Gorgeous textiles for your home and you from Istanbul

Tulu Textiles is one of my favorite shops in Istanbul.  The multi-level small building is packed with beautiful textiles for the home and for wearing (beautiful scarves, bags) and the upper floors have magnificent rugs, kilims and other textiles from Turkey and around Central Asia.  Tulu designs cottons and linens with contemporary designs that have their inspiration in traditional Ottoman patterns.  They are lovely and unusual.  Tulu now offers online ordering in the US, so, if you aren't going to Istanbul any time soon you can still treat yourself to these lovely products.  Check them out.

  www.tulutextiles.com
        info@tulutextiles.com
        binbirdirek mah. peykane sk.
        no:38 ersoy han kat:3 d:7 sultanahmet 34122
        istanbul- turkey
        90.212.518.8710

More fabulous chocolate... and cakes in the Marais

The 'haut' Marais (upper Marais) just keeps getting better.  While you browse the alluring shops along rue Charlot and surrounding streets, be sure to indulge your sweets-loving-self at a new chocolates and patisserie shop,  Chocolats Matthieu Bijou.

Matthieu is a fine chocolates maker with a good selection of irresistible chocolate confections.  He also makes 'sweets for children' including beautiful fruit guimauves (marshmallows) and yummy paté de fruits.  Also known for exquisite lemon cakes and other small cakes, this shop at 28 rue Charlot is worth a detour, or a beeline to go right there!

Open Tuesday through Sundays.

Icons of Modern Art at the Vuitton Museum

The Gehry-designed Louis Vuitton museum is hosting a remarkable show of 130 masterpieces from the Shchukin Collection in Russia.  Collaborating with the Hermitage and the Pushkin museums, and celebrating a year of Franco-Russian collaborations, this show is packed with works rarely seen outside of Russia.  This is an important show and one that won't be replicated any time soon.  So go!

Through February 20.  Works by artists including Monet, Matisse, Picasso, Derain, Rousseau, Cezane, Sisley, Gaugin and numerous other noted artists are included.  The Vuitton museum is located in the Bois de Boulogne on the west side of Paris.  The museum is a work of art in itself.