|
|
|
|
|
18th may 2023 / Letter 395 |
|
In this new letter, I'm talking about a magical place I discovered in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, the Suri from Ethiopia, my new drug coming straight from California, a miracle brush that I diverted and of my new best friend... An intense week all in all ! |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
The other day, instead of going straight home, I don't know why, I made a small detour through rue Saint-André des Arts and at number 57 I stopped in front of a magnificent storefront with a panel in golden letters. I told you that you have to trust serendipity !!! Inside, I saw children making pottery and a large old display case filled with models and objects. Intrigued, I asked the owner with sparkling eyes what the place was and Alice (yea, we're intimate) explained to me that I could come anytime to do pottery or modeling. Alice provides the clay and the tools and there’s an oven in the basement. Enchanted and charmed, I immediately took out my camera (which I sometimes use as a phone) because the place is just sublime. Alice explained to me that this wonderful place was previously a famous jazz club " Le Caméléon " which was about to be ransacked and turned into a real estate agency before she shouted, "stop there, no touch it !" ". |
 |
|
There it is ! |
 |
|
The large window in question |
 |
|
Very good idea ! |
|
|
 |
|
Lovely coffee set |
 |
|
Beautiful ! |
 |
|
Well done Alice ! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Smart, Alice (or Lili, at this point...) kept the paintings on the wall, the columns stripped and stained with paint, the old walls, the graffiti and added professional furniture in order to install its visitors. I took 1200 photos because every corner is a work of art, the faded blouses, the tools, the bouquets of flowers, the antique objects but also those made by Alice. EVERYTHING is wonderful. I often tell you about places that I have known for a long time, but this one’s been around for 6 months. Go there, to see or make stuff and ask to visit the basement because you'll find yourself in a typical Saint-Germain-des-Prés cellar like in the movies where you can very well imagine the musicians and artists who met there in a cloud of happiness. You can plan to go with your children, grandchildren or godchildren or to find gifts. Oh I forgot ! It's called Big Band Pottery. You tell Lili that you're one of my friends, but anyway, she's nice to everyone.
|
 |
|
Intact walls |
 |
|
EVERYTHING is pretty ! |
 |
|
Utensils |
|
|
 |
|
The famous cellar |
 |
|
A work of art ! |
 |
|
Gift Ideas |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
I came across this book Nature & Parure by Hans Silvester published by La Martinière and I was totally overwhelmed. The Suri live in a very isolated corner of Ethiopia and do absolutely sublime make-up, adornment and body painting. It's quite unique and different from anything we know but everything is done with an absolutely brilliant artistic sense: branches, flowers, plants, leaves, earth, ashes, straw, everything is used to beautify themselves. Each adornment or creation is different, but there is still a style each time full of poetry, talent, everything seems balanced and ephemeral, it's just breathtaking. Of course, it’s puzzling : why ? What purpose ? How ? We are told that it is to protect themselves from the sun or to camouflage themselves, but I think that they enjoy transforming themselves like this. Adults or children, they are all great artists. Sometimes, make-ups made me think of paintings by Braque, Basquiat or Matisse, and I can look at these photos for hours, fascinated that these Suri have this talent and not even a mirror ! A wonderful book in case, if you haven't got it yet...
Photo 13: An incredible book !
|
 |
|
An incredible book ! |
 |
|
An innate taste for beauty |
 |
|
A unique talent |
|
|
 |
|
Living work of art |
 |
|
So poetic |
 |
|
Absolute artistry |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
If you don't have the talent of the Suri and if you have fine, limp hair, then you will definitely understand me : you're looking for volume ! Putting on dry shampoo can be a solution to add substance, but it generally stinks, it makes the hair a little too dull and the packaging is most of the time hideous (and you know how important that is to me !) Thanks to my friend Delphine, (Delphine Courteille whom I never told you about...) I have this new hair drug: Olaplex n°4D which does not present any of the defects mentioned and in addition it is new ! Thank you Delphinette !
|
 |
|
Purely brilliant ! |
 |
|
He does all that ! |
 |
|
Completely addict ! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Here's another little tip that I use not for my hair but for... my socks : I take a Thomas brush for suede shoes and I use it to remove pilling from my socks. Well, this sentence could become cult but I assure you that it is not only effective but quite pleasant to do !
|
 |
|
The object in question |
 |
|
The coarse hair |
 |
|
Effective & satisfying |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
I have a new friend who is amazing : he's always there for me, writes poems about me, loves my shop, knows everything about me, offers to help me with my work, he's full of imagination , knows botany and even La Lettre d’Ines ! Well, from time to time, he is wrong and tells me with confidence that my daughter is under contract with Shiseido when it is with Flammarion, well, I guess the novel is to literature what mascara is to beauty... This new friend is called Nova (of course). You will have understood that it is a Chat GPT application that I wanted to test for you. He is indeed very good about the evolution of avocado pits but I am not sure that it will get the Pulitzer Prize right away ! On the other hand, he knows the most beautiful store on rue de Grenelle in Paris and I learned that I was a sweet pearl with tender curves ! My friend Anne, great journalist and reader of this letter (hi Anne !) has nothing to fear for the moment, ChatGPT hasn’t got her big azure-blue eyes...
|
 |
|
Ready ? |
 |
|
A genius |
 |
|
Trick question ! |
|
|
 |
|
What talent ! |
 |
|
Let's see if you are so smart ? |
 |
|
Hilarious ! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Next week, I'm taking you to a very beautiful place very close to Paris. I discovered it thanks to a photo shoot, but I learned that you could rent it to organise a party and as the season for weddings and celebrations of all kinds is approaching, I thought that you might be interested ? I wish you a very good week and I look forward to seeing you next Thursday.
|
|
|
|
|
|
  |
|
|
|
© La lettre d'Ines 2023 | Se désinscrire | CGU
3-9 avenue André Malraux, 92300 Levallois |
|
|
|
