Things that came home with me

 When I left for France recently I said "I don't need anything, but it is fun to look and take pictures".  I did think it would be fun to find a vintage bed sheet and a few feves (those ceramic King's cake trinkets). But other than those two things I wasn't shopping. Let me back track a bit. About 8 years ago I had visited the south of France and found two bed sheets with my initials on them at a street market in Lourmarin. I loved sleeping under those sheets until they wore out. I saved a piece of the sheet with my initials and made a pillow, which still resides on my bed. So this time around I knew if I found another sheet with my initials I would buy it. Yes, I found it. The initials are small, can you see it? The sheet was the heaviest thing I bought and made of ramie, which is a cheap grade of linen. It is a bit rough and many of you wouldn't like sleeping under it, but I love it. The width was perfect for my bed, but the length was very long; so there is about 2 feet turned over the top of the blankets. The sheet came from a collection the vendor found in an old chateau. His prices were very good and I was thrilled with my sheet purchase.

And then I came across feves in several places. I think I came home with about 2 dozen of them. There is something hypnotizing about digging through a basket of feves.

My collection:

I have given some of them away as small gifts.

Then of course I had to bring home one tea from Mariage Freres, called Eros. It is a bit fruit/florally in flavor and quite fragrant. 

At the airport I grabbed a box of macarons from Laduree. What a treat!

And then there was a few bars of soap.

Oh how I love French soaps!!!

OK, do you see a pattern?

For someone that doesn't need a thing there were indeed more than a few things that jumped into my shopping bag. Here you see a few small pottery pieces.

But I think this picture was the biggest surprise.

I came across a portfolio of pencil sketches that were very old at a street market.

This one just tugged at me. The price was amazing, the paper light to carry, and of course it could fit in my bag. I framed it after I got home.

Here it hangs on my wall with two other small art pieces found in a second hand store in France.

There were a few food items too.

And two hand towels because after all they had teacups and a teapot on them.

And then a girl needs some new things to wear.

 

This one is vintage and the fit is a bit strange, but it will be fun to figure it out.

And a vintage nightie, which I may wear in a different way. The lace detail is lovely.

There were a few gifts, such as comic books for two boys in my life and a few things for family members.

All in all I did shop! More than I planned on, but what fun. I tried to be a bit practical and now I wonder should I have been less practical and spent more or should I have not shopped as much as I did. Since I travel light it was a challenge just to get home what I did purchase.

There was an artist we visited where I purchased a small gift for my daughter, but didn't get anything for myself. Now I wonder, does she ship? Ha!!!

Since I had several curious about what shopping I did, this post is for you.

Maybe others of you can resonate with me in not needing a thing, but shopping anyway.

Sending much love,

Marilyn

Victorian Fashions on Display

 Before I get started, my pictures loaded with the reverse of the show. If you want to see it progress the way the show went, start at the bottom and work your way up. If you start at the top, this first dress is the finally.

The main reason I chose to venture north to Port Townsend last weekend was for the Victorian Festival that takes place each spring. A friend from San Diego is actively involved in the fashion show. She wrote all the dialogue and organized the show this year. What a beautiful show. In the audience background you will also see that many of the attendees even dress in costume. It is quite fun. If you ever get a chance to attend, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

There were two men in the show. This one was the mortician. He really was enjoying himself.

 

 

The hearse with all kinds of surprises.

The black dress was the only dress that was original from the Victorian era. All other dresses were made by the models.

The blue dress was the models first dress made for herself. She did a great job.

Many of the models also made their accessories. I was fascinated by the shape of this hat.

This model has been involved in all the shows I have attended. Each time I am impressed with her sewing talents. This particular dress had a fun three tiered bustle.

I loved that there was a variety of ages, shapes and sizes of models involved. They all seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Here is my friend from San Diego. I remember many years ago she barely knew how to sew and now I am so impressed at what she does with her costumes. She even teaches classes at a costume conference.

Even the military was represented. He was carrying all his supplies from his bed roll to his dinnerware and pipe.

 The show took place in the local VA building and his costume fit right in with the surroundings.

 

 Here we are at the beginning of the show. I hope you enjoyed it. Several fabrics caught my attention and I quite loved this plaid.

 

Would you love living daily in one of these dresses? How comfortable are they? With all those layers and cinched in waist, I think I wouldn't be very comfortable. 

Have a terrific weekend, dear friends!

Sending love,

Marilyn

Tea, Dahling!

Just for fun I wanted to play a bit. After all, what else would you do with a fur coat hanging in the closet. So I donned  "the coat" and my sunglasses and off I went to tea. This year I am celebrating all year long turning 80 years old. And what a fun way to begin.

Doja Tea Lounge opened about a year ago and I hadn't visited yet.

It was delicious and I wished I had visited sooner.

In my cup was a very nice Darjeeling black tea.

This is my "live-in gardener" playing along with me.

Here we have cucumber herbed cream cheese slice, Char Siu Pork Garlic confit in a fillo cup, Green curry kabocha pinwheel, Japanese egg salad sandwich and Black garlic roast beef sandwich.

 

And then there were scones. I asked about the scone because it seemed different. It was a Scottish scone recipe, which was a bit crunchy but oh so good. The marmalade was delicious. There was also an earl grey madeleine and cranberry orange cookie.

And to top tea time off there were sweets. A Meyer lemon bar with elderflower meringue, Kumquat pink peppercorn eclair, and blood orange mango tartlet.

 

It was a special afternoon tea time with my "live-in gardener" and I celebrating the day.

If you ever are in the Portland area I can highly recommend Doja Tea Lounge. 

 

Now even if you are not in the area, pick up a good cup of tea and celebrate the day.

Happy Weekend, dear friends!

Scents of Christmas

 

 

As I read Nigel Slater's book, The Christmas Chronicles, I am reminded of the scents of Christmas. This week I served Christmas tea to my cousin and his wife. As I placed the food on the table once again the scents of the season tickled my nose.

 

Of course there were fresh baked scones from the oven still warm.

Then savories of roast beef, chopped olive, sausages in rolls, and creamy cheese warm from the oven. Sweets of crunchy cookies topped with cherries, dates and nuts rolled in pure delight, pecans baked and oh so spicy, chocolates that melted in the mouth, and chewy bits of delight to nibble.

The tea was poured of flowery lapsang. It was freshly brewed and warm, just the right amount to delight this girls heart.

The winter light from outdoors was so beautiful coming in to join us on this day.

Vintages plates and tablecloth were lovingly placed on the table in preparation for a time of laughter and of tears. Yes, sometimes there is both laughter and tears.

 

The tree was lite in preparation. Scents of evergreen surrounded us.

 

I savor each fragrance of evergreen, cinnamon, nuts, fruit, and burning candles each and every day of the season of Christmas, the season of delight!

May you delight in the small things of the season.

Have a terrific weekend, dear friends!