Let's Go To Paris, Again!

The Eiffel Tower sparkles in the sunlight.

Hi Everyone -

I'm Cindy from quaint handmade and thrilled to join the other incredible guests as we blog sit for Deb while she's in Paris & Marrakesh. She is quite the inspiration and I love to read about her collections and the thought process involved in creating them. Deb's reports from Paris combined with all of the amazing French-inspired guest posts, including our trip yesterday, have made me anxious to jump on a plane and go there, again. Let's all go!

First, a chocolate croissant and café au lait served on some Limoges china, of course. No fancy coffeemaker, carefully shake up warm milk in a container and voila - it's a little bit foamy. If you take sugar, add some to the milk and it's all the better.



A little research thanks to Art Buchwald's fun book.



Classic French cuffs with vintage enamel buttons made into links go with chic black pants, a red cashmere sweater and comfortable loafers. Add some dark sunglasses, red lipstick and we're almost ready.



A dab of Joy rose perfume.



Vintage embroidered french silk bag and change purse.



A Rhodia Notebook and Bic pen, which are made in France.



First stop, the incredible paintings of Anne Vallayer-Coster, painter to the Court of Marie-Antoinette. I think all of the ladies she painted would have looked better with a gorgeous Bonbon, or two.



The artist herself.



Incredible realism in her still life oil paintings.



Finely detailed portraits. The lace, the hair!



Delicate gouache on paper.



Marie-Antoinette herself.



Now, french gardens courtesy of The Glory of Roses written by Allen Lacy and beautifully photographed by Christopher Baker.



Monet's garden at Giverny.



Pink roses are a favorite.



Beautiful orange roses.



I can't take all of these flowers! Let's find a florist from this Japanese book about Parisian Florists. I don't speak or read French or Japanese so this is a logical source ;).



Odorantes looks gorgeous. See the birds?



Un Jour de Fleurs is so romantic.



Simple tulips in honor of the red in the French flag are perfect and just like the ones we had with breakfast. What a coincidence ;)!



Time to head home. Sorry if our trip was a bit long, but I've actually never been to France. Au revoir, Paris. It was grand and I'm not even tired. Safe travels, Deb & Jim!

xo, Cindy