Mini Angelina

Angelina Dessert, original watercolor, 9" x 11"

I started thinking about Angelina again yesterday...

Because a surprise came in the mail...

Angelina Threesome, original watercolor, 9" x 11"

Well not really a surprise, but you know how you forget almost immediately when you order something online...

You forget you ordered it...so you can go on and order other things...ahem elsewhere..

Of course you can never forget ANGELINA'S lush whipped cream...

Even if you didn't eat it...
Even the waitress is pretty...
And the so-called stacked dirty dishes become a CHARDIN still life...
So what brought back memories of Angelina yesterday?
All these mini goodies arrived from Monica G. Estrada's MINI MANIA!

The cup-ring of hot chocolate with the whipped cream made me dream of Angelina...

BONJOUR PARIS!

Big Merci

French Croquembouche, original watercolor

A BIG MERCI for making the the SUMMER GARDEN PARTY SALE a huge success and helping to get me back to Paris in October.

I'm celebrating the end of the Summer sale with a melange of croquembouche..

The French have a propensity for height - they seem to love stacked cakes. i.e. The wedding cake known as the croquembouche (pronounced crow-come-bush) meaning ''to crack, crunch or crumble in the mouth''. I saw this sign hanging on patisserie Gerard Mulot's door - to prove he is a member of the French pastry guild or some such thing. Like he needs to prove anything!? I love the stacked something or other the server is holding.
"Pink" loves stacked things too and to prove it, she sent me this photo of her croquembouche birthday cake, hoping to persuade me to do another watercolor. Croquembouche like this one. Towers of macarons instead of the traditional pile of choux-filled carmelized profiteroles.A pretty wedding cake of macarons. In my opinion Gerard Mulot is the master of these towers of power. His Fall version on a base of fall fruits and leaves, with the occasional bird pecking at the macarons - Poetic. A favorite example of "French stackery" is this pile of crockery on a porceleine gateau in a shop window.But my all time favorite is this poster I kept seeing in the Metro. Don't even ask me what it was for. I just LOVE the stacked shapes and colors - this could be my wedding gateau.
BONNE JOURNEE

Summer Stripes !

Summer stripes are so...summery! And sooooo FRENCH! Like these cups from BHV that look like...

All those bateau/boat neck marinier shirts the French always wear in the summer. French sailors wore them first and Saint James still makes them.

If French sailors did not invent the striped T, then Agnes B did. I had a ton of her striped T's. Then my sister said she didn't think I should wear those anymore and I gave them away. Never listen to your sister :(

A high-end striped bag. Why is it when you see something in Paris, you see it EVERYWHERE?

Like these striped shoes in another window...

Anne Fontaine can be depended upon for stripes.

The best stripes of all! On an eclair? None other than FAUCHON! 

BONNE WEEK-END

Les Croissants

 Yellow Bird has petit dejeuner, original watercolor
Time to take another look at croissants again.

This woman would prefer I don't look at her croissants :) Well at least not with my camera. But what's a New York blog poster to do?

A wonderful deal -.especially since they are offering their croissants at .70 a piece (but you MUST buy 3)

Not as aesthetically pleasing but informative all the same...from BRIOCHE DOREE

Another delicious poster...if Rembrant has painted croissants they would look like this.

1.30 euros seems to be the going rate. Even Pierre Herme charges this and his are the BEST in Paris!!!
A golden pile of Paris croissants - I have yet to find a decent croissant in NYC...grumble..grumble Must be something to do with Parisien air...
MORE CROISSANTS!LOOK! Cheesy croissants in Switzerland.
They don't look right do they :(
I love this little souvenir bag (sac) and I'll take any opportunity to show it again.

BONNE JOURNEE!

Les Fruits Rouges

Tarte aux Fruits rouges, original watercolor, 9" x 11"

I have a passion for RED fruity tarts...

But there is something about a French RED fruity tarte that sets my heart going pitter, patter. The funny thing is, I don't feel a dire need to EAT these RED fruity tarts?! Go figure. I guess it's like the way some folks feel about their Manolos. I can not walk by a red fruity tart without collecting a photo of it...a keep sake, a momento...go figure. Pierre Herme cleverly adds some green into his RED fruity gateaux. No pastry chef knows their color wheel like Pierre Herme! Well except Gerard Mulot who can be counted on to get his colors right too. Green always acts as a color compliment to RED and will intensify the RED just that much more - neat trick non? When I was at Chateau Vaux le Vicomte waiting to get my ticket, I looked down on the gift shop and saw red tarte, red tarte, red tarte! That's how fixated I've becomeNow here's a RED tarte I would love to get my paws on..and it's all of an 1 1/4" in diameter. Well so is the tarte I painted today. Hey calorie-FREE! Next trip I will actually EAT a RED fruit tarte. I am making this vow publicly (because supposedly people do follow-up more responsibly). I feel I owe it to you to at least try the "unavailable" RED TARTE.

ENOUGH with this admiring from afar! The origin of my true love and at Hediard no less. Also at HEDIARD - the perfect RED tins of tea to go with your red tarte dessert. If anyone knows what this cute little Japanese bunny is please do tell. It's a mystery to me but still fun to paint (see above watercolor). Thank yours, for coming to the Garden Party Watercolor Sale! It's still on for a few more days if you'd like to have a souvenir on your wall of all the good times we've had here at PB.
FYI:How-to pronounce French RED Fruits guide

I know, I know. I have a passion for a lot of thingslike ice cream cones and minis.

SUMMER GARDEN PARTY SALE

#132 Saduharu Macarons, original watercolor - SOLD, 9" x 11"

We're having our annual JUNE GARDEN PARTY and SUMMER WATERCOLOR SALE at Paris Breakfast.

#133 Champagne and Macarons, original watercolor - SOLD, 9" x 11"

Of course there will be champagne!

Get out your flowered hats and white gloves if you want to attend!

And there will be a GAZILLION watercolors to choose from!

#134 Macarons Sadaharu, original watercolor - SOLD, 9" x 11"

All the watercolors are 9" x 11" ( approximately...ahem)

#128 Croque em bouche Wedding Gateaux, original watercolor - SOLD, 9" x 11"

For the SALE, the watercolors are especially priced at $? each and shipping with UPS Ground (in the US only).

#135 Garden Tea Party, original watercolor - SOLD, 9" x 11"

I accept secure payment with Paypal.com. It's easy as pie and safe. They do take credit cards bien sur.

#34 Fleurimont 75006, original watercolor - SOLD, 9" x 11"

Just send me an EMAIL.

In the SUBJECT LINE put: I WANT painting #---!

#129 Hotel Meurice Roses, original watercolor - SOLD, 9" x 11"

I'll send you a PAYPAL invoice and PDQ (pretty damn quick) (once you've paid of course) you'll get your painting!

Oh did I mention there is a GWP (gift with purchase)?

I found a cache of the watercolor wine cards and you'll get a gift set of 8 cards with your watercolor! YAHOO

*I simply forgot to mention dear readers, the reason for the SALE!

Oooops - It's to raise funds to get me back to PARIS in October, so I can keep you entertained in the style to which you have grown accustomed...ahem. As soon we raised the essential funds, the SALE WILL BE OVER!

So do not delay dear readers!
LET THE PARTY BEGIN!

BONNE JOURNEE