La Naissance des Grands Magasins 1852-1925, Le musée des Arts décoratifs

 

Yesterday was the 1st day of the big department store show at MAD and I was there when the doors opened.

Are you a devoted department store browser (different from a shopper)

Annie Leibovitz Life at Home project, Bon Marché ‘Mise en Page’

 

You can’t let rain ☔️ stop you from doing things living in Paris

Yesterday I went to see the 4-day IKEA artist in residence project with Annie Leibovitz,

Ai Weiwei at Le Bon Marche and Cha Ling

Tuesday night I reluctantly ventured out into the chill night to attend a cosmetics launch of Cha Ling l'esprit du thè at Bon Marche.

A few weeks earlier I noticed excitement going on in Bon Marche's windows - The biggest installation ever in Paris of Chinese artist, Ai WeiWei is on from 20 Janvier - 20 Fevrier.

I managed to catch a shot of Ai Weiwei's diagrammatic sketch.

Look at the wildly energetic results seen Tuesday night.

Ten windows with different poetic, mythical themes.

Inside Bon Marche, a new other worldly sérum infusion called Cha Ling l'esprit du thé is designed to hydrate your dry skin in the chill air.

Made with rare organic forest tea leaves plus red algae. The scent is wonderful, exotic yet not heavily perfumy.

Samples were expertly smoothed on hands

Chinese artifacts in exquisite still lifes

I suppose part of the Chinese promotion throughout Bon Marche.

On hand artisans

A calligrapher to paint your fortune

Taste tea made from the same leaves in Cha Ling skin care.

And of course gelato served by Il Gelato del Marchese

The guests of honor, Olivier Echaudemaison, Guerlain creative director

On his arm, Russian supermodel Natalia Vodianova

Hovering over the head of the president of Cha Ling and Guerlain, Laurent Boillot, swirling and dipping

Ai Weiwei's terrific mythical creature-kites Bet they'd love to swoop down for a glass of Veuve Clicquot.

Bon Marche's atrium is the perfect environment for these floating creatures.

At eye-level silvery fish swim in big tanks in the cosmetics department.

I have absolutely nothing to wear to these events. I went back yesterday for more shots. Wish I had mythical, floaty pink hair, perfect for tea cosmetic launches.This swath of Chinese red cloth worn on the wrist is so chic for French soirées (only for employees of Bon Marche and Cha Ling).
Don't miss the Ai Weiwei installation at Bon Marche if you're in Paris!

December Letter and Le Bon Marche Xmas

This month I'm pleased as egg nog punch to report I'm free as a bird regarding the December Paris Sketch Letter!
The letter, completed in late November (miracle of miracles!) is MAILED OUT! 
True, you haven't seen much of Carolg on PB of late. That's because I've been super busy tearing out my hair illustrating a mystery pastry map for J's new book coming out in the Spring.
There's always something...

The map was completed yesterday at long last. I headed over to see BON MARCHÉ'S divine Christmas decorations.

Can you find Carolg?

BEAR came along for the ride.

Bon Marche is enthralled with reindeer and so am I.

Lovely, light and cheerful. Not wildly extravagant but very effective.

Their tree decoration shop on the 2nd floor IS indeed extravagant.

And a joy to experience.

Their fabulous baubles but so worth it.

What is the smart Parisian wearing, browsing in Bon Marche? 
Paris temperatures being in the high 30s so a tad chilly.
*Note tam o'shanter hat, black leggings, backpack and scooter.

BEAR, permanently dressed in cashmere, is ready for Winter and not interested in Bon Marche's dress code. He'd rather gaze at chocolate-covered marshmallow bears. Miam

Outside Bon Marche's Grand Epicerie there's a faux chalet offering hot chocolate, mulled wine, kouglhof and pain d'epice (gingerbread). Free tastes too. Miam miam!

More reindeer in the windows busy working in Santa's Atelier(workshop) doing guess what?

Sorting MAIL!
Is this not a dream come true for someone who spends 1/3 her time at La Poste, 1/3 addressing envelopes and the other 1/3 tasting chocolates and buche de Noel!

They are jumping up and down on the bags of letters to pack them into Santa's bags.

They are checking addresses for mistakes.
Boy did this hit home. Where do I hire these reindeer?

Mailboxes in front so Parisian kids can drop off their wish lists to Santa. The store toy catalog has a tear-out letter plus lovely stickers of French reindeer.

Bon Marche has a Holiday Special on - order a bag and get it personalized with your name or your friend's name on it.

Paris Sketch Letters has a HOLIDAY SPECIAL on for the month of December.

Order a subscription on ETSY and get a watercolor print of a box of macarons with YOUR NAME ON IT!   It's not too late to receive the personalized macaron print in time for the holidays (Hanukkah and Kwanza included). Ready to ship out TODAY! If you want to personally give the 1st letter I can send it to you and the rest to the gift recipient. 

If you're in Paris and mad for reindeer, run to Bon Marche this Sunday at 3 PM. 

The reindeer will be singing Carols on the rez-de-chausee. 24, rue de Sevres 75007

Cheers Carolg

Borough Market London

I hope you're REALLY hungry today. We're going to Borough Market today! I love this location sign. Have you ever seen such big wheels of cheese?

London leafy greens are at Borough Market in depth.

And plenty of reds.

Every stall offers tastes too...

Though not the vegetable stands.

The signs get you salivating.

Plus the aromas + visual treats = unbeatable!

So many savory goodies.

The entire planet is represented here in national cuisines.

Of course the very British old favorites like pork pies.

Choosing is the hardest part.

I love these giant vats of steaming delicious foods...

And there are tastes before you buy.

Most plates of food cost about a fiver.

Cassoulet with cider offered nearby.
 

Even the signs are delicious at Borough Market.

Simply scrumptcious melty cheese reclette.

Miam-miam

Unmelted cheese tastes aplenty.

Gorgeous still lifes just waiting to be painted everywhere.

Someone was sitting on the ground sketching.

I went around 11 o'clock just as things were starting to hum. London Bridge Tube station is the best stop to get out at in my opinion.

Not everyone was eating fish & chips, though it surely seemed that way.
 

There's a nice church nearby where people eat their goodies.

What did I have? I had a scallop shell full of crayfish and a falafel wrap with humus. I showed a little restraint for once.

I was saving myself for Ottolenghi's passion fruit meringue tart. Fortunately I never made it . Well not yesterday anyway.

You can buy lovely hand-painted plates to eat off if you prefer.

And of course there were a gazillion sweets on offer. These are from l'Artisan du Chocolat :)