Paris Parfait

Making beautiful books

Rossetti's Collected Works, Volumes I and II, 1870, from my private collection. The books were featured in The Cult of Beauty Aesthetic Movement 1860-1900 exhibition earlier this year at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. I purchased them from Liberty's 2011 Annual Arts & Crafts Selling Exhibition in London. I am mad about Arts & Crafts design and am lucky to own a few original pieces.

A page scanned from Stephen Calloway's book The Cult of Beauty, which accompanied the V&A exhibition. The poet and painter Dante Gabriel Rossetti's books are blocked in gold on blue-green publishers' cloth (pictured upper left). Algernon Swinburne's 1873 Songs before Sunrise (upper right) was also designed by Rossetti. Love Is Enough was written and designed by William Morris in 1873 (bottom left). Architect Philip Webb designed Morris's book Volsunga Saga: The Story of the Volsungs and Niblungs, published in 1870 (bottom right).

These books were featured in Liberty's 2011 Arts & Crafts Selling Exhibition. The book at right - The Roots of the Mountains - was written by William Morris and is extremely rare.  It is a first limited edition of 250 copies, printed on Whatman paper and bound in original Merton Abbey block-printed linen “Honeysuckle” designed by William Morris. The book is inscribed ‘with love,’ possibly by Morris. It was printed at the Chiswick Press and published by Reeves & Turner, London, 1890. The book was also exhibited at the 1890 Arts & Crafts Exhibition.

Liberty's Arts & Crafts Yuletide Selling Exhibition is currently underway on the 4th floor through Saturday, December 24th.

The Guardian has a fascinating article about making beautiful books in an era of e-books. When traveling, I read books via Kindle. But in my home, an electronic device never will replace actual books.

I have an antique iron book press from Scotland. Every time I glance at it, I am reminded of the care and attention with which so many beautiful books once were made by hand. It's a part of history I'd like to help preserve.

Merry-go-round

Carousel horse, vitrine, French quarter, New Orleans.

 

Am finding life a bit dizzying at the moment - as though I'm spinning on a never-ending merry-go-round - thanks to a whirl of Dutch house-buying bureaucracy. Hoping the wild ride stops soon and cool heads prevail.

Meanwhile, am honoured to be included in Christine Mason Miller's Five Six Things column today. It was such fun to be part of her Global Inspirations series for Create Mixed Media. Read about Christine's virtual book tour for her latest creation Desire to Inspire here. You can pre-order a copy here.

Other inspirations:

Gaza's little surfer girl

Harrison Solow's The Birthday Present

Haruki Murakami's 1Q84 trilogy

Longing for Paris? See Eugene Atget's iconic photography in Paris: 1898-1924

How exercise benefits the brain

A trio of frosted and mercury glass candles on a windowsill.

Projects, books and current events

La Giralda, Sevilla, Spain, July, 2010. Photos by Tara Bradford.

 

Have spent much of today preparing for an upcoming photo project in Andalucia, Spain. We also have guests in town this week, so between photo shoots and playing hostess, not much time to blog.

Here are some things that recently have caught my fancy:

Great storytelling via Tahir Shah's Sorcerer's Apprentice and Harrison Solow's The Postmaster's Song.

Does social media mean the writer penning a tome from an ivory tower no longer exists? Ask Paulo Coelho.

Entra magazine - architecture and design in a slick, professional format. Beautiful!

BBC Panorama's searing documentary about the uprising in Syria, where their "weapon is the camera."

Plus I've been reading updates on the timely and important work of the Southern Poverty Law Center.

What's on your radar at the moment? Do tell!

 

An ornate chapel inside La Giralda, with a central red velvet panel depicting La Giralda's tower.

 

The peacock of booksellers takes a wrong turn

Peacock in a garden at Reales Alcázares de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain.

Over the years, I have spent thousands of dollars/euros/pounds buying books, CDs, DVDs and a Kindle via Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. So when I awoke this morning to find a friend's email linking this article, I was shocked and appalled.

There simply is no excuse for such ill treatment of Amazon employees, whether temporary or permanent staff members. At the very least, such repeated health and safety violations should be cause for a full investigation by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, as well as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

In recent years, Amazon has made some dubious moves. Apparently the company considers itself rich enough and powerful enough to operate by different rules than other companies. Until Amazon.com improves working conditions for its employees and makes recompense to the workers affected at its warehouse(s), I will not make another purchase from the online retailer.

Les Miserables

Reflection in a traffic mirror at Montreuil-sur-Mer, France. Victor Hugo's novel Les Miserables is said to have been inspired by his September 1837 visit to Montreuil-sur-Mer.

Each year, Hugo's Les Miserables is performed in an outdoor son et lumière show at the end of July and beginning of August.

The distinctive late 18th-century and early 19th-century architecture and cobblestoned streets remain largely unchanged from Hugo's day.

The late-afternoon light highlights the brickwork and crooked shutters. Flower-filled window boxes  are de rigueur in this "ville fleurie."

House numbers at the second-floor level.

One of Montreuil-sur-Mer's oldest hotels.

Photo taken from steps leading from the ramparts down to a main street.

The 11th-century St. Saulve Abbey, photographed in early morning light Sept. 2, 2011 from a window at L'Hermitage.

"I met in the street a very poor young man who was in love. His hat was old, his coat worn, his cloak was out at the elbows, the water passed through his shoes - and the stars through his soul." - Victor Hugo

Vermeer's Delft

In Delft, the Netherlands, the Nieuwe Kerk church tower is reflected in a large directional compass in the center of Market Square.

If you saw the film Girl with a Pearl Earring, you may remember that Griet - the character played by American actress Scarlett Johannson - paused for a moment on this spot, then walked in the direction of the Nieuwe Kerk. Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer's home was on the street opposite the church.

The church's tower was restored, after a lightning strike on May 3rd, 1536. The resulting blaze destroyed the tower, organ, bells and stained glass windows. Wind spread flames to hundreds of timber homes and businesses west of the church. On October 12th, 1654 a gunpowder explosion razed parts of the city.

The ornate Town Hall, also seen in Girl with a Pearl Earring's opening moments. The film was based on a book by Tracy Chevalier. The original Girl with a Pearl Earring painting (1665) is at Koninklijk Kabinet van Schilderijen Mauritshuis, The Hague.

