Fifi Flowers

SPECIAL SALE!!!!

2012-01-27T11:22:00.000-08:00

Don't Miss Out !!!!

HURRY NOW to Fifi Flowers Shop

WHOLESALE PRICES - 40% OFF EVERYTHING!!!!

EVEN ORIGINAL PAINTINGS... Look in PRINTS section to see what ORIGINAL PAINTINGS are AVAILABLE... then email to place order!

SALE ENDS January 29, 2012 @ 11:59 PM California time... Don't Miss Out!!!!

ENJOY!

Pink Lounging Weekend

2012-01-26T21:11:00.000-08:00

I wish you ALL relaxation... and here is a lovely PINK place for you to recline...

Pink Chaise Black Chandelier AVAILABLE HERE

Bon Weekend...
ENJOY!

P.S. Be sure to visit Beverly and her PINK friends on Saturday!

Warm Weather Table

2012-01-25T21:00:00.000-08:00

The weather here in So Cal is warm and beautiful and welllll... these items via Pottery Barn would make for a FABuLOUS table...

Dig in and then be sure to visit other Tablescape Thursday participants...

and don't forget Reading is Fashionable!

ENJOY!

Oscar Nominations Announced

2012-01-24T21:00:00.000-08:00

Looks like a good Best Picture line up (in no particular order)... except that the first two are the ONLY ones I've seen as of TODAY's date... I hope to see ALL of them before Oscar night...

What do YOU think of this list? Have YOU seen all of them?
What is YOUR favourite?

Be sure to pop over to Reading is Fashionable...
there is a trailer for one of these movies that began as a book!

ENJOY!

A Little Treat for Tuesday

2012-01-23T21:00:00.000-08:00

I was thinking it would be lovely to share a table... sipping tea for those who love tea... and café creme for those that ADORE café like moi!

Pastry Table AVAILABLE HERE

Some delightful pastry... Parisian macarons... or perhaps a berry topped sweet...

ENJOY!

Cycling... Painting a New Collection

2012-01-22T18:55:00.000-08:00

Bicycles with flowers and yummy treats baskets (images via Pinterest) inspire Fifi...

oui oui oui... to paint... here are a couple NEW paintings that will be part of a NEW Bicycle Collection...

Garden Gate Bicycle AVAILABLE HERE

Red Bicycle Lavender Parisian Sky AVAILABLE HERE

See what inspires others to create via Metamorphosis Monday... and Reading is Fashionable!

ENJOY!

A Pink Party

2012-01-19T21:00:00.000-08:00

Where else would Fifi have a PINK party but in Paris, non?

Parisian Pink Drink Cart AVAILABLE HERE

other items that might be in this party apartment... (this photo inspired a painting... stay tuned!)

what should you wear? PINK of course... I believe I saw Petunia wearing something like this before she disappeared...

oui oui oui... you can kick off your PINK shoes and get comfortable...

Images via Pinterest

Bon Weekend to all...

ENJOY!

P.S. Be sure to visit Beverly and her Pink Saturday friends and be sure to visit Reading is Fashionable!

Need a little Visiting Time

2012-01-18T22:46:00.000-08:00

Oui oui oui... won't YOU join moi for a glass...

Blue Chairs in Paris available HERE

Tell me... What is going on in YOUR world?
Do you have a favourite table you like to sit at to relax with friends?
See other tables via Tablescape Thursday...

ENJOY!

Sending a Message

2012-01-17T21:59:00.000-08:00

Just some of the MANY sites speaking out...

I CANNOT imagine life without FREE Knowledge on the Internet!

A Day for Scones

2012-01-16T21:00:00.000-08:00

As Fifi Flowers continues to paint NEW collections... she gets to share them with YOU...

Scones in the Garden is AVAILABLE here!

Andddddddddd... speaking of scones... have YOU ever tried Iveta Scones? J'adore them... especially with clotted cream... favourite flavours... apricot, vanilla and cranberry... yummmmm....

Iveta also has WONDERFUL curds, jams... and as I showed above clotted cream...

oooookkkkkk... off I go to paint and place an order for clotted cream... I already have to boxes of Iveta scone mix and a delightful Apricot jam I don't see currently on their site... hmmmm

See you tomorrow... a peak at a painting from the NEW Fifi Flowers bicycle collection... ooooh and be sure to pop over to Reading is Fashionable... there is a book giveaway and more!

ENJOY!

Pink Dress in Paris

2012-01-12T21:00:00.000-08:00

Ooooh la la... for the lovers of fashionable PINK... like Beverly and her PINK friends...

Parisian Perfume available HERE

Bon weekend to all...

ENJOY!

P.S. Sunday, January 15th is the LAST DAY to purchase a 2012 Fifi Flowers Calendar... Don't Miss Out
AVAILABLE HERE

Orange Tulips in Paris

2012-01-11T19:51:00.000-08:00

Oui oui oui... another FUN table in Paris... PARFAIT for Thursday Tablescapes, non?

Orange Tulip Tea available HERE

Do YOU have a photo of YOUR table in Paris or a photo of a table YOU wish was YOURS in Paris?

ENJOY!

Dogs in a Paris Apartment

2012-01-10T10:13:00.000-08:00

Another FABuLOUS custom painting project...

Oui oui oui... these dogs were MAGICALLY painted in Paris by Fifi...
YOUR dogs can be in Paris tooor whereever you desire!
Email for information or Simply pop over to Fifi's Shop and purchase a Pet Portrait Gift Certificate for yourself or a loved one! SPECIAL RATE ENDS January 15th!!!

ENJOY!

Looks like Tea

2012-01-08T22:07:00.000-08:00

Oui oui oui... Fifi is starting out the New Year with NEW collections... starting with a TEA Collection... first in the series is Paris Window Tea...

Painting and Prints of this painting AVAILABLE HERE

Stay tune for (2) Tea in the Garden, Tea at Ladurée, Tea in Bed, Tea et Books, and more!

ENJOY!

P.S. Don't forget 2012 Calendars are ONLY AVAILABLE until the 15th of January...
Don't Miss Out... ORDER TODAY!!!

J'adore Pink Drapery

2012-01-06T21:31:00.000-08:00

Though I would not want PINK drapery in MY actually home... I believe I would LOVE it in a Paris apartment... and I'm sure Beverly and her friends would be thrilled to see it!

Dreamy Paris Balcony AVAILABLE HERE

Bon weekend to ALL...
ENJOY!

Table Dressing

2012-01-04T21:00:00.000-08:00

This gives a NEW meaning to dressed for the table...

picnic table...

coffee table...

portable table...

Have YOU ever worn a table? See what others are doing to tables on Thursday Tablescapes... and check out what's new on Reading is Fashionable!

ENJOY!

P.S. Photos via Google Images

Lunch à Paris

2012-01-02T21:00:00.000-08:00

Time to dine with mon amis in Paris... oui oui oui... VIRTUALLY celebrating the NEW YEAR at Le Pré Catelan...

outdoor dining is available...

but we opted for indoors... très elegant...

after a lovely stroll around the grounds...

then on to yummy foods... dessert and main courses...

lunch went on and on and it was dark by the time we all emerged...

Merci Beaucoup for a FABuLOUS day with the Invitation Only girlees!!!

See what the other girls had to say about the day HERE... also see what is going happening on Reading is Fashionable and I think I will post this on Travel Tuesday!

ENJOY!

P.S. Sorry no painting... I ran out of time!

Mademoiselle Lulu Portrait

2012-01-02T11:48:00.000-08:00

We have documentation of Lulu's FIRST dog park outing... lucky for us... Lulu went to the park with her new doggie friends Ellie, Sophie and Scotty and Lola whose mommy is a FABuLOUS photographer... and she captured some GREAT shots of Lulu...

Merci Beaucoup to photographer/friend Laura for inspiring Fifi to paint Lulu with her FAB photos...

Oui oui oui... Fifi will paint YOUR dog too... email for details... or
visit Fifi's Shop and purchase a Dog Portrait Gift Certificate...
this offer is being extended until January 10th, 2012... don't miss out!!!

and if you are in the Los Angeles area and interested in having YOUR photographed contact Fifi and she will give you information about Laura's Photography business!

Nowwwwwww... be sure to visit Metamorphosis Monday and Reading is Fashionable!!!
See you tomorrow for lunch in Paris!!!

ENJOY!

Ringing in 2012

2011-12-31T13:41:00.000-08:00

Oui oui oui... this is Fifi's dream New Year's Eve... Champagne à Paris...

Artwork AVAILABLE HERE

Happy New Year... Bonne Année to ALL!

ENJOY!

P.S. Be sure to pop over and see how my PINK friends are ringing in the new year!

New Family Member

2011-12-29T20:48:00.000-08:00

Happy to announce... Fifi and and family adopted a little furry face from a nearby animal shelter... introducing... Mademoiselle Lulu... Fifi will be painting her SOON...

Oui oui oui... more photos will be up soon too!

Lulu is going to meet some NEW friends tomorrow at a dog park... stay tuned!

ENJOY!

In the Office...

2011-12-28T21:00:00.000-08:00

Oui oui oui... a desk is a TABLE...

via Pinterest... with added elements

NOW...

Imagine having a 2012 Fifi Flowers Calendar on YOUR desk

or hanging on the wall above your desk...

