❀ vina@bmtv ❀

Spring is in the air! And what better way to realise it than a change of diet … scrumptious salads and the herbs that form “secret ingredients” to a French dish.

Here are two postcards from Paris and from my collection showing the greens for salads and herbs the French use … so different from Asian vegetables and herbs!

And if you notice the postcards … the French are just incredible when they take something ordinary like “simple green plants” – re-arrange them in just the right position, pattern and composition for photography, et voila! You get this absolutely fabulous postcard of what they eat!

The Book of Kells, Ludaea

I am just crazy about finding beautiful journals and collecting them everywhere and whenever I travel, and I particularly love blank page journals or reporter’s notebooks where I can be free to either sketch or write as I please without conforming to lines that remind me of penmanship classes in primary school, although I must admit, I still practice calligraphy and love it.

Handstitched Zen, Bodhidharma

It’s also hard for me to work with a lined page as my handwriting’s very tiny and I always feel there’s too much space that needs filling up if the lines are set and aren’t compact enough to contain the height of my letters. I’ve also given up on using a PDA predominantly to take notes because it’s hard to find batteries in some countries I visit, or it’s hard to charge up the unit because of different electrical outlets. Although my choice of a PDA in technologically advanced countries where WIFI access is everywhere, would always include a detachable, foldable standard keyboard so I can carry something compact around to type into if I’m in a techno frame of mind and not so much in a traditional fountain pen and paper mood. I can’t stand those tiny keyboards where you have to use your thumbs or a metal stylus to type. I find they’re not at all practical to use.

I guess you’ll understand how I can’t do away with the traditional notebook in my bag given some technical drawbacks I’ve experienced to PDAs. Although I’ll still admit to being a gadget freak.

French Ornate, Mini Vert

PaperBlanks is a concept of a publisher I met in Maison & Objet when he first decided last year in the January 2005 exhibit to showcase the kind of books he’s passionate about publishing and making available to the public. He explained to me that he just simply loves beautiful books and the creation of beautiful books, even without content. So what better way to produce these beautiful books than to have them available in notebooks, journals, day planners and address-books for regular use.

Lyon Florals, Swirling Peacock Ivory

His presence then in Maison & Objet was, for me, important in establishing the exceptional quality, attention to detail and luxe positioning of his books, as it can only be through France, I feel, and the availability of international products not of French origin in French outlets that enables a global acceptance of a new design concept.

I was quite happy to find and buy his books in a French as well as a Hong Kong bookstore this year.

French Ornate, Noir-Cuivre Wrap

What’s also special about PaperBlank is the publisher’s acquisition of rare and old French prints which he now owns and uses on the covers of these magnificent books. The “French Ornate and Lyon Florals” lines are pattern designs dating from the 1860s and taken from the beautiful fabrics executed in the Jacquard loom silk-weaving tradition. They were master patterns hand-painted prior to machine production and some were inspired drawings taken from the natural world. The French Ornate and Lyon Florals are reproduced with astonishing fidelity to the original striking French fabric designs.

They are a PaperBlanks exclusive and really rich and precious to behold.

Tribal Embroidery, Tribal Four

The problem I now face is all I want to do is collect these notebooks and not even write in them as I feel they’re just too pretty to taint with my doodles and notes.

If you want to consider a thoughtful gift to a friend who loves to write, this is one good suggestion, although like me, it might be hard to write in these books because they are just too beautiful, so I would suggest you reassure your friend s/he can always re-order a new one of the same pattern or a different one of her/his choice. I’m still trying to convince myself to start scribbling in at least one of the four books I’ve bought previously.

Embellished Manuscript, Mozart

What’s also interesting to note is that PaperBlanks introduces an advocacy in education and is offering financial support for further study for students wishing to obtain international experience in the areas of literature, design, music and dance.

So it’s really nice to buy from a company that tries to give something back to the world especially in terms of education, which is what I feel strongly about and will always try to support.

==> PAPERBLANKS @www.paperblanks.com

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It all started with these over-rated Harrods branded PVC shopping bags practically everyone in Hong Kong was toting around. It’s like everyone in Hong Kong just had to advertised they’ve either been to the U.K. and had their shopping done in Harrods, or paid a flight attendant they know for the supply of those awfully designed bags. I refuse to showcase them because they’re nothing inspirational and special at all to me.

And besides, they’re not cheap at €25-40. That’s really taking advantage of Hong Kong people who don’t know any better when it comes to appreciating good design – and on shopping bags too.

There’s nothing great to comment about those Harrods PVC shopping bags and the boring imprints of dogs and teddybears – I’d rather tote any designer branded paper or plastic shopping bag they’d give you for free anytime you buy a product from their boutiques.

I’m really into great design whether on something pricey or economical. And it becomes more precious in a way for me to discover captivating illustration work on simple everyday things when they’re transformed by colour, graphic and creative art into happy fun stuff. That, for me, is a really joyful occasion – especially when it comes to possessing something a talented artist creates on something affordable.

I came across Pascale Nivet’s work during my rounds at Maison & Objet last seaon January 2006 and was immediately entranced by her work. Pascale Nivet is a charming illustrator, and her creation of “Mademoiselle Heloise”, a character she expresses in not only shopping bags but in plates, mugs, accessories and baby wear, really has this way of endearing itself quickly to one.

The “La Marelle Éditions” combine not only her illustration of “Les Zanimos” but her illustrated versions of the “Cosmos” and her creative depiction of Jupiter, Mars, Nepture, Pluto, Saturn and Venus all making for adorable collectibles in Limoges porcelain.

Prices for her Cosmos plates range between €15-30 per piece.
Prices for her bags range between €15-24.

Now comes the amusing problem of trying to collect all of her work! And I especially like what she’s done with children’s clothing – only I don’t have any babies any more to dress up. I hope she’ll consider venturing into women’s clothing but that’s such an aggressive and unpredictable arena for an illustrationist.

Give me a Pascale Nivet “happy bag” over a Harrods bag any time.

==> LA LAMARELLE @www.lamarelle.net
==> Pascale Nivet’s blog @www.mlleheloise.net