they made their costumes, from start to finnish. It was stunning

[@meganmcdonald1171]

Mon-mart (rolled R) (fun fact my mum got pick-pocketed on the stairs of the metro there. We managed to catch them and they gave back the items without a fight)

[@gettheetothestitchery]

Nice! Strong women taking down pickpockets like bosses!

[@JanePilkington]

They kinda don't do customer service in France. They like saying no. In the States we are used to being catered to when shopping. Say Bonjour when you enter a shop. And au revoir when you leave.

[@lforsey1899]

Oh man I wish I had gone to some of these when I was in Paris! I didn't make time to go to the Flea Market and it's my biggest regret from that trip. For the coupon thing, it's actually because both come from the word "coup" or cut. A coupon is a piece of paper that you cut out from the newspaper or magazine, traditionally, and also a piece of fabric that is pre-cut from the bolt or roll!

[@irenemilenkovic1940]

You would love shopping in fabric shops in South Africa.

[@lovingaeascreationstation7104]

When broken down I believe montmartre is pronunced Mon Mar tra, least that is how I said it, and heard others saying it. Its the best part of Paris as far as I personally was concerned.

[@deekang6244]

Glad you went! I’ve been there solo. Solo is difficult to eat, but the rest was amazing. When were you there? Month, year? I wish people would include…

[@petebartlett2229]

We move to rural France next year,partner is fluent,I’ve tried but I’m better when thrown into a situation!

[@Doris86pl]

Wow, now I want to go to Paris, not because of touristy things, but that fabric area

[@lme4339]

You have to try the hot chocolate in Kühlungsborn. That’s definitely much better. It’s literally hot chocolate. 🤤🤤🤤🤤

[@mariannerady1137]

Wonderful tips! I want to go there in fall, will def note down all the places you mentioned

[@daalelli]

I, too, am learning to be okay with taking up space around others. Whether that space is physical or mental, I am slowly trying to remember that I cannot be perfect and don't expect it of others, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@gettheetothestitchery]

We'll get there one day!

[@Woolpedia-Kanal]

Did you write a script for this video? Just interested if it was spontaneous or a big chunk of work. Love this content!

[@mrsvickigriffin]

Lived in Indianapolis for a short while, and ended up helping a very fluent coworker. He went to the back of the shop to see if we had what they were looking for. They were really nice. But i still feel Awful only being able to say hello

[@bittersweet3-]

Oh, + I'm the type 2 buy a suitcase!

[@rebekahpope4875]

See my problem is I want it all lol! I would of bought another suitcase 😂

[@gettheetothestitchery]

I came so close... XD

[@MauraVH]

Been loving your content so much! That Dior gallery looks incredible but I fear I'd be fined for drooling all over everything. I really appreciate your observations and footage of the Louvre, I was debating not going there for my trip to Paris because I didn't want the long lines and crowds around the Mona Lisa but seeing how beautiful the museum is in and of itself and the space on the top floor has convinced me!

[@gettheetothestitchery]

hahahhahahahaa dying... you know how badly I wanted to get up on those exhibits and start digging around inside the pieces to see the construction??

[@MauraVH]

@@gettheetothestitchery I wonder if there’d be sewing patterns for sale for some of the more iconic designs - surely people must have tried to make their own homespun dupes?

[@gettheetothestitchery]

@@MauraVH Oh I'm sure!

[@suedurbin5566]

So true about the language. I always feel it’s really lazy of me not to communicate in their language if they can communicate in mine. You know what I mean? I thought it was just me! Thank you for sharing.

[@bittersweet3-]

Late Entry. Had 2 sit still 4 this vlog! It was so very visual + pleasing. U were very comfortable in Paris. Thanks 4 sharing so much wih us. U are relatable. How did U get the distance shots of Urself? Peace 2 U +Urs. Ciao

[@gettheetothestitchery]

Thank you! I would only do the far away shots in places where there weren't many people - I would prop my phone against something, start recording, then run off to be in the shot!

[@brinawitch]

Hey, does this mean you might do some Deor inspired stitch clothing now. Omg the one dress with all the embroidery and taffeta was amazing . You showed it for a second, but I went back to it 2x 😅. 😊. I love the Paris fabric district it is better than NY district. I'm from the south of France myself.

[@mrsvickigriffin]

Oooooohhhh id buy the second suit case or have it shipped home lol

[@kittybrowning]

It's lovly to see u In that skirt I think that is my absolute favourite one you have made

[@FranciscaPires]

as a portuguese who happens to work in a tourist-y area, english is ok but please don't try to speak spanish to me, any other language is ok, we can use gestures pictures and translators but spanish will make me mad 😂 also the sad part about being from portugal is being so close to the rest of europe and not having the money to travel there because everywhere else is ultra expensive

[@joannethompson4980]

HaHa, a bother? Sounds like you're Canadian!! LOL

[@FridayFrida]

Come to Sweden, every one speaks English. :)

[@eprohoda]

mate- omg- super trvaeler,=))

[@samanthacomfort3162]

My brain: everyone gets grace, no one is a bother Also my brain: of course none of that applies to me, I'm a huge bother Rejection sensitive dysphoria FOR THE WIN!

[@jess49497]

I loved your video. Greetings from Mexico City. New subscriber. congratulations on your channel.

[@gettheetothestitchery]

Thank you so much for watching and welcome!

[@tomicorevilak7710]

I found If you are willing to make an a** of yourself and be silly and dramatic people are willing to accept your foibles. I often used multiple languages I did know the words for what I wanted hoping they may understand, I also did a lot of pantomime when I could.

[@gettheetothestitchery]

I love that! It's true, people aren't nearly as concerned with us as we tend to think they are in our heads. I'm working towards your level of bravery!