Don't miss out... these 2012 Calendars will only be AVAILABLE in Fifi's Shop until January 10th, 2012... Cafe, Eiffel Tower, Bicycles, Dogs, Paris Tables and Tybee Cottages...

Be sure to see other Tablescapes... and visit Reading is Fashionable...

ENJOY!

Locations... More Gifts...

2011-12-27T21:00:00.000-08:00

First, let me take YOU outdoors in London... we can visit a PUB... get a pint or two... oui oui oui... this was a gift for the two people also having a pint... sitting at their favorite pub...

Next we take another trip seaside... and we see a strolling bride and groom...

okkkkk.... off we go again... a holiday night out on the town with furry family member...

anddddddddd... let's hop across the pond again to one of my FAVOURITE Cities... oui oui oui... Paree...

If you are looking to have Fifi paint a special gift for someone... or maybe YOUR vacation/location paintings... email for details!!!

Nowwwww... see what others are doing for Outdoor Wednesday

and what they did for Travel Tuesday... don't be surprised if you see these photos on Travel Tuesday!

ENJOY!

Gift Revealing Begins...

2011-12-27T10:19:00.000-08:00

oui oui oui... this was a FUN gift to paint... A Dog in Paris... ooh la la...

from a photo in a room...

If YOU love Paris and LOVE your pet of course... they can be mixed together!
J'adore painting gifts!!!

More paintings revealed this week... stay tuned!

ENJOY!

P.S. See what others have created, transformed, etc on Metamorphosis Monday!

Time to Celebrate...

2011-12-23T10:25:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas... Joyeux Noël... Happy Holiday to ALL!!!

via HERE

Bon Weekend... Happy PINK Saturday ...

ENJOY!

Light and Airy Table

2011-12-21T22:33:00.000-08:00

Though this is not my style... I find it very clean and refreshing and inviting for the holidays...

This festive table via Pinterest!!!

Do YOU have your table all decorated? See what others are doing to their trees HERE!

See YOU tomorrow for a PINK holiday!!!

ENJOY!

Nighttime in Paris...

2011-12-20T21:00:00.000-08:00

ooh la la... très GORGEOUS images via Out and About in Paris...

Les Deux Magots via J'aime Pairs

Merry Christmas, Joyeux Noël from Arpege on Vimeo.

via Pinterest.com

I wish I could see this ALL in person... aaaaah SOMEDAY I hope... for now let's go visit other Outdoor Wednesday postings and Reading is Fashionable...

ENJOY!

Cleaning Up

2011-12-20T11:38:00.000-08:00

Getting ready for Houseguests... look at these "cleaning rooms" via Pinterest...

this is my favourite...

this one comes in second pour moi...

oooooh... I guess I could share MY LAUNDRY AREA with YOU...
Area was styled by Sunday Hendrickson and photographed by Mark Lohman... j'adore this area BUT I do not like to do laundry...

Do YOU have a favourite? Is one of these YOURS?

ENJOY!

BIZEE BIZEE BIZEE

2011-12-19T09:03:00.000-08:00

Running LATE with postings... but better late than never... particially late because I have been having soooo much FUN playing on Pinterest... like this imagine I found there and put onto MY BOARDS... it is a FABuLOUS site for gathering inspiration...

via Pinterest

anddd this is perfect to show... hubby and I are attending holidays parties... shopping... packaging up orders and heading to the post office... TODAY is the LAST day to get packages delivered by the 23rd or sooner... depending on your location in the USA... and TODAY is the LAST day for FREE shipping before the holidays... soooo if you are still searching for a last minute unique gift... pop over to Fifi Flowers' Shop and be sure to use the FREE USA SHIPPING CODE: SHIPUS ... orders placed will be shipped within 24 hrs... HURRY... place your orders!!!

ooooh and do not forget to visit Reading is Fashionable... French Word-A-Day has a NEW book out!!!

ENJOY!

Out the window

2011-12-15T21:00:00.000-08:00

Oui oui oui... out my IMAGINARY Paris window... what do I see beyond my pink and white drapery... mais oui... c'est Ladurée...

Pink and White view of Ladurée available HERE

Last Weekend to SHOP for a SPECIAL GIFT... why not make it ART...

FREE USA SHIPPING through this WEEKEND!!!
MUST use Coupon Code... SHIPUS

Ladurée Handpainted Bookmark AVAILABLE in Fifi's Shop too!!!

Bon Weekend...

Be sure to visit Beverly and her PINK friends... and Reading is Fashionable to read an interview
with the author of Running Barefoot in Paris, Actress Brandyn Barbara Artis!!!

ENJOY!

Glamorous Rose-tini

2011-12-14T18:21:00.000-08:00

Inspiration and Recipe via This is Glamorous

{ingredients}
1 1/2 oz. vodka
1 oz. white crème de cacao
1/4 oz. rosewater
small pieces of turkish delight or rose petals to garnish
1 drop rose food color

1. fill half of a cocktail shaker with ice
2. add liquids
3. shake
4. pour
5. garnish

AVAILABLE in Fifi Flowers' Shop

Last Weekend to SHOP for a SPECIAL GIFT... why not make it ART...

FREE USA SHIPPING through this WEEKEND!!!
MUST use Coupon Code... SHIPUS

Keep sipping and be sure to visit other Tablescape Thursday posts via Between Naps on the Porch

and please visit Reading is Fashionable there is ALWAYS something INTERESTING over there and Art by Karena to ENTER to WIN Fifi Flowers artwork!!!

ENJOY!

Tree Shopping

2011-12-13T21:00:00.000-08:00

Aaaah outdoors in Paris shopping for a tree... via a florist...

a kiosk...

and how do we get it home... truck delivery...

via La Mom... An American mom in Paris

baby carriage...

carrying it...

via Paris Daily Photo

atop the automobile...

I think the tricky part will be getting it into the apartment, non?

Do YOU have your tree? Is it all decorated? Is it decorated like MY tree with le chat!
This is Monsieur Toulouse...

Be sure to visit other Outdoor Wednesday postings... and Reading is Fashionable...

LAST MINUTE SHOPPING SPECIAL...

Items in Fifi Flowers' Shopwill ship within 24 hours of placing the order! FREE shipping in theUSA... Discount Code SHIPUS

ENJOY!

P.S. All photos EXCEPT for the La Mom and Paris Daily photo are via HERE

Bird Tree is Up

2011-12-12T22:05:00.000-08:00

oui oui oui... hubby put the Bird Tree up and Decked the staircase...

closer look at the birds...

oooooohhhhh and LOOK who else is LOOKING at the birds...

Monsieur Matisse Le Chat...

Now I wonder... will the birds survive the night on the tree?

ENJOY!

Madeleine Revisited

2011-12-11T21:00:00.000-08:00

Recently someone commissioned moi to re-paint the painting in this posting about a FABuLOUS restaurant in Pasadena, California... Madeleine Bistro... and I was happy to do it... I had such a WONDERFUL time and meal at the restaurant... sadly I looked up the restaurant today and read that the restaurant closed... that is a SHAME and shame on moi for not returning... le sigh!

The original painting by Fifi Flowers...

Many times I scan the original sketch into my computer... and on occasion I have re-painted for people... luckily I had the sketch...

and here the painting/sketch/painting is metamorphosed AGAIN... of course there is some difference with colours as I mix my own paints... paint strokes will always vary... but it is close, non?

Soooooo... if YOU have seen via my Gallery link above that paintings are SOLD... oui the originals are SOLD... and those paintings are available in a print and a notecard... BUT on many occasions the painting CAN be re-painted by Fifi Flowers... YOU just have to ASK!!!

Annnndddddddddddd of course

there may be a painting available NOW for YOU in Fifi Flowers Shop!!!

Be sure to visit other Metamorphosis Monday postings and Reading is Fashionable...

Have a FABuLOUS week...

ENJOY!

Imagining by Paris Apartment

2011-12-09T21:00:00.001-08:00

Oui oui oui ... AGAIN... or STILL dreaming of a Parisian apartment...

ooh la la... if only... I could have Beverly over I know she would LOVE the PINK accents... oooh and we could listen to this music by Paris Combo... j'adore their musique!

Do YOU dream of YOUR own Paris apartment?

Bon weekend to EVERYONE...
ENJOY!

P.S. Please visit Beverly and her PINK friends
and REMEMBER to visit Reading is Fashionable EVERYDAY!!!

Fashionable Dog Purses

2011-12-08T21:00:00.000-08:00

If I ever get a dog... it MUST fit in a purse...

I'm not sure about these purse/carriers for dogs...

ALL images via HERE

are they comfortable for the dog...

and what about this... a fanny pack for a dog...

I think the well supported purse in the beginning is best, non?

Bon weekend...
ENJOY!

Aaaah Poinsettias

2011-12-06T21:00:00.000-08:00

LOVE them.... unfortunately soooo do my cats... soooo I will just have to admire these...

I was going to say let's go OUTSIDE to a Poinsettia farm... HOWEVER I found that they are grown INDOORS...

oooh the variety of colours... do YOU have a favourite colour Poinsettia?

FUN to paint too...

BTW... Did YOU know that Poinsettias were grown indoors? Guess it makes sense since they last FOREVER indoors!!! Okkkk enough indoor time... let's see what is going on OUTDOOR Wednesday!

ENJOY!

