Paris Parfait

A year to cherish

Antiques in a New Orleans hotel lobby. And a haiku for 2012:

 

Write the next chapter:

choose your own destination;   

treasure the journey.

As a new year dawns...

Despite numerous claims to the contrary, nobody knows what the new year will bring.

I'm hoping yours is sparkling with verve and fizz. Here's to you, my friends! Happy new year!

 

Photos: Signs hanging in the French quarter, New Orleans and light trails from a staircase at Antoine's shot through glass.

Silent night

Trees along a canal are enhanced with tiny gold lights, the Netherlands.

Farolitos are lit in a 15th-century church courtyard, in a special Christmas Eve service re-enacting the Nativity scene.

Wise men walking past cows and sheep kept behind metal barriers in the church courtyard. The house with the five windows and two small ones on the top floor is where we're living now.

Bicycles wrap around the block.

The Christmas star and the faint silhouette of a horse's head at lower right.

Christmas tidings

Our fireplace mantel with 19th-century French Madonna crowns, a framed 18th-century page from the Koran (yes, religions can peacefully co-exist) from Sevilla, Spain; 18th-century French books topped with Delft porcelain miniature shoes and a vintage Santa ornament; a hand-carved wooden lamplighter from the Netherlands; an 18th-century wooden angel from an Italian church (wearing a rush crown woven with irridiscent beads from London); Christmas parcels from my daughter in the US and a glass cylinder containing an arrangement of amaryllis, berries, a silvery fern and "snow," a gift from a Dutch friend, who is a talented florist and interior designer. The mercury glass and gilt mirror is French, circa 1830. Click photos to view detail.

Antique porcelain figures at an exhibition of Christmas decorations currently underway inside the city's 15th-century gate tower.

The Virgin Mary.

Baby Jesus in a straw-filled manger. "For unto us, a child is born..."

Joseph.

Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus (and a wood-framed leaded window at the top of the historic town gate).

A handmade nativity scene. This picture is slightly out of focus (taking pictures was frowned upon at the exhibition), but you can see the amazing detail of each cloth figure and the surrounding scene, including a hand-woven tent.

Vintage ornaments on a wire tree.

Gingerbread in a shop window.

Outside our window, bells are ringing, while carpenters build a manger in the 15th-century church courtyard. And a house-drawn carriage is ferrying last-minute shoppers through the cobblestone streets.

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas, filled with tidings of comfort and joy!

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.

'tis the season

Floral displays on a foggy day.

Snow-dusted plants.

Zinc pots of festive berries and pine cones.

An abundance of red in stoneware pots.

A florist's vitrine, with trees made of frosted pine cones.

An interior design firm's display window.

Sinterklaas decorations in a show window.

The entrance hall to the store in the former post office. The building has its original 17th-century tiles and traditional Dutch architecture. It's now been broken up into a store, a house and an apartment, with a huge garden and courtyard.

This moss-covered Buddha reclines in the garden.

Shoppers seeking bargains.

An organ grinder to entertain the children.

A garland of flowers to brighten a bicycle.

A simple and elegant front door.

 

I'm still working on our Christmas decor. I have the fireplace mantel decorated, but much more to be done. Am off to see my favourite local florist for inspiration.

I hope you're taking photos of your holiday decor! It would be nice to see images representing Christmas celebrations around the world.

Random reds

Travel agency vitrine, Utrecht, the Netherlands. As always, click photos to view detail.

Canal barge unloading cargo, Utrecht.

If you dig too deep in the Netherlands, you're likely to find water!

Sidewalk lady bug, Utrecht.

Bakery window, Delft.

Tablescape, Paris department store vitrine.

Memorial to soldiers who died in World War I, Montreuil-sur-Mer, France.

Red epaulets, Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Hippodrome de Longchamp, Paris.

Bullfight, Plaza de los Toros, Sevilla, Spain.

Red door, Sevilla.

Sculpture, New Orleans.

Feathers, New Orleans.

Mardi gras costumes, New Orleans.

