Historic German House

Dancing in a lofty, inspiring historic building with a great floor and clean bathrooms (featuring an abundant paper product supply) always makes a dance weekend better. I recently spent Stompology weekend at The Historic German House in Rochester, NY, and it measured up. 

Shortly after arriving I heard a few ladies joyously squealing about the bathroom stalls actually having functional locks. If that ruckus combined the smell of newly varnished floor wasn't enough, I looked up and saw this multilayered textural hint that renovations were recently (beautifully) done.

Yes please to this tin tile ceiling and curly chandelier

Balcony seats and arch windows

Marble and hexagon

Complete with a sky blue tufted velvet bathroom settee!

Victorian Mansion

Last weekend I had the delight of staying in this Airbnb in Rochester, NY. I highly recommend! It is charming, clean, convenient, inspiring, and the hosts are superb communicators. Take a peek inside these historic walls.

 The décor was an eclectic vintage enthusiast's dream.

The black and white checkerboard bathroom and claw foot tub are stunning!

The kitchen was my favourite part--it was actually below the rest of the unit, via a winding servant staircase. I enjoyed that it was part of the unit but separate enough to be a space to retreat to when a couple of us were upstairs sleeping and the rest of us didn't want to disturb.

 Minty counter and more checkerboard tile!

I'm a fan of the fan light, and these tiny antique details.

A resident kitty made an appearance on the back deck.

 The kitchen windows were open a crack all weekend so the whole room smelled like lilacs and magnolias.

Such a grand porch so charmingly nestled in greenery!

A few of the architectural sites from a stroll around...

Staying in this lovely home made the weekend even more enjoyable!

Gatsby Glasses

Now I'm all set for any costuming event from the 1800s through the 1930s with these glasses! They are so fine and dainty. The ingenious local optician happily ripped the black tubing off this vintage pair that he had sitting on his shelf in order to polish them up to their round golden glory for me. Gotta love small town service!

Union Patch

My Union Patch design is up for voting in Spoonflower's Victorian design challenge!

May Bulletin 2018

Sofas, socializing, and tulips!

April Bulletin 2018

Patterns, grandeur, and tinges of greenery

Sans Reproche

I am amazed by the intricate details of this antique book. It is a Value Village find, Sans Reproche by Edmond Coz, circa 1913, although the Art Nouveau styling leads me to presume it's actually from the late 1800s.

Look at the stunning black and red cover art, with the misregistration of the black outlines over gold floral. That star pattern below the title gives me fabric collection coordinate ideas. Plus the book has gilded pages.

The flyleaf inscription even boasts this elegant handwriting! I feel like every time I turn the page of an antique book I am flinging open another door to clues of social and stylistic history--what a treasure hunt.

Valentine Transferware

This fine collection of red and white Transferware includes a plate of particular interest...

Another Chatsworth House, a.k.a. Mr. Darcy's Pemberley, plate! The view is of the house in 1792. I love how this dish illustrates the house from the side, from the River Derwent, through the arches of the bridge (which pictures the statue that is no longer there), nestled in the foliage. The clouds look like pointillism. In 1792 I suppose Mr. Darcy would have been a boy playing in these grounds, or, you know...diving into the lake! (Hope that induced a Happy Valentine's swoon!)

Sketchbook

This is a week of observing, reading, pondering, and doodling. 

1897 Art Nouveau book cover of Sketchbook by Washington Irving, 1820.

L.M. Montgomery Journals

I found these delightful diaries at a used book store for a total of $15. The first volume begins with entries from Mongomery at age 15, and chronicles her friendships, school adventures, career development, and maturing introspection. She certainly had plenty of men falling head over heels for her! The journal entries are charming, witty, honest, and absolutely enthralling, and I can't get my hands on the next 3 volumes fast enough!

The Store with a Smile

I snapped this photo of the original sign painted on the brick of Shaw's in Perth, Ontario. Sounds cheery!

Victoria

Queen Victoria was one incredible lady. Aside from ruling a country for nearly 64 years, she was a mother of 9, a visual artist, and a prolific journal writer. Her passionate, determined nature is clear in reading her diaries. I've been loving the series Victoria, which brings aspects of her younger life to light...plus the costumes and sets are stunning and lavishly inspiring. Happy Victoria Day!

An Old Fashioned Girl

 I found this 1963 edition of An Old Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott at a local thrift store for $0.25. It was illustrated by Dan and Norma Garris. Alcott has such a talent for selecting descriptive words, and there is a sweetness to all her writing. This is a coming of age story of a girl named Polly and her humble, pleasant life.

This name was written on the inside cover...doesn't it perfectly suit?

Laura Ingalls Wilder's 150th

The Little House on the Prairie books and TV show were a huge part of my childhood, and Laura's heartwarmingly simple descriptions will forever charm my imagination. I just read through this informative, picture-filled post, and this post about her faith, both in celebration of her would-be 150th birthday.

“As the years pass, I am coming more and more to understand that it is the common, everyday blessings of our common everyday lives for which we should be particularly grateful. They are the things that fill our lives with comfort and our hearts with gladness--just the pure air to breathe and the strength to breath it; just warmth and shelter and home folks; just plain food that gives us strength; the bright sunshine on a cold day; and a cool breeze when the day is warm.” 

--Laura Ingalls Wilder (February 7th, 1867--Februrary 10th, 1957, age 90)

February Bulletin 2017

Dainty details and dreams, admiration and affection

Buried Questions

Old graveyards intrigue me and cause me to ponder innumerable questions about past lives and secrets.

I could wander through the headstones for hours in retrospection.

My favourites are the tall, beautifully carved, white marble stones from the mid-1800s.

I'm especially fond of the ones that point to a life in Christ.

Billings Estate

Billings Estate a.k.a. Park Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, was built between 1827 and 1829 for for Braddish and Lamira Billings. The Estate was designated a National Historic Site in 1968 and became a museum in 1975. It has a cemetery on the property with graves dating to 1820. 

This home is a great example of Georgian architecture for its landscaped lot, symmetry, wooden cladding, paired chimneys, dentil moulding, portico, dormer windows, and 5 bays of multi-paned windows with a centered door occupying the middle bay on both floors. 

It is sensible and elegant.

Vintage Cat Bookmark: 1919 Emerson Book

I bought this book at a book fair in the spring. It is from 1919, was written by Emerson, and has an interesting green leather cover with Art Nouveau art. My mom is currently reading it and it appears she is the first person in all these years to do so--she has to slice the pages apart with a letter opener! 

That said, someone at least picked it up in the past and slipped a bookmark inside, cause as she was reading it this little guy fell out from the pages! Oh the delights of vintage books!

Eastern Canada 2015: P.E.I.

 Confederation Bridge to P.E.I.

Mackenzie Brook on the North Shore

 Nifty red rocks

 Boardwalk in Summerside, P.E.I.

Lobster traps

 Malpeque Bay, behind The Oyster Barn

 Wharf kitty

View of Green Gables from The Haunted Wood

Green Gables in Cavendish, P.E.I.

 Ivy wallpaper, dark wood furniture, creamy china, and a fake pie...an interesting vignette

 "Anne's room"

Quite the bold wallpaper

Lover's Lane

P.E.I. mud = carrot juice

Photos and writing of L.M. Montgomery

 The church in which L.M. Montgomery was married

 The house in which L.M. Montgomery was born

Montgomery graves

 Avonlea Village

 Avonlea courtyard

 The chair collection in the church...love it

What L.M. Mongomery's post office would have looked like

A majestic sunset at Victoria Park in Charlottetown