Beautiful Blogging

Welcome to the PARTY!!!

Come join me on the patio for refreshments…

I’ve saved a place just for you!

I thought we’d chat about blogging over

Chocolate Cherry Cake with a cup of Friendship Tea…

Do you love blogging as much as I do? I can’t believe how I’ve taken to blogging like a duck takes to water! I would never have imagined this adventurous path my blog has taken me on when I first staring blogging just 15 short months ago. And my biggest thrill to date is having an article published in the newest edition of Artful Blogging, which is what gave me the inspiration to host our party today!

When I first started my blog, I thought it would be merely an extension of my website. I planned to use it only to update my customers about new products and let them know about sales.

But my blog turned into so much more!!! Because of my blog, I’ve been published in numerous magazines, discovered new crafts, I am filled to overflowing with artistic inspiration, I’ve rekindled my lost passion for photography and I’ve met the most amazing creative souls all around the world whom I now call friends.




I find it funny that in my real life, my family and friends don’t always understand or get what I do. But in the blogging community, there is an instant connection of understanding. My blog friends get me. And through these friendships, I am encouraged, inspired and even appreciated in a way that differs from my real life. I am sure that most bloggers will understand this! My blog friends are located all around the world and through email, we are as close as neighbors….how cool is that?





Through my blog, I am inspired on a daily basis by the amazing talents of other blogger’s and also with the creative connections that can be made with the mere click of a button. And that’s why I love blogging!

Now it’s time to spread the love around and go visit one another! As you travel around the world today, please introduce yourself and leave comments for each other. I am sure you will enjoy meeting new bloggers and seeing a common thread of connection and appreciation throughout this community. Go forth and inspire!

BEAUTIFUL BLOGS TO VISIT!

Oatmeal and Whimsy

Let Them East Cupcakes

Whimsy Dreams Studio

Everything Vintage

My Romantic Home

Greetings From Geralyn

Tales From An OC Cottage

Time Worn Style

Gabriela Delworth

Fabric Paper Thread

Avidly Dreaming

Fashion Is My Muse

The Victorian Parlor

Anything Goes Here

Bella Dreams

The Wrought Iron Gate

Whim & Fancy Designs

The Polka Dot Barn

1st Floor Flat

From Our Front Porch Looking In

Charli And Me

Life In The Slow Lane

Happy To Design

Muktowne Craft Room

A Scrapbook of Inspiration

Seasons For All At Home

The Tea Room

Saucy's Sprinkles

Na-Da Farm Life With Anne Marie

A Scrap Mom's Musings

Vintage Rose Designs

Stacy's Shabby Shoppe

Charlotte's Weblog

The Spanish Dahlia

Dusty Pages

Leafdays

Loveleigh Treasures

Enchanted By Josephine

Smiling Sally

Fete et Fleur

Backyard Neighbor

Sweet Nothings

Shabby Chic Junk

Hazelruthes's

Mathews Memory Lane

My Creative World

My Thoughts My Voice

Lisa's Chaos

Hydrangea Home

Remnants

The Gathering Nest

Cottage Charm & Family Inspiration

Oak Rise Cottage

A Vintage White

Pam Warden Art

My Petite Maison

E14 Studio

Herbgirl

A Southern Rose

That Shabby Pink Girl

MSArtist's Mixed Media Playground

Luxe Lanai

Creative Art & Craft by Alison Gibbs

Creative Whispers

Gorgeous and Fun

Artful Interludes

Dragonfly Dreamer Designs

Stamping From The Heart

Posted From Home

Artsy - Fartsy

Almost Party Time!

It’s almost time to gather for the Beautiful Blogging Party this Friday, May 1st. So far, there are about 70 blogs that have signed up to participate and I am sure we’ll have a wonderful event! There’s still time to sign-up, just click HERE for information and leave a RSVP comment for me. I’ll look forward to seeing everyone on Friday!!!

A Royal Necklace

Custom orders are really fun for me because I enjoy meeting new people and putting our heads together to create something special. Ms. Lucy was one such special lady I recently had the pleasure to meet.

She found my blog through my recent Celebrating Marie Antoinette event and she loved my new Versailles charm necklace. As passionate as I am about Marie Antoinette, Lucy is passionate about Josephine and requested a “Josephine Charm Necklace” And here it is!

Lucy and I went back and forth via email over which images to use for her special necklace. For this design, all the charms are double-sided so it’s actually like getting two necklaces for the price of one! I designed the necklace with the darker portraits on one side and the lighter colored portraits on the reverse side. This beautiful necklace should match any outfit in her closet!

It’s hard to photograph the sparkle of this pretty necklace and I can just image Ms. Lucy wearing her new jewels. I really enjoy wearing my Marie Antoinette version and I always receive comments on it, even from strangers, every time I wear it. I am sure that Ms. Lucy will enjoy the same benefits with her necklace. She gets to wear jewelry about a subject she is passionate about and she’ll get to spread the word about Josephine from all the questions her sparkles are sure to attract!

If you have a passion for Josephine, or any other royal figure from history, send me an email and let’s chat!

Enjoy your special necklace Ms. Lucy!!!

