/ Shell Sherree

Francophile Friday: A Fashionable Eiffel Trifle

1.3.13

{Fashionable Eiffel Trifle: ink & watercolour illustration by Shell-Sherree}

Oh, look. The Love Bus No.9 has adventurously made the leap from London to Paris, and the vintage styling could almost convince us we've lost another decade in the process since our stop in the 60s last week. Bring back the knotted white men's shirt, I say! {Or has it already come back? I try to keep my finger on fashion's pulse, but I've never done a St John's Ambulance course, so I don't guarantee I'm always resting it in the right place.} While we're so jauntily attired and our imaginary sky this weekend is like the most gorgeous blue eyes you've ever lost yourself in, should we have a pique nique? {Apologies to our Hugh this week, but light brown-coloured sky just won't cut the mustard.} I'll bring the crusty baguettes, fromage and some cheeky bottles of red. And on that note...

Happy Francophile Friday to you!

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Fashionable Furry Friends Friday: London Paws

22.2.13

{London Paws: ink & watercolour illustration by Shell-Sherree}

It seems one of the other passengers on board our Love Bus N°9 took the Abbey Road stop. Cross your eyes and look at this in dim light if you're a purist, but perhaps we can imagine for the sake of a good segue that there's a vague Sgt. Peppers vibe about our groovy chick. Being wise beyond her years, she's not buying into the Lonely Hearts side of things, though ~ I suspect she has many suitors saying, "I want to hold your hand," but these puppy dogs are keeping them full. Not to mention Superman could be waiting in the phone booth for her. {She loves Hugh, yeah, yeah, yeah.} I can already feel the stampede to climb in there before he exits, so on that note...

Happy Fashionable Furry Friends Friday to you!

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Fairytale Friday: Dash It All for Romance

15.2.13

{London Kiss: ink & watercolour illustration by Shell-Sherree}

As I write this post, it's Friday in Brisbane and Valentine's Day has passed with a whisper here, but is still present by a whisker there. Possibly your 'there'. {And possibly you're there.} No matter what the day, I thought it was time for a fine romance here Chez Shell. Life doesn't always mirror art, but one can dream. From the vintage of the car, we're being transported back to London in the 1940s? {What I'm lacking in history, I don't make up for in geography, so feel free to correct my vague hazarding of a guess. And whatever you do, don't catch the number 9 and hope to end up in any of the advertised locations.} Here's the inspiration for today's little fairytale flight of fancy. And speaking of time travel, action, romantic leads and ye bonne olde England, I'm deeply immersed in Petrea Burchard's Camelot & Vine right now and loving it. Don't be bashful, hop over and buy a copy. Petrea's puppy dog Boz needs a pocket money raise. {And a pocket, but that's another story...} And on that note...

Happy Fairytale Friday to you!

PS: Last call for prints ~ end of this weekend, I'll be putting the store on vacation until ... let's just say, "Don't wait up." Thank you ~ big hugs and thanks for all your support. I'm looking forward to exploring other creative adventures around the corner...

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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...

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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.

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Fashionable Friday: Audrey's Puppy Love

25.1.13

{ink & watercolour illustration by Shell-Sherree}

I'm back. It's grand to see you. The holidays agreed with you ~ you're looking rested and raring to go. As for me, I discovered when yin and yang collide, you can guarantee an epiphany is around the corner. {Mine was black raspberry-flavoured. And I'd have another in a heartbeat if I could.}

Anyway, after plenty of late-night navel gazing, I've decided to change up a few things in my life ~ streamline, simplify, gather my energies and become more Yoda-fied. "Do or do not ~ there is not try." As part of that, I made the momentous decision {but a long time in the making} to pull down the shutters on my print store shortly and focus on things that are closer to my heart and more productive {both illustration-wise and otherwise}. I wanted to give you a weensy window of opportunity to order {please click HERE} in case you'd been considering something ~ but please pop over sooner rather than later!

Meanwhile, here on the blog, we'll be walking on the serendipitous side more often. Perish the thought you ever have to stifle a yawn. Today's illustration is inspired by Audrey Hepburn in Givenchy with a couple of non-miniature poodle pooches back in the day. She's the essence of grace and natural beauty inside and out ~ and 20th January marked the 20th anniversary of her passing. The world was left a better place thanks to her. {And thanks to dear Rose for steering me to this particular source of inspiration.} And on that note...

Happy Fashionable Friday to you!

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