Tabasco and other Louisiana hot sauce, New Orleans.

Red beads, New Orleans.

Monastery door, Himalayas, Nepal.

Lighting candles near the Tibetan Boudhanath Stupa, Kathmandu.

Lighting candles on a Hindu religious holiday, Bungamati, Nepal.

Lady in red, Bhaktapur.

Bird on a pavilion, Kathmandu.

Curious child, Kathmandu.

Woodworker, Bungamati.

Community, Bungamati.

Raking grain, Bungamati.

A woman's work is never done, Bungamati.

More raking grain in a main square.

...while other grain is covered by tarpulins.

Meanwhile, the men play cards, Bungamati.

And a woman waits near a public bath and toilet.

In Bhakatapur, the same scene is repeated, with women turning the grain in a main square.

Street market in a Nepali village.

Bolts of fabric and beaded slippers, Bhaktapur.

Strings of beads, Bhaktapur.

Bangle bracelets, Bungamati.

In Bungamati, a woman proudly holds her baby, whose eyes are kohl-rimmed "to protect the eyes."

Curbside tailor, Kathmandu.

Motorcycles, the most popular mode of transport in Nepal.

Flowers in a private garden, Kathmandu.

Walking uphill, Bungamati.

Of ghosts and ghouls

A ghoulish grimace at a construction site in Utrecht, the Netherlands.

A kinetic sculpture resembling the Sword in the Stone, shot through glass.

Do not park your bike here - or else!

Bending, tubular shapes in Delft.

And flickering flames to light the way for Halloween tricks or treats. Hope you have a safe and Happy Halloween!

Horses at midnight

Horses at midnight...Lighted images of horses and their reflections in a canal.

The horses are in honour of the annual horse market, conducted in this area for the past 740 years!

A deserted Voorstraat at midnight, with platforms ready for festivities that begin early Wednesday morning, October 12th. Stay tuned for photos of the Horse Parade!

On my windowsill

A handmade pottery bowl with tiny aqua-centered mushroom caps sits on a windowsill. The bowl contains Dutch bulbs (autumn crocus is the American equivalent) that bloom without water. Click images to enlarge.

While some bulbs are flowering now, others will take a few weeks to bloom.

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

Canal boats and a cherub

A tree reflected in an English canal.

Just back from a quick trip to Montreuil-sur-Mer, France and England. On Saturday we walked along a canal (as though we aren't surrounded by canals in Holland!) near Ripley, after a lovely family lunch.

Narrow house/canal boats line the canal.

A man sits on the deck of his home.

Zebra-patterned chairs in the shade.

Weekend canal traffic.

A certain adorable cherub who accompanied us for lunch and a stroll along the canal.

Joseph and his mother Luisa.

The budding artist.

No autographs, please!

Signs of the times

Circular "window" in a brick wall, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

"The Paradox of our Age," by the Dalai Lama, hanging in a residence window in Utrecht:

"We have bigger houses, but smaller familes

more conveniences, but less time.

We have more degrees, but less sense

more knowledge, but less judgement.

More experts, but more problems;

more medicines, but less healthiness.

We've been all the way to the moon and back

but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbour.

We built more computers to hold more information than ever

but have less communication.

We have become long on quantity

but short on quality.

These are times of fast foods

but slow digestion;

tall men, but short character;

steep profits but shallow relationships.

It is a time when there is much in the window

but nothing in the room."

Sign in the window: "I love communicating."

"7 days, more light" etched in frosted glass on a shop window in Delft.

The famous Leonard Cohen quote, highlighted in this advertising sign in Utrecht.

Class warfare

Meanwhile, the class war in America continues, with the rich calling for the overburdened poor and middle-class to pay more. Jon Stewart slams the GOP pundits and Fox "News" cheerleaders for their idiocy.

