Cote Sud Color

For years and years I collected Côté Sud magazines. Oh why didn't I bring my stacks with me to Paris? ;(

It was all round thrilling to attend their Salon Côté Sud Vivre in Aix and as presse no less. It's still going on today so you can run there VITE!

The magazine has always been an amazing source of inspiration. And the Salon didn't disappoint.

COLOR COLOR COLOR of such intensity. The most beautiful combinations. These are from Les Toiles du Soleil. That's my fan btw. They have a divine shop on west 19th street in New York. I am marching over to their Paris shop toute a suite to get me some more COLOR! I'm in love...

La Table de Nana asked me if people were wearing linens and balloon trousers. How did you know? And why didn't you tell me ahead so I could blend in...

Jeanette, Mistress of Longears asked me what paints I travel with.

I take my basic Kremer paintbox (although I moved the pans (I only use pans but refill with Winsor and Newton tubes when traveling) into my mom's old paintbox. I do use Winsor and Newton Brt Sienna, Fr Ultramarine, Cerulean, Permanent Rose for their nice washy quality. I take only a small sketchbook 6" x 8" to do color studies and thumbnails in. Plus a bunch of old paint brushes on their last legs but I love Da Vinci Junior synthetics series 303. I use real artist grade colors. Would you buy cheap hamburger for your family? Never! So please think the same way about your watercolor paints.

Honestly PBers...tsk tsk

The natural colors of Provence are just stunning bien sur - small olive trees - I wanted to take one of these home...

The regional Provencal foods at the Salon were simply out of this world and not pricy. I couldn't find anything comparable near where I was staying. Too many touristy joints for the masses so I saved myself for the salon and lived on apricots and almonds...

My raspberry tarte and lemonade. but I also had tartines of tapenade, anchoaide, fig confit...miam miam

I could have really used one of these hats. Next time!

I did buy peach soaps on a rope from Cote Bastide. YUM

There were loads of soapy- spa items made from regional olive oils etc.





Of course the Rose was flowing!!



And PLENTY of ice cream/glace for tired, hot ole moi. Nothing like an ice cream to perk you up instantly is there? Do take a look at Cote Sud magazine for instant perks and mountains of inspiration!