Wanderlust & Pixie Dust

The Beautiful Vampire

 

Months ago ago I came across a very interesting book.   I’m always on the hunt for the next great find and usually only pay  50 cents to one dollar per book, rarely more.  But the title of this particular book was certainly an attention grabber, The Beautiful Vampire.  

I carefully opened it and immediately read “La Morte Amorureuse” by Theophile Gautier beneath the title.  I was instantly hooked and asked about the price.  5 dollars!  Eeek.  More than I wanted to pay.  I tried to walk away but insanely curious,  I couldn’t resist turning a few pages and came upon the the following: 

“You ask me brother, if I have loved; yes.  It is a strange and terrible story, and although I am sixty-six years old, I scarcely dare to stir the ashes of that memory.”

And “One single glance at a woman nearly cost me the loss of my soul....Yes I have loved as no one in the world has loved, with a mad furious passion, so violent that I wonder it did not

burst my heart.  Ah! What nights! What nights!” 

As you’ve probably already guessed, I’m now the proud owner of the tale of a priest that falls madly in love with a beautiful vampire named Clarimonde.  My copy is from 1927 but a little research unearthed that the original was written 1836.  Gautier apparently kept busy as a poet, novelist and literary critic.

 He was a firm believer in “Art for art’s sake” and felt that  aesthetic  beauty was the sole porpose of creating artwork.

The priest describes her beauty:

“Oh! How beautiful she was!  The greatest painters, searching for ideal beauty in heaven and bringing down to earth the divine portrait of the Madonna, do not approach this fabulous reality.”  

 And his love for Clarimonde:

“This love, born, had taken root imperishably; I did not even think of attempting to eradicate, I felt so strongly that it was impossible.  This women had taken complete possession of me; one look had sufficed to work the change in me; she had breathed her will into me; my life was no more my own, but hers, drawing its breath from her.”

Her eyes: 

What eyes! With one flash they decided the fate of a man; ...rays like arrows darted from them straight to the heart.”

Would that someone would describe my eyes in a similar fashion.  Or rave about my hands like so:

“She wore a dress of red velvet, and from the broad ermine-trimmed sleeves emerged patrician hands of infinite delicacy, with long rounded fingers so translucent that the light shone through them like those of Aurora.”

Victorian/Edwardian Chenille

I saw my very first Victorian chenille throw used as a prop in an old photograph, possibly a carte de visite, circa 1870's-1880's.  My mother taught me the joys of getting comfy with a small pile of old photographs and a magnifying glass at your side.  

I remember the very first time I actually saw one of these in person.  It was years ago at what used to be the Santa Monica Antique Market on Lincoln.  I spotted the first "throw" from a distance.  I remember getting all beside myself as I recognized immediately what it was.  

What I didn't get excited about was the $300 price tag.  It turns out the same dealer had a few more of these chenille beauties draped gracefully across the store.  Carefully I examined each of them and vowed that I would own one someday.

 

Since then I have been lucky enough to put together a very small collection.  Each throw/portiere/blanket was luckily snagged on Ebay for a song.  This one is especially magnificent and detailed.

These are the type of antique/vintage textiles that often hold up very well over the years.  I don't think that some people realize how much age is on these beauties.  My husband likes to try and get my goat now and then by exclaiming "That's not old " about various things.  

The colors in this piece remain so vibrant that it's hard to tell the back from the front. 

Be sure to take a good look at these close-ups so that you will ready should you stumble upon one of these yourself.   Remember that they were created in a variety of sizes.  I have one sized perfectly for a small parlor table and still others that are incredibly long in size.  Exceptionally long pieces which are only tasseled on 2 (opposite) ends were created to hang in doorways.   

I'm blanking out at the moment regarding the measurements on this. It's square in shape and certainly would work as a twin size bedspread or topper.  Pretty tassels rim all 4 sides. 

This does have 2 damaged tassels but I don't plan to even attempt to repair them.  They certainly do not detract from the beauty of the piece. 

I used to have one that had an image of a child riding a huge St. Bernard.  I sold that one but now I kick myself for not keeping it.  Oh well,  there is always something new and amazing to discover, right?

MARIE

   

Welcome everyone!  I'm late as usual!  I chased my hubby into his room after breakfast.  I had too.  He was sitting in between me,  my craft room and my computer.  To make matters worse, he was watching sports.  I know that I'm spoiled but I couldn't listen to Marie Antoinette period music (PANDORA) over the sports and it was blocking the ol-creative-juices.  He had to go.

I'm not sure if this actually an image of Marie Antoinette or not but let's pretend that it is.

I tried to put this together in such a hurry that it's basically all pinned together and ready to collapse at any minute.  In fact it did come apart several times as I was attempting to photograph it.  My little sis will probably ask me why I placed a glass glitter covered star upon her head because I always seem to add stars and I can't seem to stop myself.  I love glass glass glitter and stars, especially together. That's why Sister Sledge. 

I raced around the house and gathered some of my favorite French type thingys and placed them atop this little copper table that I have in my bathroom.  These photos were taken in the ladies lounge and they came out a bit dark.  I did try to spruce them up some. 

 

Little sis is also probably going to wonder why I put that tiny Eiffel Tower in the picture.  Marie Antoinette was long gone before that ever appeared in France. 

I happen to love France and Eiffel Towers.  That's why little sis. 

 

I just recently came across this great fabric remnant with flocked dots all over it.  I didn't have the heart to cut up just yet, hence all the pins. 

Hubby came home with a bag full of fresh, soft Mexican bread this morning.  Not very French but they're all gone.  My husband woke up from a nap and exclaimed "You ate them all?" He was doing the husbandy thing where he was standing right in front of an object without seeing it. Just for the record, I didn't. I ate one and took a big bite out of the other two.  I waited to finish them off much later. 

Crafting and pan dulce, what a combo!

Marie Antoinette, running late to the soiree!

 Oh my goodness.  I am running late to the soiree.  My sincerest apologies!  I signed on to this thinking that I was going to create a Marie Antoinette masterpiece of a dress.  It didn't happen.  

 

I didn't find the time to try and get to it until yesterday.  Try as I might, nothing I did would work.  I'm not a sewing or clothing designer or anything of the like.  I just could not get the fabric and lace to fall the way I wanted it too.

About 2 in the morning (thank goodness for the extra hour!)  I gave up and just started to give in.  The gown started to fall into place more along the lines of and 1870's fashion gown.  

Owning a French Fashion doll has always been one of my dreams.  Maybe this is how it will finally come to be considering that I don't have several thousands of dollars lying about.  

Now I'm excited about actually seeing this dream finished.  I did figure out how to make a few sleeves.  Hmmm. We'll see.  

Hubby is home today and while I would be happy with cereal for breakfast I know that he would appreciate a home cooked breakfast for once.  I sent him off to the market while I burn the potato's posting this.   As soon as the dishes are cleaned, I think I'll be able to ditch my soul mate and hide away back in my craft room.  

You should have seen me last night.  This is only one pile of fabric and lace.  Uh-oh he's back. My apologies again but do postmark and visit me later.  I am vowing here and now to share a Marie Antoinette creation today if it's the last thing I do!!!!!

French Fashion dolls. Wrong era.

The following photo's I've posted before but I will post them again quickly as they are keeping with the Marie Antoinette Theme.  This page is from a book swap I participating in earlier this year.