Make Mothers Day Personal This Year!

Mothers Day gifts can be tricky. You want to find something she will enjoy, something she will use, but you want it to be personal so she knows you care.

Whether you are shopping for your own mom or you are the mom shopping for yourself, jewelry is always an appropriate gift! May I suggest my handcrafted and personalized “Blessed” necklace? Personalized gifts are always so thoughtful and I think most any mom would adore this necklace. The silver soldered pendant front features an image of a swaddled baby amid beautiful blooming roses. This precious image is from a vintage postcard and the roses are touched with just a hint of glitter for a little extra sparkle.

The back of the pendant can be personalized with the names of children (or a personal message, if you’d rather). The bottom of the pendant also features Swarovski Birthstone Crystals to represent each childs birth month. What a lovely way to wear your blessings around your neck!

There is still time to order for guaranteed delivery by Mothers Day! All orders received by Sunday, April 26th will arrive in time for the big day. Click HERE to visit my website and place your order online.

And once you have this jewelry in hand, you’ll want to wrap this treasure in a beautiful way that is sure to bring a smile to your moms face…..

Go HERE right now to signup for the Mothers Day Gift Wrapping Class being conducted online this weekend by the super talented Gabriela Delworth.

I hope that between Gabriela and myself, we are helping you solve your Mothers Day gift giving dilemmas and I hope that this year finds you with a heart filled with love for your own very special mother.

Make A Difference With Your Jewelry Purchase!

Recently, Stampington contacted me with a request that I could not turn down. My original submission, the Marie Antoinette Charm Bracelet, that was selected for the “Marie” magazine is now available for purchase in Stampington’s new Artists Emporium! This is a brand new shoppe where you can purchase art directly from the pages of Stampington’s magazines! But the difference is that a portion of your purchase price goes directly towards charity.

Here’s your chance to own my actual bracelet that was photographed and is featured in the new Marie magazine publication, which is on newsstands now!!! There was only one bracelet created and you could be the new owner of my gorgeous bracelet that appears world wide in the Marie Magazine!

Your Wrist Could Be Here!!!

This one-of-a-kind bracelet was created specifically for this special edition magazine. When you purchase my bracelet through Stampington, a portion of your purchase price will be donated to charity. You’ll have your selection between Locks of Love, Best Friends, World Vision and Life Through Art Foundation. The bracelet created for the Marie Magazine is a little different than the Marie Antoinette Charm Bracelet I offer on my website. The one-of-a-kind bracelet for Stampington was created on a beautiful vintage, double link charm bracelet and also has a silver Fleur-de-lis charm included. There is only one available, so click HERE to be the first to nab it!!!

And until May 1st, any purchase made for Marie Antoinette Jewelry through my website, a 20% portion of all proceeds will be donated directly to the restoration fund at Chateau Versailles for projects in Marie Antoinette’s name. This is a wonderful way to continue my Marie Celebration with good works and good donations in her memory. Happy Shopping!!!

Artful Blogging - Summer 2009 Issue…and a Blog Party!!!

OK Peeps…. here’s a little secret slipping out of my sparkling pocketbook just for you…. my baby, Cupids Charm is being featured in the Summer issue of Artful Blogging magazine!

I’ve been biting my tongue about this since last Christmas and now that the magazine is almost on newsstands, I am cutting loose and flapping my gums about it : ) The lovely editors at Stampington requested numerous photos from my blog and also asked me to write the article that goes along with my feature.

So far, I know of two other dear blog friends that will be featured in this issue too…. Gabriela Delworth and also Sara Duckett, from Sadie Olive. Word on the street is that this issue is the best yet and as always, Stampington is packing this issue with lots of gorgeous photos and creativity is oozing from the pages. Click HERE to order a copy for your very own self, directly from Stampington.

Artful Blogging will be on newsstands May 1, so I thought this would be the perfect day to celebrate and have a BLOG PARTY where everyone can participate!!!

Why do you like to blog? Since blogging has come to mean so much to me as an outlet for creativity, I thought I would host a party where everyone can share their insights, inspirations and reasons for blogging…. tell the world what it is you like about blogging!

On Friday, May 1st, I’ll do a post on my blog with a link to everyone who is participating. All you need to do is have a post on your blog by Friday, May 1, in which the subject is about "Why I Love Blogging". I think this will be a really fun party and a great way to visit new blogs and share our reasons for blogging.

Ready to join the party? Please confirm by leaving a comment on this post that lets me know to add your name to my list, by Wednesday, April 29th. And if you would be so kind, please feel free to blog about this party and include the Button Graphic I made for you to use, on your own blogs - this way, others can join the party too! I look forward to seeing you at the PARTY!!!

Let’s Share A Coffee Break…

Come join me for a cup of my favorite Godiva Crème Brulee coffee and a bit of homemade spice bread…

My parents already left for their trip back home to Virginia, but in my mothers wake, she left our freezer stocked with loaves of homemade banana and spice bread. These yummy goodies will be enjoyed for some time to come.

