Feeling like a Queen and having the Crown to go along with it

Look where I have been!  the Chase Plaza in St Louis has to be the best hotel EVER. Pure luxury. I feel quite quennly when I stay there.

These two photos are of the lobby, one from each direction. I am happy to just stand there in the hall like a rube and stare at all the marble, granite, chandeliers that are bigger than my living room,  and the gorgeous architecture.  I've stayed there many times, but I never get over my awe of the place.

The rooms are newly remodeled, but I loved it when they still had an 80s vibe to them too.  Now they are updated, streamlined and sumptuous. 

The restaurants are as over the top as the lobby, and "Eau" is our favorite when we are in town. 

I felt like I was visiting "Top Chef", I even ate an amuse boocsh or however that is spelled.  It is French for a one bite appetizer to delight your mouth. Mine was delighted. I've seen them served on Top Chef, so felt like I knew all about them. This one was a strawberry brushetta.

See? Delightful! 

And the salads were so pretty.  Mine had truffles. 

There are 3 restaurants in the lobby along with a movie theater.  When the movies are over, an attendant offers you chocolate on a silver tray as you leave.  

The pool is right outside one of the restaurants and I love to lay by the water with a good book (this time it was a Stephanie Plum novel) order lunch with a strawberry margarita.

And sometimes I just put down the book and gawk. I never get tired of the beauty of that magnificent, old building.   

Yep, I'm a rube. 

I should have packed my tiara!  This is one location where I would have felt properly dressed to have one on!

Barbara http://www.123lavenderlollipoplane.blogspot.com/ sent me this beaut, and not only was this wonderful piece of queenly head wear in the package, she sent presents!!!!!!!!

A hat box, vintage laces,  a sweet fairy for me and a fairy framed mirror for little Sugarwings!!!

The generosity of blogger/swappers never fails to amaze me. I think she really over did it. Thanks, Barb!

I got  this photo from Sissy, she has been making gift bags.  She doesn't have a blog, and makes such pretty things, I had to show you sicne she couldn't.  I am thinking about seeing if anyone wants to do a gift bag swap?  But later on this summer.  Or, hey, it would be a good one for getting ready for the holidays, wouldn't it? Let me know if you think we should do a holiday gift bag swap later on!

While I was in St. Louis, I didn't spend all my time eating, laying by the pool or gawking at the big city sites.  I spent a couple of hours working one morning. I did this little chubby cheeked fairy painting and also a commissioned pet portrait.

This is the beginning stage of the painting.  Whenever I do a portrait, the first thing I paint is the eyes. If you can capture life in the eyes, you know it will be a good likeness. If not, I throw it away and start over.

Here is the finished product along with the photo I was using to work from.

I always wonder what the housekeepers think when they come in and see the suite transformed into a watercolor studio. Or sometimes, I take jewelry to work on while I am at the hotel. I just can't stand to not get any work done at all for more than couple of days!

Thanks for all your input on my blog being slow. Typepad says that maybe I should try doing excerpts, but I don't want to do that.  They also said to try not having as many postings listed on the first page. I'll be keeping all but a few in the archives and see how that goes. Please let me know if that helps?

Today is the 28th, so only two more days to enter the giveaway for the hand painted rose charm.  (and yes, I counted all the "happy birthdays to Beth "http://bethleintz.typepad.com/ )

On Saturday I also have to write an article for the fall issue of Romantic Country and have little time to get it done, so my drawing might be late that day. So you'll have all day to enter.  And I will start a new drawing on Sunday!  Maybe a matchbox full of goodness?

As much as I loved living in the lap of luxury in St Louis at the Chase Plaza, it was good to get home. We went straight to see Sugarwings and took her out to dinner.  I think she wore more than she ate.  I still thought she was cuddly, even covered in some sort of goo that she was eating.  I couldn't get enough hugs after not seeing her for a few days!

Comments

[Chrissy]

I think I need a vacation at that hotel! I love the gift bags. I do mostly fabric crafts, lots of knitting, and some furniture refinishing, but I'm thinking about collecting some old books, etc., to try some paper crafts like tags or gift bags. I'll be keeping my eye out for your issue of Romantic Country!

[becca]

I love the idea of a gift bag swap!
:)

[Mizsmoochielips]

I'm down with a bag swap!!

Look at those chandeliers - oooh la la! Did you climb the walls and sneak one down to bring home?

[Jack]

Great work, keep it up.....

[Elaine]

Hey, I wondered what happened to ya.
I'm so happy to hear you were off relaxing in the lap of luxury. How fabulous!

I'm sure the owner of the pooch will be thrilled with your results.

Sugarwings seems to get cuter every day.

~elaine~ from SoCal

[shabbyinthecity]

Ooo that hotel! I could eat anything if served on top of a white tablecloth! Your salad was beautiful...were the truffles good? I would like to have seen the housekeepers too when they saw those paintings!

[Wendy Updegraff]

Wow-good food, chocolate after a move and a margarita by the pool? Sounds like my kind of place! I found your blog through Silver Bella, can't wait to meet you...oh, I didn't have any trouble opening your blog. See you in Nov!!

[Carolr]

Your talent, Oh my. I'm in such awe! We all tear, cut, peel, and glue, but you can do it with just a brush. Lucky lucky are your recipiants. And your blog is such fun too with all the photos--even if it does take a while to load--once they are on there, they are delightful. Precious puppies! Carol

[Cheryl Sims]

Wow, what a hotel. You must have felt totally pampered. Love the statue of the lady in the fountain. She has a body like mine. LOL!!! Glad you are home.
Cheryl Sims

[Karen Young]

Oh my! what a beautiful hotel. I would love to go there. The pictures you take are very discriptive and make for good memories. looks like you had a really good time. But, it's alway nice to get home again. Especially when sugarwings is waiting.

Karen,
Bluemuf

[Sis]

Welcome back! I was starting to have blog withdrawal even though I knew you were on vacation. The hotel is magnificent, I should meet you there sometime. I think it would be fun to do a Halloween bag swap and a Christmas holiday swap. The dog portrait is wonderful - and so is gooey little Sugarwings. What are you writing for Romantic Country?

[Natasha Burns]

Karla how fabulous! The hotel looks amazing! your crown and gifts are wonderful, Sugarwings is getting cuter by the minute, your paintings are so beautiful and i adore the dog and its eyes, the bags are great and a good idea if you do a swap! AND your blog was a lot quicker to load!!!

[Crystal]

WoW! What a nice place!
Posted the angel light project today finally all done :)
http://www.fariebees.blogspot.com

[Gail]

Welcome back, your presence was sorely missed! I've gotten addicted to seeing the fruits of your daily labor! You are such a talented artist and you even keep busy while on vacation! Go Girl! Yes, the blog loaded MUCH faster today!

[Gail]

Love the pictures of the hotel and your finds. You are such a talented artist and to work while on vacation, what a woman! Missed you while you were gone, reading your blog has become a daily habit and I couldn't get my fix while you were gone! Welcome back!

[Stephanie]

What beautimous pictures of the hotel! And I love that chandelier ~ lighting is my vice!! Well, one of them! :0)

Sugarwings is the best pic tho, love those gooey kisses!

Stephanie
Angelic Accents