{ les pivoines printanier }

Who doesn't love a peony? or a whole bunch of them? It is a little early in the season... peonies generally bloom around here and in Provence in May...but having just returned from our local nursery, I have peonies on my mind. Here is a little sampling of peonies in artistic forms for a little springtime lift to your Easter weekend.

I would love to grow them in my garden, but have not ventured there yet. My friend, Trish Allen of Trouvais, is passionate about her peonies, and has given me some advice. For now, I'll enjoy others' labors of love! and learn all about Paeonia here.  

Trois Pivoines by Sophiecreations

I love this budding peony painting on rustic wood!

Pivoines Printaniers tableware at Caravane

peony'd fabrics from Return to China {Retour de Chine}
...the peony is said to have originated in China

 Peonies Wallpaper  could anything be more cheerful!

 Stunning Peony painting by French artist

 Beautiful Peonies paintings by French artist Sophie Adde; first
discovered her on Hidden in France

this beautiful peony just seems to say: 

"Happy Easter, Happy Spring.
Happy, happy Everything"  

{poem written by my daughter Lisa when she was four years old}

I've tried to credit all art; where I didn't, I could not find the
link... if this is your art please let me know and I will
give full credit for your stunning work

Happy Easter, Happy Spring...

......Happy, Happy Everything!

(that was Lisa's first poem in pre-school!)

These whimsical hot air balloons creatively made using discarded

incandescent light bulbs, scraps of fabrics and little Easter animals

embody the spirit of renewal, childhood and soaring joy...

I hope they inspire you today as we all celebrate the renewal

of life and the tenderness of springtime...

from Rook No. 17 

Happy Easter {ca. 1910}

I love these vintage Easter cards from the beginning of the twentieth century. They are so quaint and charming, and speak of a much simpler time when a small card in full color illustrating a little fantasy carried a lot of emotional weight and impact. This was long before movies, telephones, television, computers, instant messaging, Twitter. I can just imagine the thrill of opening a letter (with a handwritten address and a real stamp!) to find a little treasure inside from someone dear. Sweet.

all images courtesy New York Public Library

If you celebrate Easter, I hope it's happy!

If not, I hope these little images will bring a smile and knowledge

that Spring really is just around the corner!

.........................................

in 2010, it's:

Kit Golson Design

for elegant, sustainable and pragmatic

Chic Provence Interior Design

The Wisteria: Inspiration for an Easter Brunch

Even though it's still Lent, I had to go outside and design an Easter Brunch table beneath our incredible showing of wisteria early this morning. Who can blame me for these gentle excesses?

I started by covering two square tables with a long white cloth, then topping that with my grandmother's lace bedspread (which I noticed needs some attention: mending and cleaning!). On top of the lace, to take some of the sweetness out and to give a little edge, I tossed a lavender cowhide left over from a design project, suede side up. I thought it would be great with the color of the wisteria, and it is!

I then tried a couple of different centerpieces: an arrangement of Lenten Roses in my chinoiserie tea canisters was casual and elegant. Then I tried the Easter Egg Tree I made last year, and I like it too. I guess it's nice to have a couple of choices next Sunday.

Place settings are Malvina Golson's embroidered pink placemats (my husband's grandmother), Limoges luncheon plates, and bread & butter plates from my grandmother Amie in yellow paisley pattern I adore. I used the silver I bought at a vide grenier just outside the front door of my dear friend Camilla's house in Rians, France last year. The adorable straw domes are from Anthropologie, and I placed a French sacerdotal relic at the head table, for Easter.

Voila! A little bit ready for our big Easter celebration with lots of family and friends coming over..let's just hope it is nice enough to be outside. They're forecasting rain for the next several days. We might be sitting inside around the fireplace roasting marshmallows!

.........................................

in 2010, it's:

Kit Golson Design

for elegant, sustainable and pragmatic

Chic Provence Interior Design