Rouge Gorge & Watercolor Sale

 

Supposedly there are many robins in France but I have yet to see any (along with squirrels/l’ésquirul) 

BHV was supposed to have this felt robin but when I went in they said I would have to order it & come back the next day to pick it up. Of course I never did & that was months ago…

Birds of Paris

It's so easy to fall for the wrong guy isn't it? Who knew there could be so much heart break over a chicken timer?

Sunflower still life

When I let my secret passion out of the bag, PBer 'Switchboard' of Baltimore felt obliged to help me out. She insisted on sending Monsieur Chicken no matter what.
I received updates,
"the chicken has flown the coop".
Unfortunately M. Chicken did not work/ne march pas upon arrival. We won't go into the gory details. Switchboard was beside herself with grief. "I'm a little worried about the chicken" she wrote.
 

My First macaron

Low and behold another smaller chicken was sent et VOILA!
This one works perfectly.
 

I seem to have a thing for birds along with paintboxes and bears. Sadly I left quite a few behind when I made the big move to Paris.
 

But Yellow Bird, has always been 'Top Dog' among les oiseaux so he made the grade even though he now has a broken left foot.
 

This classy guy has had many a fine petit dejeuner etc.
 

Petit Dejeuner at Mme. Corinne

Framboise macaron

He's quite fond of macarons too even though his origins are questionable.
 

On Sunday I happened to pop into Saveurs d'Alsace and there in the window a blue bird caught my eye.
 

The other birds are not best pleased and raising a squawk, but what's a girl to do?
Today is the 1st day of the SOLDES/Summer sales in Paris. Everyone is out with their giant shopping bags knocking people over. Ho hum. Must go feed the birds.
 

 

Financier Pastries

Petit Four Immersion watercolor, 9" x 11"
I'm been going through serious petit four immersion.
Really I should be immersed in the pool doing water gym...
I recently discovered a very French NYC patisserie, Financier Pastries. I bought their little beauties this past weekend to paint. Here's what's left of the original 16...
Unlike the other brand's petit fours that jumped around in transit-these could have used some plastic surgery once home...
Foodwalker, a professional caterer, asked me if they taste as good as they look.
Petit Four research sketches...
They do!
Perfect to get in the right frame of mind to see Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris homage to the city of lights.

I happened to pass by another Financier shop yesterday to check if their pastries really were as good as I thought they were...

They are. Green and white stripped awnings, lots of French-esque details. And they have macarons.

Their signature pastry is the golden bar-shaped almond 'financier' cake - their first shops opened near Wall street. Chef Eric Bedoucha grew up in Paris and got his training at Dalloyau...

Some of you asked after Yellow Bird. I almost called this post 'My Left Foot'. Yellow bird is recoverying from a foot injury but he's back with a bit of Scotch (tape) to the rescue.

BONJOUR Petits Fours!

Birds of Paris

Birds of Paris, birds of London, birds of New York and possibly India(?) are raising a ruckus right now in my studio, though I can't think why? The AC is on high and no one is going hungry... Birds in London are upside down in the Underground at South Kensington station. Don't ask me why. I had nothing to do with it. Olha took me along to the Royal Academy Summer show and we started bird watching - there were many onsite. That started it.
Everafter I saw birds everywhere and wanting to bring them home, like this appropriately named plaster of Paris number on sale at Comptoir de Famille.

Mini-Ha-Ha

Mini Tea Time watercolor, 9" x 11"

I'm off to David Dewey's watercolor workshop in Maine next week. But I still want to paint some still lifes...

What to take with me that won't fill up too much space? Isn't it clever of Pierre Herme to create dessert art to use in the background of my still lifes? My suitcase is overloaded. But for the life of me.

Petersham Nurseries

Are you off barbecuing your breakfast somewhere nice today? Or are you stuck at home catching up on painting homework or whatever. I thought I'd take you off on a nice outing to Petersham Nurseries. Believe me you could do far worse and there's no traffic to fight etc.

They have huge sheds filled to the limit with treasures you will instantly want to own.

Like these glorious over size pots. Does one HAVE to have a garden to own these? Is it obligatory?A tree trunk table. I so need this!!! Who knew?Every place your eye lands there are divine little still life setups.Someone here is a painter, that's for sure...

Paris Maps!

Is there anything more fun, more enticing, or more seductive than pouring over maps of your destination, while relaxing at home? Here is my favorite and much repaired old Paris Metro map - I keep adding scotch tape over the years. I will NOT leave home without this dear friend of a map.I'm very fond of Paris plan par arrondissements. I love the spiral binding and I can actually SEE the streets without a magnifying glass.Chuck told me to buy City Walks:Paris flash cards and I promise to take a few along this trip.I love EyeWitness Paris books. I wish they were not so heavy. Especially love their floor plans and overhead views of museums are very helpful. I wish more Paris shops put maps on their business cards don't you? BIG MERCI Comptoire de Famille! Here's another cute shop card with a map, Il Etait une Fois,on 1,rue Cassette 75006. I'm posting it here as a reminder so I don't miss this darling toy shop this trip. Do you ever get desperate for a computer? Cyber Cube is conveniently spread around Paris just in case. I like the maps on patisserie Sadaharu Aoki'scard.And cafe Le Select. Here's a map to dream about - the SNCF train map of France.

The birds are  dreaming about a croissant in the 6th.This is Cavallini's Paris wrapping paper - I framed one and would love a shower curtain as well. Do you have a favorite map? Tell me about it S.V.P.
BON CARTES!