cute shops

Aria @ Barnesbury Hall- London

2009-06-09T05:24:00.000-07:00

Lofty ceiling, hardwood floors, modern, antiques, whimsical, impeccable design! This is Aria of London. Visit their wonderful website. Featuring contemporary designers. Love the fabulous chairs by Kartell, Victoria Ghost. The perfect partner for Louis Ghost, Victoria Ghost is suitable for use as a dining, ocassional or dressing table chair.

Accessories of Old

2009-02-08T18:12:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone- I apologize for my absence. My precious kitty, David, got very ill and took all of my spare time. Then I got the flu. Alas, my kitty passed away. January was a tough month...

I am back and want to share a fantastic shop called Accessories of Old. It has a fun history that you will enjoy learning about. In 1918, a young man from Lithuania, named Solly Danziger, got off a boat that docked in South Africa. All he had with him was a small suitcase and a few odds and ends that he wished to sell. A few months later Solly opened his shop, Danziger’s, in downtown Johannesburg. The business took off and Solly stocked his shelves with wonderful notions that he found on his trips to Europe. He bought the best trims, costume jewelry, buttons, and ribbons that he could find. His business was nicknamed by many as “Aladdin’s Cave” since it was filled with anything that could make a designer's dream come true. Many boxes kept arriving and soon Danzigers was the biggest haberdashery business on the African continent …still to this day it is a household name synonymous with quality fashion designer notions and accessories.
Solly’s granddaughter, Lisa, at a very young age found it fun to rummage through all the old tiaras, hair barrettes and jewellery at the store. Having returned to South Africa after studying in Europe, Lisa decided to carry on the tradition and join the family business. Her father Gerald had joined the business in the 1950's and was running it at that time. Lisa became the third generation to take over and run the business after her father retired.
Lisa and husband Andrew left South Africa with their two children and notion collection and moved to the USA to meet the big demand for vintage accessories. Many of the items are being unveiled for the very first time since they were purchased by Solly in the 1920's. Can you imagine discovering all these exquisite pieces? Dress Clips, brooches, ribbons, marcasite items, buckles, trims... What a designer's dream! You can visit the bricks and mortar shop in Bethesda, MD (4822 St. Elmo Ave.) or visit online http://www.accessoriesofold.com/.

I love these wonderful Valentine displays that Lisa has created in her cute shop. This shop is truly a great find and we are thrilled they moved here to the USA.

Repetto - Paris

2009-01-08T21:09:00.000-08:00

Photo Credit Olivier

Photo Credit gourmandinage

Photo Credit Kathy

Photo Credit Jessica (make sure you visit her inspiring blog)

Many slippers waiting for ballerinas

Vintage Repetto Slippers

Photo Credit Olivier
Olivier is magical!

Yes, one goes to Paris to visit the Louvre, Musee D'orsay and the Eiffel Tower, but I also go for glorious window shopping. The vitrines are spectacular and breathtaking. A visual delight around every corner. My post today is about an institution in Paris. Repetto. I want to thank Kathy, Olivier, Gourmandinage, and Jessica for submitting their scrumptious pics, which perfectly captures the uniqueness of this cute shop. Please visit their sites and blog when you have a moment. You will get lost for hours!

Tutus and pointe shoes have fascinated me for decades. I was one of those who owned the ubiquitous poster of the leg warmers and tattered ballet slippers. There is something so special about a pair of ballet slippers. I bought white satin slippers from a local dance shop when I was a teenager and I wore them all the time...even wore them with my wedding dress. I remember seeing a shopkeeper in Frankenmuth, Michigan, wearing a pair of black ballet slippers as she worked the gigantic loom in her cute shop. It was an enchanting image.

So, Repetto...here is the story. In 1947, Rose Repetto, started creating ballet slippers for her son who was a famous ballet dancer and choreographer in France. From her little studio, she began making slippers for many local ballerinas. In 1956, Brigitte Bardot, asked Rose to make her red fashion slippers for the film, And God Created Women. Those crimson ballerina flats pushed Rose into the fashion stratosphere. She created ballerina-inspired shoes that became the rage for a very long time. In 1959, she opened her first cute shop at 22 rue de la Paix, where it still is today. Repetto was the place where all the prima ballerinas went for their slippers and pointe shoes.

