Tuesday, June 17, 2008

There's Junque in My Trunk!

Well there IS. Junk in my trunk, that is.
My best friend in high school used to (very affectionately, of course!) refer to me as "Duck Butt." The girls in my family definitely don't have little dare-e-airs. I'm spelling that phonetically because I have no clue how to spell that word.

I must also mention, though, that the rear view was actually the very FIRST view of me that my husband had and he was.....well he liked it! ;) And he says he was even more pleased when I turned around, except that I was holding "some guy's" hand. Can you tell I love this story and of course make him re-tell it now and then?? ;) Two years later we officially met, became friends and the rest is history! Although he will shake his head in embarassment that I am blogging about this, these are the details we bloggy buddies love to hear about one another, aren't they? The funny little details that only our bestest pals know? :)

Oops! That's not the "Junque" the title of this post is referring to! Oh well...you didn't mind that little aside, did you? ;)

"Junque in the Trunk" was one of my very favorite swaps that I have participated in, hosted by the very sweet, Heather Kowalski of Pretty Petals. Heather paired me up with Ginny of Twinkle Pink and of course I was thrilled! I admire (and have quite frankly OGLED OVER) Ginny's incredible textile art and am in awe of the amazing Marie Antoinette pieces she has created. So when I found out she was my partner for this swap, I was very happy.

So without further ado, here is the INCREDIBLE confection of a swap gift that Miss Ginny sent to me. I gasped when I opened it and didn't stop gasping as I pulled out the contents. It is quite simply EXQUISITE. I am going to show you TONS of photos since I know you will enjoy each and every one.
The "trunk" itself is a gorgeous fabric-covered box with a lid simply SMOTHERED in sumptous vintage millinery. The center of the lid top is the yummiest pink velvet that is actually a pin cushion! Ginny and I share a love of textile art and this box will be my most treasured pin cushion.





The inside of the lid is also a pin cushion!
Inside the box I found a treasure trove of incredible British bits, bobs and outright yumminess! Ginny knows what I like, that's for sure!
The box itself was wrapped up in tissue but there was also a second tissue-wrapped parcel that I waited to open. And oh my goodness....look what was inside! Miss Marie herself!

I just about died, as you can imagine! I have never seen anything quite like this special figurine. The hair is "real" and the skirt is layers of lace. She is quite simply a confection!

Thank you, Sweet Ginny, for this lovely swap gift! I am so grateful. I love every bit of it!

Next is what I sent to Ginny. I painted a pre-made wooden "trunk" from the craft store and altered it a bit. I used vintage sheet music, old ivory crepe paper and even a tiny snippet from a vintage button card that reads "made in the U.S."! I added a "G" to the top of the box for "Ginny." I was having some "light" issues the day I took these photos, so I hope you can overlook them and use your imagination just a bit.




I filled the inside with some of my favorite ivory and sherbert-hued yummies.



I even found an itty-bitty dollhouse-sized "trunk" to put tiny treasures in! The inside of the box is lined with a gorgeous vintage wallpaper.My favorite thing was this vintage broach. I remember reading a post Holly wrote about how "freeing" it is to give away some of her favorite things that she's been "hoarding." I think this is the first swap that I have really done that...not just buying things for the purpose of giving to my swap partner but actually giving her some of my favorite items I've collected (and hoarded!). It was such a wonderful feeling, especially since Ginny and I figured out very quickly through emails that we have very similar taste. It was so much fun seeing and practically drooling over the finished product and knowing that Miss Ginny would love it, too!

Well I thought I would not blog today and would just play with my kids. After a week of vacation and concentrated time together, the blogging, emailing and processing photos I did yesterday felt downright neglectful. But here I am again! They are playing so nicely, though, and who am I to interrupt that? ;)

Rather ironically, my children are actually playing ZOO. How appropriate! Andrew has no idea he is an animal, of course, but just naturally fits the part. Maybe I will go join in and pretend to be a sleeping lion.....

19 comments:

sita said...

Love your goodies! You really got some lovely stuff! I wanna swap! Glad to see you made it back from vacation, are you working overtime with your site? Can't wait to see the finished product!

