Sucker for a Pretty Bottle

I've been to a few flea markets lately and am looking forward to a big one at the end of next week.  I even changed a doctor's appointment so that I can go to it.  Can't wait!! 

Anyway, this pretty bottle was in a group of bottles for a great price.  I was intending to sell it, but after a good wash it really looked great.  Isn't the label gorgeous?  I'm truly a sucker for a beautiful label.  If the label is pretty on a jelly jar...(and if money isn't an issue) I'll buy it.  If little mints are in a beautiful package...I'll buy it.  The glass stopper is pretty too.  I'm thankful that so many gorgeous things have passed through my hands, most of which have been placed in my shop.  Many were very hard to let go of.  Should this bottle go in my shop?  Nope, this one ended up on my dresser and is mine! 

First Macarons

 

 

Oh, how could I forget?  Yesterday I had my first French macaron....three of them actually.  Okay, I had parts of three of them.  They were vanilla, raspberry, and chocolate.  Mmmmmm!  The "cookie" part wasn't anything like I expected.  I thought they would be more like a meringue with a hard shell to it.  I purchased them at a health food grocery store, and they were just fabulous!  I shared part of each with my kids and husband and parents...and they were small too.  I so wanted everyone to have a nibble and try them as well.  Unfortunately, (for my waistline) I now like them and may have to get more in the future (only the entire macaron will be for me!). 

Adele and Josette at the Dress Form Ball

This little lady had been out shopping (in Paris, of course!) all day but still wanted to go to the Dress Form Ball at The Polka Dot Closet.  Adele is, oh, so tiny at only 3-1/4" tall, but, alas, was the only dress form around who was able to participate! 

She wore her finest vintage creme doily dress...the one with the rhinestone sash and bow.  She was pleased with the fleur-de-lis brooch she purchased while in Paris and put it on right away. 

Though she was already cumbered with her purse and packages, she couldn't resist purchasing a bouquet of roses from a street vendor to bring to our hostess of the second annual ball.

 
Little Josette who goes with her everywhere was wearing her typical rhinestone collar and leash. 

Many thanks to our hostess, Carol. 

Be sure to go to her blog, The Polka Dot Closet, to enjoy the ball and the many lovely guests who are also attending!

Vintage Jewelry Embellished Spoons (and a Fork!)

I admit to being inspired by a pin on Pinterest...and have gone with the idea.  I've embellished some very pretty spoons (both demitasse and regular) and even a fork with vintage jewelry bits.  They really look pretty just sitting there, but I've included thin satin ribbon on each so that they may be used as an ornament of some kind to hang somewhere in your house.  The ribbons aren't on these yet in this picture, but when I listed them in my Etsy shop I showed what they would look like with the ribbon on.  What do you think?  I really like them and have listed them all in my SHOP (including a pink one that isn't shown here).  I call them spoonfuls of sparkle!

Pinterest Inspiration

Tobi at the The Pink Pixie Forest has encouraged us to write a post with what we've created as a result of a Pinterest inspiration...a "pin-spiration".  Pinterest offers a wealth of inspiration...and I really love looking around on there.  Well, here is a picture of the the pin I applied to one of my boards...

The link to it on my Pinterest board can be found HERE.  Then, the creation I made from it was this brooch made out of felt, embroidery thread and pretty rose beads.

 I just LOVE a round topped door...and climbing roses around it is the cherry on top.  This brooch was in my shop and has sold, but I have a white round-topped door with a pink flowered wreath on it in my shop (click HERE to see, if you'd like) and plans on making another "wooden" French door in the future...if only I had time!   

Finally Finished...

I've been working on this assemblage for a long time. It is full of many of my favorite vintage jewelry pieces and other treasures and has been listed already in my Etsy shop. Enjoy!

Mother's Day Vintage Brooch Swap from Jan

Linda at A Swap for All Seasons hosted a wonderful swap, the Mother's Day Vintage Brooch Swap. We were to swap a vintage brooch wrapped in a beautiful package. My partner was Jan of Jan's Arty Journey. Jan certainly renewed my faith in swappers! Not only did she hold up her end of the swap but did so amazingly and beautifully. She is kind and wonderful in every way...and very talented. She wrapped everything in pretty paper tied with lovely ribbon and included a pretty card.
The brooch she chose is absolutely perfect. It is exactly as I would choose and like--you know how I like flowers and rhinestones. I shall wear it an enjoy it.She put the brooch in this amazingly beautiful book box that she embellished with all sorts of pretties--inside and out! I love the Parisian theme.
Many thanks to Jan for this wonderful brooch and box and to Linda for hosting such a fabulous swap.