Today also happens to be my birthday (YIPEE!!!) so I decided to treat myself to a spa day, at home. My treatments have already included a facial, mani & pedi, and a few new highlights painted in my hair. Mr. Cupid is taking me to a favorite Mexican restaurant where I will enjoy a Birthday Margarita (or two!) and that will be the perfect ending to my special day!

I also wanted to share with you a gorgeous gift I received in the mail from my dear blog friend, Gabriela Delworth. First I had to open this beautiful hand painted box….

Inside was this incredible handmade sparkling French themed Medallion on a vintage ribbon. Is this not gorgeous???? I feel like I won a French Beauty Contest or something!!!

And the ever so thoughtful Gabriela had this lovely message included inside the box…

“There is magic in long-distance friendships. They let you relate to other human beings in a way that goes beyond being physically together and is often more profound” – Diana Cortes

How true that quote is! Gabriela knew my birthday was coming up but she did not know the actual date. I was reluctant to tell her and chose to ignore that question which was peppered in her emails to me for weeks leading up to my birthday.

I am NOT one of those who dreads her birthday because of getting a year older. After losing a beautiful younger sister to cancer, I know that there are people all over this world who would give anything to be able to celebrate even one more birthday. And ever since then, I choose to celebrate my birthdays with GRATITUDE for another year…even if it means a higher number and another wrinkle...bring them on!

But I am still one of those who does not like a fuss made over them, so that’s why I kept mum on the birth date. But Gabriela in her sweetness was not to be swayed from her mission and her lovely and thoughtful gift arrived very close to my special day. Thank you dear Gabriela! Your kindness and gift giving expertise is exquisite and very much appreciated. If you would like to visit my friend, click HERE to visit Gabriela’s gorgeous blog and click HERE to visit Boutique Rochambeau. where Gabriela purchased my lovely gift. Thanks for taking time from your busy day to enjoy this little break with me!

Spring Cleaning, Shopping & Special Orders

First, I want to send a big THANK YOU to everyone who came by to visit during my Marie Antoinette Celebration! It’s been a fun week - between receiving Stampington’s gorgeous new publication, my blog celebration party and my Mom and Dad also arrived this week from Virginia to visit with us for Spring Break!

The month before the parents arrive is always BUSY.

Lot’s of spring cleaning and getting the house ready for company.

By the time company arrives, all the flowerbeds and pots have been replanted so that everything is fresh, colorful and green.


While Mr. Cupid is busy with yard work, I am busy doing spring-cleaning inside.



…all those chores I put off until the last minute before company arrives.

But once Mom and Dad arrive, we can enjoy spending time together on the party patio.

We usually end up enjoying most of our meals, and even a daily happy hour, outdoors. It won’t be long before the heat and humidity of Florida run us back inside until our short fall season arrives.

A favorite activity when the parents are in town is to shop flea markets and antique stores. I’ve already found a couple of sweet treasures that were too good to pass-up. I was enchanted with this romantic French courting couple…..

And I found this stack of romantic vintage rose plates. All the plates are in pristine condition, with the exception of one that was badly cracked. That plate will be turned into jewelry for my Mom for Mothers Day, as a remembrance of our shopping adventure together when we found these plates on the bottom of a dusty shelf in an antique store.

I’ve also taken time during their stay to get a little work done in the studio and also wanted to share this fun custom necklace order I just finished. The sweetest customer contacted me about turning my Bunny Collector Charm Bracelet into a charm necklace instead and she also wanted to add a couple of lace charms, mixed into the designs…

I think it turned out so sweet and my Mom tried her best to wrangle this order away from me…but it’s safely in the mail and on it’s way to its new home.

I’ll be popping in and out over the next few days while we enjoy spending time with the parents. Until then, I hope everyone is having a beautiful spring and enjoying your Easter celebrations too.

Celebrating Marie Antoinette – The Final Chapter

Thank you so much for allowing me to share my passion for all things Antoinette with you! Meeting so many of you for the first time has been thrilling for me and I promise that over the next several weeks, I will be visiting each of you with thanks for your participation.From all my studies and research, I have so learned so much that at times it can be hard to temper my enthusiasm. Once you have read her biographies, it is hard not to change your opinions from what you thought you knew about her. I know that I only skimmed the surface of her life this past week, but it was so heart warming to read your comments and know that many of you have been inspired to learn a little bit more too. It makes all the longs hours of research and blogging all the more meaningful. I send a heartfelt “Thank You” to each and everyone of you who came by to visit with me this past week.

I want to leave you with what I believe to be the most accurate physical image of Marie Antoinette…

This is a wax model of Marie. When Marie Antoinette was alive, many noted that she appeared so different between her portraits. Even Marie felt that very few artists captured her true image. Her favorite portrait artist, Elisabeth Louise Vigee Le Brun even remarked that her beautiful complexion, without natural shadows made it difficult to capture her true beauty in a painting.

