crowns and tiaras and post number 5-0

Woohooo! This is my 50th post! I know it's not 100 but I'm half way there and I'm just tickled {she does a little happy dance...how about a waltz...umm.. La Danse de Blog?} Being silly now. I think it's the sugar rush from my morning hot chocolate. So last night I kept thinking about what to post for #5-0. Then I remembered a book I came across at Joanns yesterday. Since the last post was also about a book I'm obsessing about I thought I'd stick with the same theme and add one more. Oh and speaking of books I have a new treasure I want to share with you which will have to wait till Pink Saturday. I recieved it from the Easter Bunny (who I suspect is really my own sweet mama) so come back Saturday.

Crown and Tiaras by Kerry Judd and Danyel Montecinos

You can see from my banner and some of my graphics that I have a thing for tiaras. That's a  pic of my $3 thrift shop tiara up there. I think it's interesting that so many creative blogs I've visited also feature tiaras and crowns in one form or another. Must be a prerequisite for creative types. For me it's a link to the little girl inside me. The one that imagined magical kingdoms and flowing gowns from fanciful times. It's being transformed into Titania from A Midsummer Night's Dream or Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday. Tiaras in particular represent something completely feminine and girly to me. Though you would never guess me to be a girly type if we should bump handbags at the local thrift shop. Artsy and quirky maybe but definitely not girly. My creative space however is all queenly and vintage frills. Especially right now when I'm so inspired by all the pretty blooms and spring pastels. Anyhoo...I think this book was about $15 if I remember. It's less on Amazon but then there's shipping too. Too bad the coupons don't work for the books. I have a feeling I might be coming home with this one soon. Happy Tuesday!

gypsy dreams

I hope everyone had a lovely Easter weekend. We went to visit our families, ate lots of delicious food, were blessed with endless hugs and kisses and returned home safely after a 2 hour drive in the rain.

It's always nice when my husband drives because I get to sit back and daydream. I've always liked roadtrips. I have a wanderlust spirit that comes from growing up in a military family that moved all the time. I'm fascinated by RV's and love to go camping so I always check out the RV's driving by. Being on the road also lets me daydream about my other love.

Original image source unknown.

Gypsy caravans or vardos! When I was a little girl ( well, I'm still little) we lived in a small town in the Philippines for a few years. It's the town where my parents are from and where some of my fondest and most magical memories happened. My 'lola' (grandmother) had a house that sat on top of her shop on a busy main street. I remember watching festive church parades and happy groups of market shoppers passing by on any given day. One day a caravan of  covered wagons strolled by with sellers hawking colorful wares hanging and overflowing from noisy carts. I was mesmerized! It was everything I loved. A portable home a movable shop, being on the road and billowy, colorful clothing! Over the years I became fascinated with gypsys and vardos which remind me of those caravans I first saw. I truly dream of having one sitting in my backyard one day that I can use as my workshop and hideaway.

If you happen to live in the south of France you can order your own vardo from artist Jeanne Bayol who restores and decorates these magical jewel boxes. Her book Les Roulottes is filled with images of vardos she's restored. The book is very hard to find. I've just located one in Canada and it's a bit pricey too. Still it's definitely on my wish list.

Jeanne Bayol lives the perfect dream life I would love to have. She also creates yummy and scrumptious clothing, bags and other decorative art.

All roulottes photos property of Jeanne Bayol

You can visit Jeanne Bayol to see more amazing vardos. If you're ready to buy visit Les Verdines and get one of your very own! If you do I'll be the first one over bearing pots full of tea and cupcakes for days!

pink easter saturday

Things always seem to work out well when you're a bunny. Especially when you're surrounded by the dearest of friends. You do remember our Mrs Bunnie's unfortunate mishap and how dear Miss Hyacinth Peep came by to help her old friend pull through?

You can see Mrs Bunnie's made a remarkable recovery and she's still sporting that pink velvet ribbon I gave her. She just hopped over with Hyacinth and cousin Vanita Crumpet while I was putting a few things together for my Pink Saturday post. (I suspect the ladies also wanted to show off their Spring finery!)

While the ladies have a chat I'll share a project I did yesterday. I recently found a tutorial for paper flowers made from coffee filters and thought I'd give it a try. I decided to dye the filters with food coloring and got this pretty shade of blush pink. Then I used my favorite Tea Dye ink pad to stain the edges.

I also tucked in bits of a vintage paper doilie I found at the thrift shop.

The coffee filters even made nice little baskets for my egg collection.

I wonder if the ladies approve? They seem quite engaged in their little conversation. Perhaps wondering what the Easter Bunny might be bringing this year. Mrs Bunnie still remembers last years Marshmallow Chicks which she couldn't bring herself to nibble as they reminded her too much of Hyacinth. That just wouldn't seem right she thought. I'll have to agree.

Well I do hope the Easter Bunny brings YOU the sweetest of treats, lots of hugs and kisses from family and friends and enough pretty ribbons and blooms to brighten your day! Wishing you the Happiest Easter from Frosted Petunias and the lovely ladies at Button Stitch Hedge.

Happy Pink Saturday and don't forget to hop over to Beverly's for more pink!