Monday, March 16, 2009

Retail therapy

I was out and about this morning looking for birthday cards - Alex is 16 and Paul is 18 this week! - and tried the only shop I know with a fairly good selection. Manor is one of the few department stores in the city but I tend not to go there are as the layout is confusing and they seem to have been refurbishing for years! But today there were signs indicating the stationary department had moved upstairs and I expected to see it downsized and stuck in a corner (on the tram on the way I saw that Marks & Spencer's 'new' store has already closed down!) but it looked really good - bigger, better laid out and nice and bright.

This display really caught my eye!





















Considering Caran d'Ache's factory is based in Geneva, I'm surprised they don't showcase their products better. This is the best I've seen so far. I really liked how all these pencils were displayed according to colour.






















In fact, I'd really love this for my room at home! Shame I'm not a big Caran d'Ache fan though!

















The new Luminance range finally selling in 'open stock'. I bought a Silver Grey and Buff Titanium to try as highlights on my brown paper (Lyra and Polychromos whites seemed a bit weak).






















But this was the best - have you ever seen such a big testing pad?! Utterly irresistible -it would bring out the 5 year old in anyone!

13 comments:

ColorfulJacksons said...

OMG! It's a dreamland!

Bonny said...

Wow! Felicity!

This is definitely a place we have to check out if I get there this Spring. Or at another time... I still have 5 weeks to go in this cast, so...

(Did you get the cards?)

Happy Birthday to Alex and Paul!!!

pedalpower said...

Looks like heaven!

free[k]hand said...

Yummm! Irresistible, specially seen from Bologna where art stores almost don't exist.

Felicity said...

Glad you enjoyed them!

Bonny, we can take a pad each - there are 2 as big as tables! Yes, I found the cards but they are never as good as they could be, don't you find? Hope that leg is healing fast!

Miguel, this is pretty rare here too. Only 2 small art stores.

Lin said...

WOW! What a display!!!! And happy birthday to your boys!

Katherine Tyrrell said...

Great display - Caran d'Ache is getting better!

What a nice art shop to provide a nice big pad for testing!

caseytoussaint said...

Ooh - I could spend a lot of time (and money!) in there.....

"JeanneG" said...

Makes me want to go shopping for supplies. I love the huge pad. At the store I shop, we only get a 3 inch one.

Emma said...

You are making me so envious - Luminance in open stock, beautiful colourful displays, huge test pad - what more could you ask for from an art shop!

Margaret Ann said...

OOOOOH MY! What a paradise you have found!!!!! :)

FairyFaye said...

I like your blog! And I love the pencil display!
That would fit nicely in my study ;-)

Felicity said...

Thanks, and welcome, Fairy Faye!

Belated thanks to all!