Green, Wild and Unpatterned

Louesa Roebuck's new flower shop in San Francisco. 

"I wanted a physical space where people can walk in and smell lemon verbena and quince and Saint Helena sage." Read the article here.

Postcard from the Villa Noailles Cubist Garden, Hyeres - France

Cubist garden at Villa Noailles

The modern gardens of Guevrekian and his contemporaries represented a shift from relating the garden to nature to a relation of the garden to human. As Dorothee Imbert says "Designers of these gardens did not attempt to represent a slice of the natural world – neither seeking a Cartesian or Virgillian ideal – but instead displayed a plastic composition of lines and surfaces built with living and inert materials, and framed like a picture." (Imbert 1997 p. 170) The garden became an extension of the house, an architectonic form.

Gabriel Guevrekian's garden for Charles and Marie-Laure de Noailles at Villa Noailles had an imposed space whose triangular shape the clients and Mallet-Stevens viewed as suited to Guevrekian's new design style. Noailles had consulted both Mies van der Rohe and le Corbusier before employing Mallet-Stevens. He wanted artifice in his landscape. The Villa commanded great views of the Côte d’Azur and Noailles wished to contrast this strongly with an enclosed and architectonic ensemble that framed the natural whilst delineating ownership. (Imbert 1997 p. 130-132)

The disregard for the needs of the plants in the Noailles garden and the differing growth rates soon disrupted the balance of the design and prompted Charles de Noailles, himself a famous amateur gardener, to replant the design entirely, not long after its instigation. It was, however, a progression on the Paris garden by its regard for physical occupation.
(Source: Wikipedia)

Postcard from London

Last June. Just after opening day.

The Serpentine Gallery Pavilion latest installation by Sou Fujimoto. London
http://www.serpentinegallery.org/

Neighboring Sounds

Si je me souviens bien...La dernière fois que je suis allée au cinéma c'était , il y a un an environ, pour y voir Pina de Wim Wenders...Depuis, le temps est passé et je n'avais pas de grand désir d'aller voir un nouveau film. Une longue période de jachère, me direz-vous. C'est vrai. Et j'admets que cela m'a fait du bien, aussi.

Alors lorsque Marco et moi avons décidé de retourner au cinéma pour voir un film, nous espérions un film qui puisse nous inspirer, nous enrichir, nous habiter un peu, aussi. Cela n'arrive pas tous les jours.

Il y a dix jours, Marco a trouvé une perle rare qui ne m'a pas fait regretter d'avoir attendu aussi longtemps avant de retourner voir un film. Il s'agit de Neighboring Sounds du réalisateur brésilien Kleber Mendonça Filho. La bande-son, orchestrée par DJ Dolores - que j'ai vue en concert à Lyon et que j'aime beaucoup, par ailleurs- est impeccable. La musique d'ouverture, Requiem pour un C.. de Gainsbourg donne le ton et tout s'enchaîne dans une logique implacable.

À vous de voir!
----
The last time I went to the theatre was to see Pina, a year ago or so...Ten days ago, Marco and I decided to go see a film. In no time, Marco found a matching time, theatre and film. We were off to the Tiff Bell Lightbox to see Neighboring Sounds, a Brazilian movie directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho.
The opening music, Requiem pour un C.. by Serge Gainsbourg, was of good omen for the rest of the film. Flawless, to my taste.

The Bubble!

I don't know. It might be too intricately conceptual to inspire me.

C'est la St Valentin!

by Kate Spade, New York.

À quoi ça sert l'amour ?

Pour y répondre, voici une chanson d'Edith Piaf *, sur une merveilleuse animation de Louis de Clichy.

 

* une chanson de Michel Emer (paroles et musique), interprétée par Édith Piaf et Théo Sarapo pour la première fois en 1962.

Paroles:

À quoi ça sert l'amour ?
On raconte toujours
Des histoires insensées.
À quoi ça sert d'aimer ?

L'amour ne s'explique pas !
C'est une chose comme ça,
Qui vient on ne sait d'où
Et vous prend tout à coup.

Moi, j'ai entendu dire
Que l'amour fait souffrir,
Que l'amour fait pleurer.
À quoi ça sert d'aimer ?

L'amour ça sert à quoi ?
À nous donner d' la joie
Avec des larmes aux yeux...
C'est triste et merveilleux !

Pourtant on dit souvent
Que l'amour est décevant,
Qu'il y en a un sur deux
Qui n'est jamais heureux...

Même quand on l'a perdu,
L'amour qu'on a connu
Vous laisse un goùt de miel.
L'amour c'est éternel !

Tout ça, c'est très joli,
Mais quand tout est fini,
Il ne vous reste rien
Qu'un immense chagrin...

Tout ce qui maintenant
Te semble déchirant,
Demain, sera pour toi
Un souvenir de joie !

En somme, si j'ai compris,
Sans amour dans la vie,
Sans ses joies, ses chagrins,
On a vécu pour rien ?

Mais oui ! Regarde-moi !
A chaque fois j'y crois
Et j'y croirai toujours...
Ça sert à ça, l'amour !
Mais toi, t'es le dernier,
Mais toi, t'es le premier !
Avant toi, 'y avait rien,
Avec toi je suis bien !
C'est toi que je voulais,
C'est toi qu'il me fallait !
Toi qui j'aimerai toujours...
Ça sert à ça, l'amour !...

IDS13

 

Attended Trade Day at the IDS. It was Lola's first immersion in the world of Design Shows at age 18 months an our little trio had a very good time.

This year what caught my eye, besides the sexy Italian kitchens of Scavolini and the light fixtures by Fontana Arte, was the booth of landscape designers and architects firm Earth Inc. Three very friendly men with a clear vision, not to mention the fact that they love France and The International Garden Festival in Chaumont ...

