HEAR YE! HEAR YE! BLOGGERS BALL IN 5 DAYS!

Greetings, my intrepid friends! I hope your Easter was meaningful and full of family fun and tradition!

I am here as the town crier to remind each of you that the Palace's First Annual Bloggers Ball is in 5 days! Join us Saturday, March 29th from 6pm to midnight. By the way, feel free to snag the invitation in the sidebar and post it on your blog! Invite your friends! It'll be SO MUCH FUN!

Do you have your scrapbook/altered art dress/gown for entry? It can be made of paper, fabric, flowers, sand, aluminum, chicken, ANYTHING (the chicken MIGHT get messy before the night's over) and can be as simple or elaborate as you wish. (AND it can be whatever SIZE you wish...you'll note my dresses all have 24" waistlines! That's the beauty of a VIRTUAL party...VIRTUAL waistlines!)

I want to show you a couple of dresses I've put together...(I just can't make up my mind which one to wear!)

This is a Raspberry & Chocolate Party Dress...with Sugar Flower. Next, Paula models a Fuschia Evening Gown with Diamond Swirls and Wings...

Finally, our Blogger's Ball Hostess models a whimsical little number called Rosebud which is a Cabbage Rose skirt and a pink cashmere sweater. With the organza wrap and vintage rose pin it is a vision in pink!

My next creations will be a bit more on the exotic side...Oh, as the Queen of the Palace, I felt behooved to create a designer tiara...behold! The amazing Designers, Teresa McFayden (of My Minutia and Bellatoria fame) and friend Cori Jones created the design! Isn't it FUN?!?

Isn't it just the sweetest?

Okay, now. For those of you confused and asking, "WHAT IS A BLOGGERS BALL?" Is it real? Do I go somewhere? is it a party? Well, YES! Let me clear this up for you...

A Bloggers Ball (at least MY version of such) is a VIRTUAL ball where bloggers come to my website at a designated time (March 29th 6 pm to midnight) and enter "Paula's Palace of AltAred Art" (with their entry fee...1 ball gown/dress of your own making) to join the court jester (Chris) and myself for a few hours of virtual dancing, food, recipe trading, music, (bring a list of your favorite ballroom songs) doorprizes (some virtual, some real) and stories. DING! DING! DING! THIS JUST ADDED: THE BLOGGERS BALL WILL HAVE A "PARLOR" (CHAT ROOM) SO THAT YOU MAY HAVE AN AUDIENCE WITH THE QUEEN! All you need to do is log on to my blog, and voila! The chat room will be right here! Basically, it's much akin to playing an online roleplaying game...except we will not be killing or maiming anyone! (unless some of you are REEEEEEEEEALLY bad dancers!)

As folks join the chat, they will be announced in the Grand Hall...you can then begin to imagine yourself walking down the grand staircase...here's an example of a "backstory" you could bring with you to the chat:

"The lights dimmed in the great hall...and the faint strains of music began to compete with the sounds of the arriving guests. Was everything zipped, buttoned and in place? Do I have lipstick on my teeth? She took a deep breath as she was escorted into the ballroom.

The Palace was alive with color and lights and music. Bursts of orange and yellow and red and pink seemed to be floating from the ceiling...paper flowers. Enormous paper flowers...tulle netting twisted and wafted through and around the ethereal garden above...twinkling lights dazzled her eyes. "Magical" she whispered to herself as her tuxedoed escort walked her down the great stairway.

"I hate entrances" she said quietly to the "GQ" escort on her arm. He patted her hand and tightened his grip on her arm...as if he were worried she would run away...overtaken in a momentary attack of anxiety.

The dancing couples on the floor, smiling and talking and laughing, occasionally looked toward the staircase to see who was joining the party...when they saw her, they slowed and then finally stopped. The music quieted as the Announcement of her arrival was made,

"Ladies and Gentlemen, the Winged Duchess of the Enchanted Garden."

I curtsied, certain I would fall off my heels, smiled, and nodded. The dancers acknowledged me with smiles, a polite spattering of applause, and then commenced their dancing. My escort patted my hand once more and said,

"See there, that wasn't so tough, was it?" And then, in great Billy Crystal fashion added, "You look maaaaaaaahvelous."

I glared at him and feigned a smile as he laughed and then walked back to the top of the staircase to greet and escort the next guest. I handed my glittering wrap to the valet and then walked (consciously trying to "float" more than walk) to the refreshment buffet.

My dress was sparkling in the light, a blush of pink tulle wrapped around the creamy butter colored taffeta like ribbons of watercolor...the wings, attached to the back of the dress and glittered and caught the light, shimmering with the magical effect I had hoped for. "A garden above, " I thought, "and a garden all around me" as I watched the women dancing and twirling in the fabulous gowns created for this enchanted evening. One wore a dress the color of a California poppy...another a blue-violet like a bouquet of wisteria bursting into bloom."

See? Get the idea? Imagine the fun we'll have!?! I can hardly stand the wait!

I will begin posting the decorations, menu, and guestlist as we approach the date! Please RSVP by commenting HERE to let me know you plan to attend...AND, if possible, let me know what time you hope to arrive. This way I can be sure "the staff" is present to greet you at the door!
More soon!



Paula