Texture Tuesday

We just love all things French don't we?  We do, go check out any blog that even has the most remotely sounding French name, and the followers are in the hundreds.  Books that have Paris or France in their titles fly off the shelves, what is it with France, and well anything even remotely French flavoured?  I am a culprit, I love France, I love Paris, actually I love pretty much anything European.  The age of the place blows me away.  The cobbly streets, the weathered and ancient buildings, the doorways, that lead well who knows where, but I want to open them and go in, I want to take a peek at the very least.  So today for Kim's challenge on Texture Tuesday, we could use any subject and any texture.  Ta Da!!!!!! A lane way, well a street actually in France.  Now I can't be more specific at the moment because I cannot really remember where exactly this is. Sorry about that, but trust me it is France somewhere.

Recipe:

duplicate,

Brightness/Contrast, adjust levels, add a dark plum colour fill

levels again,

Greyday texture on colour burn 41%

more brightness/contrast adjustments

then add texture Random Inspiration on multiply 100% 

again adjust brightness/contrast, levels and b/c again

now the fiddly part, the sky at the top of the buildings was really bright and I wanted to tone it down a lot so I did a black colour fill on just that part and adjusted the opacity 

then I brushed a vignette round the edges and then did a tan brush of some of the buildings as they were to bright as well.

So a lot of fiddling but I achieved the shadowy effect I was after.

What do you think, this is the untouched shot?  For me well it is so underexposed it is shocking, I was admittedly, just shooting all over the place by now and I had pushed a button on my camera at some stage that didn't allow me to get the settings I wanted.  It took me a couple of days to realise what I had done.  So needless to say I am not the best photographer I am just reasonable at making them look better after I think.  But no matter I look at this lane and I get itchy feet again.  One day we will go back, to the UK and Europe and well just about anywhere will be good.  Ha ha the travel bug has bitten.

Have a great day folks.

Short & Sweet

This little cherub was running down a lane in France, near the fort in Verdun, if I remember correctly.  I have said before I love pics of people from behind and she was just so darn cute.  I put her in a photo stream over at flickr, focussing on Black & White prints.  I know she isn't totally black and white but the washed out kind of sepia look suits her don't you think?

And my favourite collectable items at the moment, well apart from baby clothing and anything girly for my beautiful granddaughter Elle, are little fat bellied birds.  I love them.  Don't know what it is exactly but I have a few now and I just smile when I look at them.  They aren't expensive and I love the vintage appeal they have.  I have textured this one's photo once again with Kim Klassen's textures, she is amazing I know I keep saying it but it's true.  And totally unrelated it is freezing here today.  They are forecasting gust of up to 90 klm's  an hour, oh my that is strong and the wind chill factor is like freezing whatever it is.  So my intention today is to stay inside, make some headbands for Elle, cook something, iron, yuk I hate ironing and maybe head up to my studio and do a bit of scrapping.  Hmm lets see just how much I get done. 

Dreamin'

It makes me wonder all those years ago what went on here.  In the grounds of the beautiful river-straddling Chateau de Chenonceau in France, stands this cotttage, covered in vines it is probably several hundred years old.  I get kinda dreamy when I look at these places, wondering about the lives of the people who lived here so long ago.  The grounds are amazingly beautiful, and yet if you were one of the workers life would have been hard.  The gentry of course had it great, servants by the handful to keep everything nice, but the lives of the servants, it's those that I dream about.  How they lived and loved and died. 

The kitchen, it was intriguing, filled with shiny brass pots and pans and fresh herbs direct from the garden.  I wonder about the meals cooked here, the hands that prepared them, the people who served them and the royalty who ate them.  The decisions to go to war, or to take control of land further afield that would have been discussed around this dining table.  I wonder.

Guedelon Castle - France

This wool, hand spun and dyed, I just can't imagine the time and talent involved in being able to do this.  Yet somehow it makes me think of a time that was easier, even though I know that isn't true.  We have so many time saving devices now that truly make our lives easier, not so hard and yet I hanker for the days of old.  That romantic notion that runs through my head calling me back centuries ago, to live a life that is simpler.  But I would have to be a lady, or a princess or a queen even.  I just don't think it would be quite so much fun if I was slaving away in the kitchen or the farm yard of the weaving room.  I'm a chicken I know, but hey that's who I am.  What about you what would you be if you could choose, what would you like to do if you were born in another century?

Daisy blooms France

In a couple of days my babies will leave home again.  This time not to fly off around the world, but to start living the independent life in a rental house we have in town.  It is wonderful and it is sad, I'll miss them and I am glad for them.  It's a good safe way to take those first steps of real independence.  They will have much more freedom to make the house theirs, hanging pictures and mucking round in the garden, changing the curtains and colour scheme within reason if they want to, than they would if they were renting from strangers.

