Paris je t'aime: desktop calendar May 2010

... looking towards the Grand Palais Paris, France.
Can you believe it's almost the first of May?
To celebrate I've made another photo calendar for my desktop.
... Please feel free to use this image on your desktop if you would like to :)
I took this image, on a lovely hot summers day in Paris ... from a beautiful bridge that crosses over the Seine River.
Looking ahead I could see the amazing Grand Palais (my destination :) 
and looking behind, I caught a distant view of the Tour Eiffel, while below a plethora of tourist boats made their way up and down the Seine River.
(I won't tell you how long I stood there admiring the view: waiting for the boats to clear, so I could get the shot below - lol - the things we do :)
... Ahhh .... Paris, je t'aime! 
Wishing you all a: Wonderfully Marvelous May :)

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Happy 1st April :)

Can you believe it's already the 1st?
To celebrate ... 

I have uploaded a new desktop calendar for April ;)

Please feel free to use this image on your desktop if you would like to :)

I took these photo's while wandering around some of the beautiful villages of Provence eg: 

Cucuron

Bonnieux

Lourmarin 

and with my passion for Antique and bric-a-brac shopping my absolute favourite would have to be the amazing:
L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue 

... now I have these images on my desktop, I'm not sure I'll be able to get any work done at all - as I while away the hours dreaming of France - lol

Inspired Colour Palettes

I am often asked "How do you come up with colour palettes?"



There is no simple answer to this question, but the natural world around you, is often a fabulous place to start when looking for design inspiration.

Nature holds a myriad of pattern and colour inspirations - they are literally everywhere!

- In the example here, (to find a selection of blues and greens for a beach house design) I've looked to photo's from our recent trip to France. 

- In particular the amazingly beautiful little fishing village of Cassis, located on the Mediterranean not far from Marsellie.

And voila - you soon have a beautiful selection of wonderful colours inspired by nature :)

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French Inspired Fabrics

French Inspired Fabrics

Marie's Garden 

- Aqua and Pink combine in this textural floral fabric design, inspired by the beautiful pink dahlias, blooming in the summer gardens of the Chateau de Versailles, France :)

(Designs From Top)
"Marie's Garden" 

"Lucky Four" 

and 

"Rustic Floral"

For regular readers, it probably comes as no surprise that, J'adore France - I often wonder what it is exactly, that pulls at my heart strings so, and beckons me to dream of all things French. Is it the architecture? The colours? The light? The History? The Art? The sound of the language? The smell of fresh bread and patisseries? The seemingly endless images of style extraordinaire? A mixture of all these things, or something else, more elusive? All I really know for sure, is that France constantly inspires and delights me. 

Below are some holiday photo's, from a recent visit to the wonderful and inspiring Chateau de Versailles France :)

The Petit Trianon - the domain of Marie-Antoinette

Marie-Antoinette's Garden

Entrance - Chateau de Versailles




Apollo Fountain

Chateau de Versailles Facade

Orangerie

Steps from The Orangerie

Garden Walks

Sunset at the Chateau de Versailles - view towards the Pond of the Swiss

Bubbles in the Garden at Dusk

Nightfalls on The Grand Canal

Fabrics by Kristopher K - are available online 

@ Spoonflower
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Jean de Florette and Manon de Sources

I am a big fan of French Cinema ... and these two gems;
"Jean de Florette" and it's sequel "Manon de Sources" are two of my favourite all time films :)

Lovely Linens and Green - Mix

Krisotpher K original fabrics (clockwise from top right) 
"Linen Lines" 
"Ink Bubbles - Silver Birch" and 
"Lofty Linen Leaves"


"Lofty Linen Leaves" was inspired by the leaves growing on the amazingly beautiful trees in the, Parc de Saint-Cloud, Paris, France.
Discovering we could drive our hire car through the Parc de Saint-Cloud along lovely tree lined avenues, was a highlight of our drive (see map here) from Paris to the Chateau de Versailles.


Fabrics by Kristopher K - are available online @ Spoonflower
© All rights reserved.

Lamp Detail, Place Des Vosges, Paris

"Place Des Vosges - lamp" 
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The Place Des Vosges, is the oldest planned square in Paris, located in the beautiful Marais district. The park at the centre of the Place, provides a wonderful place to relax, right in the heart of Paris.Easily one of my favourite places in Paris, and well worth a visit if your lucky enough to be in the neighbourhood :)

This little guy flew over to pose - soon after the baguettes from our picnic basket appeared :)

One of my favourite shops in Paris, about a 10 min stroll from the Place Des Vosges, is -  Calligrane  - (located at 6 Rue du Pont Louis-Philippe 75004 Paris France :01 48 04 09 00) a wonderful shop for anyone with a passion for paper and stationery. 


Thank-you to everyone who has inspired and supported me throughout the years. I wish you all a very Happy New Year and a Wonderful 2010.