Mothering Sunday

Always a stickler for correctness, my mother insisted it was called Mothering Sunday , a Christian festival, and not Mother's Day as it seems to be increasingly known.

During the sixteenth century people returned to their mother church for a service to be held on Laetare Sunday.  Anyone who did this was commonly said to have gone "a-mothering", although whether this preceded the term Mothering Sunday is unclear. In later times, Mothering Sunday became a day when domestic servants were given a day off to visit their mother Church, usually with their own mothers and other family members. It was often the only time that whole families could gather together, since on other days they were prevented by conflicting working hours, or, more usually, since holidays had not been invented yet, that was the only day in the year that they were allowed off. 

It was often quite difficult to find a card with the greeting of 'Happy Mothering Sunday' so it is with great sadness that this year that won't be a problem and I won't be popping a card in the post today.

Happy Mothering Sunday, Mum,  and I do miss you so terribly.

Felted bag no. 2

I have made another felted bag this time with detachable blue/black/grey flowers.  I wanted to make one to match a new dress and can change the flowers according to what I am wearing if I wish.

I have also been doing some experimenting and last evening felted antique lace onto the wool tops.  They look best with the light shining through them.

New Forest

On Monday it was husband's birthday and he took the day off work (a rare occurrence!)  The weather was just stunning and we spent the day in the New Forest.  We parked at Beaulieu then walked along the river through woodland

 

to Buckler's Hard where many naval vessels were built in the 18th and 19th centuries.  I think this was once an old jetty.

Apparently certain parts of a tree were used for specific parts of a boat.

There are some stunning houses on the opposite side of the estuary.  I wouldn't mind living in this one.

After a lovely pub lunch and a leisurely walk back to the car we then drove to Mudeford, a picturesque fishing village.  The New Forest is renowned for its horses and ponies which roam freely throughout the area including on the roads so driving has to be slow.

I'm not sure what this man was collecting in his bucket.

There was a tiny fisherman's cottage for sale with this view - just £350K. 

Newly Listed Items

Some newly listed items on the website are this red enamel billy can and matching coffee pot,

a well used French wire vegetable basket with lovely, very worn handle,

and two pretty silver brooches

I have also bought some more vintage clothes which I haven't yet listed onto the website.  I haven't previously sold clothes but have had the opportunity to buy some genuine vintage clothing recently which I couldn't resist buying.  Sadly, so far, none of it fits me!

I love this pure silk dress

which looks good with this silk jacket and pretty handbag.

I also bought this blouse from the same person.

I hope you have all had a lovely weekend and have been able to enjoy the beautiful weather. 

Frog went a-courtin'

I had a couple of spectators this week when I was gardening.  I stand corrected if these are toads.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend.

Tamara de Lempicka

At my local art appreciation group we have been studying Tamara de Lempicka.  I had never heard of her before.  She was born into a wealthy and prominent family in Warsaw in 1898 and lived to be 82 years of age.

In 1916 she married Tadeusz Łempicki,a well-known ladies' man, gadabout, and lawyer by title, who was tempted by her significant dowry.  This is her painting his portrait.

In Paris, the Lempickis lived for a while from the sale of family jewels. Tadeusz proved unwilling or unable to find suitable work, which added to the domestic strain, while Maria gave birth to Kizette de Lempicka.  She rarely saw her daughter. When Kizette was not away at boarding school, she was often with her grandmother.  Kizette was neglected, but also immortalized. De Lempicka painted her only child repeatedly.  She won her first major award in 1927, first prize at the Exposition Internationale de Beaux Arts in Bordeaux for

 Kizette on the Balcony.

Kizette in Pink, 1926

During the Roaring 20s Tamara was part of the bohemian life.  Famous for her libido she was bisexual and her affairs were scandalous at that time.

Her first famous show was in Milan in 1925 and she was soon the most fashionable portrait painter of her generation among the aristocracy, painting duchesses and grand dukes and socialites and through this network of friends, she was able to display her paintings in the most elite salons of the era.

In 1925, she painted her iconic work Auto-Portrait (Tamara in the Green Bugatti) for the cover of the German fashion magazine who described the self-portrait as a real image of the independent woman who asserts herself - her hands are gloved, she is helmeted, and inaccessible; a cold and disturbing beauty through which pierces a formidable being—this woman is free.

Here are some more of her paintings

If you would like to learn more about Tamara de Lempicka you can read about her here.  Apparently Madonna is a huge fan and collector of her work as are Jack Nicholson and Barbara Streisand also.

Oh So Vintage Sale

I just thought I would post photos of some of the items I have in the Oh So Vintage Sale.

This white crocheted drawstring bag is just £4.50 and would be ideal for storing hairbrushes, straighteners, and hairdrier on the back of a bedroom/bathroom door if you are short of space.

This French enamel pitcher/jug is reduced to just £24. It stands 15 inches in height and is watertight so suitable for displaying fresh flowers.

How about this galvanised mop bucket, dated 1975.  This would look lovely (and unusual) planted with spring flowers.  The price is £9.

Another unusual item is this French wine cork inserter - perfect for the person who has everything (except one of these).  Another bargain at just £5.

This wooden 'bowl' was sourced in France and sold to me as having been used in butter making but I'm not sure.  It stands almost 8 inches in height and has been hand made/carved and has a spout for pouring.  It could be used as a fruit bowl or for a plant.  Priced at just £15.

This lavender bag has been made from Hungarian grain cloth and I have appliqued a monogrammed 'C' that I bought in France.  The ribbon is from East of India.  If this is your initial or if you have a friend called Clare, Caroline, Charlotte etc. then this would make a lovely present.  Cost £5.

If you are interested in any of these items please have a look at a more detailed description on my website in the Sale section.  I will also be reducing more items over the next few days.