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Furry Friends Friday illustration : Lattes of Love Puppuccino

28.9.18

Lattes of Love Puppuccino illustration © Shell Sherree all rights reserved

Lattes of Love Puppuccino dog illustration © Shell Sherree all rights reserved

One lick or two?

Today's illustration of a cute labrador slipping a cheeky tongue into this unintentional puppuccino is brought to you with lattes of love. As are my posts. I hope they keep putting a smile on your dial! And on that note ...

Happy Furry Friends Friday to you!

PSST ~ yes, you: Looking for a unique and personal artwork gift for that special someone who makes your heart sing? Christmas will be here before we know it ~ please get in touch with your ideas by reply email if you're a VIP subscriber receiving this post in the comfort of your inbox or by clicking here and I'll confirm pricing tailored to your brief. Not sure where to start? Fret not, I'll take care of all the ideas for you! Let's talk ...

SHOP SHELL SHERREE

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Francophile Friday: Feel the Pain and Eat It Anyway

18.5.13

{Paris Pain de Campagne: ink & watercolour illustration © Shell-Sherree}

Today we play Guess the Location. The prize is the warm glow of helping your fellow Chez Shell partygoers, so everyone play along and we won't let such minor details as accuracy get in the way of a good story {a philosophy embraced by many news outlets on the planet}. That said, I'm fairly confident someone really will know which boulangerie/pâtisserie we're pressing our noses against . {Wait ~ wrong window. How did that get in here...} Let's carry a casual dress code into the weekend as we indulge both sweet and savoury tooths with today's selection. Which would you choose? I'm on the fence. And on that note...

Happy Francophile Friday to you!

Inspiration with thanks here.
Update: Location is (Stéphane) Secco, 20 rue Jean-Nicot, 75007 {thanks to our learned readers!}

Francophile Friday: Religieuse Habit

1.2.13

{Religieuse Mint & Violet : ink & watercolour illustration by Shell-Sherree}

Hello, February! I could hug you ~ though your continued heat and humidity will make for a steamy embrace. {In the right company, that can be quite a nice thing...} Anyhoo, as January is typically the month for breaking self-defeating habits and creating healthier ones, this little pastry treat is served up as a reminder to keep your eye on the prize now that we're a month down the track. {It could be a crumby reminder if cutting pastries is one of your goals by reason of insanity. Let's not go there...} This pretty morsel is a Religieuse, which means 'nun's habit' because it's said to resemble one. I chose mint and violet because ~ well, it's a girl's perogative. And I imagine the nuns would like a change.

And I'm going to be very lazy today and not even vaguely attempt to give you the story about its creation in 1855 by pastry maestro Frascati, because I know a tough act to follow ~ and Adam at Paris Pâtisseries is one witty cookie. Hop over and have a read, and step away from your cup of tea or coffee before you do. {Your keyboard and monitor will thank me later.} When you're ready, let's meet for a five tiered stand of these treats. Keep your linen napkins at the ready to catch any pastry flakes, as we're glamming it up this time, being our first Parisian get together for 2013 and all. And on that note...

Happy Francophile Friday to you!

PS: Just a little courtesy note that my print store will be closing soon. If you'd like to partake while you can, please click here to browse.

Francophile Friday: Stripe Me Lucky

30.11.12

Illustration by Shell-Sherree: pigment ink pen & watercolour

If we ever need to break a zebra out of jail, here's our perfect device for smuggling in the nail file: clever use of a colourless, transparent box to lull the wardens into a false sense of security, rendering them completely oblivious to the miniature lock-picking tools contained within the deceptively sweet and innocent macarons inside. Those zebras are crafty. Here's something casual to wear so we don't draw attention to ourselves. If it's 'bring your own chair' day, never fear ~ we won't be caught off guard. And on that note...

Happy Francophile Friday to you!

Francophile Friday: Call Me Ispahan

28.9.12

Illustration of Pierre Hermé's Ispahan macaron creation ~ by Shell-Sherree: ink & watercolour

It's the fourth blogoversary Chez Shell tomorrow. Special occasions are often celebrated with roses ~ so given our penchant for Paris and pâtisseries, the edible version is our modus operandi for this weekend's party. Pierre Hermé's iconic Ispahan is a glamorous construction of rose macarons {biscuit macaron à la rose}, rose petal cream {la crème aux petals de roses}, whole raspberries {framboises entières} and lychees {letchis} and if that doesn't say, "Thank you for your friendship and fashionably fun times," I don't know what does. Not to mention it meets our recommended fruit intake for the day, so banish any pangs of guilt and nibble away! Don't worry if you drop a few crumbs ~ they'll match our dresses just fine. And if you splosh a little of this around, I don't think it will hurt. I'm sorry today's illustration is kitty-less, but there were some ~ ahem, delays. She'll be joining us for the party. She just needs a few more minutes. And on that note...

