Powdered Wigs & a New Year Giveaway too!

I like to decorate my home with unusual items, things that might not generally be considered decorative. I figure I live here, I'll put up stuff that suits me, things that please my eye, after all I am the one looking at it right?

And while some things may look expensive, most are certainly not. There are a few treasured items I've inherited and everything thing else is made out of "illusions and imaginations". Things I have built and created myself out of beautiful old

bits, salvaged parts and odd pieces. Stuff I've collected over the years at junk shops, obscure thrifts and flea markets. Like this fancy linen milliner's head, it was torn when I discovered it down at the bottom of an old barrel. I purchased it for a song then

repaired the holes and mounted it onto what I can only assume was an old weathered lamp base, again a bargain at only two dollars! It turned out to be just perfect for displaying a stuffy old powered wig don't you think?

The extravagant looking black pearl necklace that adorns this piece was made from fairly inexpensive freshwater pearls instead of the enormously expensive, exotic South Sea pearls. I also used parts from an old 1950s tiered necklace I bought at a tag

sale for just one dollar. It took a few man hours but I sure had fun making it and I am really pleased with the overall look of my little mise-en-scene.

Moving right along to the giveaway I have been promising! I want to start the Creative New Year off with a Bang!

And what better way than to giveaway a beautiful young 18th century lady print?! I thought I would share with all of you just

what the image I began working with looks like, it is a very old engraving from a period fashion "magazine". It is one of my

absolute favorite images ever! She is just so sweet and coy and the dress is simply Wow, can you really imagine wearing that?!

The image I began with was black and white, very quiet.

But I like color so I wanted to make it a littler bit louder...

and add some more...

delicious frills,

decadent hot pink curls,

some bright red shoes, I mean every girl should own a pair of red shoes right, even little Dorothy knew that!

and just a few more romantic details like a yellow polka dotted dress! So there she is in all her loveliness, the print is titled "A Creative Woman" and is a 9" x 12" canvas ready for framing. Leave a comment for your chance to win her! I do have these prints for sale in my Etsy shop if you just can't wait till the contest is over which will be in 2 weeks (I'm working feverishly to meet some deadlines) so I'll announce the winner on Monday, February 1st.

Here are a few glimpses of some new items in my Esty shop...

some exotic paper masks, just perfect for antique dolls to wear or maybe playfully place one on a staunch marble bust to liven it up, or use them as a unique decoration, or even use them as a special "thank you" or "greeting card"!

These little paper masks were featured in a recent issue of

Where Women Create in my Studio Chic column.

They are oh so irreverent, shameless and saucy!

And here's another decorating idea, purchase one of my porcelain doll busts to create your own mise-en-scene, the masks fit them perfectly!

Pop into my Etsy shop...

to read all of the juicy details used to create them!

Last but not least, I will be offering a few precious antique items that I'm ready to part with so peek in if you like! See you in a few weeks and don't forget to leave a comment to win the "Creative Woman" print! Adieu!

Introducing Alexandria the mighty Bengal Cub!

We are in a brand spanking new year and isn't it just totally and completely exciting?!

Yes, new day, new week, new year, New Creative Possibilities await each of us!

Oh the inescapable, joy and romance of it all! But wait... Shhhh! I think there is a leopard on the loose!

This new year has brought with it an adorable new life into our home... and our little Julliette is S L O W L Y adjusting as you can plainly see.

I have spent the last few days chasing around a tiny 2 lb "toy" leopard named Alexandria and she is something else! Mostly the image above is what we have seen around here... just a spotted blurr!

She is having a wonderful time exploring her new jungle as I follow behind her saying "no, no, no Alex!"

It has been a very long time since we have had a kitten, I guess about 13 years or so. My darling love Romeo passed away several months ago and it has taken me quite some time to begin to recover. He had a very good life, he was feral when we found him. He was very much adored and loved and I will forever miss him.

But when one chapter ends a new one begins.

Alexandria is so delightful! Delicious! Delovely!