Heather ~Pretty Petals said...

ooooh Cheryl!! Your trunks of junque are just STUNNING! Ginny is so amazing with her talent isn't she (as are you!!). I love the sweet doll she made you(I bet she handcrafted that hairdo).. just so pretty.

I LOVE the trunk you sent her too... the cherub wallpaper is amazing and is perfect for Ginny. The broach you sent her is just so thoughtful and beautiful. It is nice to share our good stuff sometimes isn't it?

xoxo Heather

p.s.- I have lots of junque in my trunk too... lol... that is why I chose the name! lol

Alison Gibbs said...

You girls were perfect partners. You knew exactly what the other would love.
Alison

Ginny Gibson said...

I am soooo glad that it all arrived in one piece for you.

I absolutely loved creating this for you and especially liked doing Marie's hairdo :0)))

Your trunk has a special place on my dressing table and will always remind me of a very wonderful final swap with an equally wonderful partner, we couldn't have been better matched. So thank you Heather too:0))

Love and best wishes Ginny x

Just Between Us Girls said...

The story about you and your husband is so precious and I see why you have him repeat it now and again. The box your received is stunning. I have seen boxes accomplished like this and they simply take your breath away...the fact that it is a pincusion is wonderful since you are SO GREAT AT SEWING. The box you sent in return is equally as lovely.
Love and hugs,
Pat

Jennifer Hayslip said...

Cheryl,
OMIGOSH!!!! WHat GORGEOUS GORGEOUS pretties! The box with the beautiful millinery is just exquisite! Oh my! The DOLL!!!! BELLISSIMA! Loving her hair!
LOVE LOVE LOVE the junque trunk you made for her!!! The box is soooo sweet and pretty!!!! :) XOXO

Birds of a Feather said...

lovely creations, and that little marie ~ icing on the cake! xo heidi

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness Cheryl - what fab goodies! The pictures were amazing!

Sadie Lou said...

I REALLY missed out on this swap! Boo-Hoo! I stopped in to see you--I miss you! We haven't chatted in ages. Drop me a line, Chica!
I love the figurine--her hair is just beautiful!
Lucky you and Lucky Ginny for the fabulous trunk & goodies you sent to her!
~Sadie

Sadie Lou said...

Oh yeah! And I realized your blog wasn't on my blog roll! How did that happen?
Adding you now--

Cathy said...

What a divine swap Cheryl. That Marie is making me swoon. I have to say I don't think I could have given her up if I had found her. The box is absolutely lovely. It is all so beautiful.

And your trunk to her was just as wonderfully filled with a stashload of goodies. What a great swap.

xo Cathy

Merci-Notes said...

Beautiful! What treasures you are both sending out!!! Is that a pink crown or a crown dish? The trunk that you made me think it was floating on air!!! Lovely!
With Kindness,
mary

Anonymous said...

ooooohh Cheryl!!! What a beautiful swap, the tresures you sent Ginny were so gorgeous and the treasures Ginny made are exactly that aren't they sweets? Treasures indeed!!! Perfect, such prettiness!! LOVED your holiday snaps of Maui, looks like a fantastic time was had!!! Andrew is growing up :)

Just getting back on track, will email soon sweetie :) Hugs and kisses, Jenn and Jacqui xoxox

Southern Lady's Vintage said...

Love your goodies! AND the goodies that you sent to your swap partner too!

Ele at abitofpinkheaven said...

Both boxes are amazingly made with beautiful details, and all the trinkets. Oh my what a great swap.

Niesz Vintage Home said...

Those boxes of goodies are amazing! So, so pretty!
I'm sure both of you were thrilled to receive such wonderful treasures.

Loved your cute story, too. :)

Kimberly

Lori said...

Hi Cheryl! Welcome back and Happy Anniversary!!! You all looked so happy and refreshed! I have been so busy and just plain sore that I have been away from blogging but home! My son leaves in a little over a week for the Air Force and then it looks like I may break down and get the icky back surgery I really need!! Hopefully hubby will buy me my cake top to wear home from the hospital! Still wanting it! Girls dresses were adorable! Well gonna run, tons of catching up to do! Lori

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful swap, some truly lovely goodies there. And a lovely blog too.

Beth
www.blossomcottage.typepad.com

Sandy said...

Loved you intro to your post! Your swap items are wonderful. I love seeing all the creativity each one of you put into your swaps.