MARIE-CERISE LICHTLÉ AND ELVIRE LAURENT, FOUNDERS OMY, IN PARIS
Smart, pretty, unique and joyful. Yes, OMY's products are ALL of that. The Parisian graphic arts studio specializes in coloring pictures of surprising sizes, colors, and shapes. Two moms Elvire Laurent & Marie-Cerise Lichtlé are behind this brilliant and innovative concept. Accomplices since their studies at the famous "L'école des Beaux-Arts" art school in Paris, they revolutionized the coloring-in world with their giant coloring roll. Nowadays, their creations include stickers, posters, city maps, table mats, and masks and are both entertaining and decorative.
The two creatives share not only a love for design but also a love for their home city Paris: "It is an elegant old lady, sometimes a little crazy" describes Marie-Cerise, "Paris is full of contradictions: it is old and modern, filled with history and current affairs, big and small (its size is perfect!)" adds Elvire.
IN PARIS WITH MARIE-CERISE LICHTLÉ AND ELVIRE LAURENT
Eating out with the kids. EL. In the summer we like to do picnics in "Bois de Vincennes" or at the "Buttes Chaumont" with friends.
MCL. We love Hôtel Providence (90 Rue René Boulanger, 75010 Paris) owned by some friends. The food is good, there is a cute terrace, and the decor is very pretty. The staff are great with kids.
Grabbing a snack with the kids. EL. We like to have a snack in the museums' restaurants.
MCL. The "crêpes" from "rue du faubourg Montmartre" or the Juhlès bakery "Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis" for their chocolate croissants.
Having fun with the kids on a sunny day. EL. We love going to parks or simply visiting our house in Normandie.
MCL. We hop on our bikes and ride from "Canal St Martin" to "la Villette". There are a lot of bicycle lanes and it is not very crowded so we can ride for a while.
Having fun on a rainy day. EL. Visiting a museum, staying at home or going to the cinema.
MCL. We always try to find a local theater showing something the kids will like.
A cultural activity with the kids. EL. The "Musée en Herbe", the "Louvre", the "Cité des Sciences", le Centre Pompido… All these museums are wonderful and I choose which one to go to according to my mood.MCL. My kids like several places the "Musée Des Arts Premiers, le Centre Pompidou", the "Louvre" and the 104.A walk during nap time. EL. A walk in "Bois de Vincennes," a gigantic forest on the outskirts of the city.MCL. We like to walk around parks around Paris, in "Bois de Vincennes" or in the pretty "Parc floral."A pretty shop for kids. EL. Kotozane and L’Ouvre Boite both close to home. I also love Millimètres and Bonton.MCL. There are gorgeous shops for kids such as Bonton, Smallable, local toy stores and beautiful Parisian bookshops. A day outside of the city. EL. We head to Normandie, only a couple of hours away from Paris!MCL. "La ferme de Gally" is a great place for kids where you can pick up fresh organic fruits and see animals. A bit further away, by the seaside, there's also Deauville and Trouville.