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Francophile Friday: Of Absinthe and Affogato

27.4.13

{Absinthe Kitty: ink & watercolour illustration © Shell-Sherree}

Affogato! Sounds perilously close to cussing in Italian {or blessing someone if they sneeze}, but today's illustration is brought to you in the wee hours of Saturday morning thanks to this simple dessert of vanilla ice-cream puddled in shots of espresso. Make mine a double. Wait ~ I already did. If not for that, I'd have given into the temptation of sleeping. And if I had absinthe in the bar cart {aka the top shelf of my pantry, which sadly looks nothing like this}, said slumber would possibly have taken place out on the roof or up in a tree ~ neither of which lends itself to late-night illustration attempts. As I have none, catastrophe averted.

I must issue a warning with today's post, however. Kitties: do not attempt this fanciful feline's adventures at home. An unadulterated cat is fascination enough without adding absinthe into the equation. But dear Virginia Jones's photo of Vert Absinthe in le Marais inspired me to follow the green fairy from our last post to this one, and look where we've ended up: illustrating an illustration. Now, there's an absinthian concept if ever I saw one. {Thanks as always, ma chère.} We should don something appropriate before entering, in case the custodians are recruiting this weekend. And on that note ...

Happy Francophile Friday to you!

Fashionable Furry Friends Friday: The Gloves Are On

22.3.13

{Darling, We're Home: ink & watercolour illustration by Shell-Sherree}

Have turquoise set of wheels, Scotty dog and mascot kitty, will travel. The fur kids had to be separated a couple of times and if I heard "Are we there yet?" whined one more time... but it looks like all's well that ends well.

I overdid the waist nipping again, so one could be forgiven for thinking we should have packed a lot more sandwiches for the road trip. {Either that or kitty ate more than her duly allotted share. She's a growing girl ~ what can I say.} But the bunch of flowers is a promising sign that we're about to be romanced with a simple but heartfelt home-cooked meal {two ways to a girl's heart within one sentence...}, so we can make up for lost time over the weekend and loosen that belt by the time Sunday rolls around. I smell welcome home Gin and Tonics in the air. And on that note...

Happy Fashionable Furry Friends Friday to you!

PS: Inspiration for today's illustration is here ... And when one Etsy store closes {mine!}, another one opens: regulars here well know and love Virginia Jones of Paris Through My Lens {source of much of my inspiration, with my eternal gratitude!} To acquire gorgeous Paris photo prints for your home, please visit her new print store. 'Tis truly lovely.

Francophile Friday: Hôtel de Ville or Roundabouts

15.3.13

{Hôtel de Ville Carousel: ink & watercolour illustration by Shell-Sherree}

If you've had a rough week, not to worry. What you lose on the swings, you gain on the roundabouts. The details are sketchy as to what we lost on the swings and who was in charge at the time {I'm sure we can blame it loosely on last week's adventure}, but I'll gladly accept a carousel ride in Paris to make up for it. Virginia found this double-decker beauty at the Hôtel de Ville last Christmas {thank you for the lovely inspiration, ma chère!} A transeasonal wardrobe choice will cover us in both hemispheres at the moment, and the bag is large enough to stow contraband of the macaron persuasion without sending us off to the chiropractors. {Mind you, a massage could still be in order, not that my arm ever needs twisting on that score.} And on that note...

Happy Francophile Friday to you!

PS: The charming folk at Winsome Journal kindly lassoed me for an interview recently. If we'd caught up in person, I'm sure tea and blueberry white chocolate scones would have been involved. That's the way they roll. {The printed edition comes out later this year.} Please read on over here if you're curious...

Francophile Friday: Printemps in Paris

8.2.13

{Printemps in Paris: ink & watercolour illustration by Shell-Sherree}

It doesn't take Sherlock Holmes to sense the winter of your discontent up in the northern hemisphere lately. I'm not judging ~ I'm usually mumbling about moving to warmer climes by the third day of winter, not the third month. And our Brisbane winters are mild. Apparently. So, to spread a little cheer and give a sign of hope to those desperately dreaming of running barefoot through fields of wildflowers in a floaty off-the-shoulder number, beams of radiant sunlight bouncing off their hair and Chariots of Fire playing in the background {feel free to volunteer suitable substitutes ~ I'm in a hurry for a date with a glass of bubbles on the deck ~ not wanting to rub the salt of my summer into any wounds, of course}: I offer you Printemps {aka 'Spring'} in Paris. We might need to step up the wardrobe for running barefoot on the cobblestones of Paris. This should do. Some discreet skirt-hitching, however, is permitted. And on that note...

