Have your macarons...and eat it too!

So these little french pastry treats have been a mystery to me for a while now...until a meeting with Judy Borello of Paris Atelier brought up macarons are becoming the new cupcake and I can absolutely see why. After such a busy and stressful week posting such pretty pastries sure makes me want to smile. How bout you? ;-.>


Courtesy of Flickr Gary Wise

Can you believe this is soap!

Bellisimo! please shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/naiad


Pretty Shabby! Babushka Bakery


Courtesy of Flickr David Lebovitz

Well Dresses Form

I absolutely have fallen smitten with vintage dress forms and the creativity that is expressed with each owners touch. Here's a few I came across while strolling the web.

http://www.mylulabelles.com/


www.boxwoodcottageshop.blogspot.com



Faded and Worn


Feel free to share your thoughts and whimsy with me!

Ebony

Pretty Shabby, Pretty Fabulous

London



Last week while strolling through an artist website, I came across a very pretty picture of a foot rested on top of a perfume bottle, it was creative and I loved it. Iness Rychlik is a very taleted artists from Poland, I love how she captures pictures that tell a story in the most unique way using feminine items to express herself. One day I would love to own a Iness original for myself, wouldn't you?

Going for Baroque

Going for Baroque by sweets1203 featuring Marni shoes

Items in this set:
White House | Black Market - Shadow Print Sheath Dress, $160
Sandals, $520
D.L. & Co Wilde Flower Rare Botanic Candle, 55 GBP
Flora By Gucci Eau de Parfum, 1.6 oz., $80
Royal Armchair (White) Furniture baroque nyc [] - $1,390.00 -..., $485

I'm loving the baroque style, it's a little gaudy but it's sooooo beautiful!

Sneak Peek! Mahogany Maddison Upcycled Style

I'm so excited, with the new boutique opening the end of april and my ooak upcycled designs coming out I just can't contain myself. Here's a sneak, tell me what you think.

Saturday w/ Mr.Robinson

Today Mr.Robinson and I spent a lovely Saturday together, lunch at a mexican resturant in Downtown Pomona on Antique Row. We also shopped in the Village of Claremont Ca. where we visited one of my favorite boutiques Jasmines specializing in aromatherapy, ah-mazing dresses, pajamas, jewelry, gift baskets and more. The owner Barbara is delightful, petitioning my husband to take me to Paris one day. How romatique would that be? Absolutely!

I have been going there for over ten years, whom of which my aunt introduced to me, I fell in love and now Mr. Robinson enjoys the welcoming fragrance the invites you into the door. It smells heavenly and every item is pleasing to the eye. If your ever in the Claremont you have to visit this lovely little shoppe. We also stopped to smell some flowers, lavenders my favorite and finally we had dessert at Dolce Cafe and Bakery in Montclair Ca. Later this evening we saw Alice in Wonderland...delightfully artistic, humorous and visually creative. All in all we had a wonderful day together.

PS i love spending time with Mr.Robinson ;-.>

Silhouettes and Cameos

I love Tarina Tarantino, this necklace is beautiful!

I love PlasticLand and this beautiful tea cup set!

Cute necklace! from MaruMaru.etsy.com

I've been busy working on my new upsycled fashions, my boutique amongst other things whew...but I wanted to make sure I don't get behind on my post so here's is a few fabulous items i found via ThisNext one of my favorite fashion sites. Stay tuned for what's new with Mahogany Maddison. Don't you just love Silhouettes and Cameos.

Simple Sophistication

This past weekend was a little busy for me but much ado about nothing at the Robinson household, except a last minute dinner party! We love hosting parties at out house. I was commission to set a small table setting in the kitchen, a few silver accents and voila Simple Sophistication.

13,074 and counting!

There is not a day that goes by that I'm not thinking about my book, the book that I'm writing Mahogany Maddison, the book which I've come to daydream about, the book that i can't wait to finish.

I don't want to rush it, but I'm anxious to see the final product, my labor of love.
I have 13,074 words and counting. I'll keep you posted on the final # and the date of the finished product. If I concentrate I know I can finish sooner then later...we'll see! Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Francophile...who moi?

sophierosedesigns

Staffordshire Garden

Shoppegirl

Luvpublishing produces beautifully and absolutely romantic floral prints who is also a publisher for Stampington & Company



I've never been one to define myself as...anything but Fabulous(batting my eyes) Ok so a girl can fantasize...but I do realize that I'm truly a "francophile" yes me defined as someone who absolutely loves anything remotely related to France. I event posted a few pics that make me feel oh la la oh so good.

