Salon de l’Agriculture #2

I went back to Salon de l’Agriculture on Friday

The lemons 🍋 🍋🍋

French Girl’s Apartment

Yesterday Bethany said...I love your blog. 

Its absolutely sensational and the highlight of my days!! I was wondering if you could do a post on the typical French girls apartment. In the movies it always looks very thrown together, simple and chic. I know you must have insight on this!!!! That would be fantastic.

(This is a repost from 2010)

At first I thought no. But after careful reconsideration, I decided yes! I should show you that French girls are not so casual. In fact the opposite.This is the lovely clear entryway where I was allowed to drop my bag 💼 on arrival.

June Paris Strawberry Letter with a little help from my friends

Nothing says Spring or June like strawberries/fraise.

The wearing of strawberry anything in Paris is de rigueur as a rite of Printemps/Spring.

I had big plans to attend the annual June fete de fraise in Plougastel, Brittany.

I was going to visit the musee de la fraise too

And pay homage to dear Amedee-Francois Frezier, who brought back 6 species of strawberries/fraises/Fragaria Chiloensis to France from Chili (now grown to 600 species).

When a New York friend came to town in early May. Natch I took her to the patisserie to taste a Fraisier. What better way to celebrate Spring and her visit.

Naturally I gave her the bag to carry - a big honor in my mind.

Did I know she would swing it like "a tisket, a tasket, a red and yellow basket". I was ready to throttle her 😱

When she said she Loved my preparatory sketches for the June letter on fraises, I was ready to hug her. All was forgiven and the cake tasted Fab anyway.

The June Paris letter has been through so many renditions it's silly.

Monsieur Frézier was an essential ingredient.

But where to put him and how to make him look less grumpy.

Graphic designer Sarah Vasseghi saved the day on Sunday when she said, "You need scale! Everything is the same size". YES.

 When I fell and broke my leg I was on way out the door to get Fraisier cake samples. No wonder I wasn't paying attention. Frederic Cassel's Fraisier saved the day and became my model. I've yet to find the true origins of the Fraisier gateau but it's certainly the French version of our strawberry shortcake with a perhaps lighter and more fanciful touch. The berries are sandwiched between 2 thin layers of Genoise cake with a base of pate d'almond, a topping of here a very light guimauve/marshmallow and filled in with creme moussiline. More fresh fruit on top. Yum. 

I had so many prep sheets of sketches, French Girl suggested we cut them up and paint a strawberry tied with a red ribbon as a little favor to go inside the June Paris letters.

I thought she was nuts

But in no time French Girl was punching holes and tying ribbons as she lined them up like strawberry 🍓 soldiers.

While I painted up a storm.

Speaking of storms, we had torrential rains here and even hail but I haven't gotten a toe wet. Fr Girl bought tons of ribbon, Lois found strawberry perfume to spritz all the envelopes before they ship out,  La Poste and Wendy brought the strawberries 🍓 for the shot. I couldn't have done it without you dear friends.  That's the story of the June Paris letter.
Big Merci all !

I’m Carol Gillott, an artist living in Paris. Every month I send out beautifully illustrated letters that capture the true Parisian experience. Sign up to receive these whimsical treasures in your mail.

Thanks for reading PB ❤️

☕️ If you’d like to support my work, you can buy me a KO-FI here  ☕️  ❤️ Thank you so much! 🍓 🍓 🍓

La Taxi Tour of Paris and my left foot

Yesterday I went to the orthopedie to get a verdict on ze leg.

And I got to go outside the house! Thank you very kind Taxi Bleu.

Even if it was a grey day.

Paris is Paris and dependably uplifting.

Here is my right foot waiting for the news.

Look! L'Arc de Triumph is having a bit of work too...a comrade in arms cast. 

Notre Dame is in good shape this year. No cast.

I took a picture of my darling doc but he might sue me if I showed you so you'll have to settle for my feet, sorry. The doc let out one of those very French whistles (sort of a toot-toot when something is easy-peasy). He told me I just have TWO WEEKS more with the cast! Woo woo. Then I come back for a boot. I was clapping big time. 

*FYI in Paris supermarkets the ham case has at least 50 kinds. At least the butcher says this is the best one. Miam miam

Here is the artful diagram yrs truly created so she could sashay into my bank, get the money and waltz right by reception.

Somewhat better artwork of French Girl.

Remember French Girl?  I used to stay with her and admire her Frenchiness close up. She is still as Frenchie as ever.

FG brought me goodies from Monoprix yesterday. I hope someday to figure out how to order online.

Bonjour French Girl.

I wonder if my new boot/botte post-cast will look like this? Me thinks not. I am busy begging P Hermé's people to send me macaron brochures to put in your June-fraise Paris Sketch Letters. Keep your fingers crossed PBers.

French Girl's Books

 I sent a desperate email to French Girl in Shanghai,

'WHERE ARE THE COOKIES?'
 

 Sometimes you can't see the forest for the trees.

The COOKIES were in French Girl's book case (still full) holding up her books.
 

 U R what U read.

French Girl reads many cookbooks including Jill Colonna's Mad About Macarons.
 

 I asked her about this one -
The Principle of the little penguin.

It's a book to calm you down.

Oh :O

 Fr Girl is a big fan of cookbook author, Sophie Dudemaine.

So is chef Marthe!

 Elle Magazine is every French girl's bible no matter her age.

Never ever throw one away! R U kidding?

 French girls in general LOVE these aroma bougies/candles.

 Diptyque ('Baies' is Fr Girl's personal flavor).

 Diptyque bougies serve many purposes. Wall decor for one. Along with Repetto bags. No wonder Fr Girl had a fit when I tried to throw mine out.

 

 When the candle burns down it makes a perfect brush holder. I bet FG has enough empties to have a big drinks soiree.
 

 Just in case you think I'm nuts for noticing ladybugs/coccinelle (bringers of happiness) everywhere in Paris, please note FG has one doing happiness duty here.

 Everyone things French Girls have so much confidence. That certain ineffable something or other, that je ne sait quoi and a load of other bla bla bla.

Guess what? French girls read self-help books too.Who knew?

 

 This one illustrated by Soledad Bravi tells you what positive words to tell yourself bla bla bla

 It's also useful to cut up and add to your decor.
 

 French girls do seem very gifted at home decor. Some people are not major clutterers like some other people :(

 I think the French are more crazy for tea than the British. I brought FG this artisanal tea tin from Tay Teas

Tea title:'Better Than Sex' Ha!

 My London assignment - bring back FG a tin of Fortnum and Mason's Earl Grey Classic. Useful too as book ends. I'm sending French Lulu to Fortnum and Masons window for her birthday. That's a switch.

Store Windows #17

 French Girl has her own book out!

 She shoots Paris windows one evening a week et voila!

All French Girls admire FAB icon, Ines de la Fressange. They need to know about Parisian Chic just as much as we do :O

Go figure.