Painting in Paradise

Right now, a group of completely lovely and fun ladies (and one super nice and talented guy) are mixing paints, plotting compositions, cleaning brushes...all while sipping a nice chilled rose and drinking in the glorious sights, sounds and aromas of Provence.

Bill Davidson, one of our exceptionally gifted representational artists, is leading this little expedition - and reports from the field indicate that dinners at the base camp (Les Murets) are lingering into the wee hours and laughter can be  heard throughout the day and evening.

Bill Davidson: Le Professeur.

This isn't Bill's first painting workshop and the ladies accompanying him on this trip are longtime fans of his luminescent and lively work.

Bill's an enormously talented plein-air painter.

However, it is the first time they're all come together in Provence and we are hearing that these serious and committed artists are loving the daily selection of mind-blowingly beautiful scenery they get to paint.  There have been a few last-minute location changes (mostly due to the unpredictable mistral, the blustery wind that can pop up unexpectedly and wreck havoc with art supplies and paper towels.)

This little Provence piece is pure Bill Davidson...

Bill's paintings are warm, vibrant and full of light. (A Respite Corner, 11 x 14, oil on canvas)

We've been begging Ann (who is keeping an eye on the group for us) to fill us in on all the funny stories that we know are happening on the trip so far...and here's the first report:

"Today our little group was painting in Gordes and they began to attract a huge crowd of onlookers.  Bill was busy painting away and creating this drop-dead beautiful painting that had everyone ooohing and aahing.  He stepped away for a second...and one of his protegees walked right up to the painting, grabbed the brush and began acting like the painting was hers.  The spectators begain complimenting her and asking her about her technique and she was able to bask in the limelight until Bill turned around, saw her and playfully burst her bubble.  The protegee confessed over wine at lunch and had everyone howling..."

Bill in action in Gordes.

Here's the view that group had this morning...

The painting that had everyone oooohing and ahhhhing.

So far, their itinerary sounds like a little dream come true: starting off the day with a light and abundantly fresh breakfast at Les Murets, followed by a couple of hours of intense painting (and maybe a quick browse through a bustling and loud local market...)  That's a lot of hard work and sustenance is definitely in order after that, so the next few hours probably involve a delicious lunch and plenty of wine.

Lunch for hungry painters.

The multi-tasking Christophe who drives us - and pours the wine at lunch. He's handsome, too.

And the afternoon wraps up with several hours of painting an impossibly gorgeous landscape with expert instruction from Bill.  Another day's adventure might include a trip to Cassis, the picturesque fishing village near Marseille - a light-drenched painter's paradise - or a visit to a spectacular private garden.

The picture perfect harbor at Cassis.

A private tour of a spectacular garden was also on the adgenda.

As the sun is setting, dinner is served on the terrace at Les Murets...more fresh and locally-sourced food and plenty of red, white and rose to wash it all down. Yum.

Dinner on the terrace.

The good news is that we are already thinking about painting trips for next year -  and we're sure they'll fill up as quickly as you can say "wet paint."  We're hoping we can persuade Bill to come back and we think we've convinced the exuberant and lively Nancy Franke to do a couple workshops, too.
We'll be confirming dates in the next few months and if you think this sounds like a perfect trip for you, click here. We'll be in touch.

Ta ta...

Make Mom's Day...

With Mother's Day right around the corner (May 13), we're busy as little bees around here helping our dear customers and clients find exactly the right thing for their Maman.  And, while it's true we have a treasure trove of gifties here at the store, we love coming up with creative suggestions, too.  So, when we are asked our humble opinion, here's what we're saying:

Mom'll love keeping her white wine (and red, too!) perfectly chilled with The Corkcicle. We love this and wish we had invented it. $24.99.

This will keep Mom's wine perfectly chilled.

Be scent-imental with our divine selections of subtle candles. We especially adore the delicate green tea scent that we buy in France. From $42.00.

These candles have the lightest and most subtle scent.

Baubles: need we say more? We have a gorgeous collection of interesting, unusual and just plain fun jewelery. From $35.00.

Baubles for Mom are always a sure bet.

Pool Chic: we found these Tunisian foutas in France and love them for their multitude of purposes.  Surprise your mom with a couple of colorful ones, perfectly monogrammed, for her porch, pool or patio.  $42.00.

These French foutas have zillions of uses - from pool towel to table cloth and just about everything in between.

Magic Massage: all of us Huffingtons adore massages and, in particular, we like our local Massage Envy studios.  How about a series of hour-long massages for your maman?

Stylishly Shod:  ballet flats...in a bag: we couldn't resist these when we saw them.  Elegant, easy and sexy leather or suede ballet flats that fold up into a cute little leather pouch for traveling. We'd love a pair in every color. $175.00.

Just about the chic-est and softest ballet flats we've come across...

In the Bag: if you pop by the store, you can tell we love bags of all shapes, sizes and colors.  We've got a big selection of our favorites.  From about $50.00.

A stylish tote or bag will go a long way with Mom.