After Rose passed away in the 80's, Repetto struggled for a few years until Reebok guru, Jean-Marc Gaucher, purchased the riddled company in 1999. Repetto still makes slippers for dancers using the traditional hand made stitch and returned method, but today, Mr. Gaucher has created a reputation for stylish footwear beyond the dance floor. Kate Moss, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Catherine Deneuve, Céline Dion, Sarah Jessica Parker and Hillary Clinton all wear the newly designed Repetto. The shoes are inspired by dance styles such as tango and salsa and have a vintage appeal. If anyone has a pair of Repetto shoes, I would love to hear a review. I can only imagine that they are extremely comfortable considering the foundation is made to handle hours of dancing.

The Repetto website is charming - http://www.repetto.com/. And, next time you are in Paris, check out Musee D'orsay Degas collection of dancers. Fabulous!

Angelo Lambrou's New York City Atelier

2008-12-25T10:31:00.000-08:00

One of my good friends, Janet Clayton, had a Christmas tea for a small group friends. It is always a treat to check out her vintage style home. This year I spotted a French chair tucked in a corner, her newest find from Urban Farmhouse. It's a luscious chair that could easily be found in a fashion designer's atelier...it reminded me to blog about Angelo Lambrou's atelier in the eclectic East Village, New York City.

Mr. Lambrou’s work encompasses deconstructed beaded wear, evening wear and alternative bridal wear. Detail is paramount. He cuts fabric with precision, allowing his signature style to flow softly and elegantly over curves. Each garment is lined with silk chameuse and many hand sewn with Indian and crystal beads. Inspired by his Mediterranean and South African background, he loves worldly, lavish fabrics and is noted for his bias cuts - details like wispy, almost nonexistent shoulder straps and airy, asymmetrical silhouettes have created quite a following.

Clients gush over the hospitality they receive from the friendly designer and staff. Some have reported hugs and a glass of vino in the private salon. Among his list of clients are Goldie Hawn (love her!), Selma Hayek, Alyssa Milano who have been showing up on the red carpet in his fluid and tailored lines. Angelo Lambrou is an emerging star.

He attended the highly competitive Leggats Academy of Fashion in Johannesburg and also studied at St. Martins in London . The NYC atelier opened in 2000. I love the dreamy interior of this cute shop as well as the inviting European facade.

When you have a moment check out http://littlewinterbride.blogspot.com/2008/04/our-little-winter-wedding-in-gramercy.html. Love this blog! - initially I thought her dress was from Angelo, but Didi said she got it in SOHO at Morgane Le Fay. You will love her pics!

Feather Your Nest

2008-12-07T20:57:00.000-08:00

Gina Drennon, Founder of Feather Your Nest

Feather Your Nest made the cover of Romantic Homes this year!

I have been collecting fallen nests since I was a little girl. I am fascinated by all the hard work that goes into making those special cozy houses. So, naturally I was delighted when I learned about a cute shop called, Feather Your Nest, located in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Gina Drennon, the creator and founder of this enchanting concept is an amazing spirit. Her carefully curated vignettes are whimsical, romantic, jolly, cozy, quaint and unexpected.

Feather Your Nest opened in 2003 in the tourist resort area of Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Gina founded the shop as a way to combine her passion for vintage and unique gifts. She has fun with her inventory and does an impeccable job selecting lines that helped her garner a reputation as being the place to go for that perfect gift. The locals are loyal to Gina returning frequently to view her ever-changing offerings. Tourists return year after year to stock up on their favorite finds for their nests.

Gina stays abreast of trends in design and decoration so have fun shopping on her exciting website, which she created and maintains. That is a full time job right there! Gina is also a marketing guru and has been featured in numerous high profile magazines, including the November 2005 issue of In Style as one of “The Best of the Web” and most recently the “Shopkeeping” section of Romantic Homes Magazine.