Happy Francophile Friday to you!

PS: September is Save the Koala Month. You can find out more by clicking here... thank you.

Francophile Friday: Pain et Chocolat

21.9.12

Illustration of Pain & Chocolat, Paris, by Shell-Sherree: ink & watercolour

Another weekend: another Paris pastry crawl. Whoever said one can have too much of a good thing must surely have been one baguette short of a picnic. Thanks to dear Genie for the inspiration for today's illustration. She'll be sitting in one of those chairs very soon. According to Genie's reconnaissance, the lovely hubby and wife team who own Pain & Chocolat do the baking and serving themselves, and lap blankets are provided in the cooler months. {That's lap blankets, not lap dances, but perhaps if asked nicely...} While my thoughts can turn to putting away the winter woollies, I have deferred to the seasonal lead of Paris in choosing our attire for today. But lest we take ourselves too seriously, I'd love to team it with this. And this. Could any day not be made brighter by a skateboarding pug? And on that note...

Happy Francophile Friday to you!

Pain et Chocolat
16, avenue la Motte Picquet
75007, Paris

PS: September is Save the Koala Month. You can find out more by clicking here... thank you.

Francophile Friday: Julien Boulangerie in Paris

14.9.12

Illustration of Julien Boulangerie, Paris, by Shell-Sherree, ink & watercolour ACQUIRE PRINTS

Strolling along past Jean-Noël Julien's award-winning boulangerie on rue Saint-Honoré is most opportune, as we can procure both lunch and afternoon tea within. {Thanks to dear Katie for the inspiration!} Not only will we find some Best in Show baguettes {the medallions on the windows tell us so} but once we've dealt with the sensible part of the meal, we can graze for the rest of the afternoon on macarons, chouquettes and other sweet what-nots ~ until we succumb to a sugar-dazed temptation to wear something darling like this. Then, we'll know it's time to stop. And on that note...

Happy Francophile Friday to you!

Jean-Noël Julien

75 Rue Saint-Honoré 75001 Paris

More locations HERE

PS: September is Save the Koala Month. You can find out more by clicking here... thank you.

Francophile Friday: Nougat With an 'Oooh'

24.8.12

Paris Illustration by Shell-Sherree, ink & watercolour ACQUIRE PRINTS

Oh good, it's like riding a horse ~ I haven't forgotten how to blog after all. Quite miraculous, given I don't know how to ride a horse. But enough of that: it's lovely to see you! I bought you a van filled with nougat and pralines to make amends for my absence. Or perhaps I brought you a van filled with nougat and pralines. You may choose, depending on whether you'd like to become a nougat cart proprietor somewhere in Paris or just graze your way through the contents at your leisure. Thanks to dear Katie for the inspiration! Shall we indulge the current coloured jeans trend in a subtle fashion while we wait? If you're like me and need some elevation to reach the counter, these will do the trick. If we start to teeter or totter, we can lean on each other for support. And on that note...

Happy Francophile Friday to you!

PS: For those looking for larger prints, I've added A3 size {image fits 11 x 14"} to my Etsy store. Just add the A3 listing in your cart and tell me which illustration you'd like. Easy! Please pop on over to find out more.

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!

Francophile Friday: Scootering Da Rocco

20.1.12

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

When I sit down to illustrate without a specific project, I often have no idea as to what I'm going to draw. At times like that, I'll resist the urge to spin the bottle and instead, will open my tear-sheet ring binders or the inspiration folders on my laptop, skim through my Pinterest boards, and gaze at the overflowing mood board next to my desk {and invariably think to myself that I need a much larger one, then daydream about gilt frames and somehow ending up wondering what Hugh's wearing today ... and not regaining consciousness until the best drawing light is dwindling fast. Damn it.}

Today, my eyes alighted on a photo sent to me some months ago by Pop Culture Nerd and taken when one of her loved ones was in Paris ~ she thought of me when she saw it. Thank you, my sweet! I loved it and filed it away to wait for little lights to flash over it when the time was right ~ which turned out to be today. And for those of you who are smitten with both Paris and Italy, Da Rocco Trattoria in the 7th arrondissement is made for you... a taste of both worlds. {And the reviews look excellent!} The sidecars are waiting and the red wine is breathing discreetly. We can relax elegantly in trousers so it doesn't matter from which angle the paparazzi catch us. And on that note...