Dug Out...and New Old French Stamps

Well, we are finally dug out from our winter storm here in Wisconsin. I have been here at the house for several days (weeks, it seems). Thankfully the roads are driveable now and the kids have violin lessons today...oh, and it's Dad's birthday (Happy Birthday, Dad) which means out to supper tonight...and it's mid-week prayer service tonight after supper. So, needless to say there are plenty of reasons to get out and about today. Can you tell I have a touch of cabin fever? The snow IS pretty, and it smells fresh and clean. Next month is March which means spring. The sun is almost up, and it's a beautiful (albeit frigid) day....trying to stay super positive here!

Speaking of being positive...Mom acquired a GREAT amount of old stamps recently. There are many US and many foreign in the mix. There are also many quite old ones. Some she has are just exquisite--they are like miniature works of art. She was super kind to give me these pretty, colorful, old French stamps (she knows I like French things) to "play" with (thanks, Mom). I'm not a talented paper/scrapbook/altered art person like so many of you out there and therefore haven't figured out what to do with them yet other than knowing that I really want to create with them. Inspiration will strike, I'm sure, probably at a most unusual time. Perhaps today's fresh, cold air will clear my mind and an idea germinate.

A Few New Things Added To the Shop

I've added a few new items to my shop lately. This little brooch is just in time for Thanksgiving--a sweet pilgrim gal.

This French handmade coin purse and eye glasses case is a beautiful vintage find. It is hard to sell them since I like them so much--they are exquisite with gorgeous embroidered/tampour detail.

These are thumbtacks that are public domain music scores of favorite hymns--a perfect gift for a church music leader, or a music teacher, or for someone who just loves hymns.

Another Embellished Perfume Bottle

This one took awhile to put together, but I'm pleased with the end result. I had this little Coro brooch featuring a lady--I think she looks very elegant and French--that I couldn't sell because part of it was damaged. I don't really like to sell a signed piece unless it is all there. Anyway, it fit perfectly on this little crystal perfume bottle and made a nice focal point for it. The top part is a very elegant rhinestone earring that had fallen apart. I then glued on a "pearl" bead that coordinates with the "pearls" that are staggered with rhinestones surrounding the lady. I listed it in my Etsy store this morning. Hope you like it!

The Love of Limoges

I know, I've posted a picture of this teacup and saucer before. My husband and I were at the Charles De' Gaulle Airport for the trip home from our little jaunt in Paris years ago, and I still had not purchased a teacup and saucer--something I like to get from places we visit as a memory of the trip. We went into a little shop at the airport, and, lo and behold...they had teacups! I bought these two ("In case one breaks, you'll still have the other," my husband thoughtfully said.) because they were so French...so Limoges. When I think of France...when I think of Limoges--the quintessential colors of Limoges--I think of cobalt and gold (and, of course, the French lady and gent are a part of that--goes without saying, really). So, with this inspiration and the colorful richness of cobalt and gold/brass, I hand stitched flower beads in cobalt, light blue and white along with little brass rose beads for my newest trinket box (have it listed on my Lollishop and on Etsy). Leave it to something from France to inspire me!

French Garden Gate

I love baths and am very blessed with a wonderful bathtub. It is big and sits in a corner of our bathroom. A window is on the left (frosted I might add!), a tall blank wall is at the foot and head, and a blank, 2/3 wall is on the right. There is enough room to look out into the rest of the bathroom. I truly feel as if I am in a secluded haven whenever I take a bath. Sometimes I light candles. Sometimes I use bubbles. Just the trickle of the water coming from the faucet is soothing, and I truly feel secluded, quiet, and peaceful there. *Ahhh* I have posted in the past about the small garden gates I placed on the window sill. I am still working on finding just the right glass beads, etc. to put on that, so I will post about that another time. However, I found this metal gate to put on one of the blank walls. They were just too tall and blank! I chose the wall at my feet to decorate first because, well, I wanted something pleasant to look at while in my little haven. I bought this gate at Hobby Lobby. It is roughly 2 feet wide and 2-1/2 feet tall and is quite sturdy since it is solid metal. I spray painted it a dark, mossy green to match the other colors in my bathroom and twisted raspberry-colored beads on metal wires around it to give the impression of growing flowers on vines. I am quite pleased with this French garden gate and how it transforms me to another peaceful land, another beautiful place while soaking in my hot bath.