Wanderlust & Pixie Dust

My Victorian Handkerchief Holder and What I Forgot I Had in It

I think I found this beautiful Victorian hanky holder in Memphis.  I am no longer sure.  I only knew that when I saw it I had to have it, faults and all.  I imagine that a young girl created it long ago embellishing it by dim light.

It's quite large, measuring about 12 x 12 inches and is in remarkably good shape.  I had packed it away in a long forgotten corner.  Not too long ago I remembered it.  I had also forgotten what the heck I had stuffed in it.  Quickly flipping open I rediscovered a lovely stash of lace hankies.   Geez!  That extra lacy hanky on top was one of my very favorites.  How could I go so long without missing it.

Attached to the inside of the holder is a rich swath of golden ribbon.  There is nothing like Victorian era ribbon.   I dream that familiar dream of stumbling upon a box full of it at an estate sale.    You know how the story goes.  When asked how much he wants for it, the seller replies "What?  That huge box of old useless ribbon?  You can have it all for $1.  Take it please!"  Sigh...
 

"See within

This dainty case

Fill me veils

For thy fair face."

This quote and the way that it was applied to this case is one reason I think that it was embellished by a child.  I'm still referring to it a a hanky holder.  But veils?  A young Catholic girl from New Orleans perhaps?

Now, none of these handkerchiefs came with the holder.  Each one was discovered here and there over the many years.   One of them has a hand painted butterfly.

Another, a brilliant and bright bird.

And yet another, the proud name of the artist Gladys O'Kelly.

The silhouette of a young Miss adorns this one above.

I found a vintage little pouch crocheted around the teens I bet.  Can't keep everything although to know me is to think otherwise.  This purse will go into my Etsy shop. 

If you love hankies in general be sure to click Here to zip to an previous post I did. It features a wonderful hand painted "Mexican" hanky embellished with a dancing couple.  Love it!

Time to dig in a few more of my dark corners.

She Moves Through The Fair

one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard is She Moves Through The Fair.  

Early piece of ephemera from my own collection.

I have heard many versions of this song over the years but this version by B-Tribe is by far one of my favorites.  Back in the days when I was a flight attendant and had to spend many a night in strange hotel room, I would listen to this song repeatedly to help myself fall asleep. Click below.

Alternately I would imagine the woman who comes to mind when I read the poem Patterns by Amy Lowell.  

My dress is richly figured,
And the train
Makes a pink and silver stain
On the gravel, and the thrift
Of the borders.
Just a plate of current fashion,
Tripping by in high-heeled, ribboned shoes.
Not a softness anywhere about me,
Only whalebone and brocade.
And I sink on a seat in the shade
Of a lime tree. For my passion
Wars against the stiff brocade.
The daffodils and squills
Flutter in the breeze
As they please.
And I weep;
For the lime-tree is in blossom
And one small flower has dropped upon my bosom.

In my minds eye I'd imagine someone like Marie Antoinette.

© François Halard, reprinted from Marie-Antoinette and the Last Garden at Versailles by Christian Duvernois, Rizzoli New York, 2008.

A friend or contemporary of hers perhaps, such as the Princesse de Lamballe.  Sadly and in a daze she would wander along a beautiful path.  Then I would once again pay close attention to the words of the song and remember that my lady shouldn't be quite so morose.  She would be happy and madly in love, content.

Pay special attention to the lyrics when you get to this part of the song:

As she stepped away from me
And she moved through the fair
And fondly I watched her
Move here and move there
And then she turned homeward
With one star awake
Like the swan in the evening
Moves over the lake

This is where I love to jump in and try to sing along.  If a miracle happens and I should one fine day find myself on stage on live tv with a voice like Hayley Westenra: I would choose to sing this song.

Invariably my mind would then wander to thoughts of who in the heck is singing this?  Next thing you know I'm thinking about old Rome and constrati.  I imagine someone like Farinelli singing She Moves Through The Fair.  The YouTube clip I've added below, from the '94 movei actually has the beautiful voice of  Phillipe Jaroussky added to it.  Click HERE here and you will discover a fascinating account of how the music was recreated for the movie.

I realize that this is an Irish folk song but my imagination is always getting the better of me. The versions of this song are endless.  With any luck, I will discover many more with time.

One version of the lyrics:

My young love said to me,
My mother won't mind
And my father won't slight you
For your lack of kind"
And she stepped away from me
And this she did say:
It will not be long, love,
Till our wedding day"

As she stepped away from me
And she moved through the fair
And fondly I watched her
Move here and move there
And then she turned homeward
With one star awake
Like the swan in the evening
Moves over the lake

The people were saying,
No two e'er were wed
But one had a sorrow
That never was said
And I smiled as she passed
With her goods and her gear,
And that was the last
That I saw of my dear.

Last night she came to me,
My dead love came in
So softly she came
That her feet made no din
As she laid her hand on me
And this she did say
It will not be long, love,
'Til our wedding day

Cathy and Heathcliff - My Immortal

via www.youtube.com

Beautiful song. Beautiful, sad love.

