The Royal Family Has Returned To The Castle

Sweet Home Alabama! The Royal Family has returned from their travels & "oh what a time we had!" We started our journey by traveling to St. Louis, MO & made many stops & detours along the way. Cranky King was a "very good sport" & only made a few comments during a stop at a "less than royal" flea market! He even "got down with the people" at a farm house auction...& bought something on his own at a flea market!

After almost 11 hours, we were glad to see this sign!

St. Louis or BUST!

We even arrived without any speeding tickets! Yeah for the Royal Family...

'BIG RED' was the Royal Carriage!

 So what did we do during our travels??? Well...a little of this & a little of that...

We got our "morning jolt" with coffee from The St. Louis Bread Company

It was Marine Week in St. Louis...& the Queen never misses an opportunity to take her picture with a soldier...didn't hurt that he was a doll!

...and we toasted to our trip...Washington St. Oyster Bar

...and we toasted some more...BB's Jazz, Blues & Soups

We listened to some awesome Blues & Jazz. The Queen & Mr Chapman, Blues Singer.

We went to see a St. Louis Cardinals Baseball Game. Cranky King & Queen love their baseball! Unfortunately, the Cardinals lost to the Phillies...

 We ventured over to CHEROKEE ANTIQUE ROW  in St. Louis, but unfortunately, many shops were closed. We did get to visit a funky shop called Purple Cow Antiques where I snapped these photos. Cool, huh?

 He had some great advertising signs...& look at the bridge and its mosaic water banks!

The Royal Couple had a wonderful time...& we toasted some more!

Cranky King being his "ordinary self" at the Anheuser Busch Tour & Beer Tasting! Gosh, so many varieties of "adult beverages to choose from,,,

Awesome wrought iron fencing. This would look great around the palace!

 We also got a chance to rummage through a great barn in Hermann, MO called the Red Barn Antiques

Loved these old wheels and tractor thingies!

Shutters Anyone???

Check this out! We felt like The American Pickers? Can you guess who was the "chubby" one?

What time is it?  The Queen actually bought some of these clocks.

Antlers are so great in the decorating now..

And the Queen's passion...architectural pieces!

 I will continue the tour of our travels at a later date. Cranky Queen & King have much more to share with you...

 ...but the Cranky Queen is tired from her trip & needs a royal nap...

KEEP CALM & CARRY ON!

Tiffany

IT IS GOOD TO BE QUEEN!

If the crown fits,wear it!  That is the Cranky Queen's favorite motto... I have been a "lucky ducky" or as Cranky King says "Winner, Winner ~ Chicken Dinner!" I would like to share with you the wonderful creations that have been bestowed upon me as the winner of giveaways in world of blog land...

FIRST OF ALL...Lemay at Leaping Frog Designs sent by royal mail a beautiful handmade envelope book of amazing items to adorn whatever strikes the Queen's fancy. Oh, it is so good to be Queen!

The cover of the book...so delicate & feminine

Each page was filled with beautiful graphics

A book "fit for a Queen!"

A "royal" thank you to Lemay.  Visit her blog; it is breathtaking!

SECONDLY, Trisha from Glass Slippers & All Sorts of Stuff was my swap partner in the Initially Yours Swap.  Looked what arrived in the mail by the "royal carrier"... "T for Tiffany" created just for the Queen...

Adore these roses tucked in the corner...

Trisha asked what I liked in an email.  One of the first things that I mentioned were dogs...Look at this adorable spotted pup that she found at an antique store!

Buttons with crowns...It's hard to be the Queen, but someone has to do it!

A vintage hankie that can be taken off & used...

A burlap flower made my Trisha & old crocheted laced & sheet music to add that vintage touch. Visit Trisha's blog to see what she enjoys to do....

YES, THERE IS A THIRD!  Michelle from Ispirato Design had a fabulous giveaway...Drum roll, please!...of a charcoal portrait of your pet!  And the Cranky Queen won...I live a charmed life!

I emailed her several pics of Dixie Belle & she chose this one

How talented is Michelle?

You must check her blog out! She also takes special orders for pet portraits! King Cranky is getting this for one of his Father's Day gifts.  Dixie Belle is "his" dog & I know, he will absolutely love it!  Thank you so very much, Michelle!

Have a Wonderful Weekend & Please Browse the Wonderful Blogs That Have Been So Generous to me...The Queen Is No Longer Cranky!

STAY CALM & ENTER A GIVEAWAY!

Initially Yours Swap

The Cranky Queen participated in a fun swap over at It's A Very Cherry World titled "Initially Yours Swap"...Basically, Sue assigned you a partner & you created a gift using the first initial of their name.  My swap partner was Trisha (initial T) over at the Glass Slippers & All Sorts of Stuff blog. I am anxiously awaiting my "T for Tiffany" creation by Trisha!

The Queen created a mixed media, altered art collage using a Paris~French theme

Dangling below was the script "T" decoupaged on a silver plate coaster adorned with vintage tatted lace & buttons

A closeup showing vintage ribbon, buttons, crocheted lace & a bit of bling!

The English translation is "A Lady's Glass Slipper:..I adorned the bottom with old buttons, rose hanky, turquoise fringe cut from an old bedspread, more crocheted pieces & torn paper from a French book

In the top left corner, I used an enamel earring, silk ribbon & an old postcard graphic of the Eiffel Tower.

I loved this image of the French lady with the dog.  Her coat is fab!

"If Only I Was In Paris...."

Trisha emailed me a list of the things that she loved...some were roses, turquoise/aqua, pink, white, French, Paris, vintage lace....I hope that she enjoys here piece of art as much as I enjoyed making it for her!

 If you have never participated in a swap, it is a lot of fun!  The hostess always gives you ample time to create whatever the swap theme is...Several swaps that the Cranky Queen is participating in are "an altered spoon swap" over at Tee's blog The Altered Paper and "a door hanger swap" over at Jeanie's blog All My Art. So, "live a little", "have some fun", "meet a new blog friend" & "join a swap!"

STAY CALM & ENTER A SWAP!

Saw this little French poodle painting at a B'ham restaurant...unfortunately, the manager did not know my "royal status" & would not sell it to the Cranky Queen! Some people just have no respect for royalty~LOL