Happy Friday - A very happy day

image; galerie montmartre

Actually, I have an extra smile on my face today.....things just seem to be happening. And it feels great!

We had a lovely creative (as I hereby call anyone that's out there giving their art/creativity a red-hot go) by the name of Angela White - some of you may know her from her crafty blog - to take some photos of our space for her newest blogging venture 'Open'. Seriously, Angela was with us a total of ten minutes and took these beautiful shots....that's one pretty impressive photographer, I'd say.

And then there is my dearest Lucy, who did a fabulous interview with Phillip Graham of 'Tarlo & Graham'. The pictures show his amazing space off to a tee. I'll let you read for yourself.....but you may want to check out the Melbourne questions.....particularly the art spaces that ring Mr. Graham's bells....

So, as you can see, things are happening and I have a smile as big as our Joker friend!

Welcome to Sunny Fitzroy

images; stephan t

I am loving this so much, you would think it was my creation!

Actually, I walked past the guys as they worked a few Sundays back, with Petit and Petit-Petit Garcons, and kept going without saying a word. I didn't want to tempt fate, stop for a conversation to have some paint smeared, spilt, smudged - you know the types of things that little people can get up to when your attention is elsewhere! Although, I did notice a couple of weeks ago that someone had taken it upon themselves to roll the word 'wall' across the work that Mike and his team had done....I would've had proof but the camera decided not to co-operate.

I have a feeling that this piece is near completion and although I am excited to see the final product, I'll miss watching it's progress.

Awe-Summm Award....who me?!

Oh really, Kate, you shouldn't have - many thanks for my first ever award since I have started blogging. You are very generous, indeed, and gorgeous, as is your fabulous blog - Everyday Calm - which I turn to for both inspiration and peace.

Here are the rules and guidelines to the Awe-summm award:

* List 7 things that make you Awe-Summm and then pass the award on to 7 bloggers you love.

* Make sure to tag your recipients and let them know they have won!

* And finally link back to the blogger that tagged you.

Okay, so 7 things that make me Awe-summm....hmmm...feels like bragging or self indulgence or something, but what the heck!

1. I grew up with neither money or an entrepreneurial background, yet have created a business that pays the bills and keeps me inspired.

2. I am also a singer - having joined my first band at 16 yrs - and have sung professionally in venues throughout Melbourne.

3. I make decisions quickly and often the bigger the decision, the faster I make it! (ie. moved my whole life overseas within two weeks and stayed away for seven yrs.....met and married my partner within a year - you get the picture..)

4. I learnt early (after a disasterous audition) to trust my instincts and I am soooo grateful for that lesson.

5. I can make and maintain friendships and absolutely love nurturing my relationships. (Although since Petit Garcon and Petit-Petit Garcon, I've dropped my standards somewhat!) I am so fortunate to have such good, creative and interesting people in my life. I love people!!

6. I can see the big picture and somehow I seem to get there - eventually.

7. I am a recovering people pleaser; still something that I work hard at.

And now, the part that comes so much easier, choosing 7 Awe-Summm blogs and bloggers to join in the award winning 'look-at-how-Awe-Summ-I-am' fun!

1. The Design Files - lovely Lucy, beautiful and humble creative talent; she has no idea of her impact, which makes her even more special. x

2. Daily Imprint - Natalie is single-handedly responsible for my blogging addiction, the girl can write and unearths all sorts of interesting people on a daily basis.

3. Shannon Fricke - I love her style, her attitude and the fact that she has spent the past month in France to celebrate her birthday

4. In Search of the Real Captain KK - discovered her blog through the Creative Women's Circle bloglist and check in regularly to see how she's doing.

5. The Style Files - Danielle constantly inspires me, the homes she features send my head in a spin most days!

6. Inchmark - I find this blog completely unique, beautifully photographed and I love the library book posts.

7. Abbey Goes Design Scouting - possibly too busy, with the impending birth of her child, to do anything with this award. However, I've always enjoyed her blog....and she loves French vintage posters...(!)

Thanks for reading.

x shelley t

Creative Women's Circle - Shannon Lamden

image; tess mccabe

All was wonderful, once again, at Creative Women's Circle on Saturday morning.....could be something to do with stepping out of my usual weekend routine taking care of two gorgeous, boisterous little people (my Petit Garcon and Petit-Petit Garcon) while L'Homme De Montmartre plays shop-boy at Galmont. But I think it also has much to do with simply sitting with a group of female small business creative types as a speaker shares her experiences along the creative path.
I could listen for hours.

