Friday, April 26, 2019

Les Parasols de Deauville

Last Easter weekend I was invited to DEAUVILLE.

Ididn't plan on falling in love ❤️ with the famous parasols on the beach. That's why they call it 'le coup de foudre'. Struck by lightening, instant love.

I love their shapes, tied up like dancer's skirt.

I love the brilliant blocks of 'color like bonbons'. Delicious

You can rent les cabines to change in, relax or escape the sun. Things haven't changed that much on the beach at Deauville

There's a terrific boardwalk (les planches) with cafes, ice cream sellers, all the essentials.

Even better, walk barefoot in the fine sand.

My painting workstation inside.

My workstation at breakfast time with Normandy Neufchatel, jam from the strawberry lady, plus her strawberries, a hunk of semi-sel (salted butter) bought in Deauville's daily marché from the fromager, a chewy baguette de tradition, pain au raisin (my current addiction), organic Normandy yogurt. Yum, yum
I ❤️ Deauville. Have you been?
Thank you for reading Parisbreakfast. If you enjoyed this forward to a friend. Receive monthly Paris letters, maps and watercolors in your mailbox + French souvenirs at ETSY.
xxx💋Carolg et Bear 🐻 in Paris


Thursday, April 18, 2019

April Paris Cathedral Map

When finally I came in Monday night I could still hear the sirens of the pompier. But all the church bells were ringing too. An hommage to Notre Dame.

I was working on a map of Paris cookwareshops and it wasn't Going very well...

Then Deb in Australia emailed me a little drawing of Notre Dame from another map. Why not do a map of all the beautiful Gothic churches near Notre Dame? Et voila!

Tuesday I went to 4 Gothic churches near Notre Dame. End of day my hair smelled like incense.

Saint Etienne-du-Mont in the 5th arr. was formerly the resting place of Saint Genevieve, patron saint of Paris, till her bones were destroyed during the French Revolution and tossed into the Seine.

I doodled during the service.

EGLISE SAINT-GERMAIN-Des-PRES has been newly, gloriously renovated. A Must-See. I went to see the three gorgeous DELACROIX murals at SAINT-SULPICE. Look at this little still life in the foreground.

I needed a border of course. Every map needs a border. But French manuscripts were not going to work obviously. Obviously it had to be stained glass! That came to me out walking. Yes!👍🏻

A wonderful free guide I picked up by chance in the Paris Tourist office to the 120 churches in Paris!

FYIThere are more Notre Dame watercolors in my shop. Thank you for reading Parisbreakfast. If you enjoyed this forward to a friend. Receive monthly Paris letters or maps in your mailbox + French souvenirs at ETSY.
xxx💋Carolg et Bear 🐻 in Paris


Monday, April 15, 2019

Pray for Notre Dame


My touchstone is burning
 Everyday I pass Notre Dame 2, 3 times. 
The crowds are immense and quiet. This forlorn pup expresses our loss.
Notre Dame early morning when the Seine is like glass
C'est un incontournable
If you come to Paris, you come to Notre Dame. 
Such skies like I've never seen before
Better times ❤️🙏🏻

Sunday, April 14, 2019

Salon international du livre rare et de l'objet d'art au Grand Palais

On thursday I was lucky enough to get an invite to preview the annual  SALON DU LIVRES RARES ET L'OBJETS D'ART at Grand Palais. Naturally I was thinking I'll just run in for 20-30 minutes and then off to the pool.
Ha! Two hours later I could have stayed and stayed. A veritable treasure chest of old books, art and and artifacts to linger over. This stripped tent from military dealer, BERTRAND MALVAUX contained Napoleonic medals, helmets, armor, toy soldiers. Was that the dealer's grass green shoes? Qui sait. 
160 exhibitors, 44 countries represented, 50 art experts to consult. 
What more could you want? A giant book store.
An area just for prints and small drawings amd watercolors. As if you are browsing a tiny shop.
Special invited guest, library, LA BIBLIOTHEQUE FORNEY brought treasures from their collections
There are small shops of jewelry, fabrics, watches as well...
Famous French 20s printer, DRAEGER had a big stand of old posters, fashion drawings
I was lured in easily and would have bought up everything in sight if I could have.
Still the fun of going to these big, glorious art shows is browsing up close things you would normally view only behind glass cases
Today is the last day of Salon international du livre rare & de l'objet d'art au Grand Palais. Run, don't walk to catch it. Thank you for reading Parisbreakfast. If you enjoyed this forward to a friend. Receive monthly Paris letters or maps in your mailbox + French souvenirs at ETSY.
xxx💋Carolg et Bear 🐻 in Paris