Francophile Friday: Patrick's Petal Power

Francophile Friday: Patrick's Petal Power

25.5.12

ink pen & watercolour illustration, 7" x 8.75" [18 x 22.5cm] BROWSE PRINTS

Based on the signage, there are no shrinking violets here.  If you have it, flaunt it.  And from the looks of this charming and pretty fleuriste in Paris, there is floral artistry afoot.  Though it's been a particularly dreary and drizzly day here {whine}, many of you elsewhere are frolicking amongst the colours of spring and rainbows, not necessarily in that order.  The calories from our macaron diversions of a fortnight ago have long since evaporated, so let's cinch our waists and prepare to lose ourselves in the decadence of all things flowery and bright chez Patrick Allain.  And on that note...

Happy Francophile Friday to you!

Patrick Allain Fleuriste

51 rue Saint-Louis en l'Île, Paris 75004

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Venerdi in Venice: If the Boat Fits

Venerdi in Venice: If the Boat Fits

18.5.12

 ink pen & watercolour illustration, 7" x 8.75" [18 x 22.5cm] BROWSE PRINTS

Venice.  {"And about jolly time," I hear a small-yet-dedicated bunch of you cheering, waving your proseccos in the air.}   See that little chink of light over on the far side?  Under the archway?  Guess who's waiting yonder.  And this time, Hugh's brought his beautiful French bulldog Peaches along.  {Everybody say, "Awwww!"}  Her booties will come in handy in case of a very mild acqua alta this weekend.  And so we don't feel left out... our apartment is stocked with plenty of these in every size.  {Grazie to dear Danielle of VenetiaMicio for the glorious inspiration for today's illustration.}  If we decide to take it easy, we can avail ourselves of the boat and Hugh can steer us in the right direction.  And on that note...

Happy Venerdi in Venice to you!

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Francophile Friday: Macarons Take a Stand

Francophile Friday: Macarons Take a Stand

11.5.12

 ink pen & watercolour illustration, 7" x 8.75" [18 x 22.5cm] BROWSE PRINTS

Boulangeries and pâtisseries are regulars on the illustration playlist Chez Shell, offering up their wicked, sometimes-flaky, oft-pastel, always-sugary wiles within.  And it occurred to me that I've been leaving their interiors to your {beautifully qualified} imaginations for far too long.  Today, a lone plate of macarons is utterly insufficient.  I present you with two tiers {inspired by this}.  Make a wish and they refill automatically.  In light of that, we might need to free ourselves from the puritanical sensibility of belts.  {Make another wish and the hemline adjusts to your preferred length automatically.}  And on that note...

Happy Francophile Friday to you!

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Francophile Friday: La Cure Gourmande, Paris

Francophile Friday: La Cure Gourmande, Paris

4.5.12

 ink pen & watercolour illustration, 7" x 8.75" [18 x 22.5cm] BROWSE PRINTS

I'm all for medicinal chocolate, medicinal biscuits and medicinal lollies ~ mind you, being brought brandy by a Saint Bernard would be a hard act to follow.  There's minimal risk of that in Paris, however, so let us self-prescribe with sweet abandon at La Cure Gourmande.  Thanks to dear Virginia of Paris Through My Lens for inspiring my illustration today.  Merci, ma chère, comme toujours.

And thanks to all the fine detail, I'm about to consult my Fanciful Pharmacopoeia of Sweet Somethings to see what will stop the fine lines dancing in front of my eyes.  {Better in front of my eyes than around my eyes...}  On the other hand, we could throw research to the winds and see what La Cure has to offer.   {There are several in Paris and elsewhere in France, Belgium, Spain and 'autres pays' around the world.} Time for a quick wardrobe change then we're set.  And on that note...

Happy Francophile Friday to you!

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