Friday, September 25, 2009

All Eyes Shall Weep At Your Departure...

Please click on all pictures to see the details!



It is a bittersweet moment to temporarily close another beautiful chapter in our lives. Together, my husband and I shared a summer of wonderful discovery, taking a time machine back to the old days of Main St. U.S.A. The last month of summer, after accomplishing much in our professional and personal lives, we embarked on a time travel experience that dropped us off in our own backyard. About 30 minutes away, in spite of late afternoon traffic, time stands still. Magical garden shops that whisper fairy tales



and inspire the artist, writer and home decorator in me to dream and create,



bring out the whimsical dreamer in me that I simply cannot deny. From Shabby Chic shops that sparkle and boast an array of crowns, glitter and silly animal creations







to little tea salons where patrons don Victorian hats for the afternoon and slowly pour tea from original, locally made teapots



Stillwater calls us back every weekend to enjoy endless hours of antique shopping and book hunting in some of the most beautiful and well-stocked vintage book stores we have seen in a long time.





From historical home tours to the numerous bed and breakfast establishments that dot the little city









Stillwater has left an unforgettable impression in our minds that calls us back. And even though summer is over and the morning glory sheds its last tear of early morning dew, our imaginations await us at the dawn of a new adventure on the banks of the St. Croix river.



A la prochaine!

Sunday, September 13, 2009

The Art of Being an Angel



The art of friendship is a craft that requires time and endless supplies of kindness and love; the role of being an artist demands likewise. This month's recipient of the Angel of the Month of September goes to a very special artist and friend who has not only mastered her craft as doll maker, wool/felt artist, writer, painter, illustrator and marionette maker, but who has elevated her creativity to the humble heights of sincere friendship.

My words cannot express the quality and uniqueness of Patricia Cabrera's crafts, so I am asking you to take this photo tour of some of the most enchanting and diverse handmade art I have ever seen created by hand by one single person.



































She works relentlessly and everything that you see is Patricia's creation from the doll molds, the little bunnies fashioned from wool from her own animals on her farm, the hauntingly beautiful marionettes and the miniature pottery from her own kiln. She has some of the most worked and priceless hands in the industry. Therefore, I have attempted to make a tribute to my friend, whom I admire for her perseverance, high standards and most of all, her friendship:

Lovely hands

creative hands

gently art creating.

Tired hands

tireless hands

always innovating.

With passion true

inspiration, too

these hands cease not to give

to weary souls and grateful friends

the art to love and live. - Anita

Please visit Patricia HERE, link on to her other blogs and see the magic for yourselves, you will not believe your eyes!

midsummers eve
Personalized Glitter Graphics



Original poetry by Camille Benoit of Castles Crowns and Cottages
Photos courtesy of Woolytales

Friday, September 11, 2009

Make a Single Line and Have Your Tickets Ready Please...Thank You Very Much...



We are full to capacity and then some....there are people standing, sitting and waiting impatiently in the aisles as the curtain will rise to reveal the final act of Good Night Sweet Prince, a four act play written by moi, your hostess, Anita or better known in the "wanna be" literary world as Camille Benoit!



Tonight, someone will win the title of "author of the final act" of this whimsical canine caper...oh mon Dieu! here are some late comers...depêchez-vous, Madame ...it's standing room only folks!



Now, without further ado, the envelope please...uhummmm, I'm waiting...Merci beaucoup...





Drum roll please....and now, the winner of the title of "author of the final act of Good Night Sweet Prince" goes to the talented, wonderful and now two-time winner of the Castles Crowns and Cottages Playwright award is....



Let's give a hardy round of applause to Bonnie from Diamonds and Daisies!! Please click on her blog name and pay her a visit to congratulate her. She has a delightful blog and is a bright and wonderful writer! Bonnie is also the winner of La Diva which was posted back in February sometime. Bonnie captures our hearts, that is for sure!



Bonnie darling, you are just lovely in your lace gown! Please, come up and say a few words....



Let us now raise the curtain on the final act of our Summer Stock play and give a toast to our winner, a woman of great kindness, perseverance, and courage.

FINAL ACT BY BONNIE:



He went as fast as his legs could take him

this scruffy ragamuffin.

Through alleyways and boulevards he was on his way a puffin'.

Soon he would round the corner of La Rue de Sainte Honoré

through peoples' legs and winding streets he soon would find his way.

It was fine with the kids, all the hugs and kisses

but he belonged in the salon with society's minxes

how he loved to upset their apple carts

With his crazy antics, this little upstart



even Madame Chou Chou was heard to whisper

"How I dearly miss that little trickster."