The Town Hall at dusk.

This building is on the Oude Langedijk, directly across the street from the church. It stands on the site of Johannes Vermeer's home. Vermeer lived and worked in Delft all his life (1632 - 1675). His paintings often depicted people going about their daily lives. An image of one of my favourites, The Little Street, is part of the online Google Art Project.

The church tower is reflected in the windows of the same building.

The church tower at night.

Across the market square is Vermeer Centrum, a museum dedicated to Johannes Vermeer's life and work. The building is on the site of the Guild of Saint Luke, a trade association for painters, of which Vermeer was a member. Curiously, not a single original Vermeer painting remains in Delft, although several are displayed at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

A stone plaque marking Johannes Vermeer's final resting place in the Protestant Oude Kerk. Built in 1240, it is the oldest church in Delft.

The church's design features raditional arches and 27 stained-glass windows, as well as the sculpted pulpit from 1548.

Detail of a 19th-century hand-carved walnut pulpit, featuring the acanthus leaf.

Joep Nicolas made 25 of the church's 27 historical windows. After his death, a relative completed the last two vitrines.

While many windows depict stories from the Bible, some show reflect Dutch history and key figures of the House of Orange.

The church's brick exterior.

An arched passage.

Oude Kerk's leaning bell tower.

The leaning tower long has been the subject of debate among Delft residents, concerned about its structural engineering and stability.

Slow Saturday

Favourite things on a slow-down Saturday: hydrangeas and books. A 19th-century English ironstone pitcher holds a bouquet of hortensia (as they're known in Europe). Among the books on my 1930s library table:

Eyewitness: Hungarian Photography in the 20th-Century

The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris by David McCullough

My Heart Wanders by Pia Jane Bijkerk

Le Japon Artistique: Japanese Floral Pattern Designs in the Art Nouveau Era

Aitor Lara's Maestranza

Tim Walker's Pictures

While David is watching rugby games (in the run-up to the Rugby World Cup September in New Zealand), I'm sorting out things around the house, in between long stretches of reading. Time to slow down, before fall kicks into high gear... What's on your weekend agenda?

Out of the dark

Out of the dark, something beautiful emerges... Rain-spattered lily pads, the Netherlands. Click photo to enlarge.

 

"My faith did not start with a leap, but rather a series of staggers from what seemed like one safe place to another. Like lily pads, round and green, these places summoned and then held me up while I grew. Each prepared me for the next leaf on which I would land and in this way I moved across the swamp of doubt and fear." - Anne Lamott, Traveling Mercies

Elephant girl

Book cover design by Stephanie Cameron of Insight Creative, LLC.

 

My blogging friend Jane Devin has just published her first book! Elephant girl currently is available on Kindle, while other e-versions can be purchased via Smashwords. The paperback version will be out soon.

Don't miss the chance to read Jane's insightful writing! She is a compelling storyteller. Check out "Beggars can't be choosers" and Vulnerable to see why Jane's raw emotion and honesty make her one of my favourite authors.

Read more here, along with links to podcasts and interviews with Jane.

Digging deeper

Musicians - including a blind keyboard player - near the Tibetan Boudhanath Stupa, Kathmandu, Nepal. Click photo to enlarge.

 

Amy of ABCDesigns wrote an interesting post about inspiration, blogging content and comments. Her thoughts struck a chord, as lately I've noticed that too many blogs, online magazines and other social media platforms are all style; little substance. Frankly, I am bored by the lack of original content and thought-provoking articles. We all need to dig a little deeper; to tell our own stories. This doesn't mean we should stop shining a light on beauty wherever we find it; to do otherwise would be unconscionable. Perhaps we could be a little more selective and thoughtful in our writing and presentations, giving rise to our own voice; our individual stories. What do you think?

To comment or not to comment?

Having blogged for five-and-a-half years, I've seen my comment count swing like a pendulum. Apparently, this is a seasonal/holiday thing rather than interest in specific posts. As people are engaged across Twitter, Facebook and now Google + platforms, it seems fewer and fewer readers take the time to comment on blogs. So I'm considering closing the comments section here.

I don't take this decision lightly; over the years, reader comments have been a welcome source of feedback, encouragement, commiseration and solace. But I have noticed a dramatic decline in comments and I'd like to ask for your views about this issue. Please let me know what you think.

A gift to yourself

And why not? You deserve it! Check out this delightful new monthly service from Not Another Bill. I have subscribed for six months, because there's nothing like a lovely surprise in the mail to instantly brighten one's day. (I've signed up my daughter in the US for Not Another Bill parcels. Shhh, it's a surprise)!

Summer reading

I've been rereading an old favourite: Thornton Wilder's The Bridge of San Luis Rey, as well as reading Margaret Drabble's stories from A Day in the Life of a Smiling Woman. For inspiration, it's hard to beat my friend Pia Jane Bijkerk's visual feast My Heart Wanders. And Odo Yakuza Tokyo, a book about the Japanese crime family just arrived. Photographer Anton Kusters has produced intriguing images of a shadowy world of power and criminality. What's on your summer reading list?

Of course, amidst a busy schedule, reading means chapters here and there. On Wednesday I spent nine hours editing photos and adding new ones to my ever-evolving photography site. Meanwhile, deadlines  loom for three articles and two photo essays... Back soon!

La Fête Nationale: Vive la France!

Scanned image of handwritten 18th-century sheet music and a tattered 19th-century linen flag for national holidays.

Happy Bastille Day to our French friends and neighbours!  

For all you Francophiles, someone sent me this list of 50 books about France. 

Scroll down the page for another post today.

Eclectic style

The genius Dutch florist's creation of the day, in a Waterford crystal vase.

 

"Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it." - Confucius

On the 1930s library table, covered with French linen: 18th-century hand-written sheet music; my friend Pia's beautiful new book, "My Heart Wanders," as well as books featuring the work of photographers Tim Walker, Steve McCurry and Reza. In the background, an English Arts & Crafts chair is covered in original William Morris Strawberry Thief fabric and a 19th-century Chinese Buddha head rests on a Napoleon III stand.

Mixing it up

After browsing decorating books at lunchtime (Emily Chalmers and writer Ali Hanan's Modern Vintage Style and design blogger Holly Becker and writer Joanna Copestick's Decorate; both books feature Debi Treloar's great photography), I was inspired to show some of my own collectibles found at brocantes, flea markets and antique fairs in France, England and Spain.