All dressed... off to a party...

2011-12-05T21:00:00.000-08:00

Oui oui oui... Lisa Porter and Fifi Flowers are off to a party with the By Invitation Only girls at Tina's new home...

of course Lisa and Fifi had to find the perfect items to wear... sooo why not drink and little bubbly... eat some sweets and have a dress up party...

with frocks all selected... giggling like teenagers hopping into a carriage and off to Tina's party we went...

Did you spot Lisa and Fifi in the crowd?

anddddddddddddddddddddddddddd...
For a hostess gift Lisa and Fifi brought.. what else but TIARAS for EVERYONE... of course first choice to Tina our Hostess and Marsha who has brought ALL of us together!

NOWWWWW... Do be sure to visit all of these LOVELY ladies
and see what they had to wear to the party...

MARSHA HARRIShttp://www.splenderosa.blogspot.com/

TISH JETT an American in Francehttp://afemmeduncertainage.blogspot.com/

YVONNE PRATT USAhttp://stonegable.blogspot.com/

CHARLOTTA WARD in Swedenhttp://spaceforinspiration.blogspot.com/

GREET LEFEVRE in Belgium http://belgianpearls.blogspot.com/

CATHERINE ROBINSON in London http://www.catherinerobinsoncashmere.com/

ANNIE BOUTERSE USAhttp://plumsiena.blogspot.com/
COTY FARQUHAR in Australiahttp://cotyfarquhar.blogspot.com/
FIFI FLOWERS artist with Parisian flair http://fififlowers.com
DEBORAH PETERSON between Houston & Scotlandhttp://www.dumbwittellher.com/
DUSTJACKET ATTIC, Debra in Australiahttp://dustjacketattic.blogspot.com/
SHARI MILLER USAhttp://www.littlebluedeer.com/
TINA USAtheenchantedhome@gmail.comhttp://theenchantedhome.blogspot.com/
MONA THOMPSON USAhttp://providenceltddesign.com/
JACQUELINE MUMFORD Englandhttp://home-biba.blogspot.com/
KARIN JANSKY Francehttp://lapouyette-unddiedingedeslebens.blogspot.com
VICKI ARCHER an Australian in Francehttp://frenchessence.blogspot.com/
CECILIA GONZALEZ Spain http://desdemventana.blogspot.com/
RENEE GRANIER & ANGELA FOSTER USA http://underspanishmoss.com/
LISA USA not participating this monthhttp://amidprivilege.com
FRANCINE GARDNER a woman of the world in NYChttp://interieurs.com blog
CHRISTINA FLUEGGE USAhttp://greigedesign.blogspot.com/
STACEY BEWKES USA http://quintessence.com
LEANN BROWN USAhttp://linenandlavender.blogspot.com/
LENE Norway http://theessenceofthegoodlife.blogspot.com/
SANDE CHASE Canadawww.agiftwrappedlife.com
SHARON SANTONI Francehttp://myfrenchcountryhome.blogspot.com/
KAREN MALAN UKPas Grand-Chose Bloghttp://athousandmiles-k.blogspot
LISA PORTER USA lisaportercollection.com
DEJA PSEU USAunefemme.net.
ISA CHANDLERhttp://isaslittleworld.blogspot.com/

ENJOY!

A Bookmark is Created

2011-12-04T18:13:00.000-08:00

I've been painting bookmarks in between commissioned paintings... see how this on came to life... first let's start with the inspiration...

and let the sketching begin...

then the black outline

and erasing of the pencil drawing...

now to mix acrylic paints...

hmmm... let's call this painting Parisian Pink Pillow...

oui oui oui... reading glasses help with tiny areas...

and violà... the bookmark...the front and back...

This Parisian Pink Pillow is AVAILABLE HERE!!!

Oui oui oui... Fifi Flowers has MORE painted bookmarks available in her SHOP...

Front and Back of Black Shoes in Paris

more in the works... these are the front and back of each of these HANDPAINTED bookmarks...

not sure what colour this dress should be... it was voted GREEN by most...

and still working out colour palette in this Paris apartment...

J'adore painting bookmarks!!! Artwork on the go!!! FUN!!!

See what others are creating for Metamorphosis Monday and Wow Us Wednesday!

Andddd be sure to visit Reading is Fashionable...

ENJOY!

P.S. I will EXTEND a 20%OFF discount in Fifi Flowers Shop... MUST use Discount Code PINK20
until 9:00pm New York time!

Holiday Doggies

2011-12-03T11:16:00.001-08:00

Are they not the PERFECT PINK Saturday doggies... sparkling in PINK... say BONJOUR to these Vintageweave Interiors furry faces... l-r P.D. Pastis, Biscuit, Coco ...

andddddddddddddd to celebrate the FIRST PINK SATURDAY...
Fifi Flowers will offer 20% OFF in her Fifi Flowers SHOP...
You MUST use the discount code PINK20... LAST DISCOUNT SALE of the 2012 in this shop... Don't Miss Out... the sale will END December 4th @ 11:59PM California time!!!

Andddddddddddddddd Just added... SPECIAL GIFT CERTIFICATE for Pet Portraits...

HURRY over to Fifi Flowers Shop

Happy Shopping...
ENJOY!

Pink Stripes with Pet

2011-12-01T21:00:00.000-08:00

Oui oui oui... another pet painting ... j'adore painting them...

I know some of you already saw this on Fifi's Facebook Page BUT the rest of the world did not...and c'est parfait for Beverly and her PINK friends on Saturday, non? YOU should join Fifi on her page if you want to keep up with her... Come have some FUN!!!

Oui oui oui... Fifi would be happy to paint YOU and your pet... contact Fifi for details!!!

Bon Weekend!
ENJOY!

P.S. The winner of yesterday's Handpainted Bookmark is Hyacinths For The Soul!
oooooh and be sure to visit Reading is Fashionable!

Cafe Painting GIVEAWAY

2011-11-30T22:49:00.001-08:00

Time for a little Holiday GIVEAWAY... tis the time to GIVE, non? As I am painting CUSTOM bookmarks for SURPRISE gifts at MY CAFE TABLE...

sipping café creme...

I thought maybe YOU would like to WIN one... soooo here is Fifi's Painting Cafe HANDPAINTED on both sides and varnished...

Front and Back of the Fifi's Painting Café bookmark

Simply leave a comment to WIN... ONLY 24 hours...deadline Dec 1 @ 11:59 NYC time... Winner will be announced on Friday Dec 2nd... Bonne Chance!!!

GIVEAWAY is CLOSED... Winner is Sarah of Hyacinth for the Soul

BTW... there are MORE Fifi Flowers HANDPAINTED bookmarks AVAILABLE in The Fifi Flowers Shop... some even come with books... Also Fifi Flowers will do custom bookmarks up until December 7th... contact Fifi for details... they make GREAT gifts... like this new creation... Purple Anemone Parisian Library

ENJOY!

P.S. Don't forget to see other FUN tables for Tablescape Thursday!

Out to the Poste

2011-11-29T20:19:00.001-08:00

Recap of why I did not have a posting yesterday... oui oui oui... it was a packaging and shipping day... non, I did not ride a bicycle to the post office... BUT it is a très romantique thought...

Bicycle to Poste is AVAILABLE in a PRINT and the ORIGINAL is AVAILABLE too !

Were YOU OUTDOORS running about?
See where others are OUTDOORS today via A Southern Daydreamer!

ENJOY!

Cyber Monday Sale

2011-11-28T11:01:00.001-08:00

After all the crazy shopping stories I've heard this past weekend... I created this sign... might be good to post in ALL shopping areas...not sure people would listen (read) but maybe a few would take heed...

CYBER MONDAY... Use CYBER20 DISCOUNT CODE in Fifi Flowers' Shop...
Who doesn't like a 20% off discount!!!

ENJOY!

Home Paintings... FAB gifts!!!

2011-11-27T18:10:00.000-08:00

Oui oui oui... Fifi paintings whimsical home portraits... they make WONDERFUL gifts too...

All Fifi needs is a photo of the home to create the painting...

Home Photo via HERE

and if the photos are taken in the wrong season... Fifi can make it whatever season is desired... if the house has been painted since the photo.. the house colour can be painted correctly... and if you would prefer the home owner to select the photo they desire you can purchase a Home Portrait Gift Certificate on SPECIAL SALE now in My Shop!!!

ENJOY!

P.S. You can see MORE of Fifi Flowers home paintings HERE and HERE and HERE... and of course see how others are transforming items via Metamorphosis Monday!

Holiday Decorating Begins

2011-11-26T12:53:00.001-08:00

Oui oui oui... many are decorating for the holidays... I'm doing a little decorating for Beverly and her PINK friends thanks to inspiration via Renae Moore...

Happy Decorating!!!

Don't Forget... BIG SALE for SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY... and I will extend beyond to Sunday, November 27, 2011 @ MIDNIGHT...
MUST use DISCOUNT CODE: SMALLBIZ30 to receive 30% off YOUR purchase...
My Fifi Flowers Shop

ENJOY!

White... Black Friday...

2011-11-24T21:00:00.000-08:00

To kick off my Fifi Flowers Shop BLACK FRIDAY/SMALL BUSINESS discount... I doodled some black and white drawings on scraps of paper...

then I did another with a little colour...

then I added some colour to the other ones...

then hubby set them all up on the mantle...

