/ Shell Sherree

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!

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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!

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Venerdi in Venice: Gelati Palette

12.8.11

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

Pale turquoise doors with pistachio and raspberry accompaniments. Several colours of the gelati rainbow within a half-dozen paces. The gradual accrual of verdigris and moss thanks to the poetic drip of a languid drainpipe. An overhead cherub with modesty drape so we can retain our G-rating. Kitty cats admiring eternal bronze doorknockers cast in their likeness. {As one would.} Just another colourful day in Venice. Grazie mille, thanks to dear Danielle of VenetiaMicio for the gorgeous inspiration... This door ajar has saved us the trouble of lifting a finger to gently tap-tap-tap the knocker. Could it be a signal our Hugh has returned from his sabbatical? Well, what are we waiting for?! And on that note...

Happy Venerdi in Venice to you!

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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!

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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!

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Furry Friends Friday: Pawchance to Dream

22.7.11

ink & watercolour illustration, ACQUIRE PRINTS

In the interests of feline and canine equality, please find herewith one puppy dog, enjoying the tail end of the northern hemisphere summer. His humans might be found in a lazy hammock nearby. If you live above the equator, I'm very much starting to look forward to trading seasons with you, and exchanging my hot water bottle and double doona layers for linen sheets and someone to fan me. {Something like this would do. Or to keep it Australian, this. Hugh's on recuperative leave for a few weeks, possibly enjoying his very own hammock...} And on that note...

Happy Furry Friends Friday!

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