Shell Sherree

::: Whimsical artworks to lighten and brighten your day :::

Meowy Christmas and a Happy New Year!

25.12.24

Ella had been told about 'Ugly Christmas Sweaters' but fortunately, she believed there was no such thing.

Wishing you a Meowy Christmas and a Happy New Year, resplendent with blessings, peace, love and awesome self-esteem! Take care, shine your light and See you next year ...

::: Whimsical artworks to lighten and brighten your day :::

Le Consulat, 18 rue Norvin, 95018, Paris

Francophile Friday : Le Consulat Café Montmartre Paris

5.7.24

Ahh, Montmartre. Quaint and charming, it's easy to imagine you've time travelled to the 1800s when you're wandering there.

And Le Consulat café is a perfect way to imagine you're an artist, poet or philosopher enjoying a glass (nay, bottle!) of cheeky red wine and debating all night until the dawn whispers "Bonjour!" over the Basilica of Sacré-Coeur nearby.

Le Consulat restaurant is just a hearty cobblestone's throw from Place du Tertre and a plethora of Montmartre cafes and attractions, including the very pretty pink La Maison Rose (illustrated here), the Musée de Montmartre and Paris vineyard Vigne du Clos Montmartre. So even if you indulge in several courses of their hearty fare, you'll have ample opportunity to stroll it off before you hop on the Metro again. And on that note ...

Happy Francophile Friday to you! (Order this artwork as a beautiful fine art print here)

::: Beautiful French-inspired fine art prints to brighten your every day :::

Francophile Friday : Au Rocher de Cancale, Paris

31.5.24

I'm don't know why, but this pretty Paris cafe reminds me of a wedding cake! How about you? Perhaps it's the decorative mouldings, like white fondant icing pressed onto the pastel-tinted surface.

My vintage is showing, as I'm not talking about naked cakes or smashcakes. No, I'm reminiscing about the tiered and structured wedding cakes that one of my beautiful aunts used to make for all of the family and friends in years gone by: a firm-yet-pliable royal icing carefully molded (after preparatory layers of (1) warmed jam and (2) marzipan) onto a traditional fruit cake. Do you remember those? And the slices in little rustling paper cake bags that the wedding guests would be given to take home, and if you slept with it under your pillow, you'd dream of the person you'd marry? I'd love to see how a slice of naked wedding cake hold up to that. The smashcake would look ... well, still like a smashcake. Either way, your pillows will never be the same.

Back to today's illustration, where the resident cafe cats (which may or may not be a figment of my imagination) are very much at home, and waiting for you to join them. The book on the table might well be by Hemingway, its owner off in search of the next part of Paris's moveable feast. And on that note ...

Happy Francophile Friday to you! (You can order fine art prints of this beauty Here.)

::: Beautiful French-inspired fine art prints to brighten your every day :::

Francophile Friday : Wisteria Wander in Brittany

26.4.24

French Country Pretty Wisteria illustration © Shell Sherree all rights reserved

Among my many armchair travels over the time, both in Blogland and on Instagram, I've become friends with lovely people with shared passions. Unsurprisingly, most of them love animals and all things French.

And as the world feels both enormous and strangely small when you're online, it can be extra special when you find those friends closer to home. Such is the case with the lovely Annette at A French Collection, a French lifestyle blog written by a fellow Australian who divvies up her time between there and here.

Annette is an entertaining and highly informed writer who takes you into the heart of French life rather than skimming on the surface of the touristy attractions, and her photography is luscious and beautiful! I highly recommend popping over and subscribing. Caution: you'll find yourself wanting to book a flight to France with great regularity!

Today's illustration takes its inspiration directly from her charming wisteria-woven wanders in Brittany (scroll her Instagram feed and you'll find them). The cute cat and bird are included with a piece of poetic license (or two!) And on that note ...

Happy Francophile Friday to you! (You can order fine art prints of this artwork Here.)

::: Beautiful French-inspired fine art prints to brighten your every day :::