Francophile Friday: Eva's Carousel

ink & watercolour illustration, photo inspiration thanks to Virginia Jones

Just in case you've had the kind of week when you feel like crying, "Stop the merry-go-round, I want to get off..." this might make you change your mind.  If you want to share a ride on this Parisian confection-like carousel with this little cutie-pie, you'll need to check with her grandmother and photographer/blogger extraordinaire, Virginia.  I imagine she'll be only too happy for you to climb on board. Thanks for the beautiful photo inspiration, V ~ this one's especially for you and your family, though I don't guarantee it will lessen your fretting for Paris.  Maybe it will just smooth the edges off it. I couldn't find this photo on Virginia's Paris Through My Lens blog but I did find Eva in the same adorable outfit!   So hang onto your pretty knitted pig-tailed beanies and ...

Happy Francophile Friday to you!

31 comments

  1. Eva is a delight, as is her little classical blue coat. I can just imagine her with her friends crowding around a computer having a look at your carousel picture. "That's me, I'm a princess!"

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  2. Virginia is a fortunate woman, to enjoy Paris AND adorable grandchildren—and best yet, both at the same time! Can't wait to hear her reaction to this wonderful illustration of Eva on a Parisian carrousel.

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  3. Oh what a fabulous French drawing! V sure knows how to capture the delights of Paris (and her grandchildren) in photos, and you've really outdone yourself here. As much as I want to jump on and share the ride (if V will let me!), I'm saying "stop the merry-go round" and heading off to Thailand tonight to relax where it's warm. Catch you when I return!

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  4. Such a lovely drawing... Have a happy weekend. xv

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  5. Virg will be thrilled! This is so fabulous, Shell. And darn it, that looks like her!

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  6. Virg better be thrilled. If she's not, I think the rest of us are thrilled enough to make up for it. But of course she will be.

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  7. This is soo lovely and sweet! I would gladly stay on this carousel. :D

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  8. There was a time when the only amusement park ride I would go on was the carousel. I was that risk aversive.

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  9. The only kind of merry-go-round worth riding!

    Love the fairy tale aspects of this illo, Shell.

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  10. Thrilled, MOI?? Non, I am overjoyed and I am sure my Eva and her Mommy will be as well!! My dear, dear Shell, you've captured her so beautifully. I think tomorrow that I will post the original photo which you are right, I've never put on my blog. Merci mille fois chère amie!
    xx
    V

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  11. Eva is mon petit enfant.... thank you for creating this beautiful piece of art that shows her very first trip to Paris. May I purchase the original?

    Merci beaucoup!

    Melissa

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  12. Mise ~ spoken like a mother. :) Eva is a sweetie, as are your own rowdies.

    Alexa ~ your girls sound like they'd still happily climb on board one of these. ;)

    Katie ~ if you wanted warm, you could have come here! {Next time...} Happy and safe travels ~ looking forward to hearing your adventures when you return.

    Vicki ~ thank you, and a beautiful weekend to you, too!

    Thanks, Hiker ~ the distinctive beanie helps the resemblance somewhat. ;)

    Petrea ~ you're right, she is!

    Amy ~ they'd have to prise me off it, or at least wave some fairy floss at me as incentive.

    Margaret ~ so the rollercoaster is out of the question? I remember your bridge story ~ no need to answer that.

    Cali ~ we'll visit this one together one day. Do you think they'd allow us to eat violet macarons while on board?

    Virginia and Melissa ~ you are most welcome! You're such a gorgeous lot, and it was a pleasure to draw this lovely moment in time. I hope Eva is tickled pink. Melissa, I'll be in touch via V...

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  13. What a little cutie! And I don't usually like to get dizzy but I'd jump on this carousel in a heartbeat. Wheeeeeee!

    Happy weekend, Shell!

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  14. I'm sure Virg has thrilled many over the past years.

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  15. PCN ~ we'll catch you before you fall out of the carriage!

    Cafe ~ you have a good nose for such things, puppy.

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  16. What a charming drawing of a charming Eva, daughter and granddaughter of a charming mother and a charming grandmother! I have the pleasure of having met the three of them!

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  17. Pardon,
    Did someone mention violet macarons? Where have I been? I had violette thé at Ladurée but no mention of the macrons. Enlighten moi dear Shsh!

    And may we have Francophile Friday EVERY day s'il vous plait?? Merci.

    xx
    V

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  18. Hello, Peter ~ well, that would be a pleasure, indeed, and I'm charmed that you've dropped by ~ thank you!! And you've taken such gentlemanly care of these lovely ladies when they've been in Paris, you are clearly charming, too!

    V ~ sorry to over-excite you ~ violet in colour, not necessarily in flavour!! The violet ones I've eaten from our local French pastry chef are actually lavender macarons, but there's something rare and exotic and irresistible-sounding about calling them violet, n'est-ce pas?

    I think I'd go cross-eyed and draw my fingers to the bone if we had FF EVERY day, but perhaps I can increase the ratio of FFs/VVs and Friday Fleurish to 2:1:1. ;)

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  19. How fun to see V's photo and your art inspired by it! Just beautiful, Shell!
    -Kim

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  20. That's right, Virg! Where have you been lately?? I even put out the macarons for you!

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  21. Hi Kim!! Thanks so very much. Have a beautiful rest-of-the-weekend!

    Virginia, Cafe did put out some nice trays of macarons that you'd enjoy, as well as demystifying some associated bunkum.

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  22. Oh my goodness, I love, love love your work. What a talented lady you are. thankyou so much for your visit to one of my blogs today and for the blog birthday wishes. Am so glad you did as here I am now on your beautiful blog.

    Your work is just gorgeous - and scrolling down it seems you can paint just about anything. I so admire artists and you are a very good one.

    I lived in beautiful Oz for six years, three in Tassie and three in Cairns.

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  23. Wow--a collaboration between Shell and Jilly would be heavenly. Jilly's photos of her tiny French village are so romantic.

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  24. Shell, perhaps if you and I conspire, we might get Katie to come down here and visit with us.

    I love carousels and this one is just lovely.

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  25. Hi, Jilly! Thanks so much for dropping by ~ I'm so glad Virginia mentioned your blogoversary, which prompted me to visit you. I also love your puppy dogs blog ~ adorable!! And from Tassie to Cairns ~ talk about one lovely extreme to the other, LOL!

    Petrea ~ sounds like a fine idea!!

    It's a plan, MmeB! :)

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  26. That would be cool if you two could get Katie to visit. Perhaps you can share a violet macaron? ;-)

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  27. I found your site via Virginia a while back. Love your French-themed paintings. This one of the carousel with little Eva is dear.

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  28. I just stopped by for another little visit with my Eva Boo. Thank you again dear Shsh.

    Let me run over and see what I can do for CO. I fear that IF there were macarons, they've been snuffed up by now but we'll just see.

    Shsh,
    It's fun to see all my blog amis here too. We're just all one big happy family, n'est pas?

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  29. LOL, Cali ~ one violet macaron is not to be shared, but I'll try and provide a trayful.

    Hi, Harriet ~ thanks so much for saying Hello!! I'm delighted you like this little one.

    It is really lovely, dear V ~ always makes my heart glad.

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  30. Beautiful, beautiful work, Shell. Virginia must be so tickled.

    Guess what my wv is?

    mumseses
    As in Paris Mumseses/Mumsie

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  31. Hi, Paula ~ thanks so very much!! I think she is well tickled. :) And I LOVE your wv ~ how cute is that!

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Merci, grazie, thank you for joining our conversation lounge. Your smile lights up the room. Even more beautifully than our crystal chandelier. x

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