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I’m seeing hearts everywhere!
… in the woods…
… across the water in a Paris flower market…
… on the beach.
The great philosopher/poet Johann Goethe once wrote: “Do not hurry, do not rest.” I’m trying to wrestle with that dichotomy at the moment!
A couple of weekends ago we celebrated a wedding in the beautiful surroundings of The Gower Peninsula, Wales,
and walked the beautiful Rhossili beach the following morning in glorious sunshine.
It’s one of the best shell-finding beaches that I’ve scoured recently and I found a washed up receptacle to fill, in order to bring some beach finds home to paint.
Yes – I have even been keeping seaweed alive in salt water in the studio sink so that I could paint it. The smell in the studio reminds me of fish and chips!
One of the things that I most love about blogging is how accessible the creative community becomes and how easy it is to make buddies from far and near. I can’t even remember now how I came across Dana’s blog but I’m glad I did because despite having an art crush on everything she touches with a paint brush, she is always chock full of inspiration.
I was delighted when she put some of her smaller paintings in her shop because I had loved this one since I’d first seen it. She has such a freshness to her work, a real eye for colour and composition. And I had the frame already waiting for something just like this so it was serendipitous.
Dana is about to begin running an online sketch booking course called ART*FULL Sketchbook with Dana Barbieri. Dana has amazing sketchbooks and makes really good use of them as a creative tool. Watch this video to see what I mean. I would have signed up if I’d not been on the last part of my ABSPD course but I can’t wait to see how it influences her students. Do check it out soon if you fancy a go – I think registration is open until March 30th.
Image © Dana Barbieri
In the meantime I have an original to enjoy now 
Mother, the ribbons of your love are woven around my heart. ~Author Unknown
Happy Mothering Sunday Mum – a special day to remind me of all the things I should say everyday.
And this year I learnt a new craft and made a cross stitch heart which is fitting really because it took lots of tiny stitches to make a whole heart and that seems to be a good analogy for mothering.
Project taken from Cath Kidson Stitch.
Paris is full of beautiful shops and the window displays are awesome!
They are highly inventive and eye-catching, whether it be in a simple or multi-faceted way.
Shops are specialist’s at what they do. There doesn’t seem to be the ‘corner shop’ mentality that we have in the UK where you can buy everything under one roof.
These shops, at least in the city centre, are excellent at baking bread or patisserie, making olive oil or herbs, cheese or wine.
And they are all beautifully and immaculately displayed.
It put the chic in shopping.
Paris has a lovely natural light which at sunset begins to turn mauve and lavender.
And it’s lit up romantically with those iconic old French lampposts which just conjure up so many famous French paintings.
There are cafes everywhere which take on a new attractiveness at night when they are lit from within with candles on the table and twinkling lights.
And the river reflects back all these lights to magnify the effect.
One last Paris post tomorrow – glad you have enjoyed seeing my snaps.
On a Sunday the Flower Market becomes the Bird Market.
We weren’t sure whether to expect the best (alive) or the worst (some dead French culinary treats.)
But it was the most charming little market of twittering, fluffy, cheeping birds ever.
I was totally charmed by it all and if I could have, I would have bought a handful because they were so adorable and such lovely colours.
It looked like you could just turn up and sell any bird you may have. Groups of men stood round their cages, shaking hands and chatting.
It was quite a contrast; all these macho men selling these delicate little creatures!
I love the slices of colour,
the patterning of iron work,
and lace,
and the rough plaster of old walls.
Notre Dame stands like a beautifully iced cake. It is amazing to think of the intricate detail and feats of physical ingenuity that went into the building of this in c. 1668.
Many churches and chapels show their devotion to God through the dedication to brilliant craftsmanship and expensive materials inside and they truly are magnificent and can lift your heart heavenwards.
I particularly liked the Sacré-Cœur Basilica which had a very touching prayerfulness, with lit candles glinting whilst Mass was held and hymns were sung.
And I was totally blown away by this ceiling mosaic which stretched across the dome of the altar chapel.
The colours, stylization, workmanship and strength of image was a sight to behold.
Beautiful sacred spaces.
Tucked away unassumingly is the daily (Mon – Sat) flower market.
It’s chock full of garden paraphernalia, gorgeous flowers, birdhouses, bulbs and blooms.
My favourite flower (Bellis) sounds good in French – Paquerette.
Colour and pattern inspiration abounding.