The despicable US Chamber of Commerce is lobbying the "Supercongress" to reform Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, simply so the rich won't have to pay higher taxes. As if that's not bad enough, shockingly even our Democratic president is calling for cuts to Medicaid and Social Security - although neither program has anything to do with the US budget woes.  Not only did the president not stand up to Republican hostage-takers during the debt crisis negotiations, now he wants to cut Democratic entitlement programs to which we have contributed our payroll taxes all our working lives??!! Really not feeling the love, Mr. President.

Plastic fantastic and fall fashion

Plastic mannequins with formal hairstyles modeling knit tracksuits at a shop in Madaba, Jordan. Click photos to enlarge.

A row of mannequins model traditional clothing in downtown Amman.

In Bhaktapur, Nepal, the mannequins basically are large plastic hangers.

Curiously, all the mannequins I saw in Nepal resembled Eastern European blondes.

The mannequins in Jordan also had Western features, which suggests no one is manufacturing mannequins specifically for Middle Eastern or Asian markets.

Fall fashion

A world away, check out New York magazine's Fall Fashion issue. Interesting that the "Fall Leanings" section doesn't seem to show anything new. It's true that fashion trends return again and again, usually updated to reflect the times.

What's on your shopping list for fall? For me, it's new boots to withstand cold and wet winters in the Netherlands. But I'll be be wearing warm-weather clothes while spending part of the autumn in Sevilla and other parts of Spain.

Sunflowers needed

Sunflowers in a shop window in the French quarter, New Orleans.

 

"Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you."

  - Maori Proverb

Sunflowers needed, real or virtual. Today I saw a little Dutch boy struggling to carry a cheery bouquet of sunflowers taller than he was. The determined look on his face gave me hope...

Of raindrops and orchids

Streetlight illuminated in last night’s rainstorm. Photos shot through orchids on windowsill.

The orchids have survived nearly six months, a record for me! Apparently the secret is more light; less water.

After torrential rains, water (from an unknown source) started pouring down one wall of our over 200-year-old maisonette. Luckily, the rain subsided a bit, before any real damage was done.

Pausing for a picture

Walking down Oxford Street, London recently I paused to snap these Selfridges vitrines. The displays highlighted the plight of cod, starfishes and other sea creatures threatened by over-fishing and pollution. The trompe l'oeil effect through the glass meant the antique cupboard displaying the cod was exactly aligned with contours of a building across the street.

The young boy had stopped to pose for a tourist photo. He looked at me, just as I pressed the shutter.

This collection of safety deposit boxes was designed to draw attention to the importance of protecting and preserving endangered sea creatures. As always, click images to view detail.

Ultra Utrecht

Early 20th-century architecture, Utrecht, Holland.

An arch leading to Dom Square featuring the Dom, the city's most famous church.

The ever-present canals, lined with dock-side warehouses and restaurants.

One of the city's numerous historic buildings, now a private residence.

'Tis the season for weddings.

A window display, shot through glass.

In the house with Kim Kardashian

Hundreds of fans waited in line outside Debenham's department store in London.

Last week Kim Kardashian - American reality television star - was at Debenham's in London promoting her new perfume. British fans began lining up before 6 a.m., in the hope of being one of the first 150 customers who were promised photos with the popular entrepreneur.

This young girl brought her father along in a vain attempt to see Kardashian. I was standing next to them.

A group of construction workers were more interested in catching a glimpse of the brunette bombshell than in working (perhaps it was their lunch break).

A Debenham's employee motioned for people to clear the road.

At half past twelve, Miss Kardashian arrived in a black limo.

Crowds immediately surged around the car, making it difficult for Kardashian to walk the few feet to the store entrance.

As she exited the car, hundreds of enthusiastic fans tried to snap photos with their mobile phones or digital cameras.

Inside the store, Kim posed with purple glass bottles of her perfume. The crowds went mad, trying to see her in a cordoned-off area behind the Fiorelli display.

Here she is wearing Gucci. (Photo by Splash. Alas, I couldn't see over the crowds to get a good photo; should have brought a ladder)!

