Monday, June 30, 2008

Macaron Breakfast

#144 Macaron Foursome, original watercolor, 9" x 11"
I can't remember when I last painted macarons..?

It felt like time to get out the watercolors again...

#143B Cup of Hot Chocolate and Macarons, original watercolor, 9" x 11"

And get cracking!

Don't the brightly colored macarons look alot llike watercolor pans or is it my over-active imagination at it again..? Seeing macarons everywhere I look..
Now here is the REAL thing at Dalloyau. A plate 'o four...sigh
No-name macarons.. But who's to say these aren't just as good and the price is right! And they still look pretty even without a couture label.
Macs from PAUL...
Macarons from Gerard Mulot! YUMMERS
Pierre Herme's lovelies...the big monster size too..a meal in itself.
Wouldn't we all like to be in her shoes..stepping out with her macarons in hand...
Wouldn't it be nice if you could buy macaron stamps that tasted like Pistachio? Does anyone lick stamps anymore? Did they stop all that after the Seinfeld show disaster (the wedding stamps that did in one of the characters fatally - what was her name)?
Now who didn't finish their macarons? No crumbs left on the plate PLEASE.
BONJOUR PARIS

Friday, June 27, 2008

Marie-Antoinette's Doll Tea Set...

Dear ex-pat Suzanne in Paris sent me this exquisite Limoge miniature dolls tea set this week. I tried to paint it but...forgettabout it! Not a snowball's chance in Hell I could paint this gold set
 
But doesn't it look like Marie-Antoinette's daughter could have played with it?
From the show at the Grand Palais, here is M-A's adult-sized gold tea set... And you could buy this travel tea set in the museum gift boutique...for a gazillion euros...LOOK at this romantic transfer on the blue tray above...Doesn't it look just a bit like this en famille portrait of Marie-Antoinette?
I love this portrait of M-A at her drawing lesson - in those days you had to draw! It was de rigeur, bien sur. Portrait heads of Marie-Antoinettes hair dos... AH HA! And her famous diamond necklace. Excuse the blur...Back to the gift boutique, you could buy a version of her diamonds...They did not have anything like this gold embossed, enameled armoire (at least I think it's an armoire..please correct me) in the gift shop... Quelle domage! Now this I would have bought.

Marie-Antoinette's travel chest or hope chest or something or other...You can see just how dark it was inside the exhibit
BiscuitBear bought this adorable period dress for her daughter and you can see her wearing it on Flickr. Charmant! Why didn't I get this mignon T-shirt?
Did I eat macarons the end of the show? bien sur!
BONJOUR PARIS!

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Au Nom de la Rose

 Mon confit de Pétales de roses,watercolor

Every Paris visit I try to stop by Au Nom De La Rose.
 
Yesterday Lynn reminded me of an old watercolor  on Au Nom.

Time to look at roses again, especially now that they are out there everywhere you look... And who does roses better than Au Nom de la Rose in Paris?

Maybe they're the best rose sellers on the planet.

Where else can you feel like you're invited into someone's private garden while still standing in the street?And their prices aren't extra-terrestial either. Oh the ROSES!
Multi-colored bouquets... Are these peonies mixed in..?
Breathe in the scent.
BONJOUR PARIS!
 

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Eclairs = Ballerinas

Two French Eclairs, original watercolor, 9" x 11"
No one comes up with ECLAIR creations like Fauchon!
Is there anyway you could walk on by their window in Paris.Three French Eclairs, original watercolor, 9" x 11"
LOOK at THIS!A savory eclair meant to look like canned peas and carrots peut-etre, but with chunks of smoked salmon instead! Does this not take the cake? Some say Fauchon goes overboard with their creativity but I am astonished by their ideas. A Fauchon demo in action.The finished beauties...MiamHediard across the boulevard tries to keep up - a losing battle in my opinion... LA MAISON DU CHOCOLAT keeps it simple with just 3 flavors: chocolate, coffee and caramel.
The caramel is to die for. Every Paris patisserie has the quotidien eclair.
Don't these look like ballerinas?
Is that why we love them?
BONJOUR PARIS Eclairs!
Don't these ballerinas look like eclairs?