ARTIST'S PORTRAIT * CAROL GILLOT

Artist, Francophile and blogger Carol Gillot at work

Even before I first started blogging, I read about Carol Gillot and her charming watercolor paintings on Rita Konig's Domino blog. I have since been an ardent admirer of her work. She sells originals and prints of her work on her blog and in her Etsy shop. She also authors a charming blog that features all sorts of interesting photos and information on French life and culture from her frequent trips to Paris. Her posts are filled with fascinating tidbits of information, all imbued with her affection for the City of Lights. Today, she has taken the time to give us a peek into her own background and life.

Where were you born?

Abbington Hospital in Pennsylvania at 3 AM

What would you take if your house was burning down?

My favorite old black watercolor paintbox (it was my mother's), my favorite brushes and my passport.

Best childhood memory?
Going with the family for ice cream cones every Sunday and going by myself to the 5 &10 in Jenkintown to browse and comparison shop for my dollhouse.

Your favorite book?

"Life of Pi" by Yann Martel

If you could have only 1 last meal, what would you want on the menu?

Burnt marshmallows, popcorn, coffee ice cream, milk shake, caramel macarons from Laduree, a bacon sandwich and an apple.

Do you prefer hot weather or cold?

Cold weather always!

Favorite artists?
Wayne Thiebaud, Delacroix drawings, Steinberg.

Pet peeve?

People rustling candy wrappers in the theater

Favorite travel destination?

Paris of course, then Rio...

Favorite shop?
Fauchon, when it was open in New York- I used to go religiously every Sunday to worship.

Most visited links?
Laduree

Mes Vitrines

Simon Says

Easy Fashion

What is the best thing about being an artist?

You get to paint 24/7. It's also the worst thing about being an artist - extreme focusing.

Thank you, Carol! Don't forget to visit her blog here.

INTRODUCING.....ANNECHOVIE PERSONALIZED CALLING CARDS

The latest addition to my line of prints and stationery are personalized calling cards available now in my shop.

Happy Monday.

CUSTOM SILHOUETTES

These are two custom silhouettes that I created for a client in Chicago of her two dogs, Bernie and Henry. I am also happy to capture your children or a loved one in any size or color combination. These would make a great gift for a birthday or the holidays. Contact me for more info here.

I hope that you all have an outstanding weekend and I will see you on Monday!

ELLE DECOR FASHION ISSUE

The October issue of Elle Decor is an especially juicy one that features the homes of some fashion industry leaders such as Ralph Lauren, Frederic Fekkai and Jeanine Lobell, whose living room is featured in the above photo (by William Waldron).

The Lobell/Edwards residence is full of light, style and verve and the best part: they show a LOT of rooms, which is something you don't often see when a magazine does a spread on someone's home. Designer Rafael Cardenas really infused their living environment with joi de vivre.....check it out for yourself on the newsstand or online here.

CATCH-UP

I hope that you had a good weekend! I am a little behind as I was out of town and am now trying to play catch-up with correspondence and work on a large scale commission that's due soon!

I love this room by designer Tracey Garet. the colors are great and that velvet sofa is calling me....looks to me like a perfect place to spend a few hours devouring some design books and my favorite magazines.

LET THEM EAT CAKE

I want to wish you all a wonderful weekend. I thought I'd end the week on a sweet note with a photo by my brother, Jeremy. Love that cake! See more of his work here.

KATHERINE RALLY TEXTILES

Who doesn't love a story of a talented couple who leave behind a predictable existence and strike off to a distant land to make their dreams a reality? This is the story behind Bali-based Katherine Rally Textiles, created by husband and wife team Katherine and Rally Dupps. Their line of classic and brilliant batiks is just the thing to add some bold stokes of color and pattern to your surroundings. Fabrics, table linens, wall art and accessories are all printed with an exotic flair evocative of an exotic life abroad. Check out their site and read more here .

AT HOME IN VIRGINIA

I just love it when I get an email from a happy customer who wants to show me how they've hung my work in their home, office or apartment. These photos are from Erin White in Virginia who has framed several of my chair prints very creatively. The bright hues of the prints really pop on the neutral gray walls. Thank you, Erin!

DIARY OF LOVELY GIVE-AWAY

I want to wish Helena, the talented blogger who started A Diary of Lovely, a very happy 1 year anniversary! Helena's UK based blog is chock-full of great finds and interviews with artsy folks who make cool things.

I am sponsoring a give-away on her blog today, so be sure and stop by to enter and check out her fun blog. Tell her I sent you!

PAGODA PRESS

I recently discovered a great new design blog- Pagoda Press. The talented woman who runs this, Tessa McAuliff, wrote to tell me she was posting a mention on my work. She also put together some great collages of my work (below) Thanks, Tessa! You can check out the post here.

Tessa has a great eye for color and I love how she transformed her own daughter's room (below)

Pagoda Press

LIGHT A MATCH

No explanation needed. A witty and colorful solution for a very banal object.  Available here.

MERCI

Anchor Cottage 

Wishing True

Dolce Dreams

Five Sixteenths

Style Court

Mrs. Blandings

I want to thank all of these wonderful blogs for the very kind mentions recently!

Also, a BIG thank you to all of you who take the time to read or comment - I truly appreciate you all.

Happy Labor Day weekend to my fellow Americans and a lovely September weekend to the rest of you!

A BLONDE MOMENT

I must've been standing on my head lately because I have had a series of what some like to call "blonde moments". I completely forgot to announce the winner of the Dolce Dreams Give-Away yesterday as I had promised. I would like to congratulate Loui - you are the winner!

A huge thanks to Nathalie at Dolce Dreams for sponsoring the generous give-away.

**On a side note, I have been struggling with some carpal tunnel issues recently, so please forgive my lack of response to your comments. I am trying to nip a case of CTS in the bud by taking it easy with my keyboard. I do appreciate all of your comments and will get around to visiting your blogs again soon!