Pictured is vintage Provencal pottery for sale at a brocante at Chatou, France.

Pieces of Provencal glazed stoneware pottery that I've collected, on top of a vintage French mercantile cabinet at the top of the stairs in our entryway.The smaller Provencal jugs - originally used in every French kitchen to store duck fat - are quite pricey, as they become more difficult to find. The rust-coloured pottery at left is from Bourgogne. The cabinet containing DVDs and CDs faces a door with glass panels leading onto a balcony. The door beyond the cabinet leads to a small bathroom.

Pieces of early 20th-century French luggage, made of woven wicker and trimmed with leather are stacked on top of an old linen cupboard on the second-floor landing. Three vintage wooden hatstands - and a 1940s felt hat - are wedged between the luggage and an architectural beam. I started my quest for luggage after receiving the ladies' overnight bag (top) as a gift from my friend Gabrielle.

This modern 30-drawer chest was handmade by talented craftsman Luke Ellis of Kent & London in Whistable, England. It stores my cameras and photography gear (must get some suitable labels, so I remember what's where). The antique baskets on top are Chinese and the modern lamp is signed by a French artist.

Side view of the chest and lamp tucked under an eave. The small chest at left is vintage French. The wall is more than 200-years-old and slants at an odd angle, making decorating a challenge. The oil painting is by Santa Fe artist Carole Whitmore.

More interior shots to follow.

Fifi O'Neill's Romantic Prairie Style

 

My blogging friend Fifi O'Neill has taken her great style and magazine editor experience and put together a fabulous book, bursting with beauty and design inspiration! Fifi's ideas prove you don't need tons of money to decorate your home. Romantic Prairie Style shows that simplicity, using charming - and often weathered - things at hand and adding elegant little touches of beauty can make all the difference in a relaxed and comfortable personal space.

The book is packed with Mark Lohman's beautiful photographs taken at homes and farms throughout the United States. I could spend hours with this book, reading, daydreaming and plotting subtle changes to my own home's decor.

J'adore this charming farm table, the enamelware coffee pot and the vintage cheese mould.

I have a vintage French linen cupboard in this seafoam green shade. Love these soothing colours!

This comfy, cozy kitchen and the chippy paint pink table make me want to bake sugar cookies.

...or a pie filled with lemony goodness!

Imagine a festive outdoor dinner in the simplest of surroundings. So romantic, especially when lit by candlelight.

A favourite pair of boots filled with flowers...an easy way to add unique style.

Shades of blue and white on this lovely front porch, inviting lazy conversation and iced tea (or perhaps a mint julep or two).

Love this sleeping porch! Before air-conditioning became commonplace, homes in the South often featured beds on their front porch, as it was too hot indoors to sleep.

How adorable is little Amelie??!!

An abundance of beauty, with pillows handmade from vintage fabrics.

Since I now live in Holland, couldn't resist posting this photo, with its Delft blue pottery!

Indulge in homemade treats and fresh iced tea, surrounded by nature's beauty.

The talented author Francoise Fifi O'Neill, former editor of Romantic Country magazine. The Paris-born Fifi is working on a second book, among other exciting projects. She is a force of nature, constantly on-the-go or creating something clever!  You can follow Fifi's adventures on her popular blog Chez Fifi.

Fifi's fabulous new book can be purchased at your favourite book store or online here (US) or here (France) or here (rest of Europe). Fifi's first book-signing will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, April 9 at Posh on Palm, 33 Palm Avenue, Sarasota, Florida.

All images by Mark Lohman, courtesy of Ryland Peters & Small/Cico.

Merci bien, Fifi! Felicitations!

At home

"Welcome home." A Buddhist monk walks across paint-stenciled words at a monastery high in the hills above Kathmandu, Nepal.

 

So nice to have a travel-and-guest-free peaceful weekend at home. It's been snowing in Paris, offering an excuse to cosy up by the fire and read The Apothecary's House; enjoy lovely meals prepared by my resident (husband) chef and address a huge stack of Christmas and New Year's cards. Just for a day or two, everything else can wait.

The Nepali and English words inscribed on the building (pictured) indicate "The True Meaning of Life" by the Dalai Lama:

"We are visitors on this planet. We are here for 90 or 100 years at the very most. During that period, we must try to do something good, something useful with our lives. If you contribute to other people's happiness, you will find the true goal; the true meaning of life."

"Right from the moment of our birth, we are under the care and kindness of our parents and then later on in our life when we are oppressed by sickness and become old, we are again dependent on the kindness of others. Since at the beginning and end of our lives we are so dependent on others' kindness, how can it be that in the middle we neglect kindness toward others?"

Vous simplifier la vie

Love letters written in 1901 to a Frenchwoman named Gabrielle in Paris. The bundle of letters was found at a Paris flea market.

 

Have you seen author and blogger Patti Digh's insightful new book Four Word Self Help: Simple Wisdom for Complex Lives? Patti talks about the need for simplying our busy lives; how the most important concepts usually may be summed up in four words or less.

This blog post title echoes Patti's philosophy, translating from French to "you simply your life." Here's my take on three of Patti's four-word ideas for living:

Write more love letters. Can we ever have enough love letters? I think not. These thoughtful missives, penned from the heart, reveal more about us - and those who love us - than any store-bought gift chosen with care.

Years ago, I was on assignment in the Middle East and left many valuable items with a friend in San Francisco. Sadly she vanished, taking my treasures with her. I really haven't missed them, except for a couple of sentimental family items and a stack of love letters, bound with ribbon. Those foreign-postmarked letters written in green ink on heavy vellum reflected an important part of my personal history and can never be replaced. So Patti is right: we should all write more love letters. Email just doesn't have the same panache.

My daughter Jordana pictured last December standing in the Dead Sea, Jordan, for the first time since she was eight years old.

Tell them your story. Time passes so quickly. As a journalist, I am acutely aware of the necessity of writing things down; recording events as accurately and objectively as possible. As a photographer, I am convinced each of us has a responsibility to tell our own story; to capture key moments in our lives and the lives of those close to us, not only for ourselves, but for generations to come. One's sense of identity and place in this world is important; each of us has a role in helping preserve our wholly unique family histories and special events. Expensive possessions may come and go, but our personal stories and photographs are timeless and therefore priceless.