Prior to Kim's appearance, six gorgeous girls in high black heels and short tight purple dresses walked around Debenham's spritzing the perfume on customers. I overheard one young model say they'd answered a casting call at an agency for the chance to participate in the perfume launch. "And we were told we get to meet Kim. I'm so excited!" she said.

She wasn't the only one. Fans went wild when Kim entered the store.

A few of Kim's screaming fans were hysterical, climbing and standing on display stands and knocking off merchandise for sale. "I have GOT to see her!" one of them repeated, over and over.  Security guards had difficulty controlling the huge crowds.

Who knows how long they waited to see Kim and get her autograph??!!

At Debenham's back entrance, a driver waited with a specially-painted black London cab.

And news agency photographers filed their stories on the spot...

...for an insatiable tabloid press, hungering for any tidbit about the glamourous Miss Kardashian and her $2 million engagement ring (no doubt an extra headache for Kardashian's bodyguards).

Life in the fast lane, folks! Never a dull moment.

Normal posting resumes on Friday.

Joyeux Noël et bonne année

Fenêtre de lumière, Printemps, Paris.

 

"There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it." - Edith Wharton.

Wishing you and yours much love and light, at Christmas and the New Year.  

Galeries Lafayette and Christmas merriment

Galeries Lafayette ablaze with light, Paris.

Lights from Galeries Lafayette reflected in this Societe Generale entranceway.

Wings of a dove and dancing top hats in this Broadway-themed vitrine.

Hairspray.

Cabaret.

Singing in the rain (the sign in French says "singing in the snow.)"

Children admiring a wide variety of toys at Galeries Lafayette.

Children's faces bathed in a Barbie-pink glow.

Crowds of shoppers.

Bedecked and bejeweled, Franck et fils, Paris.

Frosty the Snowman in a snowy Boulogne-Billancourt.

For more Paris holiday vitrines, go here and here. For Amsterdam Christmas vitrines, go here.

Printemps dazzles with holiday glitz and glamour

Red and gold holiday party glamour at Printemps, Paris.

A Baccarat crystal chandelier over a table laden with crystal and fine porcelain.

A beautifully-styled dinner table, complete with luxury gifts.

Lounging at home.

Animated musicians and dancers to entertain the children.

More puppets preparing a holiday feast.

Carrying a tray of fruit to the buffet table.

More Paris holiday decor photos to follow.

Printemps 2010 holiday vitrines

Elegant tablescape, Printemps, Paris.

A trio of 1940s chandeliers.

Crowned heads and satin gowns.

A different view of the tableau.

Another festive holiday table, with a tree fashioned of pistachio macaroons.

A Baccarat crystal chandelier.

Swans guard a tray on a Napoleon III chair, painted seafoam green.

Liquid gold in this shimmering dress.

Glittery attire for a festive evening.

Something about this outfit reminds me of Attilla the Hun.

A crown of thorns?

"If wishes were horses, we'd all take a ride." - an old Southern expression.

A dog's life of luxury.

Peach chiffon and glamour for all.

Proud as a peacock.

Not sure about the boots.

A bejeweled peacock.

Printemps dressed in its Christmas finery.

The store's signature cupola.

Starlight.

Admiring crowds.

Check back daily for many, many more photos of Paris Christmas window displays.

Holiday sparkle

Through the looking glass...extravagant Magnolia blooms fashioned of crystals, rhinestones, sequins, silk velvet and organza in an Amsterdam shop window.

Faux ponsettias rival the real thing in beauty.

“Begin doing what you want to do now...We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand and melting like a snowflake...” - Francis Bacon.

Glittering words on another Amsterdam vitrine.

Holiday decor at Les Passages

Sparkly red tinsel and baubles hang from the skylights at Les Passages, Boulogne-Billancourt.

Giant snowflakes infused with gold pinpoint lights.

A glittery Christmas grotto entrance.

Trees dressed with tiny gold lights in the grotto.

Elf workshop vitrines.

Joyeuses Fetes and the outline of a Christmas tree on this window display.

Exiting Les Passages to snowy streets.

