La Vie Creative

The story of Camille Claudel is one of heartbreak and sadness. A genius of an artist she never got her due and ended her life alone.  At just 12 years old she began to play with clay and her talent got the attention of artist Alfred Boucher. Her father supported her pursuit and agreed to move to Paris so she would be able to study under Boucher. Her mother on the other hand did not and never would...

About Tara Vatanpour : Tara Vatanpour is an artist and a luxury fashion designer, founder of Tara Vatanpour. Persian, Azari,  French, American, and influenced by the Brazilian culture, she focuses her artistic research around immigration trauma, loss and separation, chaos of emotions as a result, and the search for healing. From a solid educational background in the study field of Fine Arts, she u...

Edith Giovanna Gassion Piaf, born on her doorstep as the story she stuck with on December 19, 1915.  A very tough childhood after her mother abandoned her, a grandmother that gave her wine instead of water and another that raised her in a brothel. Through all of this, she became one of the most beloved French singers in the world. To this day you would be hard-pressed to find someone that hasn&apo...

I sat down with Emily Jackson, who is an American in Paris working in marketing to talk about the new Netflix hit "Emily in Paris".  I wanted her take on the show compared to what it's really like to work in social media for French firms in the city of light. Enjoy this bonus episode and tell us how you feel about the show! Also, don't forget to check out Emily's social me...

Rykarda Parasol is an artist, writer and musician best known for her solo musical work depicting noir-lit melodies reminiscent of folk, Americana, and early pyche 60s pop. Ms. Parasol is from San Francisco and has made Paris her part-time home and muse. Ms. Parasol is also a writer and designer and in addition to working on new musical recordings, she is also writing and illustrating a collection...

Johanna Bonger van-Gogh a name you may not know, but without her, we would never know her brother-in-law, Vincent.  Married to Theo van Gogh, art dealer, and brother to Vincent van Gogh for less than two very short years. When Vincent and Theo died just six months apart, she was left with an infant and an apartment filled with paintings. Told they were worthless and to toss them out, her love and...

Paris-born, internationally acclaimed artist and author LILIANNE MILGROM grew up in Australia, lived in Israel and currently resides in Washington, DC. She exhibits her artwork around the world and is the recipient of multiple awards and residencies. Her work can be found in both private and institutional collections; her articles and essays have appeared in publications such as the Huffington Pos...

Sylvia Beach, the sweet woman that had a love of books and sharing them with others in her legendary store Shakespeare and Company holds the spotlight in this week's episode.  Arriving in Paris during WWI to study French Literature, a flier would lead her to a book shop on Rue de l'Odeon and into the door and heart of Adrienne Monnier.  Opening her first store on November 19, 1919, on Ru...

Anne Stark Ditmeyer is an American creative coach and consultant based in Paris, France. Anne is a creative connector who has never been one to take the traditional path. Her work draws from anthropology, graphic design, design thinking, UX design, storytelling, and global communications, traversing in person and online worlds. She founded Prêt à Voyager (translation: ready to travel) in 2007 to e...

Barb-Nicol Ponsardin, shaped by Champagne, would become the woman and label we know as Veuve Clicquot. Born before the French Revolution to wealthy parents, she would marry the son of her father's business partner, Francois Clicquot in 1798. It would be the start of the Clicqout house, that would grow from very small and humble beginnings to the world renowned label all due to Madame Clicquot...

A New Yorker who fell hard  for an Italian in Paris. She would later launch her handbags made locally in France. The hand-printed canvas bags were inspired by her world travels. She also provides fashion tours in the city of light introducing travelers to local designers. My guest today is Kasia Dietz https://www.kasiadietz.com/ Support the show This is a public episode. If you would like to discu...

Gertrude Stein was the woman behind many of the greatest writers and artists in Paris of the 1920’s and the famous catch phrase, the “Lost Generation”.  Growing up in a wealthy family, the incredible intelligent woman was well educated, appreciated art and amassed a collection that any museum would envy.  While her time in Paris is engraved on the life of the expatriates and many of their famous f...