Now, I will spare you the gory details, but I have seen the official death mask of Marie Antoinette, which was made by Madame Tussaud, who eventually became famous for her wax museums. Madame Tussaud went to the cemetery where Marie was taken after her execution. And while the gravediggers had their lunch, she proceeded with her work, having located the body of Marie Antoinette, lying in the grass with her head horrifically placed between her legs. What you may not know is that Madame Tussaud had lived at Versailles for 9 years and had taught art to Elizabeth, the Kings sister. When the revolution erupted, Madame Tussaud was arrested and jailed on suspicion of royalist sympathies. In prison, she awaited execution by guillotine in the same cell with Josephine de Beauharnais (who later became the Empress Josephine). Even though Tussauds hair was already cut for her execution, at the last minute, her talent for wax work saved her life in order to make the death masks of victims from the guillotine. As fate would have it, she had to create the death masks of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI. Can you image her horror in having to complete this job? Since these death masks were made by her, I can’t help but feel that it’s a safe bet that her eventual models of the royal couple were far more accurate than any portrait painters. If anyone could bring the image of Marie Antoinette back to life it was Madame Tussauds.

I have a number of favorite references I also want to share with you. For reading & photo materials, my favorites to date are:

Marie Antoinette, The Journey by Antonia Fraser

Versailles, A Biography of a Palace by Tony Spawforth

Versailles, by Jean-Marie Perouse de Montclos

Queen of France by Andre Castelot

Elisabeth Vigee Le Brun – The odyssey of an artist in an age of revolution, by Gita May

Marie Antoinette Style – by Adrien Goets

A Scented Palace – by Elisabeth de Feydeau

Memoirs of the Court of Marie Antoinette, Queen of France by Madame Campan

The Private Realm of Marie Antoinette by Marie-France Boyer



Movies
Marie Antoinette, PBS

Marie Antoinette, Sofia Coppola – 2006

Marie Antoinette, with Norma Shearer, 1938



Music

Marie Antoinette, 2006 Soundtrack

Musique a’ la Chapelle Royale de Versailles – 5 CD set

The Romance of Flute and Harp – Linda Chatterton (Mon C’est Ami – The Queens Love Song)


I also wanted to share the last two images of the offical revolutionary inventory of her jewelry, with you.

I’ve had a few questions about this so here goes….the graphics I am sharing of this document were created by me. The original document was written in French, in 1795. I had the document translated and I used a graphic of an old piece of paper and a font that looked like old handwriting to create the English version of the original document.

Ooooh yes, I was having 3 different giveways!!! Well, here are the winners for the Marie Antoinette Large Charms….

Congratulations to the winners! Thank you so much for your visits during my celebration event! Please send me an email to let me know where to send your very special Marie Antoinette art inspired jewelry.

And to everyone else, Merci Beaucoup for a wonderful week of Celebrating All Thing Antoinette and sharing in my joy of having my Marie Antoinette Charm Bracelet published in Stampington's "Marie" magazine!

Celebrating Marie Antoinette – She Created Beauty

“You love flowers and I have a whole bouquet for you” with those words, King Louis XVI made his Queen, Marie Antoinette one happy girl. He then handed her this key…

…to her very own pleasure palace, the Petit Trianon.

Finally she had a place to retreat from all the pomp and ritual of court life. A place where she could create a more simple life and way of being. Although the Petit Trianon is located on the grounds of Versailles, it became another world for Marie Antoinette. At Versailles, her every gesture was scrutinized and regulated down to the smallest detail. From what she wore to what she ate, from the moment she got up in the morning until the moment she went to bed. Her daily routine took place under the watchful eyes of courtiers, ladies-in-waiting, valets, footmen, nobility who vied for her favors and encroached on her privacy. At the Petit Trianon, she could escape in privacy to live as she wished. By claiming her right for this separate and private life, she could also choose her own style.

She designed the interior to reflect her personal taste. There is a reoccurring floral motif in the furniture, fabric and porcelain used in this little jewel.

In her private study, there are the famous mirrored shutters, which would rise from the floor to cover the windows and thereby keep out prying eyes.

She wanted her space to be personal and she wanted reminders of her family around her. She hung portraits of her Austrian family members in her boudoir.

As elaborate as some of the interior furnishings may seem, the interiors are more modest in scale and simplicity when compared to the over-the-top grandeur of the gilded palace of Versailles.

She also wanted to create gardens that were less formal than those found at Versailles. In vogue were the English style gardens, or Jardin Anglais, and tree planting became a passion for her. Decorative buildings were added to the landscape and included the classical Temple of Love with Cupid standing in the center.

An elegant jewel-box little theater was built where the Queen could enjoy participating in amateur plays. A favorite childhood pastime that never left her.

The ultimate garden structures were in the little village, or Hameau. A charming model village with farmhouses and thatched cottages built around a man-made lake

All these beautiful details add up to create a picture of how one woman’s tastes and desires became a political issue. Everything about Marie Antoinette was controversial in one form or another. But no matter what you may think about the Queens spending habits or lifestyle, few would disagree that her personal style and taste was responsible for creating objects of great beauty.

I hope you enjoyed your visit to Marie Antoinette's most favorite place to be. I also hope you have enjoyed this peek into her world. Please come visit tomorrow and I'll wrap up my Celebrating Marie Antoinette event and also announce 3 winners for my giveaways!!!

I also hope you will enjoy part 6 of my translated copy of the revolutionary inventory of her jewelry.

