Such a Sad, Sad Day

Today, my almost 18 year old Kitty died. He has been sick for awhile, so I knew it would be soon, but it was still such a HARD day! I had to take my children to Heritage Day at our church, as my son was in a play. We had planned to take Ninjinsky to the vet to have him "put to sleep," but when my husband returned home to pick him up, he was already gone. We feel blessed that he could die at home and not have to be poked and prodded by a vet!!! 'Jinsky was born to my husband's favorite cat in 1989. We had decided to keep him, after my nagging and begging, on our way home from our honeymoon. He was named for the infamous Russian ballet star. Unlike his namesake, he WAS not a graceful cat on his feet! He was my first "baby" and he led a long, happy life! I hope he is somewhere playing "sheet wars", indulging in cat nip and play fighting with "gone" Keeshonds!

Christmas at the Petit Trianon

Here are a few pages for an altered book swap I am in. I am beginning to feel the Christmas Spirit, so I made these as if I had glimpsed a Christmas tete a tete at a Petit Trianon fete! Can't you just imagine the glitz and glamour?

Another Queenly Confection

Here is my necklace for my swap partner Melanie. This is for a vintage layered necklace swap on the Marie Antoinette Mail Art Site! I hope she loves it as much as I loved making it. It is is big and over the top, but that is how I live and work! The large picture doesn't do it justice, but the close ups give you a good idea. This is made of almost all vintage materials! The only things new are the bead leafs, flowers and other beaded pieces. The pink beads are pearlized vintage plastic from the 1950's. It is the only plastic used here. The metals are all silver with only a very occasional gold on some of the vintage jewelry pieces. The bottom drop is a chandelier crystal that is apprix,. 3 1/2 to 4 inches long total. The charm I made.

Faux Bon Bons

I am back from my vacation...relaxed and ready for more artwork! I had already made these pretty little felt bon bons and thought I would share them here. I plan to host a swap of these, hopefully, on the Marie Mail Art site. I love making them! Quite easy and so pretty. Feast your eyes and be thankful they don't have any calories!

The Affair of the Necklace

Ah...Marie Antoinette is infamous for a role she never played, that of purchasing an extravagant and outrageously expensive diamond necklace. Well, last I visited the Petit Trianon, I happened upon this amazing bauble...I wonder now...did she REALLY refuse those diamonds?

Tiered Necklace created from mostly vintage jewelry items and some new beads and ribbon.

Let them eat....LACE CAKES!

Here are my other 9, yes 9!!!!, chunky book pages for the Lace Cakes book swap on the Marie Antoinette Mail Art site. They have mixed media, very textural backgrounds and vintage and new laces and trimmings. I wish the picture conveyed their beauty better. I am just not great at photography. Feast the eyes...It's calorie free!

Mermaids and Seashell Maidens

I am getting ready for my annual October break in Sanibel. I use the time to visit my mother and relax from all my duties as housewife and homeschooling mom. I did the mermaid painting for my Sanibel Island nature journal. The shell box is a belated birthday gift for my mom. I picked up the pen shell pieces in one of my journeys to heaven on earth.