Reflection pond at the military cemetary at Normandy France

I am interested to see how they grow and change during this experience.  Of course they have been away from home before, but that was holidaying.  They worked I know but really, and they tell me the same, it was not the same as the work they are doing here.  Working in a hotel and living with your co-workers is not the same as being the face at the door of a huge mining company or an accountant financial advisor.  They really have to be on their game here.  So I will trust and believe that away from the nest they will still be the honest, capable, trustworthy, hardworking, responsible young ladies we think they are.  Now how biased does that sound!!!

Plants gone to seed at Thoronet Abbey France

On the other hand Adrian and I will be Ma and Pa on our own again.  We are looking forward to it to.  Just having each other to cook for, to chat to, to be spontaneous and take off to the movies when we feel like it......oh it sounds great.  It took quite a while when the girls went away last time to get used to just being two, hopefully this time we will slip into gear much quicker.  We have a lot of plans for this house and the gardens and I am really hoping I can just get into it.  I do tend to get sidetracked fairly easily.  I am really good at thinking about things I would like to do, projects I could take on and then I just sort of stall.  I hate to fail and so often I just don't start then I can't say it didn't work.  I can't say I tried though either and it really ticks me off.  So I am really, really trying to break that habit and for once JUST DO IT!!!!!

Jacaranda blooms and gorgeous street lights near the Eiffel Tower France

Photography and photoshopping are high on my list, I really want to find some way of getting the things I take out there, where is there you ask?  Well anywhere that isn't just my computer and this tiny blog.  I would like to produce something with them, prints or cards or bookmarks, something, but something that hasn't already been done.  Arghh  that's the difficult part, I have to say I don't have a great imagination when it comes to things like that.  

Baskets of wool ready to be spun at Guedelon Castle France

So let's see how I go hey!?  I hope I can look back here at some time not in the too distant future and give myself a big cheer, cause I did it I actually got off my huge butt and did it!

Bloomin' France

Truly amazing, these little heart shaped flowers caught my eye in the garden of Monet.  If I can find them I will try and grow them, somehow I think they belong to France they suit each other.  The country is so lovely and the gardens some of the best I have seen in my brief travels.  I live in a city called the Garden City and we have a large carnival in September, spring here in Australia, devoted to the beautiful gardens we have here.  I love gardening myself and both Adrian and I have huge plans for our little plot of earth.  Which by the way has begun with my back breaking weeding of the clover and dandelions that have take over the lawn.  But even so our gardens pale a little beside the beautifu Monet garden in Giverny.

The lake so famous for Monet's lily painting is just delightful.  The reflections mesmerising.

Some of these plants so exotic and amazing to look at.  I could have wandered and sat and gazed for hours, but the tour called and once again we had to move on, such a shame.

The beautiful blooms though were not confined just to gardens but sidewalks and florists also.  Flowers in buckets, and market places, the sweet scents wafting in the air.  The men and women loaded up with bouquets, for a loved one or their own homes.  France is awash with beautiful blooms.

To market, to market to buy a .......

What does a morning shopping look like to you.  A drive in the car, parking undercover hopefully if it is summer or wet, trying not to forget the green bags, so I don't feel guilty about my contribution to destroying the world, plastic bag by plastic bag.  Rushing round the aisles, trying to sniff the fruit and smelling nothing, taking my number at the deli counter for the very plastic looking sandwich cuts and the dull olives and dried tomatoes.  Squeezing oranges through the plastic bag, it's cheaper to buy them prepacked, they say.  Sound familiar?  Well move to France, daily market shopping is a wonderful experience.  Most towns have a twice weekly market day and the produce comes from the farm to you.  In Cannes there is even an indentifying mark on the price signs that tells you it really is local produce.  I love that. 

The bubble of voices gets louder as the morning wears on and it isn't just about grabbing those essential items for the weeks dinners, it is chatting to the farmer or baker or cheese maker.  It is sampling the latest produce and sighing because it is just so darn good.  The colours entice and the smells seal the deal.  The excitement rises when the white asparagus comes to the show, the queues longer than most concert ticket queues.

White Asparagus is given rock star status at the beginning of the season.  And these people seem more than happy to wait in line for their bag full.

Translated Boudin a la creme means cream pudding, well I think this is like a blood sausage, I'm guessing it is creamy oh my I refuse to try this one.

Rabbit is another common meat found in the markets, I must admit I have never seen any presented like this, we rarely if ever even have them at our butchers, so this market scene was so intriguing to me.

Beautiful Beefsteak tomatoes, huge, red, juicy, smelling divine I had to have one.

Pungent smelling sausages, make my mouth water.

Here they even take their dogs to the market, this little guy looked very content in his little buggy.  Not a lot of green bags here, mostly everyone had one of these little gadgets, piled high and overflowing with the weekly purchase and of course sometimes the dogs.

What meal is complete without something sweet?  What trip to the market is satisfyingly complete without a sweet treat.  Beautiully coloured fruits, sugary  sweet and delicious tiny clementines.  Preserved oranges absolutely marvellous.  So let's go to the market, it's a totally different experience in France, well are you coming?!