Celebrating Marie Antoinette - Life At Versailles

It has been said that the spirit of Marie Antoinette still haunts the rooms at Versailles and that she left her mark on this Palace more than any other Queen who came before her.

It was not long after arriving that she began to put her stamp on the interiors of her rooms. Her eye for classic design and beautiful objects is legendary and even today there are design elements aptly named “Marie Antoinette Style”. When you hear that term applied, it creates an immediate visual of what that “style” looks like.

She worked closely conveying her ideas to architects, furniture makers, gardeners and various assistants who carried out her visions. Marie Antoinette had a great love for fabrics! It is known how closely she worked with Rose Bertin, her dressmaker, on selecting fabrics for her clothes, but they also worked together on fabric selections for the interiors of her rooms. Marie had a strong preference for pastel hues, sea greens & lilacs, pale pinks, soft blues & grays and she loved bouquet motifs.

We are in her formal bedroom at Versailles. The drapes, carpets, canopy, wallcovers and bedcovers are all exact reproductions of the fabrics she had selected herself. These lovely floral patterns are so classic Marie! I particularly love her cipher on the headboard. What a beautiful touch!

All four of her children where born in this room… and etiquette required that the births be public. A child was considered the property of France and therefore, the birth had to be witnessed to be sure a switch was not made. The mob scene at the birth of Marie Antoinette’s first child, Marie-Therese, so upset her that she did everything she could to make sure that the following births would be more private (although they were still attended by the closest and highest ranking members of the royal family).

Life at Versailles consisted of routine ceremonies that framed the royal day. There was the ritual morning dressing, called the Lever, at which the formal toilette was performed with the assistance of those with Rights of Entry. At the end of the day, there was the ritual evening undressing, call the Coucher.



There were public meals everyday where anyone, who was dressed appropriately, could come and stare at the royals while they ate.

It’s no wonder that she became unhappy with all these rituals and public routines. Hating the demands of etiquette, she would spend as much time as possible in the “petits apartments” which were rooms hidden behind her formal bedchamber.

Only her closest confidants and family members came here.

She could also rest on the day bed or hang out with her girlfriends.

Look at the beautiful detail and cipher on her door handles! Just gorgeous!

At Versailles she enjoyed taking lessons. Her days were filled with Harpsichord, harp and singing lessons. She was said to be very talented on the harp and the harpsichord.... but not so much with the singing...

Her music instructor was the talented Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges, who in his time was called "The Black Mozart". In working with Saint-Georges, Marie even composed music! The title of her composition is “C’est Mon Ami”. If you’ve seen the 2006 Marie Antoinette movie by Sofia Coppola, it's the beautiful song that Kirsten sings while performing in her theatre for Louis. I don’t know why, but this song is not included on the soundtrack from the movie, but I was able to find a copy on YouTube. I turned off the party music for today on my blog, so that you could enjoy hearing Marie's song that she composed...

With all the hustle and bustle of Versailles, she longed for a place where she could escape from the demands of routine, etiquette and spying eyes. A place where when she walked into a room everyone did not have to standup. A place where she could really relax and enjoy a more simple life.

After the birth of her first child, you can image how excited she was when Louis presented her with a key to her own private getaway, The Petit Trianon!

Please come visit tomorrow and we will explore the one place on earth where Marie felt free to be herself and enjoy a more simple life.

Before you go, here is the 5th installment of the revolutionary inventory of her jewelry. Enjoy!

Celebrating Marie Antoinette – The Oh So Fashionable Queen

I think it's safe to say that France had never seen a Queen like Marie Antoinette before.

In the past, Queens had always stayed in the background. Their job was to produce a royal heir, keep out of politics and turn a blind eye to the Kings “favorites”. The favorites were the ones who dressed flashy, were social and generally adorned themselves with an overabundance of glittery jewels. They flaunted their special connection to the highest power in the land, had their own groupies who tagged along hoping to use the favorites special standing to reach the King with their own private agendas. And in the meantime, the Kings wife, the Queen, was expected to carry on behind closed doors, not ruffling any feathers.

Then along comes the Dauphine Marie Antoinette. A charming breath of fresh air who arrived at court with a relaxed attitude about protocol and a friendly, flirty spirit. King Louis XV was totally charmed by her and the Dauphin was totally petrified of her. Being her polar opposite in regards to enjoying a social atmosphere and wary of becoming too close to “an Austrian”, he kept his distance. It took a very long time for their friendship to warm up. The marriage went unconsummated for approx. 7 ½ years!

So what’s a girl to do when your husband ignores you?

You find other diversions and Marie Antoinette was good at finding diversions! She surrounded herself with a young group of like-minded friends and they spent all their time together. And as girls do when they get together…they shopped! Soon Marie was entranced with fashion and Rose Bertin, a Parisian shop owner entered the picture. Rose had quite the reputation. She was born of low rank but carried herself with an attitude of being of noble birth. She was known for looking down her nose at even those whose station in life was far greater than hers. Rose could get away with this attitude because she was extremely talented and created the most beautiful dresses and accessories that Paris had ever seen. When Rose and Marie got together, they sent the traditional court fashions of the time, flying out the window! Soon Marie was wearing gowns made of the most sumptuous fabrics, full of gorgeous embroidery, glittering sequins, ruffles and yard after yard of handmade lace.