J'adore doodling... and painting and bringing SMILES to everyone!!!

Soooooo... I have agreed along with other Small Businesses/Artists to participate in BLACK FRIDAY/SMALL BUSINESS SALE...

SIMPLY use the DISCOUNT CODE: SMALLBIZ30 to receive 30% off purchases... discount ends Saturday at midnight!!! HURRY over to

Fifi Flowers Shop

ENJOY!

Thanksgiving has Arrived Again

2011-11-24T07:18:00.001-08:00

Thank you to Martha for always having LOVELY ideas... from the turkey to the table to the table decor... PERFECT for Tablescape Thursday...

Happy Thanksgiving to all of those Celebrating today and Happy Thursday to those not...

ENJOY!

Kids in Paris

2011-11-23T07:56:00.001-08:00

Oui oui oui... kids LOVE to be out and about in Paris too... like these two in the Luxembourg Garden sailing their boat...

anddddd... what day is complete in Paris without a custom blue and white striped awning café to compliment the custom painting of the children...

Shipping these Paris memories to Tiffany TODAY! Do you have Paris memories YOU would like to see painted? Fifi LOVES to bring them to life and to your walls!!! Special Rates on Custom paintings until the end of 2011... Contact Fifi for rates!

ooooh and be sure to see what others are doing outside to day on A Southern Daydreamer...

anddddd Reading is Fashionable will have a posting up by noon!!!

ENJOY!

Almost Card Mailing Time...

2011-11-22T08:42:00.001-08:00

Fifi has been busy... painting holiday gifts... and holiday cards... oui oui oui... Fifi paints custom holiday cards... LOVE this one!!!

Do you have YOUR holiday cards all ready to address and ship?

ENJOY!

For the LOVE of Anemones

2011-11-17T21:00:00.000-08:00

FUN painting Anemones inspired by Vicki of French Essence... here is my FIRST Anemone painting... 2 more will be added... be sure to check back...

Anemone Tea in Paris... available in My Fifi Flowers Shop!

PINK of course for Beverly and her PINK friends... be sure to visit them this weekend!

Next Anemone painting will include BUBBLES...

Anemones and Champagne... available in My Fifi Flowers Shop!

and then LEOPARD... FUN FUN FUN...

This is the base of the last painting...
wasn't sure what I wanted to do with the background... any ideas?

Bon Weekend...
ENJOY!

Baking a Table

2011-11-16T21:53:00.001-08:00

Autumn is shaping up with Bill...

Perfect treats for this table...

Merci to William Sonoma for delightful

items to make the holiday a little more FUN!!!

Be sure to visit other Tablescape Thursday posts...
I'm sure others are getting ready for the holiday next week... Are YOU ready?

ENJOY!

Ooh la la... HAPPINESS in a Chair

2011-11-15T21:00:00.000-08:00

oui oui oui... Fifi is NOW très HAPPY with this painting... inside with a mirror view OUTSIDE...

J'adore this Chair painting... and it could be YOURS... Now available in My Shop!

oops.. almost forgot... here is the firs time I attempted to paint this chair...

Much happier with second attempt... aaah try try try again!

ENJOY!

P.S. Be sure to visit Outdoor Wednesday posting and Reading is Fashionable!!!

Mental Travel

2011-11-15T09:43:00.001-08:00

Today as I paint gifts for others while drinking café creme... my daydream comes to life on a scrap of paper...

A dream in my hand!!!

It could be a dream in YOUR hand... AVAILABLE in My Shop!!!

ENJOY!

Presents are Soon to be Given

2011-11-13T21:18:00.001-08:00

Oui oui oui... Fifi continues to paint SURPRISES... here a few from last year... some of these are completed works... some were in the process and Fifi forgot to snap a final photo... and some of these are a combination of several photos put together... or several ideas put together... a lot of Metamorphosis going on in custom paintings...

a boat...

a marina...

together make this painting...

These were ALL from photos emailed to Fifi... like this family cottage... the trick was to remove surrounding cottages and focus only on the family cottage...

Oui oui oui... there is STILL time to get YOUR custom PAINTED GIFT...
Fifi will accept commissions until DECEMBER 7th...
and ANOTHER option is a GIFT CERTIFICATE...
Let a SPECIAL someone select their favourite photo to be painted by Fifi Flowers...
EMAIL for details!!!!

ENJOY!

P.S. Be sure to visit other Metamorphosis Monday postings and Reading is Fashionable has a transformation too!

PINK Audrey...

2011-11-11T21:00:00.000-08:00

Oui oui oui... STILL working on Audrey in Pink... canvas painting take A LOT longer to paint...

Wondering what colour to do the background... Black? Black and White striped?

What do YOU think?

Bon Weekend to ALL... Be sure to visit BEVERLY and her PINK friends

and Reading is Fashionable... there is a BOOK GIVEAWAY!!!

ENJOY!

Veteran's Day... Armistice Day...

2011-11-11T10:47:00.001-08:00

What a beautiful site TODAY...

as opposed to a tragic day ...

Images from an article by Cara Waterfall from Bonjour Paris

Let us REMEMBER and THANK our VETERANS TODAY and EVERYDAY
for keeping us SAFE and FREE!!!

ENJOY!

P.S. There will be a PINK Saturday posting tomorrow.

Fifi Flowers in Stores

2011-11-09T21:00:00.000-08:00

Oui oui oui... Fifi is now working with a marketing/sales rep to get Fifi Flowers' Frameable Stationery into stores across the USA... also looking into Trade Show designs to showcase the artwork... WOW... the booths are AMAZING... it's a lot more than just setting up a TABLE... the tables need a whole room...

How you been to one of these shows? I think I need to see MORE!!!

Speaking of seeing more... please be sure to look at other tables via Tablescape Thursday

annnnd don't forget Reading is Fashionable!!!

ENJOY!

CHICKENPOX inside... stay OUTSIDE...

2011-11-08T21:00:00.000-08:00

Oui oui oui...

my teen is SPOTTED with Chickenpox... best to skip through my garden instead of coming inside...

ooooh these make moi wish for MORE time to garden again... oui oui oui...
I must confess this is my garden from years ago...

Be sure to visit other Outdoor postings!

ENJOY!

Paint is Splashed on...

2011-11-07T21:00:00.000-08:00

Oui oui oui... Chairs get COLOUR...

These are part of a new Chair Collection... available NOW in My Shop !!!

ENJOY!

Chairs coming to Life

2011-11-06T18:51:00.000-08:00

From photos emailed to Fifi... to Sketches... SOON to be paintings...

some chairs with their original backgrounds...

the addition of the Eiffel Tower in the mirror...

another original background...

new room decor for this chair... do you feel like a cup of tea?

Twin Chairs... in Europe...

couldn't decide for this rocking chair... a balcony setting?

or rocking in a fabric shop? Which do you think the rocking chair should be in????

PAINTINGS will be up TOMORROW... for NOW be sure to visit other Metamorphosis Monday

postings and Reading is Fashionable!!!

These chair paintings will be AVAILABLE in My Shop!!!

ENJOY!

Fashionable Holiday Cards

2011-11-03T21:00:00.000-07:00

NEW cards designed this year...


Christmas Stockings

Cheers to the Holiday

Eiffel Tree with Presents

andddddd even ones with PINK for Beverly and her PINK friends...

Parisian Holiday Chair

Home For the Holiday

White Christmas Eiffel

All of these designs and MORE are AVAILABLE in MY SHOP!!!

ENJOY!

ooh la la... a Courtyard

2011-11-03T09:54:00.000-07:00

Oui oui oui... j'adore this French courtyard for my café table... merci to French Word a Day for the inspiration!!!


French Courtyard Table is AVAILABLE HERE!!!

Still working on other ideas YOU gave moi... NEXT Thursday another café painting... MAYBE YOUR idea will appear... stay tuned and for NOW... go visit other Tablescape postings!!!

ENJOY!

Fifi sings the Frenchy Blues

2011-11-01T12:27:00.000-07:00

Oui oui oui... if Fifi Flowers could be ANYTHING... she would be singing in the cafés... lounges... nightclubs... old standards in English and French...

This month via By Invitation Only ...

We are inspired to tell everyone something we always wanted to do, but have never done.

Butttttttttttttttt... in REALITY... Fifi gets to do something she REALLY LOVES too... PAINTING... and currently she is SINGING and PAINTING artwork for Holiday cards... here is one example of what will be AVAILABLE in MY SHOP this week!!! REMEMBER TODAY ONLY use the CODE: NOVEMBER to receive 25% OFF!!!

anddddddddddd more that you can see... I'm working on... they will be AVAILABLE this week too...

Now... go see what other
By Invitation Only participants are DREAMING of doing... and of course visit Reading is Fashionable!!!

ENJOY!

CHAIR CONTEST UPDATE

2011-11-01T09:45:00.000-07:00

Since I only receive SIX chairs... EVERYONE who sent in a CHAIR is a WINNER... Here are the chairs I received... they will ALL be painted SOON... and presented NEXT Monday.. come back and see...

Thank you to ALL that submitted a photo!!!

ENJOY!

24 HOUR SALE

2011-11-01T08:15:00.000-07:00

TODAY ONLY... to CELEBRATE November... 24 hours... 25% OFF EVERYTHING in Fifi Flowers Shop... STOCK up on Holiday Gifts NOW!!!