Cannes - Fashion Capital of France

Now I know that the word is that Italy is the fashion capital of the world, but I beg to differ.  Cannes, France has to be in the running for that title.  The following photos are just a fraction and I mean a tiny fraction of the shots I took while in Cannes.  That little town, is filled with iconic fashion stores, Prada, Gucci, Louis Vuttion, on and on the list goes and every store front is loaded with the most mouthwatering of fashions.  Really who can't imagine or at least dream of wearing the little number oppossite, just to bring a smile to their partners face.  My number 1 daughter wants one now and she is 29 weeks pregnant, the idea is a funny one. 

She also wants the shoes below and who can blame her stunning, stunning as they are.  Do take a look at the price tag though, that should put a dent in any of your spending sprees.

These too are gorgeous, a little summer dress swinging in the breeze would just look lovely with these to spruce it up, once again though you may have to sell a few organs to buy them, oh well it would be worth it don't you think.

Of course for the more serious office attire these might ring your bell, they ring mine that's for sure and I'm sure that any crazy woman wearing these on the streets of Cannes or most anywhere in France for that matter will be needing an ambulance pretty soon.  These boots might be made for walking but the cobbled streets sure aren't made for these boots.

I look at these boots and my big rubber matrushka printed farm boots look somewhat dull compared to this.  Oh well I just can't see me hiking up the hill in either of these so back to my flat rubber jobs hey.  Then again I could always wear the flat thongs, flip flops that are on offer.

Of course you have to have matching handbags in France, well anywhere really so don't worry they have some of those too.

And of course the men are not forgotten, well really I don't know a man who would wear this but here in France I can imagine some sauve, dark haired, hunk picking up his gorgeous girlfriend in his hot cherry red porsche, which by the way also abound in Cannes.  You know a Brad Pitt look alike or a Tom Cruise wanna be.  Not my hubby or my gorgoeus son in law but out there somewhere there are men wearing orange and pink, truly.  And they are getting away with it.

Only in France could it happen with such abandon, maybe only in Cannes, the fashion capital of the world I think.  This little town is a gem.  Don't be misled, there is much to see outside of the beautiful fashion stores, the red carpet and the rocky beach.  There are tiny villages perched on mountain tops, oozing old world charm.  Olive oil stores, filled with goods waiting to be eaten, cooked, shared, washed in, used in the kitchen, there are sweet stores loaded with rose petals waiting to be poured into your champagne flute and topped with the coldest champagne you have.  There are little islands to explore and new friends to meet and eat with.  One place in France I would visit again is Cannes, fashion capital and fun capital of France.

Cannes, Helene and the diversity of France

A 5 week trip to France is most people's dream. And we have lived it.  From the city centre of Paris and the awesomeness of the Eifell Tower to the simple beauty and nostalgia of the eucalyptus avenue on Margritte Island off the coast of Cannes, to meeting a blogger friend for the first time, all of these things have made the trip for us.  But today let me dwell a little on the amazing generousity of Helene and her wonderful family.  To the left are Helene and her sons Paul and Clement taking a stroll through the avenue of gums they took us to see in France.  Having asked us to meet and spend some time with them in Cannes at the end of our trip, we were taken by zodiac to the little island off the coast.  To stroll hand in hand together with our new friends was such a lovely and unexpected treat.

Shopping in the local weekly market another great experience. Helene explained that the best fish and seafood goes straight to the restaurants and the rest to the home plate. This huge squid was in no way about to make its way into my basket.  The fruit and vegetables on the other hand were so inviting.  It will be sad to have to go to the supermarket and buy most of my food from plastic bags and not straight from the farm.

Oh did I mention Helene can cook, really cook, her blog is primarily a cooking blog so I should have expected she would be a great cook.  I did, just not this good, really, really good.  I was sick on the first night we met and she had prepared a banquet for us.  Adrian did his best for both of us though.  Then on Sunday we went for a picnic on the island and she made the best quiche ever.  Rich and creamy and dotted with big black olives.  Mouth watering.

Dinner on Sunday night began with Lobster, grilled on the barby on the verandah overlooking the night lights of Cannes and washed down with icy sparkling wine poured over rose petal jelly.  I know amazing.  Tomorrow I'll dazzle you with a little more from Cannes.

Villa & Jardins Ephrussi de Rothschild

Our last tour day and we went to the beautiful Rothschild Villa and gardens.  What a delight.  The house is truly a wonderful museum, the pieces Beatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild collected over her lifetime are housed here and it is truly beautiful.  The gardens are amazing and the wonderful musical display of the water ponds and fountains is fabulous.

 

Tomorrow we meet Helene and her family, we are so looking forward to that.  We are tired of the touring and just want to meet some people on a more one on one basis.  I have been looking forward to this for a long time now.  Only a few more days till we make our way home.

Until then a little more French adventure to take.