Paris Paintings
Top on my list of things to buy while we were in Paris were oil paintings. I was determined to bring at least one home. Fortunately we found the most amazing shop, where I came across this oil painting of a woman. The shop owner said she was his most beautiful phantom (ghost in French). When I found her she was unframed and I wasn't sure if I wanted to keep it that way or have it mounted on a stretcher bar. I decided to do the later. But, when I went to the frame shop they refused to do the job because they were afraid they might damage the painting.
Not being one to give up so easily, I decided to share my dilema with The Man.
I showed him the frame on the other smaller landscape painting I bought at the Paris flea market and he went to work making me one…
We didn't have any antique, flat head trim nails so he cut longer ones down and filed the points to the right length. They worked perfectly and we proceeded to nail them in the existing holes in the canvas.
Notice they are uneven and not properly spaced? That's exactly where the old ones were and it made me think of this quote….
"It doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful" – The Nester.
I just love my new lady! I'm not sure if I should name her or not. Any suggestions?
How about Belle Phantom?
30 Responses to “Paris Paintings”
what a beautiful french find! i love the soft muted tones!
It´s beautiful – what a find! Belle sounds just right. 🙂
Most definately Belle Phantom !!
Heather,
I purchased an oil painting over the Summer. It has random shabby ends but, I still love it the way it is. I wouldn’t frame it. As, it is beautiful on it’s own. I had to laugh when I stopped by. Seems as if we have ESP. This was going to be my post in the next several weeks. I’m not fixing my nails on my piece though. My hubby hung it for me in our living room. Looking good 🙂
Belle 😉
xxx Liz
She’s beautiful! Your Man did a fabulous job mounting her. I love the random spacing of the nails.
Seriously!! Those are so, so gorgeous!!! I absolutely LOVE them! Your mounting is pretty fab too!!
Love this Heather! Good job to both of you! thanks for sharing
XO,
Lisa
What an amazing find! She is so lovely!!!
Michelle
I like “My Paris Belle” or “Parisian Belle”.. Beautiful Painting
Thanks gals! I love her too. Now just need to find the perfect place to hang her. ~H
Too funny Liz! You’ll have to share a link when you post about yours. Would love to see it! ~H
Me too! I love that they are “perfectly” imperfect!
Pretty names! Maybe she can have a few? ~H
I think I would have bought her too!! And I like you name for her.
I love that The Man did the stretcher frame for you …so sweet……the colours in the picture are stunning….I am so happy that you have this “perfect” memento of your trip!..any name or no name it doesn’t matter she is beautiful.
I love her too. Beautiful !
another one The “Lady of Paris”…
She’s beautiful. Well done. ‘Belle Phantom’ suits her. Display her out of the path of direct sunlight if possible.
She’s gorgeous! I like Belle Phantom for her name.
Heather, what a beautiful find. What about naming her “The Lady.”
Linda
Oooh she’s fabulous!! I like the name Amie, it means Loved…. 🙂
Love the paintings, Heather… Especially the faded lady!!! You could call it Belle Âme (beautiful soul) or Femme Fantôme (woman ghost)… I hope all is well with you!
Isabel
Beautiful painting! I think your Lovely Parisian Ghost looks like a Genevieve. I love the framing. Such an inspiration to do it yourself. Great idea!
Jill
“Heather’s Gaze” would be my choice. 🙂
How beautiful! I have to say that when you first posted about that antique shop, I decided that I would visit it in March when I’m in Paris. I wondered how far it was from my hotel and MapQuest provided the most delightful of answers! Five blocks. When I saw this lovely painting you purchased, I clicked the link to your original post and delighted all over again that I will soon be visiting this lovely place you found. Thank you!
Gorgeous….stunning. Oh boy those colors…. For some reason the name “Sophie” popped into my head…probably because I just watched Sophie’s Choice with Meryl Streep and well…she looks similar to perhaps, a young, French Meryl! Your husband is one creative Genius. It looks wonderful! I know you are thrilled to pieces!
Be still my heart…what a beautiful piece. I think she looks like Evita Peron. Just a thought:)
Heather – Next time you need nails like these go to you upholstery shop and ask to buy some tacks. They’ll probably just let you grab a handful. (bring one of your empty IKEA candle cups to get them home safely)
I have just found you via, um, hmm, “someone’s blog” announcement of Souvenir. Congratulations! 😉
I will be taking all of your “12 Tips” to my blog this evening (thanks for the BIG project!) and look forward to the ease of use and redesign of the layout.
Cheers!
Absolutely beautiful and such a clever way to ready it for displaying. She will look so lovely in your home.
What an amazing find. She is is just ethereal. I ound a small painting in Beaune (the Burgundy region) recently that now calls for nails. Brilliant!
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