Happy Francophile Friday to you!

Francophile Friday: Merry Macarons to You

23.12.11

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

A valiant effort, though I haven't quite covered the partridge, turtle doves, calling birds and I don't think these little feathered friends would pass for French hens, either. But I have a feeling you'll excuse me for trading five golden rings for this tower of raspberry macarons {if you close your eyes and make a wish, yours will turn into whatever flavour you fancy}. Thank you, dear Virginia of Paris Through My Lens, for the lavish inspiration provided by you and Printemps in Paris. I've decided to call this style Bacchanalian-chinoiserie. Could we be daring enough to wear this while we indulge? And when the last crumb has gone, we can visit animal refuges to make donations and give out cuddles. {To give just by clicking your mouse, no money required, please pop over here. Often.}

Wishing you a Christmas filled with love and laughter with those who make your heart sing and your spirit tap dance. And on that note...

Happy Francophile Friday to you!

Tea for Tuesday: On Wings of Teacups

22.11.11

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

Surprise! I'm back already, with a large pot of ginger tea brewing left of stage. Which is entirely different from left of centre. Or so I'm told. I took this inspiration on a flight of fancy by replacing the perfectly functional handles with golden winged ones. Somewhat cumbersome to drink with, but worth it for elevation of the Fetchingness Factor. Please, take your cupcake at your leisure and I'll pour when ready. No tea party would be complete without some music. Ella prefers her namesake's rendition, though the Muppets come a close second. Stop me now. And on that note...

Happy Tea for Tuesday to you!

Francophile Friday: Macarons Stripe You Lucky

7.10.11

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

Firstly, I must apologise. My hand-engraved invitation to Hugh to announce the winners of my giveaway went astray. Never hire a chicken to do a carrier pigeon's job. As a result, there's no opening number ~ no singing and dancing or sailing in on a highwire {the latter is probably for the better, given he's a bit accident-prone when airborne}. But perhaps I can distract you from your disappointment with some macarons and tea. And this picture of Ella wearing the hat we used to draw the names.

Without further ado, here are the winners of my Paris postcard sets, in reverse alphabetical order to keep us on our ballet pointes: Susan Campisi, Pop Culture Nerd, Petrea Burchard, Ms M, mise, the GyPsY, Favourite Vintage Finds, Cafe Pasadena, altadenahiker.

Felicitations and congratulations to those who ~~bribed Ella best~~ had their luckiest vibes on! Please contact me via shellsherree[!at]gmail.com to advise/confirm your address, and I'll have your postcards on their way ~ enjoy!

Thank you so much for your lovely comments and friendship. As the sun sets on my 3rd blogoversary celebrations, I shall be taking a little break to recharge my blogging batteries. But first, please stay a while. We shall graze on this bottomless plate of macarons and drink from these bottomless striped teacups, or those bottomless rose-coloured glasses, filled with your beverage of choice. And on that note...

Happy Francophile Friday to you. À bientôt!

PS: As a valued reader of my blog, you have until 15th October to receive 20% off all items in my store. Simply enter the discount coupon code 3RDBLOG during the checkout process.

Francophile Friday: Boulangoversary & Giveaway

30.9.11

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

Please join me as we celebrate our 3rd Blogoversary together in this Boulangerie. As both words have at least three letters in common, it seems fitting. Besides, I fell in love with this delightful Paris shop front when I saw Genie's beautiful photo at Paris and Beyond a few days ago and couldn't wait to draw on it for inspiration. Merci beaucoup, ma chère Genie.

Thank you all ~ for your friendship and support in so many ways. It's been lovely growing to know you over the time and my life has been immensely enriched by our banter around the globe.

With the warm benevolence that a Chambord champagne cocktail brings, I've decided to hold a Celebratory Giveaway. Nine sets of my Paris postcards are keen to experience overseas travel - Par Avion, of course. {Set contains one each of the three postcards shown below.} The winners will be randomly chosen. We're not talking about an Hermès bag here, so there'll be nothing high tech about the process. Drawing from a hat, crumpling names and seeing which ones Ella sniffs ~ if you've visited before, you know what to expect. Bonus, whether you leave a comment or not: receive 20% off all items in my Etsy store {until 15th October} by entering the discount code 3RDBLOG during the checkout process.

Every commenter on this post receives one chance in the draw {two for regulars}
'Follow' my blog {click the Follow button up top next to the search box}, subscribe via email, Like my Facebook page, Follow my Tweets, and you will receive an extra chance for each of these. You'll find the links over in the right sidebar. Please tell me in your comment which of these extras apply to you
Winners will be drawn next Friday 7th October at 9:00 am {Brisbane, Australia time} and announced in next Friday's post

Meanwhile, your pastries of choice await. I've brought linen napkins, three candles and a calorie-negation device. And on that note...