This shopkeeper works hard! And, she is ALSO a wife to Mike and mother to Avery and Carter.

I had many pics to select from, but stayed pretty much with the holiday theme since I am in the Christmas spirit. Visit her site at http://www.shopfeatheryournest.com/ to see more pics or visit her photostream at http://www.flickr.com/photos/featheryournest.

Notting Hill Cakes

2008-11-23T18:06:00.000-08:00

I love the word boutique. It conjures up images of quaint inns and nooks with luscious merchandise. Being a foodie, it is fun to stumble upon a boutique food store where all the items are displayed like works of art. I ounce found a boutique berry shop in Paris where fresh raspberries and blackberries were the sole focus. The berries were on pedestals and had lovely foliage tucked in around them. Exquisite! Unfortunately, that was pre cute shop blog and I didnt save the contact info. But, I do have a wonderful boutique bakery to share with you. Notting Hill Cakes in Tokyo. The shop is an architect designed space on two floors, which is both modern and welcoming. There is a cafe space and a to go counter. In addition to their cakes, they offer teas, coffees and alcoholic drinks.
All baked goods are prepared on the premises daily using the finest ingredients. The founders are Mark and Sayeh Peterson. Mark opened his first bakery in London in 1990. He brought his same high standards with him to Tokyo. He uses only the very best ingredients such as Madagascar vanilla, 72% cocoa Belgian chocolate and fresh fruits. Everything is baked on the premises by hand in small batches. They have brand identity. Love their logo - is it a sun? A lion? Give up?? It is the view of a cupcake from above. Clever!

Cowgirl Creamery

2008-10-23T17:28:00.000-07:00

Photo credit dionhinchcliffe

Photo Credit wastrel

Phot Credit - Zanyshani

Sue Conley and Peggy Smith opened Cowgirl Creamery in Pt. Reyes Station, CA. The venture started in an old barn. They created an artisan cheese plant and shop and started producing wonderful cheeses made with organic milk from their neighbor, Straus Family Creamery. Then they opened up another cute cheese shop in San Francisco. They make a select collection of soft and aged cheeses. Today their business includes their original shop, one in San Francisco and Washington DC. They also built a second creamery in Petaluma, CA in 2008.

Why artisan cheese?These ladies believe artisan cheesemaking preserves a rural way of life. That farmstead cheese from small-scale producers always has a story, quite unlike large scale cheese factories. One can name a cheese and identify its cheese maker, the breed of cow, goat or sheep and where it grazed. It is that special! All of the cheesemakers that they work with have great respect for the land and the animals and feel they are the stewards of the farmland and animals. Artisan cheesemaking helps to insure jobs in rural areas, and contribute to protecting farmlands from development.

This is a great story and I encourage you to visit their website and try some of their delicious creations.

I'm Back!

2008-09-26T18:17:00.001-07:00

Hello Everyone,
So sorry to have been absent for some time- I injured my arm this summer and it was very difficult to type with the cast. THEN, we lost all communication for two weeks due to Hurricane Ike. We now have power, cleaned up the toppled trees and restored and replaced plant material and other items affected by the strong winds. I will follow up late tonight or tomorrow with a new cute shop for you! Please check back tomorrow. Thank you!

Sabater Hnos Update

2008-08-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

Photo Credit KT

Photo Credit Nancy

Since my last posting, I heard from Martin Sabater, one of the siblings mentioned in my previous post. He was so kind and provided me with additional information about their soap business. They have another cute soap shop in Barcelona, Spain. The pic above is the storefront in Barcelona.

First, there is another sibling, Milagros who is 11, so together there are 4 siblings to carry on the business. They have an additional 15 employees working both in Argentina and Spain to help them with their booming business. All the brothers have gone through an apprenticeship with their father to learn the soap trade.

