Paris! Heaven for Surface Designers
Paris, the city of light, love, and inspiration.
I’m still in Paris, writing this the night before I return home. I love spending time in this beautiful city, reconnecting with my childhood neighborhood. A trip to Paris never disappoints.
As a surface pattern designer, Paris continues to be an important source of inspiration for me. Everywhere you look, shop windows, building architecture, parks and museums are filled with unique elements that inspire me. So many pictures to bring home!
During my week in Paris, I indulge in various activities that always seem to inspire me creatively. I spend most of my days museum hopping, visiting places like the Musée d'Orsay, and the small and very special Musee du Luxembourg.
The special exhibit at the Orsay currently is about Degas and Manet, who were contemporaries. Not much is known about their relationship although they did know each other.
The Luxembourg museum is showcasing Leon Monet, Claude’s older brother, who had a career creating unique colors that would work on various fabrics. Totally fascinating.
The paintings, textures, colors, and shapes in each exhibit were awe-inspiring and gave me a fresh perspective on how I can use patterns in my work. There was even a portrait exhibit where all of the work was done in pastels!
When I’m not museum hopping, I hang out in the city's numerous cafes, enjoying my “cafe creme” and people watching, a favorite pastime here. Parisian cafes are filled with patterns, from the tiled floors to the decorative wallpaper, and even the plastic wicker chairs that you sit on along the sidewalk.
Of course, I have to do some shopping while I’m here and I generally get a list of requests from family members. One sister is a tea lover, and I always pick up her favorite Marco Polo blend from Mariage Frères. For my niece, I found a cute outfit from Jacadi - it’s a fabulous pink Liberty print summer dress. My husband and son are both willing to indulge me and claim to like the floral dress shirts that I bring back from Michel Axel for them. And for myself, I found two blouses from Comptoir des Cotonniers, which have gorgeous patterns on them.
Paris, in my opinion, is a city best explored on foot. Walking around the city always gives me the opportunity to observe patterns in the architecture, including the intricate ironwork on balconies, textures on the cobblestone streets, and gorgeous patterns in nearly every store window. And walking means I can indulge in more pastries!
I’m always sad to leave but return home filled with new collection ideas. I can’t wait to get started on them.
xo,
Anne
It’s Never Too Late to Create®
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MEET ANNE
Hi…I’m Anne!
My creative inspiration comes from a lifetime of observation. I grew up in Paris on the Place St. Sulpice and walked to school through the Luxembourg gardens. And that was only the beginning… Learn more by watching the video on my About page.