A Mid-19th Century Victorian Ball

It was in the ballroom that Victorian society was on its best behavior. Every thing there was regulated according to the strictest code of good-breeding, and as any departure from this code became a grave offense, it was indispensable that the etiquette of the ballroom was thoroughly mastered. The following hints on 19th century ballroom etiquette concentrate on the period from the 1840s to the mid-1860s.

via www.victoriana.com

This site is an excellent resource for fans of Victoriana. You name it, it's probably here.

Fuschias 8th Century Dress Project

So last friday at 1600 h I turned in that soul eating degree thesis… Since then I’ve been re-building my soul, by sewing of course!    I’ve taken upp the pet-en-l’air again (I’m working on several parts of the outfit at the same time). I have now finished what I have dreaded for a long time – fitting the front opening. This was however necessary to be able to continue with other parts of the piece, like trimming. I feel sooo close to finishing now, I can taste it (kinda tastes like wild strawberries ;P).    And that’s kinda it… For now… Today I think I’ll make the sleeves a weeeee bit longer, to see how I should distribute the little fabric that’s left for trimming and stuff. =)

via fuchsias18thcdress.wordpress.com

Wonderful blog about the trials & tribs of creating and wearing 18th century dress.

Victorian Embroidered Silk Fan

This beautiful hand embellished Victorian fan is interesting to me.

I discovered it at a flea market in northern California about 15 years ago for a whole quarter.  Sadly it's damaged and missing a few pieces but I don't really mind all that much. 

This is a fairly large fan of beautiful black and fine light blue silk.  I'm no expert on fans but I'm guessing it to be from the 1870's.  Maybe? 

It's really quite beautiful.  And so very old.  One can only imagine the world that it was created in, who carried it, what she wore...

 

Arundel Castle

Years ago I traveled to England.  On two separate occasions I hoped to tour Arundel Castle  only to find that it was the wrong time of the year, that it was closed or in the midst of repairs.  I think I mentioned this before in a previous post but a recent visit to the blog Paris Parfait brought it back to mind.  

I was thrilled to find that Tara had added a wonderful post on Arundel Castle.  Through Castle Views I finally had the opportunity to peek inside and now you can too.  Come. Follow me...

On Harems and Mara Beboos

Harem. The World Behind The Veil by Alev Lytle Croutier.  This fascinating book is so chock full of interesting tidbits it's difficult to know where to begin.  Maybe I'll just start off talking about the photos I posted (in no particular order) and see where this leads me.

3 women sit below without their veils in a Turkish harem.  Accompanying this photo is an interesting account on the importance of making a proper cup of Turkish coffee, back in the day.  As I sit here sipping on chocolate black tea, I am now craving a hot cup of coffee.  Turkish coffee to be specific. Curious. According to the author it was not considered good form for harem women to indulge in coffee or alcohol, although the demand was upon them to make a darn tasty cup of it. 

Harem women also served a popular Turkish drink called Raku which is said to be similar to absinthe  (yeah, I 'm curious about that too.)  Here is an interesting link for all of you who are into collecting absinthe collectibles.

Time out. Click on the video for a little mood music before proceeding please. Okay, carry on.

This next image is by John Singer Sargent circa 1880.  I had not seen it before. Beautiful.

Here you see two eunuchs seated before a harem.  Admittedly this particular chapter is verrrrrry interesting. I rambled on about this subject in great detail to the husband on the way to see Michael Jackson.  We never made it.  We were running late and became detoured by two estate sales.  But I digress.  Back to the eunuchs.  The husband was not amused.

 

I was surprised to learn that eunuchs begin to show up in way early Mesopotamia.  Queens began castrating male slaves in 9th century B.C.   It's difficult to believe that anyone would willingly choose to be castrated.  Apparently some men did.   

 

This image was staged by an American photographer.  Well I'll be.  I just noticed that it looks like she is smoking a cigarette.  Didn't notice that at first.  The smoking of tobacco and the use of water pipes was a common past time in some harems.  It was not something that was done in front of men. 

An Algerian and Her Slave, circa 1860, Oil on Canvas, Musee National des Arts Africains et Oceaniens, Paris.

The Reception, 1873 Oil on panel, John Frederick Lewis.

 

A traditional wedding dress in red velvet and embellished with gold embroidery.

The Siesta, John Frederick Lewis, 1876, Oil on canvas, Tate Gallery London.  The author writes "An opiated beauty sinks into oblivion." 

 

Another staged photo of a women in "typical" harem outfit.

 

This photo shows an actual hall where Sultans were entertained by women of the harem.  I'm sure that this picture does not do the real site justice.  I imagine that it is much more beautiful in person.
 

The White Slave, 1888, Jean-Jules-Antoine Lecomte de Nuoy.
 

This next image I find to be especially intriguing.  It illustrates the inside of a palace and shows a harem going about its normal daily affairs.  The fact that it dates back to the 16th century is even more thrilling.  For me at least.  I get giddy over this sort of thing.  I am lucky to have a hubby that lets me ramble on about eunuchs and water pipes.

