winter is an embrace from a woman swathed in velvet and furs.
maybe that woman is greta garbo, but most of the time she's your overbearing great-aunt gertrude. if you aren't careful, you, in a split second, can find yourself being reluctantly clinched against her diamond-encrusted bosom, buried under unwanted kisses and the smell of that lipstick-y rose.
the coming season is one of comfort, of warmth and, above all, of unabashed decadence. the fact is, i love the gaudiness of the whole affair -- and i love ol' aunt gertrude! simply knowing when she's going to swoop in greatly softens the blow. i'm here, for the first time since childhood, welcoming winter with open arms, knowing full well what's in store.
as the days become shorter and the sun more scarce, i remain happily holed up indoors with my inspirations and musings, boundless hours and an endless coffee cup. i take more cat naps (now complete with cat!), read more books and dream more dreams than ever before.
as a result, i find myself wanting to be decadence. born are all these self-indulgent fantasies about, say, lounging half-naked atop velvet pillows, wearing a crown of roses and munching on mille-feuilles, all the while enveloped in a cloud of french perfume.
- but until the day i wake up ninety years in the past and discover i'm actually a budding starlet, i can be contented with these "oh-la-la!" images of some unnamed goddesses of yesteryear.
there is something so otherworldly and uncommonly delicate about hand-tinted images. i especially admire those from the victorian age on thru the 1920s. the dreamy watercolor hues lend a softness to the already ultra-feminine images of those century-old sweethearts frolicking in flowers or posing all undone at their dressing tables.
as a child, i can remember paging through these beautiful storybooks at the antique store my family operated, forever wondering why those women, nymphs and fairies got to live their lives in soft pastels - and with perfectly pinched-pink cheeks! it was so ethereal, so lovely.
it still is.
i've compiled a lengthy list of delicious activities to occupy my time in these coming months (accommodating my state of near-hibernation). all are good things, including coming around these parts more often. try to hold me to that, if you would. i am, without a doubt, the world's worst blogger.
from teaching myself to better knit and drinking mulled wine, to devouring books and (soon!) adding an array of new treasures to the shop, i'm looking forward to an equally lazy and luscious winter. what might you be doing these days, lovely friends? what kind of wintery tricks do you have up your sleeve? what does this season (still autumn, i know!) inspire you to make, to dream, to listen to, to love?
4 comments
Hi :-) I'm Lady Catherine!!! I love vintage pictures ;)
by myladycatherine on November 15, 2011 at 4:35 AM. #
they are the loveliest, lady catherine. thanks for stopping by*
xo
by cassiopeia* on November 17, 2011 at 2:18 PM. #
I love all of your photos! I completely agree with your views on the decadence of the season. Just today I was marveling about the comfort velvets and wool give me when the wind gets cold ;)
<3 Sarah
theantiquepearl.blogspot.com
by Sarah Dee on November 19, 2011 at 10:36 PM. #
Bonjour! Thank you for your kind words about my blog. Your blog too is quite magical. I added you to my blog list as well.
These photo cards are beautiful! Thanks for sharing them. I've always wanted my bedroom to be of such a mood.
Hope to hear from you again soon!
Your new daydreamic blog magicmaker,
boboRose
by Anonymous on November 22, 2011 at 11:06 AM. #