The history started in 1937 when Grandfather Sebastian Sabater served in the Spanish Army at Palma de Mallorca. It was at this time where he got interested in the distillation of almond oil from Mallorca and creating aromatic compositions. He then decided to open a store at Obispo Maura street, where he commercialized his own compositions. He met his wife there and returned in to Buenos Aires in 1943. He went on to school to study chemistry, mechanics and perfumery. Soon after, he started his first company I.T.A.S.A. (Industrias de tocador y afines sociedad anonima) and was responsible for the creation of all the fragrances for Fulton Products, Argentina. He also designed, constructed and chaired for Watteau, a perfume and cosmetics factory. Meanwhile, one of his other interests, mechanics, led him to design prototype machines capable of producing soap and produced and sold to many large firms such as Unilever, Reckitt & Colman, Procter & Gamble, Haarmann & Reimer, Bayer, IFF, Givaudan, Firmenich, Helena Rubinstein, etc.

During that period he had a son (Martin's Father) who traveled to Grasse (France) and trained at perfumeries, such as Roure Bertrand-Dupont and Manne. He later went on to Holzminden (Germany) for a training in soap making at Dragocco and Haarmann & Reimer. When he returned with all this vast knowledge he and his father devoted time to aromatic composition. Their business created fragrances for different companies until the Grandfather passed away in 1976. After his father's passing, he and his brother created a premium cosmetic line called Vierge that was sold at Harrods and other exclusive shops. International trading issues and illness caused the brothers to dissolve their business.

It wasn't long before the grandchildren decided to follow in their father and grandfather's footsteps. The first grandson, Sebastian, took the semi-abandon machinery and created new soap petals in 1993 and Martin and his Eliana got involved with in the development and marketing of products and produced products for third parties. It was in early 2002 when the grandchildren decided to open their first cute shop at Palermo and work on products solely for their brand as well as products for spas, hotels, museum, airlines throughout the world.

Eliana, decided to move to Spain to introduce their products to that market. During the first year she established a wholesale business at Vidre 1 street (Plaza Real de Barcelona) with very small machinery sent by air cargo. The following year they opened a small plant to handle large business in Spain, Paris, Rome, Berlin, Warsaw and Istanbul. Then 2006, they opened their first store in Spain at the Gothic district in Barcelona. So there you have it! The fabulous entrepreneurial story of Sabater Hnos! A story of passion, design, skill and the love of family tradition.

Sabater Hnos (Hermanos) - Buenos Aires

2008-08-18T06:16:00.000-07:00

Photo Credit- Marcela

Photo Credit BradleyB

photo credit- Ryan

photo credit- Mari

Located in the cool and trendy Palermo district of Buenos Aires is a 70 year old soap company with a new vibe. Sabater Hnos has been producing wonderful soaps for three generation. Siblings Eliana, Martin, and Sebastian Sabater have revamped the company image, giving it a hip edge. They preserved the traditional manufacturing methods, but updated the scents to include green tea and cedar and created new and funky soap shapes that look like people, animals, grains, confetti and paint chips. The interior of the shop is embellished with retro beakers and other soap making apparatuses as well as pics from the past. The colors of the soaps are beautiful and lively...a soap for everyone. I love how they are displayed in simple cardboard boxes. Pure and simple!

Paxton & Whitfield - Cheesemongers- London

2008-08-12T09:25:00.000-07:00

We have those special moments in our lives where everything seems perfect in the world. If we could only freeze that moment so it could be savoured a little longer. One such moment for me was in a cheese shop queue in England. Just ahead of me was a young man who apparently had just finishing horseback riding. He was wearing tan breeches and long black riding boots. I am an equestrian so that was thrilling for me. You don't typically see men in riding attire in the United States. The shop interior was cozy and quaint and at the end of the queue was a vast array of wonderfully compelling cheeses. The moment was so English! Next time you are in London, visit Paxton & Whitfield for a perfect English experience. I cant promise equestrians, however, I can promise a journey into the diverse world of artisan cheese matured on site. There are three charming locations to serve you- Stratford Upon Avon, Bath and London. Each with its own inviting ambiance and English Experience.

