Vive La France!

I am not long back from a much needed, amazing 2 week holiday in France with my family.

We all had such a lovely time and, if it wasn't for this wonderful weather that we are getting at home just now, I would be wishing I was jetting back there again tomorrow!

 Although I did get stuck into some work while I was out there, it was such a luxury to have more than one day off... I had a whole 14!

France is such a beautiful country and we were staying in the heart of the Dordogne countryside. We visited an abundance of pretty towns and the Brocantes (junk shops) and Vide Greniers (car boot sales) were an absolute dream! And, I have never eaten so many Pain Au Chocolats in my life... so all in all it was a fabulous holiday!

Here's some of my favourite photos to sum up the trip:

Vintage photo tinting

I visited the Museo Correr in St Mark's square in Venice yesterday and amongst the wonderful paintings and relics there was a small display of old photographs that had been coloured by hand. 

Also, when I went to the Palazzo Grassi here in Venice, my favourite works on display were hand painted negatives by Ukrainian artist Boris Mikhailov.

a view of the exhibition. image found here

Here's a few close ups of Mikhailov's images: 

I'd like to make this a project of my own when I get home; tinting the photographs that I have found and inserting them into frames that I'll make.

Here's a website giving a bit of a tutorial on ways to do it : Vintage Image Craft

A Venetian Story...

Whilst in Venice we have all been given the challenge of creating some kind of art-related social event or project.


Out and about throughout my time here, I have found 5 different old photographs of Venice and Venetians. As I was keen to make some collages out of my finds I invited friends around to have a shot too and make a lovely post-dinner event of it!

Here is what I came up with: 

1. ‘In the Pocket of Every Great Man Lives a Great Woman.’

2. ‘For the Love of Venice’

3. ‘Shallow’

Read more and see everyone else's Venetian stories here.