Happy Francophile Friday to you!

Thanks to dear Virginia of Paris Through My Lens for the spectacular inspiration. Merci, comme toujours, sweet lady...

Francophile Friday: Paris Magic

5.10.12

Illustration of l’Académie de Magie, Paris, by Shell-Sherree: ink & watercolour

Paris really is magical ~ the sign tells us so. Thanks to dear Virginia of Paris Through My Lens for inspiring today's illustration. She's a magician with her camera, so she doesn't need to attend l’Académie de Magie. I did a little "Hey, Presto!" of my own and changed l’Académie's shop front from red to raspberry-pink {as you knew I would}. Just in case we need to do any 'magician's assistant' duties, these dresses should give us a flirty edge without being too scanty. And if anyone has the same delusions of grandeur as my favourite little apprentice, {not counting kitty}, you'll thank me for this practical footwear. And on that note...

Happy Francophile Friday to you!

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!

Francophile Friday: Arnaud Delmontel, Paris

27.4.12

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

Ah yes, Arnaud. It's grey and chilly. Perhaps someone could whisper in winter's ear that it's still autumn here and I'd be grateful if the coldest season would wait its turn. But by happy coincidence, it was a grey and chilly April day in Paris when dear Virginia Jones captured the inspiration for today's illustration in Paris Through her {talented} Lens. {Thank you, merci, ma chère! I hope you don't mind, but I turned the sky blue in hopes it will catch on here.} An 'architect of small pleasures', Arnaud Delmontel is revered by his clientele for his crusty baguettes and his colourful macarons and desserts. Today's subject can be found in Montmartre {there are others in the 9th and 17th arrondissements}, and you can take a little tour thanks to their charming website.

If we need an extra layer for the weekend, this should do the trick. Or if you want to trade flats for heels, let's keep the boldness rolling. As for these little fellows, I couldn't resist bringing them along for the ride. There are scooters and sidecars waiting for us around the corner. And on that note...

Happy Francophile Friday to you!

PS: One of our regulars and unabashed francophiles, dkshopgirl, is including a little feature on yours truly this Sunday. {Thank you, dk ~ I'm honoured!} Please enjoy losing yourself in her drifty and pretty blog.

arnaud Delmontel
57 rue Damrémont - 75018 Paris
tél. : +33 (0)1 42 64 59 63

Francophile Friday: Au Nom de la Rose, Paris

13.4.12

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

Bonjour, my petal pies. Flowers are still one of the most gorgeous ways I can think of to say, "You're a good sort," "Sorry, I've been remiss," or to never lose an opportunity of seeing something beautiful, for beauty is in God's handwriting' {Ralph Waldo Emerson} All of which I wanted to express to you today after my lengthy sojourn.

Even better when the flowers are in Paris, such as these at Au Nom de la Rose. Merci to dear Virginia of Paris Through My Lens for today's inspiration. And I know, I know ~ you haven't had a wardrobe change for the past five weeks ~ sacrebleu. This should rectify the matter. And as there's no kitty within, here's your feline fix for the weekend. And on that note...

Happy Francophile Friday to you!

Au Nom de la Rose

87 rue Saint-Antoine 75004 Paris

Francophile Friday: Paris Framboise

17.2.12

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

With clouds of romance perfuming the air this week, stocks in the colour red have soared. This weekend, perhaps we'll even see a spike in raspberry. Today's shoe shop in Paris was inspired by our dear Virginia of Paris Through My Lens {if you love Paris and red, you'll love her book, Paris Rouge}. Thank you, ma chère.

You can take a little tour of the interiors of Vialis thanks to Silvia Contreras, the architect behind its fitout. No prizes for guessing what activity we'll be engaged in while there. Do you think they serve champagne? I'm hoping we'll find the perfect heels to suit this, this or this. 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!

