Reading the Leaves

It was a very cold damp Mother's Day but I took the chill off with numerous cups of tea throughout the day, including the tea I drank for a tea leaf reading session at the Billings Estate.

Tea leaf reading was a form of fortune telling that was a favourite Victorian parlour pastime. Anything Victorian is of interest to the Billings Estate Museum and today the planned events included a Victorian tea, tea leaf readings and a Victorain fashion show. Not one to pass up the chance for a little Victorian fun, I wandered up to the library for a reading. And what did my tea leaves reveal? A wide variety of predictions including a night time sighting of an unusual animal, a connection to Egypt, a new small creature to be added to our household, a trip near water, the beginning or ending of a project to do with contstruction or gardening, and the arrival in about three months of a grumpy relative who tends to put a damper on things.

In the Style of Dottie Angel

No more flowers today. Thought at least some of you might enjoy a creative project around about now. It’s been awhile since the last one. This project was inspired by the unique and wonderfully quirky style of blogger, Tif Fussell, a.k.a. dottie angel. If you haven’t yet discovered her delightful blog and refreshingly different take on vintage, then be sure to check out http://www.dottieangel.blogspot.com/

When I found this very plain wall-flower of an apron at the local Nearly New for 50 cents, I immediately thought that it was screaming for a makeover in the dottie angel style. Poor thing had probably been languishing in the corner for ages because, really, who would have noticed it, looking as washed out as it did? Time for an intervention! As I have drawers of vintage lace at home and a tin of old buttons just waiting for projects such as this one, I brought the apron home with me and couldn’t wait to begin the transformation.

And here is the result, a little bit of lace here, a little lace there, some buttons for accents, a snippet of vintage material to brighten it up a little, a crochet doily to add some interest, and voilà... my Plain Jane apron has been madeover. I think it still needs some work... stay tuned. And in the meantime have a look at dottie angel's designs who does this sort of thing superbly!

Bleeding Hearts

Bleeding hearts. What odd flowers they are. Until I photographed them up close I never fully understood why they had the name they do. I knew the blooms are heart shaped but I never understood the bleeding part. Now I see that it's their dripping quality, so evident in these photos, that "bleeding" refers to.

At the Centre

These tulip centres remind me of Georgia O’Keefe’s flower paintings. Hers were big and bold and sculptural. These photos have similar qualities about them. We often forget to look inside blossoms to see their centres, by when we do... what pleasures lie in wait.

Although I must say, the last photo has a rather scary centre, there's a creature lurking there with spidy legs and a cream coloured head.

Ethereal Beauty

I was so pleased with yesterday's magnolia photograps that I wanted to post others that had the same ethereal quality. These tulips have a lovely softness and airy quality and look as though a coloured pencil was used to shade the delicate petals.

Magnolias

Magnolias, such delicate beauty. I took a series of photos of the inside of one of the blooms from the tree in our front yard. I'd never thought of photographing the insides before. Fragile, ethereal , and sculptural. I couldn't be more pleased with the results.

Victorian Tea

It was May Day today and to help celebrate, I had the opportunity to step back in time to attend a Victorian Tea in the Cathedral's great hall.

After taking our seats at one of the beautifully laid wee tables, it wasn’t long before G. and I were served the first of many cups tea, poured from a silver teapot by a waiter elegantly clad in black suit and tie. Just as we were savouring our first sips of tea, it was time to stand to welcome Queen Victoria, who was led into the hall by a piper. Accompanied by the lilting notes of the bagpipes, the Queen acknowledged her loyal followers as she passed by while making her way to her seat at the head table. A rousing rendition of “God Save the Queen” rang out, then back down we all sat to continue with our tea just as small plates arrived holding tiny tea sandwiches and a lovely assortment of cookies, tiny cakes and fresh strawberries, ingeniously separated by a folded paper doily.

As we sampled the generous assortment of yummies we were entertained with a Maypole Dance. A group of young girls, with white flowered garlands around their heads, bobbed in and out, their ribbons weaving a pattern around the May Pole and once done, they danced in the other direction to undo it all again. More cups of tea. Next, a distinguished gentleman in a Victorian frock coat serenaded the tea drinkers with a series of Victorian love songs, accompanied by a pianist on a grand piano. More cups of tea.

And then came the fashion show. As we sipped our tea from the most lovely fine china teacups, a wide assortment of vintage fashion was paraded before us. Some of the items were very high fashion indeed, with such names as Armani, Valentino, Versace and Louis Féraud, to name just a few. Best of all, the items had been donated for re-sale after the Tea. Great buys were to be had if one had the temerity to join with the determined throng of other bargain hunters who stampeded down the steps to the Nearly New Shoppe at the end of the Victorian Tea. Reluctant to relinquish the relaxed atmosphere, G. and I remained behind to relish our last sips of tea. Having consumed a prodigious amount over the two hours, we made our way decorously downstairs to the bargains, where hardly a fashion show item was still to be found. I did manage to find the $15 Armani pants which I tried on but, alas, were too tight. Perhaps it was all the tea I had drunk. My chance to own a pair of Italian designer pants would have to wait for another day!