colour
It has been a dark, drab week in Southern Ontario. I am not complaining–how could I in the face of such destruction and pain to the south of us? But I am commenting that there has been no sun and little colour since I got home. S0…I did a very quick sketch of the beautiful flowers on our counter and felt better immediately. Then I took out out the fabric I brought home from France. Now, last year when I was in the south of France I bought some wonderful striped fabric in Collioure and made a few of these pouches. I didn’t buy enough, of course — and the few pouches sold quickly. I was delighted this year in Chartres to find a whole store devoted to this striped fabric from the Basque region.
I have begun to make a few pouches. The colours are wonderful. I also have some coated fabric for aprons and totes. All will be available at our show in December.
a few Paris favourites
As I sat outside sketching this famous bookstore, I was very aware of the number of tourists visiting and posing for photos. It was a cold, damp day so with scarf pulled up around my ears and fingerless gloves on, I did a hurried sketch to absorb the history of the place. A. came to meet me after about 30 minutes and we went to another favourite spot, this time in the Marais, a short walk away.
This is a bustling, in fact crowded, tea shop with great servers and good food. (I was lucky to get the shot above in the early morning before the crowds.) We sketched here twice–the first time upstairs, the second time sharing a big wooden table right by the front door. Lots happening–and room for everyone.
I’ve talked about la rue Mouffetard before, a favourite not only for its wonderful shops and open-air stands, but for its joie de vivre.
Another spot we loved was Le Café Campana in the Musée D’Orsay, the creation of Brazilian designers, Humberto and Fernando Campana. Surprisingly good food–and of course the amazing old train station clock.
And finally another piece of Parisian history, Sennelier, and like Shakespeare and Company, in the same spot since those famous artists shopped here. We visited here twice because we loved the atmosphere and, of course, the colours!
street art
I love to photograph the various examples of street art when I travel. Some contemporary with a clear message…
The picture above is by Sabine Kunz and, like the kangaroo, is on the Berliner Mauer East Side Gallery. And then there is the traditional Berlin street art — the pictures below show the Oberbaumbruke, impressive both from a distance…
and up close. The iron work is rich in detail and makes a bold impression. But tiny surprises await as well like the small carved faces like this one honouring the sailors who navigated the waters, which were tucked into many corners of the bridge walkway.
And finally, back to the Mauer East Side Gallery for a salient and hopeful message.
a perfect final day in Paris
This morning I walked down rue Mouffetarde to buy a loaf of bread and find a spot to sketch. This is a lively area of market stalls, shops and cafes. This has been a roadway since the Roman settlement of the area and originally lead to Rome. Many of the current buildings date back to the 13th century.
I found a table in a cafe with a good view for sketching…
and right beside me was wonderful fench music and dancing!!
All around people were singing and enjoying the street theatre and a morning cafe. How civilized.
Then this afternoon we walked along the Seine to the Tuileries Garden to sketch. The weather could not have been more perfect. All of Paris seemed to be out enjoying the afternoon. The Tuileries has many, many chairs, enough for everyone to take in the sights and savour the day.
We finished the day with a short visit to the Louvre–a perfect ending.
a day in Chartres
Yesterday was lovely in Paris when we boarded the train for Chartres one hour late (the early train was cancelled because of the strike.) But in Chartres it was overcast and the spires of the cathedral were bathed in fog. But nothing could diminish the stunning beauty of the cathedral and the ancient town around it.
I love the small details of craftsmanship which are everywhere.
Our train back to Paris was running on time and after a full day we were back in just under an hour–strikes or not, there is much to admire about the french transit system.
Paris
The weather in Paris has been clear and sunny, intensifying the beauties all around.
The Marais is my favourite area in Paris, and Place des Vosges is its quiet green spot where the people watching is the best.
We also went to a wonderful fabric store in a courtyard in the Marais just off rue des Francs Bourgeois, Entree des Fournisseurs. Linen, Liberty cotton, yarn, woollen felt and so much more.
Yes, that is my bag of purchases outside the door. And, everywhere I look I see potential rugs!
And last for today, our visit to Sennelier to buy watercolour paints. What a place!
Weimar
When we arrived last week, we drove to Weimar, a city full of history. The Bauhaus Museum was a highlight for me, especially the textiles. And we found a little yarn bombing just outside, although this looks manufactured rather than hand-made. The tag says “Stitch graffiti makes the world colourful and cozy.”
Of much more cultural significance…
That last photo is of the Geothe and Schiller statue in the square outside the Bauhaus Museum. After two days, not nearly long enough, we went to Leipzig to the Thomaskirche where Bach was the organist and Kappelmeister from 1723 until 1750. What a thrill to go inside and hear a choir practising!
first post after almost a week away
I have been in Germany for the past week with my long-time friend, A. How lucky we have been with 20+ degree days of sun. We spent two days in Weimar and three in Berlin, sketching and taking photos of these incredible cities. For the next couple of posts I will include some of my favourite images and then later some of our sketches. Today some shots of Berlin. First off, I could not resist the red Deux Chevaux! And one of our favourite corners was this one:
The street name reminds us to “remain faithful” and this corner gives us the message in German and in French.
The incredible Reichstag Kuppel is a structure of glass and steel erected on top of the original 1894 building housing the German Parliament.
Marx and Engels:
Art Nouveau or Jugendstil design elaborately executed and echoed beautifully in the subway:
And finally the Berlin bears spotted all over the city.