ORIGINAL paintings, FRAMEABLE notecards, 2012 Calendars, BOOKS, etc

MUST use this CODE to receive the discount... NOVEMBER

These are two of the NEWEST paintings added... Don't Miss Out!!!!

VISIT Fifi Flowers SHOP

HAPPY SHOPPING...
ENJOY!

Maybe you find the GREAT pumpkin

2011-10-31T07:28:00.000-07:00

wherever YOU are...

Parisian Pumpkins AVAILABLE HERE!

Happy Halloween!!!

Be sure to visit Reading is Fashionable!

ENJOY!

Dancing in PINK

2011-10-28T22:49:00.000-07:00

I don't usually post on Saturdays... BUT I've been working on these two ballet paintings... and since they involve PINK tutus... I would share today...

At the Ballet Barre is AVAILABLE HERE!!!

Parisian Dance Studio is AVAILABLE HERE!!!

ooooh to be a prima ballerina... and in Paris... ooh la la!!!

Be sure to visit Beverly and her PINK friends!!!

ENJOY!

Fashionable PINK Leaves

2011-10-27T21:09:00.000-07:00

Beverly asked for a PINK Autumn post... and her is one just for HER and her PINK friends...


ALL images above via HERE ooooh la la Paris leaves!!!! Last two images via HERE Oui oui oui... these are Fifi's paintings of PINK LEAVES in Paris!!! See MORE Fifi Flowers artwork HERE

Bon Weekend
and don't forget to visit Reading is Fashionable!!!

ENJOY!

Delight in a table Design

2011-10-26T21:02:00.000-07:00

Oui oui oui... Fifi ALSO find inspiration with tables via Claudia... LOVE the loopy design...

andddd a chair is added to my sketch...

then wondering WHERE I would like to sit at this table... hmmmmm.... Paris???

WHERE would YOU suggest Fifi paints this table????

Italy... a garden... indoors?

Be sure to visit other Tablescapes... maybe one will inspire YOU!!!

andddd of course YOU MUST see what is happening on

Reading is Fashionable... GIVEAWAYS and MORE!!!

ENJOY!

Outdoor Chairs

2011-10-25T20:51:00.000-07:00

Still search for CHAIR inspiration... Claudia of Paris Apartment ALWAYS inspires moi... she finds LOVELY chairs on the streets of France...

ooooh here's a shop that I found via Claudia as well...

Shopping with Claudia for Parisian Decor AVAILABLE HERE!!!

Don't forget to visit other Outdoor Postings... Reading is Fashionable and ENTER YOUR CHAIR or a LINK to a FAVOURITE CHAIR HERE!!!

ENJOY!

Tuesday Thinker

2011-10-24T21:49:00.000-07:00

Oui oui oui... thinking about painting and collecting chairs... cruising VIRTUALLY around Paris... stopping at cafés...

Parisian Vespa Cafe AVAILABLE HERE!!!

Be sure to submit YOUR FAVOURITE CHAIR this week!!!

Details HERE

ENJOY!

Chair Metamorphosis

2011-10-23T19:20:00.000-07:00

Chairs are FUN to paint... here are some OTHER chairs that caught my eye...

Anddddddddddd here they are transformed into paintings...

Butterfly Chair AVAILABLE HERE!

Guitar Chair AVAILABLE HERE!

As a reminder... here is my ORIGINAL Chair Collection (still AVAILABLE HERE)...

Collection was inspired by Photos submitted in My LAST Chair Painting Contest... See the ACTUAL chairs that inspired Fifi HERE....

Be sure to submit YOUR FAVOURITE CHAIR this week!!!

Details HERE

and be sure to visit other Metamorphosis Monday postings and Reading is Fashionable!

ENJOY!

Sitting... Thinking... it's Time for...

2011-10-22T15:22:00.000-07:00

A little help... oui oui oui... Fifi NEEDS to finish a CHAIR collection... starting with this chair with HOT PINK pillow for Beverly and her PINK friends...


Yellow Chair in Paris is AVAILABLE HERE!!!

Anddddddddddddddd
to finish this CHAIR COLLECTION... Fifi NEEDS photos of YOUR favourite chair or a photo of a CHAIR YOU would love to see painted by Fifi... Email a photo or a link to the CHAIR... Fifi will post the chairs and people will VOTE... 7 chairs will be selected based on votes and the WINNING CHAIR owners will receive a set of their chair in the FRAMEABLE NOTECARD collection and they will have a chance to purchase the ORIGINAL painting at an AMAZING price...

Start photographing YOUR chair or find a chair!!!

Deadline to Enter a CHAIR is October 28th @ NOON California time...

Chair Photos will be posted on November 1st and VOTING will begin for 2 days...

Winning Chairs will be announced on November 4th

Can't wait to see YOUR chairs!!!
One entry per household
ENJOY!

aaaahhhh... LIFE interrupted

2011-10-20T20:02:00.000-07:00

LIFE has gotten in the way of PAINTING... and POSTING... I will work on creating something SPECIAL by NOONish tomorrow... SORRY for not SHARING with YOU... STAY TUNED... I will sail around through my paints and create something to make YOU and MOI smile!!!!

image via Jean Ambrosius

Hope all is FAB for EVERYONE!

ENJOY!

Outdoor Watering

2011-10-18T21:00:00.000-07:00

Why water with a hose when you can have a FABuLOUS watering can (images via Campagne Decoration)...

These inspired Fifi to paint this...

Painted Watering Can AVAILABLE HERE!!!

Be sure to visit other OUTDOOR WEDNESDAY postings and
read a Book Review on Reading is Fashionable!

ENJOY!

Hot Pink Recline

2011-10-17T21:00:00.000-07:00

ooooh how I would LOVE to lounge... listen to music... dream of travel...


Hot Pink Music Room AVAILABLE HERE!!! This painting will be part of a CHAISE COLLECTION SOON too!

BUT... alas NON... I will not be relaxing... I will be PAINT HOLIDAY GIFTS!!!!

SPECIAL RATE for HOLIDAY PAINTING NOW AVAILABLE!!!

Email for rates... FABuLOUS ORIGINAL PERSONAL gifts!!!

ENJOY!

Fifi inspires a Metamorphosis

2011-10-17T11:30:00.000-07:00

Fifi's painting of Woman Strolling in Paris avec Chiens via this ORIGINAL POSTING of Eiffel Towers...

inspired fellow blogger Romantique and Rebel to paint...

a decorative piece for her wall...

her inspiration sparked others to inquire about MY ORIGINAL painting which is sold... HOWEVER... it has been metamorphosed and NOW AVAILABLE as a FRAMEABLE 5" x 7" card in FIFI FLOWERS' SHOP HERE...

Be sure to visit other Metamorphosis Monday postings today and be sure to visit Reading is Fashionable!!!

ENJOY!

PINK dreams...

2011-10-13T21:00:00.000-07:00

Will Fifi ever stop dreaming ...

Paris dream painting AVAILABLE HERE!

of PINK Parisian skies...

Pink Parisian Wine Sky AVAILABLE HERE!

Hmmmm... my guess is NON!!! Bon weekend... be sure to visit Beverly and her PINK friends and Reading is Fashionable to WIN a BOOK!!!

ENJOY!

Oui... it's Outdoor Tea Time

2011-10-12T11:16:00.000-07:00

Please join moi OUTDOORS for a delightful pastry and tea... or champagne at this Red Watering Can Teahouse...

Painting Available HERE and could be made into cards... just ask!

oooh if you were to venture inside perhaps they would carry these lovely items via La Petite Boutique de Perles... parfait for a tea...

Hope YOU have a FAB day...
be sure to visit other Outdoor Wednesday postings and Tablescape Thursday postings!!!

ENJOY!

Travel Tuesday... Back to Reality

2011-10-10T21:26:00.000-07:00

Though Fifi has completed her VIRTUAL voyage... PARIS is never far behind...

Painting is AVAILABLE HERE

Oui oui oui... PARIS will FOREVER be a part of Fifi... in her VIRTUAL and REAL world... DREAMY Paris painting I'm sure will be in the NEAR future... or at least paintings with a Parisian flair!

ENJOY!

Day 9 in Europa

2011-10-10T13:38:00.000-07:00

Oui oui oui... this is the FINAL day of our VIRTUAL Europa Voyage... the lovely city of Barcelona, Espana...

Barcelona is the capital and the most populous city of Catalonia and the second largest city in Spain, after Madrid, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of 101.4 km2 (39 sq mi). The urban area of Barcelona extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of between 4,200,000 and 4,500,000 on an area of 803 km2 (310 sq mi), being the sixth-most populous urban area in the European Union after Paris, London, Ruhr area, Madrid and Milan. About five million people live in the Barcelona metropolitan area. It is also Europe's largest metropolis on the Mediterranean coast. It is the main component of an administrative area of Greater Barcelona, with a population of 3,218,071 in an area of 636 km² (density 5,060 hab/km²). It is located on the Mediterranean coast between the mouths of the rivers Llobregat and Besòs and is bounded to the west by the Serra de Collserola ridge (512 m/1,680 ft).