Abundant Flowers: yes, we know...everyone buys flowers for Mom. But what about calling a specialty florist and having something extraordinary done? We love Lush Life, which is right down the street from us.

Lush Life is right down the street from us...and we love them.

We adore art and nothing makes us happier than being the recipient of an original painting.  Check out local art festivals for inspired and emerging artists or stop by your favorite gallery.

Nancy Frank's "Nuance" 44 x 44, oil on canvas. Drool, drool.

And, we know we moms would ADORE something like this:
Maybe two tickets on our favorite airline:

Economy is fine...

And, dinner here...

This would be sublime...

Is that asking too much?  Okay, we all know it's about the gesture and the thought, not the purchase.  So, this looks really good...

Breakfast in Bed? Perfect!

And we'd be thrilled with some love, affection and attention on the side, please.

Happy Mother's Day...

Ta ta.

HH

A day in the life … in Paris

***

Don't forget that our blog is moving to our Wordpress site. We'll still be posting over here for a little while as we make the transition. Please add our new blog address to your reader:

http://huffharrington.com/category/blog/

To sign up to receive the blog via email, scroll to the bottom of the page, click RSS icon to the right of the word "Subscribe", and select the email option. We look forward to blogging with you on our new site!

***

So what DO you do in Paris all day, Sarah asked me recently, when I told her I was particularly busy and didn’t have time to call the gallery before 11 p.m. Is it all work?

Oh yes, very hard work. Let’s see all the ways:

Well, first I get up, look out the window to check on the weather …

… and walk to the boulangerie and for a croissant and breakfast. I can’t resist the flowers on the rue Cler, that look like the first peonies of the season:

But oh no, at that price .. they are Rununculus, which I guess is a poor woman’s peony. I take them back to the apartment and another oh no:

I don’t have a vase to match.

I do love the way the pink picks up the pink touches in the apartment though. And speaking of which, the pink on the back of the chair looks a little haggard, and I need to get them replaced.

So my next stop is a trip to the local upholsterer, walking three blocks carrying my chairs in two hands (this is why French women don’t get fat!). The quote to put the fabric on the back, with no welting, is about twice the cost of the chair. Oh well. Do I have a choice? I don’t think so … and I know it will look beautiful.

But here’s the problem: It’s going to take him a few weeks to upholster the chairs, and meanwhile, I need at least one more chair … so I hop on the 69 Bus (my favorite!) and head to one of my three fabulous furniture stores on the Rue du Bac, where I spend a small fortune on a “temporary” chair that is going to hold me over until mine are back from the upholsterer. Hmm … is there something wrong with this picture?

Of course while I’m in the stores, I do a little snooping to see what they’re carrying and what the latest trends are in Paris(remember that this is a “work” trip!). And I find at least one product I know we will definitely carry at Huff Harrington Home: a pair of See Up glasses at the counter, enabling people of a certain age (ahem) to read the small print without getting out their reading glasses. So cute, I just love it!!

I’m actually in Paris with Monsieur and when I tell him the next step is returning the shower faucet to the hardware store across town, there’s a little bit of whining. So here’s the deal: We’ll hop back on the 69 Bus and hope that we can sit discreetly in the back, with our shower faucet. We’ll do our best to return the faucet, and, because the hardware store is right next to the Beaubourg Museum, we’ll stop in there and check out the amazing Matisse exhibit and maybe have lunch at Chez Georges, on the rooftop, non?

Tbe Matisse exhibit is fascinating, and one of the best curated shows I’ve ever attended. I also love all the children, squirming on the floor of the exhibit with their classes …

… and the spontaneous performances of dancers that are not only condoned but actually encouraged, in this exhibit:

The reward for all this hard work is lunch on the rooftop restaurant at Chez Georges which is a tremendous treat in itself. The views are fab, the inside of the restaurant is a hoot of modern fantasy, and the outside terrace is to die for.

It’s such a gorgeous day that nobody is sitting inside, but instead …

…taking in the view from the top. A sparkling glass of rose is the icing on the cake.

Since we’re in Paris and have had a late lunch, we do what any Parisian would do … we walk. And walk. And walk. It’s a gorgeous day, and we couldn’t be happier, just walking.

We cut through some of our favorite neighborhoods, including the Palais Royal …

… by some fabulous window displays where I get a whole new appreciation for the many uses of lampshades …

… and by the Louvre museum, which never ceases to amaze me although this time I am particularly drawn to the roof lines, while thinking how much I would hate to have to replace that roof!

I make a quick visit to my bank, on the Champs Elysees, and think that this is a pretty different experience from the drive- through at Wells Fargo.

And then it’s time to split up: Monsieur wants to visit the Louvre, and Madame wants to go to the Marc Jacobs/Louis Vuitton exhibit at the Musee des Arts Decoratifs. Monsieur loves the wing of the Louvre with the BIG historic paintings by Jean Louis David, Delacroix and Ingres. Madame is smitten with the Marc Jacobs exhibit and feels like a kid in a candy store surrounded by sumptuous bags. Wouldn’t a wall of Louis Vuitton handbags make such a great display at Huff Harrington Home!

