"Amour Valentine Swap"

I'm thrilled to be hosting my very first swap and what better time to share the love than for Valentine's Day. Please join in the fun, make a new friend and create a beautiful "Amour" gift box for your partner.

Here's how the swap will work. Easy, Peezy, Fun

1. Grab the "Amour Valentine Swap" image and place it on your blog sidebar linking it back to my blog (treasured-heirlooms.blogspot.com).

2. Post on your blog about the swap and encourage friends to join in.

3. If you would like to participate, email me at this email address: atreasuredheirloom@comcast.net ~
Subject line: Valentine Swap ~ with the following information.

a. Your name and home address
b. Your Email address (where I can contact you with your swap partner)
c. Your blog URL
d. Your choice of what color you would like your "Amour" swap box.
e. Choose one of the following:
*Shades of Pink
*Shades of Red
*Pastels
*Shades of White
*Any color is fine

4. Would you mind shipping outside of U.S. if necessary?

HERE ARE THE SWAP RULES:

1. You will need to purchase a LARGE (appx. 8"wx6"h±), heart-shaped, cardboard box from your local craft store (Michaels, A.C. Moore, Hobby Lobby.)

2. Be sure your box has plenty of room to fill up with "Love Treasures".

3. Email and introduce yourself to your blog partner.

4. Create your "Amour box" with your imagination and your own particular style. It doesn't necessarily have to be a Valentine theme, but it has to be pretty and it has to be made with the color choice of your partner.

5. GENEROUSLY fill your "Amour Box" with lots of treasures from your heart. Most of you have participated in many swaps over the years so you already know what to put in the box. If this is your first time, email me for suggestions on filling up your "Amour Box". If you have something that doesn't fit in the box, wrap it pretty and send it along with your package.

6. Beautifully wrap your creation before packing so your Partner will be able to take lots of pretty photos once she opens the outside box.

7. Take lots and lots of photos for our reveal day, Sunday, February 14th.

8. You have three weeks to create and mail your "Amour" box. Make sure your package arrives to your swap partner NO LATER THAN, February 5th so she can enjoy it for awhile before Valentine's Day arrives.

On Sunday, February 14th, Valentine's Day, post all your photos and the name of your swap partner.

I will have a list here of all the participating blogs.

ARE YOU IN?
GREAT...
SPREAD THE WORD
AND LET'S GET SWAPPING KIDS!

Gift Tags

'MARIE ANTOINETTE'
GIFT TAGS

There is no doubt in my mind that these stunning gift tags would have been tucked in Marie Antoinette's stationary box. Beautiful, unique, glittered, and just plain gorgeous. They are all now available in the 'Papier et Sachets' boutique at
"Elegance and Whimsy".

"Let Them Eat Cake"

"Pour Vous"

"Marie Antoinette"

"Marie with Roses"

"To and From"

"Doves"

"Queen's Crown"

"Prince of Putti"

"Lavende"

Pink Saturday

IT'S PINK SATURDAY
WAHOOOOOOOOOO


I have a really important question for you guys. Do you think I have an addiction to sweets? It might be a little late asking that question huh?

Here are a few photos from around the house. Many of these scrumptious sweets like the cupcakes, candies, truffles, etc. will be up for sale soon in the "Patisserie" at "Elegance & Whimsy".

Unfortunately, the rest of the goodies are MINE, MINE, MINE! lol

Remember to visit our gracious host, Beverly at
Howsweetthesound and to visit all the lovely participants today.

Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus

I woke up this morning and came down the stairs and there it was. My eyes just about jumped out of my head. I couldn't believe Santa had actually remembered where I lived, since he usually visits children and I'm not that "little" any more! lol

But, I think Santa knows I carry his spirit throughout the year so he decided to make a quick stop and drop off something that has been on my "Wish" list for about 6 years. A "Cindy Ellis" birdhouse! Yup, I got one. I can't believe it.