Atelier Abigail Ahern - London

2008-08-01T14:28:00.000-07:00

Atelier Abigail Ahern, circa 2002, is located in London at 137 Upper Street, Islington, N1. It is a lifestyle shop with an eclectic mix of contemporary and vintage furniture, objects, textiles, handcrafted ceramics, lighting and accessories. Abigail scours the globe for interesting items and has garnered recognition and respect from the design field. She carries glass art from Tunisa, orange blossom and jasmine candles, wool sitting cushions, funky bird tables and animal art and hand thrown textiles. Abigail has a relaxed and approachable decorating style and has worked in Europe, America and the Middle East. Atelier Abigail Ahern also provides wedding registration and consultation. I love her crochet lights available in many fun colors.

Ami Loutky - Prague--- strings attached!

2008-07-29T20:13:00.000-07:00

Photo Credit Daynoir

Prague is the largest city in the Chech Republic. Everyone loves visiting this beautiful city with its cobblestone streets, 1100 year old castle, historic centre and varied architecture. It is the 6th most visited city in Europe. Something that is unique to Prague is its marionette shops. These loutky (puppet) shops are part of the Chech culture. The puppets are handcarved out of lime wood or linden by artists called authors. The puppet faces are oddly familiar and the jointed bodies are dressed in sartorial delights. Some puppets are made from plaster. Ami is a small company with a couple loutky shops in Prague. Next time you are in Prague, go to a folk or art puppetry company to experience this centuries-old tradition. Chech puppetry is considered the best in the world.

Lush Designs - London

2008-07-26T19:23:00.000-07:00

This cute shop is located at 6a Greenwich Market, London SE10 9HZ. Garnished with lampshades, tea towels, pillow cases and other housewares, in a circus of modern colors and quirky prints...many hand-crafted in house at the Lush Designs Studio at Cockpit Arts in Deptford, which is open to the public a couple times of year. Marie Rodgers & Maria Livings own this wonderfully fun London business. They studied painting and printmaking at Maidstone Art College and evolved their business while working in the theatre and community arts after moving to South East London. Not only are they creative, but they are very nice and provided Cute Shops blog with these luscious, perky pics.

Le Boudoir et sa Philosophie

2008-07-25T06:40:00.000-07:00

Photo Credit Dominique Bergeron

Bonjour! Cutes Shops Blog was thrilled to find Carla Vizzi's shop in the Marias area of Paris. She says her shop is a place to rediscover the Art of Living in the 18th-century around the daily activities of the Boudoir. Carla works with craftsmen who recreate 18th century art and she also sells both antiques and newly created classical elements that may have been found in Marie Antoinette's boudoir. Commission portraits of your favorite dog, in an 18th century spirit, are but one of the many possibilities of artwork she can also create for you. So, lovers of baroque, head for the Marias and step into a exploration of intimate Parisian life at Le Boudoir et sa Philosophie.

Emery e Cie - Brussels, Paris, Antwerp

2008-07-22T22:31:00.000-07:00

Handcrafted basin and tap

Handblocked textiles

Hand-forged iron furnitiure

Handcrafted ceramics

Handcrafted ceramic mushroom poufs

Lovely vitrine

Shop in Paris

Fabulous paints crafted by a small family business

Handcrafted rugs

Handcrafted Teapots

Handcrafted iron coat rack

Fabulous handcrafted iron chairs

Handcrafted ceramic basin and tap

Handcrafted tiles

Shop in Brussels

It is no secret that I am smitten with Belgium and all its cute shops. Here is a shop with locations in Brussels, Paris and Antwerp. Each one has its own energy and ambiance. Emery e Cie is at the very heart of my spirit. I love bold colors nabbed from nature and forced to get along. I appreciate the elemental feeling of a single piece ...an item individually crafted by someone with skill and passion, especially of a time honored and lost art. And, I respect a shop when it has a reason for existing beyond commerce. Emery e Cie is my dream cute shop because it captures these qualities. Some day, I want to redo some rooms with Emery e Cie paints, tiles, bathroom taps and basins. For my posts, I don't usually show more than 3 or 4 pics, but I just couldn't decide...besides, they have 3 cute shops to showcase. Who is behind these lyrical shops? Agnes Emery, a designer and architect. She is one amazing woman!

