More is More, Marie!

Yes, there is that:  More IS more!  And for some, it is too much.  For others, it is never enough!  I have to go with the latter ; today, I made a fabric mat for Marie's Shoe Closet, a piece I've been stitching on for several months.  It is nothing short of opulent, with silk roses, golden swags, shimmery curtains, and rows of delicate little embellished shoes fit for a queen, namely one Marie Antoinette!

Because I travel with my stitched models, I've long given up framing the pieces if I can help it.  It is very expensive to have a piece framed, and travel and frames don't mix.  The money invested in the framing has been wasted, as the frames will become damaged, chipped and broken.  Also, the weight of the frame adds to the weight of my luggage or shipping costs.  It is much easier I've found, to simply mat the pieces with mat boards and fabric covered foam core boards.  These have proven a good solution for a nice presentation of my stitched models, and weigh very little.  If they do get damaged, I can easily replace them.

Marie's Shoe Closet called for More than a simple mat however.   My inspiration for the mat today came from a vintage frame I found perhaps 30 yrs ago at a yard sale.  (Some of my dearest treasures have been other people's junk!  Go figure!)  Here is my beautiful little frame which I used for years in my booth at trade shows.  I just love it, and it hangs in my studio.  (And just so you know, my foray into counted cross stitch was very short lived.  I learned I'd rather clean toilets than chart a design!)

 Here is a close up of the carved detail on the frame.  Just looking at this type of decoration evokes romance, doesn't it?  The concept was perfect, but how to add it to a fabric mat?

How I do love the world wide web!  How I do love all the crafting materials at our disposal today!  How I do love Joggles.com! 
I was able to purchase some cast embellishments used mainly in scrapbooking, but just what Marie ordered!  These are from Melissa Frances and couldn't be more perfect!  I painted them with my favorite Krylon 18K Gold Leafing Pen.

And yes, the finished mat is over the top, but I can't help but think Marie would approve.   If nothing else,  it allows me to have my cake and eat it too!  What do you think?