Fashion....Becomes Art

France is world reknown for Art and Fashion.....and last month, I discovered a French artist combining both into one.
At a Paris art show, I found the works on canvas of peinture Isabelle de Joantho.

She had creatively attached wire coat hangers to the top of art canvases.....and then with a combination of paint and textiles, created a 3-dimensional stunning dress.
It was as if the dress was on its hanger, removed from the closet...ready for the upcoming gala.
The colors and design would have been runway winners !

See her creative works on her site http://www.peinture-isabelle.com/
(click GALERIES......CORSETS)

Painting With A Bird's Eye View

Just returned from Paris and attended an art fair featuring several hundred of France's contemporary artist.

I popped in stand after stand ....and then I was captured by the oil paintings in the stand of Perrine Vilmot !

Her view of the world is creative and original.

It was as if she had climbed high in the trees.....and saw the world through the eyes of a bird.

By changing our view, she opened our eyes to details often missed.

A painting of two young children playing pick-up sticks, becomes mesmerizing!

She favored paintings with children and often used bold shades of purple, red, and green.

Sometimes her paintings contained 16-25 small scenes, that allowed the viewer to almost see life in a play.

Treat yourself and view her paintings http://www.perrinevilmot.fr/

click "les tableaux" ( oil paintings)

Did life look different from above ??

(comments are always welcome)

Presentation, The French Way

The French are true Masters of Presentation! Their love for beauty and design are apparent at every turn... shop window displays, dinner is like art on a plate, and dealers showing their wares.

Want to decorate in a French way??

Bring focus to your pieces by the unexpected....a plaster sculpture hung inside an art frame.

Have a collection of loved pieces?....turn them into art and display on a backboard.

Want an eye catching display? Anyone can display chairs standing on the floor....

but the French dealer displayed his colorful collection of chairs attached to the top of the wall.

Then he dug even deeper into creativity and hung 2 chairs upside down !!

Paris Antique Dealer: Farmhouse Tables

Shopping for farmhouse tables ?

Or a table from a monastery in Loire Valley??

Alain Michallek lives in Tours in the Loire Valley. Each week-end, you can browse through his assortment of antique tables, mirrors, and accessories at his stand in the Paris flea market.

Today, I was barely able to take a photo of this handsome Vigneronne table as customers were flocking in to ask questions. The tables were used by vineyards during grape harvest and stored during the winter. When the two shaped ends are added, the rectangular table is transformed into a beauty seating up to 14. The top is pine with the base in oak.

In France, they often mix the old wood table with contrasting modern metal chairs...very chic.

Alain has displayed on top of the table, a collection of 19th century wine bottles...once containing white wine for sale.

On the left, is my favorite...an ink bottle.

All now can be used as vases, water jugs or ???

Visit Alain at the Paris flea market in saint Ouen

stand 16, allee 1, marche Paul Bert

Transforming Paper into Objects of Beauty

When possible, I favor walking the streets of Paris over taxis and the metro...the opportunity of discovery always amazes me.

This evening, I passed a shop window that had me pulling out the camera and writing down the shop's website.
Marianne Guely is a designer that has created extraordinary 3-dimensional projects from folded paper.
Her high fashion designs range from wedding cards to projects for Cartier, Baccarat, and Hermes.
Visit her website or better yet....her shop at 46, rue de Provence, 75009, Paris.

Beauty and Presentation at Paris Lunch

I always cherish a new discovery.

I had lunch for the first time at Alcazar in Paris (just off Saint Germain) and it was a feast for the
eyes as well as the tummy.

The starter of haricot vert (green beans), beautifully laid over gazpacho

and spinach leaves...and then topped with poached egg, like whipped cream on a sundae....was only the beginning.

After a main course of bar ( a wonderful French fish), which was lightly crisp on the outside and wonderfully soft inside....the customary cafe.

Alcazar continued to add beauty in the presentation with the French colors of red, white, and blue.

And of course, everthing taste its best with champagne !

http://www.alcazar.fr/

One of My First Stops in Paris

Why are these 50+ men, women, and children standing in line in Paris?

Not a concert, play, or new tech-gadget!

Berthillon glace (ice cream) brings out the crowds everyday.

Located in L'ile Saint Louis, the small parcel of land surrounded by water and adjacent to Notre Dame...and is one of my first stops on each Paris trip. I favor the side by side scoops of pistache (pistachio) and noisette (hazelnut).

This Sunday I was forced to make a substitution as they were not offering my pistache.

Great reason to return another day :-)

http://www.berthillon.fr