Around the Bend and Into the Past...

I know most of us believe in the term "Serendipity".

ser·en·dip·i·ty

ˌserənˈdipədē/

noun

1. the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.

   "a fortunate stroke of serendipity"

   synonyms:

   (happy) chance, (happy) accident, fluke;  luck, good luck, good fortune,fortuity, providence;  happy coincidence "the consequence of serendipity is sometimes a brilliant discovery"

This little occurrence by chance wasn't by chance at all,

and it started for me about 23 years ago.

Vintage Inspiration Friday #21: Legendary Luggage

There's just something about

the feel and look of old leather luggage.

The patina and wear bring exotic places to mind.

Who has carried it?

Where were they going?

Romance or business?

Ingenue or seasoned traveler?

A tourist in France...

or on African safari...

vintage luggage holds a fascination for me;

it's an inspiration.

 

iconic trunks of a bygone era

In the cargo hold of a transatlantic liner,

...or in a sleeper car on a European Express.

...think Hercule Poirot and Agatha Christie

What treasures of lace and linen...

furs and jewels,

did they contain?

personalized...

monogrammed with identification

for the worldwide traveler

lasting a lifetime and beyond.

repurposed for everyday living

A French trademark

                             

(all images found at google.images.com)

I've admired these for years
... and thanks to my sweet husband;

I was blessed with a little vintage inspiration just for me.

Now to share some fun from last week...

Simply Bungalow

Have Trunk...Will Travel

Very Merry Vintage Style

She stole my {vintage} heart

Gypsy Brocante

Faded Prairie Couture

Chippy Shabby

Think Spring!!

This girl is a constant source of inspiration!

love ya, Jeanine!

Hope you'll join in for

 Vintage Inspiration Friday!

anything vintage inspired...

Be sure and grab the

Vintage Valentine Party Button

love you all!

Debra

Vintage Patriotic Party with the White, Red and Blue

Today you get "He Said"

and "She Said"

let's listen in...

She said, LOVE the 4th of July!!!

(she says this ALL the time)

cookouts, fireworks, swimming, family

trips to the lake...

and some great patriotic decor.

But HE said...

What? you do that all the time,

You're attending A Vintage Patriotic Party...?

That needs to include some real Civil War artifacts!

She said, OK, let's put together a vignette from the battlefield.

Decor, decor, decor!!!

Officer's camp stool with carpet seat.

old drum and sticks with a tambourine and songbook.

Vintage flag and Grand Army of the Republic banner.

and a cannonball that should not be dropped on your toes

while you're arranging said battlefield vignette.

Then she said, wow, that was great!

Now, how about some vintage

"girlie" patriotic goods!

July 1916 Ladies Home Journal Magazine

vintage raised patriotic postcard

A biscuit tin depicting the making of the Liberty Bell.

with vintage grave marker flags

in her favorite wicker flower basket.

Old Canco candy box with a lovely lass dressed in the "colors".

And, how about some more patriotic fun

in the sunroom?

An advertising calendar plate

from Alma, Michigan.

1919

And some vintage American flags.

They make a great couple

don't ya think?

Join in with Joan and all the party goers

to celebrate the
 Vintage 4th Party

And I'm sneaking in to

 White Wednesday

with Kathleen

Over at Faded Charm.

(just can't miss)

One more day!!!!

If you haven't entered the Give Away

there's still time.

Click here to enter!

More sunroom pics next post.

Hurrah for the

Red white and blue!!!

love y'all,

Debra

Vintage Black Friday, Mourning Attire

Vintage Black Friday is here.

What will I do when this party is over?

I have enjoyed it so much.

Thank you Jill, at Gypsy Brocante,

 for hostessing this wonderful opportunity

 to fulfill all my "vintage black" desires.

 

When Queen Victoria of England lost her precious husband Albert, in December of 1861 she went into deep mourning. She took the custom of wearing "mourning black" to a new level. All the Victorian ladies of that time followed her in the custom. It became an outward showing of grief when a loved one passed. Many women created a whole new wardrobe for the now fashionable black attire.

Queen Victoria and daughter

with bust of Albert

another image (unknown) from late 1800's

Two current replicas of mourning attire

Mary Todd Lincoln

Two mourning blouses found at a local flea market

When I was in High School, Gone With the Wind

 was re-released in theatres.

I had read the book twice by then

and fell in love with the movie.

These two images are from the movie scene where Scarlett is attending a ball shortly after the death of her husband. For you not familiar with the story, Scarlett married a man she did not love, trying to invoke jealousy from her beloved Ashley Wilkes. When her husband died in the Civil War, she found herself in a strict code of mourning, but her heart was not in it.

Please click on this

YouTube link to see Scarlett and Rhett

dance the Virginia Reel.

You will love it!!

Have a Wonderful Vintage Black Friday

Do a little dance today!

Debra