I took these photos a couple of weeks ago with the pint-sized Sony Nex-5. Thankfully, I'm not out braving the crowds to shop for holiday gifts. Instead, am on the way to Amsterdam. Back soon, it is hoped with good news about the future abode. Hope you're enjoying some lovely holiday festivities!

Searching

A jumble of snow-covered bicycles, Monday night, Amsterdam.

 

David and I have been in the Netherlands, searching for a place to live. We looked at properties as big as Amsterdam canal houses: strange mazes of odd-shaped rooms spread over three floors, accessed by narrow twisting stairways. These curious abodes would hold all our furniture, with an abundance of empty space remaining. We viewed a city loft-type space, with too many large windows overlooking neighbours' windows and backyards. We saw exposed timber beams painted over by clueless developers.

We viewed an apartment with original stained glass windows, but basic modern design and tiny box-like rooms. Its main attraction was its sprawling rooftop terrace. We spent two hours with Samira - our wonderful estate agent - in a massive traffic jam in evening snow, in what should have been a ten-minute drive. In the estate agents' office, we drank tea and laughed ourselves silly over amusing translations from Dutch to English.

The third place we visited was a charming maisonette, in a beautiful location. It had huge windows, with splendid views of a church. It featured fantastic architectural elements that meant probably a third of our furniture would have to remain in France. But I found myself wistfully gazing out those wide windows at the snow falling and passersby laughing - and just for a moment, daring to wish the magic could last.

Spiced mulled wine and Christmas lights, Amsterdam.

Bikes along a canal.

"It's f*cking freezing outside!" The boutique's statement says it all, Tuesday morning, Utrecht. Alas, we left our hats and gloves in Paris.

Christmas carol shop window display with a profusion of French horns, Utrecht.

Snow-dusted palms in Paris

Snow-dusted palms and motorcycles during the season's first brief snow flurry in Paris today. Images were shot through the glass of a shopping complex.

No Black Friday holiday sales here, but there were quite a few shoppers at Les Passages, beating the Christmas rush.

Salon de la Photo 2010

A French photographer demonstrates photo techniques Friday at Sony's space at Salon de la Photo, Paris. Among photographers participating at Sony events were Reza, Tom Stoddart, Kevin Abosch, sports photographer Eric Baledent, nature and wildlife photographer Cedric Chassagne and Remi Chapeaublanc.

I heard Kevin Abosch talk about his portrait work. He said he hopes that when people look at his images, they recognise something within themselves...not in a melancholic way, but in our shared sense of fragility.

Using a reflector at Sony.

Nikon.

Canon.

Canon. As evidenced by the pictures, the majority of French photographers are men.

Leica.

Art piece by Gilles Ouaki for Leica:  "Cherchez le petite etoile rouge, elle est verte," Paris 2010. ("Searching for the little red star; she is green)."

A vintage Leica.

An exhibition of Willy Rizzo's photographs.

Rizzo's photograph of French actress Catherine Deneuve.

Clocks, balloons and greenery over the crowds at Salon de la Photo, Pavilion 4 at Porte de Versailles. The event continues from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Monday, Nov. 8th. Tickets are available at the door.

All images shot with the little mirrorless Sony Nex-5 with an 18-55 mm F 3.5-5.6 zoom lens.

Off with his head!

Shades of the French Revolution!  A head wearing a tricorne has toppled from a 17th-century bust in an Amsterdam antiques vitrine.

Happy Halloween to all the ghouls, ghosties and trick-or-treaters! (In much of Europe, Halloween is largely ignored, in favour of All Saints Day on November 1st).

Cédric Grare's Art Atypique at Bastille

A melange of art and curiosities at Art Atypique, photographed in September at a brocante at Chatou, France. Look for Cedric Grare's Art Atypique next week at the Antiquites Brocante at Place de la Bastille. The brocante begins at 11 a.m. Thursday, November 4th and continues until 7 p.m. daily through Nov. 14th. Tickets are available at the entrance.

Cedric Grare, the handsome proprietor of Art Atypique. He creates unusual art from vintage industrial and found objects. Come to the brocante at Bastille and see for yourself!