A trio of bicycles parked by a canal, Delft, Holland.

 

Buy experiences, not things. Nothing provides more education and perspective than travel. Throughout my life, I've tended to favour adventure over stability; experience over material possessions. I may not own a big house or access a fat bank account, but I do have a wealth of experience. I am rich through the risks I've taken; the places I've traveled; the people I've met and befriended; those I love and who love me. It doesn't take money to try something new; to do something different; to make new friends. Our choices and our experiences define us and inform our memories...It''s how we spend our time, talents and resources that matters; not how we spend our money.

For more simple wisdom, read Patti's delightful book packed with warm and witty anecdotes. Four Word Self Help is also beautifully-illustrated by numerous artists and bloggers. Get your copy here or at your local bookstore. You may already be familiar with Patti's best-selling book Life is a Verb. And don't forget to visit her blog 37 Days for inspiring stories about making the most of each day.

Subtle pleasures

Geraniums in window boxes reflected through frosted glass, Delft, Holland.

Have you seen the new shelter magazine Rue? Check it out for Jamie Beck's beautiful photographs of an eventful day with interior designer Vicente Wolf. Photos of Victoria of the blog SFGirlbyBay in her charming abode are also featured in Rue's premier issue.

I had planned to be in London this week, with an afternoon at Liberty fawning over Manolo Blanik's new collection and visiting the V&A's special installations for London Fashion Week. Instead, I've been home fighting a bug/virus David brought home from China.

I've seen two unusual DVDs: the British film Fleur du Desert about the extraordinary journey of Waris Dirie and the Danish film After the wedding. Both are well worth your time.  Besides processing hundreds of photos, I've been reading books at lightning speed, so there are fewer books to move. With every item that goes out of the apartment, I feel the burden of SO MUCH STUFF ease.

Speaking of possessions, Danielle La Porte tackles this loaded topic in a guest post today at Bindu Wiles.

Back soon with a special post about Patti Digh's new book Four World Self Help.

Sustenance

So much hope...

This hand-woven covered basket contains a 19th-century Tibetan monk's food bowl, which he carried wherever he went.

The decorative copper and cloisonne enamel bowl is lined with turquoise, reflecting the monk's influence among the Buddhist leaders. Parts of the turquoise are worn through, revealing the bronze and copper base.

So many prayers...

A 19th-century bound book of prayers from Nepal.

 

The prayers are hand-written on thin sheets of bamboo. The items are photographed with Steve McCurry's book The Unguarded Moment.

"Human beings are of such nature that they should have not only material facilities, but spiritual sustenance as well. Without spiritual sustenance, it is difficult to get and maintain peace of mind." - The Dalai Lama

Prize winners at Paris Parfait

Canal, Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Congratulations to Stephanie and Catherine, winners of the drawing celebrating 2000 posts at Paris Parfait! French brocante treasures will soon be on their way to them.

Meanwhile, some recent discoveries for your perusal:

British photographer Martin Parr shoots images of Moscow's nouveau riche.

Woulda. Coulda. Shoulda. The things you would have said.

Gorgeous Marrakech-inspired jewelry designs by Paloma Picasso for Tiffany.

Tommy Hilfiger's stylish apartment at the Plaza, New York.

Sloane Crosley's hilarious new book How Did You Get This Number?

Hooray for the Dutch boys!

Shop window, Utrecht, the Netherlands.

I'm hoping the Netherlands will continue their amazing winning streak, to earn the World Cup title. I'll be cheering them on Sunday from Sevilla. And tomorrow I'll be supporting Spain with the locals. Who do you think will win?

Meanwhile, if you love books as much as I do, this site is a gem.

Johnny Jordaanplein, Amsterdam.

Boutons rouges et autre maladies

Butterflies are free, Amsterdam.

A bit of frivolity today, as I need a break from all the bad news. In London this week, my friend Lee and I visited the Tate Modern, including an exhibit of Robert Frank photographs from his series The Americans. We also saw them hanging the exhibition Exposed: Voyeurism, Surveillance and the Camera that opens Friday. The exhibit addresses some interesting issues, including photographers' rights and voyeurism, both public and private.

Speaking of privacy issues, could it be that Facebook is actually listening to our concerns? And here is an unusual form of hacking - a camera!

On Thursday I had an appointment with the dermatologist, who prescribed a remedy for a sudden outbreak of "boutons rouges."  Doesn't sound so bad to refer to angry little blemishes as "red buttons," does it?

It's been raining in Paris, disrupting the French Open match schedule at Roland Garros. Earlier this week, the French were aghast at Venus Williams' s choice of tennis outfit, which appeared more fitting for the Folies Bergere than Center Court.

Meanwhile, public transport has been erratic, due to multiple strikes and protests. (Just another day in Paris, then).

Louis Vuitton has opened a new maison (as opposed to a store) in London. And Sarah Burton, the late Alexander McQueen's long-time assistant, has been named his successor at Gucci.

Amsterdam: Made by Hand

My lovely friend Pia is preparing to launch her new book Amsterdam: Made by Hand. If you're in Amsterdam on Saturday, June 5th, be sure and stop by the American Book Center in Spui Square at 3 p.m., where Pia will be signing copies!

Neglected

Thick cobwebs and dirt collect in an oeil de boeuf window in a chateau near Versailles. The 19th-century house has been unloved and unlived in for years. The elderly owner has put the property up for sale.

Wooden shutters are flung wide to invite fresh air. The sunlight reveals cobwebs and winter's debris encasing the windows.

I hate to see beautiful old - and often historical - properties left to decay. My photographs of the crumbling Edmond de Rothschild estate, as well as of various Paris landmarks are in an upcoming book about ruined chateaus of France. It's due out in February; will provide more information after the author notifies me of the release date.

Win a copy of Paris Postcards

Leonard Pitt's beautiful new book Paris Postcards is photographed among some late 19th-century and early 20th-century Paris postcards.

Some pages inside Paris Postcards.

If you love Paris, you'll be enchanted by Paris Postcards! Pitt's book (Counterpoint Press, Berkeley) showcases unusual and historical postcards from his personal collection. Invented in the 19th-century, postcards changed the way travelers communicated. In the late 19th-century and early 20th-century, France produced a million postcards a day. Collectors started hoarding the unique and diverse images; today thousands of vintage postcards are for sale at every flea market in France.

