Circa 1955

 

My Mother, my brother, and I, circa spring 1955. My Mother was pregnant here, probably with my brother who was born in August 1955. I always seemed to have a doll at hand in childhood photos; my brother is proudly holding his stuffed toy chimpanzee, "Zippy".

Tea!

 

The pleasures of tea at Tea-upon-Chatsworth.... This photo was taken in January when my sister and I went to tea with our 20-year-old niece. I hope to go again soon with a friend.

Strange how a teapot can represent at the same time the comforts of solitude and the pleasures of company. ~Author Unknown

My Mother, 1925 - 2010

My Mother, 1925 - 2010, originally uploaded by confections.

On my birthday, December 10th, 2009, my sisters, my Mom, and I celebrated at our favorite tea shop, Tea-upon-Chatsworth in San Diego. We all sported tiaras for the occasion.

I lost my Mother on Valentine's Day. Rest in peace, Mutti.


"Song"

by Edward Coote Pinkney, 1825

Those starry eyes, those starry eyes,
Those eyes that used to be
Unto my heart as beacon-lights
To pilgrims on the sea!

I see them yet, I see them yet,
Though long since quenched and gone--
I could not live illumined by
The common sun alone.

Could they seem thus, could they seem thus,
If but a memory?
Ah, yes! Upon this wintry earth
They burn no more for me.
♥

My HearthSong Dollhouse, Christmas 1990

My HearthSong Dollhouse, Christmas 1990, originally uploaded by confections.

Last night I scanned an old photo of my wooden dollhouse purchased from HearthSong in the late 1980's. Here it is decked out for Christmas 1990. Atop the house is a vintage 1960's Santa in sleigh that my Mother gave me from her collection many years ago.

I began spinning yarn in the late 1980's-early 1990's, and my interest is reflected in the miniature spinning wheel seen on the first floor on the right.

I have lots of miniatures that are not on display here. One of my spring goals is to redecorate the dollhouse (and the real house!). My Mother cross-stitched a miniature rug for the nursery in the dollhouse, and it is one of the many treasures from her that is giving me solace as I mourn her loss.

In My Parents' Garden

In My Parents' Garden (11), originally uploaded by confections.

I am grieving the loss of my Mother this past Valentine's Day and finding solace in images of the cottage garden she and my father created. These photos were taken circa 1987, four years before my father died.

Collage of My Parents' Dollhouse, 1985

Collage of My Parents' Dollhouse, 1985 (2), originally uploaded by confections.

After my father retired, he and my mother collaborated on a dollhouse. It is a magical creation that displays their most excellent skills.

I just lost my mother on Valentine's Day and my Dad has been gone for 18 years. This dollhouse now belongs to one of my nieces, who has three young daughters to share it with.

My Mother & Brother, 1947

My Mother & Brother, 1947, originally uploaded by confections.

My beautiful Mother passed away peacefully in her sleep early on Valentine's Day.

How fitting for her irrepressible Libran sensibility that she would choose to depart on that special day honoring love....

I am so grateful that she had spent a month here in California at the end of 2009 and we got to do all of our girly fun things together.

Love you and miss you, Mutti!

"Diana" by Arthur Rackham

 

Happy Valentine's Day!

The Work of Byron Katie: Turn It Around

Edmund Dulac's "Queen of the Ebony Isles"

 

A haunting image of "The Queen of the Ebony Isles" by Edmund Dulac (1882-1953), created for Stories from the Arabian Nights....

Arthur Rackham "Woman with Lions"

 

This image was drawn by Arthur Rackham for a 1909 edition of the Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm. It is entitled "She went away accompanied by the Lions". Wouldn't you love to prance around in that lovely gown?

Valentine's Day Gifts from Etsy's Old World Shoppes

Here is a selection of handmade goodies for your sweet Valentine from Etsy's Old World Shoppes.

Green Tiger Press Image of the Day

 

"Au Claire de la Lune"

from the French folk song... illustrated by Anne Anderson (active in the 1920's) for the book Old French Nursery Songs.

Ragamuffin of the Day

 

I've been preparing and spinning lots of Ragamuffin yarn this week, some of it from my new "Chiffon" line of true rag yarn with knots and tails and all. More on that later this week.

I love the soft hand of this "Allspice Tapestry" print by Joanna Figueroa; it knits up beautifully on size 11 to 13 needles (or larger if you want a looser look). One skein would make a great coffee cozy or protective iPod case.

"Zenobia" by Warwick Goble

 

Another ethereal image that was reproduced by the Green Tiger Press during its heyday: "Zenobia" by Warwick Goble (1862-1943), an illustration for the Modern Readers Chaucer.

Queen Zenobia of Palmyra's story is recounted in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales (The Monk's Tale). The regal young queen, flanked by leopards, carries a bow and quiver of arrows, wears a gem-laden crown, and strolls under the waxing crescent moon.

"The Fairies are Exquisite Dancers" by Arthur Rackham

 

One of my favorite images: "The Fairies are Exquisite Dancers", a vintage Green Tiger Press notecard with envelope, by Arthur Rackham (1867-1939), from Peter Pan Portfolio.