New York Times bestselling author Craig Carlson first came to France as an exchange student in 1985 and instantly fell in love with the country. He never could have imagined that some thirty-five years later he’d be the owner of two American diners in Paris and be nicknamed “Le Pancake Kid” by the French. With a background in journalism, Craig studied cinema at the prestigious USC School of Cinema...

Catherine de’ Medicis was the other Florentine queen that would also leave her mark on France. Catherine and Marie de’ Medicis are often mixed up and we hope we can help you tell the two apart like a pro in no time. The mother of three kings and two kings and the wife of Henri II would finally wield her power after the early death of King Henri II. What happens next is the tale of intrigue, jealou...

Lindsey Tramuta, an American who has lived in Paris for a decade, writes the award-winning blog Lost in Cheeseland, and contributes to the New York Times, Afar Magazine, Condé Nast Traveler, and Bon Appétit, where she writes extensively on Paris and French culture. Today we chat about her creative process in writing and about her new book "The New Parisienne: the Women & Ideas Shaping Par...

Berthe Morisot, one of the few women of the Impressionist Movement, with her dark locks and stunning gaze, was the perfect model for Édouard Manet.  However, she would become an artist in her own right stepping behind the canvas to create paintings that showed everyday family life, forging her own path among  the male dominated Impressionists     Born on January 14, 1841 to a wealthy family, her f...

Sharon Santoni has gained millions of readers through her blog where she shares with people what it means to live a French country life. Her blog has grown into tours, a podcast, books, magazine, delivered gifts and much more!  We chat about how France brought so much creativity into her life and inspired her to create a thriving business after her children grown into adulthood. We chat about how...

Once upon a time there were two Florentine queens that left their mark on Paris. In the newest La Vie Creative - Paris History Avec A Hemingway episode we talk all about one of them, Marie de Medicis from her childhood in Florence to her life in exile.  She was born on April 26 , 1575 to Francois I de Medicis and Joan of Austria in the Pitti Palace in Florence. Joan of Austria would die by the tim...

Suzuki Violin with Camilla started playing the violin at age three with Elizabeth Mills, one of the very first Suzuki teachers in the United States, and was chosen to help demonstrate the Suzuki method to other interested teachers, with the help of Dr. Suzuki and his assistants. Later, about the age of 9, she went on to study with Sybil Maxwell in Los Angeles for many years and earned many awards...

Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald, the woman that is known by only her first name and her reputation as the life of the party.  Like many of the ladies we talk about each week on La Vie Creative - Paris History Avec A Hemingway there was much more to her than just the image that remains.  Zelda was born in Montgomery Alabama on January 24, 1900, the youngest child of Minnie and Anthony who served on the supr...

Cynthia is the owner of the company Delectabulles, which specializes in supporting women in the male-dominated wine industry by: only using champagnes made by women   telling the stories about the women behind the bottles   giving more women the tools and confidence they need to buy sparkling wines from around the world Canadian born, Cynthia has called Paris home for more than 25 years. She is th...

Julia McWIlliams Child, the woman who brought French cooking to America, fell in love with France as generations have fallen in love with her. Born on August 15, 1912 in Pasadena into a wealthy family that had very very tall children. Julia would attend Smith College and due to her 6” 2 ‘ frame she was perfect for the basketball team but would also play golf, tennis and even act. Graduating with a...

Elaine Biss is a professional fashion event illustrator . She specializes in live fashion illustrations, sketching for the fashion, beauty and accessories industry in the New York, Washington D.C. and New Jersey. Elaine has been commissioned to create book illustrations, social media content, expressive calligraphy and live accessory customization that cater to the female buyer. She draws custom a...

New podcast out today! French author Colette has been a household name in France for more than a hundred years.  Her father's old friend Henri Gauther-Villars “Willy” would stop by their home in Burgundy and return many times to visit the young Colette. Fourteen years older, he would take her to visit Paris showing her the theater, parties and the glitz and glamour of the city of lights. On M...

Dreama is a self-taught artist and writer who started an online art business (a little to her own surprise!) a decade ago. With a collective following of over 60,000 painters, thousands of students have taken her online courses and participate in her groups. She is the creator of 4 online courses and is working to grow and expand a community of supportive and talented artists with her online creat...