Barcelona is today one of the world's leading tourist, economic, trade fair/exhibitions and cultural-sports centres, and its influences in commerce, education, entertainment, media, fashion, science, and the arts all contribute to its status as one of the world's major global cities. Indeed, it is a major economic centre and a growing financial centre (Diagonal Mar area and Gran Via); one of Europe's principal Mediterranean ports, can be found here as well as Barcelona international airport, which handles about 30 million passengers per year. It also boasts an extensive motorway network and is a hub of high-speed rail, particularly that which will link France with Spain. Barcelona is the 16th-most-visited city in the world and 4th most visited in Europe after Paris, London, and Rome, with several million tourists every year.Barcelona is the 16th most "livable city" in the world according to lifestyle magazine Monocle. Similarly, according to Innovation Analysts 2thinknow, Barcelona occupies 13th place in the world on Innovation Cities™ Global Index.[ It is the 4th richest city by GDP in the European Union and 35th in the world with an output amounting to €177 billion, a figure nonetheless smaller than alternative estimates. Consequently, its GDP per capita output stands at €35,975 – some 44% higher than the European Union average. Similarly, the city of Barcelona stands in 29th place in a list of net personal earnings headed by Zurich. The city is Europe's 3rd and one of the world's most successful as a city brand, both in terms of reputation and assets. Barcelona is 7th most important fashion capital in the world. Also, the city is Europe's 4th best business city and fastest improving European city, with growing improved by 17% per year.

Founded as a Roman city, Barcelona became the capital of the Counts of Barcelona. After merging with the Kingdom of Aragon, it became one of the most important cities of the Crown of Aragon. Besieged several times during its history, Barcelona is today an important cultural centre and a major tourist destination and has a rich cultural heritage. Particularly renowned are architectural works of Antoni Gaudí and Lluís Domènech i Montaner that have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The city is well known in recent times for the 1992 Summer Olympics. The headquarters of the Union for the Mediterranean is located in Barcelona.

As the capital of Catalonia, Barcelona houses the seat of the Catalan government, known as the Generalitat de Catalunya; of particular note are the executive branch, the parliament, and the Supreme Court of Catalonia. The city is also the capital of the Province of Barcelona and the Barcelonès comarca (shire).

sights from above...

sights below...

We see AMAZING... GORGEOUS architecture as we tour Barcelona in the daytime... and for our LAST VIRTUAL night in Europa... we see the city light up...

oooh and some musica... not only do we see beauty... we hear it...

This has been a LOVELY VIRTUAL trip for moi to share with YOU and ma maman... this would've been our REAL trip... unfortunately it has been postponed... BUT SOMEDAY we will make it a reality!!! I hope it has been a DELIGHTFUL journey for ALL!!!

Tomorrow back to REALITY... welllllll somewhat make to reality... I personally LOVE to live in ALL of my PAINTINGS... and several NEW ones are in the works...

and to see Fifi Flowers paintings and cards and 2012 Calendars AVAILABLE NOW...

visit MY FIFI FLOWERS SHOP...

and for a chance to learn about books, book fashions, authors...

and GIVEAWAYS... visit Reading is Fashionable!!!

ENJOY!

Day 8 in Europa

2011-10-08T12:15:00.000-07:00

Riding along on the train from the South of France to Barcelona... we decided to make a stop in Girona, Spain...

The first historical inhabitants in the region were Iberians; Girona is the ancient Gerunda, a city of the Ausetani. Later, the Romans built a citadel there, which was given the name of Gerunda. The Visigoths ruled in Girona until it was conquered by the Moors. Finally, Charlemagne reconquered it in 785 and made it one of the fourteen original countships of Catalonia. Thus it was wrested temporarily from the Moors, who were driven out finally in 1015. Wilfred the Hairy incorporated Girona to the countship of Barcelona in 878. Alfonso I of Aragón declared Girona to be a city in the 11th century. The ancient countship later became a duchy (1351) when King Peter III of Aragon gave the title of Duke to his first-born son, John. In 1414, King Ferdinand I in turn gave the title of Prince of Girona to his first-born son, Alfonso. The title is currently carried by Prince Felipe, Prince of Asturias, the first since the 16th century to do so.

The 12th century saw a flourishing of the Jewish community of Girona, with one of the most important Kabbalistic schools in Europe. The Rabbi of Girona, Moshe ben Nahman Gerondi (better known as Nahmanides or Ramban) was appointed Great Rabbi of Catalonia. The history of the Jewish community of Girona ended in 1492, when the Catholic Kings expelled all the Jews from Catalonia. Today, the Jewish ghetto or Call is one of the best preserved in Europe and is a major tourist attraction. On the north side of the old city is the Montjuïc (or hill of the Jews in medieval Catalan), where an important religious cemetery was located.

Girona has undergone twenty-five sieges and been captured seven times. It was besieged by the French royal armies under Charles de Monchy d'Hocquincourt in 1653, under Bernardin Gigault de Bellefonds in 1684, and twice in 1694 under Anne Jules de Noailles. In May, 1809, it was besieged by 35,000 French Napoleonic troops under Vergier, Augereau and St. Cyr, and held out obstinately under the leadership of Alvarez until disease and famine compelled it to capitulate, 12 December. Finally, the French conquered the city in 1809, after 7 months of siege. Girona was center of the Ter department during the French rule, which lasted from 1809 to 1813. The defensive city walls were demolished at the end of the 19th century to allow for the expansion of the city. In recent years, the missing parts of the city walls on the eastern side of the city have been reconstructed. Called the Passeig de la Muralla it now forms a tourist route around the old city. (info and images via HERE)

Another GORGEOUS city in Europa, non? I see shades of PINK in Girona for Beverly and her PINK friends... Hope you are still LOVING this VIRTUAL voyage... tomorrow we will be in Barcelona...
Today YOU should be sure to visit Pink Saturday and Reading is Fashionable too!!!

ENJOY!

Day 7 in Europa

2011-10-06T21:00:00.000-07:00

Avignon...

is a French commune in southeastern France in the départment of the Vaucluse bordered by the left bank of the Rhône river. Of the 94,787 inhabitants of the city on 1 January 2010, 12 000 live in the ancient town centre surrounded by its medieval ramparts.Often referred to as the "City of Popes" because of the presence of popes and antipopes from 1309 to 1423 during the Catholic schism, it is currently the largest city and capital of the département of Vaucluse. This is one of the few French cities to have preserved its ramparts, its historic center, the palace of the popes, Rocher des Doms, and the bridge of Avignon. It was classified a World Heritage Site by UNESCO under the criteria I, II and IV.
As a showcase of arts and culture, the fame of its annual theatre festival, known as the Festival of Avignon, has far exceeded the French borders. (information and images via HERE)

anddddddddd then on to Arles...

in both classical and Mistralian norms) is a city and commune in the south of France, in the Bouches-du-Rhône department, of which it is a subprefecture, in the former province of Provence.

A large part of the Camargue is located on the territory of the commune, making it the largest commune in Metropolitan France in terms of territory (though Maripasoula, French Guiana is much larger) The city has a long history, and was of considerable importance in the Roman province of Gallia Narbonensis. The Roman and Romanesque Monuments of Arles were listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1981. The Dutch post-Impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh lived in Arles in 1888-1889 and produced over 300 paintings and drawings during his time there. An international photography festival has been held in the city since 1970. (images and info via HERE)

Tomorrow we will be traveling into Spain... See you there!!!

annnndddd be sure to visit Reading is Fashionable TODAY there is a GIVEAWAY!!!!

ENJOY!

Day 6 in Europa

2011-10-05T21:00:00.000-07:00

ooh la la... is this not a TRÈS beautiful seaport...

Marseilles...

the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of 240.62 km² (93 sq mi). The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000on an area of 1,204 km² (465 sq mi). 1,530,000or 1,601,095 people live in the Marseille metropolitan area, ranking it 3rd among French metropolitan areas after Paris and Lyon. Located on the southeast coast of France, Marseille is France's largest city on the Mediterranean coast and largest commercial port. Marseille is the capital of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, as well as the capital of the Bouches-du-Rhône department. Its inhabitants are called Marseillais. (information and images via HERE)

FABuLOUS day touring the city... time to find a table avec a view for food and wine...

and a night at the Opera house pour maman...

Hope YOU had a WONDERFUL time in Marseilles... next on our voyage...

Arles and Avignon on our way to Barcelona, Spain...

Be sure to visit Tablescape Thursday see if anyone else is on a VIRTUAL trip...

and of course visit Reading is Fashionable and learn about "The Art of French Kissing"

ENJOY!

P.S. Fifi Flowers ARTWORK available HERE along with another "POSTCARD"via Paris...

Inspired by Pink Champagne!!!
PERFECT for Beverly and her PINK friends!!!

These PINK SHOES are available as a 5" x 7" card HERE!!!

Day 5 in Europa

2011-10-04T21:00:00.000-07:00

Bonjour from Paris... oui oui oui... still here... long enough to grab some treats for the train ride to Lyon, France...

Parisian Macarons via Ladurée pour moi

Chocolat Eclairs via La Maison du Chocolat pour maman

on the colourful train...

arriving in Lyon, France...

Lyon was founded on the Fourvière hill as a Roman colony in 43 BC by Munatius Plancus, a lieutenant of Caesar, on the site of a Gaulish hill-fort settlement called Lug[o]dunon, from the Celtic god Lugus ('Light', cognate with Old Irish Lugh, Modern Irish Lú) and dúnon (hill-fort). Lyon was first named Lugdunum meaning the "hill of lights" or "the hill of crows". Lug was equated by the Romans to Mercury.

Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa recognized that Lugdunum's position on the natural highway from northern to south-eastern France made it a natural communications hub, and he made Lyon the starting point of the principal Roman roads throughout Gaul. It then became the capital of Gaul, partly thanks to its convenient location at the convergence of two navigable rivers, and quickly became the main city of Gaul. Two emperors were born in this city: Claudius and Caracalla. Today, the archbishop of Lyon is still referred to as "Primat des Gaules" and the city often referred to as the "capitale des Gaules".

The Christians in Lyon were martyred for their religion under the reigns of the various Roman emperors, most notably Marcus Aurelius and Septimus Severus. Local saints from this period include saints such as Blandina (Blandine), Pothinus (Pothin), and Epipodius (Épipode), among others.

The great Christian bishop of Lyon in the 2nd century was the Easterner Irenaeus.

Burgundian refugees from the destruction of Worms by Huns in 437 were resettled by the military commander of the west, Aëtius, at Lugdunum, which was formally the capital of the new Burgundian kingdom by 461.

In 843, by the Treaty of Verdun, Lyon, with the country beyond the Saône, went to Lothair I, and later became a part of the Kingdom of Arles. Lyon only came under French control in the 14th century.

Fernand Braudel remarked, Historians of Lyon are not sufficiently aware of the bi-polarity between Paris and Lyon, which is a constant structure in French development from the late Middle Ages to the Industrial Revolution (Braudel 1984 p. 327). The fairs in Lyon, the invention of Italian merchants, made it the economic countinghouse of France in the late 15th century. When international banking moved to Genoa, then Amsterdam, Lyon simply became the banking centre of France; its new Bourse (treasury), built in 1749, still resembled a public bazaar where accounts were settled in the open air. During the Renaissance, the city developed with the silk trade, especially with Italy; the Italian influence on Lyon's architecture can still be seen.

Lyon was a scene of mass violence against Huguenots in the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacres in 1572.

During the French Revolution, Lyon rose up against the National Convention and supported the Girondins. In 1793, the city was under siege for over two months, assaulted by the Revolutionary armies, before eventually surrendering. Several buildings were destroyed, especially around the Place Bellecour, and Jean-Marie Collot d'Herbois with Joseph Fouché administered the execution of more than 2,000 people. A decade later, Napoleon himself ordered the reconstruction of all the buildings demolished during this period.

Thanks to the silk trade, the city became an important industrial town during the 19th century but in 1831 and 1834, the silk workers of Lyon, known as canuts, staged two major uprisings. The 1831 uprising saw one of the first recorded uses of the black flag as an emblem of protest. The world's first funicular railway was built between Lyon and La Croix-Rousse in 1862.

Lyon was a centre for the occupying German forces and also a stronghold of resistance during World War II, and the city is now home to a resistance museum. (See also Klaus Barbie.) The traboules, or secret passages, through the houses enabled the local people to escape Gestapo raids.(info and images via HERE)

Such a picturesque city, non? PERFECT day OUTDOORS!!!

I would LOVE to see it in REAL life someday!

Tomorrow we will move on to Marseilles... for nowwww be sure to visit

other OUTDOOR postings and Reading is Fashionable!!!

ENJOY!

P.S. Fifi Flowers Paris Paintings seen BELOW and MORE are AVAILABLE HERE!!!

Day 4 in Europa

2011-10-03T21:00:00.000-07:00

Today is our last full day in Paris... we are going to be on the go and Fifi will be fulfilling a challenge put forth by Splenderosa with her "By Invitation Only" group...

The inspiration for the challenge by Vicki Archer and Tish Jett (fellow participants of this challenge)...

"Gustave Flaubert,the French writer best known for his novel Madame Bovary, isgenerally attributed with the saying, "Le bon Dieu est dans ledetail".

Over the years thisexpression has morphed and changed but the simple message remains thesame...and that is… that whatever we do, should be done thoroughly and to thevery best of our abilities. The details are what make all the difference..."

Gustave Flaubert was in Paris studying law... and UNLIKE Fifi... he found the City "distasteful"... Fifi will do her VERY BEST to prove him wrong... wonder what he would think if he knew streets, hotels and restaurants were name after him... perhaps he would not think the City so distasteful, non? Starting with breakfast... oui oui oui... this WILL be painted by Fifi...

Time to explore Paris...today we shop, eat and wander around different arrondissements of Paris...

"J'adore New York" by Isabelle Lafleche from Making Magique on Vimeo.

ooh la la... that gets us in to the mood to shop... even window shop!!!
images via HERE

SPECTACULAR, non?
Nowwwww... for some SWEET shopping...
images via HERE and HERE

I would say not only is Paris tasteful... it is TASTY!!!

Time to have a yummy dinner image via HERE...

and see PINK MARTINI in Paris

PARFAIT ending to a lovely time in Paris!!!

Please be sure to visit other participants of this challenge and pop over to Reading is Fashionable to learn MORE about Gustave Flaubert's Madame Bovery novel!!!

Tomorrow... We are hopping on a train and heading to Lyon, France... à demain!

ENJOY!

P.S.... Oui oui oui... Fifi Flowers has LOTS of Paris paintings ON SALE HERE... andddddd Paris cards and calendars... FABuLOUS souvenirs from OUR VIRTUAL TRIP!!!

Day 3 in Europa

2011-10-03T12:32:00.000-07:00

Bonjour mon amis... today we run around Paris... ooh la la... they first view in the morning is lovely, non?

Paris Morning Window AVAILABLE HERE

now that we are out and about in the City... our first stop... Luxembourg Jardins...

oui oui oui... Fifi has painted the pond avec sailboats...


Painting AVAILABLE HERE

here is another view in the garden... Fifi has not painted this YET... but it does inspire one to paint!

strolling in this area of Paris... we find Église Saint-Sulpice, Paris...

The present church is the second building on the site, erected over a Romanesque church originally constructed during the 13th century. Additions were made over the centuries, up to 1631. The new building was founded in 1646 by parish priest Jean-Jacques Olier (1608–1657) who had established the Society of Saint-Sulpice, a clerical congregation, and a seminary attached to the church.

Work continued for about 140 years: The church was mostly completed in 1732; the chancel is the work of Christophe Gamard, Louis Le Vau and Daniel Gittard, but the work was completed by Gilles-Marie Oppenord, a student of François Mansart, in 1714-1745.

The façade is an unorthodox essay of 1732 by Giovanni Niccolò Servandoni in which a double Ionic colonnade, Ionic order over Roman Doric with loggias behind them unify the bases of the corner towers with the façade; this fully classicising statement was made at the height of the Rococo. Its revolutionary character was recognised two decades later by the architect and teacher Jacques-François Blondel, who illustrated the elevation of the façade in his Architecture française, remarking, "The entire merit of this building lies in the architecture itself... and its greatness of scale, which opens a practically new road for our French architects." It has been modified by Jean Chalgrin and others. Large arched windows fill the vast interior with natural light. The result is a simple two-storey west front with three tiers of elegant columns. The overall harmony of the building is, some say, only marred by the mismatched two towers; one, to the neoclassical design of Jean François Chalgrin, was added shortly before the French Revolution but its matching tower was never begun, and the former tower remains.

At either side of the front door are two enormous shells given to King Francis I by the Venetian Republic. The two shells rest on rock-like bases, sculpted by Jean-Baptiste Pigalle.The pulpit, Saint-Sulpice

Nineteenth-century redecorations to the interior, after some Revolutionary damage when Saint-Sulpice became a Temple of Victory, include the murals of Eugène Delacroix, that adorn the walls of the side chapel. The most famous of these are Jacob Wrestling with the Angel and Heliodorus Driven from the Temple.Jules Massenet set an act of Manon at fashionable Saint-Sulpice.

Another point of interest dating from the time of Saint-Sulpice serving as a Temple of Victory is a printed sign over the center door of the main entrance. One can still barely make out the printed words ‘’Le Peuple Francais Reconnoit L’Etre Suprême Et L’Immortalité de L’Âme’’, The people of France recognize the supreme being and the immortality of the soul. Further questions of interest are the fate of the frieze that this must have replaced, the persons responsible for placing this manifesto and the reasons that it has been left in place.

The Marquis de Sade and Charles Baudelaire were baptized in Saint-Sulpice (1740 and 1821, respectively), and the church also saw the marriage of Victor Hugo to Adèle Foucher (1822). Louise Élisabeth de Bourbon and Louise Élisabeth d'Orléans, grand daughters of Louis XIV and Madame de Montespan are buried in the church. Louise de Lorraine, duchesse de Bouillon was buried here in 1788, wife of Charles Godefroy de La Tour d'Auvergne.

Information and views inside and outside of Saint-Sulpice Chapel via HERE

all of this walking around... time to find a café for lunch... there are some very famous cafés in this area... these first two Fifi has painted...

and one famous café La Palette... Fifi has yet to paint... BUT stay tuned as she has done a SKETCH of it...

La Pallete is located in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, at the intersection of Rue de Siene and Rue Jacques-Callot. The restaurant is made of two salons, the smaller first one offers the bar and in intimate setting the second larger back room is stylishly decorated with ceramics from the 1930s-40s and contains the dinning tables.

