After my utter failure with the January photo challenge, can I really be trusted to write 24 letters and/or postcards in the month of February? Or is it imperative, in my current frame of mind (thinking homicidal thoughts about my co-workers and bosses), to reach out to people I genuinely like and continue to foster those relationships?
I’m voting that, for the sake of my sanity, I need to carve out time each day to rest, write and connect with real people. My job has become so stressful and genuinely agonizing that I need a bright spot in the form of postal missives.
So, I’m in. I am committed to A Month of Letters. And it all starts today. Maybe you should check your mail box tomorrow…
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I had postponed reading The Gentle Art of Domesticity by Jane Brocket for several years as I had been (as might be described in Jane Austen’s Persuasion) “persuaded” by an older, more well-read (at least when it came to the subject of domestic arts) friend that the book was haphazard and inaccurate. On a holiday whim, I added it to my Amazon wishlist in hopes of a secondhand copy to test my friend’s theory.
I’ve read about 50 pages so far and I feel vindicated to have overlooked the prejudices and given this book a chance.
Rather than attempting to be an all-encompassing history and cultural overview of all the facets of the “gentle arts”, this book is the perspective of one well-read, well-educated, modern woman and her passions for the “home arts” — i.e. baking, sewing, quilting, gardening and knitting and such.
I find it a hugely enjoyable book that I will both share and covet (look out secondhand bookshops, I will need additional copies because I am keeping my edition). I can already think of several people who would enjoy this book and intend to refer back to it regularly for ideas and inspiration. I have already jotted down lists of book recommendations, artists I would like to learn more about, a few knitting projects and some recipes I’d like to try.
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There’s been some major pigeon love here lately. First, The Admiral got himself a new scarf to help keep out the cold. Soon, I hope to make him a lovely cap to match, maybe with ear flaps. Do pigeons have ears?
The Admiral posed on top of his favorite book for his scarf portrait. Quite a good choice, don’t you think?
Then we received our first issue of Uppercase Magazine which featured not just a fabulous portrait of aWWII carrier pigeon on the cover but an article about letter writing socials featuring Ms. Superdilettante and a story about our favorite mother-daughter team, Tag Team Tompkins. And I haven’t even finished reading the whole issue so I’m sure I’ll find other gems as well. How lovely!
And finally, my ink samples from Goulet Pens arrived including my new favorite color, De Atramentis’ Pigeon Blue. I also got samples of J. Herbin Vert Olive, De Atramentis Christmas Silver Grey and Noodler’s Black Swan in Australian Roses. I’m looking forward to composing many letters in these awesome colors. And I’ll definitely be buying a full bottle of Pigeon Blue because I love it! See the Charles Eames quote below which was done in the Pigeon Blue on crisp white paper.
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Is it too late to show off my holiday decorations? I know I’ve already taken them down but its such a grey, miserable January that some holiday magic may be just what I need to put a glow in my day. So, please indulge me.
Hope you have some magic, twinkle and sparkle in your day!
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I haven’t done a fashion-y post in awhile, mostly because its been cold and grey and I’ve had to wear layers upon layers of clothes which leads to very un-vintagey outfits. I have managed to keep a few vintage-y details though. My tweed skirt gets lots of wearing along with an endless supply of black tights and since it has not been slushy or snowy, I’ve been able to wear my cute retro shoes. And I’ve embellished my Louisa Harding knit beret with a vintage button-and-buckle brooch.
This is what I look like most mornings. Hello, hot rollers! Thought you’d all be amused.
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I have had every intention of doing the photo-a-day challenge for January but, between the work trip to Atlanta and a very busy work schedule, my plans sort of imploded. In some cases, I took a photo but never got around to uploading it, in others I worked from dawn until dark and completely missed the chance to take a photo. Somehow though, I managed to shoot several photos of where I work from different angles, in the morning and in the dark. Having my new iPhone with me all the time has given me a chance to shoot anywhere, anytime, which has been interesting. I even got two different shots of the World War I museum which I really want to visit again soon.
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Say hello to my new box. P.O. Box, that is. I finally took the chance and got a post office box to call my own. Its situated within walking distance from work at the prettiest possible post office that ever lived.
Its inside the historic Union Station, complete with the old golden counters from its previous location (now occupied by the IRS offices).
And the evening view from Union Station is quite lovely too.
So, if you’d like to send me a little note, postcard or PO Box warming greeting, here’s the address:
New business cards are being printed up soon!
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The biggest event of the year for my division at work is the Atlanta Gift Show which is the second week of January every year. This is the Stationery Show for the gifty things that aren’t paper or clothing. Its wholesale vendors selling all sorts of home furnishings, rugs, candles, jewelry and everything you could possibly imagine in the way of holiday decorations.
This is the view of one of the four buildings that make up the gift show. Overwhelming, huh?
Last year, we struggled through the snowstorm that stalled the city and delayed many of the retailers who might have ordered our products. This year, I got to wander through floor after floor of merchandise which was exhausting and overwhelming. The actual gift show went quite smoothly but my hotel experience went from lame to absolutely horrific.
Another view of Building Four
The hotel was remodeled since last year and some of the decor was actually kind of cool — crazy printed carpets with big graphic florals and blurry photo prints as the room “couch art”. However, my room had a lot of quirks: lamp didn’t work, faucet was strangely installed and leaked all over the counter, no extra blankets, and a broken fridge. The Gift Show keeps us so busy that I really only sleep and shower in the room so the wonky bits were inconvenient but not so bad.