The postcards featured in Pitt's book depict little slices of French history, along with colourful or witty messages to friends and family back home. Some cards are sepia photographs; others are hand-tinted. The postcards reflect changing views of the city's arrondisements, as well as lively scenes from cafe and night life.

Based in Berkeley, Calif., Leonard Pitt is not only an author, but an actor. His previous books include Walks through Lost Paris and Paris: Un Voyage dans le Temps. Pitt also penned A Small Moment of Great Illumination about the 17th-century Irish healer Valentine Greatrakes.

For your chance to win a copy of Paris Postcards, leave a comment about your most memorable experience in the City of Light. The winning name will be drawn from le chapeau on Friday, Nov. 20th. Bonne chance!

The Paris Opera.

Palais de Justice.

No pain, no glory?

Painful shoes at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Longchamp, Paris.

Time to leave the glamour of Longchamp and come back down to earth. Tyler Perry's personal story brought tears to my eyes. I'm looking forward to seeing Precious, although I expect it will be difficult to watch the abuse. But perhaps this movie - based on Sapphire's book Push - will make people pay attention to nearly-invisible or overlooked people in society, who all too often suffer in silence.

War photography and ethics

I've been reading The Bang-Bang Club written by the acclaimed conflict photographers Greg Marinovich and Jaoa Silva. The book talks about their harrowing experiences, as well as those of their friends and colleagues Ken Oosterbroek, killed by a stay bullet while working and Kevin Carter, who committed suicide weeks after winning a Putlizer Prize for his powerful photograph of a starving child in the Sudan.

"...The picture had caused a sensation. It was being used in posters for raising funds for aid organizations. Papers and magazines around the world had published it and the immediate public reaction was to send money to any humanitarian organization that had an operation in Sudan. The heart-wrenching image of a starving, helpless infant being scrutinized by a vulture had inevitably raised the question, "What happened to the little girl?" and, followed close on that, "What did the photographer do to help her?"

"The barrage of questions had begun to get to Kevin. He could not answer that he had simply left the child there; that the child was not in any direct danger from the vulture, since it is a fact that vultures will never attack anything still showing signs of life. Nor was the child likely to die of starvation, as the feeding-centre, with its ability to administer emergency nutrition, was barely 100 metres away. Kevin at first had told people that he had chased the vulture away and that he had then gone and sat under a tree to cry. He did not know what happened to the child. But the questions kept coming..."

Parts of the book's raw honesty are painful to read. But it's absolutely fascinating to learn more about the dilemmas photojournalists (and print journalists) often face: to engage and try to help in a dire situation or to take the photo, get the story and walk away?

At a photography class in London last month, we discussed this predicament. All of us agreed we'd find it nearly impossible to walk away during a situation in which someone was suffering, without doing what we could to help. Of course there are times when one's own life is in danger and a choice may not be possible.

Recently I was at the French hairdresser, anxious about the way one can never quite pass muster in the intense scrutiny of certain impossibly thin, chic French women. Reading The Bang-Bang Club put it all in perspective, as the women around me chattered and gossiped about trivial things.

Open Shutters: Iraq

Seems silly to be concerned about the opinion of strangers, when far more important things are going on all around us. Open Shutters: Iraq is a new documentary by filmmaker Maysoon Pachachi. It traces the stories of 12 Iraqi women who meet in Damascus to learn photography. They then take their newfound skills and return to Iraq, telling stories with their photographs. Later, they return to Syria to edit their photos and write their stories.

One child even participated in the project, taking photos of her friends. Learn more here and here. The film begins at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16 at the Opera Plaza Cinema in San Francisco.

A book featuring the Open Shutters: Iraq photographs will be released soon.

Poverty and human rights

A new book stresses the link between economic rights and human rights. The Unheard Truth: Poverty and Human Rights is written by Irene Khan, the outgoing secretary-general of Amnesty International.  In a profile in The Independent, Khan talks about her disillusion with Amnesty's current role in human rights work.

Look out any window

Rain-spattered window, Oxford Street, London. If you and I look out this window, chances are we won't see the same things.

A tsunami in Tonga and the Somoan Islands; an  earthquake in Indonesia. Refugees driven from their homes by the conflict in Yemen. Children going to bed hungry; others dying of malnutrition or curable diseases. These are real people grappling with serious issues; huge problems that cross socio-economic divides and traverse geographic borders.

The world has trouble enough. We don't need manufactured hatred and fear-mongering spread by right-wing talk show hosts and conspiracy theorists, polluting the atmosphere. We don't need personal prejudices of two former drug-addicted radio and television hosts foisted on a gullible and too-often ignorant public. The irresponsibility of Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh and their ilk (including the RNC and its ill-advised collaboration with "News"max) and the cynicism of their reckless and inflammatory behaviour beggars belief.

Of course those who shout the loudest don't worry about dangerous consequences of their actions, as long as they're raking in big bucks. Money is power in America; just ask Rupert Murdoch and other corporate media moguls and companies who encourage and sponsor ever-increasing vitriol in the name of ratings. Just ask Hollywood moguls (and French politicians) eager to overlook Roman Polanski's crimes, simply because he's an artist and a celebrity (and his films take in big box-office receipts).

Peace begins at home and we need to dial the hysteria register down a notch or two. We need to THINK FOR OURSELVES; read and be informed about the facts, not speculation or conjecture. Searching for common ground - rather than constantly focusing on our differences - would be a good start.

As Jalaladdin Rumi said, "Out beyond ideas of right-doing and wrong-doing, there is a field. I'll meet you there."

And an excerpt of Mary Oliver's poem Mysteries, Yes:

"...Let me keep my distance, always, from those who think they have the answers."

"...Let me keep company always with those who say
"Look!" and laugh in astonishment
and bow their heads."

"Look out any window" is a reference to Bruce Hornsby's song of the same name.

Highly collectible: antiques, images, words

Dazzling turquoise now transparent, once guarded potions, elixirs.

Collection of vintage glassware and pharmacy bottles at Gunnar Petterssen's stand at the brocante at Chatou, now underway. See more of Gunnar's finds at 1-3 Allee Pele. The brocante continues from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through October 4th. Tickets are available at the gate.

