Moroccan Getaway...

In the mood for a lot of colour this holiday weekend...

Photo of Moroccan Marketplace items via HERE

Moroccan Cooking Recipes via HEREPainting inspired by Dar Maghreb Moroccan restaurant in Hollywood, California
Moroccan Inspired Decor via Home Décor" from West Elm

Moroccan Shopping and Recipes via HERE

Moroccan inspired interior design painting inspiration via Visual Vamp

I hope you all have a colourful weekend... full of adventure and FUN! See you Tuesday with a holiday weekend wrap up!

Ready to Review...

Asked via email to Review a new Steven Bochco series... Volunteered... Received my media kit...


Painted... a couple of the sets... one of the courtrooms... The Public Defenders Office...

Now... Here's My Review...

Set in New York City... the series “Raising the Bar” is about lawyers from the Public Defenders Office and the District Attorney Office. The series shows the relationships between the young lawyers in both offices separately, in the courtroom battling against each other, and after hours the lawyers come together as friends and acquaintances for drinks at a local establishment.
Then there are the authority figures such as an "interesting" judge, the sexist lead District Attorney and the levelheaded lead Public Defender which guide and reprimand the lawyers.

And of course, since the series involves male and female lawyers... there is a mix of romance, hints of sexual tension, flirtatious bantering and there is also the addition of homosexual rendezvous.

This is a courtroom drama series sprinkled with comical moments; many are witty, quirky and delivered with a dry sense of humor. For me, this humor is rather enjoyable.

The sound and music editing in the pilot of Raising the Bar needed some work; the music was too loud and obnoxious and didn’t fit the scenes. The set lighting was too bright and made the series look like a sitcom. However, the special effects between scenes were a nice transitioned; fading people into the picture... bravo!

There are many characters in this series. The pilot did not involve all the characters enough. The interactions between Jane Kaczmarek the “interesting” judge and Mark-Paul Gosselaar the public defender were dominate throughout the pilot.

Luckily for me and for my readers, I was sent a DVD with the pilot and another episode of the series. This second episode completing changed my opinion about this series. The music was corrected and appropriately cued, the lighting more dramatic and there was more character involvement. So my recommendation to you is, watch a few episodes... you just might get hooked!
Raising the Bar Premieres Monday, September 1st

Noon... feeling like an artist again...

Yet... I'm not feeling like myself... feeling more like a girl in a Picasso paint... Here I sit with paint brush and paint palette contemplating what to create... of course it must be something FUN to paint and with BRIGHT colours...

Like this reproduction of Picasso's "Woman with Book" ... the original work of art is hanging in the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, California... I adore it! The paint is extremely think like colourful whipped cream or frosting! Years ago I was commissioned by a friend of mine to re-create this painting... it was a JOY to paint and it now resides in her NY home!
Ok... back to the present... back to being Fifi Flowers... turning paintings into 5 x 7 stationery... perfect for printable invitations...

STORES INTERESTED IN SELLING MY STATIONERY... OR ANYONE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING STATIONERY... PLEASE CONTACT ME VIA EMAIL: Fifi@AtelierdeFifi.com

She escaped... to fairways and beaches...

Actually... I hear she's out chasing this little white ball...
She will return by noon with a post...

Late Afternoon Frame...

Red Bike in a Sunflower Field... 5 x 7" acrylic on softboard... framed 125 + 10 shipping within the US... 20.00 shipping outside the USA... Set of (8) 4 x 6 FRAMEABLE Notecards with matching art on the envelope of this painting 20.00 + 5.00 shipping USA... outside USA 10.00 shipping.

Available via EMAIL: fifi@fififlowersdesign.com

Give me a Simple Day...

Sipping lemonade... laying under a tree... watching butterflies... Or riding a bike in the country and lying in a sunflower field...
The lazy days of summer and no school are coming to an end... This time of year as my boys get ready to return to school... I remember the first day (photo above 2003) my youngest went to kindergarten and my oldest entered third grade... that meant that I would be all alone all day long... excited to have time to myself... sad when the house was so quiet after a few days... Next week... that feeling will return... and now the older they get... nearing high school and middle school... the more I realize it won't be long before they're off to college... Where does the time go?

Day in a Villa...

Spend a day at the Getty Villa in Malibu...

My painting was inpsired by this photo below taken by Barbara Jacksier on her recent visit to the Getty Villa... the rest of the photos in this post are via the Getty Villa site.
Explore the gardens and architecture...

Enjoy the exhibits...
and the permanent collection...

Dine at the Cafe and lust after the incredible views...

I have been looking for the right photo from the Getty Villa for an invitation for a non-profit organization to benefit the Braille Institute of America in March 2009 that will be held partially at the Getty Villa... and thanks to Barbara's photo and her permission... I was able to save gas... and render art work easily. I have not been to the Getty Villa since I was in art school... and since then renovations have been completed. I look forward to attending the benefit event next year to see it all in person!

Have you been to the Getty Villa since it has been renovated? Are you involved in non-profit organizations? Important to give back to your community.

And while I'm on the subject of Villas and Giving... This painting "Villa Cassandra" I recently completed for Cassandra of Coco + Kelly from a photo she submitted to me... she was the winner of the Carnival Giveaway via the Bloggy Giveaway site...

Enjoy your Day!

Time for a Coffee Chat...

Let's pop over to London Calling... she found this lovely kitchen... I thought it looked like a good place for a cup of coffee or two...

Here's a little coffee art on the walls... And another one inspired by Pia Jane Bijkerk ...

This next art is what I sent to 3 winners of my Pay It Forward post... All of them received a handpainted bookmark and a set of matching notecards. And I received a GREAT feeling of giving something to someone for no reason but to bring a smile to someone's face...