Happy Francophile Friday to you!

Au Levain du Marais 28, Boulevard Beaumarchais, 75011, Paris

Francophile Friday: Paris Pink and Grey-Gray

9.9.11


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

Uh-oh. Someone's wearing rose coloured glasses again, turning red to pink and risking the ire of a rouge-determinated anti-discrimination board somewhere on the planet. Or blogland, at the very least. The original is beautiful {my abundant thanks to Genie of Paris and Beyond for her lovely inspiration} but when I started dabbling in my paintbox, this lolly colour brushed itself onto the paper and that was that. To tone it down, I feel it calls for the wearing of something modestly exquisite, along the lines of this vintage grey Dior. What do you think? Let us discuss such matters over our café crèmes and macarons. And on that note...

Happy Francophile Friday to you!

Francophile Friday: Ooh La-Ladurée

19.8.11

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

Ladurée . Lauded by macaron lovers and lamented over by those out of crumbs's reach. And about to open in New York City at 1:00pm on 26th August {according to Laduree's own website as I type} ~ within reach of our chère amie Alexa. Hooray! Her visits might possibly require comfortable running shoes and a water bottle rather than a brief hip-sway in Louboutins. But genuine Ladurée macarons will be on hand in her beloved city, nonetheless. As the NYC store is still having its wig powdered, corset laced and beauty spot positioned, I guess we'll need to rendezvous today at this one on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris. It's a sacrifice, but someone has to do it. And on that note...

Happy Francophile Friday to you!

Francophile Friday Fleurish: The Macaron Apology

1.7.11

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

While we merrily took tea in Paris last weekend, there was an elephant in the room. No, it did not break any of the china. {It's an elephant, not a bull. Stay with me, s'il vous plaît.} But it was there, no matter how quietly it tried to drink its Assam Harmutty Estate Tea while standing in the corner with a lampshade on its head. The cause? There were no macarons invited to our tea party. Today, this travesty is addressed ~ may the festivities resume. And on that note...

Happy Francophile Friday to you!

Francophile Friday: Do You Take This Macaron...

29.4.11

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

Once in a while, it's nice to have a fairytale. Anything uplifting and cheering for the spirit is welcome, even more so this year than others in recent recollection. William and Kate are a beautiful couple and I wish them every happiness and more. I have to confess, I'll be watching the Royal Wedding on delay due to a previous engagement. {No, not that kind of engagement.} But I'm looking forward to being assailed by all kinds of eye candy, not the least: the wedding cake. Is there any chance a tower of macarons was on their short list? It's kind of fun to imagine so. Merci, dear Virginia for today's inspiration. Somehow, I suspect it would be the celebratory pastry extravaganza of choice for many of those pressing your noses up against this Paris shop window today. So please, don't forget to take your bonbonniere before you leave. There's a flavour to suit everyone. And on that note...

Happy Royal Francophile Friday to you!

The Doo-the-Macaron-ron-ron...

17.8.10

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

This is me in my kitchen. My real kitchen doesn't have those curtains, or a mixmaster, or a mouse. Or me looking as tall as that, but it's my drawing and I can stretch myself if I want to. I don't have pierced ears, but I do have an oven, a tea towel, freckles and a fringe, and I did bake my very first batch of macarons on the weekend. Hoorah! They are pale pink with dark chocolate ganache filling, and while far from perfect, have a delicate crisp shell and lightly chewy texture ~ and aren't too shabby at all. No, they don't come out of the oven ready-assembled, but ~ well, I don't really need to explain it again, do I.

The kettle's boiling {"One lump or two with your déjà vu?"} so here's your white damask napkin and I'll assemble the mismatched Limoges...

Francophile Friday: L'Escargot Slow Show

23.7.10

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

Does focusing on snails on Friday help the weekend slide along more slowly? Perhaps a notion worth exploring at a leisurely pace...

L'Escargot Montorgueil takes the Slow Food movement literally. This popular restaurant in Paris decorates its signage with a trail of regal-looking golden snails {perhaps paying a side homage to garlic butter}, leaving us in no doubt as to its primary fare. As for the principle of "waste not, want not", there's an interesting story about the establishment here.

Thank you so very much to Cali, who sent me a photo of these charming snails and their abode quite some time ago. With due deference to the subject matter, I took my time illustrating them. So likewise, please take your time gazing at them. They aren't going anywhere in a hurry. And on that note...

Happy Francophile Friday to you!

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