Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Easter Parade

Everybody get in line



and join the bunny charade



and find your favorite hat to wear



and join the Easter Parade!



But first, let's bring down those old, vintage hat boxes



and see what magnificent styles await us...maybe you prefer to strut in line in a Victorian Haute Couture number with yards of lush and lovely velvet ribbons?



Moi, I would love to have at least one chance to don un chapeau à la Marie Antoinette



riddled with opulent plumes



dipped in delicious colors





and delicately and lovingly displayed like a perfect confection in a Paris candy shop window.





Marie's bold and brilliant style influences today's millinery world and maybe something like this would suit you



and if that shade of pink is a bit too garrish, maybe a lighter tint of pink would suit your Easter fancy.





However, I think no one other than Marie could pull off something that audacious, so I'll play it safe and pick out something a little more low-key chic that Audrey would wear



or one of her basic black classics.



So once you find your favorite Easter bonnet, hop on over like a little newborn chick and get in line



to do the Bunny Hop in style



and celebrate the love of family, the fun of friends and the JOY of promise of new life!

HAPPY EASTER!

JOYEUSES PÂQUES!

VROLIJK PASEN!

FROHE OSTERN!

BUONA PASQUA!

PRIECIGAS LIELDIENAS

BOA PASCOA!

FELIZ PÁSCOA!

FELICES PASCUAS!

Friday, March 26, 2010

Back By Popular Demand From Nowhere

WAIT! DON'T TURN THAT DIAL!

BONSOIR MESDAMES ET MESSIEURS....and welcome to my mind. I am honored to be a contributor to the blog Nowhere where wit, whimsy, and wild adventures meet up with creative and carefree spirits to produce some of my most memorable moments in Blogland and where my dormant drawing skills have been revived. Please visit us in Nowhere, but I warn you, ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK of becoming a child again....

So, like Tea Rat and Rattus, take out your opera glasses and click on all the images to see the details of a night at the theatre in Nowhere....



"I say old man, where are your trousers? And that purple velvet cape and green boots, what were you thinking?" nervously chirped Rattus, as he realized that this was Nowhere's first cultural event of the year and that first impressions are of the utmost importance. "Old thing, tonight is a night to bring out one's best. LOOK! THERE'S THE PLAYBILL; let's dash over to be the first to see it. OH BOTHER! Where are my opera glasses...the print is quite small," said Tea Rat as he discretely inched and squinted his way closer to read. With a tone of admiration and a quiver in his voice he read each word as if savoring every last morsel of his favorite cheese:



Gingerly entering the gilded foyer, it was evident that Tea and Rattus were not the first patrons there; the interior of The Royal Theatre of Nowhere was buzzing with distinguished guests. Quietly taking their seats at the balcony, the lights gently dimmed to announce the slow rise of the heavy velvet curtain...the music swelled as Tea suddenly hurled his husky little body to the rim of the balcony, snatching Rattus's pince-nez, and forgetting all dignity accorded to a rat of such distinction.



"MIND YOURSELF OLD MAN" hissed Rattus as discretely as possible. But it was too late for there was the esteemed but impulsive Tea Rat, perched over the balcony like a rube piping out, "THERE SHE IS...ISN'T SHE A PEACH? I HAVE WORSHIPED HER FOR YEARS..."



As the illustrious Miss Moussie gave the signal with her paw, the curtain majestically elevated to great heights as an enormous gilded moon slowly descended and introduced the pageantry in all its luster:

CIRQUE DE LA LUNE



The atmosphere of the theatre rapidly transformed into a Parisian Cabaret as the musical number LE CAN-CAN seized the moment; then suddenly, a loud roar erupted from the audience as none other than the lovely cabaret star JOLI entered stage right...AND THE CROWD WENT WILD!



The front row of young mice could not contain themselves, and if you think they got an eyeful with Joli's entrance, think again! These boys are gonna have something to write home about after seeing Joli's spectacular ending!



The dynamic juggling and clown duo of BEBE



and Gretta



kept the jovial rhythm spinning, when suddenly who else comes a rollin'in?



MOZES,THE DANCING BEAR!



Agility and grace doesn't stop here folks....JASPER THE KING OF THE DANCING POODLES has demonstrated extraordinary skills!



And Gretta is back with RACCOON THE MAGNIFICENT AND HIS FLYING TRAPEZE to, OOPS.....HOLD ON TO RAC'S PAWS, GRETTA! Isn't she a troopa?



And now, for the grand fina-l.........uh, we seem to have a....WAIT! There appears to be an individual who is frantically running down the main aisle, and...is now on stage and is vociferously proclaiming, "WELCOME DISTINGUISHED GUESTS....I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS TIME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF...MY COLLEAGUE AND I ARE TONIGHT'S CRITICS...



"Yes Sir, thank you very much but,..." said Bebe, dressed for her final number, as she gently nudged Tea Rat towards stage right...



"I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW WONDERFU........."



The orchestra took this as its cue to strike up the band for the final number and present all the magnificent players of Miss Moussie's Travelin' Show





and wrap up a most memorable evening in Nowhere.

THE END



Tea and Rattus decided to walk home under the silver sliver of the Nowhere moon. "That was a smashing show tonight, wouldn't you say old thing? We have much to write about for our critique tonight, don't we sir?" asked Tea Rat.

"We certainly do, old man, we certainly do" whispered Rattus with a smile for his friend.




All text, pencil drawings and paper cut-outs by Anita from
Castles Crowns and Cottages ©

Drawing and creation of Miss Moussie by my esteemed friend and fellow artist
The Dutchess

The ideas of Mozes, Gretta, Raccoon, Bebe, Jasper and Joli and Tea Rat and Rattus were conceived by The Dutchess, Jacqueline, Patricia, Penny and Anita and Ruben, respectively.

If you would like to read Tea and Rattus's Theatre Critique, it's only a click away!

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Pass The Glitter, Please!

Crank up the music if you like sparkle...



Just as salt and pepper add distinction



a bit of romance



and the perfect touch to any meal



so does the right dash of glitter



add enchanting beauty to a faerie that I captured under glass



a crisp, crackling glimmer to your step



and magic to your imagination.



And who other than Tristan from Enchanted Revelry can cover us from head





to toe



in this most lavish of artists' embellishments?



However, what outshines even Tristan's perfect pinch of "SPARKLE, SHIMMER, GLIMMER, and GLEAM" to his artwork is his witty perspective on art and life and his ability to use some of the most outrageous vintage photographs to get his message across. Here are some of my favorite snapshots that have drawn from me a hearty guffaw early in the morning when I most enjoy visiting all of you wonderful bloggers.







So the next time you need to sprinkle a little flavor in your life



and want to add a dose of cheer to your step



hurl yourself over to Enchanted Revelry



and have a chat with Sir Tristan himself





and let him tell you to "Go out and make something beautiful!"







Photo Credits:

Permission from Enchanted Revelry for use of vintage pictures, original artwork and photo of Tristan Robin Blakeman

Photos of the cuisine of Provence and Italy scanned from Provence and Italy the Beautiful cook books

Faerie captured under glass, first two photos of glitter and vintage salt and pepper caddies - Castles Crowns and Cottages

All other images from Google