Beautiful Tresor! Interview with Paulette Kinney of Paper Nosh

Being able to create something by hand is an absolutely beautiful treasure. I believe everyone has the gift to create, but not everyone has the passion or desire to tap into it. For some it comes quite naturally for others it a process. For those of us who are natural creators, it's a feeling you just can't shake no matter how hard you may try. It's like a soft knock at the door, you just have to answer. Not only do I love to create beautiful works of art by hand, I can appreciate the talent,passion,determination from the hands of another as well. Which is what I found when discovering the beautiful tresor of Paulette Kinney of Paper Nosh.com. Here's a little interview and insight on the life of Ms. Kinney that I would love to share with you:


1) Your papers are so beautiful, and romantic, who or what is your inspiration?There are so many things that inspire me!! Illustrations from old books depicting 18th Century costume and fashion, etchings of French furniture, chairs and Bombe chests, dressing tables and lovely Rococo room settings. Of course viewing the apartments of Marie Antoinette at Versailles, old Mortise, and the lovely Ziegfeld Follies girls, dressed as Marie Antoinette. I am also inspired by Maurice Leloir, Boucher, and Vigee Lebrun. Lately I've been collecting old antique books from Moliere, who wrote scathing plays in the 1700's, but also drew the most beautiful and sweet faced woman dressed in all their finery.


2) How long have you been designing, did you do something more mainstream before?

I was an Interior Designer doing Commercial and Residential design for almost 25 years ( oops dating myself :) but it was never quite creative enough for me. I did know how to draft and draw though and have always wanted to make things pretty, so it now just seems like a natural progression in my life to be doing this. You know...find your bliss and all that !



4) What is the most creative special occasion, invite, card, stationary etc. you have created?

In looking back on everything I think the series of the Versailles Paparazzi are the most beautiful that I've done. I created them when the Chateau de Versailles contacted me about their upcoming catalog when they viewed my other Marie Antoinette designs at my web site and in my PauletteParis Zazzle shop. I wanted something new that was different for them that I was not seeing out there with everyone else doing them. The combination of the Marie Antoinette apartment backgrounds at Versailles and then the old revived photos of Ziegfeld Follies girls just give me such a thrill whenever I look at them or create them for a client.



5) Who's your favorite author, musician, or actress?

Well, I'm in that class that loves Jane Austen and any period piece. But I can just as easily pick up an old Anne Rice and get into some sort of Gothic tale.

As far as music...I always have something playing in the studio, from Bach to Opera or old 60's jazz to something lovely and very French from Yves Montand or Alain Boublil.


6) I speak to a lot of women who are in business...as a business woman what are the most important elements to staying motivated?

Personally I have never had a problem being motivated...people say I am driven..there are never enough hours in the day to produce for my clients and create new designs, do the buying for supplies, plus the wrapping and shipping. My advice would be to work hard, learn everything you can about the creative thing you want to do and then just start doing it. Don't look at anyone else's work to be inspired...create whats in your own head with you own style. Know everything you can about the legal aspects of design, graphic design and copyright law. Also visualize where you want to go...visualization is so important. I have what they call "magical thinking", and creating my own world around me helps me to keep going. Plus I have the most wonderful clients in the world, they are loyal and say the nicest things to me. It means so much to have someone say how much they love their cards or invitations...it is another aspect that just makes me want to do more.


7) Please feel free to share any inspiring words or tips to woman who look up to you.

Create your space, visualize, find your niche, make things pretty, use lots of glitter and brush your teeth

This interview was truly special, it was visually inspiring and a joy. Paulette also has a wonderful blog feel free to stop by and say "Hi" http://lapinkpaperie.blogspot.com/.

Above are a few photos of her beautiful treasures and creations, if you're ever in need of a beautiful invitation, for your next special occasion log on to her website and drop her a line @ http://www.papernosh.com/. You won't be disappointed.

Shabby Chic Pink Gifted Goodies

I'm usually a cupcake baking diva...but tonight I decided to make a batch of pink frosted sugar cookies, after my husband had his share, I tied a pink bow around them and thought what a lovely edible gift this would make. I love baking and I'm sure I can find someone to give these too.



This Spring I will be launching the opening of my boutique...these cookies needs no RSVP! Yummy!