Back Home Soon (from Paris)!

A small vignette at my home, with white Aalto vase included. photo, my own.

Hello Lovelies!

My vacation in Paris, France was just like any real life event, a bit sad, a bit exciting, with awesome moments and some not much so, some even annoying. Now I'm glad I came and bid my little sister goodbye - she is off to live in South America with husband and kids. Then I strolled about in a glorious weather in the Parisian streets, visited my fair share of museums, ate and drank food from Lebanon, China, Vietnam, Japan and so on! 

I love Paris for its cosmopolitan flair!

I've also been away from any computer device for up to 10 days, and I missed you lovelies, but not the internet or blogging per se. Thinking of it, I really want to use less the computer once at home, and live more fully and simply. Get in shape, too!

Tomorrow, you'll get the full report from my trip to Paris, together with lots of pics! I may have to divide that post in two or three parts, though, as I really did a lot of things around town and took a gazillion pics! ;-)

See you soon for a Sunday Special on Paris,

-Vic from TeaButterfly.

A Small Guide To Paris.

hello Lovelies,

My Mariage Frères favorite spot in the Marais - wonderful tea!

I'm leaving for Paris this wednesday, and I'm thrilled to go to Merci for the first time! OK, so this time I'm leaving for 10 days (I'll be back on August the 20th) and I just won't miss my train, promise! ;-) Hopefully I will be back to blog about my own suitcase confessions!

Here is a selection of shops (all personal favorites) that I intend to (re-)visit. I may even purchase there a thing or two...


Muji (preferably the St-Sulpice one)

Merci of course

Fragonard 196, Boulevard St-Germain (perfumes, fragrant candles, ceramics, home wares)

Florame ( deluxe organic cosmetics) - near place de l'Odéon

Kusmi Tea - beautiful Art Nouveau tins and wonderful tea! small street near Boulevard St-Germain

Le petit Atelier de Paris - 31, rue de Montmorency

L'éclaireur 40, rue de Sévigné - this Sévigné street is a great place for shopping!

Another great spot for high-quality tea: Mariage Frères. I love their 30, rue du Bourg Tibourg spot.

Médecine douce for nice and affordable jewelry: 10 rue de Marseille.

And... if you like Asian-style ceramics and home ware on the very cheap (but good restaurant-like quality) go to Eurotra, 119, Boulevard Richard-Lenoir. They have a great choice for great prices! Their wares are usually made for restaurants, but they also sell to you and I. My secret Paris address! ;-)

 A reading corner in the Merci shop (cum coffee shop). photo by Jillian Leiboff, via the decor8 blog.

I also second the choices of this page - really great selection.

Finally, I recommend you read about "my fave walk in Paris" - I posted it on my previous blog, but it's still up-to-date!

Enjoy!

-Vic from TeaButterfly

August, You're a Funny Month that Way!

Hello Lovelies!

Untitled I - mixed media and acrylic on paper. 

From my new abstract compositions series. (c) Lipson 2011.

Happy Monday and Happy First Day of August!

Today I'll share with you some personal thoughts about this coming month and my feelings, both old and new, towards it. And of course, the reason why they changed over time...

I used to feel and think I utterly dislike August. A bit like January, it's a bland, non-special kind of month. I don't like summer much, as I suffer from the heat and it makes me lazy. The days in August usually feel endless and I long for some "Back To School" time, some action, like new lessons, be it in creative writing, singing or playing the cello!

But instead of submitting myself to my worst instincts this year, i'd like to avoid boredom and sleuth this time and actually start to enjoy August for what it has to offer: sensuality. Peaches are a delight to be enjoyed, the lovely Jane reminded me today.

I live far from the beach but there are plenty of small rivers and creeks to explore and water to dive in. And what about my town swimming pool? I should give it a try!

photo by anna emilia

August is also a great month for walking barefoot in the tall grass, wearing soft linen dresses and DIY jewelry, like the sweet Anna Emilia, catching fireflies and taking long naps before it's too late and we're too busy again.

August, the month of sensuality. Image via jjjjound.com

We have great rainstorms around here, in the South of France, during August, and they're a marvel of Nature.

firelfly animated gif - found via google images.

Untitled II (detail) - mixed media and acrylic on paper. 

From my new abstract compositions series. (c) Lipson 2011.

