Yesterday in Paris

 

Yesterday, with the best of intentions (ha ha) I headed to the pool 🏊 and got there too late for the morning session (7 - 12:30)

Instead I went and got a much-needed haircut. Damien cuts it in 11 minutes (not kidding). Telling myself I’d hit the pool later for the afternoon session (13:30 - 18:00). 

Ah the little lies we tell ourselves…

Bleu Blanc Rouge

I’m so happy M. Macron is continuing as president of France 🇫🇷 🍾🤸‍♂️

I went off on a Vichy  red check painting tangent today

Especially since Sabra check spoons 🥄  came into my life.

It doesn’t take much for me to become red-checked obsessed.

These are actually Real shoes from MuiMui! I’m always looking at feet. Maybe because I used to design shoes. 

I saw these the other day on the Metro. Someone can’t wait for Summer. 

Speaking of Summer, Maison d’Isabelle can’t wait to show off their Summer fruit Tartes. Perfect way to celebrate the election outcome🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷 

A HQ for Vichy check candy boxes, the very Frenchy shop for checkered accessories, H.Moinet.

Is confisierie Maison Moinet of Vichy. 

Their tins and boxes are irresistible. The town of Vichy has been making checked cloth since the 17th and 18th century. 

George Washington requested of his nephew living in Paris to send him Vichy check seat covers for Mount Vernon. 

The Vichy check is a common, everyday fabric, yet its an instant reminder of classic French bistros. 

La Fontaine de Mars Watercolor

And you can’t get more classic bistro than Le Fontaine de Mars. Have you been? Really fun. Well s’il vous plait raise a glass 🍾to Emanuel et Brigitte👏👏👏 Some  checkered watercolors are waiting on Etsy. Bonne Monday PBers❤️💋🇫🇷

Imagine:How Creativity Works

 Do you look at the world through rose-colored glasses?

Jonah Lehrer says the color blue can help you double your creative output. Consider switching to blue glasses. I am.

 Lehrer's book 'Imagine:How Creativity Works' is full of good ideas and anecdotes to back them up.

 I was planning to do up my Paris-apartment-to-be in red Vichy checks.

 But now it will be true bleu all the way.

 I'll stepping out in bleu ballerinas too..Why not?

 Head-to-toe bleu outfits can't hurt.
Bye bye Italian verte olive.

 Is that why I love Paris pools? I get great ideas in the water. Is it the blue that inspires me?

 Paris in general is a great source of inspiration. Put one foot the door and I’m inspired. But sometimes in the creative process you hit a wall. "The question becomes, what happens if you hit the wall? Because we've all got experience with this. You're working on a creative problem, and then all of a sudden that feeling of progress disappears...

 I'd rather hit a wall in Paris.

'What you should do then — when you hit the wall -' .

 Is get away from your desk.

Step away from the office.

Take a long walk.

(Preferably during l'heure bleu..)

 'So when you hit the wall, the next best thing you can do is probably take a very long, warm shower.'

 Illustration by Soledad Bravi

'Daydream.
Find some way to relax. Get those alpha waves. Alpha waves are a signal in the brain that's closely correlated with states of relaxation. Breakthroughs happen in the unlikeliest of places, whether it's Archimedes in the bathtub or the physicist Richard Feynman scribbling equations in a strip club, as he was known to do. It reveals the wisdom of Google putting ping-pong tables in the lobby and confirms the practical benefits of daydreaming.'

 "And what scientists have found is that when people are relaxed, they're much more likely to have those big 'Ah ha!' moments, those moments of insight where these seemingly impossible problems get solved. The answer will only arrive once you stop looking for it."

 Lehrer sadly does not mention snacking as a source of inspiration. But you do have to take a walk to get a snack even if just to fridge.

I'm crazy for the Imagine:How Creativity Works video on the Amazon site.

'It's this ability to attack problems as a beginner, to let go of all preconceptions and fear of failure, that's the key to creativity. One needs to constantly remind oneself to play with the abandon of a child.'
This quote made me buy the book (the audible version so I can paint while listening)

HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY WEEKEND PBers!

Rement Bakery

 Now what is she up to you must be wondering...Hmmm

New wonderful stuff! New minis. This is the Bakery set from Rement in Japan. A ParisBreakfast still-life painter's dream in fact. Yellow Bird gets into the act and has a proper sized petit dejeuner sitting on a red-checked tray.

Et voila!These cuties are larger than yesterday's dollhouse treats.
1 : 6 is the ratio.

The box comes with an assortment of 10 boxes inside, each holding themed goodies. Organic bread! Weeee

I'm now the proud owner of 2 French style Vichy red-check trays. I could open my own cafe in just a few days.

A sample still life setup with honey in this case. Perfection non? I found this treasure box in a Japanese store on 2nd ave. More about that tomorrow.

Meanwhile I'm flirting with more stuff. Don't I need a proper fridge to put the desserts in?

 The tea sets could sit here when not being used. I think I've joined the mad addicted adult collectors of Japanese minis.Mega house and Rement are the two top mini makers I've discovered so far.

Oh! must not forget a proper tea table for Yellow bird.

And these ice cream minis have me melting.