I was very blessed to have the opportunity to take a brief trip to Paris, France just last week. It still remains my favorite city. Of course, no trip to Paris would be complete without a visit to the splendid Palace of Versailles. What was most interesting about this visit was the opportunity to visit Marie Antionette's Petite Trianon, which was completely closed the first time I was in Paris. This small palace was given to her by her husband Louis XVI as her own personal retreat from palace life. This building was still quite grand and not at all "petite" by our regular living standards but compared to the main palace one can understand the name. On the grounds and gardens behinds this little palace, lay the remains of what looked like a little peasant village, which was in fact, a regular working farm that she like to stay at to escape life at Versailles. It is endlessly amusing that one could live in a palace with all the adorable shoes, fancy clothes, and grand meals you could possibly desire and still need such an escape. On the other hand, I get it completely. We all get busy and overwhelmed with our lives and need to escape and simplify. Life at Versailles, as grand as it was, must have been very overwhelming at times. I think I would want to escape it sometimes too. One thing that I always notice when I travel to Europe is is how much simpler they all seem to live. They just don't seem to fill their lives with as much extra"stuff" as we do here in the states.
This bracelet has nothing to do with Marie Antionette or Paris, but I created it as a reminder to find quiet and peace in life. One does not need a little palace, or a house in the Poconos to find your own Petite Trianon. Finding and making time to do things you enjoy is important,and shouldn't always be put last on the priority list of life. Make time in life to read a book, tend a garden, learn something you always wanted to learn, take walks, or just take a moment out of your day to write in a journal. Do this and you will feel rich enough. This bracelet is a mix of two of my favorite techniques, metal etching and resin. The collage at the center made out of a discarded watch back. The etchings on the copper piece were made with my favorite collage stamp. It is my hope that any future owner of this bracelet be reminded to slow down, and not get too overwhelmed by the loudness of our lives.
