Thank you Joy, for inviting me to be a part of this birthday celebration.
Marie Antoinette: born November 2, 1755, died October 16, 1793
"Courage! I have shown it for years. Think you I shall lose it at the moment when my sufferings are to end?”
- MARIE ANTOINETTE
While preparing for this soiree, I did many hours of research on Marie Antoinette. I found her to be a very courageous, enterprising and intelligent woman. The youngest of 15 children, not well educated and quite unspoiled compared to many of her contemporaries. She was brought to the palace at Versailles at 14 years of age. Can you imagine the fear she must have felt when she looked up at this building.
Her name evokes so many different emotions in a short space of time. The more I read of her life, the more I believe she became a scapegoat for the ailing French economy. From the moment she stepped foot in France she was under a microscope, which eventually led to her demise. I can’t help but wonder if things might have been different if the French economy had been thriving when she and Louis XVI inherited the throne.
I found this postcard of the young princess and was inspired to create a vignette in her honor.
Marie Memory Board
To create the memory board overhead, I chose an antique frame and created a padded insert with cotton batting and a lovely damask cotton covering. Then I added a copy of the postcard trimmed in a silver thread with a sterling silver finding to crown the top, and a rhinestone brooch pinned to the bottom. The gorgeous blue green silk screamed royalty to me so I added it as a frame to the postcard. I had a lot of fun with this project.
Pearls, which might have adorned her neck, sit in a gorgeous mother of pearl vase.
Details of a lion on the dressing mirror.
A close up of the center of my memory board.
Her symbols:
I found this lovely set of doors on Rubylane a little too expensive for my taste at $200,000.00 for the pair. They happen to carry the monogram of Marie Antoinette. I would love to know the history behind them.
I found this teacup a while ago and fell in love with it. This cup carries the favorite symbols of Marie Antoinette, the pink rose and the blue cornflower.
French hand painted miniature of Marie
I hope you enjoyed yourself. Now please visit Joy at Cupids Charm for more Marie party-goers.
There is a wonderful link you should follow if you would like to know more about Marie. Lady Antonia Fraser discusses why Marie Antoinette has fascinated people throughout history. Please click here for the link.
47 comments:
Hi - how are you - I love all the things you found of Marie Antoinette's - I love the doors and the teacup - how wonderful tea would taste in that. Since being invited to the soire by Cupids Charm I have also become a big Marie Antoinette fan - I've watched the move twice since then - there is something particularly appealing about her personality - a naivete and a wisdom at the same time - hard to explain.
Stop by and see the dress I created for Marie - she wore it to the soiree last nite.
Cathy
Lovely post, Nancy. Yes, I've heard that the "let them eat cake" quote is not to be taken seriously as it was propaganda from the french press/government to turn the hearts of the people away from her and scapegoat her as you say.
Nancy- Oh how beautiful. I love the board. All the pictures you picked are great~
Bristol
That is such a beautiful vignette, Nancy! Thank you for the history of this very interesting woman. I think I would have been intimidated at the sight of Versailles as well. Goodness!
Have a lovely Sunday.
totally gorgeous post.
your pictures are amazing!!!
oxooxox,
jessi
You really have a lovely... and enviable collection. The door with they cypher! Hmmmm. I am so jealous! What a wonderful party!
Bon anniversaire Marie Antoinette! Content à vous pourrait venir au parti!
Janeen
Hello Nancy,
Amazing post, I can't get over it...OMG!!! All these treasures!
Fantastic!
But coming from you...it is just expected! :o)
~ Gabriela ~
I am losing my head over your beautiful creation!
I certainly did enjoy this most fab party.The tea cup is to die for, and I just adore the memory boars.You did as always an outstanding job.Hugs Marie Antionette
Lovely post, Nancy!
Your photos are beautiful Nancy,
I love the teacup and the hand painted photo of Marie!!
gorgeous!
smiles,
Sandy
Just what I expected from you! A beautiful detailed post!Thank you for sharing...Your memo board and Tea cup are exquisite!
I love the vignette you created for your memory board. Also love that monogram. Thanks.
Oooh you have so much things that are worth of a queen. This post sure is your cup of tea! And of course we all drool over our computers! That moodboard, that teacup aaaah
I so agree with what you wrote Nancy. I too feel she was a victim of her times and although parts of her life were frivolous, she really was not a very lucky lady, and found solace in her retreats from society. I ended up feeling so sorry for her.
Love your memory board and that teacup is divine.
Your vignette is gorgeous, and your photos are all just beautiful!
Hi Nancy…
Gorgeous vignette!
As always your pictures are fantastic…
Louise
I love your memory board. Your right, the blue silk looks absolutely royal.
I'm sure Marie would be pleased to see how beautifully you remember her today on her birthday.
