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!
24 comments

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!
19 comments

Fashionable Friday: Vintage Road Trip

18.11.11

ink & watercolour illustration, 5.75" x 8.5" [14.5 x 21.5cm]

Bonjour. I have returned.  No, this is not a self-portrait, though my hair could easily have grown this long in my blogging absence if I'd allowed it to.  Nor have I been driving around Australia with a rakish puppy dog poking his head happily out the window of a charming old petrol-guzzler.  But somewhere out there, it made for an attractive photo shoot{I drew on this for inspiration but its photo credit source has vanished, sorry... probably with a large pastel-coloured picnic basket into an eternal country summer.}

But what's that I hear you saying as your forehead furrows with concern.  Où est Francophile Friday?  Dove è Venerdi in Venice? Fret not, they will be back!  But while contemplating my navel for a protracted period {it's easy, I do yoga}, I thought it might be fun to post more serendipitously ~ more on a whim ~ which feels rather fitting.  Often on Fridays, and sometimes not.  Perhaps a different day entirely on the odd occasion.  Let's take the notion for a spin and see how it goes.  All that aside, it's magnificent to see you again.  You look even lovelier than before.  And on that note...

Happy Fashionable Friday to you!
19 comments

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. 
35 comments

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

29 comments

Feline Friday: Is Louis Gilty?

23.9.11

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

Here's another of those 'in my dreams' illustrations.  Someday, perhaps when my Ella has tired of climbing up inside {yes, inside} my ageing sofa to snooze on its hammock-like underside, I'll trade my low-maintenance pieces for something of the more delicate Louis family.  And perhaps then, my precious black velvet feline will be happy to sleep on it, rather than within it.  I think I'll opt for a gilt frame on the chaise.  A whitewash finish could be too matchy-matchy with the oversized mirror.  Upholstered in a luscious Designers Guild pattern?  Or perhaps in a simple white duck, with tie-on loose covers to be changed on a whim {or when they have been winsomely shredded by sweet kitty claws past the point of no return}.  Please, relax while I wheel in the strategic drinks cart to facilitate our discussions.  And on that note...

Happy Feline Friday to you! 
19 comments
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