Journal Prompt: You are the Queen

Visualize. Just for today place all of your worry and doubt into the ugliest suitcase you can imagine. I say ugly so you won't mind getting rid of it. Now take yourself to the seashore and toss the suitcase in. You are not allowed to retrieve this suitcase for at least 24 hours. This is the beginning of your merry little Christmas.

image courtesy of Girled Cheese - Bittersweet

Let your heart be light! Reacquaint yourself with your whimsical, inner child who once believed that sugar plum fairies danced around the kitchen sink at midnight on Christmas Eve. Remember that little girl or boy who believed so faithfully in the magic of Christmas.

sugar plum fairies - tutu du monde

Today you are the Nutcracker's Miss Clara. You can make the dream be anything you want. What did you wish for, hope for or dream of as a child? What did you believe you could do during those days when you weren't afraid to dance like no one was watching?

pink pointe shoes courtesy of Özge Güven

My sister once said "walk like you have a cape on." Nobody has to know. This idea is similar to the "fake it till you make it" concept. It's an interesting exercise to try and one that may come with some surprising results. Try it! Imagine you are the Queen today.  You can be, do or have anything. Think back to those childhood days for there will be your heart also.

Marie Antoinette courtesy of IFC FIX 

What did you learn about yourself through the above exercises? Did you walk a little straighter? Was there just a little more confidence in your stride? Have you retrieved that suitcase full of problems yet or did you decide to let it sink to the murky depths never to see the light of day again? Tell me about your day.

Have you Heard of Lolita Fashion?

Lolita (ロリィタ) is a street fashion and a subculture in Japan known for its intricate and delicate, doll-like look. The clothing is inspired mainly by the Rococo and Victorian eras and covers a large variety of sub-styles.

sweet lolita dress floral
love the ruffled, southern belle style skirt

The concept behind Lolita borders on the disturbing side of life for me but the fashion is wonderfully intriguing and so pretty in an over the top, Marie Antoinette meets Scarlet O'Hara kinda way. I could get lost in it for days!

gothic lolita in black
love everything about this but the color

In the absence of anything interesting in the way of tea dress inspiration for May's paper couture project, Lolita fashion presents such a rich opportunity to create something wildly different yet scrumptiously girly that I simply can not resist it.

sweet lolita dress in pink
love the ruffles, bows and scallop hem

I'm thinking the neckline from the black dress combined with skirt elements from dresses 1 and 3 will produce an absolutely divine Miss May! Do you have a favorite? Let me know what you think.

Note: The first paragraph of this post is directly quoted from hellolace.net where you can learn more about Lolita fashion. Clicking the photos will take you to their original source.

Paper Couture III: Marie Antoinette Paper Hair

Marie Antoinette is such a rich source of inspiration for many that paper couture can not ignore the possibilities for creating exquisite paper hair. The combined artistic talents of Nikki Salk and Amy Flurry of the Paper Cut Project are the driving force behind these cutting edge, paper wig installations.

"Afro"

Full of energy and fun, this first wig is probably my favorite of the 3 I've selected to show you here. I can't help but see endless possibilities for incorporating paper vines and other botanical themes into a similar hairdo, something I've been dying to try for some time now. 

"Wig 3"

There is something positively magical and intriguing about the combination of the soothing, crisp lines of the front of this Marie Antoinette coiffe juxtaposed against piles of energetically, swirling curls in back. The eye begins its exploration peacefully as if on a motionless pond only to find itself summersaulting through endless fields of sun kissed wildflowers dancing in the breeze. What a visual treat!

"Wig 7" 

This sweet and sassy little number beautifully combines shorter tight curls in front with longer more relaxed strands in back. I imagine that if Marie were living among us today, she might be sporting a hairdo similar to this. Understated extravagance meets the 21st century. We would expect nothing less.

Note: All images associated with this post remain the copyrighted, intellectual property of Nikki Salk, Amy Flurry and the Paper Cut Project.

Paper Couture II: Marie Antoinette Paper Shoes

If you drooled over the Marie Antoinette inspired paper shoe I posted Monday, Get ready, because this second installment of paper couture just might leave you giddy with creative enthusiasm. Terri Gordon of Artful Affirmations has put together a little tutorial on how to make your own paper shoe.

Click the paper shoe image above to be transported to Terri's tutorial

A free shoe template is also provided on the Artful Affirmations blog if you care to try this for yourself. I created the shoes below following Terri's excellent instruction so don't be shy. These shoes were made to fit into a paper match box for a swap I participated in so they are pretty tiny.

Miniature paper shoes by Kellie Reynolds

For more decadent, Marie inspired paper creations, be sure to visit Terri at Designs by Terri Gordon.

Note: Image 1 of this post remains the copyrighted, intellectual property of Terri Gordon.

Paper Couture I: Marie Antoinette Paper Shoes

Since my creative muse seems to have begun steering me in the direction of antique paper dress forms these days I thought I would do a series of articles on paper couture beginning with Marie Antoinette inspired paper shoes.

The amazingly talented Noel Solomon of Fanciful Designs  teases the senses with this sumptuous hand made paper creation in decadent shades of pale pink that would make Marie herself blush with pride.

Noel says she spent hours flipping through pictures for inspiration, hand dying papers and selecting just the right fabrics and embellishments that would breathe life into this exquisite paper shoe.

The result is truly stunning and one that is my absolute pleasure to share with you here. To see more of Noel's incredible paper designs, stop by the Fanciful Designs shoppe.

Note: All images associated with this post remain the copyrighted, intellectual property of Noel Solomon and Fanciful Designs.