Hi Nancy! What a BEAUTIFUL and thoughtful post! Your board is AMAZING! I also enjoyed the found object pictures too. Those doors are fantastic! Thank you so much for participating in the Soiree and sharing your lovely talents with us! xoxo ~ Joy
Love your post! I totally agree with your ideas on the famous Queen. If you haven't read "The Queen of Fashion", it's simply a must. I learned so much about what was going on at the time and how Marie's clothes reflected her own troubles as well as the nation's. Also, thanks for referencing Ruby Lane- I have a shop there:)
So nice to meet you at Marie's party! Cheers! Gorgeous Memory Board and that Marie minature painting is just wonderful!!! Would you mind if I would use it in one of my creations? Of course I'd give you the credit for the picture!
Warmest wishes from Germany sends you Carola
Lovely treasures Thank you for sweet comment!
Nancy, what a beautiful post...i love the memory board you made, the fabric poofs and gathers look so elegant...lovely work...the teacup is so pretty too!!!
Lovely, lovely post. Your creations are just beautiful.The memory board is my favorite. Please have a wonderful and creative new week.
Hi Nancy!
This was so fun! I love your tribute to her. The frame is gorgeous and the little portrait at the end of your post is the prettiest picture I've seen of her. I wonder what she really looked like! Great post!!
Hugs, Sherry
Love this post Nancy! SO many beautiful things and your beautiful memory board is gorgeous!!!!
I am off to read the link you left.. xoxo Heather
Oh Nancy how you bedazzle me with your lovely treasures and your knowledge of beauty and art and history...
I am working on that little item ..... you know... re did it to give it a bit more flair... getting excited as I am feeling somewhat better and starting to get my creative juices flowing again.....
Been a while
now if I can ust stick to it and do one project at a time too
Finishing up a few things I need to get to some people and then can really concentrate on the good stuff
LOADS OF HUGS
JO
Just lovely!
Hello, Such lovely treasures you have. Thank you for doing all the wonderful research! I have learned a great deal about M.A.
I have joined the party late but certainly will put time aside to view everyone's beautiful images, creations and inspiration.
Thank you for sharing, Karen
Lovely especially the memory board LOVE that blue fabric and the finding!!!
Please stop by my blog and enter my giveaway
Patti V
Le Drool! Your memory board is lovely! That frame, the ribbon, the filigree. Love it.
Such a shame for a child to be thrown into such a life. All alone in a big castle at 14 with no one to love her. Sad.
What a gorgeous tribute you created.
Karla
Bonjour Nancy!
Your collection of items ala Marie are all gorgeous, and I love the research you did to bring the incredible Queen 'back to life' for us all... very interesting and a wonderful post and nod to the fabulous French Queen~~~ She would be pleased, I think!
Bisous,
Karen
Fabulous quote by the truest of grand dames! Great post, thanks!
Hi Nancy,
What beautiful things you found to commemorate such a fascinating lady. I think my favorite is the hand-painted miniature at the end of your post.
I agree - she was much-maligned in her day. I read a history about her which described her as being the subject of the first recorded negative ad campaign. Poor girl. She was doomed from the start of her time in France.
Thanks for the beautiful eye candy!
Hugs,
Kate
You've captured the true essence of Marie through your beautiful selections.
Sweet Wishes,
Sara
A most informative and heartfelt post. Your memory board is most befitting of a Queen.
She was an intriguing individual and more than 200 years later Marie remains an alluring mystery.
The delicate cup and saucer would certainly make its contents taste heavenly.
In regards to your previous post, Hope is something that unites us all.It is the foundation to which dreams are made and fulfilled...
We shall hope together and overcome all.
xo Susan
Nancy,
This is a magnificent post. I am a bit late to view this wonderful event, but I just love this post. I wish that I lived nearby and you could give me some lessons on how to photograph a close up. Thank you for sharing your knowledge of her, brilliant post.
Karen
Nancy,
What a beautiful tribute to Marie. I totally could not imagine being fourteen and thrust into the world that she was. Your vignette is so simple yet elegant and opulent, I think you captured the essence of Marie very well.
A perfect Birthday for Marie!!
Thanks for such an interesting and beautiful post.
Rosemary
Thank you for lovely comment on my 'Marie Antoinette' Christmas shoe.Stampington Magazine asked me to submit one of my 'Marie' shoe's,charm and tag.I am so excited they are coming out with a new publication in the spring called 'Marie'.Keeping my fingers 'crossed'!
xxoo Denise
Hi Nancy!
I have an award for you! Please stop by to pick it up, I hope you think that it's a lovely award!!
hugs, Sherry
This post is beautiful. You always create such elegance and beauty and seemingly with such ease.
I've been missing from Blogland for awhile but it's so nice to ease back in.
Beautiful post!
Thank you for stopping by to say hi! Hope you had a wonderful party!
LOVE the post! I've been working on a Marie Antoinette series... 3 paintings complete... 5 to go at least... mine of course are based on the FUN movie... did you like Sofie's movie?
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