M. Balzac entered the salon that day

"Fear not fair lady", he seemed to say.

"For I have come back for good at last to stay

Gone is my wanderlust, and to this day,

I will stay faithful to my friends forever

But I am still a scamp, a scoundrel and clever!



And if I do not hear a sincere "Merci"

Your shoes may make their way off the balcony!

Balzac! Monsieur Bergeron cried out with joy

Oh mon petit chien, my sweet little boy.

The clients were hushed by this beautiful scene

all their protests were just a silly smokescreen.

All’s well that ends well I believe they say

A sweet ending to this magnificent day!



Le Petit Théâtre de Chimères would like to honor and thank The Dutchess, entry #1 and Jaqueline entry#2 for the work and great thought they put into their drafts. I raise my glass to you dear friends and lovers of literature, beauty, and dreams. Et à vous tous, à la vôtre!





Good Night Sweet Prince.....



Good Night Sweet Prince is the property of Castles Crowns and Cottages

Friday, September 4, 2009

The Entries Are In! It's up to you now...

"He'd putt-putt his way in his little machine, all shiny and bright and incredibly clean.." From the play, Good Night Sweet Prince, Act 2



Our little canine Frenchman Balzac is at it again, elegantly strutting and putt-putting his way into our hearts as only a Frenchman can do, but thanks to three talented writers, I won't be the author of the final act. You will now have a chance to see three alternative endings to M. Balzac's adventurous exploits in the City of Lights!



I want to thank these writers who will remain anonymous for the time being, for their generosity; in the midst of busy lives, they decided to put pen to paper and try their hand at some poetry and prose. Here is what you can do as the audience:

1. Read each entry.
2. Use the voting gadget on my sidebar to vote; you can only vote once due to the nature of the gadget.
3. Wait until next Saturday when I post the winner and present the final act.

So now, sit back, let your imagination take you to the streets of Paris' posh fashion district and cast your votes!

Entry #1:

The character of Toto is sweet and charming...
but what happened to him was strange and alarming...
what ever can little Balzac do...
can he change his fate.. and the link to Toto too?
Or is it better to keep in mind
that every character is sweet and kind
and in this world you sometimes need
more then one character, yes! indeed.
One that's brave, and one that's bold
one that's warm when days are cold
one that's funny to make you smile
one that's patient and can wait a while
one that's clever, one that's smart
one with compassion and one with a heart
one that's caring...one that's daring
one to understand
that when you mix them all together
all can be your friend.



END ENTRY 1



Entry #2:

Oh no! Look what I found!
That dear Pomeranian lost what I have found!
Her hanky so wet from those tears shed for me...
Shall I be what I've been, or be what I'll be?

Her fur was so fluffy, it set me in a spin!
Surely now I must behave to be her next kin.
The theater life has left me quite stuffed,
I'm chasing that hanky and her cute little tuff.

I am so smitten, my life spread so thin,
I must catch the next plane, it will be no sin,
Sadie Mae was her name, she's no plain Jane!
I'm settling my paws on her window pane,
it's the hour for me to rise and shine,
'cause that cute little Pomeranian will be mine all mine!

END ENTRY 2

Entry # 3:



He went as fast as his legs could take him

this scruffy ragamuffin.

Through alleyways and boulevards he was on his way a puffin'.

Soon he would round the corner of La Rue de Sainte Honoré

through peoples' legs and winding streets he soon would find his way.

It was fine with the kids, all the hugs and kisses

but he belonged in the salon with society's minxes

how he loved to upset their apple carts

With his crazy antics, this little upstart

even Madame Chou Chou was heard to whisper

"How I dearly miss that little trickster."

M. Balzac entered the salon that day

"Fear not fair lady", he seemed to say.

"For I have come back for good at last to stay

Gone is my wanderlust, and to this day,

I will stay faithful to my friends forever

But I am still a scamp, a scoundrel and clever!

And if I do not hear a sincere "Merci"

Your shoes may make their way off the balcony!

Balzac! Monsieur Bergeron cried out with joy

Oh mon petit chien, my sweet little boy.

The clients were hushed by this beautiful scene

all their protests were just a silly smokescreen.

All’s well that ends well I believe they say

A sweet ending to this magnificent day!



There you have it. Cast your votes, take advantage of the refreshments in the lobby and we will see you next week as the curtain rises to present the winner and the final act of Good Night Sweet Prince!





Illustration by Shane Harrison from Blog Fancy