...the french pussy willow sprig made me do it! (& the OWOH giveaway reveal)

...hello dear ones!

Are you,

by any chance,

*** READY ***

for Spring

 to...well...ummmmm....

spring???!!!

I sure am!

I thought I'd help call forth this renewing season

no,

* you will NOT see me doing the ancient indian spring dance

* I am only 1/16th (a dash) american indian

* the rest of me is french, english, irish and czech

* there really is a spring dance

* I believe it's called the Prom

* my son is a senior this year

* he will be attending

* I will be making the flower corsage and boutonniere

* I used to work in a flower shop

* I'm thinking gardenia's

* hubby o'mine and I are on the decorating team

* and the chaperon team

* and the clean up team

* we are a "team" kinda' fam! 

* there is an american indian dance for everything!!

whoaaaa there,

how did I get soooo off track???

where was I,

ahhhh yes ~

Spring!

it really all started with this:

  

okay, okay ~

yes,

I"ll admit it!

I carefully removed ripped this sprig

off of a tree from the Home Depot,

it has been calling me ever since...

* I think I may have to own it now

* it WOULD be the right thing to do ~ LOL!!!

* it really is called a french willow

* and it IS gorgeous!

*it's settled then!!

*here willow, willow!!

sooooo,
as I was saying...

THAT ripped off sprig (literally)

* I'm not proud of what I did,
I'm just sayin' :(

was my total inspiration for this early spring vignette

this is my chicken wire cloche ~

I simply adore these and have various sizes around my home:)

( if you like the look of these too, you can pre-order them HERE )

((no, I do not get a kick back, I just know how it is to adore something!!

~that~

and I spent almost a year searching for them ~ lol!!))

anywho...

here is my early spring vignette...

  

a small bird nest on top of a paper seed cup that I tied with some vintage lace

and then tucked in a milkweed pod (LOVE those!)

a vintage image copy of Mary,

a rhinestone Jesus pin,

and my personal favorite

that sprig of French Pussy Willow...

  

oh look!

another holy candle!!

(I think I'm up to about 10 of these, floating around my house!!) 

but this one has one of my silk prayer ribbons tied around it.

aaahhhhh...simple elegance...

   

so now I'm off to secure what started it all

The French Pussy Willow Tree!!

Wish me luck

but before I go,

it's time for the One World, One Heart giveaway reveal!

soooo

here we go!

the fairy lights are for: Miss Gracie 

ex-voto paper locket is for: Cat & Cricket 

pink silk prayer ribbon is for: Bonjade 

Congratulations dear girls!!

Thank You to all who visited and entered :)

It was quiet the experience!!

~

linking up to Common Ground's Vintage Inspiration Friday

French Country Cottage's Feathered Nest Friday

Romantic Home's Show and Tell Friday

here's to springs ~ EARLY ~ arrival!!

...what do you get when you mix: ex-voto's, sea silks and jeanne d'arc???

...why ~ enchantment of course!!

Hello my sweets!!

I have been in the studio

creating...

glittering

...sewing

glittering...

and miss you all!

Sooooo...

I've stolen away for a wee bit o` earl grey tea break

 to show you

this:

"this"

is an ex-voto paper locket!

I love how the vintage glitter replicates the rhinestones on the front of my original rhinestone ex-voto!

and ~

It will tarnish over time leaving a beautiful patina look!!

when you turn it over

it is gold leafed

and it has a tiny heart box on the back...

that opens up for you to place a token of love into!

Just as my inspiration one does!

This paper one is also the same size as the original.

These and a few other pretties

including my luscious sea silks

have arrived!

and are available in my etsy shop

won't you come see??

~

I also wish to share a mini tutorial today!

Now, it is no secret that I simply adore the Jeanne d`arc Living magazine!!

~ and I have found myself mesmerized by this simplistic elegant lifestyle

I am always looking for ways to "romance" our home

and while there are soooo many pretty things to be had,

they often cost a pretty penny!!!

((what?? ~ aren't all YOUR pennies pretty and shiny new??! ~ and your paper bills crispy clean??!!))

LOL!!

Well,

Here is my dime store creation!!

((does anyone even say ~dime store~  anymore??!!))

okay~okay

Here is my Wal-mart/Jeanne d'arc style creation!! 

 

Ta~DA!!

Do you love it??

Want to make one of your very own??

I am assuming that your answer was~  

YES!

So here are a few things that you will need:

 * a tall white holy candle

(is this what they are called??)

Wal-mart has them with no "loud color" pictures on the front

which saves me having to goo-be-gone them off!! 

  

* a vintage doily

I always have my eye out for these and pick them up whenever I find them.

~but~

lets say you don't have any at the moment,

just put these on your good `ole Wal-mart list!

Bring them home and when you have a cup of tea,

make one for your doilies too!

it gives them an aged look...

unless you like them white-white,

in which case, skip this step!! 

  

* a flower that calls to you...

preferably creamy white, but again ~ your choice!

Remove the plastic center stamen so you are left with just the petals...

* a Vintage Inspired French Scapular

now, 

These will

NOT

 be at Wal-mart

but you can find them here:

Petite Michelle Louise

order 1 per candle

((think hostess gifts~teacher gifts~great to have on hand/you like me, you really like me gift!!))

you would think that 5 would be enough

yah~ NO!!!

((ohhhhhh Micheeeeellleeee!!!)

  

to assemble:

step one: cut ribbon on scapular in the center

step two: pull these ribbons through the center of your chosen flower petals

like so,

  

step three: thread through your doily top

like shown:

pulling them through to the back,

now go in and out,

weaving back and forth through the holes similar to this:

step four: pull ribbons to tighten all the layers together

step five: tie on to you holy candle jar

  

 see??

now turn it back around to the front

and adjust the height to your liking

and fluff your flower just so...

   

step six: tie on a piece of sea silk and vintage lace ribbon,

add a few pretty long matches...

 

and you have one lovely

Jeanne d'arc looking candle!!!

and trust me when I tell you

One is NOT enough!!

~

...sharing this over at Kathleen's

 Faded Charm Cottage

White Wednesday!

now~

back to glittering:)

here's to happy, creative days in the studio!