'we're in Paris again' - 8 x 24 in.
One year ago today...we were on our way to Paris! Oooooh!!! Now that was six weeks of pure bliss!!
The inspiration from that one trip may be the opening to a brand new opportunity for which this painting was created...
I'm so happy we went.
I cannot wait to go again.
I wish we were there right now.
thank you for all the love in the last post.
Did I mention? My mama is in Paris for month. Originally inspired by her 8 years in Paris we spent a month living there, as you know, in April of this year. Inspired by our month there, my mom is now spending a month there.
We skyped together today and seeing her sitting at the dining/office table, it reminded me that I never shared photos of the apartment with you. The beams, oh those beams. I loved staring up at them from the bed. And let's just say that some old Paris apartments were not built for a 6' 5" man, low, very low ceilings. Cozy it was, indeed.
I would say that I miss it, and I do, but I also feel like I will be returning back there soon. Not sure how that will come together, but hey! that's how it seems to work sometimes. When the time is right, it just works.
the star lights in the bedroom ~ a filter attached to a halogen light ~ i just loved those
So, where will you be traveling to or maybe living soon?!!
Sorting through photos, I came across this one from Paris. Now that we've been calling Los Angeles home again for several months now, it's so nice to have glimpses of our time in Paris that I can return to whenever I want.
Like today for instance, when I discovered this photo, I thought about the people in Paris and how many of them were sitting at cafes on this Monday? Then I thought about those of us here in the states celebrating our holiday, visiting with family and friends at a bbq perhaps? aaah leisure time...
I did what I usually do on Labor Day. I labored. I can't help myself. There's just something about working when everyone else is resting that allows me this opportunity to have quiet stretches of uninterrupted time to see some projects to completion. This kind of quiet is particularly evident on the third day of a 3 day holiday weekend ~ when everyone seems to really settle down. It makes you think that we should all always have 3 day weekends and 4 day work weeks? Yes? I think so! I think three days are just the right amount of time to unwind ~ which I did get the chance to do on Saturday, visiting with a new friend while sitting at a cafe similar to this one. Then I was reminded that Angelenos aren't quite as into leisure time, or dining leisurely as the Parisians are, especially when you have been sitting at their restaurant table for 2 hours on a busy Saturday, and they offer to buy you a coffee at the bar, while simultaneously giving you a dirty look...aaah Los Angeles.
Hope you had a nice leisurely weekend!
And don't you just LOVE the colors of those chairs?
Since Nichole is the writer among us, and I echo her sentiments completely, I am going to lift exactly what she said about me in her post today and swap out my name for hers.
I could write ten paragraphs about why I'm so happy to have finally met Nichole of Little Brown Pen two weeks ago, but I'll get right to the point: She rocks.
When I met Nichole two weeks ago at a restaurant in Paris, I made a promise. I said, "I am trying not to be a 'gusher', anymore" What is a "gusher" you say? It's someone who carries on and on about friends in our online world, to the point of no return. Don't get me wrong I'm all for feeling the love for another, but I've changed my tune over the years. This is simply due to the fact that I've made friends with people online, as we all do, and proceeded to gush on and on about them, only to find they really are not who they present themselves to be on their blog. I become aware of this either because over years of interacting with them, they come to reveal their true character or I meet them in person and really get that they are not "their blog".
Why am I telling you all of this in a blog post about poppies? So you know why I feel free to gush on about Nichole. No, really. A new American friend, I met in Paris. Nichole is her blog and more. She is as about as kind and genuine as you can get. I only wish I lived by her so I could visit with her all the time. I think I might just have to move to Paris part time so I can be her neighbor. Her love for the city is infectious as are her beautiful photographs that she shares on her blog and in her Etsy shop. She captures what I now, having spent a month there, love most about this city. Not so much the touristy places, but the true essence and beauty of everyday life in Paris. Having been a follower of her blog for a while, I couldn't walk through the city without recognizing a Nichole "glimpse of Paris" every where I went.
During our four hour visit over wine and cheese, Nichole mentioned that she had just taken a photograph of poppies that morning. She said they reminded her of something an impressionist would paint, and she noticed that I was dipping my toe back into some impressionist inspired painting. When we both returned home, she shared the photograph with me and {how can you not be inspired?} Voila! a new painting for you and a collaboration between two friends who now share a similar love for Paris.
The original painting will be available for sale at the upcoming ETA LA 3 show here in Los Angeles, opening June 12 and it is available now as a print over at the shop.
I'm not going to lie to you, it's taking some adjusting to get back into life in Los Angeles.
Feeling mostly, not like myself ~ I've needed to be quiet online and I've needed to turn to what grounds me most, creating {which also means I've got some new fun things in the works for you!} And, let's just say the inspiration from this trip has got to have some place to go or it is going to start piling up in my brain. I have so many ideas right now. Honestly it almost hurts. Ideas are bursting at the seams.
So while I do some more creating over here, I'm going to share some more of my Paris inspiration with you.
The bunny lamp, completely inspired by my new friend Veronique who has one of these plugged in at her studio. And to think I might have gone all the way to Paris and not seen this bunny lamp? To say I love him is an understatement. You may have seen me tweet about it, and you probably saw the painting inspired by it {which is also a new print over at the shop, by the way}. My big plan was to take a photo of him in his new home in my studio, to share with you on the blog, but I haven't found the right spot for him yet ~ so this photo was taken on the day I bought him in Paris. I will tell you that as soon as we came home, he was the first thing I unpacked, and I plugged him in right away.