The last few days have been a whirlwind of brocantes and dinner parties, with four sets of friends in town. Great fun, but exhausting! My husband is off to Oslo and Brussels this week, while I escort said friends to a secret brocante in Paris and again to the brocante and ham fair at Chatou.

This weekend is the stellar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp, Europe's largest horse racing event. I'll be there Saturday, shooting photos of dashing jockeys and sleek racehorses tearing down the track. On Sunday, I'll train my lens on chic Parisiennes wearing stylish hats. This year I won't be wearing a hat, as I'm more concerned with balancing the weight of heavy camera gear while wearing flat, comfortable boots!

More images of Chatou, as well as photos of the antique Madonna crowns that came home with me, soon.  I'll leave you now with "The Poet Always Carries a Notebook" from Mary Oliver's new book Evidence:

"What is he scribbling on the page?

Is there snow in it, or fire?

Is it the beginning of a poem?

Is it a love note?

This week, what will you scribble on your page - or see through your lens, paint with your brush or shape with your hands?

Fall preview

Bikes, boats and canal houses at twilight, Amsterdam.

You may not be ready to kiss summer goodbye, but the prospect of fall fills me with excitement. In September, it's not just a birthday that makes me happy; it's the sense of possibility; the first hint of a chill in the air; the colours; the clothes. To mark my birthday, I'm joining other September babies in donating to Charity Water, which helps provide clean drinking water around the world.

My fall diary looks promising. First, there's a week-long photography course in London, fall clothes-shopping and chatty dinners with old friends. Later in September, there'll be teas and dinners with friends visiting Paris. I'll meet my blogging buddy Marilyn for the first time.  My friend Joan, the fascinating proprietor of San Francisco's Timeless Treasures will be in town.  I'll also be escorting my partner-in-crime Di Overton to the brocante at Chatou, hunting for goodies for Ghost Furniture.

Photo shoots in both Paris and the Loire Valley are planned for an upcoming book about French antiquaires and their private spaces. Early in October, David and I will holiday in Scotland and various points in England. In Northumberland, we'll visit Di and Harvey. Can't wait to see their renovated cottage (and sneak a few photos)! In Oxford, we'll visit David's daughter Marie-Claire, as well as Barbara and Barry, the lovely couple whose wedding the gorgeous Gillian and I were privileged to witness last December in New York.

November kicks off with the usual brocante at Bastille. I'll be brushing up on my Arabic in preparation for  spending Thanksgiving and early December in Amman and Petra, Jordan, working on interviews and photo essays. I'll also make sure arrangements for our expedition March 1-8, 2010 are exactly as expected.

We still have two or three spots left; want to come along with Alex and me for an unforgettable adventure? Check out our Journey to Jordan website, then email me with any questions.

This fall I'll also be making a concerted effort to walk and bike more to build up my stamina (to carry heavy photo gear around for extended periods of time); to clear more clutter by selling some antiques and collectibles and to read more and worry less.

What's kick-starting your fall? Any plans for travel or launching new projects or creative ventures? Do tell!

P.S. If you like books and appreciate Brit humour and irony, you may enjoy Me and My Big Mouth. I especially like his criteria for getting rid of books. Note to self: Must do this!

Good intentions

White roses: a  lovely surprise gift. What unexpected delight is making you smile today?

"Breathing in, breathing out; feeling resentful; feeling happy; being able to drop it, not being able to drop it; eating our food; brushing our teeth; walking; sitting - whatever we're doing could be done with one intention. That intention is that we want to wake up, we want to ripen our compassion and we want to ripen our ability to let go; we want to realise our connection with all beings. Everything in our lives has the potential to wake us up or put us to sleep. Allowing it to awaken us is up to us." - Pema Chodron, Comfortable with Uncertainty

Living in the moment

A modern hotel adjacent to an ancient chapel, Montreuil-sur-Mer, France.


An excerpt of "Isabella returns from Nepal," from Paula Coelho's book Like the Flowing River:

"...One afternoon, she was walking near the monastery with one of the monks, when he opened the bag he was carrying and stood for a long time studying its contents. Then he said to Isabella, "Did you know that bananas can teach you the meaning of life?"

"He took out a rotten banana from the bag and threw it away. "That is the life that has been and gone and which was not used to the full and for which it is now too late."

"Then he drew out another banana, which was green. He showed it to her and put it back in the bag. "This is the life that has yet to happen and for whom we need to wait until the moment is right."

"Finally, he took out a ripe banana, peeled it and shared it with Isabella. "This is the present moment. Learn how to gobble it up without fear or guilt."

May you enjoy every moment of your weekend!

P.S. In the spirit of our common humanity, please read this touching story.

Pia's Paris

My clever friend Pia Jane Bijkerk created this Eiffel Tower from sturdy pieces of cardboard. Read her behind-the-scenes account of the tower's construction here. I'm amazed the tower survived the train journey from Amsterdam to Paris without a hitch. The display - currently gracing WH Smith's rue Cambon vitrine - showcases Pia's stylish new book Paris: Made by Hand.

If you're in Paris,act fast! Paris: Made by Hand is practically flying out the door. Who can resist Pia's gorgeous photographs and insider tips about Paris ateliers and shops featuring unique creations?

Another passer-by admires the decorated window at WH Smith.

Special treats from Amsterdam

On Monday I had a long lunch on Ile Saint-Louis with the fabulous Pia Jane Bijkerk, whom I met in June in Amsterdam . Pia is in town on a whirlwind visit for her beautiful new book Paris: Made by Hand. You can pick up a copy at WH Smith on rue de Rivoli. Be sure to look at the imaginative window display Pia created in the store's rue Cambon vitrine.

And Pia hand-carried her friend Riley Salyards' gorgeous pottery, all the way from Amsterdam. Talk about special delivery! Visit Riley's new blog Roe. Her work is for sale at a lovely antiques shop at 827 Prinsengracht, Amsterdam. More details here.

Raku featuring my favourite aqua and an interior imprinted with vintage lace.

This bowl is imprinted with natural materials Riley found during walks with her young son.

Paris: Made by Hand

Pia Jane Bijkerk, June 27, 2009, Amsterdam.

