more love of the White Hart

French banner

Cute little box I found in a local store - probably intended as a reindeer for holiday decor.
Made in Italy and wearing a Parrish Relics bracelet around his neck.

Snow in North Carolina!

Views around my yard and out the window on this very snowy day - a rare treat in this part of North Carolina.

We have snow!!!

Last night, we were treated to a rather impressive snow for the piedmont area of North Carolina. I woke to a winter wonderland.

Solstice Blessings

Warmest solstice blessings to you all & happy holidays.

Bound and determined to see the moon during this most historic event, I darted in and out trying to glimpse the silvery moon through cloudcover. I never saw the warm orange-glow, but still a breathtaking sight.

My best photo from the night.

Illuminating the office workspace

Solstice morning visitors. I stock several feeders for my feathered friends.

Of mystics and movies

Only showing in select U.S. theaters (and none in my state)— Vision, a German-made movie about the life of Hildegard von Bingen. I'll likely have to wait (impatiently) for this on DVD, but doesn't it look lovely. Image below provided from the site's download section, where you can view trailer, showings, etc.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman - Annie Lennox

I've always adored Annie Lennox and this is so incredibly beautiful. Love the vintage postcard, dream-like quality, yet there is something oddly medieval about it too. And she must have a thing for riding crops, staffs, etc.! As if one could refuse to be merry?

Thanks to two FB friends who shared this!!

fonts & art

The Hind in the Wood. London: George Routledge and Sons, 1875.
Beautiful work by Walter Crane.

Soon available as a digital art collection on cd from Scriptorium Fonts!

Folkloric charm

Made from cape wool remnants, a bag I made for myself for everyday winter-wear. Antique buttons adorning the strap were gifted to me by my friend Jen's mother - happy to have found the perfect use for them:)

The Speed Museum

Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville, KY

Back home after a weekend away, spent with like-minded souls. Harry Potter, perfect autumn weather, art & architecture, rose tea in Rossetti cups, cats. Lovely things to soothe and inspire! 

From yesterday's trip to the Speed Museum. Interactive Book of Hours.

The Best Therapy

I've often thought that if we could somehow bottle and distribute the total euphoria and calm that comes from watching cats napping in sunlight, the world would be a much better place. Behold my bliss!

Frick (left) and his sister Queen Mab (right) - aka, Fricklette, Mabbycat. How I love them:)

Of Sloth and Greed

Hieronymus Bosch's The Seven Deadly Sins and the Four Last Things

White Hart II

Day two of the White Hart...inspired by Waterhouse’s The Mystic Wood.

I so LOVE this!!!

Waterhouse's The Mystic Wood necklace by Parrish Relics. Photo by Jennifer Parrish.

Thrift-store box, decoupaged and embellished into a purse by me.

Camellia from my autumn garden by Mother Nature!

Magic Art & Beauty (M.A.B.)

Post-election distractions of the beautiful sort. Ahhh, another little white deer.

A.W.N. Pugin. Wallpaper design for Westminster. Housed at the V&A.

Cape Weather

Yesterday we had record high temps, rain and tornado warnings. This weekend promises a frost warning and the return of Autumnal bliss just in time for Halloween!
It is almost cape-wearing weather - a few I've made over the years.

One of my most complex and favorites made this January, worn to the Waterhouse Exhibit in Montreal. Heavy wool with lace embellishment and a very large clasp!

Back view of the Kinsale hood.

the mighty clasp!

Made from a practical faux suede for "everyday" forest walks. Finished this year.

I call this my Greyfriars cape because I wore it on a winter trip to Edinburgh, so it was dragged up many a stone stairs and a haunted Close or two. Wet wool has a very distinctive smell!

Black velvet cape I made in the mid-1990s, recently found "hidden" in my cedar closet.

This was a flea market find, I love the patina. I'd guess originally used for a belt closure.

This one was inspired by BBC's Robin Hood series and also used in Lisa Stock's beautiful movie, Brother & Sister.

LOLcats - historical edition

How did I not know that LOLcats had expanded?

Fine Fabric Finds

I'm not usually a Walmart shopper, but sometimes one gets lucky. I found this pre-elasticized fabric that almost made itself into this fanciful skirt.  Here, I've paired it with a lace edged underskirt, a thrifted velveteen jacket that I bought in 1986 for $3! Antique buttons added and the shattered lining was replaced; it remains one of my favorite articles of clothing.

Isolde

Lovely costume worn by Olive Fremstad in Wagner's Tristan and Isolde.

my Etsy

How long have I promised to do this? Finally putting my little bags out there and have made an Etsy shop. I'll have my nose to the sewing machine this weekend.

Owl Guardians

Gifted to me by thoughtful friend, Linda, this little owl stands guard on a little box holding one's deepest desires.

from Gaelsong

Guardians of the animated sort that I hope to see this week.

October Celebration

To celebrate October - probably my favorite month other than May - I'm going to post on the theme of owls. Today's offering is a pair of wooden figures recently found in a thrift store for $1.

Queen Mab's Malady

This morning, I'm off to take Mab to a specialist at the School of Veterinary Medicine to hopefully shed light on months of illness. Her regular vet has treated her but the problem persists. Hoping and praying it is nothing serious and can be remedied. I'm prepared to move heaven and earth to make her well.