Artistic Affaire Moulin Rouge

Can Can you join us?

Joy & Cheryl KNOW how to throw a party!!!!!

My beautiful friends Carol, Maureen & Jessie are having a wonderful time at the party. And look at adorable Terry in her Can Can Girl outfit! Soooooooooooo good to see all of my buddies again!

And here I am with Jenn & Jessi. I wore my Can Can Girl headband but, sure wish I could wear the outfits these two cuties can wear! See what I mean??? Here they are with sweet Christine added to the photo op.

And then there was sweet Maija added to the group!

And below is new friends Kim (left of me) & Debby (right of me) with my Gilded Girl buddy Stacey!

A ROOM FULL of girls all waiting to go to Vendor Night!!!!

And it was soooooooooooooooo worth the wait!

Sharri Baldy & her magic shoes! She created these beauties & even though I hate my feet… I could covet these shoes! Sharri’s treasures were too much to behold. I MUST take one of her crown classes so I can create MORE THAN ONE for myself! Click HERE & HERE to see more about this talented Fairy Princess!

And above is Dyanna’s Table. I don’t even want to tell you how much I spent there!!!!!!!!! My credit card is still quivering in shock from this event… Kim’s choice in Vendors was once again amazing. And of course I picked up MANY goodies from my buddy Deb Hodges which you will see posted later.

The next morning we walked into the courtyard & found this sign. WHO WOULDN’T FOLLOW THIS SIGN?

This is what we found…

MAGIC!

Created by our Beautiful hostess Kim Caldwell!!!!

Grab a Name Tag! Kim & her fairy helpers made 70! All on black feather fans!

Come in & find your chair. With the black velvet purse full of goodies provided by so many different generous girls! Thank you to all who sent things for our goody bags & door prize drawings!

Kim’s use of Props is OVER THE TOP & provide so many great photo OPS!

I hope you have enjoyed my beginning glimpse into Artistic Affaire Moulin Rouge. I know I am behind in getting this posted but, remember I wasn’t home but 2 days (& sick as a dog) before I started having company arrive to go to Round Top Antique Festival. I hope you will come back soon for the next part of Moulin Rouge & then on to Round Top.

I want to thank all the generous girls who shared their photos in the Flicker Group that was set up to share photos from the event. Many of the girls have their names on the photos so you can see who took them. Also, many are mine. And to my generous Hubby who blesses me with the opportunity to attend so many amazing events. And to the hostesses that create all the MAGIC!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!

Come back soon for more adventures!

HUGS! Charlene

Moppet to Princess in 2 Hours Flat!

Just a week before Christmas an Elf appeared. Elle Elf!

I was 10 weeks old & there was nothing I liked better than running through the flowerbeds.

Not a lot has changed except….

I have grown & become a Moppet! Hair in my eyes… my hair is a muss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And Mommy said ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!

I went to The Pines Pet Pampering & became BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had a Spa Day (Mommy needs one too).

WOW!!!!!!!!!! I’m looking GOOD!

And when Momma was in Round Top my Auntie Riki (who told Momma & Daddy about the Havanese breed & how wonderful they were…. ) brought me a bag of GOODIES! Well she & Momma thought they were goodies…

I have to admit… the dress is kind of cute.

And it hits the nail on the head… I AM A PRINCESS!!!!!

But, Auntie Riki WHAT IS WITH THIS HAT????????????? You know if you give it to them they will put it on me! Don’t give me that “Easter Bonnet” line…………….

This is the look of PURE DISGUST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whew, got that hat off and things are pretty much back to normal

Me looking precious…

Running through the grass…

Being silly & making them laugh.

And being cute! Now it’s time for a nap! All this beautifying makes a girl tired!

Hey… at least my Momma’s finally home. So what’s new at your house?

HUGS! Charlene & Elle

I LOVED “She Has Bunny Ears Class”

She was everything I thought she would be!!!!!!!!!!!! My buddy Jackie is an AMAZING teacher! Be sure & go visit her Fabulous Blog Good Grief Gerdie! Just click on the name of the blog for a quick LINK to her.

I drove to Oklahoma City Thursday & was early to class because I couldn’t wait to meet Jackie in person (FINALLY!!!). She is adorable inside & out!

Her attention to detail DIVINE!!!!!!!!! Most of the name tags had been handed out at this point (see the little “Bunny Girl" name tags?). The table was set beautifully with HOMEMADE lemon & lime cup cakes. And those little SOUR jelly bean candy I couldn’t stay away from all night.

I went around the room/store & looked at some of the samples from previous classes. I knew I had been a lover of Jackie's’ work for over a year now but, to see them all lined up in person was so much inspiration!

One wonder after another…

The girls were all soooooooo sweet & welcoming to an out of state visitor! Thank you for your kindness & hospitality!

Here I am at the end of class with not one but, TWO FINISHED projects!!!! That is unbelievable because at most classes I never finish one project & in this one TWO!!!!!! WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

Once home here are a couple of close up shots.

My name tag.

Bunny Ears

And although the pink glittered Easter Egg basket needs moss & TINY EASTER EGGS in it…. notice the detail of the design. Jackie had these little tiny shrinky dink carrots made for this cute little basket (under the tiny pink bow). Again I say AMAZING SENSE OF DETAIL! Thank you Jackie for a wonderful 4 hours that flew by in the blink of an eye!

Have a great weekend & enjoy this beautiful Spring weather. I wanted to share a couple of the iris’s blooming in my back yard.

I bought these beauties a couple of years back from my friend Jain in California. She gardens acres of iris beds on the hillsides of her home & sold some of her favorites. I was lucky to snatch some of them up. Click HERE to visit Jain/Once In a Blue Moon for some amazing photos of flowers that will take your breath away.

Hugs! Charlene

Day Two Mission Inn in Riverside CA

After a nice long night sleep we were ready to start our Pre Event days with our sweet friend Cynthia Vartanian who lives near Manhattan Beach. She whisked us away in her beautiful BMW & took us to Riverside California to see the beautiful old Mission Inn. This was originally an old Spanish Mission (if you close your eyes you can almost feel the Spanish Monks still walking amongst you in the different areas). It has lovingly been restored to a beautiful five star Hotel & Spa.

See the girlies down the long lush green coridor?

The front desk & Lobby area. I LOVE the flower arrangement on the corner of the check in area. The flowers in California are amazing!!!!

Oh how I would love to come at Christmas with Hubby & stay here…. sitting in front of this fire place. This little piece of paradise is very close to where my precious Sandy lives.

The outside patio looked up to these rooms…

The architectural work on this beautiful place is mind bending.

There is an amazing Rotunda under that dome. And I loved the old glass in the top!

The Chapel was so beautiful!!! I would have loved to see the inside! They do give tours but, we didn’t have time to sign up for that.

The fountain outside the doors of The Chapel had the most beautiful sound.

The tile work was stunning!!!!

These cuties (Debby & Cynthia) thought so too! Thanks for the loan of the photo below Lulu (my camera decided to let the battery die about this time).

The stained glass windows took my breath away! They were everywhere!

One last look at us enjoying the inn..

After this it was off to eat Mexican Food in the courtyard below & a yummy strawberry margarita!!!! And then to the cupcake store that Cynthia said we HAD TO TRY!!!!! So those pounds are you girlfriend.

And shopping…. Stay tuned for Day Three soon. Thank you Cynthia! You are a tour guide extraordinaire!

HUGS! Charlene