A dress by Marc Jacobs particularly captures my eye, and I realize why I like it so much:

It reminds me of one of my favorite paintings, the Comtesse d’Haussonville by Ingres, which is in the Frick Collection in New York. And then the cultural irony hits me: While Monsieur is at the Louvre viewing paintings by (my favorite artist) Ingres, I’m viewing cutting edge fashion by Marc Jacobs that reminds me of Ingres, in museums a block from each other in Paris. Ahh … Paris.

We have a date to meet at 6:30 under the Arch in the Tuileries gardens.

And then it’s time to scoot over to the Orangerie museum, where we’re attending a free piano concert of Debussy music held in the gorgeous elliptically shaped room that was built to house Monet’s waterlillies.

On the way home, we stop for a quick photo by the Place de la Concorde …

… and a must eat Steak Frites at the iconic Relais de l’Entrecote on the rue Marbeuf.

We get home, exhausted, just in time to catch the last sparkling light from the Eiffel Tower show, before we turn out our own lights.

Am I dreaming or is this Paris?

Oh, and Sarah, did I mention that I was just busy busy working all day? It’s called a reconnaissance trip. Honest!

Ta ta …

We've moved!

The day has come to close the doors on the blogspot.com location of The Artful Lifestyle. Not to worry, we'll be blogging up a storm over at our new Wordpress site. We would hate for you to miss out, so please update your reader with the new blog address:

http://huffharrington.com/category/blog/

To subscribe to the new blog, scroll all the way to the bottom of the page and click on the RSS icon next to the facebook icon (it looks like a half rainbow). There is an option to subscribe via email or in a reader format. Choose your preferred method and you'll be all set to receive updates from us.

We look forward to seeing you on the "flipside"!

Tata!

HH

We’re live!

Back when Huff Harrington Home was just a germ of an idea, we were jumping up and down when we found our fabulous space in the old Mercedes Benz dealership on West Paces Ferry. Finding the space, we thought, was the hardest part…and the rest would fall into place.

We knew it was pushing it to open on 11/11/11 (a date we couldn’t forget) but it never seemed too daunting. After all, we had a container of goodies that was happily sailing across the ocean, a fabulous staff ready to roll up their sleeves, a brand new and very expensive POS system that we were sure would solve the world’s problems, and some lovely, loyal gallery clients who promised to visit when we opened. So what more did we need?

On November 10^th we looked at each other and blearily blurted, after a month of hard labor and just a smattering of sleep, “Darn – we really should have a website.” It’s not that we hadn’t thought of it earlier, it’s just that we thought we could get by without it … at least for a while.

So a day or two after we caught our breath and opened our doors, we embarked on another project that was every bit as daunting as opening the store. If you’ve read our previous blog about the birthing of this baby, you’ll know that some of us approached the whole project kicking and screaming. It wasn’t that we loved our old website or didn’t think it needed to be changed. It was the fear of giving up control. Because this time, it was designed by a real professional (unlike us), who may be the most talented designer in the world (we think she is), but who lives miles away and actually isn’t at our beck and call every minute (unlike us!).

Sure enough, there was a scare sometime in early January when we happened to be on a buying trip and received an email from a client who was looking at something on our website that we knew didn’t exist. What website is she viewing, we wondered? And then a rush of panic. OMG, the website is live!! It turns out someone had accidentally pulled the trigger before we were anywhere near ready, and we spent a frightening 24 hours trying to restore our old website and get everything back to normal. These things happen, but for one of us at least, it was cause for the inevitable “I told you we shouldn’t give up control of this!”

Our website team has been working fast and furiously to get everything up to speed. We realized, much to our disappointment, that the pictures we wanted to use, like this:

looked pretty terrible when we uploaded them onto the site – and so we needed to reshoot most of our product shots.

Or products that we cropped from other photos, like this:

were really unacceptable and needed to be reshot, like this.

We also realized that our blog format, one that we’ve become very familiar with and attached to, wouldn’t work with the new site. So that meant hours of learning, training and eye straining work to get that up to speed.

And then we learned that just about every picture on the site had to be resized and recropped to fit the new format, which was a whole other eye straining exercise. Or that vertical photos, like this:

… had to be reshot to be square, like this.

It’s not perfect yet – there are dozens more pictures that need to be shot and equally as many that need a little editing. But our website is close enough for publishing and once again, we are jumping up and down – and wondering, what took us so long?

But enough about us! Let’s talk about you, and what you think of us!! Do you like our new site? Can you find everything OK? Is it easy to navigate? And does it provide what you’re looking for?

We know there’s still a lot that needs to be done but we try to remind ourselves that “Home” wasn’t built in a day – and neither was the website. So as we continue to grow and improve it, we hope you’ll come visit us often – and give us your feedback and suggestions.

Because after all the time and effort it’s taken to build, right now we’re just happy to be ‘live'!

Tata,

HH

PS A huge thank you to our incredibly talented website designer, Mara Lubell, and her amazing team of Kristi and Paul at WorksProgress Design.