merci beaucoup le vendredi 5...Laura Ingalls Gunn

this sweet valentine present was from Laura Ingalls Gunn of ArrangingElegance.com . you must check her site out...i was very impressed that my secret admirer was someone famous...Laura specializes in one-day room makeovers as seen on HGTV...she also does real estate stagings, residential & commercial interior decorating...WOW!!! how LUCKY was i?!!!

Laura had me as a secret partner in my sis' secret admirer valentine heart box swap 2009 (also look here and here )

i'm sooo very sorry for my lateness in posting these pics...i had camera issues, plus have been under the weather with the lil' ones...but we're all trying to get through this cold + long winter...so these photos of Laura's goodies surely brightened our days! we loved all the sweet treats and all the pretty ephemera...i especially LOVED the vintagey toothpicks and the vintagey ring of what i think may look like a beautiful woman like 'Sweet Marie'...thank you so very much for your thoughtfulness and kindness...you made our Valentine's Day quite special!!! again, merci beaucoup, doux laura!

hoping everyone truly enjoyed their Valentine's Day!

bonne nuit

xoxo jo ;)

Pour Vous doux Robin...

...my secret partner for my sis' Secret Admirer Valentine swap was Robin of gildedcagedesign. a designer of costumes, theatrical sets + interiors and one-of-a-kind items. the most talented Robin also has an Etsy shoppe called GildedCageDesign.etsy.com.

Robin truly can make the most beautiful choker necklaces (the picture on the left is one of my favourite chokers-sold of course!), hair accessories, cuffs and vintagey photographs. she uses scrumptious and ever-so beautiful ribbons + jewels... such unique loveliness... go check out her fabulous etsy shoppe you will truly see some gorgeous creations!

(image courtesy of Robin Sweet of gildedcagedesigns.com )

i had a wonderful time creating her altered vday box and enjoyed filling her heart with sweet ephemera and other lil' goodies i hope she'll be able to enjoy.

my camera is on the fritz and i'm hoping to post some pics of my sweet v-day box i received from my secret admirer soon...it was a very sweet box, indeed!

happy valentine's day!

xoxo jo ;)

Secret Admirer Vintage Valentine Swap 2009...

here you are sweet secret admirer partner for my sis' Secret Admirer Vintage Valentine Swap ...i'm hoping you received it yesterday... hope you have the Sweetest Day!

(will reveal my secret swap partner as soon as that sweetheart lets me know they received my lil' package of LOVE...)

a beauty of a vintage-inspired fan found at a cute Vintage Antique Shoppe called 'Three Sisters' in Blue Island, IL.

(my creation...a Valentine Eiffel...simple+LOVELY)

(my sis sent me an empty Valentine candy box...and i altered it with some scraps of papers and ribbons. the lil' vbox is a lil' chocolate candy box that i altered too)

a lil' bigger version of my Itty Bitty Valentine Page

i bought this at a Renaissance Faire a couple of years ago...my partner reminded me of her...(hint...hint)

delicious lil' vday shortbread strawberry chocolate cookies + a cupid's mix i made of vday m&ms, strawberry yogurt raisins + pastel mint drops...mmmm...

loads of ephemera...
a vintage inspired cherub pocket mirror + sweet vintagey rhinestones + buttons

all for that special secret sweetheart!

Happy Valentine's Day!

thank you so much, Reya for hosting another MAGNIFICENT Swaparooni...will post pics of my special sweet treats that i received from my secret partner soon...i LOVED everything...sooooooo SWEET!!!

Merci beaucoup!!!

xoxo jo ;)