Au Petit Bonheur la Chance

 Au Petit Bonheur la Chance, watercolor, 9" x 11"

 Have you visited one of the cutest shops in Paris?

 Au Petit Bonheur la Chance 13, rue Saint-Paul 75004

 If you can hit it when they're open, which takes a lot of chance/luck in fact you'll have a ball browsing.

 Even if they are closed, the windows are full of fun and whimsy.

Though nothing beats going inside.

 Looking for French back-to-school stuff?

 This is ze place.

 Do you collect vintage bath duckies or swans? I once did. Though I'm pleased to announce I've moved on to wind-up chicks.

 Yellow Bird has afternoon gouter, watercolor, 9" x 11"

 I don't think there's a single thing in this shop that isn't vintage...

 Which basically means you'll pay through the nose like I did for a few butter signs (10 euros each). If you're looking for bargains...urrrr

 Go around the block to 129 Rue Saint-Antoine

 And stuff your face with a 1 euros giant marshmallow/guimauve in a variety of flavors/parfums

Or save on the plane ticket and visit New York's Bosie Tea Parlor for a 'S'Mores' macaron with a toasted marshmallow plus a tiny square of graham cracker inside.

Les Adieux à la Reine

 Parfum de Marie-Antoinette etsy 9" x 11"

 I just saw again Sophia Coppola's Marie Antoinette at the Film for Foodies series/Alliance Francaise going on through October. Don't miss it! Still as frivolous as ever with fab costumes and gouter plus an intro by Foodie critic John Mariani.

 On a more serious vein I can't recommend enough the new Marie Antoinette film de Benoît Jacquot, Les Adieux à la Reine, with Léa Seydoux, Diane Kruger, Viriginie Ledoyen.

 It covers the last 3 days of MA's reine (filmed also) within the confines of Versailles with utter authenticity and the drama of a thriller.

 The acting is superb as are the costumes, every detail is considered. But the lighting and cinematography will knock your socks off.

 With the look of a Georges de la Tour painting throughout for added drama to the scenes...

 Excellent actress Lea Seydoux holds your attention every minute. Remember her in the end of Woody's Midnight in Paris? By the way I saw this film sans titles the day it opened in Paris thinking it would be easy to get. Ahem...I had to see it again recently, this time with titles. It was well worth the second viewing. Exquisite!

 I saw Lea Seydoux at a screening of terrific new film  'Sister' last Sunday. Quite a transformation.

 Another mistress of Versailles (some would also like to see on the guillotine) Catherine Pégard, and recent appointee of last president, Nicolas Sarkozy. Formerly editor of the journal Le Point, she has no experience whatsoever in the art world or curating such a massive institution like Versailles.

Il arrive.

 Her predecessor was responsible for bringing in Jeff Koons and Murakami to the grand halls of Versailles much to the consternation of many. As well, the palace gardens, formerly free, are now 9 euros in season and 5 euros out of season.

Il arrive (it happens). 

 If Marie Antoinette were alive today do you think she'd be eating deluxe Granola Ispahan from another of Pierre Herme's collections?

I'd like to be eating it right now...

Rose of Marie Antoinette 9" x 11"

O comme l'Obssession

 Macaron box, 9" x 11'

Do you collect whatever you obsess about?

 Yesterday was press day at the Met so off I went to see the refurbished arms and armor collection initially donated by Dr. Bashford Dean (1867–1928).

 Not necessarily my cup of tea you might think...

 Though very grand indeed.

 It was the obsession factor that grabed me. Bashford's father gave him a book on armor at age 10 and the dye was cast.

 His obsession became life long, though his training was in zoology with a focus on fish. Here Bashford is decked out in Japanese warrior armor acquired during his time in Japan.
FYI: this looked heavy to me but the collection's curator, Donald LaRocca kindly explained, the 50 pounds would be evenly distributed over the body and not at all the hardship one imagines. So feel free to give in to your delusions of knighthood.

 Dr. Dean's helmet collection was displayed thusly at the Met early days. Dean went on to become honorary curator, every summer high-tailing it to Europe by boat  to look for rare finds for the Met (now one of the best armor collections in the US and up there with many European collections thanks to Dean).

 Naturally I was given to think of my own copious collection of Paris macaron cookie boxes...

 And way too many pastry bags gathering dust on the shelf.

Would/could the Met be interested?

 There are still macaron remnents calling out siren-like from the fridge. It's a daily exercise in French delaying skills not to wolf them.

 Paris Macaron boxes, 9" x 11"

The one deterrent that keeps me from eating them, stale as they are since purchase in July of this year is the thought I could use them in a watercolor still life peut-etre?
Why ever does one hang on to these things?

 Admittedly, taking a giant leap of faith, can you imagine your collections.

Gracing the great halls of the Metropolitan Museum like Bashford Dean's?

I can...

C comme Collections

 Great minds think alike.

 The fashion collections have been going on in New York, London, Milano and soon in Paris. Sophisticated Gucci designer Frida Giannini showed a lot of tarte au citron jaune (yellow) in her recent collection in Milan.

 Paris' Pierre Herme got the jump with his every bit as delicious Infiniment Citron collection of douceurs (sweets).

 Cheesecakes, gaufres, tartes, glace...

 You name it and you can get it in 'Infiniment Citron' flavor

 Herme's famous cakes with confit of lemon zest on top -
Infiniment miam miam

 And don't forget his fabulous Rhum Babas!

 Scroll down and read the descriptions. I swear a poet is writing his pastry copy. You will salivate.

Grab a bib. I mean it.

Pâte à baba imbibée au Limoncello, crème au citron, pâte sablée au citron, crème légère au citron, citron frais et citron confit, gelée de citron.

La puissance d’un baba où la liqueur de Limoncello se substitue au rhum. Où la chantilly citronnée est bouleversée par d’infimes morceaux de sablés. Où la crème nuageuse chatouille les sens. Où citrons frais et confits s’enlacent dans une exquise gelée acidulée.

Disponible en formats individuel, 3/4 personnes et 6/8 personnes.

 Here's a neat trick I discovered to aid your French skills.

Copy the description and paste it into Google translate.

Note at the bottom there is a sound button.

Click and listen. 

A not-so robotic French voice will read aloud to you the text and make you drool even more.

I meant it!

 I hope you're sitting on your 'Infiniment Citron' Backjoy as you drool. I got a red one for travel. If I lose it at least another one is waiting at home.

 Pierre Herme's Infiniment Citron will be disponible (until) 21/10/2012 Gone by the time I get to Paris on 27th October.

And hopefully these watercolors will be gone.

I'm showing a collection too.

Another little sale on Etsy this week to help get me to Paris to keep you amused.

Do take a look see svp.