Stilleben - Denmark

2008-07-21T21:10:00.001-07:00

Photograph by Lars Plougmann

Stilleben in Copenhagen, Denmark, is a quintessential cute shop; housed in a quaint and traditional storefront and busting with creative, contemporary products. This shop/gallery displays work from many young, Danish potters and ceramic designers. It also carries established porcelain manufactures such as Hoganas, Iittala and Royal Copenhagen. The plates, cups, teapots, vessels, etc., are simple, functional and sleek. Ally Capellino, Anna Carin Dahl, Anne Black , Ditte Fischer, Finn Juhl , Jonathan Adler, Lars Rank and Monika Petersen are just a few of the artists represented at Stilleben.

Ditte Reckweg and Jelena Schou Nordentoft, graduates of The Danish Design School's Ceramic and Glass department, are the proud owners of this cute shop.

Bonbonmacherei

2008-07-17T09:28:00.000-07:00

Photo Credit Steffiehbln copyright protected

When I was growing up in Michigan, we used to visit this quaint German village, Frankenmuth, with lots of cute shops. One cute shop in particular had these incredible European candies that you couldnt find anywhere else. My mom and dad would buy a big bag for the ride home. These candies must be a German thing because look at this cute shop in Berlin, Bonbonmacherei. They make the same style candies I used to get in Frankenmuth. Look at the awesome antique brass presses used to get the leaf and raspberry designs.

Bonbonmacherei revived the lost art of these handmade sweets. The master candy makers, Katja and Hjalmar use traditional recipes and antique equipment to turn out these adorable confections. Their specialty is the green leaf maiblatter or May leaves made with woodruff. This is a regional specialty.

Red Flower - NYC

2008-07-17T04:38:00.000-07:00

I found this shop a few years back when I was introduced to their product at a packaging meeting. We were buying custom tube packaging for Tea Design, our tea tasting division, when I expressed concern about the shape working for my customer. The sales rep immediately sent me a sample of red flower packaging. It was gorgeous...and it worked! Located on 13 Prince Street in NYC, red flower totally fits our cute shops blog. Unique interior, stylistic and innovative. On our travels, I have seen red flower products sitting on the shelves at other cute shops, so they are obviously doing a great job with marketing. I love red flower's global approach to product design and the creative botanical combinations like Thai Honeysuckle, Japanese Peony... we decided to go another direction with packaging. I think it is paramount to respect other's designs. Someday, I will show you a pic of our packaging...

Well, my mother is on her way to visit for her 83rd birthday so I may not be able to post for a day or two. We will be off visiting cute shops together. Happy Birthday, Mom!

Favourbrook London

2008-07-16T20:10:00.001-07:00

London has so many cute shops that it is hard to decide which ones to write about. Favourbrook of London is a maker of wonderful silk brocade dresses and coats. It is famous for impeccably tailored brocade waistcoats, a.k.a. vests. Favourbrook has three stores in the Piccadilly Arcade- a separate cute shop for ladieswear, menswear and men's accessories. Established in 1990, yet seems to have that old London feeling. Very sophisticated and a true English experience.

Purl - SOHO

2008-07-15T05:15:00.000-07:00

Photo Credit Therese Kng

Photo credit Maya

Photo credit Sparrow

I don't know how to knit, but this cute shop makes me want to start. The yarns are so colorful and exciting. Could I possibly take on another hobby? Purl in SOHO opened in 2002 and then opened Purl Patchwork in 2006. Shopkeepers, Joelle and Jennifer Hoverson are very particular about the fibers for their yarn collection- they sell cotton, bamboo, silk, linen, alpaca, merino and cashmere. They even have camel and soya! I must tell my friend, Julia, about this cute shop! She raises heritage sheep and produces awesome wool. She would appreciate the attention to detail that the Purl shopkeepers exhibit. I love that arcona egg color they selected for the fascade of the building. Cute shop, indeed!

