Printemps

Printemps. Spring in Paris. Time to get busy making beautiful things. That is definitely what I have been doing lately. Making memories, picnics, and of course- lamp shades.With parks packed with rows and rows of perfectly manicured lawns and trees trimmed to horticultural haute couture, Paris is the perfect place to get inspired by the spectacle of Spring. Awakened by sunny mornings, the day blossoms into 76deg. bliss. Up near Sacré Coeur or near our apartment in Montmarte, I sew and shape shades three days a week, and spend the other four exploring and eating my way through the arrondissements with my lover, Jay.

It’s not easy to find time to write when there is so much to imbibe, inspire, and enjoy. To start-Parc Monceau, a natural styled park with many hidden monuments and sculptures enfolded in its foliage. Compared to the Tuileries or Jardin de Luxenbourg, this is a very casual urban respite. Gardens in Paris serve the purpose of allowing our overly-stimulated eyes to find repose and rest for a while. Paris is crazy with architecture, beauty, graffiti, and women’s shoe stores to peruse. It’s a much needed break that comes when-though you are not allowed to trample the grass-you can sit in one of the famous Luxembourg lawn chairs and just space out on marble fountains, topiary trees and…dogs pooping on the perfect lawns. Well, Paris would be far too pristine if not for the occasional gelato covered child careening into you after a soccer ball, dog droppings to dodge, and pigeons to contend with(the huge horse chestnut trees are beautiful, but sit under them at your own risk).

But oh, Spring in Paris. Full of color, flowers, giant-and I mean GIANT-chocolate Easter eggs(joyeuses Paques!). I have yet to unravel the mystery of what fish-shaped chocolates have to do with April 1^st...but stay tuned.