Just back from Amsterdam an hour ago and can't wait to tell you about our fantastic time there! For now, here are photos of the fabulous Pia Jane Bijkerk, author, stylist and blogger extraordinaire. I took these photos Saturday afternoon at the book-signing in Spui Square for Pia's new book Paris: Made by Hand.

If you love Paris, you'll adore this book! It's brimming with insider tips about more than 50 Paris shops and studios that feature hand-made or unique goods. I've lived in Paris for more than eight years and thought I knew my way around many of the hidden gems and treasure haunts. Thanks to Pia, I've learned about some new must-visit places. Her experience as a stylist and her eye as a photographer combine for a must-have guide for your next shopping excursion.

Read Pia's account of her first book-signing here.

Pia decorated an American Book Center vitrine with a DIY (Do It Yourself) theme. Alas, these photos don't do her creative work justice. It was a bright, sunny day and I had only a telephoto lens with me.

Check back Tuesday for more photos and stories from Amsterdam.

Paris Movie Walks

Bride on a bridge, Paris.

If you're a film buff who loves Paris, then you'll appreciate Paris Movie Walks, a new book by Michael Schurmann. The book guides you on ten tours through the city, featuring famous movie locations.

Paris Movie Walks describes filming at Le Grand Colbert for the American film Something's Gotta Give:

"In the restaurant Le Grand Colbert at 2-4 rue Vivienne, Jack Nicholson 'gate-crashes' Diane Keaton's diner-a-deux with Keanu Reeves in one of the key scenes in the Oscar-nominated Something's Gotta Give. The restaurant displays the movie poster alongside its menu in the window and a 2004 newspaper article tells you what life was like for the restaurant's staff during the nine days of shooting and for a time after the movie became such a big success.

"The table where the couple dined - at the wall opposite the entrance - was apparently booked solid for months. What's more, the clients all ordered the same dish. "We serve nothing but chicken, chicken, chicken," the maitre d' complains in the article. He goes on to describe Keanu Reeves as "polite, but distant," while adding rather icily that Diane Keaton "mainly ate in her trailer."

"Jack Nicholson, on the other hand, apparently ordered copious amounts of brandy and was soon best friends with everyone. We also learn that Le Grand Colbert had to increase its portions for the film. Apparently, they were afraid that the American public would question the main characters' wisdom in travelling halfway around the world for a kid's portion of roast chicken."

(Ed. note: Europeans, when traveling to America, are shocked by the huge amounts of food served at restaurants, with a single portion enough for three French people.)

Paris Movie Walks guides you to locations for An American in Paris, Amelie (Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amelie Poulain), French Kiss, Funny Face, Gigi, The Last Metro, The Bourne Identity, The Devil Wears Prada, La vie en Rose, Marie Antoinette, Moulin Rouge, A Man and a Woman, The Pink Panther, Paris, je t'aime, Sabrina, The Sun Also Rises and many other well-known films.

All 260 pages of Paris Movie Walks are packed with photos, maps and interesting facts about movie-making in France. The book is published by The Intrepid Traveler.

La vie en rose

The famous Berthillon ice cream and a pink car, Ile Saint-Louis, Paris.

La Charlotte de l'isle, a chocolate shop on Ile Saint-Louis. Vintage chocolate moulds are on display.

Purple shoes at Shakespeare & Co. "When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple..."

Searching for bargains at the popular bookstore across the street from Notre Dame.

Tourists taking a break at Shakespeare & Co.

Complex flower.

Pink rose.

Weekend guests

On Friday, the daughter of a long-time friend came to spend the weekend with us. Sarah is a smart, funny and engaging linguistics student, currently studying French in Nantes. On Saturday, we met the delightful Jeanie, visiting from Michigan, for a trek to the flea market at Vanves. All three of us bought some lovely things.

For me, the find of the day was a bound set of The Studio for 100 euros. Last week I saw The Studio books, filled with illustrations by Aubrey Beardsley and other Art Nouveau artists, at an Arts & Crafts exhibit in London. The books were priced at £400 each! To get an entire set for 100 euros was incredible; I think the dealer didn't realise their value.

I also found two more aqua opaline Hermes wine glasses to add to my collection; they're so rare, I come across maybe one per year. Saturday, I was doubly lucky.

Jeanie and her friend Jerry came to our apartment for dinner Saturday night, Thanks to my husband the chef, we had delicious food. We also had a lot of fun! Jeanie brought lovely treats from the US, including a beautiful set of her handmade collaged cards. Plus she brought gifts from two other Michigan girls, Judy Winter and Jane Rosemont. Judy sent a signed copy of her book Breakthrough Parenting for Children with Special Needs, while Jane sent cards and a magnet featuring her gorgeous photography. For me, it was just like Christmas! Many thanks to the three Js!

On Sunday afternoon, I took Sarah to the train station. Along the way, we saw well-dressed senior citizens rummaging through the garbage near a grocery store, looking for discarded vegetables. So sad. We often see older people looking through too-ripe or damaged fruit and vegetables that vendors throw out on market days.

I was so exhausted from racing around for three days, I completely forgot about a brocante at Parc des Princes - in my own neighborhood! The weekend was also Fete de la Musique in Paris, so we listened to noise music from across the street in the Bois de Boulogne until early this morning.

Solidays

Beginning this Friday, it's Solidays in the Bois, the annual three-day music festival which raises funds for AIDS charities. We're going to skip impossible-to-sleep-due-to-booming-bass-from-bands-performing-on-three- stages Solidays and spend four days in Amsterdam.

Nattering neocons

If only the nattering neocons would take off their rose-colored glasses and stop talking! Their aversion to reality is pathetic, not to mention their numerous attempts to rewrite history.

Mirror images

Three-way mirrors, fourth floor, Liberty, London.

Stack of painted wooden chairs, Liberty.

Like all big cities, Paris struggles with issues related to globalisation and immigration. The latest issue of the online magazine Triple Canopy explores the phenomenon of monoactivite: Chinese textile wholesalers taking over the Sedaine-Popincourt neighbourhood.

Local residents, angered by the displacement of boulangeries, bistros and longtime businesses, want the Chinese businesses gone. The French government is trying to further regulate the Chinese wholesalers, who sell garments only in bulk and block streets with trucks loading and unloading merchandise.