To Ronda of Ronda's Rants... "Beachside Resort"

To Rae of My Life on the East Coast "Red Stripes and Anemones"

To Camille of Rtemis "Overalls in the Garden"

When I posted I was going to Pay It Forward... I received many emails and comments from people saying they wished they were one of the 3 people to participate. They also said that even though they were not one of the chosen ones that they too would Pay It Forward anyway... Which brings me to the reason why I chose to do a "coffee chat" post today... Here is a follow up email of what one of my regular blog visitors did...

"I wanted to let you know I went to Dunkin Dounuts and I paid for the gals coffee in the car behind me.....I made sure to tell the clerk that I was not some weirdo that I was "Paying it forward" like the movie and to please tell the girl she must do the same sometime.... What fun......thanks for this post !! Kathy :)"

A few you said you were going to Pay It Forward... Did you? If so, what did you do? And anyone else who has Paid It Forward... please share!

A Parting Word from Provence...

Thank you for visiting with me!If you're interested in a souvenir from this weekend... maybe a painting... but not this one... "Chess and Wine" was SOLD to one of my guests... There are 10 more including the first one in this post... or maybe a set of (10) Provence Wine Collection notecards...
Framed Paintings are 125.00 + 10.00 shipping within the USA... 20.00 for shipping outside of the USA. Unframed Paintings are 60.00 + 5.00 shipping within the USA... 10.00 for shipping outside the USA... 10 Frameable notecards 25.00 + 5.00 shipping USA... 10.00 for shipping outside the USA.

Off to a Provence Vineyard...

Aah... fresh air... blue skies... and WINE... what more could you ask for... let's enjoy our weekend at the vineyard...Look there is a table set up for a little game of chess and a bottle of wine... just wondering... how well can one play a game of chess while drinking wine... doesn't one need to concentrate... hmmm...You know if you're up to it... let's go on a bike ride... I hear there is a place to buy fresh flowers, fruits and vegetables down the road... but we must be careful... there are some crazy drivers on the road...
Wonderful finds at the marche... I will make us some lunch... or maybe we can get a cooking lesson from Laura Neulat of A World in a Pan ... she loves to give cooking lessons in her home in Paris and the French Countryside as well... actually she travels all over... let me ring her...Lunch was fabulous... perhaps a little more exercise is in order... how about a game of tennis... watch out for that crazy dog... he likes to steal the balls... are you saying "what dog"... oh you will see him the minute you serve the ball...Wow... that was quite a work out... good game... I don't know about you... but a dip in the pool sounds delightful... ooh la la... there is more wine... I guess when you are at a vineyard, it is everywhere... all this activity and wine... I think a nap will be in order before we head out tonight...Oui... we are off to the village... A light supper... more wine... Cheers to A Good Year!Listen... I hear music and it's play with a movie in the background... how lovely... hey... look over there... don't those people look familiar...

Hmmm... that bottle of wine looks expensive... one of those fancy boutique wines... do you think they might share it with us? Oh, what do we care... we are staying at a vineyard... let's head back to the Chateau... I don't know about you, but I am very tired...this has been a long day...

Oh yes... before I drift off to sleep... whatever you do... DO NOT remove the smelly box of lavender in the window! Bon Nuit... I'm sleep in tomorrow... enjoy your day in Provence... see you Monday!

She makes me tired...

I think Fifi has lost her mind... I came over for a visit from My Dog Blog: Winston the Westie... but where is she... welllllll... she's painting of course... and she won't let me have any of that cake on the table... sigh! She has been painting non-stop today... ignoring me... look how cute I am too... you'd think she'd want to paint me... but no... she's been talking about painting a room green like Jude of RandomlyRun4istRun ... and something about a bottle of wine... or was it "A Good Year"... yes... I think that is it...
Anyway... she says she must run over to This is Glamourous... something about stealing her luggage and I believe a hat as well... hmmm...
And if that isn't enough... Fifi is begging C'est La Vie to borrow her red dress, matching shoes, wrap and purse... she says it will be perfect for watching a movie at the basin... Painting below is SOLD... and living in Sweden!
Has she absolutely LOST it... I don't know how to tell her that this weekend trip to Provence is a VIRTUAL trip... and that she is painting it... not living it... well, maybe by painting it she is living it... hmmm... Anyway... could you tell her to please let me have a piece of cake! Ooh yes, and tell her that it is ok that I dug a big hole... that's what dogs do...
And lastly before I run back home... come back tomorrow and see Fifi's weekend in Provence... or if you are a dreamer like Fifi... grab your passport causes she's running for the airport!

A Grand Entrance...

Recently... fellow blogger and Interior Designer Patricia Gray was on holiday in Italy... so I pop in virtually to have a coffee chat with Patricia here...

I told her how much I loved her photos... looked like they would make for some wonderful paintings... but I wanted her permission... she said she would love to see me paint some of her photos... and she suggested I paint a collage of some of the doors she photographed...

So here is the Italian Door Collage... What do you think... would these paintings make a nice set of notecards... hmmm... 8 Frameable notecards (the 6 doors and 2 chat locations) 20.00 + 5.00 shipping USA... 10.00 for shipping outside the USA...
Now Patricia and everyone reading this... let's virtually sit here...
Pop the cork... let's toast to a wonderful trip, wonderful photos and wonderful paintings... if I do say so myself...

Ok... everyone raise your glass to the Importance of DOORS according to Patricia... "I love doors... Front doors are the first impression the world has of your home and as the saying goes: You never get a second chance to make a first impression." Cheers!

What does your front door say about you?