Watercolor Print-of-the-month and Goult 2

(Sorry to resend post. Links were wrong). I'm back in Paris but still thinking/dreaming of the Luberon. Goult is another small fortified hilltop village we visited.

The morning light was perfect for painting. The 'done' thing is to climb up to the old windmill (moulin) at the top and then paint the surrounding landscape. I got this far and turned back to visit the local grocery store...interest in local produce being the attraction.

OK I prefer shopping to heights. This is as close as. I got to the windmill. The small figurines are 'santons' made locally and a part of the Provençal Christmas celebration. I can't remember if 13 santons or 13 desserts are the tradition.

Note the wild boar figurine.

Boars adorn everything, not just your plate as sausage.

A charging boar plastered on a car window...the regional mascot.

The grocery store (the only game in town) has an annex across the street for fresh produce. You grab a basket, take what you want and cross over to pay.

Don't miss tasting local almonds. They're flatter, bigger, grown in the area and very tasty. 100 grams (3 ounces) should set you back 2,10€.

Small antique shops line Goult's main street, items spilling out into the street.

Cafe de la Poste is The place to lounge and grab a coffee. It may be the only place to do so in Goult.

Last time I was here in 2005 I painted my breakfast.

This visit I was feeling more ambitious. As kids my sister and I had to spit 3 times when passing a cemetary (we still don't walk under ladders or pass black cats). My father was adamant. I was reluctant to paint in Goult's unusual cemetery.

If only Ian Sidaway was here as a guide. He's a master of all manner of hedges among other things.

   Still I gave it a whirl leaving out all hints of the tombs.

The village buildings were more appealing.

Warm earthy colors.

I painted this melon/rust cottage against a cobalt blue sky.

Four Goult village buildings on one page - my brand new watercolor print-of-the-month available on Etsy.

The prints are on the same Arche paper I use to paint my watercolors so colors come out almost identical.

Ochre pigments from Provence were in art store, Sennelier's window this morning. Memories of last week's visit to Roussillon.

The Roussillon print is up too on Etsy with Provencal brochures added in the flat envelope. I may be visiting the US later this summer to paint in Maine. Lobster and cheese Danish beckon.

Musee du Jouet et de la Poupee Ancienne, l'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue

Happy Mothers Day dear PBers!

Among all the antiques in the flea markets of l'Isle-sur-la-Sorge is a hidden treasure easily missed.

In the town center on 26, rue Carnet near the Mairie is a wonderful personal collection.

Musee du Jouet de la Poupee Ancienne opened 13 years ago but the pieces date from 1880 through 1920.

The doll collector, sweet Madame Huguette Jeanselme, in her 90s, is onsite to share stories.

A hat makers shop setup with chapeau, threads and silk flowers.

A perfumers shop filled with miniature bottles.

The Dione quintuplets dolls intact and complete in their gift box.

These old dollies have such character and mystery

Pure poetry.

This serene, sleeping dolly

With a twist of a knob on the top of her head, she becomes instantly grumpy and tearful.

Wonderful old children's photos line the walls. Doesn't this French girl look like Eloise at the Plaza?

Is this Madame, the collector as a little girl?

A huge gypsy caravan with all the accoutrement on the inside, pots and pans and what have you.

My favorite of course is the old ice cream cart.

Did your mother make doll clothes for your dolls? Mine did. She studied fashion design, so went at it with gusto. Maybe you didn't like dolls? I was addicted and wasted endless hours gazing longingly at unobtainable dolls in Wanamaker's, Philadelphia.

I hope you're having a lovely Mother's Day. As Bear's Mom, I spent mine painting the watercolor rose above over and over. Spring has finally sprung in Paris and the banks of the Seine are cluttered with picnickers. Here's a berry tarte from last Sunday, first of May with lily of the valley decoration.

I'll return to l'Isle-sur-la-Sorge to show you the real flea markets soon PBers, but if you should get the chance to visit don't miss the charming Musee du Jouet!

Roussillon, Vaucluse

If you will insist on having homemade apricot jam for breakfast in the Luberon, then you must go off to Roussillon (an apricot-colored town) immediately if not sooner.

I did go yesterday and am still reeling.

Roussillon is a hill town (village perché) set on cliffs of the most extraordinary colors and a huge source of earth colored pigments, raw and burnt sienna, ochres, umbers.

Regarde! Wow

Roussillon is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. Roussillon lies within the borders of the Parc Naturel Régional du Luberon. Roussillon is noted for its large ochre deposits found in the clay surrounding the village. Ochres pigments range from yellow, orange, red. One of the former ochre quarries can be visited via the "Sentier des Ocres" (Ochre Path), a walk of either 30-60 minutes through the old works

A-Mazing!

The town is stunning

I was absolutely certain

I would find an outfit head-to-toe terra cotta color

Maybe a terra cotta T-shirt that said,

"I HEART ❤️ ROUSSILLON"

It doesn't exist.

Not even a scarf in these fabulous colors 

By the way, if you see pigments on sale there labeled 'Apricot' do Not buy them. There is no such color except  in makeup 💄 & wall paint.

I made watercolor sketches of Roussillon. This may become a print...if you'd like one, let me know.

Croissant d'Amande research and Saignon

I have been doing daily research on the croissant d'amande in the Luberon. This straight-up boulangerie is in Saint-Saturnin-les-Apt. Hands down they can beat out Paris every day of the week in the croissant d'amande arena. I'm ready to put good money on it.

FYI, a croissant d'amande is a day-old croissant flattened, filled with almond frangepane, sprinkled liberally with slivered, toasted almonds on top. Provence being the home of French almonds, I'm guessing (and hoping) they are usung the local product, thereby achieving a far better tasting end result.

Naturally when we went to another hilltown the other day, Saignon, I felt obliged to do comparative testing.

Chez Christine is a cosy pastry shop.

Their croissant d'amandes are bigger and pricier, but not necessarily better.

Still you must factor in that you're sitting under a red umbrella at chez Christine's cafe

With a stunning view of Saignon's romanesque church perched on a hill. All the towns of the Luberon seem to be perched on a hill (why getting wifi here is rather frustrating...ahem).

One mustn't grumble but Angelina could really clean up in the hot chocolate area here.

Nestle's, please go away from all Luberon cafes and stay away.

I would love to meet Mireille, the owner of this charming facade in Saignon. Pretty adorable you have to admit oui?

Saint-Saturnin-les-Apt

I'm in Saint-Saturnin-les-Apt

This morning

Supposed to be painting the marché

In the cafe instead for the decent wifi in all of Provence/Luberon!

The weather is gorge.

Wish U were here PBers!!