It was not long before Rose earned her nickname “The Minister of Fashion” and Marie even began admitting her into her private apartments, which was against protocol of the time. This is yet another incident that had those tongues wagging again, all over Versailles. In the year 1776, Marie had an allowance of 150,000 livres for her wardrobe, but thanks to Madame Bertins tempting creations, she spent close to 500,000 livres! As talented as Rose was in creating her dresses, she was scattered brained when it came to her business finances. Her accounting books were a mess and she was famous for submitting invoices to Versailles with no detailed explanations for the charges. The finance office had no choice but to pay the bills because the Queen continued to work with Rose. I found this wonderful video that showcases Marie’s connection with Rose Bertin and fashion. It is produced by Versailles and it’s in French. Even if you don’t speak French, I am sure you will still enjoy the video.







As the fashions got wider, the hair got taller! Soon the Queen was having her hair dressed by the infamous Leonard. Leonard was known for his sharp wit and his diva temperament. Marie was also known for her biting wit and keen observations. She could at times seem to be mocking, but she was always right on target with her quips. Although this kind of behavior does not work to a Queens’s advantage, I am sure that she and Leonard had some marvelous conversations between them! You can just imagine the tales that went back and forth…maybe this is where that quote “only her hairdresser knows for sure” originated! Leonard soon had the Queen wearing towering hair “poufs” that reached new heights, nearly 3 feet in height to be exact! Leonard would begin by weaving Marie Antoinette’s real hair with fake tresses and arrange all this hair onto wire forms padded with wool, horsehair or cotton. Once everything was in place, it was covered with pomade and powder. Huge capes had to be placed around her to protect her clothing from the clouds of powder being blown onto the hair. I can just image her in her flowing cape…looking like a fashion super-hero! And once these towering creations where complete, there was nothing left to do but adorn all that space with jewels, flowers, feathers, garlands and trinkets of all kinds.

And even though everyone talked and gossiped about her, they all wanted to look like her and followed nearly all her style trends. Maries Antoinette's hair and fashion choices became so popular that even if it meant ladies had to spend themselves into the poor house to keep up, they did! In doing research on her hairdresser, I came across the biography he wrote about his relationship with Marie Antoinette.

Here’s a treat for you!!! – I found a copy of this book in digital form and you can read it online or download it, for FREE! Click HERE to read Leonard’s secrets about working with Marie Antoinette.

As Marie Antoinette matured, her fashion styles started to change. She began to crave a more simple and non-fussy style.



She adored the lightweight cotton fabrics that were being imported from the Caribbean. She wanted these simple dresses to wear while enjoying the outdoor gardens at the Petite Trianon, where she was spending more and more of her time. The towering Poufs gave way to wearing her hair loose and in a more natural style. You would have thought the wagging tongues at Versailles would be happy with this simpler and less costly approach to fashion, but no, our dear Marie was once again besieged with scandalous talk, rumors and innuendo. It was now being said that the Queen was being seen in her underwear!

This portrait painted of her wearing the more simple style caused such an uproar that it had to be removed from display. It seems like Marie just could not get a break with her reputation.

With all these fashionable going-ons, it’s not very hard to see why Marie Antoinette became the most gossiped about royal to have ever existed. She enjoyed dressing flamboyant and creating new fashion trends and she enjoyed being seen and being social. With her many charms and flirtatious behavior, many at court felt that she acted more like a “favorite” than a Queen. But Marie was always true to what she liked and resisted as much as she could to bowing to social conventions. An admirable trait, but one that ultimately got her into so much trouble.

I hope you enjoyed this small peek into Marie’s dressing room! Tomorrow we step into the gilded palace of Versailles to see where all these events took place.

And here’s another treat, installment 4 of her personal jewelry listed on the revolutionary inventory of her jewels. ** Please note item 44 ** - this one brings a tear to my eyes. She had in her possession a pair of silver childs buckles....I can't help but feel these may have belonged to the little Dauphin who died and she kept his buckles as a reminder of her child. This sounds to me like something a loving mother would have done.

Celebrating Marie Antoinette - The Price Of Beauty

"I put on my rouge and wash my hands in front of the whole world" - Marie Antoinette

When Marie Antoinette first arrived at Versailles, the most striking comments made about her were in regard to her grace, her manner of carriage and her beautiful sparkling complexion.

In an era when some bathed once a week, others every two weeks, others once or month or horror of horrors, only once a year, Marie Antoinette was a daily bather. Her mother the Empress, had taught her daughter to bathe regularly because in Austria, hygiene was considered very important.

This was her bathroom at Versailles. It was located on the first floor, behind the Queen’s chamber and the floor was covered in tiles that slightly sloped so water would drain off. Hot and cold running water even came in through pipes from a cistern room located underneath the floors.

