Les racines du ciel from Dominos on Vimeo.

Hand made wallpapers. Domino, two talented guys team to produce dreams on walls. Thanks to Thierry for pointing this way.

2 photographs taken in the apartment of Mademoiselle Chanel, rue Cambon. I am considering a large platinum print with one of them. But which ?

Diamonds from this morning's dew.

I am immensely fortunate to have the most extraordinary printer living near by in Salies de Bearn. Laurent Lafolie, whom I have mentioned several times before has just achieved this remarkable platinum print of the glasses of Yves Saint Laurent. Apart from the fact that Laurent has become a master in this particularly demanding technique on a large scale, he is himself a very talented photographer. Such knowledge and know how should be treasured. Laurent is AMAZING. If you have a good negative and would like a stunning platinum print, don't hesitate to contact him directly. lafolie.laurent@orange.fr Take my word, you don't know it until you've seen it.(and he is not expensive, not yet.)

The latest clay sculpture with a white glaze. Clay imitating wood or textile.

It is a tradition to honor the first blooming rose of the year. This tree grew from a cutting I took from the original plant which was growing on the wall of an old lovely cottage neighboring our house. The property was bought recently and the new owners destroyed the cottage to replace it by a modern ugly bungalow.

©Valery Lorenzo I was particularly spoiled today by receiving TWO illustrated letters the same day. One from Valery ,one from Beth. What a treat !

Le furlane di Venezia known as venetian slippers. Born at the end of the second world war, these shoes were and are still produced in the countryside of the close Friuli Venezia Giulia region, using offset materials such as old bicycle tyre for the waterproof sole, jute sacks for the sole cushioning, fabrics and rags coming from old dresses, today it is velvet, for the shoe uppers. Home made at no costs, substitute of the longed for but too expensive leather shoes, they began to spread in Venice where, among others, were worn by the gondoliers because the rubber sole didn't ruin the gondola's varnish. Soon enough the furlane were adopted by the British visitors and became many a Lord's favorite slippers and can still be purchased in a charming little shop at the foot of the Rialto Bridge.

Spring, my favorite season.

The garden this evening.

Dogs in Vogue by Judith Watt. Page 277, my modest contribution to the subject with a portrait of Luna, Jonathan and Ronnie Newhouse's dog on Manolo Blahnik's lap.

Black tulips just bloomed in the garden. Couldn't pass unnoticed... a worthy subject for a still life... made me think of a dear friend who had a house in Maine with black tulips blooming til July.

" 8 episodes in the life of a sailor ".About the spirit of the sea, a friendly follower of this blog recently placed an order for a print of a sailor saying she had a thing for the sea. That is something we have in common. I'm haunted by the sea and had a very romantic idea of life at sea until I experienced it. Though I have countless photos on the subject, here is a collection of sketches I did almost 15 years ago after my first transatlantic. Looking at them again, reminds me that whatever you do at sea, you do on a moving floor and like my fellow sailor once said 

" Quand on est en bateau, on est souvent sur l'eau. "

It rocks. Merci a Monsieur A.

Marino Marini at the Guggenheim.