  

My hands are giving out.  There is enough in this incredible book for a billion and one posts.  I shall carry on another day.  But before I go...

MARA BEBOOS

Kiss me
kiss me
For one last time
May God be with you
For I go toward my destiny

Our spring has passed
The bygones are bygones
I am in

search of destiny
In the midst of storm, among boatmen
One must move forward, at the risk of life
In the dark of the night I meet with my beloved

To light up the mountains with fire.

I travel in the dark of the night.

I travel on dangerous roads
Look, my flower
Don't cast the seed of sorrow
Upon me

Kiss me
Kiss me
For one last time
May God be with you
For I go toward my destiny

Our spring has passed
The bygones are bygones
I am in search of destiny

Pretty girl
I am your guest tonight
I will stay with you
To press your lips against mine

Pretty girl
The sparkle in your eye
Your innocent tears
Light up my night

Kiss me
Kiss me
For one last time
May God be with you
For I go toward my destiny

Our spring has passed
The bygones are bygones

I am in search of destiny

Mara beboos as translated by Rouben Rostamian.

Years ago a dear co-worker surprised me by taking me to a Mid-Eastern restaurant for lunch.  Softly playing in the background was some of the most beautiful strings I had ever heard.   Weeks passed and one day she appeared in front of me with a cassette of this very same music.  

The beautiful notes of Farid Farjad never left my heart and soul.  His version of the classic Persian song Mara Beboos is still my fave but there are countless versions out in there.  In the post I have shared two of them.   Beautiful and haunting in almost any version, my list of different versions of this song is continuously growing. 

The song also reminds me of my father who never knew the words but who said that the song made him sad when I first played it for him.  For you daddy.

Fantasy

Whenever I hear music

  I dream dreams;
Entwined within the rhythm
  So it seems,
I see scenes so great and fair,
And my spirit dances there,
The gay and happy spirit

  Of my dreams.

Sometimes I am a geisha
  girl so small,

Dancing by the cherry
  Trees so tall;

Or Castillian lady fair,

With such back and glossy hair,
Dancing at a gorgeous  
  Spanish ball.

Perhaps I am a colleen

  Shy and sweet,

With an Irish jig and reel

Beneath my feet;

Or a Chinese dancing girl,

With my silken blouse awhirl

Entertaining at an Oriental fete.

Sometimes I am a quiet

Quaker maid,

Not dancing! No, just walking

Prim and staid;

Or a colonial belle of grace,

Weaving a many dainty pace.

In the minuet, as danced

By man and maid.

For the magic of the music,

So it seems,

Sets the stage, and over all

Bright color gleams,

Wrought by tempo, harmony,

By inventive melody.

Whenever I hear music

I dream dreams.

By Mina Morris Scott Circa 1940

I discovered this poem in a book that I unearthed at our local flea market.  It reminded me of how much music has meant to me over the course of my life.  It's part of me like the air I breathe, marking every major moment during my life.

Just today I heard an electric guitar loud and bold. It was played so sweet that I was reminded of a Stradivarius. 

And of Pavarotti's version of Nessun Dorma. 

Some music reminds me of cruising through Italy.  "California Love" sung by Tupac takes me back to dancing in Amsterdam, of all places. Surrounded and laughing with a busload of new Australian friends.

More recently, Seagull reminded me of what it felt like to be 15 and sitting under the moonlight with good friends. Not a care in the world.  The only melodrama in our lives being that which we conjured up ourselves in that overwrought teenage way. 

Through music I can travel anywhere and everywhere at will, across seas and most importantly, back across time.

Thanks to the THE GRAPHICS FAIRY for the dancing girl in the flower covered dress.

Bugs Bunny in Drag

Bugs Bunny in drag just slays me.   Recently I came across this watch that I gave my mother once upon a time.  A few months ago she gave it back to me. 

Those lips and that expression on Bugs...cracks me up.  

Hallmark came out with a Bugs as Carmen Miranda ornament in 1998.  I have so many Christmas ornaments that all of them don't make it out every Christmas.  Each year that I unearth Bugs as Carmen,  ha!  

 

I remember walking into a Warner Bros. store one day and agonizing over the Bugs Bunny as Carmen Miranda salt and pepper shakers.  They were $15.  I walked out empty handed.  I would kick myself in the butt now if I could.   Every now and then I look it up on Ebay just to see if one will pop up as a BUY IT NOW for $10 and free shipping.  No such luck yet.  Maybe I'll show up and a yard sale where the home owner will say "That tacky thing? You can have it for $2."  I'm just dreaming.

This one is up for grabs EBAY  as I type.  Lord have mercy am I tempted. 

Actually got a big kick out of anyone dressing in drag in those cartoons.  Guess I'm not the only crazy one.  While looking for photos on the internet I came across this wonderful link: Bugs Bunny in Drag.  Just what I needed to locate all my favorite funny bits! 

This reminds me of another one of my fave toons and characters,  The goofy doofus that Bugs attempts to doll up.  Member?  Watch this if you don't.

This is great.  What a way to start the day!