Tuesday 14 September 2010

Journal - update

The story so far is here

Lucinda has been pretty busy since she last looked at her scrap book.  It's summer time and she has been busy from dawn to dusk, growing fruit, and vegetables in her cottage garden - and of course she manages to fit in some flowers here and there.

There's not been much time for idleness, but when she has worked herself to a standstill, nothing makes her happier than to sit in her little room, pull out her old scrap book, and re-read, and re-live those long ago days of youth.

She turns over the next page to reveal ..................................

Claude

Kate's wealthy beau. Did she really find him handsome - or was she swept away by his charm.  Oh yes he was charming, there is no denying that.

Lucinda allowed herself a chuckle, which turned into a giggle, which exploded into such a long loud laugh that her cat woke up and walked off with a disgusted look on his face and his tail high in the air!

"Well", she said, as she dried her eyes with her dainty lace hankie," if you can't laugh out loud in your own house, then where can  you?"

She kept looking at Claude wondering why he looked so stern, and what Kate could have possibly seen in him - that she herself could not!

She lifted her book right up to her nose to read the scrap of paper she had glued on the page.   It was something Kate had written in one of her letters to her.

'Oh Lucinda - Claude is so utterly romantic and charming, he sent me a little note from his Chateau near the Seine whilst I was in Paris visiting the dressmakers, and Monet's garden'

Lucinda started chuckling again as she re-read the passage that she almost knew by heart.

"Oh Kate, the hours I spend with you, I look upon as a sort of a perfumed garden, a dim twilight, and a fountain singing to it.  You and you alone make me feel that I am alive"

Then she quickly turned the page for something more attractive to look at.

The pretty little pouch that Kate had sent her - beautifully embroidered and  hand stitched.  There was a gorgeous brooch, made from some of the trimmings of her first ball gown.   She unpinned it and wistfully brought it to her nose - and yes - there was still the faint smell of lavender - despite its age and condition.

On the reverse of the pouch was another brooch, of Kate when she got engaged, she looked so young and beautiful - but the memories were too painful to dwell on, so she swiftly turned to the next page.

Oh how Lucinda loved this page in the scrapbook.  Over the years she had saved a lot of the samples of materials that Kate had sent showing her the colours of her ball gowns.


She had layers and layers of them.


Each with the original handwritten tags of the designs and dressmakers

She closed her eyes, and ran her fingers over strips of velvet, silk, laces, and allowed herself to be swept away in a daydream of what it must have been like all those years ago to be clothed in such finery.

Sincere thanks to Ati  I have photographed the labels, printed them out and attached them to scraps of materials I had.   The originals are saved for a special project - hopefully to be worked on over the winter.



14 comments:

Createology said...

Miss Lottie this is just beyond fabulous. Your story and pages are so intriguing. Happy creating...

Zoechaos said...

Hiya good to see you and you have been busy allotment treats below look well good enough to eat LOL

Journal looking awesome so creative and imaginative you are so clever. xx Zoe

themessycraftroom said...

Lottie this is just great. What imagination you have. I bet you've always been a dreamer. Those scraps with the labels look great. What talent you have. Hugs ChrisB xxx

Ati said...

Lottie, I enjoy your story so much. What a splendid idea to use the copies of the labels :))
It looks very real!

Sharne Gregory said...

I am about to start working in my journal at long last. I love the fabric sample labels, what a lovely addition to your journal.

Anonymous said...

youre a wonderful story teller...and your journal is looking stunning.

Magpie's Mumblings said...

This is absolutely fantastic! The journal itself is a treasure but the story makes it extra special. I love it!!

sam21ski said...

The way you tell it makes me feel like I'm actually there xxxx

Kim Dellow said...

Wonderful and your journal is stunning. Kim

Maggie R said...

Hi Lotttie
There are no words to describe the beauty of your creations...
I love your stories... Keep 'em coming
xoxo
((((hugs))))
Maggie

Anonymous said...

Thanks so much for your comments. Your journal is amazing and your hearts I love. But the garden, oh ours suffered from the dry weather here. xox Corrine

Cath Wilson said...

What a fab imagination you have, Lottie. Lovely to catch up with what you've been doing. This book is getting better by the minute. Hope life is slowing down for a little for you now.

LazyKay said...

Not been able to get blogger to load for me for ages so just now catching up and what lovely work I've been missing - just inspiring and beautiful.

TFS

xxxxxxxxxxx

Cape Cod Rambling Rose said...

This is AMAZING and so BEAUTIFUL!!!