According to Madame Campan, Marie took her baths wearing a loose-fitting flannel chemise that buttoned at the collar and cuffs. Her baths were perfumed with sachets containing a mixture of blanched almonds, pine nuts, linseed, lily and other assorted herbs. One sachet was large enough to sit on and two others were added that also included bran so that she could rub her body to exfoliate her skin. She used soaps scented with herbs or amber and she also added drops of essence of lavender or essence of lemon in her bathwater. She also placed these oils in earthenware dishes, to purify the air in her apartments. These where custom blended for her by her court perfumer, Jean-Louis Fargeon and he named these preparations Bain de modestie, in honor of her known modesty.



The Morning Ritual
By Marie’s own account of her daily routine, written to her mother shortly after arriving at Versailles, she was not very fond of the pomp and socially mandated rituals demanded of her. She would normally wake between nine and ten, dress informally, say her morning prayers, eat breakfast and then have a quick visit with the royal aunts. She tells her mother “At eleven o’clock I have my hair done. At noon, all the world can enter – I put on my rouge and wash my hands in front of the whole world. Then the gentlemen leave and the ladies remain and I am dressed in front of them. This is followed by mass with the King and Dauphin. After mass we dine in front of the whole world”. After Marie became Queen, one of the first acts she employed with her new power, was to severely limit this ritual. And of course, this major change in tradition started tongues wagging all over Versailles, especially by those who were now excluded.

Fargeon also noted that she took great care of her skin, cleansing it with eau cosmetique de pigeon and using eau des charmes, made with the moisture drops exuded by grapevines, as an astringent. She used eau d’ange which purified and whitened her complexion. She also used daily Pate Royale, which was a hand cream used to keep her hands soft. She loved pomades scented with rose, vanilla, frangipane, tuberose, carnation, jasmine and mille fleurs. She also used powders and opiates to keep her teeth bright. Her perfumer also invented a powder and a cream, called a la reine, exclusively for her. She also used rouge pomade on her checks and lips.

Marie Antoinette was also very fond of perfume! Fargeon created custom blends for her using her favorite scents including, rose, violet, jonquil, tuberose, musk and amber. He also made tablets in this fragrance to burn as incense and also made scented pot-pourri. Marie kept her favorite perfumes in a lovely grooming cabinet and when she traveled, she used this…. a sumptuous necessaire which was outfitted with china, utensils and small faceted colored glass bottles of perfume and oils with silver stoppers.

Fargeon also provided her with perfumed riding gloves made of the softest kidskin. Perfumed gloves and fans were very popular at court!

Her gloves were treated with a mix of sweet almond oil, white wax and eau de rose. They were then laid on a fresh bed of roses to dry. They kept her hands soft and scented and prevented chapping when she went riding. What a smart beauty treatment!



It seems that our dear Antoinette enjoyed taking care of herself and beautifying her world even further with the use of cosmetics and fragrances. I hope that you enjoyed taking a peek at her beauty routines and will come back tomorrow when we set foot in the royal dressing room!

But one last thing for you before you go, here is installment #3 of her jewelry listed on the official revolutionary inventory. Enjoy!

Celebrating Marie Antoinette – The Royal Jewels!

When you think of the French Crown Jewels, you can’t help but imagine the gilded palace of Versailles, filled with a multitude of treasures and fashionably attired royals strolling about with their strands of glittering diamonds shimmering in the soft candlelight. I am sure it was quite a picture!

This is the atmosphere where Marie Antoinette lived from the age of 14 until she was almost 35. More than half her life was spent at Versailles and it’s fair to say that she too was seduced by the jewels that not only reflected candlelight beautifully, but also reflected her high-ranking status in court life.

Her road to Versailles started with this Blue Diamond Engagement Ring….

She was married by proxy, in the month of April, 1770. A formal ceremony was performed in Vienna and her brother stood in for the absent Dauphin. This was a common practice between members of royalty being married off to a foreign court. Marriage by proxy meant that Marie Antoinette could travel to her new husbands country, with all the hallmarks and privileges of her new rank. She arrived at Versailles with this heart shaped blue diamond ring of almost 5.50 carats. Considered her private property, this ring never went with the Crown Jewels and therefore was not stolen during the revolution. Not long before her execution, she was able to pass this ring to a trusted confidant who left the country with it. She had hoped to be reunited one day with the numerous jewels she sent off for safe keeping in other countries, but it was not to be. In 1967 her Blue Diamond was sold to a private European buyer and is not on public display.

Her Wedding Diamonds

When she arrived at Versailles at the tender age of 14, she was presented with a magnificent jewelry collection of diamonds and pearls that were due to her as the Dauphine of France. She also received personal gifts from the King which included a fan that was encrusted with diamonds and bracelets with her MA cipher over a blue enameled clasp. The bounty of diamonds and pearls continued on her white brocade wedding dress, which had the glittering jewels stitched into the fabric. Once dressed from head to toe in her sparkling treasures, she was off to be married again… and this time, the uncomfortable 15 year old Dauphin was waiting at the alter.

