Paris Sketchbook, Post 14, Montmartre
Paris Sketchbook, Post 13, Le Tour Eiffel
Paris Sketchbook, Post 12, The Hamlet at Versailles
Paris Sketchbook, Post 11, La Petit Trianon
Un Chateau de Plaisance
The Petit Trianon was gifted to Marie Antoinette by her husband, King Louis XVI in 1774. Marie Antoinette was promised in marriage to Louis when she was 10 and he was 12 years old. The marriage was a political one to form an alliance between Austria and France. This smaller palace allowed Marie Antoinette and her children a place to escape the pressure of life in Versailles during the day, but they returned to the main plaace at the end of the day. The palace is grand , but on a much, much smaller scale with sitting rooms, a music room, a nursery, and bedroom for nappping. On the ground level is the reception hall, the kitchen and servants quarters. This felt more like a home and as we walked through it, this stunningly beautiful portrait of Marie Antoinette hung over a fireplace at the front of the home. The portrait artist was Elizabeth Vegee Le Brun (1755-1842).
Delightful gravel paths lead through natural pastoral gardens winding among ponds, meadows, and follies to The Hamlett. More about this charming get away next time!
Paris Sketchbook, Post 10, Versailles
Paris Sketchbook, Post 9, Coco Chanel and Galleria Lafayette
Paris Sketchbook, Post 8, Designers on Rue Castiglione
Anyone who knows anything about fashion knows that Paris is one of THE centers for fashion in the world! Growing up, my grandmother sewed all of her own suits, dresses, and blouses using fabrics from purchased in New York City, and pattersn from Vogue. She and my mother taught me how to sew when I was 8 years old, and I made my own clothes through college. My first perfume, a gift from grandmother, was Chanel No. 5! Seeing all of these desighner names that I was familiar with since childhood, purusing fashion magazines and pattern books was surreal! From Piaget, to Dior, to Chanel, each one of these boutiques was a treasure to behold! For many years I wore J'adore Dior perfume, and I love this quote of Christian Dior's, "I have designed flower women." I would say he has designed for those who ARE flower women!
Paris Sketchbook, Post 7, Paris National Opera de Ganier
Paris Sketchbook, Post 6, Repetto Ballet Shop
Paris Sketchbook, Post 5, Rues Castiglione and Rue de la Paix
Paris Sketchbook, Post 4, Tuilleries Garden
Paris Sketchbook, Post 3, Ready to fly from Seattle to Paris!
Paris Sketchbook, Post 2
Preparing for the trip, I purchased books that had pictures that had great composition to start sketching new things I would see that I hadn't sketched before like the Eiffel Tower and cafe tables and chairs. I also started practicing my French from my high school and college days that I hadn't used for years. I
Paris Sketchbook, Post 1
Scotland Sketchbook, Post 32, Carse House and Loch Stormaway, South Knapdale, Scotland
Scotland Sketchbook, Post 31, Coulaghailtro at Port Ban and Kilberry Church, Scotland
Scotland Sketchbooks, Post 30, Cresthengan Bay and Crear, Scotland
Cresthengan Bay, and Crear, Scotland
We continued our trek, stopping to have lunch and take pictures at the summer resort café at Port Ban below Coulaghailtro. What a magnificent place to live with pastures for cattle and sheep, salt water beaches, mountain views on the islands across the Sound of Jura, and delightful burns. All my favorite places to be in God’s creation!
Continuing north we came across the cascading burn that John Campbell of Kilberry had described as the boundary between his estate and the one in Crear. We could see across open pasture lands bordered by stone fences and the stone walls that were all that remained of former tenants’ homes. I could imagine my ancestors here, their love for the land they worked, their family, and country. A bit of Queen Anne’s lace was picked as a souvenir to cherish of this incredible landscape.
Scotland Sketchbook, Post 29, Kilberry Castle and Stones, Kilberry, Scotland
Scotland Sketchbook, Post 28, Village of Kilberry, Scotland
Village of Kilberry, Scotland
We headed out early after breakfast, with the map in hand that Duncan gave us, along a one lane windy coastal road. It followed Loch Tarbert, then Loch Stornoway, and finally, around the coastline of the Sound of Jura with gorgeous views of the islands of Jura and Islay in the distance. After many beautiful vistas on a stunning summer’s day, we came upon the village of Kilberry. I can’t tell you how excited I was! We first saw the Kilberry Inn, and a beautiful home across the lane where a couple of ladies were visiting along the lane. We stopped to ask for further directions to Kilberry Castle. We had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Kennedy and her world renowned son, Richard Kennedy, Wood Artist, and viewed his art in Bole the Gallery. We also enjoyed a visit to their impeccably delightful garden! With their directions, we headed just a little further down the road to Kilberry Castle.