Hortense's Cabinets

These two lovely cabinets have so many interesting historical connections, I didn't know what to name them!

They rl models were created during the reign of Louis XVI by Jacques-François Micaud who worked for the Sèvres Porcelain Manufactory. Beautiful porcelain plaques filled with flowers & fruits adorn the front of each, as do embossed gold cherubs.



Made during Marie Antoinette's time, these cabinets became part of the collection of "La Reine Hortense", Hortense de Beauharnais, Josephine's daughter. I believe that they currently reside in Marie Antoinette's Billard Room in Versailles.

My sl versions have animated doors that open & close with a touch. They are available at my main store and also on the SL Marketplace:  Hortense's Cabinet and Hortense's Cabinet Companion

Petit Trianon: Franco-Anglo-Chinese Garden

For the past six months I've been pouring over "Marie-Antoinette and the Last Garden at Versailles". A big thank you to Thomasine Guisse for recommending it!

In the process I like to believe that I have gained a bit more insight into the queen's personality as well as the history of the French landscape garden. While Versailles had its Garden à la française, the Petit Trianon was graced with both a French and an English garden, or should I say a Franco-Anglo-Chinese garden.

I do find the idea of a Franco-Anglo-Chinese garden both fascinating and amusing so I'm taking my first, tentative steps in developing one. Since every good garden needs plenty of benches where one can relax and enjoy the view, I have recreated a rather grand one that is associated with the Petit Trianon. More stylish than its "country cousins" of the Queen's Hamlet, this elegant bench with it's elaborate carving & paint could not withstand the rigours brought on by winter and so spent the colder season tucked away in the basement of the Queen's Theatre. Fortunately for us in sl, the bench can be used the whole year through ;)



This bench comes with five sit animations, three in the seat which can be changed through a HUD and one in each arm.







You will find the Petit Trianon-Anglo Chinese Park Bench for sale at my main store, along the lake of the Queen's Hamlet and on the SL Marketplace

For more information about "Marie-Antoinette and the Last Garden at Versailles" see the image below.

Duché de Coeur: Landscapes

Master Artist, Monsieur Trasgo Beaumont hosts the duchy landscape contest!
Works of art capturing the beauty of this historical land will be on display inworld in Languedoc Coeur from April 15, 2009 to April 30, 2009 during which time you can also vote for your favourites. See the voting results on Les Amis du Coeur-Contests.

Here is a sneak peek!



Morrigan Morrisey photographed this wheatfield in Provence Coeur using SL environmental settings and minimal Photoshop post-processing.

Miss Morrisey is the owner of Gansey Designs, a shop that focuses on structures and plantings for the garden as well as furniture and accessories for the home.

She recently completed a display for the Relay for Life Home, Garden & Patio Expo, which will be held May 4-10, 2009.

Her items can be found on XStreetSL.com.



Provence Coeur Est 002 by Ecthelion Llewellyn.


Provence Coeur Est 007 by Ecthelion Llewellyn.

Happy Easter! Happy Spring!

Madame la duchesse de Chartres Chantilly
I have to say that I've fallen in love with the work of Louis Carrogis (1770-1806) and Easter seemed the perfect time to share "Madame la duchesse" with you! A confection of pink ruffles and white lace, delicately accented with a nosegay of flowers and topped with wonderful curls & hat. She is definitely candy for the eyes.
To celebrate Easter and the beginning of spring this portrait will be free for a limited time. You can find it at the main store inworld or online at Xstreet.


La marquise de MontessonJust in case you felt the need for something a tad more "serious", here are la marquise de Montesson, la marquise du Crest et la comtesse de Damas, again by Carrogis. I so enjoy imagining the conversation that accompanies this tea party. Currently available at my main store inworld.

Louis XVI Aspasie Cabinet

This lovely cabinet was created by Philippe-Claude Montigny (1734-1800) during the reign of Louis XVI.

Following the "boulle" style, an ebony background is inlaid with chiseled bronze and gold revealing a scene of Aspasie conversing with a philospopher.

This sl version has two automated doors and wonderful detailing all around. It can be found at the main store in-world or on the SL Marketplace.