Shopping spree -- there's no business like Oolong

[janestarz]

After my meeting in Utrecht I canceled on my mother. I would visit her at the Utrecht University, but I didn't feel like going blindly towards a campus and hoping someone could help me out finding the animal medicine faculty. Meh.

I decided to go shopping instead. Of course Utrecht has many wonderful stores and I very nearly have a degree of Locating Obscure Sewing, Knitting, and Miscellaneous Craft Shops in Small Alleys. That would be LOSKMCSSA for short.
I tried to find Subcultures, but failed to find it yet again even though I walked the entire length of the Oude Gracht. In stead, I went to Simon Lévelt to buy some tea. They have many, many different kinds of wonderful tea and I ended up choosing four blends: Sichuan Oolong, Sencha Green Tea, the Jasmine Chung Hao and some Orange Pekoe for my mother. I also bought some tea tins to store tea in, and ended up spending over € 30,- on teas and accessoiries. I bought two lovely mugs with lids that work like a charm when making tea from loose leaves. I am currently enjoying the Oolong, which smells like a cow pasture (but in a good way) and has a definite dry grass and earth overtone.

Then I went to a small shop called Michel. It's a store specialising in linen and silk, and though the choice is very limited I still have a smashing bright purple satin I once bought there and dare not use. I looked at their coupons, and lo and behold, there was a bit of pink dupioni silk. 70 cm by 135 cm, large enough for bodys, and in the perfect hue for Marianne. *sigh*
It was only € 8,50, so I didn't need to shop any further and just took that along. I bought matching satin bias tape at the passimenterie^* on the Lijnmarkt a few doors down. Across the passimenterie was a knitting store where I drooled at the kidsilk thread, and bought two bamboo crocheting needles and a pair of bamboo knitting needles. Roleplay-proof knitting and crocheting, here I come!

So it felt like I spent a fortune while actually I didn't spend too much money. I had a great time, shopping just for me, and I love love love the new teas. I wish there was a Simon Lévelt nearby!

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*) Passimenterie: a store selling only haberdashery. From ostrich feathers to curtain tassels, they've got everything to dress a child or a primadonna. Sparklies and feathers and ribbons and...oh!

Comments

[sna.livejournal.com]

Subcultures is on 'the werf', below street level on the edge of the water, right opposite to the entrance of the Springweg garage. Map coordinates are 52.089109, 5.121313.

[janestarz.livejournal.com]

I know Subcultures was below street level, so I was looking for signs etc. next to the streetside as well as at the water's edge. I walked from Neude to the Dom, and all I found was restuarants, tapas restaurants, Los Gauchos, and even a hairdresser, but I couldn't find Subcultures.

I considered calling you, but I didn't have your cell number on hand.

[muizenstaartje.livejournal.com]

It's not that far from the Kinky kapper or however you spell that. Maybe I should take you on a tour through Utrecht one day. I hardly know Utrecht, but I do know where to find Subcultures and the Faculty of Veterinary Science. It makes me feel less like a total stranger to Utrecht after living there for 6 years. XD

[twilightbanana.livejournal.com]

Subcultures is right underneath the Dille & Kamille. Mind you, I've managed to miss it too one time, since the Oude Gracht is interrupted at some point (just past a movie theatre the canal seems to end, there is a big imposing building and cobbled street instead of canal there). But after a bit the canal continues, and Subcultures isn't far from there.

[steelweaver.livejournal.com]

The 'Koopgoot' has a Simon Levelt, but it's well-hidden.

[woran.livejournal.com]

It took me 6 months to find the sub. Utrecht can be a bit of a maze. The sub is well hidden. But once I knew it was beneath the Dille and Kamille it was easy to find.
I love the pasementerie. All the little trinkets... They just beg to be bought :)