Francophile Friday: Américain in Paris

25.11.11

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

As night draws its cloak over the warm and fuzzy glow of gratitude and Thanksgiving for our American blogpals, this scene seemed a nice way to tuck the day into bed. {And a thousand thanks to dear Virginia of Paris Through My Lens for her inspiration ~ merci, ma chère!} Our little kitty looks grateful for her fine view of proceedings at Mondrian in Paris. {And she's grateful for the beautiful souls who adopt rescue animals ~ needed now as much as ever. Please read some of their touching stories gathered at Altadena Patch by our friend Altadena Hiker.}

Apparently bar américain indicates that cocktails can be procured within. I'm willing if you are. I've taken the liberty of sourcing appropriate garments for us to wear. The one-shouldered look is so very 'in' this season. But nothing beats a full skirt as a crafty means of gaining more precious real estate if the bar is crowded. Pop into the fitting room and join us when you're ready. I hear Hugh could be recovering here from his latest iced-tea commercial. And on that note...

Happy Francophile Friday to you!

Francophile Friday: Café, Thé, Chocolat?

26.8.11

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

Yesterday, I ~~gadded about~~ performed clinical caffeine trials at successive meetings with girlfriends: 9:00 am, 11:00 am and 1:00 pm. After two half-strength lattes at the first cafe and one half-strength latte at the next, I made the switch to tea for the home run. Silly me ~ if only I'd added some hot chocolate into the mix, I'd have covered all of the bases offered by this charming cafe in Paris. In honour of the fine raspberry and white chocolate scones consumed with cream at the 11:00 am session {and emboldened by a residual caffeine buzz}, I've taken the liberty of giving the cafe a paint job that leans closer to pink than the fire engine-red original over at Virginia's Paris Through My Lens. {Thank you for the beautiful inspiration, dear V!} It seems a very cosy place to nestle in for the weekend {looks like rain here}. My first order will be a hot chocolate equaliser. How about you? Please, pull up a chair. And on that note...

Happy Francophile Friday to you!

Francophile Friday: Roses Alight in Paris

5.8.11

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

Soft lamp-lighting is very much at home Chez Shell. Not only could it make an excellent training ground for guide dog puppies, but it's warm and forgiving, and makes everything look better. I've learned never to underestimate the magical powers of illumination. No surprise that this infatuation extends outdoors to the pink streetlights of Venice. Imagine my delight to see these lanterns with rose-coloured glasses in Paris, thanks to Virginia of Paris Through My Lens. {Merci et bises for the gorgeous inspiration yet again, dear V!!}

On a complementary note as we head into the weekend, I'm happy to announce the release of a sweet set of Paris-inspired flat notecards/postcards to the store, in packs of three or nine with elegant cream envelopes ~ for those who still love the handwritten note as I do.

Rose petal macarons and pink champagne all around! And on that note...

Happy Francophile Friday to you!

Francophile Friday: Meow Jaune

29.7.11

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

Followers of le Tour de France {and most people with a telly} will know that this year, for the first time, an Australian won the maillot jaune ~ yellow jersey ~ and if a fluffy toy was given for Most Valiant and Humble, Cadel Evans would have won that, too. Afficionados with the gist of tactics and technicalities will wax lyrically about what a beautiful race it was from that perspective. As for me, I just did a big happy dance. Life's simple Chez Shell. In celebration of Cadel's win, I've gone to the archives and dug back a couple of years to find this fine Paris Jaune inspiration thanks to dear Virginia of Paris Through My Lens. My interpretation heads towards the pumpkin side of yellow, but it's the thought that counts. Rather than be predictable, our kitty is not cycling today, but limbering up for her ballet class. Or endeavouring to open the door. Shall we help her out? And on that note...

Happy Francophile Friday to you!

Francophile Friday: Flowers & Shutters

10.6.11

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

On a day when one has gone everywhere in Paris, as Virginia felt this particular day {thank you as always, dear V!}, a relaxed lunch with a view like this is in order. And your chances of scoring such a view in Paris would be pretty high. Shutters, flowering pot plants ~ perhaps even the occasional adventurous kitty cat ~ these are commonplace but never common. I shall consult my Filofax to see whose turn it is to charm the inhabitants into a weekend stay for us. No, wait. I see I already have some volunteers who are eminently qualified for the job. And on that note...

