Fall Flower Patch

We're doing a handmade fall flower swap in our Marie Antoinette Mail Art Group. Here's a peek at what's been growing in my garden....
I used vintage laces, satin, tulle, velvet leaves, guinea feathers, Russian veiling and chiffon to create the flowers with antique, glass pearl and rhinestone button centers.

Each one is lovingly wrapped in a pocket of tulle and enclosed with one of my handmade stickpins.

I made fall bag toppers complete with a beautifully wicked Marie. The wonderful Marie image is from one of my favorite etsy shops,
Altered Artifacts.
(If you're looking for new Halloween collage sheets, you have to visit Inka's shop!)
I can't wait to see what's growing in the other Marie gardens!

Pretty Faces

That's the theme for our vintage gluebook pages swap at blissfullARTswaps for September. Immediately, I knew the face I wanted to use!

Aren't they Lovely?

I had to share these gorgeous earrings that I was fortunate enough to win from one of the sweetest bloggers in the sphere, Terri, of
Artful Affirmations.

She also sent along some wonderful images and ephemera wrapped in lace. Thank you Terri...time to play!

Altered Marie

In our Marie Antoinette Mail Art Group we were partnered for an altered matchbox and domino swap. The matchbox was to be jeweled and the domino had to have a Marie image.
I recently acquired two exquisite estate pieces that were meant for this swap.
After covering the box with an aqua damask I bound it with aqua tulle and seam binding.
I accented the antique ornate baroque style pendant frame with aqua and teal beads and bling. On top of that piece I attached the fabulously shabby fleur de lis embedded with aqua stones.
I pinned them so they could be detached and used otherwise if my partner, Melanie, chose to do so.

I couldn't find anything aqua that I liked for the domino so I switched the color palette to blues and pinks, collaging a young Marie atop an Eiffel Tower background. I gave Marie wings lightly edged with glitter and a crown fashioned out of metal and beads.
The edges are finished with tiny baby blue bling chips.

The sides of the domino were covered with layers of pink and blue dresden trim.
Sometimes the easiest finishing touches are the prettiest!

The domino gets tucked inside the matchbox for giving...
...creating for a partner is always joyful!

And equally joyful is having a partner who clearly enjoyed creating for me. I was thrilled to be partners with the lovely and extremely talented swap hostess, Melanie.
Look at this stunning jewel encrusted matchbox I received!

And Melanie didn't stop with the top of the box.
The sides are embellished just as beautifully.

I love the domino, with the coordinating gold filigree alongside a regal blue Marie.

Merci Melanie....ces't magnifique!

Garden Faeries

Mini cards soon to be swapped.... I wish you could see the sparkle & bling!

My First Marie Mail Art Group Swap

I was recently invited to join the Marie Antoinette Mail Art Group and one of the first swaps I participated in was an open theme Marie atc swap.
I decided to go soft and elegant with my cards....

And these are my lovely returns from....
left to right: Terri, Kelly & Robin.
Thank you ladies for a wonderful swap!