Bunny lamp is a little piece of Paris that I'm now so happy to have as a reminder of this time. I knew when I bought him he might be. But now he just feels like a little piece of the magic that I managed to smuggle home in my luggage.
Also in my luggage, these gorgeous fabrics {big, big plans for these!} bought in Montmartre on a Friday creative artist date also with Veronique, who was so gracious in showing me around Montmartre {and patient} while I looked through endless fabric swatches and buttons. Well, don't feel too bad for her, because shopping for fabrics is also one of her loves. That was such a great day. Thank you again Veronique.
Just posting these photos brings me right back. *sigh*
It's 5 am here in L.A., {experiencing one, or is it the only perk of jet-lag?} The ability to wake up early with the joy and exuberance of a morning person, which normally I am not ~ a morning person that is ~ joy and exuberant I like to think I express those qualities from time to time.
I had hoped to write this post from Paris before I left, but I was too busy moping and whining about having to leave Europe.
Happy to report that the sadness has officially lifted, and now I'm just excited to be back. I can't wait to implement all the ideas and inspiration from this experience. This was an amazing trip for us.
So I won't say goodbye to Paris. I'll just say "see you later" "a bientot" Paris because part of the excitement that is spilling over, is thinking about all of the ways we plan to return...
For you for now, a final grouping of favorite photos from Paris along with a completely random list of what I will call Paris "findings"
The "while you wait" seats at a Metro station are not made for lovers, or friends for that matter. They are spaced super far apart. {This may be one place you won't feel crowded in the city}
Paris however, is made for lovers. It is a city in full support of public displays of affection
And, those same brightly colored seats at each Metro station are super cool
Oh, but don't be lovers holding hands while walking on the street. People have no issue with walking right through your hand holding to get to where they need to go in a super big rush
It is not cool to look too overjoyed in Paris, especially when riding the Metro
Paris, or Europe, or economy airplane seats for that matter were not built for a man who is 6'5"
You do not want to walk too slow on the streets of downtown Paris, just sayin'
The reason Parisians can eat so much cheese and wonderful, rich food is because they walk A LOT and FAST
Metro tickets can be demagnetized when in too close proximity to your cell phone
The beauty and attention to detail that exists in this city will blow your mind ~ which has never been more evident than upon our return to what seems like a now very unattractive city called Los Angeles. Minus the weather, the palm trees, the ocean and some amazing homes, the strip malls plastered with neon signs have got to go.
I like the smell of perfume and cologne that Parisians tend to wear
I will miss the combination of cologne and smoke when I go to a restaurant, and I am not being sarcastic
Smoking in France, in comparison to California, where you can no longer even smoke outside, still feels very much in vogue
Toilet paper and kleenex is much, much softer in the United States
Flea markets in Paris inspire creativity and next time~ I am SO buying my favorite vintage leather chair
One should floss everyday, but especially if you eat saucisson
A jar of Barilla pesto sauce can work wonders if you are in a pinch for a quick and delicious meal
Only Parisian men can pull off bright yellow pants. {By the way the new Ralph Lauren store in St. Germain de Pres is 4 floors of impressive and beautiful}
Paris skies are also beautiful
And the gardens, don't get me started on the gardens in the spring
I really like wearing scarves. I have one on right now
Postcard bags make good impromptu notepaper for making lists to post on your blog
I think the art in the Musee D'Orsay was my favorite collection
But a visit to the L'Orangerie to see Monet's large Waterlilies = incredible
French stores and museums don't make their {very odd} store hours very easy to find online
Laduree has the best cafe creme, not to mention their croissants and pain du chocolat ~ also delicious. And the macaroons ~ Laduree is famous for its macaroons. Too busy eating the croissants, I didn't get to try one. This alone is a reason I need to return.
People are ageless when they have style and a zest for life
I love this city more than I thought could
I've noticed the French love bunny rabbits, especially the French children. I cannot tell you how many very well worn out bunnies I've seen cuddled by little ones in their strollers.
As I'm sure is quite obvious, I too am a fan. J'aime le petit lapin.
These two are inspired by my new acquisition that I adore, a bunny lamp {photos to come once he is safely plugged into my studio at home}
Returning back to my roots in creative style, color and impressionism. The impressionists have always been my favorite. Now having the opportunity to see many of those original paintings in person, I can't help but be inspired all over again ~ that and how gorgeous it is here in the spring with all the trees blooming everywhere.
I know the Eiffel tower has been photographed a million times. All you have to do is sit across from it and have a picnic at sundown and you'll see constant flash bulbs going off, almost like the Paparzzi catching a celebrity in L.A.. I know it also might seem like a tourist trap. And in some ways it is, and in other ways it is so magnificent that it takes my breath away every time I see it. Personally, I can't take enough photos of the tower and on the heels of Sean's last video, I thought I'd share a few of my recent favorites {plus a shot of the light shining through the leaves of a tree on the walk to see it} with you.
Whenever I'm walking in Paris, and I look up, I see a glimpse of La Tour Eiffel ~it reminds me that I am indeed in Paris. And now 4 weeks in, sometimes I still want to "pinch" myself that I am really here.
Nighty night from Paris! It's always strange to blog late at night now, and realize that most of you, especially my west coast friends are just into your day. have a good Wednesday! xo
