Finally!

Even though these handmade gifts are a bit late getting to the birthday girl, I'm hoping that my hardwork makes up for it. I really wanted to make this little girl something very special to which I think I accomplished.

S is for Sarra, who turned five this past February. I'm very pleased with how this turned out. Decoupodged with a vintage look I found in scrapbook paper. Modge Podge added the seal and sparkle. This letter is adorned with a sparkly teal blue tulle hanger for her room!

"La petite de reine drame " means little miss drama queen in French of course. What little girl isn't a drama queen? This turned out a little differently that I had hoped but still very cute. The next time I make it I think I will just change a bit of the embellishment.

Finally, I really love this Marie Antoinette box and plan on selling this in my Etsy shop. However, there will not be a cake on the top. The next one I make will be completely Marie Antoinette with some vintage buttons or costume jewelry, and feathers too! I used bubblegum pink paint and sparkled each individual portrait or Marie. I think the cover would look great in a pink german glass glitter, which I will do next time.

D'avec sa tête ! (Off With Her Head!)

Where in the world did I get this Marie Antoinette doll? My friend Jenny purchased her for me last fall on her trip to Salem, Ma. Where else in the world would you find something like this but in Salem, home of the infamous "witch trials."

Marie gets a ton of laughs from friends. They are completely stunned when her head flies across the room. That head does fly!

My son, Christian, loves to get a hold of it. One morning when getting him out of his crib, I held up a headless Marie and said,

"Christian, where is her head?"

Being not even two years old, he looked at me then to her, and smiled. He led me to her head later that day where I found it sandwiched in our couch cushions. Poor Marie!

One more not so lovely option for this doll is to strip her down to a shaved head and Bastille clothing, her pre -guillotine appearance.

Needless to say, she is one of my new favorite things! I especially love her les cheveux font (hairdo).

Trading is so much fun!

I was contacted by a fellow Etsyian (I say "Etsyian" like we are from another planet) to trade an item of mine for a fantastic item of hers. Scarlet Beautiful has this amazing photo of Venice that she took while visiting. Needless to say, I didn't hesitate a moment to partake in this trade. My hubby and I went to Venice and many other places in Italy for our honeymoon so this became his Valentine present. It is in her shop on the second page. The color is outstanding in this photo.

Memories etched in my mind...

My life was in slow motion once. I stood before two closed wrought iron doors holding my father's arm. It was almost as if I was no longer inside my body but floating above. Beautiful music echoed through out the entire Cathedral Basilica. I tuned in just as I heard the most angelic voice singing, "Ave Maria." Was she really singing this for me? I was to glide down the aisle in this most serene place, the place he propsed to me because I loved it so much. He waited so patiently at the end of this long aisle. Soaking in every single moment of this journey, this walk to marriage, I didn't take even a second for granted. Never will I forget this dream like moment in time when my Father needed my tissue more than me, as he handed me over to my love, my husband.

Another memory I savor that is so fresh, so vivid and brings such amazing warmth when I recall it belongs to Christian and I. Yes, my amazing husband was there the entire 17 hours but for this one moment in time I felt as if it was just me and my brand-new son. After such a long and tiring labour, they placed this amazing creature onto my breast. Truly, he could have had a third eye ball and I would have thought him to be the most beautiful baby ever created. It is impossible to describe, with words, the birth of a child when it is your own. In that moment you have no idea how much you will love this child and how much you will worry about this child because he is everything and I mean, everything.

Itty Bitty Valentine Swap

I had such a fun time making each of these little valentine treasures. I tried to make each one distinctively unique. I am going to be sad to see them go but I know they will be loved.

Fanciful Delights

Fanciful sugary treats are what I had in mind when I dreamed up my little Valentine dessert party. Sparkly handmade invitations were sent to seven girlfriends requesting their attendance at a dessert party. As the party date draws near I will be as busy as a bee assembling decorations, deserts and little favors. Pictures will follow...

A New Etsy Find

Recently, I came across this lovely picture from an Etsy shop, At Close Range. It certainly has a magical quality to it. Most of the items in this Etsy shop are quite different from this photo and truly unique. Turn any portrait of your child into a fantasy. Portraits mainly inspired by nature, your little one can be magically transformed into a fairy twirling through the air or sporting butterfly wings on a cluster of daisies. I think any of these portraits would make a wonderful gift for a friend.