I found three talented photographers who allowed us to use their pics for this blog- please click on their links to learn more about them.

Your French Connection

2008-07-12T12:50:00.000-07:00

The Blissful, located in Canton, Ohio is a French-style boutique. The proprietor, Abby Kerr, caters to the francophile and romantic. Click on the pic to visit her site and also get directions. She will be featured with her shop in the upcoming August issue of Romantic Homes. One of my favorite things to do is wander the cobblestone streets of Paris, popping in and out of the cute shops. So, whenever I need a French fix, I am heading to The Blissful.

The Hip and Tranquil Chick!

2008-07-10T20:39:00.000-07:00

Kimberly Wilson, yoga guru extradonnaire, has her studio in D.C. You must visit her site as it offers daily inspiration on all levels. Her merchandising skills earn her a spot on Cute Shops. Look at how she displayed her tea! Very creative. I saw this and I knew everyone would appreciate how simply sweet her tea area is. Now, I am inspired to change the labels in my shop!

A.M. Sweet

2008-07-10T08:31:00.000-07:00

photo credit Albert Moreels copyright

This is truly a scrumptious shop, complete with a resident dog and locals chatting with the owner. It is hard to describe what category to put this cute shop in. It is part confiserie, part patisserie, part tea shop, part tea room...very charming! Fell in love with the lemon tart. The sencha tea was prefectly prepared. Brussels is such a lovely European city with a tapestry of styles. It is latent design hive, so look for future posts of its cute shops and ateliers.

Rue des Chartreux, 41000 Brussel

A.M Sweet Salon de thé-confiserie

Rue des Chartreux 41000 Bruxelles

Tél-fax ; 025135131.

What's in a Name?

2008-07-09T05:36:00.000-07:00

Choosing a name for a child or a pet can turn into a major task. So much thought goes into selecting the right name, even for things or entities, like a band, a business or a blog. A fictional writer will agonize over what to name their protagonist. The name needs to make sense and be real for the situation in order for the reader to connect with the character. Shakespeare's Juliet asked, "What's in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet."

I picked Cute Shops for the name of this blog for three reasons. When I shop with my sister-in-law, Barb, we seem to forget all adjectives in the English vocabulary. The only word that comes out is "cute". My brother-in-law, Dave, pointed that out to us and likes to chime in for the fun of it. The second reason is because many of our customers who shop at the tea shop ask if there are "any more cute shops in the area". I guess other people use that word, too.

The third reason is because we wanted this blog to be available for those searching online for "cute shops" when they are planning an itinerary. So, Juliet, a name is important, especially when it come to search engine positioning.

Let me know if you have any cute shops that you would like posted. The pic on this post was taken by Caroline Jones- a cute shop in Liverpool, England.

Urban Farmhouse Emerges

2008-07-08T07:32:00.000-07:00

It is a happy day for my girlfriend, Lisa Maughmer. She just launched her new shop, Urban Farmhouse, today! Visit her site and when in the Central Ohio area, a must stop on your itinerary. It is fabulous! The site is scrumptious! Love the names of her product sections, i.e.- hen house. I live in a farmhouse, so I can totally relate to this shop and know I will be doing some serious shopping there. This is one talented chick!

Cute Shops Coming Soon!

2008-07-02T19:38:00.000-07:00

Hello Fellow Shop Lovers! This is my first post. It is going to be a work in progress and will take a few weeks for me to get this rolling. My goal for this site is to capture as many shops as we can and list them by State and Country. It will give shop owners a chance to shine and also gives readers a new place to visit, either virtually or in person. To include your favorite shop, please see if it meets the qualifications listed on the right side. You can email professional pics, info and website to mootzrun@yahoo.com.