Happy Francophile Friday to you!

PS: You might recall that some of my illustrations are available as customised stationery at Nôte Couture. To my delight, I was also commissioned to create a custom illustration for Nôte Couture's blog banner. {Thanks, dear Julie!} It's over HERE if you'd like to take a peep.

Francophile Friday: Shoes Afoot

3.6.11

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

In winter, I don't think a glass slipper would cut it for me. But spring, summer ~ those are indubitably glass slipper seasons. I wonder if some part of our collective shoe obsession is deeply seated in Cinderella. {We can call it Cendrillon or La Petite Pantoufle de Verre for an extra dusting of magic.} The speed of my circulation emulates that of the tortoise, not the hare, so winter finds my feet more closely aligned with another charming tail, Puss in Boots. Whatever your story, the quest to be beautifully shod must be even more enchanted in Paris, and the atelier of this Japanese artisan, Tamano. Merci, thank you to dear Virginia of Paris Through My Lens for the lovely photo inspiration. I'll rustle up some gowns and bubbly and meet you all outside. If you arrive to find a pumpkin and some mice, you'll know the party has already moved upstairs. 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!

Francophile Friday: Bicyclette and regnaluoB

11.2.11

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

When I saw Virginia's photo inspiration for today's post {merci comme toujours, V!}, it took me a moment to get my bearings. If I'd been cycling at the time, I would have wobbled and fallen off in my discombobulation, leaving my 'chic' lying crestfallen and undignified on the cobblestones. Here's hoping someone kind would be on hand to pick me up and straighten my beret.

This scene was one of Virginia's Paris Rouge series, but I'm feeling in more of a raspberry mood ~ et voilà. Our picnic awaits ~ as soon as we procure some crusty baguettes to accompany our fromage et vin. After you. No, not that way ~ that way. And on that note...

Happy Francophile Friday to you!

Francophile Friday Fleurish: Flower Power

4.2.11

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

My possums aren't going to be happy with me. Cyclone Yasi obliterated most of Australia's banana crops. {In a double whammy, those poor farmers also lost their crops in Cyclone Larry in 2006 and have to start again, again.} This will take the humble banana into luxury goods territory. I could feed my adopted wildlife a silk pillowcaseful of organically~grown Bulgarian rose petals harvested by the light of the silvery moon by Colin Firth and pay less. So until my possums figure out how to contribute to the household budget, I see tinned two-fruits on their horizon. Indefinitely.*

It's been a troubled week in many places around the world. And while offering up flowers seems hopelessly inadequate, perhaps these pretty blooms in a Paris flower shop can go some way towards helping to count our blessings. To triple your smile value, pop over and gaze at the source of inspiration of my illustration today. Bisous and thanks to dear Virginia of Paris Through My Lens. Let's loiter and inhale. Exhale. Inhale... And on that note ~

Happy Francophile Friday Fleurish to you.

* Seriously, I will invest in local bananas as they become available again. A small price to pay to support these farmers as they get back on their feet again. My heart goes out to all those affected by Cyclone Yasi. The RSPCA in Townsville was damaged, only weeks after the Fairfield refuge here in Brisbane was badly flooded. And they will have much to do saving companion animals and wildlife in the wake of Yasi. You can donate to the RSPCA here. Thank you.

Francophile Friday: Meet You at Le Mouffetard

21.1.11

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

What's that? It's the weekend already? As the sun loiters around the horizon this Friday afternoon, these empty chairs are singing a siren song. Let's rest our tootsies, clink glasses and graze on a slice of life at this little cafe overlooking rue Mouffetard in Paris. {Thanks and bisous for the inspiration, chère Virginia!} These are tables for two, but here in our fairytale, this seating arrangement will stretch to accommodate us all, like black elasticised pants at a smorgasbord ~ cough ~ I mean, like an Yves Saint Laurent caftan at a buffet. And on that note...

Happy Francophile Friday to you!

PS: In the recent Brisbane floods, the RSPCA animal shelter at Fairfield went under & was severely damaged. They are exempt from disaster relief offered to charities assisting human needs. Please click here to donate towards their vitally important rebuilding process. And for donations to help human kind, please click here. Thank you for any help you can give ~ every dollar is gratefully appreciated!

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