Shannon Lamden was terrific, very self deprecating with a wicked sense of humour. She spoke about the career path that led to her fabric design business. I appreciated her honesty and willingness to answer all our questions. And then, afterwards we had a fabric swap, which worked a treat for me, as I am finalising a design for Petit-Petit Garcon's patchwork quilt. (I'll talk about that in a future post; that's a whole other story!)

Congrats must go to Tess McCabe on another successful gathering. I'm hooked.

Happy Friday - Cappiello Magic

maurin quina, 1906

this piece is the poster that started graphic design as we know it today with the bold typography, few words, yet a very clear message -

in this case, the cheeky 'green devil' character more or less saying 'it's a bit naughty but go ahead and try it anyway'!- a massive departure from the flowery art-nouveau advertising of that day.

this image single-handedly created a collector's market.

veuve amiot, 1922
champagne fit for a king!

cachou lajaunie, 1922

not endorsing smoking - no! have a cachou lajaunie mint after your ciggie, folks....

all images by leonetto cappiello; photographed by stephan t for galerie montmartre

Some more Cappiello magic to send us into the weekend with a big smile.

Lovely Legs

images; galerie montmartre

We got some new stationary at Galmont today - I love new stationary.

As I looked at the branding, I realised that the original image we used as our illustration was created in 1927 , yet it is still so relevant today.

Leonetto Cappiello was brilliant, little wonder he is known as the forefather of graphic design.

Happy Friday - Air France

image; air france europe by jean carlu, 1959; photographed by stephan t for galerie montmartre

I must still have travel on my mind as we dressed the window at Galmont with Air France posters, a vintage globe and an old shipping trunk today. So I've chosen an Air France image to take us into the weekend.

Air France placed a great deal of time, effort and resources into their poster advertising campaigns using the very best poster artists of the day. And so, of course, they are now beloved by poster enthusiasts and novices alike. This vintage poster by Carlu is a little more cheeky than the often sleek images, which suits just fine on a Friday afternoon.

Have a great weekend!

Tour Eiffel la nuit.

image; pia jane bijkerk

I wasn't going to post tonight, everything all seemed a little too contrived and what I'd planned wasn't working out....so I started looking at the blogs of others. I came across this photo on
Pia's blog and could not stop looking at it, what a glorious image.


Pia Jane Bijkerk - a well known and much loved Aussie blogger living on a houseboat in Amsterdam - is currently all over the design blogworld due to the release of her extraordinarily beautiful looking book 'Paris: Made by Hand' (should be in Australia this week), she sure can take a photograph! This photo was taken out of the window of the place she was staying in while she was working on her book. All I know is that I feel anything is possible when I look at photos like this.....and that I really hope to get back to Paris in the very near future!

For Mum...

all images by bernard villemot photographed by stephan t for galerie montmartre

Do I hear you ask what a certain Mum - who has a certain daughter who has a certain 'interest' in vintage poster art - collects? Why Villemot, of course!

So this is for you, Ma - Happy Mother's Day!

Place de Vosges

image; Australian Vogue Living May/June 2009

pg. 158 - apologies to unknown photographer, have misplaced your details

All together now, let's say, "Ahhhh".

Isn't this a beautiful image? Typically French, apparently the Parisians consider this to be the country in the city. (As it is situated close to the Marais) I'm not sure if I want to walk along the paths or throw the attic windows open and people watch from above - either choice will do.

Danish Delight

images; bo bedre via The Style Files

While checking out some of my favourite design blogs over the weekend, I happened upon the home of Rie Elise Larsen over at The Style Files and was instantly smitten.

I love her use of vintage pieces with more modern designs, the tolix chairs in a variety of colours, the light of her apartment, the mix and match fabrics, the considered furniture placement which looks as if it 'just happened' that way. Gorgeous. And then I saw it.....lo and behold if there wasn't a vintage poster sitting on the dining wall!

Now I know the girl's got style!

Canterbury Art Exhibition

image; bouquet d'affiches, herve morvan, 1978

photographed by stephan t for galerie montmartre

Well, Galerie Montmartre are exhibiting at the Canterbury Art Exhibition this weekend.

We're really excited to be part of something that is an established and popular community event, a school fundraiser(got to love that!)....and of course, an opportunity to show a good cross-section of what Galmont has to offer.
So, if you are in Melbourne and at a bit of a loose end and wanting to see more art than you can poke a stick at, then Canterbury is the place for you.

Hope to see you there!

Please note; Galmont Fitzroy also open as usual.

exhibition and sale; may 2nd 9 - 5pm & may 3rd 10 - 4pm.
Canterbury Primary School; Molesworth St. Canterbury, Vic.