La Pallete is also popular for it large terrace that overlooks the street of Jacques-Callot. The restaurant's façade and interior of the second salon are registered as historic monuments as well.

The bistro is traditionally a gathering place for Fine Arts students, nearby gallery owners and artists. It was also sought after international artists. In fact, La Pallete was frequented by Cézanne, Picasso and Brauqe and later by Ernest Hemingway and Jim Morrison. Among others today's celebrities include Harrison Ford and Julia Roberts.

hmmmm... now where shall we roam... passed the Sorbonne...

and Notre Dame...

across the Seine to Musée Carnavalet...

The Carnavalet Museum in Paris is dedicated to the history of the city. The museum occupies two neighboring mansions: the Hôtel Carnavalet and the former Hôtel Le Peletier de Saint Fargeau. On the advice of Baron Haussmann, the civil servant who transformed Paris in the latter half of the 19th century, the Hôtel Carnavalet was purchased by the Municipal Council of Paris in 1866; it was opened to the public in 1880. By the latter part of the 20th century, the museum was bursting at the seams. The Hôtel Le Peletier de Saint Fargeau was annexed to the Carnavalet and opened to the public in 1989.^{(via HERE)}

oui oui oui... Fifi painted these gardens a couple of times... just EMAIL (contact link top of site) and either of these paintings can be made into a 5" x 7" card for YOU...

sooooo I think that's enough history for the day... perhaps it's time to meet Kris and other amis in Paris for a glass of vin rouge or a café creme or champagne... or a yummy treat at Angelina...

I think this day has been to overwhelming... these treats have caused moi to be sleepy... I will see tomorrow... our last day in Paris... I think we will SHOP and eat ... à demain...

ENJOY!

P.S. If you are looking for MORE travel... pop over to Nantucket via Reading is Fashionable

Day 2 in Europa

2011-10-01T21:00:00.000-07:00

Good morning... time for breakfast with Jacqueline@Home in London at The Albion...

we can sit outside...

or inside...

to eat a variety of yummies... oooh and I hear they have a FABuLOUS Bloody Mary...

Nowwwwwwwwwwww... that we are full... time to see some ART at The National Gallery... images & info via HERE)

The National Gallery is an art gallery on Trafalgar Square, London, United Kingdom. Founded in 1824, it houses a collection of over 2,300 paintings dating from the mid-13th century to 1900[a]. The gallery is an exempt charity, and a non-departmental public body of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.[2] Its collection belongs to the public of the United Kingdom and entry to the main collection (though not some special exhibitions) is free of charge.

Unlike comparable art museums in continental Europe, the National Gallery was not formed by nationalising an existing royal or princely art collection. It came into being when the British government bought 38 paintings from the heirs of John Julius Angerstein, an insurance broker and patron of the arts, in 1824. After that initial purchase the Gallery was shaped mainly by its early directors, notably Sir Charles Lock Eastlake, and by private donations, which comprise two thirds of the collection.[3] The resulting collection is small in size, compared with many European national galleries, but encyclopaedic in scope; most major developments in Western painting "from Giotto to Cézanne"[4] are represented with important works. It used to be claimed that this was one of the few national galleries that had all its works on permanent exhibition,[5] but this is no longer the case.

The present building, the third to house the National Gallery, was designed by William Wilkins from 1832–8. Only the façade onto Trafalgar Square remains essentially unchanged from this time, as the building has been expanded piecemeal throughout its history. Wilkins's building was often criticised for its perceived aesthetic deficiencies and lack of space; the latter problem led to the establishment of the Tate Gallery for British art in 1897. The Sainsbury Wing, an extension to the west by Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown, is a notable example of Postmodernist architecture in Britain. The current Director of the National Gallery is Nicholas Penny.

J'adored looking at all that art... hope you did too... one last look at London via the London Eye...

and time to hop a train for Paris...

anddddddddddd voilà... we are in Paris...

Time for dinner... why not dine at Le Jules Verne and look out over Paris for our first night...

oui oui oui... up the Eiffel Tower we go...

Delightful... busy day... time to call it a day... See YOU in the matin...

be prepared for a lot of FUN in Paris tomorrow... à demain mon amies!

ENJOY!

Day 1 in Europa

2011-09-30T21:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to VIRTUAL London...

London is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its founding by the Romans, who called it Londinium. London's ancient core, the City of London, largely retains its square-mile medieval boundaries. Since at least the 19th century, the name London has also referred to the metropolis developed around this core.The bulk of this conurbation forms the London region and the Greater London administrative area, governed by the elected Mayor of London and the London Assembly.

London is a leading global city, with strengths in the arts, commerce, education, entertainment, fashion, finance, healthcare, media, professional services, research and development, tourism and transport all contributing to its prominence.It is the world's largest financial centre alongside New York City and has the largest city GDP in Europe. It has the most international visitors of any city in the world[14] and London Heathrow is the world's busiest airport by number of international passengers. London's 43 universities form the largest concentration of higher education in Europe.In 2012 London will become the first city to host the modern Summer Olympic Games three times.

London has a diverse range of peoples, cultures and religions and more than 300 languages are spoken within its boundaries. In July 2010 Greater London had an official population of 7,825,200, making it the most populous municipality in the European Union. The Greater London Urban Area is the second-largest in the EU with a population of 8,278,251, while London's metropolitan area is the largest in the EU with an estimated total population of between 12 million and 14 million. London had the largest population of any city in the world from around 1831 to 1925.

London contains four World Heritage Sites: the Tower of London; Kew Gardens; the site comprising the Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey, and St Margaret's Church; and the historic settlement of Greenwich (in which the Royal Observatory marks the Prime Meridian (0° longitude) and GMT).[24] Other famous landmarks include Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, Piccadilly Circus, 30 St Mary Axe ("The Gherkin"), St Paul's Cathedral, Tower Bridge, Trafalgar Square and Wembley Stadium. London is home to numerous museums, galleries, libraries, sporting events and other cultural institutions, including the British Museum, National Gallery, British Library, Wimbledon and 40 theatres.London's Chinatown is the largest in Europe.The London Underground is the oldest underground railway network in the world and the second-most extensive (after the Shanghai Metro).(images and info via HERE)

Let's attempt to see EVERYTHING today... wonder if we will run into the Royal Couple at Buckingham Palace...


ORIGINAL painting AVAILABLE HERE... ONLY one!

I think we should hop on a Red Double Decker and take a tour of the city...

We want to see Big Ben...

at the House of Parliament or Westminster Palace...

Westminster Abbey...

Piccadilly Circus...

maybe stop to shop a bit at Harrod's...

look at the sunset in Beverly's FAVOURITE SHADE of PINK over London...

time for dinner with Jacqueline of Home...

next 3 photos via HERE

and then some entertainment at the Royal Albert Hall...

Eventful day in London, non? Tomorrow morning we will have breakfast in London and maybe visit an art museum and then we will hop a train and be in Paris tomorrow evening... Keep up... we have a lot to see and do... Hope you LOVE this VIRTUAL voyage!!!

ENJOY!

Packing it Up PINK... VIRTUALLY...

2011-09-29T21:00:00.000-07:00

NEW VIRTUAL trip to Europe... needed some accessories... starting with luggage... LOVE this FUN vintage looking La Vida line... perfect shades of PINK for Beverly and her friends...

oooh a new passport holder and luggage tags...

might need a coat and scarf or two...

maybe some cute little ballerina flats... or boots if the weather turns rainy and cold...

handbag with shoulder strap...

I think we are READY... HELLO VIRTUAL Europe here comes Fifi and her friends...
First STOP... London... see YOU there!!!

ENJOY!

P.S. ALL images are via Google Images searching for PINK luggage, scarves, trench-coat, handbags, boots, ballerina flats, passport holder and luggage tags

Table for Planning VIRTUAL trip

2011-09-28T22:19:00.000-07:00

Next week Fifi was to journey with her maman to Europe for 9 days... unfortunately the trip had to be postponed... Fifi had hoped to sit and sip café cremes on street corners... HOWEVER... she will be happy to put together a VIRTUAL trip for ALL of us starting TOMORROW... oui oui oui... if she cannot take a REAL trip... she will create one... stay tuned...

For today... visit other Tablescape Thursday participant and be sure to visit Reading is Fashionable... a new author interview and GIVEAWAY !!!

À demain... we SHOP for our VIRTUAL VOYAGE!

ENJOY!

A Glimpse of the City

2011-09-27T22:21:00.000-07:00

SURPRISE paintings continue... this is for SOMEONE... YOU will have to wait and see if it belongs to YOU... will YOU unwrap this GIFT...

Oui oui oui... Fifi is painting OUTDOORS in Paris...

See MORE Outdoors postings via A Southern Daydreamer and Reading is Fashionable!!!

ENJOY!

Creating CUSTOM

2011-09-26T22:32:00.000-07:00

Oui oui oui... Fifi is painting GIFTS for holiday presents... of course I cannot show them on my site... but I will tell you that my paint palettes are filling up...

Thinking about a CUSTOM Fifi Flowers painting to GIVE a SPECIAL someone...
Contact Fifi... she will be HAPPY to paint for YOU!

Speaking of happy... pop over and visit Reading is Fashionable... YOU will be HAPPY you did!

ENJOY!