Thoughts for the New Year

Another year is knocking on the door, and for me, this time of year always brings thoughts of gratitude for the path I have traveled over the last 12 months and hopes for continued blessings that will carry me and loved ones through the upcoming New Year.

As I look back, I am so grateful for my loving husband and family and also grateful that I am able to pursue my creative passion as my life’s work. Meeting so many of you through my website, blog and facebook has been a true blessing and joy that I feel each and every day. Thank you for your kindness, your encouragement, your orders and your support this past year. It means more than you could ever know. All my blessings to you and your families for much love, health and happiness in 2012. ~ xoxo Joy

The Night Before Christmas…

…tiny snowmen invaded my holiday kitchen. Sweet little snowmen that were originally manufactured to be Christmas package decorations used at department store gift wrapping counters, circa late 1940s...

….now these tiny snowmen dance in coconut snow….…a sweet life to be sure…especially when they now decorate our traditional French holiday dessert, the yummy Buche de Noel (yule log)…

….a classic French rolled cake filled with flavored buttercream and ganache frosting that’s textured to look like tree bark.

Decorating is the fun part! Meringue mushrooms dusted with coco powder pop up among tiny trees and anything else your heart desires….like little vintage snowmen whose sole job now is to wish you a very Merry Christmas….a la French style!

A Marie Antoinette Christmas

One of my favorite places to shop online for special soaps, perfumes, bubble baths and other assorted beauty products is Tokyo Milk. The products are really wonderful and the packaging is as enticing as the actual products are! They also offered this darling card for Christmas this year…

If you would love to have yourself a “Marie Christmas” too, you might enjoy any of these goodies that I always have on hand. Just so you know, this is not a paid endorsement ladies….I love this stuff and I am sure you will too…

Marie Antoinette No. 15 Bubble Bath ($22) & Kiss and Tell Kissing Kit ($24)

Marie Petit Parfum Solid ($18) & Let Them Eat Cake Bon Bon Lip Balm ($10)

Fine Soap - White Flower No. 12 ( $11) & Fine Soap – Rose Flower No. 12 ($11)


….and while you are lounging in a Marie Antoinette bubble bath, you might enjoy this new book that was published a few months ago….. Becoming Marie Antoinette by Juliet Grey

This is the first book in a new trilogy about the life of Marie Antoinette. My main focus on Marie has always been through non-fiction biographies but I am really enjoying reading this historical fiction based book that weaves true facts into a storyline full of thoughts and feelings that I can easily imagine were felt by Marie Antoinette. LOVE this book and it’s on sale right now over on Amazon.

In the studio this week I made a few Marie Antoinette soldered charm necklaces in the style of my popular Vintage Prayer Card necklaces…

I’ll have these and a few other new styles coming soon to the website. Until then…..I wish you a happy and beautiful..... Marie Christmas! ~ XO ~ Joy

Sparkle in the Studio…

Hello Mes Amis! I hope everyone is enjoying this special time of year and looking forward to all the good things the holiday has to bring. I thought I would be taking the week before and the week after Christmas off and using that time to catch up with my office bookkeeping……and housekeeping chores…..but instead I went shopping at my favorite antique store today and came home with this little pile of inspiration...

So many of you dear ones have been visiting my website lately and I am thrilled that you have chosen to purchase a few trinkets as gifts for loved ones…and yourself too! : ) Thank you so very much for your patronage and sharing with me the passion for vintage baubles…

My website is really sparse right now as most everything is sold, so rather than spend my time on D..U..L..L.. booking or housekeeping chores, I will instead be joyfully creating more trinkets in my workshop this week for the website!

I’d much rather be playing with these treasures than doing chores....

I am really inspired right now and my noggin’ is spinning with ideas for going all out with a French and Marie Antoinette theme jewelry explosion…….mon Dieu!!! Lots of sparkle is on the way! ~ xoxo ~ Joy

Creating Vintage Charm

Do you know about this lovely magazine? Creating Vintage Charm is published quarterly by the talented Sonia Crouse and this beautiful publication is filled with inspiring articles and tutorials on everything creative.

Needless to say, I was at once thrilled and humbled when she emailed a request to feature me in the “Meet the Artist” section of the new Holiday/Winter edition.

I just received my copy and the entire magazine is filled with beautiful photographs and articles on everything from baking delicious French Macarons, tutorials for crafting holiday ornaments to a lovely article about the Once Upon A Dream Art Event held recently in Asheville, NC. This lovely issue can be ordered directly from MagCloud by clicking THIS LINK.

Thank you Sonia for including me in your wonderful publication and for continuing to inspire creativity and crafting for artists everywhere.

Bracelet SALE!

Add a little (or a LOT!) of bling to your holiday season this year with one of these GORGEOUS antique or vintage buckle bracelets...

.... for a very limited time, ALL bracelets are on SALE for 15% off plus there is FREE shipping too!

Each jewel is a one-of-a-kind beauty so Click HERE to come shop for your favorite before it's gone forever. Merci Mon Amies ~ xo ~ Joy