On my wall...

Inspiration for Vertical Garden Design

Wulingyuan is located in the Hunan Province in southern China

Saxifraga stolonifera on a shady and moist rock.

Double Chalice, Kendall Buster.

 

Pharmacienne de Cédric Roulliat

Merci Cédric Roulliat & Co.!

Une petite vidéo pour faire passer la pilule en douceur.

Comme Mary Poppins le dit si bien: 'Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down!'

La Route des Fantômes à l'AfT

Pourquoi ces croix qui longent la route ?
Qui sont les Colocolo et que nous veulent-ils ?
Sommes-nous au paradis – ou en enfer ?

Le photographe Brian Damude vous donne rendez-vous mercredi prochain pour le vernissage d'une exposition photo incroyable, vous conduisant à travers l'Amérique du Sud, du Salar d'Uyuni en Bolivie en passant par le Chili. 

VERNISSAGE

 mercredi 23 janvier

 à 18h30 

à l'Alliance française de Toronto

24 Spadina Rd

Toronto

New Year's Resolutions

Be bold + decisive!

Rethink Pink...

On my wall of inspiration:

Design by Piet Oudolf

Céline- Collection: Fall 2012

Villa Planchart. Caracas, Venezuela, 1956. Designed by Gio Ponti.

Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2003 by Oscar Niemeyer
© Sylvain Deleu

My morning with Jimmy Smith

This morning I woke up to the organ music of Jimmy Smith, an inspirational choice of my dear Marco, of course.
Instantaneous Happy Mood guaranteed!

Une pastorale pour Noël avec Shayne Gray & Co.

Un premier cadeau :
une très, très charmante pastorale pour célébrer l'approche de Noël!

I would like to share with you a charming, charming lyrical ballad that Shayne Gray directed for our greatest pleasure.

The song 'La Rouille' (the rust) is by ARLT (in French).

Enjoy!

My weekend with Marco, Lola and...Sophie.

Marco and I just discovered the delicious side of Miss Sophie Dahl last weekend! What a bliss!
You probably already know her or have already seen her beautiful face in fashion magazines as she was a big super model back in the days.

In this BBC cooking show, she truly is delightful. And her recipes are knock-outs!
Thanks to Sophie, I have found what to bake for my upcoming Xmas tea time parties, I will make her scrumptious flourless chocolate cake with cream and fresh fruit. Check it out!



And then on Christmas Day, Marco and I have decided on our brunch menu: Cheese souffle buckwheat blinis+scrambled eggs+salmon.



We are definitely looking forward to the Holiday Celebratory Season!

Happy preparations to you too for your Holiday festivities! EN-JOY!

Nouvelle Vague au Harbourfront Centre!

Nouvelle Vague: The New French Domestic Landscape

A+A Cooren, Pierre Favresse, Studio NOCC, POOL, Ionna Vautrin

September 29 - December 23, 2012

Curated by Cédric Morisset

It’s difficult to believe that in such a sluggish economic climate, France has never known such a creative and entrepreneurial frenzy in the design world.
In a matter of three years, the design industry has seen more designers, independent labels and design galleries emerge than over the past 10 years.
In this short time their pioneering studio work, production, and promotion of new objects and furniture collections has allowed a new generation of designers to stand out. This exhibition recognizes the designers who are an integral part of the community’s recent success. Among the numerous new faces, five had presented for the first time new work in prototype editions and small production during the Milan Furniture Fair in 2011. Radically different from each other, but united in the spirit of collaboration and solidarity, these designers are risk-takers in the new French domestic landscape.

– Cédric Morisset

This Exhibition is presented by Harbourfront Centre in partnership with the Consulate General of France in Toronto, and with support from the Institut français.

 

One of...My Secret Gardens in Toronto

Here is the series of snapshots I took during a late September visit at my good gardener friends' enclosed secret repose.
Their garden offers a great sense of harmony and inspires beauty. They work with meticulous care on the selection of their species, and never compromise on their good sense of balance and proportions. I like this garden because it clearly offers repetition, and variety of form, while showing interesting texture and a cohesive colour scheme, which successfully was inspired by Vita Sackville West's Sissinghurst 'white garden'.

 Mille mercis à C. & A. pour ce délicieux moment passé dans votre jardin!

Luis Jacob: Show your Wound

Birch Libralato is pleased to present the solo exhibition
Luis Jacob: Show Your Wound

 The exhibition runs from September 13 to October 13


Birch Libralato
129 Tecumseth  Toronto, Canada M6J 2H2
(416) 365-3003
gallery hours Wednesday to Saturday 11-5 or by appointment

Andrew Putter: still lifes - photographs

A couple of weeks ago, Marco and I enjoyed a wonderful weekend in Montreal and Ottawa.  

In Ottawa, we visited one of the current exhibits at the National Gallery, 'Flora and Fauna: 400 Years of Artists Inspired by Nature'. I was not blown away by the whole exhibit but it was well worth it as I discovered the work of South African photographer, Andrew Putter with his series Hottentots Holland: Flora Capensis

Hottentots Holland: Flora Capensis 1, 2008

 

Marco Jacob's latest design: Airy Granite!

Brass and granite coffee table - Design by Marco Jacob, 2012.

Marco designed this coffee table for his twin brother, Miguel Jacob, the fashion photographer.
*******
La dernière création en date de Marco Jacob. Une table basse circulaire, plateau en granit et pieds en cuivre poli (H:30cm / L: 90cm).

Picasso's Private Collection at the AGO: Go!

Picasso's Picasso.
Not to be missed.
May 1- August 26, 2012.

For more info about the artist, the exhibition and other related programs, visit: www.ago.net/picasso
NB: And if you are a BMO customer, you can get 30% discount. Offer ends Aug. 12. Info: http://t.co/Fcb60a36