The view from the balcony was pretty and the weather was almost mild enough to step up on the balcony and admire the view.
The death knoll though was discovering someone else’s dirty clothes tangled in the curtains when I opened the blinds on my last morning. Needless to say, I checked out of the hotel immediately and sent the hotel a letter expressing my disgust, anger and frustration.
The flight home was welcomed, if only to put the horrid hotel experience several hundred miles behind me. I caught a glimpse of the sun setting over Kansas City as the flight was making its final descent — a truly welcome sight.
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Admitting that I have fallen in love with the Maisie Dobbs mystery book series by Jacqueline Winspear may explain my itch to knit cloche hats and berets and cut my hair in a bob. If you’re not familiar with the series, the books take place in London between the wars and feature our young heroine, Maisie Dobbs, an private investigator and former downstairs maid who has gotten an education, served as a nurse in WWI and is now self-employed. My favorite parts of the stories have to do with the history of the time period and I like to think the author gets a lot of it quite accurately. Due to the shortage of men following WWI, women are allowed in the workplace and the divide between the classes is being questioned and narrowed. Its all quite interesting. Add in a few bits about the countryside, the fashions of the time and a mystery to solve and I am devouring these books.
I read the first book in the series several years ago and enjoyed it but found it a bit slow at the time. I had already purchased the second book so it has sat on my shelf waiting until I was in the mood for a more cerebral mystery and clearly, that time has come. I recently read something about the best book is the one you read at just the right time and I feel like, for me, this is just the right time to be reading about Maisie. I’ve always had an interest in the early half of the twentieth century particularly the time between the wars but right now, these books seem to be “just the thing” for me.
The core mysteries are interesting but have not been so gory or graphic as a lot of the modern day procedurals and cop shows on TV so the stories deal much more with the people and the relationships. Things unfold slowly and in rigorous detail.
I have read Pardonable Lies and Messenger of Truth only to realize that I never read the second volume, Birds of a Feather, so I have just started that one. I hate reading stories out of order but I feel like it will be nice to go back and revisit an earlier story as it has been so long since I read the first book. That said, I think enough background is peppered in the later volumes that you may not necessarily need to read them all in order though reading the first book definitely sets the tone.
I have found a couple of the later books (shown above in order from top left) and my darling Father-In-Law has posted one in the mail for me as well so I should continue to have a very Maisie January. And aren’t the covers of the books gorgeous? The illustrator has done a fabulous job setting the tone with the covers and the designer chose the perfect fonts. Good stories sandwiched between lovely covers. What more could I ask for?
A "photo" of Maisie Dobbs. Lovely cloche!
(*Author link takes you to her home page but the individual book links go to GoodReads, FYI)
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Top row: Escargot, Pauline, and Merlot. Middle: Side Slip Cloche and Regina. Bottom: Fresco.
I am on a hat knitting rampage. After finishing my NaKniSweMo sweater (in two months, but that’s a whole different story) and handwarmers for Bob, I want small, portable and fast knits! I also love wearing hats so, the more, the merrier. And, it is a good stashburning project so its a win all-around.
I’m working on a simple toque-ish hat (not pictured) for Bob as he needed something and we all know how challenging it is to find a hat pattern for the boys that meets with their exacting standards. Men seem to love utility and comfort overall which doesn’t always lend itself to the most interesting knits but I have tried two other patterns with poor results (rip, rip!) so its plain-and-simple for the boy. (I’m using the Sockhead pattern in the Sporthead version with Misson Falls 136, in case you’re curious.)
I started the Fresco Simply Slouchy with absolutely delicious Sugarbunny yarn in slate grey though I wish I had the same yummy green color as shown in the pattern but I was trying to “branch out” color-wise. Not to mention that I wish I was a gloriously natural redhead without a single, solitary strand of frizzy hair, but at least I can knit the hat. Its all stockinette with just a hint of ribbing so its stylish and brainless (no jokes from the peanut gallery about the future-wearer), so it’ll be perfect for the trip this week.
I also have the yarn and the pattern to start the Side Slip Cloche so that’ll be next on the list for sure. It more simple stockinette and a ribbed band so it should also be fast and easy to complete. So looking forward to wearing it though it does make want to trim my hair into a bob again for the perfect flapper look.
The Meret was recommended to me by Rebecca (SquirrelJunkie) several months ago and its been in my to-do pile for awhile. Its another simple lace beret that looks great.
I just recently discovered the Escargot pattern and its such a sassy cloche that I am just dying to knit it. Sometimes I wish I could clone myself just so I could work on more than one knitting project simultaneously. The pattern recommends making two hats alternating the main color and the contrasting color. One for me, one for a friend?
Regina is a cloche-like pattern I found today and I love it! Will start picking out yarns ASAP.
And last, I’m a little itchy to make a bonnet but I’ve never done it because I always worry that I’ll cross that fine line between vintage and costume or that I will look like I’m trying to be much younger than I actually am. What do you think? Is the Pauline bonnet too much?
(*all links for patterns are on Ravelry and all are free patterns except the Side Slip Cloche which is in a book
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