I have admired Cindy's birdhouses which are built by her hubby Bob and painted by the famous Cindy since I first saw the feature of her backyard garden retreat in Romantic Country magazine a long, long time ago.

It's almost impossible to get one of Cindy's gorgeous rose painted creations. Within minutes of her posting them on her website, they are gone. I really think there are secret fairies out there grabbing them up for their own humble abodes.

Well, all I can say is this year a very happy Pink Fairy (that would be me!) now has one of her very own. And this is no small birdhouse. The is a gorgeous, giant, outstandingly beautiful birdhouse that I will cherish forever.

I've really been good this year! I must have ended up on the good side of Santa's "Naughty or Nice" list!

My Christmas Gift to You

I want to wish everyone who reads this post, especially all of you lovely ladies who blog with me regularly, all the wonderful talented women out there who have encouraged and inspired me, and all the ladies who "BELIEVE" in me even when I don't believe in myself, "Thank You".

When a negative economy encompasses a nation as ours has over the past year, everyone becomes affected in a different way. Some a little and some a lot. Millions of people are without jobs, homes and food this season. Thousands of families are without their loved ones while they fight to keep our country safe. If you can give a little love to those in need, a kind word, a small donation, bringing food to a local food bank or just remembering to say "thank you" or "good morning", it will make a huge difference in someone's life. In turn, it will put a huge smile on your face and fill your heart with joy beyond measure.

Giving to others has always brought me the most happiness throughout my life. This year I have decided to give my love, kindness and good will to my friends instead of wrapped presents. A hug, a telephone call, a congratulations on a job well done, an encouraging email, or just a simple, "I love you" works like magic. And if you know me, you know, I'm all about "Magic"!

With that being said I will close this blog post by thanking all of you for the kindnesses, your encouragement, and your inspiration to continue creating treasures in the upcoming year.

May your holiday be a joyful one and you receive all the love you deserve.

Love, Cathy

A Girl's Gotta Have a Little Bling or.......

Maybe A lot of Bling

I have been hoarding drawers full of gorgeous bling. I figured it was about time I got off my duff and put some of these lovelies up for sale. It is so hard to part with them, but there are lots more where these came from and seriously, since I'm home most of the time, I never get to wear any of them.

Like I said, you can never have enough bling. And there is lots more where this came from. I've just begun to list these on my NewEnglandVintage Etsy site. Have fun shopping.

"Charlene" Fairy Lamp

Isn't she just the cutest little lamp you've ever seen? This was definitely a recycle project. I had an old lamp base made of metal sitting around for. Don't ask me where it came from, but there it was. I have been moving this darn thing from place to place for over a year. Down to the basement, upstairs to paint it. Never painted it, down the basement again. Oh wait the weather is warm ~ grab it bring it upstairs again, paint it white. Don't like it white. Paint it pink. Don't know if the pink is going to work. I'll think about it later. Once again it goes back down the basement waiting for something magical to happen to it. Nothing does. Everytime I look at it, it's still there undone!

I thought to myself last week this has been going on long enough. I opened the closet door in my studio and there were 4 pretty lamp shades. I grabbed one and off I went. After a few minutes searching in my closet full of figurines, I found a little pink fairy figurine who fit perfectly on the base. O.k. now paint the base again (which is now pink) to cream color to match the lampshade.

A really pretty lampshade needs to be created to bring this lovely to life. I grabbed up the prettiest vintage lace I could find, pretty pastel pink and blue seam binding, Forget-me-nots, and vintage millinery flowers. Working with magic I whipped up the lamp shade. DH wired the lamp base and all that was left to do was place the Pink Fairy on her spot. Voila, done! I love her.

I think I will call her "Charlene". What do you think of her?

WELCOME TO PINK SATURDAY

Happy Pink Saturday! I would like to share some
pink holiday photos of my home.

Remember to visit our gracious host, Beverly at
Howsweetthesound and to visit all participants on this day.