Hydrangea Fair

Hydrangea Bleu, 5.5" x 7.5"

Did Marie-Antoinette have the tiniest clue what an influence she would have on future generations? Their chocolate-drinking habits or their floral choices?

 
Or how many bloggers lives she would save? Are these hydrangea/hortensia in this poster for the Paris exhibit?
Hydrangea seem to be everywhere like here at the Metropolitan Museum of Art yesterday.
Both of my parents had passionate green thumbs. My fingers were red-yellow-blue from finger painting, but the flower bug hit me late.

Parisien fleuristes did it to me.
Though I've learned to grow zip, I certainly have learned to look down and appreciate other's efforts.
And the tiniest exquisite shops are everywhere.

If only I'd thought to take a picture of the name of this shop. You'll remind me next trip in October S.V.P.! My mother liked to paint flowers as well as grow them. At least in that respect I take after her :)

PS I will not be a GardenFair this weekend- too many other obligations were calling and now it's raining non-stop.

BON WEEK-END!

Marie-Antoinette at Bernardaud

Marie-Antoinette teapot,watercolor 5.5" x 7.5"

I was first bowled over by the Bernardaud's windows at Carrousel du Louvre of their Marie-Antoinette commemorative collection.

Bird cup at Bernardaud, watercolor 5.5" x 7.5"

Plus the big posters all over Paris drove me to the not-to-be missed exhibit.

 

An exquisite goblet in the same collection...This milky breast-shaped piece was designed especially for La Laiterie de Rambouillet - Marie-Antoinette's dairy, Le hameau at Versailles.And then back again to Bernardaud to look again at this Limoges china...

A 16th c Supernanny giving a good wacking with a bouquet of roses. These lush silk roses drove me to seek out SIA.

*Note the decorative macarons.

The shelf life of these cookies is not long.

I wonder who's job it is to eat and replenish these window?

A piece montee des macarons.

 

Paris Night Walks...

Paris window chaise,watercolor on Etsy, sold 5.5" x 7.5"

OK, let's escape into the Paris night.... There's nothing like strolling around Paris at night...
You have all the windows to yourself...
And you can redecorate entirely to your heart's content - like this inviting chair in a rare bookshop window..
Oh those trecherous, unending circular staircases in Paris! I'll take a mini model instead S.V.P.
Bouquets of everlasting coral - perfection!
Parisien children's shops at night are full of stories - a sad child neglected by teddy parents...domage
A little snack for your night time journey..? A few cerises peut-etre? Crunch...crunch
At last! Bisquits...quelle domage - made of porcelaine. But no calories!
My walk from the Right bank over to the Left bank. Que Voltaire is particularly good for enticing antique boutiques for the vicarious shopper.
BON SHOPPING!

The Blues...

China Export blue,watercolor on Etsy, sold 5.5" x 7.5"

Have you got the blues?

Blue Tabletop,watercolor on Etsy, sold 5.5" x 7.5"

Me too. Course you know we're not alone on this. But is that gonna help much?

Like I said yesterday, when things get tough it's time to escape. Wouldn't it be divine to jump into the Chateau de Vaux le Vicomte's gift shop and immerse ourselves in all this china?

Or to pop into Cuisinophile in the Marais and browse some blue kitchen ware?

Dear Barbara Blue's notebook...boy could I write some blue notes in there.... Taking petit dejeuner at Corinnes heads to the top of the list... Bergdorf's Blue china windows...yum yum yum Looking out Corinne's window at Paris blue roofs! Oui bien sur! I'm escaping to the serene Morandi exhibit at the Met. This may be the only bit of blue in the whole exhibit, but I intend to seek it out PDQ! BONNE JOURNEE!

Let Em Eat Cake...

Angelina Mont Blanc, original watercolor

In tough times people go for escapism.

Pierre Herme Desiree,5.5" x 7.5"

 

And some people go for Pierre Herme miniature desserts.

French Cream Tartes, original watercolor, 5.5" x 7.5"

I usually paint just 1 or 2 desserts at a time at most.

So when I was contacted by the Brazilian magazine, PIAUI to do a dessert pastiche for their 2nd birthday issue, I was thrilled but terrorized :)
The last two weeks have been a deluge of desserts, including even trying to paint this napkin - that pony didn't ride. Here's a mini detail of the finished multi-dessert cover, which by the way came out fine. But what with the bank and market deluge my cover stands a very good chance of being back-burnered. C'est la vie. When I know for sure I'll show you the full monte.Dessert Pastiche,original watercolor, 5.5" x 7.5"

 

I've decided it's time to start painting more than just 1 or 2 desserts at a time. So I plunged in. I know you'll let me know what you think. Here's a snack while you're busy doing dessert analogy.
~

BONNE JOURNEE!

Eiffel Tower Tea

Eiffel Tower Tea Time,watercolor on Etsy, sold 5.5" x 7.5"

I had my first cup of tea yesterday. This morning when I got up they said the temperature was 53°F ....feels like: 53°F

No snow yet thanks Gawd!

It must have been so chic to stroll by the Eiffel Tower when it first opened. Photo from Historic Photos of Paris.

I love this view of the tower...

I have yet to get very upclose and personal with the tower...

Maybe next trip..?
Course mini Eiffel Towers are BIG favorite of mine and so much fun to paint....
And taking a bite out of this giant choco tower at Salon du Chocolat would not have been a problem...
Chocolate tower bar...YUM!
More Eiffel bonbons...there are endless ways you can take in the Eiffel tower in Paris without even setting foot in the 7th arrondissement!
BONNE WEEK-END!