Sunday, February 5, 2012

The french one

e

Todays challenge is called "the french one." A fellow matchbox-challenge-companion commented that I obviously hadn't struggled with this challenge (thank you!) but I actually did. At first I made a small fashion drawing based on haute couture - but I couldn't figure what to put inside the box to somehow complete the matchbox. I soaked with it for a long while as I liked the idea of haute couture - it somehow epitomises french! The suddenly the idea of Coco Chanel appeared - and pearls... lots of pearls!


I based my watercolor drawing on this photo of Coco Chanel. I guess you could say with a modern twist - minus the cigarette!!


I lined the inside of the box with black silk and added a selection of genuine vintage pearls...


- and added a finishing touch of a Chanel inspired handmade trimming in black and white (also a Coco Chanel trademark). And I guess a bit of french appeared after all!


Coco Chanel photo found via fashion-square.blogspot.com


10 comments:

  1. KÆRE JOAN
    Seeing your drawing ,I new at once it was Coco Chanel...it is gorgeous, so her, in attitude and colours-and the silk and trimming with the pearls makes it just perfect, and so very French.
    Tak for din kærlige hilsen idag, den glædede mig.
    Jeg sender knus og kærlige hilsener tilbage til dig .x Dorthe

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dear Joan,

    Beautiful! love your French matchbox, so fabulous with the pearls... and oui, prefer Mademoiselle, sans cigarette.
    I am just reading the story of her life at the moment and a very interesting book, from the time she was abandoned as a child.

    Happy Sunday
    Hugs
    Carolyn

    ReplyDelete
  3. Voila, c´est magnifique - tres belle!
    Don´t know how you make those pearls look like "a million", but they do~
    Hvor er det enkelt og smukt og "mystisk". Havde det været mig, der lavede æsken, havde jeg nok bare valgt et foto af Eiffeltårnet! ;-) :-)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dearest Joan,
    You did excellent for using Coco Chanel as model; sans sigarette! Chapeaux for that.
    Love to you,

    Mariette

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Joan!
    This is so unique, I love your french matchbox, I also liked very much you add lots of pearls.
    Send you a big hug my dear friend,
    Laura =)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Dearest Joan,

    One more time I'm back just to tell you that I've passed an award on to you. Just visit my blog.
    Love to you,

    Mariette

    ReplyDelete
  7. hey :)
    I'm participating in matchbox challenge too, only I started a little bit later. :) Your matchboxes are very lovely btw. :)

    /Marite
    (aerismade.blogspot.com)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thank you so much for nice and inspiring comment :)
    wish you all the strength and patience too craft some new matchboxes :) ^^

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Joan,

    This is great looking. I'd love to see all the matchboxes in one photograph!

    Hugs,
    Kay

    ReplyDelete