Smitten I Say!

"Fun is the most conservative element of society, and it ought to be cherished and encouraged by all lawful means. People never plot mischief when they are merry. Laughter is an enemy to malice, a foe to scandal and a friend to every virtue. It promotes good temper, enlivens the heart and brightens the intellect." taken from a favorite book : Out of the Hurly Burly published in 1874. All good things stand the test of time!

And with that in mind, I cannot say enough good things about Stampington & Company's Somerset Life magazine!

Once you open this periodical your adventure begins!

You will travel thru layer upon layer of wondrous inspiration and delight!
I know I shouldn't be telling you this but,

when I was a kid I would sneak a flashlight into bed with me at night, and when I was sure everyone was asleep I would sit up, toss the covers over my head to create a tent and read my comic books and chew gum! Always lots of gum!

I find myself doing the same thing with this sweet treat, only now its my husband and a mini book light, oh, and I don't wake up to find a wad of Double Bubble stuck in my hair! Good thing!

Each issue is a keeper, you know how with some magazines I wind up just tearing out my favorite photos and articles to put

into an inspirations scrap book, but oh no, not with these gems which are packed cover to cover with yummy deliciousness!

And as if that weren't enough be sure to check out the fabulous free down loadable included with this issue!

It is indeed a matter for rejoicing!

La plume parle pour l'esprit

Drop by drop,

drip by drip,

La plume parles pour l'esprit!

My Dear,

may I ask,

why your slippers are hanging from the ceiling?!

What's this?!

What have we here?!

A very small and very lovely

pair of slippers standing all alone with no one in them!

The pen speaks for the mind... a message quickly scribbled on a small bit of paper, rolled up and tucked neatly into a shoe.

Only to be found all these long years later, perfectly preserved in the most delicate pair of what surely were once glorious
silver lame' shoes! In a slight petite size 3! Magical slippers no doubt, and a sweet little mystery that will never be solved, only deeply enjoyed by me, and now by you!

Sometimes, yes sometimes, my spirit gets out and goes soaring!

And now for those of you Romantic Homes magazine readers, there was a little snafu with the We Love/Make it (page 16) in the upcoming June 2008 issue. A couple of my projects accidentally got cross pollinated, and with many thanks to the wonderful editors, I am publishing the free downloadable elements sheet right here on my blog, along with complete instructions to create your very own "Note Worthy" tablette!

Be sure to pick up a copy, it's one of the loveliest issues yet!

Click on the image to down load a beautiful copy of this engraving No. 62 Les Vapeurs from my private collection of vintage fashion plates. Le Bon Genre was a colorful costumes book originally published in 1817.
Materials needed: cardstock, decoupage medium, decorative edge scissors, ribbon and a hole punch.
To assemble: Make a copy of the image. Cut out your copy with decorative edge scissors. Adhere it to a piece of cardstock using decoupage medium. Cut as many pieces of cardstock as you desire for your tablette. Punch two holes in the top of each sheet. Slip a piece of ribbon up through the bottom of each hole. Tie in a bow at the top.
And as always, for personal use only.
It makes me very happy to be able to share this antiquated Beauty with you!
Enjoy!

Paint a Shirt

Salvador Dali challenged us to see the ordinary in an extraordinary way. The first time I saw any of Dali's work was in a class in art history in high school.

I remember thinking to myself, what the heck was this guy on?! I didn't really like it so much, it sort of scared me and made me feel uneasy.

A few years later I read an old interview with him and the journalist point blank asked him if he used drugs to find his inspiration, his answer surprised me!

Drugs?! He said sharply, and sounding a bit offended, I don't take drugs! I AM drugs!

That is the point I really began to understand his work, I began to see what he was sharing, simply another perception!
The lesson for me was to view the world and everything in it in a different way!

The next time I saw Dali's work was up close and personal, I was so fortunate as to literally stumble upon a quite extensive exhibit in Venice, Italy. There I was wandering the most incredible sidewalks on earth and right in the middle of town

in a tiny village square, stood a large bronze figure of a woman in a bustled dress, as I approached the piece, I saw that there were graduating drawers built right into her skirt! At that moment I realized art could be anything, anything you like, it's as simple as that!

And even though the images might be jarring, it really is only a few short steps away from the much loved and widely excepted looking glass!

You see what I mean, inspiration can come from just about anywhere and everywhere! Sometimes its just about searching out and conveying a feeling,

sometimes what an object was initially intended for is completely irrelevant, it is only important what it can become!

Art can change a mood, lift your spirits, set you free, even trigger distant memories!

As I'm sure you have noticed while I've been rambling on, I used this 1960's thrift store find as unexpected inspiration for a new painting! I love the unusual mix of colors that are in it's design, chocolate, pink and yellow!

The next time you are out thrifting challenge yourself to see things in a different way!

Blue Denim Ball

Come one, come all! To the Blue Denim ball!

Step right up! Step right in! You're invited!

Be my guest and join the party!

It's all about recycling isn't it? And I want to do my part!

Ever wonder what to do with last years, a bit too short and a tad too tight denim skirt?! Ok, so it's not last years or even the year before that, gosh, you see,

I really can't bear to throw anything out, I think a lot of us are that way and I have a box of old clothes that I'm just not ready to part with, oh, but for various reasons,

maybe a certain sweater I was wearing the first time we kissed,

or a pair of jeans worn on our last anniversary, you know sentimental stuff!

Well, that was the case with this old denim skirt, I knew I would never wear it again, Heaven forbid,

but wanted to hang on to it anyway!

Famous last words, I'll find something to do with it...

So I figured, hmmm, denim... canvas...Oh, canvas! Yes that's it!

Why not create a fancy dress ball?! And send out invitations, have all the party girls dressed to the nines, in frills and feathers and lace and such!
And maybe some curtains with fringe on the bottom, and vases filled with flowers?! Well , why not?! Anythings possible!

And party goers toasting and chatting and whispering " Did you see what she's wearing, why the nerve of that girl"!

"Isn't that last years skirt, has she no shame"?! "Well I do declare"!

For all the details and instructions pick up a back issue of the Spring 2007 issue of Altered Couture available here and there are 2 pages of free clip art included of the prettiest girls in town dressed in their finest and ready for the ball!

And to get your party started, here is a free downloadable, from me to you. These lovely ladies are from my private collection of La Mode Illustree , Bureaux du Journal, Paris circa 1868
Feel free to use them in your personal artwork! Enjoy!