On the creative front, i've been quite busy lately with new abstract compositions and I'd love to continue on that strand.

pinterest

Keeping an art journal is fun and I found some great ideas over pinterest to fill in blank pages with dots, stripes and melting colors!

Thanks to the wonderful book, "Simple Abundance: a daybook of comfort and joy", by Sarah Ban Breathnach, I seek the simple affordable everyday pleasures in August, too. My mindset has shifted from the negative to the positive. September will be all the more beautiful for it, i'm pretty sure!

And you? Any month or period of time you dislike during the year? Let me hear about it!

-Vic from TeaButterfly.

The Moon At The Window

Hello Lovelies,

via pinterest

Wow, that was a short vacation, indeed! I never quite made it to Paris. And guess why? My handbag was stolen from me the day I was supposed to leave! Phew!

My bag was found by a kind man the next day (today) and was handed to me by the local police, so all's well. I'm quite glad I didn't sweat too much. Instead, I remembered the poem:

The thief has stolen everything from me
except
the moon hanging at my window.

This poem (my own translation from French, see official translation below) has been written by a Zen monk a long time ago (maybe it's Ryōkan, not sure, will have to check) and I'm glad my love for Japan and anything Zen helped me stand in front of adversity. After all, it was just a bad day, I had, not a bad life!

So the good news is I get to stay and hang around here, I go on creating and painting (every day these past few weeks!) and my etsy shop remains open. You're welcome to just go in!

-Vic from TeaButterfly.

PS: more about the wonderful Ryōkan, courtesy of Wikipedia:

"One evening a thief visited Ryōkan's hut at the base of the mountain only to discover there was nothing to steal. Ryōkan returned and caught him. "You have come a long way to visit me," he told the prowler, "and you should not return empty-handed. Please take my clothes as a gift." The thief was bewildered. He took the clothes and slunk away. Ryōkan sat naked, watching the moon. "Poor fellow," he mused, "I wish I could have given him this beautiful moon." This story may be an interpretation of an account mentioned by Ryōkan in a haiku:

The thief

Left it behind-

The moon at the window."

A Short Vacation

Hello Lovelies,

 image via jjjjound.com

I'm taking a few days off the blog, for a little summer vacation. See you soon, in about a week...

-Vic from TeaButterfly.

Exciting Week & Already Friday!

Hello Lovelies!

 new oil painting, inspired by the art of Angie Lewin. Lipson (c) 2011.

...this has been an amazing week for me!

new mixed media drawing, inspired by the art of Heather smith Jones. Lipson (c) 2011.

the Heather Smith Jones book about watercolor i just received in the mail (and mentioned here yesterday) is great and very inspiring! I have drawn up to four drawings for my shop today, inspired by its techniques.

 new mixed media drawing, inspired by the art of Heather smith Jones. Lipson (c) 2011.

Now I just need to scan these new watercolor drawings and photograph them well before they go up in my etsy shop... More on that Monday!

in the meantime, let's enjoy a few of my flickr faves, shall we? and have a swell week-end!

1. Untitled, 2. toujours odieux, 3. stand, 4. Untitled

do not forget to click and visit the original photographs, they're stunning!

Have a relaxing time this week-end, enjoy your summer,

-Vic from TeaButterfly

Things Floating Around My mind

Wow!

quote in the handwriting of Keri Smith

This week barely started and it's already been so inspirational! Thank  you, blogosphere! And I specifically mean you, you you you and you.

There have been a lot of things floating around my mind lately. So here goes:

Things I've Painted Recently

Here's my friend Christophe standing in front of rows of oil paintings.
The blue butterfly is by me.

Blue Butterfly II - by Lipson (c) 2011

Another blue butterfly, I have started painting awhile ago:

Blue Butterfly I - by Lipson (c) 2011

Things I Got For Myself

the water paper paint book

green dangling earrings by Rachel Unger Jewelry

a black skirt with brown beige and white polka dots
a geometric dress for fall

Things I'd Like to Have Soon

Any book by Keri Smith, esp. "How to be an explorer of the world".
This perfume, because of its name... "Iris de nuit"... dreamy!


Things That Inspire Me

Jane's Flanagan's blog, "ill seen ill said", for her wonderful, heartfelt description of summer feelings, the color green and the shade of trees.
This article about bubble painting.
These birds from the Liebe shop via Traveling Mama:

and just like Amy Krouse I "love to make things"...

so I'll sum up by just quoting the following:

Have a great week, everyone!

-Vic from TeaButterfly.