She has a very sweet disposition with a good bit of rowdy too and I am going to take a photo of her every single day for a year to document her growth and life with us her new adopted family!

I think even Julliette is beginning to come around!

Also, this image is my new "Follow Me" widget! Isn't it fun?! If you would like to add it to your blog, please feel free to do so! Just copy and paste the code you see under my profile photo above on my side bar. Oh, and one last thing, I am going to have a Giveaway to start the new year off with a bang so come back next week to see what it is and enter to win! Hmmm, I'm thinking something swooshy, a tad bit dramatic and wearing sexy red shoes! Come back to see what it will be!

A Very Merry, Happy Holidays!

Baby it's cold outside!

So here's to the Season!

Hoping Santa Claus

and all his little helpers

brought you everything

you wished for!

Sending all of you the warmest Holiday Greetings and looking forward to sharing a Wonderfully Creative and Artistic New Year to come! I just want to take a moment and thank you for your warm welcome of my new Etsy shop! I am having a great time filling my shop with unusual little treasures. I have some fun and unique things I will be offering up very soon so be sure to take a peek in now and then! I would also like to mention my friend Rebecca Bryant's Etsy shop too... Hydeparkdoll so pop in for a visit anytime!

Christmas Candyland

Welcome! My name is Sir Byron Braysalot and I will be your Master of Ceremonies on this fine Winters day. I have a poem I would take great pleasure in reciting for you... ahhemm (clears throat)

Over the river and through the woods,

to Candyland we go.

The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh,

through the white and drifted snow.

Over the river and through the woods,

and straight through the Gingerbread gate,

we seem to go extremely slow,

it is so hard to wait!

Over the river and through the woods,

to have a Sugar Plum Party!

Hey!!! How'd HE get in there?! Hear the bells ring, ting-a-ling-ding,

Christmas day is on its way!

Over the river

and through the woods,

trot fast my dapple gray,

spring over the ground

round the frozen pond.

We can't be late for our holiday date!

Over the river and through the woods,

oh, how the wind does blow!

It stings the toes

and bites the nose,

as over the ground we go!

Over the river and through the woods,

to meet a lovely lass.

We'll stroll a bit and walk

and then talk,

and yes, we'll marry real soon!

Over the river and through the woods,

to greet my handsome beau under the mistletoe.

I'll hold his hand and steal a kiss,

and no one else will know!

Over the river and through the woods,

past Candy Cane Forest,

and gingerbread houses

and lollypop trees,

we're traveling as fast as we can!

Over the river

and through the woods,

to see friends and family.

We'll drink some egg nog

and light a yule log,

then merry we will be!

Pardon me, but Sir Braysalot had a tad too much sparkling cider at the Sugar Plum Party and the honorable General Gumdrop and Lady Peppermint have graciously offered to drive him home. So concludes our little rhyme, I am Lord Squarechin and I do so hope you have enjoyed our little production! Isn't it amazing what a bit of smoke and mirrors can create?! Wishing you and yours a Wonderfully Happy Holiday Season!

AND don't forget to join Jo Packham over at the Where Women Create blog to get in on the ~EXTENDED 16 Days of Christmas Giveaway~! She's throwing quite an Extravaganza over there with lots of gifts and plenty of cheer! Pop in and leave a comment for your chance to win my "Creative Woman" print, plus there are only a few days left so hurry on over and enter for a chance to win one of the other Spectacular Giveaway gifts!

Like this! On the 15th day of Christmas WWC gave to me... A bundle of Patty Young's new fabric collection, Flora & Fauna and patterns too!

And on the 16th day of Christmas...

Where Women Create gave to you... a signed copy of The Farm Chicks fabulous cookbook ~ In the Kitchen ~

along with an assortment of gift tags and recipe cards, courtesy of Serena Thompson The Farm Chick herself and contributing Editor for Country Living Magazine! So hurry on over and enter to win, ALL of the giveaway gifts are open until the 16th at the stroke of midnight!