Sara Midda's South of France

Tomorrow I'm off early to Aix-en-Provence for Salon Cote-Sud Vivre

Does this look like Provence? It ain't. It's just around the corner from here on 'villa Juge'. Any street in Paris called villa will look a lot like you just stepped into the provinces - villagy and cosy with bright colors and shutters, so keep an eye out for 'villa' streets...

I've been collecting Cote-Sud magazines for years. They're simply gorgeous and full of visual inspiration. They were the hardest thing I had to toss when I moved here...

So I'm pretty thrilled to be actually attending the Cote-Sud event. I stayed in Aix eons ago for 6 weeks with Chantal Deltour. Bonjour Chantal!

Chantal took me for a delightful picnic on Cezanne's Mont St. Victoire. But it was impossible to sit down - all sharp thistles. I won't be doing that again. I will try to visit Cezanne's atelier this time...

I'm staying 2 days so perhaps I'll get to a marché...I still have the necklaces I bought at the marché...hmmm

Here's my assignment - to eat as many local specialties as possible. Do you have any favorites I shouldn't miss out on?

My absolute favorite book on the South of France is by Sara Midda.

It's maybe my all time favorite book.

Formated like a casual sketchbook yet every page is evocative and exquisite.

I dream of making my book like Sara's...

Sara Midda is British and a bit of a mystery. She does still illustrate many wonderful books but nothing quite as intimate as this one IMHO. A quiet genius. Definitely a labor of love...

If you've never looked at Sara Midda's South of France you have a big treat in store. It's an utter delight and there's nothing else like it out there either. Enjoy!