Diamonds and the Dauphine
In her early years at Versailles, her favorite stones by far were diamonds! She was known to purchase Chandelier diamond earrings and two stunning diamond bracelets. So costly were these treasures, that part of the payments were put on credit and part by exchanging some gems she came from Vienna with. And like most wives today, she still had to go to her husband when she ran short when the bills came due. Louis always paid her bills with nary a complaint. And when Louis wanted to make her happy, he would on occasion gift her with fabulous diamonds like these…

These gorgeous pear-shaped diamond earrings weigh 14.25 and 20.34 carats respectively. They are now part of the Smithsonian Institutions permanent collection. These were reported to be her favorite earrings and she wore them often….and who could disagree with that! Why, these beauties would match every outfit in a girl’s closet! These beautiful earrings were taken from her during the royal family’s capture after a failed attempt to flee France during the revolution. They were later acquired by a Russian Grand Duchess and then eventually sold to Cartier in 1928, who in turn sold them to Marjorie Merriweather Post (of the Post cereal family). After her death, her daughter donated them to the Smithsonian. They are truly stunning earrings. I’ve seen the originals at the Smithsonian and I can also attest to how beautiful they are when worn, because I have these…..

These beauties are an exact replica of Marie Antoinette’s earrings! The were produced for a short time, many years ago, for the Smithsonian Institution to herald the arrival of Marie’s earrings into the collection. They are no longer sold but can be purchased on the secondary market. I won my pair at an auction. Let me tell you, they are gorgeous (fake) stones and look like the real deal. And for fun, I’ve been known to wear them while soldering jewelry in my studio! Now that's a sight! If only they were real……

Meet The Regent

This showpiece of the French Crown Jewels is called The Regent. It’s a whopping 140.50 carat stone! Be still my heart! Louis XV wore it in his crown for his coronation and then had the stone removed. Years later, Marie Antoinette came along and like any girl with an eye for sparkle, decided it would look wonderful worn on her black velvet hat. How stunning that must have looked! This treasure was stolen during the revolution and recovered 15 years later. And just to prove that royalty is not so different from the rest of us, when Napoleon ran short on cash, he pawned this gem to finance his war. Eventually it was return to the Crown Jewels of France and is now kept safe in the Louvre Museum.

And Then There’s Hope!

The Hope Diamond began life as a large 112.8 carat diamond. It was originally purchased by King Louis the 14th. He had the court jewelers re-cut the stone to a more pleasing shape and it was reduced in size to just over 67 carats. It was called the French Blue because of its deep color and the King wore it on a ribbon for ceremonial occasions. This stunning gem was also with Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette when they attempted to flee France during the revolution. It was taken from them and turned over to the government. This was another treasure stolen during the revolution in 1792. The diamond ended up in the collection of King George the 4th of England and after his death, it was sold to pay his debts. It was purchased by a gem collector and eventually sold to a Washington DC socialite who made a necklace out of it. After her death, it was sold to Harry Winston who then donated it to the Smithsonian, where you can see it today.

Marie’s Pearls

As Marie Antoinette matured, her preference for diamonds gave way to pearls. How she loved these pearls! As the revolution drew closer, she gave a bag filled with un-mounted pearls and diamonds to a dear confidant who was leaving France for England. Marie was never able to retrieve her jewelry and her friend kept them safe in her family for generations. The diamonds and pearls were eventually fashioned into a necklace, which also included rubies, for a grandchild’s wedding. This necklace came up for auction a couple of years ago but went unsold. I believe it’s now in a museum on display for everyone to enjoy.

And for more of Marie’s personal jewelry…. here is the 2nd installment of my translated revolutionary inventory of her personal jewelry!



Have you ever wondered about where she stored all this jewelry while at Versailles? She had many beautiful jewelry chests made for her, but this one was her favorite…

She did not have the opportunity to enjoy this exceptional piece for very long. The furniture maker Ferdinand Schwerdfeger created it for her in 1787. Just two short years before the revolution came knocking. Its acajou veneer is set with mother-of-pearl, painted panels and plaques of Sevres porcelain. You can see this beautiful jewelry cabinet today! It resides in its original location in Marie Antoinette’s bedroom at Versailles. Can you imagine the treasures that must have been stored there? I would say it would be a safe bet that many pieces of jewelry listed on the above inventory sheet, resided at one time in these velvet-lined drawers!

And where are the Royal Crown Jewels today?
Many of these treasures have been lost forever. The Third Republic built a case to get rid of the jewels by labeling them frivolous. The democracy wanted to get rid of these objects of luxury and constant reminders of the monarchy. It was decided that a public auction would be held on January 11, 1887. A small set of jewels were set aside, many of the ones I’ve shown already.

Here is a picture taken in 1878 at the Paris Exposition Universelle of the Diamonds of the Crown of France exhibit, showing the jewels to the public for the very first time.

Many of these beautiful and historic treasures ended up being broken apart so the gems could be sold in more lots at auction. Can you imagine that? I often wonder about where all those stones went and how they were handed down through the years or hidden in a vault somewhere, or re-cut or reset into new pieces of jewelry with the current owners being totally unaware that they have a piece of jewel that was once owned by Marie Antoinette… oh how I wish I had a tiny little sparkling something…

I hope you enjoyed seeing these beautiful treasures! Come back to visit tomorrow and we will learn all about Marie’s beauty secrets!!!