Bookbinding and specialty shop Ex Libris Mlle M./La P’tite Poule Bleue joins Huntingdon’s bustling main route.
On Sunday, November 13th local gift shop La P’tite Poule Bleue joined the collection of new shops that have opened in Huntingdon in 2015. Specializing in the rare art of bookbinding while also offering up speciality gifts, owner Martine Myre opened the store with the intention of holding bookbinding workshops. The Huntingdon resident returned to her hometown after her children left home to realize her dream of opening a shop, choosing Huntingdon for its rich history and country setting. The building that houses the shop itself is longstanding, having served as both a restaurant as well as Diane’s Fur Shop in 1949. “The inspiration behind our big opening is to find something beautiful and practical, for every taste at any price. Everything that is in the boutique is something that I would have chosen for myself,” explains Myre.
The store is divided into two parts—the bookbinding shop and the gift boutique. Myre’s speciality is bookbinding—a rare art form. “I use old tools and machines that are over 150 years old. These help me to repair books that are having bad days or to simply create new ones, depending on the demands. I work on things like archives, documents, library or schoolbooks and dictionaries. For new creations, there are so many possibilities, from signature books for weddings, christenings, showers, personal journals, boxes, and of course, protective boxes for old and rare books.” Which explains the name of the bookbinding section of the shop, Ex Libris Mlle M. (ex libris is Latin for “from or out of books”). Myre is particularly excited about the bookbinding classes she plans to start in January. The boutique portion of the shop is named for Myre’s mother, in honour of both her talent and a blue porcelain hen that she used to own, which now sits in the shop. The store stocks objects that bring comfort, with an inventory that includes everything from candles to intricate throws and unique furniture.
Myre’s sister, Nathalie Myre, also contributes to the shop, despite having a full time job. At the moment, some of Nathalie’s refurbished pieces are on display at the store—using chalk paint, she breathes new life into older pieces, lending them an original feel. “She is a big help to me,’ explains Martine. ‘If you search for something special or unique, she knows where to find it.”
The bevy of local shops that has opened in Huntingdon over the past year has refreshed Huntingdon’s main stretch. From natural foods shop Marché Sarah to farm supply store Le Travailleur des Vallées to Boutique Poils et Plumes, (which came under new ownership in 2014), the main is experiencing a facelift. Continuing to shop locally will only inject further life into the town of Huntingdon, so be sure to knock some items off your Christmas list by shopping in town.