Chinese employers operate sweatshops behind elegant facades, piecing together goods arriving from China in partially-finished condition and adding “Made in France” labels. The goods are then shipped to developing markets. Jules Treneer, an Oberkamp resident, writes about Parisians' views on French culture and their ambivalence towards immigration and the global marketplace.

Human trafficking

It just boggles the mind that modern-day slavery - also known as human trafficking - is so widespread. Read Megan Butel's eye-opening blog post "Stop! Where are you going with this?"

Who's afraid of a book?

Think book-banning and book-burning is a relic of another era? Not in West Bend, Wisconsin, where a few dunces are determined to censor their local library's selection of books. Read Laura Miller's piece about the groups fearful of Francesca Lia Block's book Baby Be-Bop.

I find it infuriating that a small group of ignorant and judgmental people try to impose their narrow views on everyone else, never mind if civil liberties are violated in the process!

Street art and political theatre

A decorated ram's head over an exterior art installation at a Paris gallery.

For the past two days I've been moving furniture; shifting things from room to room or to the cave (wine cellar); giving things away. A few days ago, I suddenly realised my "studio/guest room" wasn't my style at all. In fact, it looked like someone else's art space. So I set about changing it to a more user-friendly area; it's still a work in progress. Photos soon.

Meanwhile, there may be hope for Polaroid lovers seeking instant film.

Isn't it interesting to watch the Republicans have a go at President Obama's new Supreme Court nominee, Sonia Sotamayor? So predictable, these people.

Joan Walsh has an excellent article here; Glenn Greenwald applauds Obama's choice, while lamenting the Republican smear tactics here. Greenwald also writes that the right-wing reaction to Sotomayor says more about her critics than it does about her qualifications. Hear, hear!

Skullduggery among poets is the talk of Britain.

And an ex-Guantanamo detainee tries to adjust to life in Paris.

Ready for adventure?

Passports ready? Don't forget your bag.

Let's load up the caravan.

We'll need comfortable, yet stylish clothes for warm temperatures: nothing too exposed; modesty is a plus in this Islamic nation.

Have you guessed where we're headed? In this country, the cities are colourful, noisy and crowded, but vast expanses of land are occupied by undulating sand dunes of the Western Sahara.

Many Moroccans believe that jinns play a role in everyday life. Morocco moves to its own multi-cultural rhythm, with strong influences from the Moors, Africa, Spain, Europe and the Middle East.

Seeing stars, in the cobalt blue colour predominant throughout Morocco.

Lanterns in various Islamic shapes and sizes are found in virtually every corner of Morocco.

You can never have too many lanterns.

It's been a long journey. Shall we accept an invitation for tea?

What a selection of tea glasses! Maybe we can take some home?

Oh, my head is spinning with all her suggestions of what to see, where to eat, what to do! I'm thinking we need a month, just to hit the highlights!

Isn't it charming to see a child dressed in a traditional costume?

Hmmm, after our busy day, perhaps it's time to take a break. Let's meet back here later to discuss what to see next. Meanwhile, leave a note (in the comments section) for a chance to win a prize from Morocco PLUS a special prize from France worth 200 euros!

Suggested reading: The Caliph's House: A Year in Casablanca and In Arabian Nights - A Caravan of Moroccan Dreams, both by Tahir Shah; The Sheltering Sky by Paul Bowles and La Prisonniere by Malika Oufkir.

Photos, vitrines at Galeries Lafayette, Paris.

How green is the valley

The lush green valley spreads beyond the medieval walled city of Montreuil-sur-Mer in Northern France. The cobbled-street city was the setting for much of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables. Click photos to enlarge.

Ancient ramparts surround much of the city, once a thriving river port. Because of the River Canche's silt build-up, Montreuil-sur-Mer is now about 13 miles from the sea.

The photos in my banner (above) are from a previous trip to Montreuil-sur-Mer. Check back later for more photos of this beautiful city.

*With a nod to Richard Llewelleyn's 1939 novel How Green Was My Valley and John Ford's 1941 film of the same name.

Simply create.

The antidote to the British WWII poster "Keep calm and carry on." Image courtesy of Michael Bungay Stanier,Outside the Lines.

Noel Solomon is a young California artist who works primarily with paper and vintage textiles. Among her many talents, Noel takes old books and gussies them up as elegant additions to any decor.

See more of Noel's Fanciful creations at FrenchBlue & Co. Or visit her etsy shop and her blog Fanciful Designs.

Check out Noel's unique bird's nest creation. Isn't it exquisite??!!

Ludwig Bemelmans' post-war Paris

Ludwig Bemelmans' illustration of St. Germain, Paris.

Last week I was thrilled to receive a surprise package from the lovely Patricia Kessler of Abyssal Plain. It contained a 1948 edition of The Best of Times, An Account of Europe Revisited, with 160 illustrations by Ludwig Belmelmans of Madeline fame. Merci bien, Patricia. Such a delightful book!

Bemelmans writes, "There are other pleasures in Paris and the best of them, for me, is the street scene. A good place to watch it is from the small tables of the sidewalk cafe that is called the Deux Magots. This cafe is on a square and faces the old church of St. Germain and two rows of old houses (Ed. note: Offices, shops and a hotel have replaced the old houses Bemelmans describes).

"The traffic conditions are very bad in Paris now on account of the lack of automobiles, which allows every driver to go as fast as his machine (bicycle) will go. This causes frequent accidents which, by the grace of God, never seem to call for an ambulance or undertaker, but result in great arguments and exhibitions of temper, addresses to bystanders and back talk to the police. The gendarmes throw back their short blue capes and after licking the points of pencil stubs write essays of several pages on what happened. Expressions such as "Sunday chaffeur" or "head of veal" cut the air, as the participants in this sport point at bicycle wheels bent into the shapes of pretzels and at scratched fenders.

"The slightest accident holds up all traffic, as nobody pulls over to the side and the whole thing is enacted exactly in the middle of the street or square where the collision took place. At the end, the policemen, who now are all young, stow their books away, go back to their beats and resume saluting the citizen who asks for directions and saluting him again after he has received them, which is a nice habit of the police of Paris."

How little has changed! French bureaucracy continues to thrive - those "essays of several pages" - but now such accidents involve both voitures and bicycles. Usually, it's best to take the Paris Metro!

A competition among various fire departments from towns outside Paris.