Window-shopping in Holland

An unavoidable advertising prop on a rainy day in Amsterdam.

Silk scarves in an Amsterdam boutique.

Art Deco-inspired fashion in Haarlem, Holland.

Fall-themed shop window, Delft.

Standing lamp with Victorian shade outside a shop in Delft.

Biba

Biba at House of Fraser, Guildford, England.

Remember Biba? In the early '80s, I was a fan of the distinctive logo and the cosmetics line, with the black eyeshadow used as eyeliner. The new Biba line has the flavour of the '60s. And I'm quite taken with the Biba doctor's bag. What do you think of the new Biba?

Friday fete

Fall leaves for sale at a florist, Ile Saint-Louis, Paris.

Gorgeous stained-glass pieces at Vitrail de Bievre, 26 rue de Bievre.

Shop assistants, sweets shop, Ile Saint-Louis.

Scrawled drawing, Ile Saint-Louis.

Vintage wooden Pinocchio puppet, Ile Saint-Louis.

Wreath of mushrooms, Boulogne-Billancourt.

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.

Delft blue

Blue heart sculpture, Delft, Holland.

 

Blue skies over a bridge lifted to accommodate large boats.

A Delft blue sign. In Delft, I took a lot of random photos. It was only when going through them that I noticed how many images sported the famous Delft blue, in one form or another!

Blue-trimmed canal boat.

Bicycle handpainted in the traditional Delft blue.

DJ on opening day of the Delft University of Technology.

Light pole decorated with Delft tiles.

 

Historic tile detail.

 

Mosaic tiles on a seat in a park adjacent to a former convent.

 

Painted bricks.

 

Vintage pieces of Delft pottery at a canal-side brocante.

 

Blue tulips.

Tiles depicting the lives of Dutch children.

 

Mosaic mural.

 

Students moving a sofa and waving at me.

 

Denim-clad traveling musicians.

 

Whirligigs.

 

Canal water marker.

 

Blue shirts.

"Tiled" window shades and stacks of blue mug boxes.

Tiled doorway.

 

Tourism slogan?

Cherub cheer

A little boy tries to convince his sister to exit a giant wooden shoe, Delft, Holland.

Decisions, decisions!

Children wait outside a creche for their moms to pick them up.

 

A touch of Americana outside a Delft toy store.

 

Playground murals at a school in Delft.

 

Doll furniture in the window of a private home.

Check back soon for more photos and tales from recent travels.

Delft delights

The sun sets over the beautiful 17th-century architecture of Delft, the Netherlands.

Strolling in the heart of the city.

One of Delft's myriad small canals.

Delft is famous for its striking blue-and-white pottery. In this window overlooking the city's main square, twin church spires are reflected. I packed for two weeks in one carry-on; may have to leave a pair of shoes behind to accommodate a Delft vase.

 

Friendly greetings.

Back soon with stories and more photos from the Netherlands. Hope you're enjoying these last few days of August.

Scenes from a wedding

Chandelier at the church ceremony on a July evening.

 

Ice sculpture at the pre-dinner reception.

Waiters bring the cake(s) at the wedding dinner at Le Pavillon Dauphine, Paris.

Confetti rains down on the lovely couple, who entered the dinner venue dancing to the Blackeyed Peas song I've Got A Feeling. 

Paparazzi.

 

Dimitra and Constantinos cutting the cake.

 

The happy couple.

 

A chandelier at Le Pavillon Dauphine.

Glimpse of fall

First look at fall, Chanel at 31 rue Cambon, Paris.

 

 

 

Printemps, one of the city's premiere department stores, has a new look. I like the sleek futuristic escalators and chandelier comprised largely of tassles in fall hues.

 

Must be quite the feat to change the center display, which extends several floors.

If you're a handbag collector like me, you may find this little video amusing. Have you ever wondered what to do with your handbag dust bags? This whole group of videos is absolutely (and unintentionally) hilarious.