To whom it may concern:

I am going to the south of France for a week of some well deserved relaxing. Maybe I wont update my blog when I'm there.
Blog you soon.

Bisous,

Fille

artface

Last week I went to FIAC, a giant art show in Paris. It is held in le Grand Palais, which used to be a casino with prostitutes and flashy lights I was told.....well now it is just a large beautiful convention centre that looks like the "Emerald City" from the Wizard of Oz. FIAC is an expostition of a variety of pieces of art from galleries throughout Paris. Some of the art pieces are exclusive and are only shown at the event, but mainly it is an easy way to get a taste of all the art galleries in Paris. There were 191 galleries there today, and I'm almost certain I visited every stall, or at least past it. We were there for roughly 5 hours..... which is 3 hours over my 2 hour gallery visit limit, because normally thats all I can handle in 1 day. It didn't feel like 5 hours though, because basically I visited 191 galleries in 5 hours. Je suis tros fort.

Of course I took photos.

The only artists name that I actually remember from the hundreds is Robin Rhode. His is the last photo I posted.

what is shiny, new and sliver and rides around the streets of paris?

.... me and my new trottinette! (Trottinette French - Scooter English). I received it as a birthday gift from the au pair family I am working for/staying with for 1 year! This is the best birthday gift. I tried it out last night for the first time. I hadn't been on a scooter since I was 10 maybe. But I tried one a month and ago and had forgotten how much fun they were! It is easy to carry around because it's not too heavy and can fold up nice and small. AND, I can't risk having it stolen because I can carry it and do not have to lock it up like a bike. I was meeting O for some dessert near metro Chatelet, and I decided to take my trottinette because it's only 4 metro stops from my house. But....I only made it to Bastille, only 1 metro stop away from chez moi before O called and said she was there already, so I took the metro the rest of the trip. We were both so excited about the trottinette that after dessert we kept riding it around, and even to the Centre Pompidou. I think she is going to buy one now too. I decided to ride it home that night, it was after midnight, but I felt confident I could do it. I felt so free gliding down the streets. It was a pretty warm night, and it was so nice to not have to take the metro. I realized how many things I had been missing in Paris from spending most of my commuting underground. I made quite a few mental notes of cute shops and cozy looking cafes, that I normally would have never noticed. It was late so I basically had the sidewalks to myself. AND, I never even fell! I think I may do the same tonight, if my leg isn't too tired. (My left leg, because thats the one that does all the work. For some reason my right leg just isn't as good at it.)

look, walk, tick, tock

October is now more than half over. My birthday is in 2 days, and for some reason I am feeling very nervous about turning 21. I have now officially been to 2 different post-secondary schools and completed neither. I have lived in Vancouver, Toronto, and now currently in Paris. I have no idea what the future holds for me. "What will I be when I grow-up?" This question is no longer suitable because ....I am grown-up, and still have no idea what to do with my life. I know what I love and who I love, and really, that is what is most important to me. Nevertheless, I do need some cheering up, and this is rainy day, so I will post some of my favourite memories from the beautiful month of October thus far. So many inspirations....so many leaves to crunch, cafes to sit in, views to see, galleries to visit, streets to walk, clothes to shop, crafts to make, pictures to take.

These photos describe my month of October thus far. To me, the most beautiful month. And so far, it has proved to be. I look forward to the rest of the month.

photo1.
I cut my bangs myself last week. No regrets, I am satisfied.

photo2.
My beautiful new boots! A one-and-a-half inch heal, and I am proud to say I can actually walk in them successfully. Plus they look amazing with everything I own. Vintage, leather, dark brown. I love.

photo3.
There were puddles everywhere with freshly fallen leaves floating on them. It was a beautiful day. Les enfants were playing in the park, and it was a warm autumn day. It had rained earlier, but stopped.

photo4.
Just outside metro Iena. Trying to find a free museum, it ended up being closed that day. The Eiffel Tower looked beautiful behind the trees, there was a fog over the city that day, that made everything look so soft.

photo5.
A delicious dish of pasta at my favourite restaurant/cafe: Café de l'Industrie. I had a wonderful birthday dinner there with my friends the Vendredi just passed. It was the perfect number of people and the perfect food. And very nice gifts too. A painting & a mixed CD with significant songs from O. A hat, mitts and Chanel lipstick from Virginie and Aurelie. Swedish ginger cookies from Elisabeth. And a silver necklace with my initial on it from Elisabetta.

photo6.
A dog drawn on the sidewalk in chalk. It looked beautiful on the sunny day with the crunchy orange leaves fallen on the chalk drawing. My eyes are constantly searching for anything related to a dog. Valentin, the little boy is obsessed with "chien". He not only loves dogs, but he loves the word. He uses it as a descriptive word. If he wants more food, he points at it and says "chien!".

photo7.
At Square Trusseau, waiting on a bench while les enfants are playing. I look up and realize how beautiful the trees branches look. The dark almost empty branches in contrast to the light and hazy blue/grey sky.

photo8.
A clock I found at Habitat. I was considering taking a trip to Amsterdam for my week off at the end of October. I am instead going to the south of France to French-Faces summer house for 5or6 days. The clock however has more significance than just a possible trip. I actually quite like the clock, but clocks are scaring me right now. There is a clock in the back of my mind constantly ticking as each days passes, reminding me that each day is one day less I can spend in Paris. This makes me sad. Je t'aime Paris more than I have ever loved another place in the world. I must forget about the damn clock and live in the moment. I was given advice last night when I told my clock theory: "Don't pay any attention to that clock! While you are looking at it, or thinking about it, you are not looking at something here, or thinking about something here... there, that is your Monday night scolding."
This is good advice, thankyou.

photo9.
Playing with the double mirrors in an H&M change room. I loved the dress, in my new favourite colour: navy blue, so I bought it.

photo10.
Yet another beautiful sunset from my bedroom window. Maybe next time I will try for a sunrise?

photo11.
A must have shoe. A black heel with yarn embroidered onto it? Um.... yes please. Only one problem....

photo12.
This was a vintage store where everything was 5 euros. In the back of the store was a corner with mannequin legs in a pile of shoes. The beautiful heel featured above caught my eye. It was a must have. And, of course, there was only one. I looked in that pile of shoes for over 20 minutes, and nothing! Merde! I was so tempted to just buy the one shoe.

silver spoon

Was feeling a tad crafty a few weeks ago, and had some ideas for patterns and prints....but wasn't sure how to present them or where to put them. Valentin likes to eat vanilla yogurt for dessert, and they are presented in a small glass cup. Looking far too potentially useful to just toss in the garbage, or recycling even. So I have been collecting them for a few weeks now and have over 20 of them. So....these are the results. They look nice tout seul, stacked, in a row, or how you like. They are perfect for small random things that don't have a place in my room.... rings, nail polish, spare change, lipstick, tea light candle.... just to name few.

your style is like no other

photo from "Exactitudes"

There are so many times I see a piece of art, or a certain furniture design....or something along the lines of that, where I say, "why didn't I think of that?" Often they are just simple ideas like.... Velcro shoes or something easy like that.

Ari Versluis - Dutch photographer, and Ellie Uyttenbroek- Dutch stylist have combined their passions and come up with a very interesting style of photography. They spend their day searching for subjects in the metro, or in busy, high traffic pedestrian areas.

photo from "Exactitudes"

You are so French, and so fashion forward!
....but next time, try not to look like
every other girl in Paris.
AND, each of these photos were taken within the 7ème!

photo from "Exactitudes"

All of the photos are taken within a short time, and in the same place.
High-five Ari and Ellie.



Why didn't I think of this!?